When The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre put on a show, Brisbanites expect just that: a series of gigs and performances at the two venues, which share the same owners. That's what Open Season has been all about since it launched in 2020, and also when it returned in both 2021 and 2023. But 2024's event from Monday, May 20–Saturday, July 27 is spreading the tunes beyond its two main sites. If you're keen to hit up Blak Day Out, the First Nations festival that's also returning within the broader Open Season program, you'll do so on King Street in Bowen Hills. Taking to the stage: Emma Donovan, 3% — which features Dallas Woods, Nooky and Angus Field — plus BADASSMUTHA and The Ancient Bloods. It'll also be accompanied by King Street's Open Season Food Fiesta, where diversity and showcasing Indigenous retailers will be the focus. Fancy a dance party in Winn Lane? Even better, keen to make shapes at two? QUIVR DJs is taking the season there as well. Want to hit up The Tiv's carpark? During 2024's Brisbane Street Art Festival, Damien Mitchell and David Lee Pereira will create new works outside the venue. While the fact that Open Season won't just be taking place at The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre is big news, so is the just-announced lineup overall. Explosions in the Sky will head from Texas to Brisbane for the event, Brooklyn's INIKO are playing their debut Australian gig, Sky Ferreira hops Down Under for the first time in a decade, while Regurgitator have two shows on offer — one for kids and one firmly for adults. Record label Elefant Traks is in the spotlight at a 25th-anniversary gig that doubles as a farewell, and with Hermitude, The Herd, Horrorshow, Urthboy and The Last Kinection all on the bill. This show will both celebrate history and make it, marking Elefant Traks' last-ever event. Also on the roster: Yves Tumor's Aussie debut, Blonde Redhead's first Australian trip in 13 years, plus everyone from Marlon Williams and Mildlife to The Paper Kites and SLUMBERJACK — alongside BAYNK, Two Another, DICE and the initial Brisbane outing for Queer PowerPoint. And that's just the beginning, because Open Season always keeps adding to its itinerary, including once it kicks off. "Open Season is about bringing Brisbane to life over the typically quieter winter months, promoting togetherness and celebrating artistic adventure. We are stoked with this year's lineup and proud that Open Season has become such a huge highlight in the city's cultural calendar," said Dave Sleswick, Creative Director at The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre, announcing the 2024 lineup. "This year's Open Season program has something for everyone, from iconic heritage acts to sets from some of Australia's most exciting up-and-coming artists. There is street art, delicious food, shows for the kids and even a performance art series. There's a lot to discover in this year's edition and we can't wait to welcome you back." Open Season 2024 Lineup: Explosions in the Sky INIKO Sky Ferreira Yves Tumor Marlon Williams Blonde Redhead BAYNK The Paper Kites Regurgitator SLUMBERJACK Mildlife Forest Claudette Two Another DICE Queer PowerPoint Bunny Racket – Rock 'n' Roll for Kids Blak Day Out featuring: Emma Donovan 3% The Ancient Bloods BADASSMUTHA and more Elefant Traks 25th Anniversary — The Finale: Hermitude The Herd Horrorshow Urthboy The Last Kinection and more QUIVR Laneway Parties Brisbane Street Art Festival: David Lee Pereira Damien Mitchell Open Season will run from Monday, May 20–Saturday, July 27, 2024, with pre-sale tickets available from 9am AEST on Tuesday, March 26 and general sales from 9am AEST on Wednesday, March 27. For further details, head to the event's website. Open Season images: Will Johnstone, Curdin and Lachlan Douglas.
Staying in, getting cosy and inviting your friends over to watch a stack of TV shows has become a tried-and-tested winter pastime — but what if you've seen everything that's out there? Firstly, of course you haven't. But thanks to the huge range of content available, it can often feel that way. Perhaps you've just worked your way through all of the stuff that you know about and just can't bring yourself to keep scrolling through pages of options. Plus, we all know how picking a new show can go down when you're in a group and everyone has a different must-see priority. That's where we come in — we've teamed up with Aussie internet service provider MATE to take the stress out of choosing what to watch. If MATE can get you easily sorted with NBN access (with no contracts and locally based support teams), then we can make whiling away the hours with your pals and a TV screen much simpler. Gather the gang, microwave some popcorn, and put someone in charge of drinks and other snacks — you and your squad have a date with these seven ace shows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQaCxIJX0J0&feature=youtu.be GLOW Big hair, big drama, colourful costumes, strong women: that's the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (or GLOW). In the 80s, when putting anyone other than men in the ring was considered a mere novelty act, GLOW emerged to prove that notion wrong. Now, three decades later, Netflix's series of the same name charts the ups and downs on both sides of the ropes. Starring Alison Brie and Betty Gilpin as struggling actors who find their place among GLOW's formidable ladies, as well as Marc Maron as the director who helps turn the all-female concept into a TV series, the show finds the perfect balance between comedy, drama and OTT wrestling action. Even better — when the third season hits at the end of July, taking the gang to Las Vegas, Geena Davis joins the cast. Where to watch: Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpDUMdULVZg DETROITERS It has only been out for mere months, but Netflix's I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson has already proven one of the most bizarre and brilliant comedies in recent years. The sketch show isn't Robinson's first amusing outing, however. He also spent a couple of seasons on Saturday Night Live, and co-starred in (and co-created and co-produced) the hilarious sitcom Detroiters. Featuring opposite Veep's Sam Richardson, Robinson plays a Detroit advertising agency creative with more than a few out-there ideas — but that term describes his life working beside his best pal anyway. While it screened in the US in 2017, the show's ten-episode first season is a new arrival to Stan, includes guest stars such as Jason Sudeikis and Keegan-Michael Key, and is sidesplittingly funny. Where to watch: Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1UjEaO4qd8 COLONY Given the current state of the world, dystopian sci-fi can scratch a cathartic itch — at least aliens haven't landed and taken over the planet, right? That's the premise behind Colony, which follows a Los Angeles family of five as they try to navigate the new world order under extraterrestrial rule. The otherworldly visitors are happy to let a few chosen humans keep the rest in their place with force, which headstrong cop Will Bowman (Lost's Josh Holloway) and his wife Katie (The Walking Dead's Sarah Wayne Callies) are willing to risk their lives to fight against. As well as giving Holloway another chance to unleash his no-nonsense charms, the series is suspenseful, engaging and relevant. Two seasons are available on Netflix, and keep an eye out for the third. Where to watch: Netflix. YOUNG AND PROMISING It's been two years since Girls wrapped up and, if you're still feeling the show's absence, it's time to head to Norway. With four seasons available to stream on SBS On Demand, Young and Promising is the Scandinavian equivalent. It's not a remake, but given that it follows struggling millennials Nenne (Gine Cornelia Pedersen), Elise (Siri Seljeseth, who is also the show's writer) and Alex (Alexandra Gjerpen) as they chase their dreams, it tackles similar themes and dramas — especially since they're all trying to work in creative arenas. Norwegian TV isn't just about Nordic noir, after all, as the series' highly relatable central trio try to balance love, work and life in general. Where to watch: SBS On Demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfe5xQ1M7Jw JEOPARDY! 2019 has been huge for Jeopardy!, the highly addictive American game show that gives contestants the answers and asks them to respond with the questions. The program hit its 35th year, and also welcomed a professional Las Vegas gambler as a contestant — who bet big, won big and made series history. But there's never a bad time to watch Jeopardy! — or is there a bad episode for that matter. Netflix keeps cycling through the show's past, so you can catch some retro 80s, 90s and 00s fashions while you're playing along at home and battling your mates. At the time of writing, the season premieres for the show's first 32 years are all available, as are the episodes from the time that host Alex Trebek asked two of Jeopardy!'s biggest-ever winners to test their skills against a supercomputer. Where to watch: Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfSUxKtgMDw YOU CAN'T ASK THAT The idea behind ABC's You Can't Ask That is so simple, it's almost surprising that someone hasn't thought of it before. In each episode, a range of traditionally marginalised Australians answer questions — and yes, as the title makes plain, they're the kind of queries people are usually afraid to ask. Basically, it's a Reddit AMA on TV. With each episode focused around a specific subset of the population, the thought-provoking series gives its subjects a chance to challenge stereotypes, counter discrimination and tell their own tales. Across four seasons so far, everyone from Indigenous Aussies, the short-statured, ex-prisoners, the terminally ill and refugees to ice users, former cult members, folks over 100, priests and carnival workers have featured. As well as opening your eyes, the show is certain to get you and your friends talking. Where to watch: ABC iview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzsy-haNy1E PEEP SHOW If you haven't seen this classic British sitcom by now, then it's time to address that gap in your viewing. Peep Show first aired back in 2003, but its view of share house life never gets old — or any less relevant. Comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb play south London friends Mark and Jeremy. One is awkward and uptight, the other free-spirited and irresponsible, and they both make terrible decisions about their lives. With nine seasons each spanning six episodes each, the pair's antics cover bad jobs, different girlfriends, huge fights, chaotic weddings, crazy parties, children — and just generally trying and failing to be adults. Oh, and before she won an Oscar for The Favourite, Olivia Colman also co-starred. Where to watch: Netflix. Make home internet usage hassle-free by signing up to MATE. For more information on packages, visit the website. Top Image: Detroiters.
These dream-like pictures look as though they could be from the set of Inception, but they're actually screenshots from Google Earth. Artist Clement Valla zooms into Google Earth at certain angles to reveal a surrealist vision of our world, capturing the images he finds. The only editing effects applied by the artist are basic color adjustments and cropping. A particular penchant for bridges and roads has resulted in an extraordinary collection of screenshots. “I am collecting these new typologies as a means of conservation – as Google Earth improves its 3D models, its terrain, and its satellite imagery, these strange, surrealist depictions of our built environment and its relation to the natural landscape will disappear in favor of better illusionistic imagery. However, I think these strange mappings of the 2-dimensional and the 3-dimensional provide us with fabulous forms that are purely the result of algorithmic processes and not of human aesthetic decision making. They are artifacts worth preserving.” [Via PSFK]
Once you've brought mountain pose to Mt Coot-tha, bridge pose to Kurilpa Bridge, balancing cat pose to Boggo Road Gaol and plenty of activity to Pat Rafter Arena, what comes next? Getting Brisbane's yoga lovers to unleash their flexibility on a pier. That's Sound Off at Sea, Urban Bliss Yoga's latest adventurous exercise outing, which is taking place at Shorncliffe. Expect to bend and stretch while you've standing over water — and whip out your liveliest sun salutation as the fiery ball of heat descends for the day. Taking place on Sunday, February 10, eager yogis will head north for this exercise session, with all of the fun kicking off at 4.30pm. And, thanks to the illuminated headphones everyone will be wearing, there'll be quite the glow coming from the class as well. Everyone from yoga first-timers to asana experts are welcome — as long as you BYO yoga mat — but tickets are expected to get snapped up quickly.
