If you've ever wanted to turn your childhood into a movie, Theater Camp is the latest film that understands. It's also happy to laugh. Unlike Minari, Belfast, The Fabelmans, Aftersun and Past Lives, this isn't a drama, with Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Noah Galvin and Nick Lieberman making a sidesplittingly funny mockumentary about a place that's near and dear to them. What happens when four friends reflect upon their formative years, when they all fell in love with putting on a show? Theater Camp is the pitch-perfect answer. Looking backwards can be earnest and nostalgic, as Gordon and company know and embrace. Going for Wet Hot American Summer meets Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind, they're just as aware that it can be utterly hilarious. Watching Theater Camp means stepping into Gordon, Platt, Galvin and Lieberman's reality. None are currently camp counsellors, but the realm that they parody genuinely is personal. The film's core quartet initially came into each other's lives via youth theatre. With Gordon and Platt, the picture even boasts the receipts — aka IRL footage of the pair performing as kids — from a time when they were appearing together in Fiddler on the Roof at age four and in How to Succeed in Business at five. This team was first driven to bring their shared experiences to the screen in an improvised 2020 short also called Theater Camp. Now, they flesh out that bite-sized flick to full length as enthusiastically as any wannabe actor has ever monologued. All four co-write, while Booksmart and The Bear star Gordon directs with fellow first-time feature helmer Lieberman. Gordon, Dear Evan Hansen stage and screen lead Platt, plus Galvin — who similarly portrayed that Broadway hit's title role — act as well, playing three of the adults at AdirondACTS. Gordon and Platt cast themselves as Rebecca-Diane and Amos, Theater Camp's co-dependent life-long best friends forever. The film's central vacation spot was the joined-at-the-hip characters' ultimate escape, and still is. That said, their move into teaching at the same venue is a clear sign that their aspirations as performers haven't come to fruition. Every year now, Rebecca-Diane and Amos guide teen campers through all things theatre — and towards putting on the season's big show, an original that the duo also write and direct. But Theater Camp's summer in focus isn't any old summer. Before the thespians of tomorrow arrive, while the financially struggling AdirondACTS is in fundraising mode, founder Joan (Amy Sedaris, Somebody I Used to Know) falls into a coma due to "the first Bye Bye Birdie–related injury in the history of Passaic County". While she's incapacitated, that leaves her finfluencer son Troy (Jimmy Tatro, a YouTuber and now The Afterparty and Strays talent) in charge. Also in upstate New York while the sun shines, the histrionics ramp up and everything becomes a performance: the camp's put-upon backstage go-to Glenn (Galvin, The Good Doctor), who is largely ignored and underappreciated by his peers; costume guru Gigi (Owen Thiele, Hacks) and dance instructor Clive (Nathan Lee Graham, Katy Keene), who couldn't be more passionate about their respective disciplines; and staff newcomer Janet (Ayo Edebiri, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem), who knows less than the students. Representing a neighbouring private-school camp that's been flashing its cash for years trying to buy AdirondACTS' land from Joan, lawyer Caroline (Patti Harrison, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) struts around in an effort to convince Troy to sell. And there are kids, of course, of varying skills and with an array of theatre-related hopes (Minari's Alan Kim, Young Rock's Bailee Bonick, Chapelwaite's Donovan Colan and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' Luke Islam are among them). Gordon, Platt, Galvin and Lieberman focus their script on the production of Joan, Still, Rebecca-Diane and Amos' centrepiece musical for the year and a tribute to their absent mentor — and, as finances keep proving an issue, Troy's cluelessness constantly has an impact and Caroline is adamant about snapping up the facility, on saving the entire site. Chaos ensues, which is predictable in the film's broad strokes but, crucially, never in its minutiae. While foreseeing that arguments, tantrums, rivalries, broken dreams, battling egos, budget woes and behind-the-scenes mishaps will all flow is easy, the particulars, and the whys and hows of what's going on, rarely take the expected route. Indeed, because they've been there, lived that and are now eagerly and warmheartedly satirising it, the Theater Camp crew perfects the art of going specific to get universal. Accordingly, if you were once a budding drama geek as well, prepare to be seen and spoofed but also celebrated. Prepare to be showered in lines, references, costumes, sets and moments that couldn't be more authentic, in fact. If you don't know your Damn Yankees from your Hamilton, though, prepare to plunge into a madcap world that's the epitome of youthful fervour and adult malaise swishing together. Theater Camp mightn't dazzle if it didn't feel so bona fide — and if it didn't so gleefully and visibly love playing around in its very own microcosm, just like children discovering their own place to belong at a theatre camp and actors finding themselves in role after role. Gordon, Platt, Galvin and Lieberman couldn't have better riffed on their favourite time as kids and what might've been if they hadn't found success, or enlisted a more-willing cast. In the crowded mockumentary field, they're also spot-on at cannily deploying the genre's tropes. Watching Theater Camp also means wanting to sit down to see Blackmail and Botox, A Hanukkah Divorce and The Briefcase, The Door & the Salad next. No one can, because they're each purely creations of this very amusing flick; what fun the film's key foursome must've had coming up with those titles alone. Theater Camp is a stage-adoring screen gem that's a lively labour of love and a clear work of fun, too: to lampoon treading the boards, summer camps and the exact place where both meet, and to do so this entertainingly, requires knowing the theatre scene and its training grounds intimately. Wanting to catch The Crucible Jr and even an immersive stage version of Cats (that surely couldn't be worse than 2019's cinema take) — yes, that equally springs from laughing heartily through this ode to performing as a dream, a job, a future, an obsession and a way of life.
Catch Queensland Theatre's latest production and you'll catch a slice history in more ways than one. The Sunshine Club sets its feel-good story in 1946, and follows a First Nations serviceman coming home to Brisbane from World War II — and, if it sounds familiar, that's because it was first staged in 1999. In fact, back when the play made its debut 23 years ago, a heap of now-huge theatre names were involved, including Wesley Enoch, David Page, Roxanne McDonald, Stephen Page, Ursula Yovich, Wayne Blair, Elaine Crombie, Tessa Rose and Christen O'Leary. This time, during The Sunshine Club's QPAC Playhouse run from Saturday, July 9–Saturday, July 30, former Queensland Theatre Artistic Director Enoch directs. He knows the material; he was commissioned to create the original, after all. Alongside Enoch, composer John Rodgers, musical director Wayne Freer and costume designer Richard Roberts all return, too. In the new staging, Marcus Corowa (Bran Nue Dae) plays Frank Doyle, who heads back from the battlefields eager to restart his life with girl next door Rose (Irena Lysiuk, The Marriage of Figaro). This couldn't be a look back at the era — even a fictional one — without exploring Australia's history of race relations, of course, but Frank endeavours to overcome society's prejudices by starting his own ballroom where everyone is welcome. Images: Brett Boardman.
Bingo. Rave. Two ends of the spectrum of fine holiday fun finally came together in Australia last year. If you didn't make it along, Bongo's Bingo is a games night like you've never seen before. Part club, part rave, and, of course, part bingo night, this unlikely fusion event has been wildly popular in the UK since 2015. It's hardly surprising that taking the show on the road — that is, launching Bongo's Bingo Down Under — went well. And now, it's hardly surprising that is's coming back for yet another round either. What you mightn't expect is the event's new special guests: British boy band royalty, aka Westlife's Brian McFadden and Boyzone's Keith Duffy. Under the name Boyzlife, they'll perform their respective groups' biggest hits while all of the debauchery of the original British version of Bongo's Bingo gets underway. That includes rave intervals, dancing on tables and a loose kind of bingo that you definitely never played with your nan (well, maybe you have). The victorious players can win everything from big cash prizes to some absolutely ridiculous surprises, which is all part of the fun. Bongo's Bingo heads back to The Tivoli on March 24.