There's never been a better time to sport a healthy interest in true crime, as your streaming and podcast queues can probably attest. The genre is hardly new, but thanks to the likes of Serial and Making a Murderer (and S-Town, Dr Death, Teacher's Pet, Dirty John, The Case Against Adnan Syed and The Bundy Tapes too, to name just a few), exploring real-life tales about untoward acts is positively booming. These days, you can nearly shape your whole media diet around true crime. And, especially in the podcast space, there's almost something new to discover every day. Eager to dive into the latest and greatest grim stories? Looking for something fresh to pipe into your ears, but don't know where to start? Here are six newcomers that you should begin listening to ASAP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dZIf8RpN1A MONSTER: THE ZODIAC KILLER When it comes to creepy unsolved mysteries, the Zodiac Killer sits at the top of the heap. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, an unidentified man murdered victims across northern California, then claimed responsibility by writing to local newspapers — and, to this day, the culprit has not been caught. Before he made Mindhunter everyone's favourite Netflix series, David Fincher explored the story in his excellent 2007 drama Zodiac. He's not the only person obsessed with the case, with the team behind 2018 hit podcast Atlanta Monster (aka Tenderfoot TV and HowStuffWorks) delving into the story in its latest season. The two groups are really just taking turns chronicling fascinating terrain (the second season of Mindhunter focuses on the Atlanta Child Murders, too). However, if you can't get enough of these bleak, disturbing real-life tales, then Monster: The Zodiac Killer is a must-listen, with hosts Payne Lindsey and Matt Frederick stepping through the minutiae in intricate detail across 15 episodes. Listen to Monster: The Zodiac Killer here. MAN IN THE WINDOW: THE GOLDEN STATE KILLER If you're looking for even more California crime stories, then add Man in the Window: The Golden State Killer to your list. For more than a decade between 1974–86, the murderer, rapist and burglar wreaked havoc across the state, with at least 13 deaths, more than 50 sexual assaults and over 100 break-and-enters to his name. For those who've been following true crime news over the past couple of years, you'll know that this case picked up again in 2018 in a big way. If you're not aware of the particulars, this riveting podcast, which started back in June, will take you through all of the historical and recent ins and outs. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paige St John is behind it, as are Wondery and the LA Times (the folks who brought us Dirty John). A word of warning, though: if you're spooked out by hearing actual evidence, including phone calls made to victims, then you'd best steel yourself in advance. Listen to Man in the Window: The Golden State Killer here. GHOSTHUNTER Since the birth of cinema, movies have often taken inspiration from reality, especially at its most twisted. Now, a crime-fuelled mystery can become the subject of a documentary, then get turned into a podcast by its filmmaker. That's exactly what has happened with Ghosthunter. It first brought the story of Sydney's Jason King to the big screen last year, and has now been expanded upon in audio form. Director Ben Lawrence is behind both versions of this far-from-ordinary tale, which is the result of spending seven years delving into King's life. Press play for an account of a security guard who doubles as a ghost hunter — yes, really — and keep listening for police investigations, court dramas, family secrets, difficult traumas, murky mysteries and estranged figures from King's history. It unfurls over five parts, and we can guarantee that you won't guess where it's all going. Listen to Ghosthunter here. SHREDS: MURDER ON THE DOCK True crime podcasts can take a plethora of shapes and forms; however, three kinds tend to stand out. The first unravel the cases of notorious serial killers. The second sift through stories that are just so astonishing, they can only stem from actuality. The third examine not only blood-curdling crimes, but just as horrific miscarriages of justice. Ticking both of the latter two boxes, the BBC's Shreds: Murder on the Dock revisits the Cardiff killing of Lynette White, the subsequent charging of five black and mixed-race men with her death, and what became — at the time — the longest murder trial in British history. The specifics of White's last moments are awful, with the 20-year-old's body found on Valentine's Day back in 1988. The circus that followed is equally chilling, including another record-breaking feat: the largest police corruption trial in British criminal history. Listen to Shreds: Murder on the Dock here. THE BURIAL FILES Whether you're a local who regularly commutes through the spot, or an out-of-towner who has just whizzed through it once or twice on the airport train, you'll never look at Sydney's Central Station the same way once you've listened to The Burial Files. Before it was a busy transport hub, it was the city's first major colonial-era cemetery. Yes, on the spot that a quarter of a million people transit through every single day, the remains of around 30,000 people were interred between 1820–1900. Unsurprisingly, this macabre history is the source of many a story, which the podcast delves into with the help of historians, archaeologists, forensic experts and even railway enthusiasts. The result of years of research, The Burial Files stems from the State Library of NSW, and from curator Elise Edmonds, who reveals details you'd never know otherwise — including about the mass exhumations of most of the site's bodies at the turn of the 20th century. Listen to The Burial Files here. [caption id="attachment_738014" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Pendulum[/caption] PENDULUM A few months back, 7 News jumped into the podcast game, getting listeners whipped into a frenzy with The Lady Vanishes. Pendulum is the network's second foray into the field — and into an Australian case that still deserves plenty of attention decades after it happened. This time around, 21-year-old Queenslander Margaret Ann Kirstenfeldt is in the spotlight. The mother of a seven-month-old, she was found with brutal, fatal injuries in the coastal town of Sarina back in 1978, with theories swirling about the incident ever since. Initially treated as a rape and murder, a pathologist then deemed her injuries self-inflicted; however, one top cop on the case was never able to accept that finding. Diving deep into a shocking death, Pendulum also speaks with Kirstenfeldt's husband and mother, while pondering if the perpetrator is still out there. Listen to Pendulum here. Top image: Ghosthunter
We've been whining about much-needed change in the TV industry for awhile now. Audiences are downloading and streaming content more than ever. Legislators are waving their fingers and threatening us with angry letters. And local Australian content is suffering huge drops in viewers simply because they're not catalogued in Netflix. It's a weird time for TV, but some networks are doing better than others. In a landmark move, the ABC has just announced it's launching an iView-only series next month... but it's a little more niche than you might expect. Launching on September 20, Wastelander Panda, is a "post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi western" about a panda. The main character is a tough loner with an earnest Aussie accent and a heart of gold. This "bamboo eating Mad Max" battles corrupt tribespeople, lives off the land and, conveniently, it never seems to come up that he's an enormous anthropomorphic creature surviving well out of his natural habitat. Co-produced by Epic Films and Madman Productions, this project has been in the works for awhile now. In 2012, the prologue for the series racked up thousands of views on Vimeo and even found its way to Buzzfeed (as often happens with videos of talking animals). Now, the first series consists of six ten-minute episodes to be released in full on September 20. It's a strategy that the ABC have been flirting with for awhile now. Earlier this year, the entire first reason of Jonah From Tonga was released on iView during the weekend ahead of its first episode airing on TV. It was a huge success for the site as they saw traffic increase by 50 per cent while it was streaming. Elsewhere, the strategy has been championed by US giant Netflix. Original productions like House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and the most recent season of Arrested Development are released in the same desperately unhealthy, but wholly satisfying way. All in all, we're happy about the move. It shows Australian industry is finally willing to start catering to our viewing habits. And, although the panda's eyes are a little soulless and terrifying, we couldn't think of a better face for the digital revolution. Via Gizmodo.
Sipping drinks at soaring heights: if that's your preferred way to while away your days in Brisbane, there's no shortage of spots to head to. But the latest sky-high venue to open in our fair city doesn't just want you to eat and drink while soaking in the view. That's all part of Catalina, of course — but, in a 1500-square-metre bar that's taken its cues from the Mediterranean, this beach club-inspired spot wants you to get swimming as well. Head up to the top level at 74–80 Tribune Street, South Brisbane and you'll be enjoying a splash in two ways: in your glass and in the 30-metre rooftop infinity pool. Hang out in daybeds, sunken lounges and booths by the water, stare out over the Brissie skyline, and enjoy an atmosphere that's designed to make you feel like you're on holidays without leaving town. Open since mid-February — but bound to make the most of Brisbane's year-round balmy weather — Catalina is the latest venture from Icatha Hospitality's Ross Ledingham and Salt Meat Cheese Group's Stefano De Blasi. Blue, white and neutral tones help set the vacation mood, both indoors and out. The prevailing vibe: lounge all day, party through the night, with the venue open from brunch till midnight from Wednesday–Friday, and kicking things off at 7am on weekends. Relaxing by the pool is hungry work, so the food menu spans restaurant fare, waterside options, bar snacks and sharing spreads. Accordingly, you can grab seafood from the raw bar — oysters, scampi caviar, salmon gravlax and tuna tartar all included — then tuck into a 1.1-kilogram flank steak, lobster thermidor, pork belly or duck breast (with a side of truffle mac 'n' cheese if that also tempts your tastebuds). Or, snack on charcuterie, lobster rolls, octopus roulade and karaage chicken — no matter where you sit. Plus, the sharing menu spans both three- and four-course options, and desserts include deconstructed mango cheesecake and strawberries and cream panna cotta. For those Saturday and Sunday early starts, the brekkie range features house-baked corn bread, hotcakes, eggs benedict, zucchini flowers, and herb and potato rosti. And, drinks-wise, 14 different signature cocktails — think: Catalina bellinis with boysenberry tea-infused vermouth and edible stamps, sours made with jalapeno and pineapple syrup, and a fruity fizz featuring honey and apricot jam — sit alongside four low- and no-alcohol concoctions. Or, there are beers by the schooner and bottle, a sizeable spirits range (especially agave), and coffees, teas and hot chocolates. Catalina also hosts Sunday sessions, complete with DJ-spun house and disco tunes — if you need another excuse to turn lazing, paddling and sipping on a South Brisbane rooftop into a party. Find Catalina at 74–80 Tribune Street, South Brisbane — open 11am–12am Wednesday–Friday and 7am–12am Saturday–Sunday.
This March, French street artist and TED Prize winner JR exclaimed to the conference audience that he wished to "turn the world inside out." Well, he wasn't kidding. JR launched "Inside Out" immediately, a project aimed to inspire change in the world by teaching others to first embrace personal identity. He encourages anyone and everyone across the globe to send in pictures of themselves, which he will then put up in various places of significance. First stop: Tunisia, whose oppressive totalitarian leader Ben Ali was recently overthrown. Although the end of Ali's rule was a victory for the country's citizens, many are still left hopeless and the government is certainly still a mess. So, JR brought the photos of friendly faces to the troubled Tunisia, and pasted them over posters of Ali's face and all throughout the country to spark hope for the future in the hearts of the suffering community. This is just the beginning of JR's journey to inspire a worldwide whirlwind of change. We tip our hats to you, JR, because not only have you reminded thousands of people of the power of art, but you've certainly began to turn the world inside out in the most wonderful and inspiring way.
At 25 years of age, French-Canadian director and professional overachiever Xavier Dolan has been touted by cinephiles as the next great auteur — an antidote to a global film industry bloated with high-budget, low IQ franchises. Once a child actor, Dolan's fifth film, Mommy, won some insanely high praise and the Jury Prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival. In vivid colours and an Instgram-like 1:1 ratio, Mommy declares its arrival as loudly as its attention-seeking protagonist, Steve. An at-risk 15-year-old emblematic of Quebec's forgotten underclass, Steve (a hyper-charismatic Antoine-Olivier Pilon) has been expelled from his disciplinarian boarding school. His young, widowed mum, Die (Anne Dorval), is just as funny and street-smart and gutsy as her son, but ill-equipped to deal with his angry delinquency. Steve seems to get back on track thanks to a conveniently kindly neighbour who, despite her own barely discussed traumas, begins tutoring and putting boundaries on him, but begins to stray once again. Rather than frame these social-issue themes in a gritty, crime-flecked drama, Dolan opts for a set of stylish character studies about the volatile mother-son relationship, positioning his actors boldly in the middle of the square screen and pushing them to noisy, dramatic limits. The film is much less innovative than its stylistic choices promise, however, because it swerves towards predictably tragic plot points that we, as viewers, have learned to spot from sitcoms and indie dramas. 'Indie' has become a genre in its own right rather than a way of working outside the studio systems. The checklist for indie filmmakers working towards that sought-after 'quirky charm' seems to include an over- or under-saturated colour palette, blurry soft-focus camera work, a cast of loveable yet flawed characters (including a friendly stranger), a slowly revealed tragic backstory, a shot at redemption against hardship, a lip-synching musical sequence, a domestic disturbance, an ambiguous ending and so on. Like the filmmakers of the recent Skeleton Twins and Kumiko: Treasure Hunter, Dolan wilfully checks all these boxes. It's all about self-conscious style over substance, perhaps to compensate for an underwritten script that floats slackly over two hours. Like so much cinema, Mommy functions at a gut level — you either instinctively get it or you don't, which makes it inexplicably polarising. Whether you find the dialogue and performances accurate or OTT, the characters unbearably stereotypical or eye-openingly new, all comes down to your personal taste. From everything from the blaring musical choices (supposedly a '90s mixtape Steve's father made) to an emotional daydream sequence, this is showy filmmaking. Dolan has a tendency to push his actors to broad, melodramatic extremes to the point where I sometimes felt I was watching a Francophone Neighbours. Despite all the distractions, Mommy feels alive and young. There's something really interesting and energetic going on here — a director not working on autopilot, turning over big passions at high speed and with a great love of cinema. As to whether or not it amounts to much more than a French-Canadian, ADHD-style Instagram film, well, I'm unconvinced, but fascinated as to the director's next moves.
New Zealand is known for high quality produce, but because the Southern Island of Aotearoa is home to barely over one million people, we think they might need some assistance in consuming all that can be foraged from its land, air and sea. Here are some of Concrete Playground's best gastronomic reasons to head across the Cook Strait. Land Even in drier months the landscape in New Zealand is a lush green. The abundance of grass for four legged animals means that the human animal at the end of the chain ends up with a healthier and tastier meal. It starts with lamb. It has to. Although current statistics show that the person to sheep ratio in New Zealand has dropped to 7:3, that still works out as more than 32 million sheep. When driving around the South Island it is easy to spot numerous woolly winter bottoms peaking out from the green terrain. New Zealand is, of course, one of the largest exporters of lamb in the world. Carnivores will also enjoy the strong flavoured venison provided by the fields of delicate looking deer. At Wanaka’s Botswana Butchery you can start with a Southland Venison Carpaccio followed by a slab of Fiordland Venison Top Side. Other wintery game meats include rabbit and hare. Air Then there are the birds. There are foreigners such as ostrich and pheasant. One of the New Zealand natives however is the Titi, also known as the mutton bird. The Rajuira Maori have rights to gather these birds from the southernmost region of New Zealand - their bounty being served in only a spattering of restaurants. Queenstown’s Fishbone Bar and Grill serves them pan roasted with kumara chips when they’re in season. The dark meat of the seabird retains the flavour of its fish filled diet. Even after soaking and boiling the flesh in fresh water a strong salty anchovy taste lingers. Sea With nearly 6,000 km of coastline the choice of salt water fish is immense. The ocean sourced Hapuka and Blue Cod are also joined by fresh water counterparts. The Akaroa Cod is cooked to perfection at the Pegasus Arms bar in Christchurch. It is served with a homemade aioli and a super intense tomato sauce for chip dipping. As the cool winters defrost into the spring months of September and October the whitebait season begins. It demands regular roadside stops to fill up on whitebait fritters. You’d hope for one with minimal egg to just bind together a generously fish-packed patty. Housed in a little stall near the end of Fyffe Quay in Kaikoura, the Kaikoura Seafood BBQ offers a delicious version along with a great variety of whatever other fresh seafood could be found in the ocean that morning. It seems even those guarded by shells are not safe from hungry seafood lovers. The coastal town of Kaikoura is named after its famed crayfish. Kai (‘eat’) Koura (‘crayfish’) is an order that only seems fair to obey when visiting the seaside settlement. One can also choose from the monstrous Green Lipped Mussels and the Paua, the abalone whose pearly opal shell is valued as much as its mushroom-like flesh. The Green Dolphin Restaurant & Bar in Kaikoura has a hearty seafood stew giving you a chance to try a whole variety of seafood in one, huge, meal. The plump New Zealand Bluff oysters are widely regarded as the world’s best. Developing in the pristine cold waters of the Foveaux Strait they are large creamy mouthfuls of the ocean. Each year the seaside town of Bluff, from which the oysters take their name, has a festival to celebrate and enjoy the delicacy. With South Island dining establishments including the Cuisine Restaurant of the Year 2011, Riverstone Kitchen in Oamaru, as well as one of Rick Stein’s favourites, Fleur’s Place in Moeraki, its world class produce is sure to be used to its full potential. The waistline may shudder but at least the conscience is clear – you’re simply there to help out after all.
If you've ever worn a little black dress, then you owe Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel a big thank you. Depending on your choice of suit, bag and perfume, you might owe her some gratitude there as well. The French designer's influence upon 20th-century fashion extends far and wide — and, even though she passed away in 1971, her imprint can be felt in the 21st century as well. So, when the NGV International sends some love her way at its next blockbuster exhibition, it'll have plenty to cover. Displaying at the St Kilda Road gallery from Sunday, December 5, 2021–Monday, April 25, 2022, Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto will arrive fresh from its current stint at Paris' Palais Galliera. Its stop in Melbourne is its first international jaunt, in fact. On show will be pieces from the French venue, as well as from the Patrimoine de Chanel, the fashion house's heritage department. More than 100 garments will grace the NGV's walls and halls, with the exhibition charting her career. You'll also be able to see what Chanel achieved with perfume, jewellery and accessory design, too. Some pieces will date back more than a century, given that the fashion icon opened her first boutique in Deauville in 1912, before making the leap to her own Parisian couture house in 1918. Expect to check out everything from black threads — obviously — to lace gowns, wool jersey and tailored tweed suits, and an array of beaded garments. As you peer at Chanel's designs, you'll see how womenswear developed, and both how and why she's left a mark that still lingers today. [caption id="attachment_819495" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Gabrielle Chanel (designer). Dress, spring–summer 1925, silk guipure lace, silk organza flower. Patrimoine de Chanel, Paris. Photo © Julien T. Hamon.[/caption] The NGV is also adding its own Chanel pieces to the exhibition, such as a white lace Evening dress that dates back to 1933, and a shirred red silk velvet and marabou-lined evening cape from around 1924–26. They'll form part of a showcase that's split into themed sections, with different parts devoted to her early work, the way her design language evolved in the 1920s and 1930s, the iconic scent that is Chanel No 5, and how the brand's pieces have favoured a look best described as "austere luxury". Also getting their own themed strands: suits, accessories and jewellery. To launch Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto, which will be ticketed — and will be the first-ever exhibition in Australia that'll solely focus on Chanel's contributions to fashion and culture — the NGV is bringing back its black-tie NGV Gala, which'll take place on Saturday, December 4. If you decide to wear a little black dress while you're checking out all things Chanel this summer, you'll likely have plenty of company. Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto will display at the NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne from Sunday, December 5, 2021–Monday, April 25, 2022. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the gallery's website. Top image: Anne Sainte-Marie in a Chanel suit, photograph by Henry Clarke, published in Vogue US, 1955, retouched by ARCP. ParisMusées. © Henry Clarke, ParisMusées /PalaisGalliera/ADAGP. Copyright Agency, 2021. Installation Images: Tom Ross and Sean Fennessy
Solar power. Who needs it? Well, we do — and pretty desperately. To generate it though, we need those pesky black solar panels to be fitted to people's roofs and properties and anywhere we can find a space for them. This can be a little hard without overtaking natural environments and farmland. But France have found thousands of kilometres of space perfect for solar panels: their roads. After researching and testing the idea in carparks over the past year, the country has unveiled its first solar-powered road — and the world's. Stretching over a one kilometre expanse in Tourouvre-au-Perche in Normandy, the trial site features 2,880 panels and will be used by 2,000 motorists a day, generating 280 megawatts of energy per year. Ideally, that'll be enough to keep the town's street lights glowing during the two-year test run. The road is made from a silicon-coated surface called the Wattway system, which is comprised of 7mm photovoltaic panels stuck on top of existing road surfaces. Both its thinness and ease of application to existing roads make it the best option of its type, with the idea of paving roads with solar panels first floated by Scott and Julie Brusaw via a crowdfunding campaign to pave American parking lots with the things in 2014. The French project is a collaboration between transport infrastructure company Colas and France's National Institute for Solar Energy, as sanctioned by France's Agency of Environment and Energy Management. If the Normandy installation goes to plan, they're hoping to bring solar power to 1000-kilometres of roads in the country over the next five years. They're also promising to try out the idea around the world, with other trials planned inNorth America, Europe, Africa, and Japan. Here's hoping they're all successful, and that the project makes its way over here. As anyone who's stood barefoot on asphalt on a hot day knows, that stuff stores a lethal amount of heat. Via: Mental Floss. Image: COLAS – Joachim Bertrand. By Lauren Vadnjal and Sarah Ward.
This post is presented by the All New Toyota Corolla Sedan. There's plenty of fun to be had in this city each week, but there's only a small handful of truly fresh urban adventures to be had. We've partnered with Toyota to bring you a series showcasing the very best of these shiny-new experiences in Brisbane. Presented by the All New Toyota Corolla Sedan, these are our picks to put you on the road to a lifetime of goodtimes. Now your only challenge is getting to them all. This week, we recommend you tinkle the ivories at cafe with a dark side, tick parkour off your bucket list and get tactile with all the magazines you've been missing. Eat: Samson and Sophie A mere two weeks old, it’s easy to fall in love with Samson and Sophie Cafe. In what is perhaps a Brisbane trend of naming cafes after dogs, Teneriffe’s new sweetheart is treading a path already carved by older siblings Alcove and Esther St Cafe Deli. The owners used their tried and tested cafe and deli experience with Samson and Sophie offering a cafe menu, small selection of produce and even small potted plants to buy. Cute decor is the cherry on top, with recycled furniture and living coffee tables making a feature. Part-grass, part-wooden table, these turfed tops are a novel place to sit and chow down bircher or a toastie. Shop 1, 2 Macquarie Street, Teneriffe Drink: John Mills Himself Brisbane is currently enjoying a trend of cafes with a darker side. Come the afternoon, these newbies keep their doors open past COB and twist the tops off a range of fine brews and bottles. One of those is John Mills Himself. With a classic yesteryear look, dark wooden beams and a marble bar, John Mills harks back to old days serving local beers on tap on a five-ounce glass. It has a focus on local, with wines sourced from the south-east corner, spirits from across the nation and organic spiced peanuts from Kingaroy. The narrow space even has piano, and you’re always welcome to tinkle the ivories. See: cool stuff at URBNE Festival The URBNE Festival is all about unleashing Brisbane's creative side and enjoying our gorgeous city by using all of its nooks and crannies. The team behind this ingenious idea are a bunch of young creatives from a kaleidoscope of creative backgrounds joined by the common goal of making Brisbane both more creative and accessible. This weekend, March 28-30, join Brisbane’s Biggest Clothes Swap, join a Scavenger Hunt or form part of an art attack. Carve up the streets in Street Skate Jam, tick parkour off your bucket list and wind down with a film at the State Library, entitled City Dark. Do: Visit Kunstler Magazines Despite CP living wholly in the digital world, we’re firm believers that print is not dead. Enter Kunstler Magazines and Books, a new little shop that popped up in Winn Lane last Saturday. The independent store stocks publications on everything from art and architecture to fashion and design, and, of course, food literature. The store is a coop for Brisbane’s small and specialty magazine scene and is great fun to peruse. Take a look yourself; on Sunday afternoon Kunstler (German for ‘the artist’) are having a neighbourhood shindig to welcome you to its new digs.
New Years Eve is the most over-hyped holiday of the year – I think people expect too much of the typical clichés that come with this fated holiday and wind up disappointed when it’s not all cute and romantic like the end of When Harry Met Sally. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that we should all stop getting upset when those clichés don’t play out like everyone says they should and just get loose and have fun because no one has to go to work the next day. If you’re going to be in Brisbane in the waning hours of 2011 then to fulfill your requirements of getting loose/having fun you’ll need to be at the Powerhouse for No Years. Returning for its second consecutive year, the festival’s first announce boasted Dum Dum Girls, Jonti and Ball Park Music. The guys at No Years have just dropped the second lineup, which sees Last Dinosaurs, Nina Las Vegas, The Jungle Giants and Charlie Mayfair being added to the bill, with plenty more to be announced soon. Early bird tickets on sale now through the Powerhouse website for $69 +BF. Head to the No Years website for more information on the event.
If you like your alcohol amber in colour and hoppy in flavour, you can fill most of your weekends with a Brisbane beer festival. There's usually one on somewhere around town, if not more than one — and Barrel Fest is the latest. From 10am onwards on Saturday, August 11, Newstead Brewing Co's new shindig will celebrate brews that have taken their time, and sat ageing in barrels in the process. In total, there'll be 24 barrel-aged tipples on offer across the day, split across two seven-hour sessions. Yes, that means you can sip your way through 12 different types between 10am–5pm, then back it up with another 12 across 5pm–12am. Newstead Brewing's own beers will be pouring through the taps at the brewery's Newstead site, and they'll have company from other Australian and international brews. Entry is free, although you'll need to purchase your drinks — with $15 getting you a commemorative glass and your first beverage.