A fixture of the city for decades, King George Square has seen many things over the years, from markets to live tunes to ice-skating rinks. But for two days this week, it'll welcome something different — a mini tennis court. It's not a throwback to a period, not all that long ago, when the CBD spot had its own patches of grass. Rather, it's a bit of fun timed to coincide with the Australian Open in Melbourne. Called Ace the Open, the pop-up court is open to anyone who thinks they can channel their inner Williams sister and serve up an ace. All you need to do is head on down across the weekend of Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27, and racquets await. There's another good reason for this excuse to get active, other than letting Brisbanites do something they never thought they would in ol' KGS. For every ace someone scores, ANZ is making a donation to The Smith Family, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Berry Street and The Benevolent Society.
The most applause-worthy branch of Big Folk Theatre combines the cheap, raw and rowdy in a night of comedy improv. Cool Story Bro brings together some of the most talented, local guest storytellers, whose real life stories and experiences are turned into laugh-out-loud scenes, characters and situations, all in attempt to get a chuckle out of you. Think Chicago's The Second City, but performed by those who probably catch the same bus as you. Cool Story Bro features a talented cast of Brisbane's best improvisors and takes place at Boundary Street Markets. It's a bit of a trek to get to the actual comedy showcase, so follow these instructions carefully: enter the markets via the Boundary Street entrance, look for a black door to your left when you come to the clothing bazaar, then enter and and go up two levels of stairs for the laughs. Cool Story Bro kicks of this Friday, November 6 at 7pm. Grab a bite to eat, a drink and head on up!
When Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers first announced that they were launching Australia's first gnocchi bar, no one gnocch'd their idea. Our stomachs were too busy rumbling for pillowy dumplings of pasta. So, when they opened their doors in Paddington, people came a-running. In fact, Brisbanites' gnocchi appetites have been so feverish, the local specialists are expanding to a second location not even six months later. Opening at 76 James Street, New Farm on April 10, and trading every afternoon and evening of the week, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers James Street is all about keeping as many people in a pasta-fuelled state of bliss as possible. To feed the ravenous masses clamouring for potato-based parcels, forget dining in; their new digs is takeaway only — and delivery via UberEATS, but hey, you get the picture. Thankfully, a lack of eating area for folks to lounge around while chowing down is the only difference on the menu. All those gnocchis you've been feasting on — or eyeing off, if you haven't yet made it in to sample their wares for yourself — remain on offer. Wild mushroom and truffle sauce, slow-cooked bolognese, duck ragu, spicy tomato and black olive, Genovese pesto, and prawns with cherry tomatoes are certain to hit the spot. Trying a different flavour every night of the week is completely acceptable. Find Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers James Street at 76 James Street, New Farm. For more information, head to their website or Facebook page. Image: Cyclone Bill.
The Hideaway and luxury groovers 100% Silk will be hosting a night of music as smooth as any Pantene commercial, this Thursday. In just two years, 100% Silk has fast become one of Los Angeles' finest providers of on-the-money, A-grade music, and now it's Brisbane's chance to witness some of their finest auditory exports. Brooklyn-based house music producer, Octo Octa is a sugar-free act – his melodies are topped with rave-tinged basslines providing for a unique R&B, house fusion. His refreshing sounds have recieved widespread critical acclaim in both traditional electronic music and indie-minded musical circles. Magic Touch, on the other hand, mix the psychedelic ethos of San Francisco with the house movements of Chicago, before smattering their sound with a healthy dose of UK rave underground – it's the club sandwich of music mashing. Think sleek, chic, late night San Francisco Latin soul music, and you have for yourself Bobby Browser. He works the synths, laid-back-grooves, soul melodies, and even has a moustache to match. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to catch three of 100% Silk’s finest, straight from the States.
If jungle vibes inside a Coorparoo warehouse sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17. It's the latest greenery-filled Brissie market from The Jungle Collective, a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. Yes, it is trucking its way up north again for another Queensland venture — and, after hosting plenty of online-only events over the past year, this sale is a 100-percent in-person affair. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. This sale has been dubbed a 'rare plant party', so prepare to shop for green babies you won't just find anywhere. You'll get inspired by plants in general, too, and learn to incorporate them into your home and living spaces — all while browsing and soaking up some tunes. Best get in quick though — these markets are always popular, with more than 170 different species usually on offer. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in 30-minute sessions across both days, and attendees will need to register for free tickets in advance. Plus, if you come decked out with something unicorn-related (think: pastel colours, glitter, rainbows and clouds) and spend at least $10, you'll also get $5 off your purchase.
The subject at hand of the latest Nine Lives exhibition may sound a little mundane, but artists Pedro Ramos and Angus Mcdiarmid will have you surprisingly mesmerised by their unique images of rocks and water. Joining collective forces, the Australian artists explore the captivating textures, vivid colours and kaleidoscopic patterns found when the land meets the sea. From sea scapes and rock formations to documenting the people around them engaging in the water that inspires them, Rocks & Water respectfully highlights the unexpected beauty found within nature. Originally from Madeira Island off the coast of Portugal, Pedro Ramos works in Sydney as a freelance photographer and tutor. A talented artists, Pedro has exhibited his works internationally and has been featured in major publications such as Vice and Monster Children. He now returns to Nine Lives after exhibiting in last year’s sold out Semipermanent show. Rocks & Water's other artist Angus Mcdiarmid is a little more local – living and working between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. He is however about to embark on a South American hiatus which I'm sure will make for some great imagery. In the mean time be sure to take in Rocks & Water, it's an exhibition you won't want to miss.
When kids at school are busy updating their Iphone apps and Facebook-ing their beloved, you have to wonder if Shakespeare is still relevant? It's this timely question that a class of grade 12 students are required to answer as part of an assignment. Statespeare focuses on four clashing students in particular, who are made against their will to work together (remember how fun group work was at school?) and address Shakespeare's 400 year old works. It's a veritable Shakespearean Breakfast Club. Much like the cult teen angst movie, the play sees the fairly standard assignment develop into a bonding exercise between the students - drama nerds Lachlan and Nerys and popular trouble makers Jay and Rob, allowing them to discus, debate and rehearse some of Shakespeare's most famous and compelling scenes. Statespeare is a Shakespeare mix-tape of sorts, including scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, Romeo & Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Titus Andronicus amongst others. All in all the students get swept up in the language and power of Shakespeare, and the audience gets to go along for the ride. Statespeare cleverly brings Shakespeare into the digital era and modern day school ground via a humorous and fast paced performance. Catch the show in Brisbane until the May 29 before commences a four-month national tour.
Crispy, sweet, stuffed with a creamy filling and made in a variety of flavours, there's only one thing wrong with cannoli. No matter how many that you happen to devour in a single sitting (admit it — no one just eats one), it never feels like you've ever had enough. If you know that sensation all too well, then you might want to tempt your tastebuds down to Locale on Saturday, April 11. For one day, the Newstead cafe is bringing back its cannoli pop-up bar. Adjusting to the current situation, it's strictly a pre-order-only affair — so head online, fill out an order form, send it through and then wait for your allocated collection time (which'll be between 8am–12pm). Feeling hungry? There'll be six kinds of the Sicilian pastries on the menu, with vanilla creme and traditional chocolate ($4 each) flavours waiting, plus ricotta and chocolate chip, and tiramisu ($5 each), too. If you're eager for something extra special, you can also opt for a limoncello cannoli ($5 each) — or go all out with a cannoli dip Easter egg ($9.50 each). If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health. Images: Locale.
If you’ve never heard the name Kaitlyn Plyley, then you’ve probably at least heard her voice. Or seen her face. Or read her words. She’s a master story teller, broadcaster, poet and writer on the Brisbane arts scene, and best of all, has the real gift of the gab. And her latest project Not Much To Tell You exercises this talent liberally – Kaitlyn’s got words to say, and she gets them out in a unique fusion of poetry and story telling. Not Much to Tell You explores how Kaitlyn, a nerdy, foreign-sounding Aussie, found her voice. She paves a journey out of her own stories and experiences, all to a backdrop of Australian culture. She finds common space in footy fields, dance floors, restaurants and bedrooms, and presents a picture of what it’s like to be silenced when the whole world has something to say. Tickets for this equal part comedy, personal revelation and cultural critique start at $16, and the show will grace Metro Arts from August 27. Do yourself a favour, and open your ears and eyes to a story that examines the quiet prejudices, small cultural discrepancies and the unspoken power plays that occur daily in Australia. Check out the trailer for Not Much to Tell You here.
What's more terrifying than standing out at high school? It Lives Inside scares up an answer. Here, fitting in with the popular kids has haunting costs — literally — as Indian American teen Samidha (Megan Suri, Never Have I Ever) discovers. Her story starts as all memorable movies should: with a sight that's rarely seen on-screen. While beauty routines are familiar-enough film fodder, watching Sam shave her arms, then use skin tone-lightening filters on her photos, instantly demonstrates the lengths that she's going to for schoolyard approval. Among the white girls that she now calls friends, she also prefers to go by Sam. At home, she's increasingly hesitant to speak Hindi with her parents Inesh (Vik Sahay, Lodge 49) and Poorna (Neeru Bajwa, Criminal). And when it comes to preparing for and celebrating the Hindu ritual of puja, Sam would rather be elsewhere with Russ (Gage Marsh, Big Sky), the boy that she's keen on. It Lives Inside's frights don't spring from razors and social media, or from shortened names and superficial classmates; however, each one underscores how far that Sam is moving away from her heritage. Worse: they indicate how eagerly she's willing to leave her culture behind, too, a decision that's affected her childhood bond with Tamira (Mohana Krishnan, The Summer I Turned Pretty). As their school's only students with Indian backgrounds, they were once happily inseparable. Now Sam considers Tamira a walking reminder of everything that she's trying to scrub from her American identity. Keeping to herself — skulking around clutching a jar filled with a strange black substance, and virtually hiding behind her unbrushed hair — the latter has become the class outcast. So, when she asks Sam for help, of course no is the answer. Making his feature debut after a sizeable list of shorts —and winning SXSW Austin's 2023 Audience Award in its Midnighters section with the unsettling results — writer/director Bishal Dutta loads It Lives Inside's early moments with gnawing unease. Everything that Sam is putting herself through doesn't sit cosily, nor is it meant to. Distress has been eating away at Tamira as well, as her horrified stare everywhere that Sam looks constantly makes plain. Wild and wide eyes shaped by fear and uncertainty may be one of this genre's staples, but Krishnan sports a perfectly petrified pair of peepers as she pleas for assistance. After Sam smashes the ever-grasped canister in anger, annoyance and disbelief, letting out the flesh-eating demonic entity inside, Suri joins in with her own frequently aghast eyeballs. Casting Get Out's Betty Gabriel as a concerned teacher at Sam and Tamira's school savvily reinforces what audiences can quickly spot with In Lives Inside: this is a social thriller just like Jordan Peele's Oscar-winner (and also Us and Nope), plus everything from Sorry to Bother You and Parasite. Here, with a moniker and a central stalking force that also brings It Follows to mind, cues similarly taken from The Babadook, plus high-school humiliation that'd do Carrie proud, it's the pressure to eschew one's roots to blend in that scores the horror treatment. The supernatural presence doing the spooking is a Pishacha, which hail from Hindu and Buddhist folklore — and, as it feeds on negative vibes, its targets aren't random. Indeed, in painting a portrait of the pains that accompany being caught between the traditions of your parents' homeland and the daily reality of the only place you've ever known and its homogenous demands, Dutta gets his movie sinking its teeth in. There's no doubting that It Lives Inside's feature filmmaking first-timer is a student of scary movies: conventions from English-language frightfests spanning decades keep peeking through. Accordingly, the plot co-penned by Dutta with Ashish Mehta (Hush Hush) does inescapably feel like plenty of other flicks, complete with being set in a Spielbergian-esque town. This film loves splashing around red hues to get nightmarish as well, and peering intently at everyone quivering in Pishacha's presence. Using alarmed and startled people on-screen to evoke the same sensations in viewers might be one of the simplest tricks in the book, but it works: empathy is one helluva horror-movie tool. Dutta understands that, and also how powerful it is to witness Sam being so visibly shaken by being trapped between her background and the Americanised ideal that she's decided is her future. Also working swimmingly: Suri and Krishnan, who both make expressive horror stars (as, given Dutta's affection for close-ups, they need to). When Tamira disappears, forcing Sam to take her otherworldly mythology tale and its life-and-death manifestation seriously, Suri keeps adding weight to It Lives Inside's layered emotional journey. Trying to erase your heritage because you think that's the only option and then grappling with what that truly means aren't easy things to deal with, with or without confronting a monster. While many of the movie's most potent moments don't involve the Pishacha in the frame, Suri sells it all — the angst, the facade, coping with her supposed pals thinking that speaking another language is cute, the frustration over her mum's disapproval and choices since moving stateside, the realisations, and the terror and panic all included. It Lives Inside isn't without its own chilling visual touches, though; proving that hinting works better than showing, one early altercation with the picture's boogeyman gives Dutta an instant resume highlight. And, that it's the situation and its significance rather than the actual murderous beast that lingers is 100-percent by design. Musing about immigration, displacement and conformity, and joining the ranks of culturally specific horror such as Under the Shadow and The Vigil, this is a tense and thoughtful film — even if it too, like Sam, is torn between two realms. Thankfully, the meaning that lives inside It Lives Inside gives freshness to a movie that knows it's working with a formula; filtering US teen horror through the Indian American experience is also one of Dutta's clear quests.
If there's one thing that the current trend towards immersive art installations is particularly great for — other than all those snaps in your Instagram feed — it's helping us all pretend we're somewhere out of the ordinary. Feel like stepping into a famous artwork or strolling past life-sized desserts? There's a pop-up for both. Fancy getting wintry, even though Brisbane in summer is obviously anything but? Glacial Glow has you covered. Given that it's currently on display at Westfield Carindale, it'll also make you forget you're just in a suburban shopping centre. The eye-catching walk-through installation creates an arctic world using visuals, sounds and light. While that might all sound standard, scenic artist Christopher Williams — who has worked on blockbuster films such as Aquaman, Thor: Ragnarok and Godzilla vs Kong — is behind it. He's used his cinema-tested techniques to create glowing glaciers and art caves, so you won't just be enjoying the frosty look; you'll also be benefiting from movie magic IRL. Glacial Glow is set up across a 500-metre space on level one of Westfield Carindale, and the winter wonderland is currently selling tickets through until Monday, February 28. It's an all-ages-friendly pop-up, so expect plenty of company. Also, because it uses ultra-violet lighting, you're encouraged to wear brightly coloured or white clothing when you make the trip — and then you'll glow, too.
For three months, Salt Meats Cheese is bringing its Italian fare to the other side of the inner-city — and, for the first month, it'll have Gelato Messina for company. From Tuesday, July 3, the two new-ish arrivals to Brisbane are teaming up for a pop-up at West End's West Village. Yes, that means you'll be feasting on epic pizza and dessert combinations. SMC's laneway stint will run until the end of September, serving up breakfast and lunch every day of the week, plus dinner from Wednesday to Sunday — so, if you're keen on truffle pizza, cheese wheel pasta and Nutella mud cake, this is where you'll want to head. It'll also be brewing up espresso and lattes every morning, as well as setting up a boutique container bar curated by Sydney mixologists Archie Rose. Unsurprisingly, espresso martinis will be on the menu. As for Messina, come 5pm Fridays and midday on the weekend, the ice cream fiends will be whipping up mini gelato cakes and decadent hot chocolates. The latter just might get your tastebuds salivating; called a Bombe Choc Alaska, it comes complete with dulce de leche gelato toasted marshmallows.