Despite the many different varieties of margarita available, only one is the undisputed best — no matter which tequila-soaked flavour it actually is. That type of marg: a free marg. And for three weeks from Wednesday, February 15–Tuesday, March 7, 10,000 of them are up for grabs around New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. International Margarita Day is upon us for another year, hitting on Wednesday, February 22, and tequila brand Altos is celebrating. That's where the hefty giveaway comes in, but starting early and running for a couple of weeks after the date itself. Days commemorating different foods are really just an excuse to sell more dishes, drinks and/or ingredients, but this is an occasion — and stack of freebies — worth saying cheers to. Exactly how many bars are pouring free 'ritas across the three-week period varies per state, but Sydneysiders can head to Employees Only, Watsons EQ, Coogee Beach Club, Marrickville Bowling Club, Club 77, Chula, Mejico, Kid Kyoto, Applejack Group's venues and more. For Melburnians, you'll want to make a date with places like Maeve Fox, Death or Glory, Fitzroy Beer Garden, Fable, Mejico, Public House and Common Man. Brisbanites, pop Emporium, Southbeach Social, Victoria Park, Brooklyn Standard, Pig 'n' Whistle West End and others on your list — and Adelaide residents, you're heading to Republic. [caption id="attachment_698575" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Employees Only[/caption] There are a few caveats, as always comes with these types of giveaways. You do need to sign up online first, which'll get you a voucher for that free marg and entry into a competition to win a trip to Mexico. Altos is calling the promo a Mexican wave, because if you get a friend to sign up as well, you'll score an extra entry in that contest. That — and those free cocktails — is excuse enough to get clicking and sipping. [caption id="attachment_869703" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mejico[/caption] Altos Tequila's margarita giveaway runs from Wednesday, February 15–Tuesday, March 7. For more information, to register for your free drink and to find your nearest venue, head to the brand's website.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations, giving you a little inspiration for your text trip. In this instalment, we highlight the Gili Beach Resort located on Indonesia's Gili Trawangan island. If you're itching to get away and ready to book an island holiday now, on Concrete Playground Trips we have a fabulous lineup of deals on great stays across Indonesia and packages on incredible Bali getaways that you can't find anywhere else. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This accommodation is made for big groups of people looking to experience laid-back (but still pretty damn luxurious) island living, without spending exorbitant amounts of money. THE ROOMS Both multi-level timber villas have four enormous bedrooms — each with extra-large double beds, ensuites and balconies overlooking the private pool and beach. You'll feel like you're living in a postcard when staying at this character-filled resort. And because there are only two villas on the property, you'll be getting brilliant service from the staff. You'll also have your own fully-kitted-out kitchen with a few indoor and outdoor dining areas (including tables and chairs right on the beach). There are also multiple spots made just for lounging – either choose the pool, the beach or one of the terraces. Roll from one spot to the other during a lazy day of drinking, eating, napping and sunning yourself. FOOD AND DRINK The staff at Gili Beach Resort will greet you every morning with a big breakfast, and the restaurant next door will also deliver to your door all day long. This restaurant is known to be incredibly good and the French chef serves up an ever-changing menu but the focus is — unsurprisingly — all about the fish of the day dishes at this island haunt. But that's not all. On your first night at Gili Beach Resort, you get an epic BBQ and private bonfire made for you by their team — they go above and beyond when it comes to service. They'll even help you with your grocery list and enlist a horse-pulled cart to help you manage a big shop (there are no motor vehicles on this island so all transport is either man or animal powered). THE LOCAL AREA The resort is located on the quieter side of Gili Trawangan, one of Indonesia's three Gili islands. These small islands are best known for their sandy beaches lined with large trees and the coral reefs full of colourful marine life. It's not unusual to find turtles swimming in front of your villa (with snorkelling equipment available to guests too). You're also fairly close to town – either a short walk or an even shorter bike ride (also provided as part of your stay). Find a local beach bar or restaurant for sunset and enjoy great Indonesian cuisine and inexpensive but powerful cocktails. Alternatively, you can go hiking up into the forests and get some unbeatable views of the surrounding islands or walk around to quieter beaches to find your own remote paradise. Whatever you're up for, the incredibly accommodating staff will make it happen for you. THE EXTRAS For small additional costs, the team at Gili Beach Resort will bring just about any brilliant experience right to you. They'll organise massages on your balcony overlooking the sea, horseback rides along the coast and traditional Indonesian cooking classes in your own villa. The friendly and attentive service is one of the resort's most well-known traits. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
It takes place in New York, not London. The era: modern times, not centuries back. Fleet Street gives way to Washington Heights, the demon barber to a masseuse nicknamed "Magic Hands", and pies to empanadas. There's still a body count, however, and people end up in pastries as well. Yes, The Horror of Dolores Roach namedrops Sweeney Todd early, as it needs to; there's no denying where this eight-part Prime Video series takes inspiration, as did the one-woman off-Broadway play that it's based on, plus the podcast that followed before the TV version on Friday, July 7. On the stage, the airwaves and now via streaming, creator Aaron Mark asks a question: what if the fictional cannibalism-inciting character who first graced penny dreadfuls almost two centuries back, then leapt to theatres, films and, most famously, musicals, had a successor today? Viewers can watch the answer via a dramedy that also belongs on the same menu as Santa Clarita Diet, Yellowjackets and Bones and All. Amid this recent feast of on-screen dishes about humans munching on humans, The Horror of Dolores Roach is light yet grisly, but it's also a survivalist thriller in its own way — and laced with twisted attempts at romance, too. That knowing callout to Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street comes amid an early banquet of knowing callouts, as The Horror of Dolores Roach begins with a play based on a podcast that's wrapping up its opening night. Newspaper clippings in actor Flora Frias' (Jessica Pimentel, Orange is the New Black) dressing room establish that the show takes its cues from a woman who got murderous in the Big Apple four years prior, and helped get unwitting NYC residents taking a bite out of each other. Meet the series' framing device; before the stage production's star can head to the afterparty, she's face to face with a furious Dolores (Justina Machado, One Day at a Time) herself. The latter isn't there to slay, but to haunt the woman spilling her tale by sharing the real details. Two decades earlier, Dolores was a happy resident of Lin-Manuel Miranda's favourite slice of New York, a drug-dealer's girlfriend, and a fan of the local empanada shop. Then the cops busted in while she was helping her beau, who was conveniently absent, with The Horror of Dolores Roach's namesake refusing to snitch and getting a 16-year sentence in return. When she's released after serving that entire stretch, gentrification has changed the neighbourhood. Also, her other half is nowhere to be found. Only Luis Batista (Alejandro Hernandez, New Amsterdam) remains that remembers her. His dad owned and ran the empanada joint, Luis was the teenaged delivery boy with a big crush on Dolores, and he couldn't be keener on letting her stay with him in his basement apartment below the store. After the best part of two decades inside, Dolores only dreams of the straight and narrow, and of putting the massage skills that she learned from her cellmate — which were quite a hit, hence the new moniker — to use in a legitimate job. Getting a paycheque isn't easy, but when Luis says that she can operate an unlicensed setup out of their flat, customers flock to get their shoulders kneaded. While it isn't the future that gave her something to look forward to behind bars, it'll do; however, the upscaling trend that's sweeping the community soon poses a threat. When Dolores offs her first victim, she's reacting; The Horror of Dolores Roach takes eating the rich literally. There's about as much subtlety to the series as slathering an empanada in whichever sauce takes your fancy, plus a mix of clashing tones on par with the guava and cheese variety that Dolores adores. But a show about turning people into pastries Sweeney Todd-style isn't aiming to be nuanced. Neither is a program that also namechecks producer Jason Blum, or heavily uses its narration to adapt its play and podcast roots for the screen. When Marc Maron (To Leslie) gleefully plays an uncaring landlord, and 80s music icon Cyndi Lauper a grey-locked private detective who could waltz out of this and into Only Murders in the Building, no one is going for understated, either. That's one of the reasons that The Horror of Dolores Roach proves tasty and entertaining: it's actively and openly trying to be a lot, and it sinks its teeth in hard. "I'm not the monster you're making me out to be," says Dolores to Flora, though, a statement that The Horror of Dolores Roach doesn't just give lip service to. The series knows that its protagonist is a serial killer, makes it plain from the outset and doesn't excuse it. And yet, it also knows that that can be true, and that Dolores can be a victim herself. Indeed, the show has the many horrors that are splashed her way firmly on its plate. She's betrayed and taken advantage of to land in prison, then judged and cast aside afterwards; she suffers for America's fondness for mass incarceration; she's robbed of a huge chunk of her life for weed only for it to start to be legalised while she's doing her time; and she's among the Washington Heights residents pushed out by the well-to-do. Again, none of this justifies Dolores' choices, but it adds flesh to the cutthroat world that The Horror of Dolores Roach constantly sees as it is. Having the always-great Machado play Dolores also helps ground the series. Much around her may get cartoonish, but the Six Feet Under, Jane the Virgin and Queen of the South actor always anchors the story in a woman seeing her life spiral in the worst possible ways. She's as adept at mining darkly comic laughs as she is tragedy, boasts pitch-perfect reactions to the series' gore, and makes a great pair with the lively Hernandez. Actually, she's stellar opposite everyone — Maron, Lauper, Pimentel, The Rehearsal's K Todd Freeman as the usual meat merchant and Dispatches From Elsewhere's Kita Updike as Luis' sole empanada-slinging employee included — and, like The Horror of Dolores Roach itself, bloody great. Check out the trailer for The Horror of Dolores Roach below: The Horror of Dolores Roach streams via Prime Video from Friday, July 7.
For 69 years, the Sydney Film Festival has screened and celebrated the latest and greatest in international cinema in the Harbour City. Since 2009, it has also handed out a prestigious award to the absolute best of the best. The list of flicks that've won the fest's Sydney Film Prize for "audacious, cutting-edge and courageous" movies is impressive, including everything from Nicolas Winding Refn's Bronson and Only God Forgives through to Bong Joon-ho's Parasite. Now, at the 2022 festival, Lukas Dhont's Close has joined them. Fresh from nabbing the Grand Prix at this year's Cannes Film Festival, Dhont's sophomore feature has picked up this year's SFF $60,000 gong from a lineup of 12 contenders. Close dives into a teenage friendship between two 13-year-olds that's tested when they're teased and taunted about their closeness by their classmates — and also marks the filmmaker's second movie to screen at the Sydney fest, after Girl in 2018. "I want to express my incredible gratitude for the recognition that our film Close receives at this year's Sydney Film Festival. Thank you to the festival for expressing its love for the film, the jury for choosing it among all these outstanding pieces, and its first Australian audience for opening hearts and spirits to a film that comes from deep within," said Dhont. "We wanted to make a film about friendship and connection after a moment in time where we all understood its necessity and power. I decided to use cinema as my way to connect to the world. And tonight I feel incredibly close and connected to all of you." This year's Sydney Film Prize was decided by a jury comprised of Australian actor David Wenham (The Furnace), the SFF Official Competition Jury President, plus Jennifer Peedom (director of River and Sherpa), Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (the Bangladeshi filmmaker behind No Man's Land, which screened at SFF 2022), Semih Kaplanoğlu (the Turkish director-producer of Commitment Hasan, also screening at this year's SFF) and Yuka Sakano (Executive Director of Tokyo's Kawakita Memorial Film Institute). In winning the Sydney Film Prize, Close follows in the footsteps of the aforementioned Parasite, the 2019 recipient, as well as fellow past winners There Is No Evil (2021), The Heiresses (2018), On Body and Soul (2017), Aquarius (2016), Arabian Nights (2015), Two Days, One Night (2014), Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011), Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008). Announced as the Sydney Film Prize-winner at SFF's 2022 closing ceremony, Close is just one of this year's award recipients. The street dancing-focused Keep Stepping won the $10,000 Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary, while Filipino doco Delikado nabbed the fest's second-ever $10,000 Sustainable Future Award. Also, the $20,000 Deutsche Bank Fellowship for First Nations Film Creatives went to filmmaker and performer Kylie Bracknell (Fist of Fury Noongar Daa), and film composer Caitlin Yeo (Wakefield, Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks) received the $10,000 Sydney-UNESCO City of Film Award. And, in the Dendy Short Film Awards, Donkey won the Yoram Gross Animation Award and the AFTRS Craft Award, while The Moths Will Eat Them Up scored the Dendy Live Action Short Award and the Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director. Four shorts were highly commended, too: 2166 in the Yoram Gross Animation Award field, Ghosted in the Dendy Live Action Short Award category, and Stonefish and Yao Yao Goes to Little Bay for the Best Director prize. The 2022 Sydney Film Festival ran from Wednesday, June 8–Sunday, June 19, with the festival screening four days of encores until Thursday, June 23.