Back in 1862, when Don Facundo Bacardi created the rum that would bear his name, little could he know its importance to one particular drink. At the time, the mojito already existed in another guise; however, with the addition of Bacardi, the clear, fragrant jumble of fresh mint, sugar, lime juice and ice become something extra special. That's one of the reasons why the brand is known as a pioneer of rum cocktail culture, and why they're throwing Bacardi Rum Month to celebrate. Although every day is a good day to knock one back, International Mojito Day on July 11 is when you'll find Brisbane ablaze with sweet but tart taste sensations — including at the city's five best mojito spots. COVE BAR & DINING South Bank isn't quite the same as Cuba, but enjoying sweeping water views and laidback dining in elegant surrounds still feels fun and tropical in the river city. A shareplate-heavy menu, coupled with a considerable cocktail list, certainly doesn't dampen that relaxed atmosphere. Indeed, in such a scenic spot and with such a chilled mood, a mojito is the ideal beverage. Cove Bar & Dining make theirs with Bacardi Carta Blanca, fresh lime juice, soda water, castor sugar and mint leaves. They call it the original mojito for a reason. LARUCHE Many a big night out has started and ended at Laruche, just a hop, skip and jump from the Fortitude Valley mall on Ann Street. When it comes to their mojito, think winter, in a variation taken from a twist on another classic drink: the Mulata daiquiri. Called the Mulata mojito — what else? — it includes white crème de cacao, house-made falernum (aka a syrup typically made of almonds, ginger, cloves, lime and vanilla) and ginger beer. A summertime drink this is not, but who said mojitos couldn't warm you up when it's cold outside? Not us. LYCHEE LOUNGE If there was a time before Lychee Lounge became one of Brisbane's premier cocktail bars, no one remembers it. Everyone does remember their Barbie doll chandeliers and fish-scaled walls, though, as well as the eclectic but tasty drinks list. In the same quirky spirit, their take on the mojito is rather unique and unusual. Showcasing the freshness of the cocktail while highlighting the richer characters of aged Bacardi rums is the aim, with dashes of raspberry, pomegranate and burnt honey for good measure. That word you're looking for? It's yum. PAPA JACKS There's nothing standard about the Creole-themed Papa Jacks, and that includes its drinks. Sorry, we mean dranks. That's the Deep South term they prefer, and one that rolls off the tongue while eating finger lickin' good food. Trust such a bar to serve up mojitos in the only fashion they could, which is in any fashion you'd like. At their make your own mojito stand, you can swap out the fresh herbs and citrus, try an original syrup, stick with the basics, or do something completely different. That's the Papa Jacks style, all right. PRESS CLUB From burlesque to R'n'B nights, Press Club is the kind of place that has something for everybody. There's a reason it has stood the test of time as many other bars and clubs have opened and closed around it — and its love of variety is never a bad thing. Take the Press Club mojito, for example, which will hopefully leave you feeling like you've been transported to a spot under Havana's burning sun. It's the spice that does it, with house chilli and smoked agave syrup, as well as a garnish of peri peri. Now that's hot stuff.
Turning trash into treasure is the aim of the game here, and there’s certainly ample bounty to reward the curious. The gift shop located within Woolloongabba’s Reverse Garbage Queensland headquarters stocks items made from salvaged odds and ends, everything transformed from their original state into beautifully crafted objects of all shapes and sizes. Lego rings, watch part earrings, and other types of trinkets line the store, celebrating timber, scrap metal, textiles and more taking on new forms and meanings, and illustrating the possibilities for the reuse of otherwise wasted and discarded materials. Embrace the unwanted this festive season – someone else’s garbage could be your perfect gift. Image: Yan Chen
Sound art may be on the fringes of the exhibition world, but Liquid Architecture is one Australian organisation dedicated to creating spaces and sonic encounters that bring the ideas and innovation of the medium to a contemporary art environment. Over two evenings, LA2015 Brisbane sees the organisation take over the Institute of Modern Art with a program of sonic exploration that critically examines the meaning and place of sound itself. The participating artists use home-made synthesisers, opera, folk music and psychic tests — to name but a few of the diverse methodologies encountered — in response to the organisation’s broader 2015 themes of capitalist surrealism, feminist methodologies and sonic warfare. Their work asks questions about contemporary life and technology, the social implications of capitalist ideology and the pervasiveness of state-corporate eavesdropping. LA2015 Brisbane runs from 5pm to 9pm on 3 and 4 October at the IMA. Image: Richard Dawson, Google Dreaming
Whether chasing some pre-party fridge replenishment, or avoiding that midweek bottle shop run once safely ensconced on your couch, the quest for booze has officially got a whole lot easier, now that 30-minute alcohol delivery service Jimmy Brings has landed in Brisbane. The company's already popular in its launch city of Sydney, and more recently in Melbourne. It has become a go-to for its carefully curated range of wine, beer and spirits, and its ability to bundle delicious beverages to your doorstep in under half an hour, before 10.30pm on any given night. Now, Jimmy Brings has thankfully headed north, launching in Brisbane across 29 suburbs. Places like New Farm, Paddington, West End, Greenslopes and Milton are among the first to enjoy access, with plans to expand to even more suburbs in the near future. The service is now delivering to a whopping 286 suburbs across Australia. Jimmy Brings is now servicing 29 suburbs across Brisbane. To see if yours is included, head to the website.
Warm summer days, kicking back with friends, gin and tonics on the go — it doesn't get much better than that. While you don't need to go out to enjoy the classic drink, you'll definitely need all the best ingredients. Enter Ginny Brings: the brainchild of Tanqueray and Jimmy Brings that's arrived to make your at-home hangs even better. You can now order any Tanqueray gin from the Ginny Brings site between midday and 11pm and have it delivered to your door within half an hour. Plus, each order comes with a free Fever-Tree tonic water (some of the best tonic out there) and garnishes to help kit you out for total G&T success. But hold on, your gin mastery doesn't stop there. You may now have quality ingredients at your fingertips, but you still need to know how to make a G&T properly. It's all too easy to end up with an unbalanced drink — even if it seems like it's one of the easiest drink recipes out there. To help you out, we've had a chat with Tanqueray brand ambassador Krystal Hart to uncover a few key tricks of the trade so you can concoct flawless G&Ts at home like a pro. Gather the troops, order your preferred gin and start mixing. Just make sure to brush up on the below tips first for maximum G&T prowess. [caption id="attachment_689394" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Smallbone.[/caption] CHOOSE THE RIGHT GIN With so many gins on the market at the moment, choosing the right one can make your head spin. But really it comes down to personal preference. If you love that big hit of juniper, Tanqueray London Dry could be the winner. After a burst of citrus? Tanqueray No. Ten delivers refined, zesty notes. And if you're looking to shake things up a bit, set your sights on Tanqueray's new Rangpur gin, distilled with Rangpur limes and mandarin, or the sweeter Flor de Sevilla, made with Seville oranges. FIND THE PERFECT TONIC Tonic can affect taste just as much as your choice of gin. Skip the home brand option and opt for something a little more distinctive in terms of purity and flavour. Fever-Tree has a range a tonics, from elderflower to lemon to Mediterranean, that help to highlight the varying botanicals in your gin. Hot tip: pair Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla gin and Fever-Tree aromatic tonic, then add a wedge of orange and sprig of thyme for an afternoon spritz-inspired G&T. [caption id="attachment_689430" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Smallbone.[/caption] CONSIDER YOUR GLASSWARE They say it's what's on the inside that counts, but that rule doesn't apply to your G&T vessel of choice. You wouldn't drink coffee from a wine glass, so don't go pouring quality gin into some second-rate sippy cup. For an aromatic gin like Tanqueray Sevilla, try a stemless wine glass or Bordeaux glass to help accentuate the taste. A good glass is ergonomic, it's classy — it's fashion. KEEP THINGS CHILL No one likes a flat, warm G&T. The best way to avoid this dire outcome is by loading up on the ice. Depending on personal preference, you can roll with one giant cube (classy and restrained) or fill your glass to the brim with standard cubes. The more chilled, the more balanced, the better. [caption id="attachment_700029" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud.[/caption] MAKE IT VISUAL Always garnish. We're not saying it's hard science, but pretty looking drinks just seem to taste better. A classic staple is a piece of citrus and, to up the ante slightly, some fresh herbs to complement the gin's botanicals. But feel free to experiment with the unknown: add a fresh bay leaf, get around blackberries and cucumber or garnish with chilli, lime and coriander for a spicy, savoury alternative. You'll not only end up with some attractive drinks but also some new flavours to tickle your tastebuds. Start exercising your skills this festive season. Just make sure you've got everything you need for a flawless G&T. Look to Ginny Brings to get you sorted with the Tanqueray of your choice (Tanqueray London Dry, Tanqueray No. Ten, Tanqueray Rangpur and Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla) plus free Fever-Tree tonic and garnishes to go with. Looking for more ways to enjoy gin? Check out The Gin List for more ideas.
Christmas markets are always excellent for those of us who tend to leave gift purchasing until the last minute — and, thankfully, Etsy is setting up their markets all over Australia in the second last weekend of November. Etsy Made Local is a grassroots initiative that celebrates crafters, collectors and artisans in local communities, and provides them with the opportunity to sell their creations both online and in a physical space. So whether you're on the hunt for handmade wares or vintage goods, these guys have got you covered. The markets will be held in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Because each market focuses on the best local talent, each market will be filled with different stallholders and unique creations. Supporting creative small businesses and scoring a killer Christmas gift is a win for everyone involved, so head to the Brisbane Showgrounds on Saturday, November 19 and get your festive shopping done early, for once.
Last-minute shopping, over-indulging at celebratory shindigs, and pretending not to be annoyed about receiving another pair of socks: they're all a part of every Christmas. For kids and adults alike, so is many a seasonal-themed movie. If it has Santa or Christmas in the title, it's optimal viewing at this time of year. The folks at South Bank certainly think so, and have thrown together their yearly Christmas Cinema Series brimming with merriment. These free films aren't just for families. Any Yuletide movie held under Brisbane's starry skies and by the water at River Quay Green at this summery time of the season is perfect for, well, everyone. Pack a picnic and enjoy double features every night from Friday, December 14 to Sunday, December 23. The familiar but still festive and fun lineup includes everything fromthe 80s stylings of Gremlins to the classic treat that is Miracle on 34th Street. That's not all, with Elf, The Polar Express, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone and more among a positively jovial and jolly selection of childhood classics gracing the waterside big screen.
Remember when you were 8 years old, snuggled up in front of the telebox, with a bowl popcorn in your lap, witnessing the death of Little Foot’s mother on the Land Before Time (sorry) for the first time? Remember the warmth of the blanket, the salty aromas of the room, and the borderline maternal relationship between the screen and yourself? Well those day’s aren’t dead, and new kids on the block, Found, are showing why with their upcoming movie night. Now if Found had decided to project Kangaroo Jack, Norbit or Spiderman 3 for their first film night, we writers at Concrete Playground would be faced with a real pain, and would probably have to implement 1940s propaganda strategies in order to sell it. Fortunately though, they’ve opted for Pulp Fiction, which needs only this hyperlink to remind us why it’s the crème de la crème of cult films. But wait, there’s more! Found are stripping all of the original music from the film, and replacing it with live music – CRAZY! Check out the bands who are covering it here and be sure to rock up and along with blankey.
In the 1970s, recently de-closeted lawyer Paul (Garret Dillahunt) meets drag club singer Rudy (Alan Cumming), and the two hit it off immediately. Their relationship is both complicated and strengthened when Rudy discovers his drug-addict neighbour has a neglected son with Down's syndrome, and takes it upon himself to care for the kid. Before any of them know what's happened, a family unit has instantly formed, and the three must fight prejudices to stay together. Any Day Now has the vague whiff of being based on a true story, and does purport to have been inspired by true events, but press notes refuse to go into any detail about what this true story might have been. It's a important to note this, because tales that claim to be "inspired by true events" receive a cache of good will, as outrageous plot contrivances are forgiven under the assumption that it must have really happened. Without a grasp of what the original true life tale might have been, the series of coincidences in this film are a little harder to swallow. We can accept that life is stranger than fiction, but only when the fiction draws us in with the sort of verisimilitude that shocks us with its authenticity. Some films feel like real life; others simply feel like films. Any Day Now, for all its excellent intentions, feels like a film. Cumming chews up the scenery as the improbably accented Rudy, whose Joan Rivers-esque comebacks to every single utterance thrust in his direction makes him feel like a nightclub routine, as opposed to someone who occasionally performs a nightclub routine. It's a shame, because these unlikely quips undo the solid emotional work Cumming puts in as the prospective adopted father. Rudy's instant connection to Marco would feel too rushed if it wasn't for the frankly superb work by Isaac Leyva, the teenager with Down's syndrome. Marco is quiet and nonresponsive for a long period of the film, suggesting that the drama will come from the more experienced actors having emotions at him. But Leyva is called upon to do some pretty heavy work, selling us on tears of joy in one scene and tears of sadness in another. It's hard to watch him and not feel the overwhelming compulsion to adopt him yourself. Ultimately, Any Day Now suffers from its artifice. Too many things happen too easily, and for us to be convinced by the situation, the film would have been served by reducing the manipulation. As a weepy and capitalised Important Tale, the film is very good and some moments stir up emotion, but it isn't the film it should be, failing to hit the heights it is so earnestly aiming for. https://youtube.com/watch?v=7ghwGOuuNy0
Ever since El Camino Cantina arrived in town, the eatery's little patch of Bowen Hills has basically become a constant party. When a place boasts eight slushie machines pumping out frozen margaritas, that's completely understandable. When it serves up cheap tacos every week, well, who doesn't want to keep on celebrating? On Sunday, February 3, the Tex-Mex joint is upping the ante — this time, it's slinging free snacks and pumping a retro soundtrack. Drop by by from 4pm to enjoy a spread of chicken wings, tacos, jalapeno poppers and other bites, all without spending a cent. Then, hit the dance floor to make some shapes to 90s and 00s tunes. To head along to this afternoon party, you will need to join El Camino Cantina's Amigos club; however that's free as well. There'll also be a giant piñata waiting for you to take a swing, plus cocktails to wet your whistle.
If Christmas rolls around, and you don't dress up your doggo in its festive finest and take it to see Santa, is it really Christmas? Felons Brewing Co thinks not. Not content with being Brissie's only riverside brewery, this new source of beers with a view is also giving the city's ale-sipping, Christmas-loving pooch owners exactly what they want: the chance to get their pet's portrait taken with the jolliest of figures. Between 3–5pm on both Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16, the red-suited wonder known as Father Christmas will be outside Felons waiting to get snapped with your adorable four-legged friend. That's it, it's sorted: everyone you know is getting copies of the cute shot in their stocking. Best start looking for the best frames to go with them. The photos are free, although there is one caveat: they're for canines only. No kids, and no adults who think they're kids either. If you fall into the latter category, you can always treat yourself to a cold one afterwards.
He's a hip-hop and fashion trailblazer. His latest album Chromakopia dropped in 2024. He's also heading to Australia again in 2025. That'd be Tyler, The Creator — and he's coming with friends, with the genre-bending rapper boasting Lil Yachty and Paris Texas in support. Tyler, The Creator last headed this way on a headline tour in 2022, and played Splendour in the Grass as well. On his latest trip, he has a two-night date with Brisbane, playing Brisbane Entertainment Centre across Saturday, August 30–Sunday, August 31. Luis 'Panch' PerezThe Chromakopia tour follows his 2024 Coachella headlining set, on a bill that also included Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, No Doubt and plenty more. Before 2022 — which marked Tyler's first set of headline shows down under in over eight years — the last time that the star graced Australian shores was for a series of festival appearances over New Years 2020–21, hitting up the likes of Beyond the Valley and Field Day. [caption id="attachment_823369" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Demxx via Flickr[/caption] Top images: Raph_PH via Flickr.
This time last year, the Brisbane Street Art Festival was in full swing, with creative folks brightening up the Queensland capital with their artistic work. While the fest ranks among the many, many events changing their plans in 2020, you can still watch street art come to life before your eyes this weekend — via a two-day live stream. Teaming up with Brisbane art space Superordinary, BSAF is unleashing 19 artists on the building. Naturally, they'll be painting up a storm. Every inch of the space will be transformed, and everyone can see it happen. That doesn't just cover street art-loving Brisbanites, either, because online streams are handy that way. The weekend-long event runs across Saturday, May 16–Sunday, May 17, with the action streamed via Twitch. As well as oh-so-much painting, there's also interviews, Q&As and roving performances — all while social distancing. https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneStreetArt/photos/a.10150176402908346/10158102825878346/?type=3&theater Top image: Gus Eagleton.