There hasn't been much to look forward to in 2021, but we're all eagerly anticipating one big thing. That'd be the moment that 11.59pm on Friday, December 31 passes by, ticking over to 12.00am on Saturday, January 1, 2022. And, because it's actually almost that time of year, plenty of events have started announcing their New Year's Eve plans so you can work out how to spend that long-awaited moment. Here's another one: Annus Finis, MONA's first-ever NYE shindig. Taking place from 6.30pm on Friday, December 31 (obviously), this New Year's Eve party will take over MONA's lawns and main stage with live tunes, food and drinks, and the general kind of end-of-year shenanigans that every NYE get-together needs. Here, that also means an all-Tasmanian lineup, with Indigenous singer-songwriter Denni, hip hop artist Greely and audio visual artist and DJ Dameza helping do the honours. Also on the bill: Medhanit, Too Many Jasons, Scraps, Silver Fleet Ships, and what's being described as "an absurdist, anarchist ensemble boasting some of Tasmania's most talented performers" who'll pair up punk and Japanese influences. So, if a trip to Tassie is now on your NYE agenda — with the state reopening to double-vaccinated arrivals in mid-December, handily — you now know how can say goodbye to 2021. As for what you'll be eating and sipping, MONA's burger bar Dubsy's will be dishing up its diner-inspired fare, and the Moorilla Wine Bar will be doing both food and drinks. "Here at MONA, we love to throw a party, and I think we're pretty good at it," said MONA CEO Patrick Kelly, announcing Annus Finis. "We're excited to see our lawn full of punters again, and hopefully we can cast some MONA magic over New Year's Eve after what has been another challenging year for tourism and events, saying goodbye to arguably the worst year since 2020." MONA has also already announced that it's bringing back Mona Foma in January — so if you can't spend NYE in Tassie, you still have options for a 2022 trip to the Apple Isle. Annus Finis will take place at MONA from 6.30pm on Friday, December 31. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the MONA website. Images: Mona/Jesse Hunniford.
While hovercars, podracers and a McDonalds on Mars may not be a yet be a part of our lives, they are for artist Joel Pedersen. An artistic prophet of sorts, Pedersen uses his work to explore the balance between far-fetched ideas and realism, asking timeline-twisting questions that ponder the space between technological fantasies and their feasible existence. With that in mind, Pedersen's latest exhibition, Space People, showcases a make-believe future set in the American Southwest. In his work, Pedersen lets real-life locations meet the latest and greatest tech wizardry in a means that seems half realistic. His pieces provide a believable snapshot of a place where technology, the future, the unreal, the paranormal and the extraterrestrial combine. And it's not as if these are things that are reserved for likes of Bill Gates and Richard Branson. They're as much a part of the transport infrastructure and industry supply chain as they are integrated into the domestic lives of the people living there. Space People is made up of a selection of prints spanning Pedersen’s vast body of composite images. It exhibits at This Must Be The Place until January 8.
Motivated by Council's plan to revitalise Brisbane's inner-city laneways, Urbane co-owners Andrew Patten and Andrew Buchanan opened the Laneway bar in late 2009. Despite the source of its inspiration, expect no cosy recess or unassuming hole in the wall. Though its perch overlooking Spencer Lane is discreet, the Laneway itself is a slickly designed, elevated room affixed to the back of sister establishment the Euro (via which it is accessible). With a roomy and uncluttered interior, the Laneway is a favoured spot for after-five drinks. The food — a cut above your standard pub snacks — also draws a crowd of workers at lunch. Share plates can be mixed and matched by combining 'substantials' (we recommend the Southern-style fried chicken, seasoned with 27 herbs and spices and served with a chipotle sauce) and 'accompaniments' (barbequed sweet corn with a spiced popcorn dry rub, boquerones served with lemon and garlic). Drinks specials change every week, and the range of beverages should keep everyone happy — domestic and imported beers and wines, some refreshing cocktails and, most significantly, a sweeping variety of spirits (the list of whiskeys is particularly impressive).
It might come as a surprise, given Australia's questionable internet speeds, but Melbourne has claimed the ranking of tenth smartest city in the world, with Sydney snapping at its heels in spot number 12. Headed up by international parking app company Easy Park, the 2017 Smart Cities Index analysed 500 cities worldwide, ranking the top 100. Other Australian cities that made the cut were Perth at number 41 and Adelaide at number 61. The key factors used in the study looked at digitalisation (including 4G connectivity, access to Wi-Fi hotspots and high smartphone usage) and knowledge-based mobility and transport (considering the prevalence of ride-share apps, smart parking and traffic sensors). Sustainability, online access to government services, and significant levels of citizen participation were also taken into consideration. Over 20,000 urban planning and technology experts were then asked to provide opinions about their own cities. Melbourne scored highest of all the countries for 4G connectivity, with Sydney and Perth making up the rest of the top three. Melbourne and Adelaide also ranked especially well when it came to citizen participation. Unsurprisingly, no Australian cities broke the top 20 for internet speed. While San Francisco topped the class with a perfect score of 10, Melbourne ranked number 26, with Sydney at 29 and Perth clocking in at 31. See the full table of results for the 2017 Smart Cities Index here. Photo via Wikimedia.
If you make a trip down to Hobart next year, don't expect to find plastic straws, cups or takeaway containers at its many cafes and markets. The City of Hobart last night voted to pass a by-law banning the sale of all single-use plastics. The by-law targets straws, cutlery, cups and containers that are less than a litre in size, and sold directly to customers. Buying a plastic bottle of Coca Cola, for example, will still be OK. Businesses will be given six months-to-one-year to phase out single-use plastics, and, after that, will be fined. Tasmania implemented a statewide single-use plastic bag ban in 2013 and, according to the Council's research, a third of local businesses already use some form of compostable packaging. The city is also aiming to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2030. https://www.facebook.com/CityofHobartOfficial/photos/a.1046261538728203/2315932898427721/?type=3&theater While the law has been passed by the Council, its exact start date depends on the outcome of a public consultation period to be led by the state government. Then, likely in late 2019 or early 2020, Hobart will become the first Australian state to ban single-use plastics. South Australia is considering a statewide ban, but this has not yet passed through state government. Overseas, Europe has pledged to stop using such items by 2021, building upon similar decisions in the UK and France, while Australia is working towards banning all non-recyclable packaging by 2025. Locally, Victoria is currently phasing out plastic bags, and Queensland enacted a plastic bag ban in 2018. NSW is the only state yet to commit to a statewide plastic bag ban. But, after the City of Hobart's decision, maybe the City of Sydney will consider taking matters into its own hands. The City of Hobart's single-use plastic ban will
UPDATE, March 17, 2022: Due to Brisbane's floods, Frozen the Musical was cancelled up to and including Thursday, March 17, reopening on Friday, March 18. The season will now run through until Sunday, May 8. More than ever, we're looking for opportunities to immerse ourselves in another universe for a few hours. Luckily, that's exactly what you can do from February when the hit Frozen the Musical comes to Brisbane. The stage production, based on the legendary 2013 Disney animated film, opened on Broadway in 2018 and proceeded to break box office records. After a US tour in 2019, the production is expanding to international markets — and has already hit up Sydney before coming north. If the cultural phenomenon has somehow passed you by until now, Frozen was inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Snow Queen, and it tells the story of Princesses Anna and Elsa. At the latter's coronation to become Queen, she accidentally reveals her magical powers to control and create ice and snow and inflicts an eternal winter on her kingdom, Arendelle. She flees to the North Mountain and, while singing the iconic ballad 'Let it Go', builds herself an ice castle in which to hide. Anna sets out to find her sister, proving the bonds of sisterhood can overcome all obstacles. The musical adaptation brings the beloved story to life before your eyes with opulent costumes, stunning sets and awe-inspiring special effects. All of your favourite tunes from the film will be performed — including 'For the First Time in Forever' and 'Love Is an Open Door' — plus 12 new songs as the stage production expands upon the film's narrative. Running from Friday, February 11–Sunday, May 8, Frozen's Brisbane production has an all-Australian cast, led by Jemma Rix (Wicked) as Elsa, Courtney Monsma (Aladdin, Six) as Anna and Matt Lee (Mary Poppins) as the lovable Olaf. General public tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, November 12. Images: Frozen the Musical, Original Broadway Cast, Deen van Meer, courtesy of Destination NSW.
When Guillermo del Toro last made a movie for Netflix — and last made a movie, too — Pinocchio not only streamed via the platform, but had a date with cinemas, where all of the director's films should be seen, first. The same plan is in place for the filmmaker's next picture, thankfully, the streamer has just announced. Del Toro officially adapting Frankenstein after riffing on it across his career? Now that absolutely demands the big-screen treatment. Netflix has revealed that the Oscar Isaac (Moon Knight)- and Jacob Elordi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North)-starring take on Mary Shelley's horror masterpiece will release in select picture palaces on Thursday, October 23, 2025. To watch it at home, it'll be available to stream from Friday, November 7, 2025 Oscar-winning The Shape of Water director del Toro will be the first to tell anyone, as he did at Neflix's annual Tudum event for 2025, that he's long had an obsession with Frankenstein, that he's been weaving that affection for it into his work since he first hopped behind the camera and that making his own adaptation of the gothic-horror masterpiece is a dream come true. "This is, for me, the culmination of a journey that has occupied most of my life," he advised the crowd at the time. So far, from its trailer and images, that love for Shelley's now 207-year-old novel is evident in every frame of del Toro's Frankenstein. "I first read Mary Shelley's book as a kid, and saw Boris Karloff in what became, for me, an almost-religious stage," he continued at Tudum while accompanied by Isaac and co-star Mia Goth (MaXXXine). "Monsters have become my personal belief system. There are strands of Frankenstein throughout my films — Cronos, Blade, Hellboy, big time on Pinocchio, and a long, long [list], et cetera." Isaac portrays the feature's namesake, aka Victor Frankenstein, the scientist driven by tragedy to attempt to conquer the line between life and what exists beyond it. As the trailer notes, "only monsters play god". As Victor advises himself, "in seeking life, I created death". Also uttered in the movie's debut sneak peek, reinforcing its theme: "what manner of creature is that? What manner of devil made him?". Goth is Elizabeth, Victor's fiancée. From there, Christoph Waltz (Old Guy), Ralph Ineson (The Fantastic Four: First Steps), Charles Dance (The Day of the Jackal), Lars Mikkelsen (Dalloway) and del Toro regular Burn Gorman (Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, Pinocchio) are also part of the cast. Frankenstein will never stop entrancing filmmakers, as it has James Whale back in 1931 when Karloff played the monster, Mel Brooks (Dracula: Dead and Loving It) with 1974 comedy Young Frankenstein, Kenneth Branagh (A Haunting in Venice) on his 1994 take, Danny Boyle (28 Years Later) with his stage adaptation, Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) via Frankenweenie and Yorgis Lanthimos (Kinds of Kindness) in Poor Things, plus Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Lost Daughter) with 2026's The Bride!, just to name a few other examples. Check out the trailer for Frankenstein below: Frankenstein is releasing in select cinemas on Thursday, October 23, 2025 — and streaming via Netflix from Friday, November 7, 2025. Images: Ken Woroner/Netflix © 2025.