You wander into The Johnson, head to a room, and everything seems normal — that's what people at hotels, after all. But if you're doing so between September 12–15 as part of Brisbane Festival, then you're not there to stay. Rather, you're seeing a show. Yes, as well as hitting up venues all around the city, this year's fest includes a one-man show in a Spring Hill hotel room.Created and performed by Wiradjuri man Joel Bray, it's called Biladurang, with the title meaning platypus. As you're trapped in the room with Joel, you'll watch him dance, act, wonder why he's there and loosely relay a dreamtime story. Image: Pippa Samaya.
From the folks that brought Brisbane audiences Speed: The Movie, the Play and Titanic: The Movie, the Play comes Let Them Eat Cake. Yep, if they can recreate one of Keanu's finest cinema moments on an actual bus, then they can toy with French history — and take inspiration from a very famous phrase — in a cooking school. And, they can do all of that while actually letting the audience eat cake. There's no shortage of food otherwise, but hey, why not? As part of the 2017 Anywhere Theatre Festival, Act/React Theatre will get farcical will food at The Golden Pig Cooking School, and serve up delicious baked goods cooked on-site. If you've always wanted a show and a snack — and some powdered wig-wearing entertainment — all in one, you'll be in the right spot. Plus, if your stomach keeps grumbling, you can always sign yourself up for one of The Golden Pig's classes — when it's not standing in for The Palace of Versailles, that is. Their lineup includes South American fare, pizza and pasta essentials, French bistro, scrumptious salads, and bread making. And, yes, cake decorating, to keep on theme.
Eating ice cream and helping those in need: it's a situation where everyone wins. It's also exactly what's on the agenda at the Strawberry Sundae Fundraiser for Farmers on Wednesday, September 26. Buy a frozen dessert and the proceeds will go to strawberry growers. Of course, you won't get any old ice cream. You'll get one of Brisbane's beloved strawberry sundaes — the type that are usually only available once a year at the Ekka. The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation is whipping up another batch for one day only, to assist strawberry farmers doing it tough in the wake of the needle contamination scare. They're buying the strawberries from local growers as well. You'll be able to grab your $5 sundae and do your part across a huge 12-hour period, with the event running from 6.30m–6.30pm at King George Square. You'll be able to grab several sundaes across the day if you really feel like it. The organisers are hoping to sell a whopping 10,000 ice creams — and ABC Brisbane will be broadcasting live for the entire period, too.
For your next Netflix binge, the streaming platform isn't simply suggesting its latest must-see series — it's also telling you what you should be eating. Crack out the tortillas, start marinating some meat and whip up a bit of guacamole, because it's taco time. No mere mortal can sit down to watch a show about this Mexican dish without devouring a whole plate of them, after all. Called Las Crónicas del Taco in Spanish and Taco Chronicles in English, the new series fittingly stems from Netflix's Latin American division. Also unsurprisingly, the show is an ode a meal that's beloved not only in its country of origin, but the world over. Expect to learn more about the versatile tortilla, including its immense cultural significance. And expect to start craving the many different varieties of tacos, too, such as pastor, carnitas, canasta, asada, barbacoa and guisados. Ample gushing about the dish is part of the package — this is a show made for taco lovers, by taco lovers — as is a feast of taco visuals. As any fan of food-focused documentaries already knows oh-so-well, viewing this multi-part effort on an empty stomach is not recommended. Taco Chronicles does boast Javier Cabral among its behind-the-scenes team, with the culinary writer acting as an associate producer and 'taco scout'. The series' English-language trailer is only available on Netflix itself, but if you can speak Spanish — or fancy looking at a whole heap of tacos anyway — Netflix Latin America's unsubtitled clip is below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2qist_IxZI The first season of Taco Chronicles is now streaming on Netflix. Updated: August 12, 2019.
It’s hard not to love a band with as many syllables as Ball Park Music. They started humbly as QUT students, worked the Triple J airwaves with ease, and now are one of Brisbane’s most successful music exports – we’re of course referring to their presence at Toowoomba’s 2013 Food and Wine Festival. But seriously, since their return from The Range, they’ve made quite a few exciting announcements – a new single 'She Only Loves Me When I’m There', the release of their third album Puddinghead, and a national album tour. That means happy days for their fans, friends and maybe enemies are in store! Ball Park Music are heading to The Tivoli to show of their new album and treat fans to the classics that made them party-playlist staples. 2013 was the year they could settle down, buckle up and throw all their heart into a new album, and the by-product, Puddinghead, is testament to their time and talent. It’s no doubt their most accomplished album to date. Get online and grab a ticket – don’t be a fence sitter, just go!
Inspired by a true and almost timeless love story and adapted for contemporary stages, Holding the Man is a tale of love and loss that manages to communicate all of the nuances of modern relationships, transcending gender and sexuality boundaries all at once. Timothy Conigrave's memoir of his own relationship in the mid-'70s was transformed for the stage by Tommy Murphy and has since been performed in London’s West End as well as enjoying sell-out seasons across Australia. The production is finally back in Brisbane for a limited season at La Boite, so make sure you jump on tickets early before they sell out again. This is sure to be a magical story, addressing separation, temptation, heartache and devotion.
What do you do when wild weather hits, Brisbanites? Watch the radar to see just when and where it'll strike? Stay glued to your couch? Come up with a new festival of contemporary dance? We're guessing only two folks can claim the latter, although everyone can enjoy the end result. Yes, things are about to get stormy on the stage instead of in the sky (although, given that it's summer, the latter is still likely to happen too). From February 18 to 25, SUPERCELL: Festival of Contemporary Dance Brisbane will take over the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, as co-founded and curated by Kate Usher and Glyn Roberts. The fresh venture celebrates Queensland's place in the dance world by bringing together local and international artists, performances, workshops and conversations. Highlights include a five-woman piece from Switzerland's Simone Truong; a triple bill by Australia's Bridget Fiske and the UK's Joseph Lau; dancers from China, Indonesia and around Australia; and a three-day workshop with Gold Coast outfit The Farm. SUPERCELL: Festival of Contemporary Dance Brisbane runs from February 18 to 25 at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts. For more information, visit the festival website.
Almost glowing in hue and tasting like sunshine in a liqueur, limoncello is one of Italy's many culinary gifts to the world. It's also a drink to while away an afternoon with. Fancy spending a spring Sunday in Brisbane sipping, eating Italian snacks and enjoying a DJ-spun soundtrack? Make a date with Allonda. On Sunday, November 19, the Newstead restaurant is throwing a laneway party to mark the arrival of limoncello in a can. The shindig itself is the first piece of good news — and if you like grab-and-go convenience or the potential for a refund for recycling, or you're just a general fan of drinks in tins, you'll clearly have another reason to celebrate. Running from 12–5pm and costing $95.55 to attend, this cruisy way to spend a Sunday afternoon includes a zesty limoncello upon arrival as part of your ticket, plus a food menu curated by Head Chef Sam Todd. If you're keen for more beverages, you can then hit up the cash bar. Canapé-style cacio e pepe will be among the culinary options, while the drinks hail from Solbevi, which is launching its new 250-millilitre tins Down Under — ready for citrusy summer sips. Don't expect too much company, either, with tickets limited to 75 people.
The world was only lucky enough to receive 20 episodes of the surrealist wonder that is The Mighty Boosh, but, like a talking moon and drinking Baileys from a shoe, it made an impact. If you know what we're talking about, then break out your best blazer with elbow patches and make like a part-man, part-fish to The Brightside at 7pm on April 27. With more flair than Noel Fielding's wardrobe, and more attitude than Julian Barratt's disaffected gaze, Man vs Bear is taking on the cult British show by doing what they do best — asking trivia questions, waiting for your answers, and handing out prizes. To be honest, wondering just what themed rewards could possibly be on offer is a huge drawcard. It promises to be the kind of night where anything could happen. And, the kind of journey through space and time as well. As always, entry is free but registering for The Mighty Boosh Trivia Night in advance is highly recommended.