When a movie repeats its events through fresh eyes, answers usually follow. But as Hirokazu Kore-eda opts for the Rashomon effect in Monster, using a technique that fellow great Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa deployed with one of his famous features, the director that won the Palme d'Or for 2018's Shoplifters refuses to stop asking questions. In this picture, which picked up the Queer Palm at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival — and again sees Kore-eda collaborate with Kazuko Kurosawa (The Third Murder), daughter of Akira, as its costume designer — layers keep mounting. There's no shortage of cinema that stresses how there's never merely one set of peepers to peer through, but in this masterful and moving addition to that realm, from one of the best at conveying empathy that film as a medium benefits from today, each pass in search of the full story builds a case not just for filtering the world through more than what's easy and reactive, but through acceptance and understanding. Kore-eda knows this: that perspectives, just like perceptions, can be misleading, blinkered and blinded. So when rumour proclaims that a new teacher frequents hostess bars, when a boy has tales of being called names by the same educator, when said man points the finger at the kid as a bully to one of his classmates instead and when the two children at the centre of the situation are friends with a cherished bond, a clearcut view is in short supply. This is the first movie since 1995's Maborosi that the filmmaker has only helmed and not also written, but Yûji Sakamoto's (In Love and Deep Water) Cannes Best Screenplay-winning script is a classic entry on the director's resume. Monster is also Kore-eda's homecoming, after making his post-Shoplifters films until now elsewhere — 2019's The Truth in France, then 2022's Broker in South Korea — and it's a stellar return. A blazing building starts the storytelling. Later, monsoonal rain will pour from the heavens. How emotions can go up in flames, burn bright, resemble a deluge, and wash away hurt and uncertainty is seared into Monster's patient frames, then — and with cinematographer Ryûto Kondô (also Shoplifters) doing the lensing, the feature is both alight and saturated with telling imagery. Kore-eda's knack for compassion has always floated through his visuals, in wordless moments where locked eyes say everything and in the way that he bears witness to his characters. Among his unforgettable sights here are the faces of fifth graders Minato (Sōya Kurokawa, Teasing Master Takagi-san) and Yori (Hinata Hiiragi, The Last Man: The Blind Profiler) together, sometimes muddied, sometimes exuberant, often glowing with the kind of being-seen connection that the pair can only find in each other. When the inferno rages at the nightclub where Mr Hori (Eita Nagayama, Migawari Mission) is reportedly a patron, Minato and his widowed mother Saori (Sakura Andô, Godzilla Minus One, and another Shoplifters alum) can spy the orange bursts from their apartment balcony. It isn't the only thing catching her attention of late; her son's behaviour has switched from gentle and shy to withdrawn, and at one point he leaps from her car as she's driving. He sports bruises and injuries. Sometimes, he doesn't return from class. He asks what type of creature — monster, even — someone would be if they were human but with a pig's brain. Saori heads to Minato's school to ascertain what's occurring, deeming Hori responsible. But all that she receives is a throwaway apology with bows, including from the distracted principal Fushimi (Yûko Tanaka, Thousand and One Nights), that only makes her angrier. As edited by Kore-eda himself, as usual, Monster then jumps back to Hori's take — although this isn't a film structured by different vantages in overt ways, such as point-of-view shots, but rather one that steps into the life of a new character or characters with each of its trio of runs through the narrative. Amid an unpacking of Japanese propriety's fondness for not making a fuss, and also a dive into the teacher's out-of-hours life, Hori thinks that he's being made a scapegoat. He's also convinced that Minato is picking on Yori. Then, once that vision has played through, it's time to rewind again into the latter duo's bond as fellow outsiders in their regional lakeside town. With Yori's father Kiyotaka (Shidô Nakamura, Kenshiro ni Yoroshiku) an abusive drunk who has no time for his boy's sensitivity, the two friends regularly abscond to an abandoned train tunnel in the mountainous forest. An escape and a refuge, it feels like a new world for them — and a safe place to cocoon in their chaste pre-teen relationship. Delicate and tender, the yearning score by Ryuichi Sakamoto — his last for a feature, apart from for concert film Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus — embodies Monster from its first moment to its last. From Kore-eda, who is incapable of not telling richly touching and heartfelt tales (see also: Still Walking, I Wish, Like Father, Like Son and Our Little Sister, to name just a few others), that's hardly surprising, and neither is the complexity and immediacy that shimmers through the movie's scenario and characters. He knows struggling souls, and lonely ones. He knows the intricacy that swells within everyone. He knows fractured and makeshift family dynamics just as deftly. Using reverse angles when flitting from Saori to Hori's perspective, and also to Minato and Yori's, he knows how to make plain that we are all affixed to our own views. He's also well-aware that seeing a monster is heartbreakingly simple when that's exactly what you're looking for. Sublime performances equally belong on the list of things that Kore-eda has an expert and exquisite grasp on. It was true in his recent foray into TV with miniseries The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (also excellent), too: his penchant for naturalism is unparalleled in its sincerity. In Monster, Andô is a portrait of nuance even as Saori is furious and devastatingly exasperated. Nagayama turns in a candid portrayal as Hori, and Tanaka simmers with scene-stealing tension through Fushimi's formality. And from Kurokawa and Hiiragi, Kore-eda gets both calm and earnestness from a pair playing misunderstood kids with everything that they have, as well as a new round of marvellous work by child actors for his ever-magnificent filmography.
Music is an integral part of Brisbane's identity, with many of the country's most beloved musicians getting their start in the Queensland capital. Powderfinger, Ball Park Music, Kate Miller-Heidke, Waax, The Go-Betweens and many more spent their formative years gigging around the city. From the punk scene that emerged in the seventies and eighties to the thriving Fortitude Valley suburb and multiple music festivals held each year, Brisbane is also something of a cultural hub. Whether you're a local wanting to support Australia's live music scene or are heading to the Sunshine State and need a steer for your itinerary, here's a curated list of live music venues to check out in Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_1029305" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] LiveWire Located in The Star Brisbane, LiveWire is your destination for headline entertainment and a vibrant mix of weekly events. Whether you're into live music, drag bingo, or music trivia, the variety on offer ensures there's always something exciting happening. One act to watch out for is on Friday, October 24, when Brisbane musician Jarryd James will perform his hits, including his ARIA award-winning song "Do You Remember," at LiveWire. Several other singers, DJs and artists perform at LiveWire every week, so check out The Star Brisbane's schedule to see what's on. Looking for a pre-gig tipple? Head to one of The Star Brisbane's cocktail bars, the panoramic Cicada Blu and 360º bar Cherry, before the performance and get into the party spirit. If you'd prefer dinner before dancing the night away, Cucina Regina is The Star Brisbane's Italian eatery. It offers hand-stretched pizzas and delicious homemade pasta. Meanwhile, Aloria is a rooftop restaurant with a European-Australian menu and delicious cocktails. For those making a weekend of it, consider a stay at The Star Brisbane's five-star hotel. If you're a music lover, The Star Brisbane is a one-stop shop for drinks with your mates, dinner with a view, and a free gig to top the night off. [caption id="attachment_1029306" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Marlon Trottman[/caption] Fortitude Music Hall The Fortitude Music Hall was built to offer the city of Brisbane a middle ground venue between its small dive bars and larger sports stadiums. Located in the city's CBD entertainment precinct, Fortitude Valley Music Hall is a 3000-person venue that hosts a number of international and local acts. In 2025 and 2026, acts such as Royel Otis, Noah Cyrus, CMAT, Ben Folds, and Travis will take to the stage, making Fortitude Music Hall a venue to add to the top of your live music list. Fortitude Music Hall is located in the middle of the buzzing Brunswick Mall, giving you a number of options for a pre-gig beverage or takeaway on the way home. [caption id="attachment_1029307" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Triffid[/caption] The Triffid If you're looking for live music and pints on tap, head to The Triffid. Located in Newstead, the venue is within walking distance of the buzzy Fortitude Valley area and has everything a music lover could want. Housed in a converted World War II aircraft hangar, The Triffid has an indoor venue and a smaller stage outside in the beer garden, making it an excellent spot for a Sunday session. The venue was created by Powderfinger bassist, John Collins, who knows the importance of fostering local acts and building a community around music. As a result, The Triffid is a hub for music fans—plus, their beer garden serves a mean hot chips if you're looking for a snack to pair with your pint. The Tivoli Originally built in 1927 as the Adams Bakery, today The Tivoli (or The Tiv, as locals call it) is one of the city's most beloved music venues. The Tivoli has hosted some of the country's most prolific artists, such as Powderfinger, Silverchair, Missy Higgins, and Paul Kelly, as well as international acts including Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Bob Dylan. Housed in an art deco building, the Fortitude Valley venue combines heritage, charm, and a roster of iconic acts all in one place. Head to the Jubilee Hotel for a pint and pub meal before the gig, or, if you're after something a little more elevated (literally), the Soko Rooftop Bar is a great shout. [caption id="attachment_1029308" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Crowbar Brisbane[/caption] Crowbar A favourite among punk, metal and rock fans, the Crowbar has endured a lot in recent years. After launching in 2012, the venue sadly closed during the pandemic. Thanks to the locals' efforts, Crowbar Brisbane has moved to Ann Street in the Valley and is once again a thriving music venue. No need to make multiple bookings if you're heading to the Crowbar, as the venue offers burgers and barbecue at its bar and restaurant as well as a selection of local beers on tap, making it an easy stop on a night out. This list scratches the surface of iconic venues in Brisbane, Australia's unofficial music capital. Be sure to check out each schedule and make a booking to support live and local music. Explore more at The Star Brisbane. Lead image: LiveWire at The Star Brisbane. Guests must be 18 years or over to enter LiveWire and the casino.
Last year, just as the pandemic started shutting down our regular routines, a handy browser plug-in popped up to make life a little more bearable. That'd be Netflix Party, which helps you watch movies with your mates while still social distancing — synchronising everyone's playback so you're truly watching each and every frame at the same time. That's all well and good if you're watching via a browser, and you're watching Netflix. If you and your pals are keen on an iOS alternative that'll slide right into your chats and span other platforms, you'll soon have one. As part of its big iOS 15 announcement, Apple has revealed that it is launching a new Facetime feature called Shareplay. It'll allow you to view films and TV shows together and in sync — and listen to music as well — complete with shared playback controls. So, once you and your friends are on a Shareplay session, anyone can pause whatever you're watching or hearing. Also, you won't all need to be using an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV to access the service. Apple also announced that it's going to extend Facetime calls beyond its own devices, so folks who use Android or Windows devices will be able to access the application via their web browser. A heap of other platforms will be integrated into Shareplay, if you're wondering what you and your crew will be able to binge together. They include Disney+, TikTok and Twitch, as well as Paramount+ — which will launch in Australia this August. You'll obviously all need to subscribe to whichever platforms you're planning to view or listen to — so this won't be a way to watch The Mandalorian on your mates' account. Shareplay will work with Apple Music and Apple's own range of movies and TV shows, naturally, and you'll also be able to share your screen via the feature to view other apps together. Other updates slated for iOS 15, which is expected to start rolling out from spring 2021, include redesigned notifications, a big Safari revamp, a Live Text function that'll be able to read handwritten writing in photos, enhanced features in Apple Maps and ramped up privacy controls. The weather and notes apps are getting a makeover, too, and there'll also be a new Live Translate feature as well. Apple's iOS 15 is expected to start rolling out from spring 2021. For further details, head to the Apple website.
When Super Mario Kart first rolled onto Super Nintendo consoles back in 1992, it came with 20 inventive courses and endless hours of fun. 26 years later, and the game isn't just speeding through desert tracks and rainbow roads — but onto the real-life streets, and now Google Maps. Because zooming Mario Kart-style through Tokyo wasn't enough, or bringing the IRL concept to Australia either, you can now spend the next week getting navigational directions from everyone's favourite cartoon plumber. Plus, he'll not only pop-up on the app, but as you drive along the road, he'll drive along with you on Maps — in celebration of Mario Day, which is March 10 (or MAR 10). [caption id="attachment_659698" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Google Maps[/caption] Anyone keen to take a drive with Mario simply needs to update their Maps app, then look for a question mark-shaped box that resembles a block from Super Mario Brothers. That's all there is to it — and it's not quite as fun as being able to actually play Mario Kart on Google Maps, like their Pac-Man April Fool's Day update a few years back, but it'll probably make you look up directions more often than you actually need over the next seven days. It goes without saying, but you you should still be watching the road as you drive — and not Mario on your phone, as cute as the gimmick may be. How else are you going to keep your eyes peeled for bananas, shells or gold coins? Via Google Maps.
When Taylor Swift announced that The Eras Tour was finally shaking its way to Australia, locking in five dates in two cities in February 2024, excitement echoed as loudly as the music superstar's voice. But, with such a condensed block of shows, nerves jangled as well. Getting a ticket to Swift's concerts in America caused a Ticketmaster meltdown, and has sparked new US legislation in response — and then there's scalpers and their inflated prices. With the singer-songwriter set to play her first two Aussie gigs of the tour at the MCG in Melbourne across Friday, February 16–Saturday, February 17, the Victorian Government has taken a key step to ensure that Swift fans don't get ripped off. Under the state's Major Events Act 2009, it has declared the 'Fearless', 'Enchanted', We Are Never Getting Back Together' and 'Blank Space' talent's shows a major event, which gets a whole heap of penalties around scalping's bad blood kicking in. [caption id="attachment_906252" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] Look what scalpers have made the Victorian Government do, basically. Under major event ticketing declarations, tickets to the concert must legally be available for a fair price, not the gargantuan costs that they can be flogged off for on the resale market. There's a specific figure specified under the law, in fact, with tickets to a declared major event unable to be resold for more than ten percent more than their original value. Other requirements include ticket package sellers needing authorisation from the event organiser, plus individual ads for tickets including both ticket and seating details. If a ticket seller flouts the rules, the penalties are steep — from $925 up to $554,760. [caption id="attachment_906254" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] This isn't just big news for Melburnians. Given that Swift is taking The Eras Tour to just two Aussie cities, it's relevant to the massive numbers of interstate and overseas attendees expected. The Victorian Government predicts that more than 60,000 people from around the rest of Australia, and from New Zealand, will be part of the 180,000 folks catching the singer during her two MCG concerts. Seeing Swift work through her entire career so far, playing tracks from each of her studio albums in a three-hour, 44-song, ten-act spectacular, The Eras Tour kicked off in March in the US, where it's still playing. Swift will also head to Mexico, Argentina and Brazil in 2023. Then, in 2024, she's off to Australia, Japan, Singapore, France, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Poland. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) This'll be Swift's first tour Down Under since 2018, when she brought her Reputation shows to not only Sydney and Melbourne, but Brisbane and Perth, too. In the US, it's been breaking ticketing and venue records — expect tickets to get snapped up quickly Down Under as well, but now for a fair price in Victoria. [caption id="attachment_906253" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR AUSTRALIAN DATES 2024: Friday, February 16–Saturday, February 17 — Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Friday, February 23–Sunday, February 25 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Taylor Swift will bring The Eras Tour to Australia in February 2024. Tickets for the Melbourne shows go on sale at 10am AEST on Friday, June 30, with the Sydney shows on sale at 2pm AEST on Friday, June 30. The American Express VIP Package pre-sale runs for 48 hours from Monday, June 26 — from 10am in Sydney and 2pm in Melbourne — and the Frontier Members pre-sale runs 24 hours from Wednesday, June 28, again from 10am in Sydney and 2pm in Melbourne, or until all pre-sale tickets have been snapped up in both instances. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons.
Three shows on the Australian leg of Lady Gaga's The MAYHEM Ball tour were never going to be enough. First, a second Melbourne gig was added during the presale period — and now a second Sydney concert has joined her Aussie trip as well. If you're hoping for more from there to meet demand, however, that's all there'll be. Tour organisers have advised that the latest Harbour City concert is the singer's final Australian date on this run. Little monsters, you were already excited — but now you have more chances to see Mother Monster live. On her December 2025 visit this way, Lady Gaga is playing five gigs: across Friday, December 5–Saturday, December 6 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, then on Tuesday, December 9 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, before finishing up over Friday, December 12–Saturday, December 13 at Sydney's Accor Stadium. When the 14-time Grammy Award-winner takes to the stage at the quintet of massive concerts, she'll not only play her first Australian shows in 11 years — she'll do her first-ever Australian stadium concerts as well. The tour kicks off in Las Vegas in July, a few months after Lady Gaga finishes her two-weekend Coachella headlining gig — the second of which can be livestreamed worldwide across Saturday, April 19–Monday, April 21 Australian time, just as everyone did with the first. Before The MAYHEM Ball tour begins, she's also doing shows in Mexico City, Singapore and Rio de Janeiro. After her Vegas dates, everywhere from Las Vegas, New York and Toronto to London, Stockholm, Berlin and Paris will also score Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta's presence. Given that this is Gaga's first Aussie visit since 2014's ArtRave: The ARTPOP Ball gigs (with the Joanne and Chromatica Ball tours bypassing this part of the world), tickets for the local leg have understandably been going fast. When she added 13 new dates to the initially announced first shows on the tour overseas, they all sold out swiftly. As the name makes plain, Germanotta is touring on the back of MAYHEM, her latest album — and seventh in a row to go to number one on the Billboard 200. It also debuted in the top spot on Australia's charts, and gave Gaga her biggest streaming week ever by notching up 240-million streams on its first week alone. In addition to MAYHEM tracks such as 'Disease', 'Abracadabra' and 'Die with a Smile', fans can likely look forward to hits from across the artist's career, such as 'Poker Face', 'Bad Romance', 'Paparazzi', 'Born This Way' and 'Rain on Me' — plus, of course, seeing Gaga live onstage, rather than getting your fix via her film work in recent years in A Star Is Born, House of Gucci and Joker: Folie à Deux. Lady Gaga's The Mayhem Tour Australia 2025 Dates Friday, December 5–Saturday, December 6 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Tuesday, December 9 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Friday, December 12–Saturday, December 13 — Accor Stadium, Sydney [caption id="attachment_998819" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frank Lebon[/caption] Lady Gaga is touring Australia in December 2025. General sales kicked off at 12pm on Thursday, April 17 for more shows, with times varying per city. For the second Sydney date, presales will start at 12pm on Tuesday, April 22, then general sales from 1pm on Thursday, April 24. Head to the tour website for more details. Live images: Raph PH via Flickr.
Perhaps you're the kind of person who wakes up with the sun, wanting to make the most of your day off. Or, perhaps you're the type that rolls out of bed mid-morning, pops on your sunnies, and makes a beeline to the best place serving food, coffee and booze. However you like to brunch, you know that there's a difference between an ordinary boozy brunch and treating yourself to a truly great one — especially when you have a hangover and you're not in a hurry for your meal to end. To help you on your quest to find the perfect boozy brunch spot in Brisbane, we've partnered with Grey Goose, the world's finest French vodka, give you seven places that let you order a pornstar martini with your brekky, or crumpets with your house punch. The choices are bountiful.
People of Brisbane, meet your new favourite dive bar: Sonny's House of Blues. Most places earn their 'House' name after years of dimly lit dinginess, but this new joint's skipping the history. Sonny’s hails back to the types of places common in Los Angeles, and with good reason — it was in LA that owner Jamie Webb came up with the idea. Webb made up with a story to go with the venue, claiming that legendary American bluesman Sonny Terry used to own a blues bar, but his son turned it into a rock joint after he died. The namesake is real, but the rest is pure fiction. The description might be a little harsh; however Sonny’s owns its vibe of '80s rock 'n' roll in everything from its live music line-up to its booth seating. Located down in the inner-city depths of Rowes Lane in the space that Rosie’s once called home, this isn’t quite the grungy hole-in-the-wall you might expect — but with retro décor and a buzzing atmosphere, it is definitely the next best thing. Think sleaze without the actual sleaze. The Mexican-themed menu brings tasty treats to this laidback establishment, including tacos, burritos and quesadillas served for lunch and dinner. Drinks-wise, expect tequila, bourbon and coke slushies, frozen margaritas, '80s-named cocktails, and more than 40 kinds of craft beer. The American speakeasy-style hangout is the latest in a long line of bars and music venues opening around the city, with new joints seeming to pop up every week. That Brisbanites have Webb to thank for the new CBD haunt is hardly surprising, given that he owns Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Gordita, Peasant and the also-new Los Villanos as well. Find Sonny’s House of Blues in Rowes Lane off Edward Street, in the Brisbane CBD. Visit their website for more information. Image: Wayne T. Helfrich.
Thirteen months after Australia's borders closed and international travel was banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aussies can finally enjoy an overseas holiday again. The destination: New Zealand, with the long-awaited trans-Tasman travel bubble now up and running as at 11.59pm on Sunday, April 18. A quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and NZ has been floated and discussed plenty of times over the past year. A one-way arrangement has actually been in effect since mid-October 2020, with New Zealanders able to visit some Australian states. But it has taken quite some time for a reciprocal plan to kick into gear, so if you feel like you've been hearing about the bubble for months and months (and months), that's definitely accurate. Here's how it works: Australians can hop on a flight, which have been dubbed 'green zone flights', and soar across the ditch as they would've pre-pandemic. To avoid quarantine, you'll need to have spent 14 days in either Australia or New Zealand before you travel — and you'll only be onboard with folks who fall into the same category. The crew on those flights won't have flown on any high-risk routes for a set period of time, too. To qualify to enter NZ, you'll need to also meet the usual meet immigration requirements, not have had a positive COVID-19 test result in the past 14 days and not be waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test taken in the last fortnight. And, you'll have to complete a travel declaration and a pre-departure health declaration; however, getting tested for COVID-19 before departure is not a requirement. At the airport and on the plane, you'll need to wear a face covering. That'll remain the case when you land in NZ, too. Travellers from green zone flights will then be taken to their own arrival area, away from folks landing from other parts of the world that are going into managed isolation and quarantine facilities. Random temperature checks and health assessments are part of the on-ground process as well. Then, once you're out of the airport, you're asked to download and use the NZ COVID Tracer app to keep track of your whereabouts, to abide by the usual social distancing and hygiene measures that've become commonplace in Australia, and to keep an eye on NZ's COVID-19 alert levels. You'll also need to be prepared in case the travel bubble arrangement is disrupted due to new COVID-19 cases in either NZ in Australia. If an outbreak arises in an Aussie state, there'll be three options. Firstly, if the case is clearly linked to a border worker in a quarantine facility and is well contained, travel will likely continue. If a case isn't linked to the border and the relevant state went into lockdown, NZ will likely pause flights from that state. And, if there are multiple cases of unknown origin in a state, NZ will probably suspend flights for a set period of time. Australia's international border still remains shut to most global travel, although a similar travel bubble with Singapore is currently under discussion for a potential July start. If you're keen to start planning your NZ jaunt, we've rounded up some of our favourite glamping sites, wineries, sights and restaurants in NZ. To learn more about the trans-Tasman bubble, head to the NZ Government website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
It's been a big few months for new hotels around Australia, including just-opened spots and places that'll launch in the coming months and years. Sydney now boasts the first Down Under outpost for Ace Hotels, and will soon score Porter House Hotel, too — plus the local debut of The Waldorf Astoria in 2025. Melbourne has welcomed the design-driven AC Hotels, Newcastle is nabbing its own QT with a rooftop bar and a suite in a clock tower, and the Gold Coast is nabbing The Langham. There's also a new hotel in the works for the Barossa in the middle of a vineyard, and the Yarra Valley is getting one as part of a big gig venue. Don't go thinking that Brisbane is missing out, though — because that's where the new voco Brisbane City Centre comes in. The chain has just taken up residence on North Quay right next to Brisbane Quarter, which means that it's in a prime riverside position. And, to take advantage of that location, it features a views aplenty, as well as a rooftop pool. Brisbane's first voco hotel — and the second for Queensland, after voco Gold Coast — it also comes with 194 rooms, as well as hangout space Kraft & Co. There, you can drink coffee by day and kick back in a lounge bar by night. You'll find the latter on the ground floor, slinging everything from eggs for breakfast and brunch through to cocktails till late. Wherever you're spending your time at this new staycation spot, you'll be surrounded by a sleek fitout by Sydney-based interior design studio JPDC, which takes its cues from the hotel's riverside locale. Dark blue tones are a big feature, alongside neutral colours — and maximising natural light. Among the site's features, voco Brisbane City Centre also boasts an all-hours gym, plus 11 meeting and function spaces. And, as part of a sustainability push that also includes aerated shower heads and refillable Antipodes products, guests can zip around the city for free on handcrafted bamboo bikes from Wyld Bikes. Find voco Brisbane City Centre at 85–87 North Quay, Brisbane. For more information or to make a booking, head to the voco website.