It's always a good thing when the little festival that could gets a leg up on the big 'uns. In this case, Harvest Festival has fully pwned the competitors by sneaking an amazing lineup in before the summer festival season gets too messy and expensive. Harvest says, “fuck ya” to the regular indie music festival mould that says you need to sprawl big names across a few days and use filler acts to make up the rest of the timetable gaps. Seriously, everyone is buggered by the end of a three-day festival and just really want a lie down. Harvest knows we are a lazy bunch and has devised a simple plan to knock us all out in one go: bring Portishead back to Australia after a 14 year absence, throw in TV On The Radio, add in some Flaming Lips (who absolutely blew everyone's minds at Splendour in 2009) and chuck in The National, Bright Eyes, Mogwai, The Holidays and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Big Day Out can eat on that massive lineup and swallow the bitter Harvest pill. This one-day festival may have a program with under 25 bands, but it's exactly that no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point idea that will make it successful. Tickets are still available to The Gathering (as it prefers to be called), so make no mistake – you are going to be disappointed if you miss it.
Remember when Best Coast came to Brisbane and there was an uproar because Beth was wearing something from Supre? God, I know right, it was totes a hipster faux pas fo sho! I wasn’t even there and I knew about it. Anyway, she wouldn’t have had that problem if she’d come at this time of year – and why? The answer is simple: QUT’s Fashion graduates. They’ve spent the past few months holed up in studio, cutting patterns, pick-unpicking, shooting lookbooks and more to tie up the ends of their graduate collection… and the results are glorious. This year’s graduates have influences as widespread as the chaotic streets of India to colonial Africa. The graduate shows run over four nights, with each graduate designer showing six pieces from their collection. By the time ol’ Bratty B comes back to Brisbane for the Big Day Out (unintentional alliteration there), these dudes will have made it big, and she’ll finally be able to find something better than a $10 stretch skirt to wear on stage.
Despite also serving up everything from all-day breakfast to ice cream sandwiches, we still think that fries are the best thing about Lord of the Fries. It's right there in the name, after all. The chain's chips are particularly tasty — as made with Australian potatoes and cooked in a cottonseed sunflower oil blend. There is one thing better than Lord of the Fries' titular dish, however. That'd be free fries from the chip-loving establishment. And on Tuesday, July 13, the vegan fast food joint is giving away just that. Free. Fries. Yes, really. To snag free fries on Tuesday, you'll need to head to your chosen store — Brisbanites can flock to Fortitude Valley, or to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast — between 1–2pm, and you'll be gifted a serving of shoestring deliciousness. You don't even have to purchase any vego nuggets to redeem them. There is a limit of one freebie per person, though, so take that into consideration if you're feeling particularly peckish. You'll get your choice of classic sauces, too. And if you're wondering why, that's because it's National Fry Day. Of course it is.
Breaking down barriers and blasting stereotypes — it all happens with irreverent energy in Blak Electric. Weaving together drama, dance and song, this work from the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts is all about the Indigenous experience in urban Brisbane. Plus it has the added benefit of sharing and celebrating the skills of the school's latest cohort of students. The performance focuses on three young people, each with different connections to their country and culture, and each faced with different obstacles in working out what it means to be an Indigenous Australian in 2014. Director Stephen Lloyd Helper crafts a cheeky and contemplative piece about connection, culture and reconciliation, with the theme of land as a focal point. Featuring more than 40 performers on stage, as well as a live band, Blak Electric tells a story, honours tradition, and showcases the next generation of talent. Image: Dylan Evans.
If there was ever an event tailor-made for those with limited attention spans, it's Short + Sweet Festival. You know that feeling you get when you're 15 minutes into something that you're not all that into? Well, you won't find that here. In the fest's 2016 Brisbane run over July 14 to 16 and 21 to 23, more than 30 new works will take to the stage across four strands of theatre and cabaret. Yes, that sounds like a lot, but there's a twist. Each and every different performance spans a maximum of 10 minutes. Everything from improvised conversations and odes to puberty to physical explorations of attachment and film noir-themed burlesque features among the heaving program of bite-sized theatre delights, with south-east Queensland's best and brightest eager to showcase their condensed skills. Of course, they're not just offering up a sample of their talents for the fun of it; they're also hoping you'll vote to send them through to the Short + Sweet gala finals on August 26.
Fancy a few stints at the flippers, but don't quite possess the skills? Pinball is a game that looks easy, but can be downright frustrating if you're struggling to find your button-mashing rhythm — which is where Netherworld's experts come in. If you're going to run a retro-style gaming and arcade bar, then you're going to staff it with folks who know their stuff. And, with pinball lovers happy to share their talents with the masses. Just mosey on by from 5–9pm on Thursdays, August 30, where the venue's experts will teach you their tricks — for free, including a few games on the house. Dead flipping, cradling and post passing might mean nothing to you now, but that'll change once you've spent a few hours working your way around the Brunswick Street hangout's tables. Pinball for Beginners is all part of this year's Valley Fiesta, and it'll have you mastering the multi-ball mania in no time. Image: Cole Bennetts
The Brisbane International Film Festival is expected to be postponed for 2014 ahead of a Screen Queensland board meeting this Friday. The Australian report this bad news comes as a result of the G20 summit due to be held at the same time in November — one more in a long list of ways in which politicians are messing with our arts these days. Just as Sydney Film Festival gears up for its opening, and the Melbourne International Film Festival organises a lineup ahead of its program launch in July, it has been reported that BIFF is suffering huge internal rifts that may prove fatal. Not only is it facing the troubles posed by the G20 summit, BIFF also has an extremely limited staff (including no sponsorship or marketing), and Screen Queensland are reportedly questioning their involvement entirely. While the other major cities' festivals are run by independent bodies with festival directors such as Nashen Moodley and Michelle Carey, BIFF has been overseen by representatives from Screen Queensland. Both the Sydney and Melbourne festivals are merely supported by their state-governed film bodies, not managed by them. In light of these difficulties, it's been suggested that the Asia Pacific Screen Awards could absorb BIFF in future years. Overall, the future of the event is still not clear. More details will undoubtedly emerge after Screen Queensland meet to discuss it on Friday. But either way, the outlook doesn't look great. Via The Australian. Photos: Matt Warrell.
The eyes of the sporting world are turning towards the Gold Coast, with the Queensland city hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games. That's great news if you're a fan of athletes and nations vying for glory — and, while it might not initially seem like it, it's great news for arts and culture lovers too. As well as the expected competitive endeavours, the event will also feature a huge multi-arts festival, called Festival 2018. First announced last year, Festival 2018 mightn't boast the most exciting name, but it does promise a plethora of exciting programming across 12 days. Taking place from April 4 to 15, the fest will feature more than 1000 arts and cultural experiences, complete with 1440 artists from 50 countries, and including 35 world premieres and 15 Australian premieres. Highlights include the inflatable labyrinth that is Arboria, which will take over Broadbeach's Kurrawa Park; plus Circa's world-first take on The Rite of Spring, but in circus form; and Dancenorth's 360-degree dance performance Surge. Elsewhere, Yothu Yindi and The Treaty Project will kick off the music offerings, while an evening of African tunes will mark what would've been Nelson Mandela's 100th year, and Courtney Act will host a celebration of LGBTQI pride. Also on the bill is the Gold Coast's own Amy Shark; the all-female Electric Lady, bringing together Aussie female-fronted acts; Hot Dub Time Machine 's latest stint; the seven-metre-wide, floating moon sculpture that is Museum of the Moon; and Holoscenes, the performance artwork which comes to Australia for the first time after wowing crowds in New York City's Times Square. Or, attendees can take part in a participatory dance performance featuring hundreds of people; and sing karaoke as they've never experienced it before — via a field of microphones on Surfers Paradise beach. Other standouts include a Champagne party, an extensive food program at Helensvale's NightQuarter, a silent disco tour, a seaside meditation zone and open-air short film screenings showcasing talent from across the Commonwealth. As previously announced, Kate Miller-Heidke, The Jungle Giants and Mau Power will also feature, as part of a lineup of art, music, theatre, dance and more spanning from from Coomera to Coolangatta. To deliver the massive event, The Festival has joined forces with the existing Bleach* Festival — and will also include satellite events held across the state. For Brisbanites not heading to the Goldie, that includes free music from Regurgitator, The Preatures, Bob Evans, Kev Carmody, Cheap Fakes, Airling, Major Leagues and more at South Bank's Cultural Centre Forecourt, a screening of Warwick Thornton's Aussie flag-focused doco We Don't Need a Map and the return of La Boite's refugee production The Village. Image: Dancenorth, Amber Haines
In need of some new procrastination material? Well, you're in luck. Google image search 'Banff' and spend a few minutes (or half an hour) taking in the gorgeous pictures of snow-capped mountains, aqua water and towering pines. It's impossible to not daydream about holidaying somewhere far-flung and exciting while ogling these picture-perfect views, as we're sure you'll agree. Thankfully, from April 11 to 15, you'll have the opportunity to slip into this magical world without ever leaving Brisbane. Brisbane Powerhouse is once again hosting Banff Mountain Film Festival's 2016 tour — the event's latest stopover, after beginning back in 1976. Its stunning cinematography attracts film buffs and adventurers alike making the festival popular across the world today. Every November, hundreds of films enter the competition with the cream of the crop chosen to entertain and amaze festival goers. Some of the featured flicks battled it out in categories including Best Film on Mountain Sport, Best Film on Mountain Environment, Best Film on Mountain Culture, Best Film on Exploration and Adventure, People's Choice Award and more.
It’s time to fire up your barbecues and perfect your spice rub recipe, because the big boys are in town — and they're about to show you how it's done. The Yaks Barbecue Festival is about come to Melbourne for the second year, and Sydney for the first time. The one-day event will feature free classes and demonstrations, more barbecued meat than you can poke a skewer at, live entertainment and, of course, the great barbecue cook-off. The cook-off is sanctioned by the too-legit-to-quit Kansas City Barbeque Society, and the winner will go on to compete at the world championships in the U.S., as well receive as a sweet cash prize and — most importantly — unrivalled barbecue glory. And just because you're not able to attend the festival doesn't mean you can't learn a thing or two — we spoke to festival director Matt Vitale about getting into the craft, the different styles of American barbecue, and got all the pro tips on how to barbecue like a boss. MEET THE EXPERT: MATT VITALE Matt had always been an avid backyard barbecue cook, and a few years ago he decided to try his luck at the big time by entering a barbecue competition for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Matt teamed up with his wife and they won — sending them to the World Championships of barbecuing, held at the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. "It was an amazing experience, and unexpected," he says. "I met a bunch of great people from the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), which is the largest organisation of barbecue enthusiasts in the world, and the organising body for this sport — it is a sport in the States.” The KCBS wanted to sanction a contest to Australia, and with Matt's assistance the first Yaks Barbecue Festival was brought to Melbourne. Now, it's back for a second year, with the festival also being held in Sydney for the first time. THE FOUR TYPES OF AMERICAN BARBECUE According to Matt, there are four different regional styles of barbecue in the U.S. Texas barbecue is mostly beef-focussed; the rubs are a lot simpler, mostly salt and pepper, with not much sauce that is usually served on the side. In Memphis, they generally favour a dry rub on their ribs, and again sauce is usually on the side. North and South Carolina have more of a focus on pork where the sauce is more vinegary with a bit of chili thrown in for good measure. But it's Kansas City, Matt says, that takes the best elements from all of the regions. "They're really well known for their beef brisket and burnt ends, which are these cubes of meat taken from the point end of the brisket. They’re also known for their ribs with rich, tomato, sticky sauce, which I think a lot of people really associate American barbecue with. That’s what Kansas City barbecue is really famous for.” [caption id="attachment_555155" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] HOW TO COOK THE PERFECT BBQ CHOOK Kansas-style barbecue may be well known for their trademark tomato-based sauce, but sometimes it's worth knowing how to perfect the basics before you go slathering on a sticky sauce left, right and centre. One never-fail barbecue recipe that Matt is happy to divulge is his cherrywood-smoked chicken. "Smoked chicken is an achievable dish to do," he says. "A lot of these things you need to cook for a long period of time, but chicken you can get done in a couple of hours." So how do we recreate this magic for ourselves? First, grab a split chicken from a good butcher or poultry and game supplier, as getting it split makes it easier to cook. You're going to need a smoker for this recipe — a very worthy investment if you're serious about your meat. Fire it up to a bit over 100 degrees celsius, and put some wood chunks in there. Matt recommends cherrywood because it's easily available in Australia. Cook the chook for about an hour and a half breast-side down, then turn it over, baste it with olive oil, and leave it for another 30 minutes. Unlike beef brisket, which can take 10-12 hours, this takes a little over two hours and you're ready to eat. Matt recommends pairing this with fresh vegetables cooked over charcoal, such as charred corn, sliced eggplant and asparagus, as they get nice and caramelised. Drink of choice? Beer, of course — either a Fat Yak or a Lazy Yak goes perfectly with any barbecue. PRO TIPS FOR BBQ NOOBS While a lot of Australians love to consume barbecued goods, not all of us are as talented at making it as we are eating it. Matt recommends starting with a solid fuel BBQ to get the most out of your meat. "Gas BBQs are great, but there's so much more that you can do on a solid fuel BBQ. Cooking with wood and charcoal, you'll always get a better result.” Another piece of advice Matt leaves us with is to not be afraid to just give it a go: “sometimes you’ll get it right, other times you’ll get it wrong, but the more you practice, the more you'll get it right." The Yaks Barbecue Festival is happening in Sydney this Saturday, January 30 and Melbourne on Saturday, February 6. For more information, check out the event. Top image: Dollar Photo Club
The over-the-top brunch extravaganza that is Melbourne's Boozy Brunch is set to hit Brisbane with an inaugural party at Eagle Street's Blackbird Bar & Grill on September 24. The hospitality company launched in 2014 and brings together high-end fashion brands, DJs, live acts and, of course, brunch food and booze for these luxury "social outing" events. Boozy Brunch Brisbane will include runway shows featuring Sass & Bide, Australian DJs and a Chambord pop up bar. The event comes at an especially high-end price of $175, which includes three courses and three hours of drinks. Mistwood Gin, Cider Lab and Chandon are among the alcohol sponsors, though, so you can definitely expect the good stuff. While we have no doubt it will be a glamorous affair, the event seems to be much more about the entertainment than the actual brunch — and is more of an excuse to see and be seen rather than just enjoy some bubbly with friends. The price is particularly steep at $175, (especially given that it could buy drink-filled brunches for a whole table filled with you and your mates elsewhere — just saying). Tickets are limited, and can be purchased via Blackbird.
Once, Brisbane was alive the the fluorescent glow of flickering neon signs. Now, only 200 large scale pieces are left in the state. Celebrating the bright lights that once lit up darkened Brissie nights, The Salon Electric delves into neon as an art form, its relationship to nightlife, the design that goes with it and Queensland's shimmering history between August 25 and February 11. At the heart of the exhibition sits iconic pieces curated by neon maker Michael Blazek, plus photographs of others from the State Library of Queensland's various collections. Jo-Jo's restaurant, the Kookaburra Cafe, Mr Fourex — they're all included. And if you'd like to play along when you're not at South Bank, or even add your own neon pics, the exhibition also has an interactive Historypin site. As well as gazing at glistening signs and snaps of them, The Salon Electric will also feature a screening of Australian documentary Neon on September 5. Directed by Lawrence Johnson, the lively documentary wears its love of its titular substance in every frame — and this is the first time it will play in Brisbane. Image: Neon sign from the collection of Michael Blazek. Courtesy of State Library of Queensland.