Just as NAIDOC week kicks into gear for 2019, Australia's Budj Bim Cultural Landscape has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List — becoming the first Australian site to receive recognition exclusively for its Aboriginal cultural values. During its current meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation added the south-west Victorian site to its list of landmarks and areas that are legally protected due to their significance. Located on Gunditjmara country, the region spans the Budj Bim volcano, Tae Rak (Lake Condah), the Kurtonitj wetlands, and Tyrendarra's rocky ridges and large marshes. It also includes remnants of more than 300 round, basalt stone houses, which demonstrate the Gunditjmara people's permanent settlement in the area. Of specific interest to UNESCO, Budj Bim features a system of channels, dams and weirs, all made possible due to basalt lava flows that have been carbon-dated back to 6600 years. The complex network is considered one of the the largest and oldest aquaculture setups in the world, and is used not only to contain floodwaters, but to trap and harvest the kooyang eel. The listing comes after five years of work between Gunditjmara people and the Victorian and Australian governments to develop Budj Bim's World Heritage nomination, and marks Australia's 20th entry on the list — alongside the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu National Park, Fraser Island, the Tasmanian wilderness, the Greater Blue Mountains area, the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, among others. [caption id="attachment_729904" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tae Rak channel and holding pond,Tyson Lovett-Murray, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation[/caption] In total, UNESCO has added 21 new sites to the World Heritage List as part of its 2019 conference, which runs through until Wednesday, July 10, and will examine 35 nominations in total. In addition to Budj Bim, the new entries showcase spots in China, Iran, France, Iceland, Brazil, Bahrain, Canada, Germany, Czechia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Poland, Myanmar, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Burkina Faso and Iraq, including Babylon. The list of new cultural sites chosen so far is as follows: Migratory bird sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China — natural site. Hyrcanian forests in the Islamic Republic of Iran — natural site. French Austral Lands and Seas in France — natural site. The fire and ice of Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland — natural site. The culture and biodiversity of Paratyand Ilha Grande in Brazil — natural and cultural site. Ancient ferrous metallurgy sites of Burkina Faso — cultural site. Babylon in Iraq — cultural site. Dilmun burial mounds in Bahrain — cultural site. Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in Australia — cultural site. Archaeological ruins of Liangzhu City in China — cultural site. Jaipur City, Rajasthan in India — cultural site. Ombilin coal-mining heritage of Sawahlunto in Indonesia — cultural site. Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group of mounded tombs from Ancient Japan — cultural site. Megalithic jar sites in Xiengkhouang — Plain of Jars in the Lao People's Democratic Republic — cultural site. Bagan in Myanmar — cultural site. Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies in the Republic of Korea — cultural site. Writing-on-Stone /Áísínai'pi in Canada — cultural site. Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří mining region of Czechia and Germany — cultural site. The landscape for breeding and training of ceremonial carriage Hhrses at Kladruby nad Labem in Czechia — cultural site. The water management system of Augsburg in Germany — cultural site. Krzemionki Prehistoric Striped Flint Mining Region in Poland) — cultural site. UNESCO also extended the heritage listing of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region, to not only include northern Macedonia but also Albania. Prior to the 2019 meeting, the World Heritage List included 1092 different sites spread across 167 countries. Need some travel inspiration — or a reminder of just how wondrous our planet is? Browsing the full list will take care of that for you. Top images: Lake Condah, Tyson Lovett-Murray, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation / Tae Rak in flood, Tyson Lovett-Murray, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
The same team behind Frankie Magazine is about to launch a new publication entitled Smith Journal, a kind of guy-friendly take on the concept that has worked so brilliantly for the ladies. Over the years Frankie has created its own niche in the world of magazines. its creators saw a dearth of publications lacking warmth, impeccable design and solid content, so they filled the gap and they’ve done spectacularly well off it. In the past two years Frankie has had astounding jumps in circulation, making it the fastest growing magazine in the country. And the reasons for that are many, including their clean, environmentally-friendly design, support for underground acts and emerging creatives, and their emphasis on strong content, publishing distinctive writers like Benjamin Law and Marieke Hardy. Now they’re applying the same logic to the world of gentlemen’s magazines. The idea behind the name – Smith – is that of blokes doing stuff with their hands – blacksmiths and wordsmiths and the like. Their positioning is both old fashioned and down to earth, but never attempting to be cool or exclusive. And just like Frankie doesn’t bar the boys from the clubhouse, Smith also welcomes lady readers. The difference between Smith and Frankie is that it’s going to be a wee bit bigger and a little less regular. It’ll be printed out at a not-entirely-bus-friendly edition of 140+ pages, with only two issues a year in limited release. The first issue is out September 5.
Yeerongpilly's Plant Empire sells greenery every day of the week, helping folks with green thumbs — and those who wish they had them, too — fill their homes with leafy babies. But on Sunday, March 1, it's doing something more than that. You can still browse the store's shelves for plants, of course; however you can also head round back to check out the pop-up autumn market. As well as plants, you'll be able to peruse a range of pots. If you're going to buy some greenery, you'll want something to put it in, obviously. Also on offer: ceramics, jewellery and other handmade crafts. And if you happen to arrive hungry — Sunday mornings can do that to even the most satisfied stomach — there'll be food available as well. Just drop by the Station Road spot between 9am–1pm, when the morning-long market will be in full swing. The usual advice applies here, as it does to all plant markets: yes, more greenery is always a good thing. Images: Plant Empire.
This December, you can score a bottle of vino for as little as $8.50 a pop thanks to Vinomofo's Boxing Day Sale. Running from Friday, December 25 till Thursday, December 31, the sale will offer up to 70 percent off a heap of local and international wines — and it'll all get delivered straight to your doorstep for free. So, get ready to stock up on vino to help ring in the New Year. Vinomofo is an online wine company for those who love wine, but without all the pretension that sometimes comes with it. The Melbourne-based company delivers wine to thousands of people around the world — so it's safe to say it knows what it's doing when it comes to grape juice. The Boxing Day sale will see some of the biggest price drops from Vinomofo yet and will include more than 100 wines. It'll be adding additional daily wine deals over the week, too. Think celebratory champagne, epic-value prosecco and plenty of summer-suitable rosé, plus a huge range of white and red varieties — all for a steal. And, to top it off, shipping for all orders purchased in that time period will be free. Score epic wine deals via Vinomofo's Boxing Day Sale — for a limited time only.
A longtime festival favourite among foodies, the Good Food & Wine Show, is back for its 2022 run. And, like always, the event packs a flavourful punch — there's the Good Food Village, which showcases artisan producers (with tastings galore); the Riedel Drinks Lab and its roll call of vino masterclasses; and The Kitchen by Harris Scarfe and its supercharged list of hospo heavyweights sharing their tips, tricks and favourite recipes. Here at Concrete Playground, good food and wine is our religion. We're up on the latest openings and frequent the delicious mainstays, we try out the hot-ticket ingredients (be it yuzu or alc-free liqueurs) and we happily attend events celebrating the tip-top of Aussie producers, dining venues and culinary talents. So, bringing it all under the one roof — with tickets for just $28 (or $35 with a tasting glass to keep) — is a sure-fire way to have us racing to plan a tasty itinerary for the day. After successful weekenders in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, the annual extravaganza is set to hit Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from October 21–23. This year is truly not one to be missed — read on for our picks at this year's shows. NOODLE SMACKDOWN AND DINNER INSPIRATION As someone who learns best by seeing things in action, I can guarantee you I'll be spending most of my Good Food & Wine Show at The Kitchen by Harris Scarfe. There'll be a bunch of live cooking demonstrations courtesy of well-known chefs sure to equip you with new kitchen tricks and some much-needed dinner inspiration. With so many incredible options available, it's tough to decide which class to attend. So far, I've got my eyes firmly fixed on Brendan Pang's Noodle Smack Down Street Food demonstration. Courtney Ammenhauser, Branded Content Manager A CHEESY WONDERLAND The food show is always a cheese wonderland, and tasting your way up and down Cheese Lane (and then up and down again) is a delicious way to spend your day — just mentally prepare yourself for those cheese dreams afterwards. Here are three little words that should get nearly everyone excited: cheese, chocolate and sparkling. This Good Food & Wine Show masterclass — hosted by cheese expert and owner of Smelly Cheese Project Valerie Henbest — is dedicating 45 minutes to the not-so-common pairing of cheese and choccie (with a glass of bubbles on the side), and is sure to tempt a crowd. You'll want to nab a ticket, stat, if you don't want to miss it. Sarah Ward, Associate Editor CULINARY STARS AND BIG, BEAUTIFUL BAROSSA REDS Since wine always tastes better when you know a bit about whatever the heck it is you're sipping, I'll be heading to the free palate appreciation classes at the Riedel Drinks Lab. The sessions are led by resident wine guy Nick Ryan and involve some expert tutelage, as well as tastings. In the midst of winter's chill, the class dedicated to big, beautiful reds is calling out to me. Libby Curran, Staff Writer A TICKET ESPECIALLY FOR THE WINE LOVERS First things first, I will definitely be nabbing myself a Wine Lovers Ticket. If you're into your fine drops, the extra dollars are well worth it — you'll take home a Riedel magnum tasting glass and an expert-selected bottle of vino, get exclusive access to back vintages and a tote bag to haul your goodies around in. The highlight in my eyes? Is it Really Better to be Single?, the punny wine-tasting masterclass that will have Nick Ryan chatting through the ins and outs of blending (and shining a light on why it's one of the most important skills in a winemaker's toolbox). A stop by the Good Food Village for a refuel by way of tastings and my day is made. Grace MacKenzie, Branded Content Manager EVENTS WORTH CROSSING THE DITCH FOR Confession: this is a hypothetical recommendation as I'm stuck over here in New Zealand and can't head to the show. But it may surprise Aussies to know that here in Aotearoa we are fanatical about MasterChef Australia. And no contestant has had an impact on me or my mother more than Brendan Pang during his tenures in 2018 and 2020. We were women obsessed. So, seeing him in real life whipping up dumplings and street eats during the Noodle Smack Down Street Food masterclass is absolutely worth booking flights across the ditch for. While I'm at the show, I'd definitely head to the Wine and Dine Tasting Room for Perfetto! Italian Food and Varietals, which combines two of my greatest loves: pasta and wine. Learning how to effectively match bold local drops to the diversity of Italian cuisine is almost as good as heading away on my own Euro-summer vacation. Almost. Sarah Templeton, New Zealand Editor Ready to start planning your tasty day out? Head to the website to explore the full lineup and book tickets. Top images: Jessica Wyld and Joseph Byford (last image)
For the second time in just a few months, one of Lady Bird's boyfriends has turned to illicit substances. For the second time in his four-movie filmmaking career, Peter Hedges explores a black sheep's holiday homecoming. Both of these statements require some unpacking, but they demonstrate just how well-worn much of Ben Is Back feels. As Timothée Chalamet did in Beautiful Boy, fellow Lady Bird co-star Lucas Hedges portrays a young man grappling with drug dependence and disappointing the devoted parent who just wants him to get clean. And as the elder Hedges did in 2003's Pieces of April, the writer-director charts the drama of an awkward family reunion. There's another layer of familiarity to Ben Is Back, too: Peter and Lucas Hedges are father and son. As well as the movie's similarities to other accounts of addiction and reconvening relatives, perhaps that's why it largely seems like the product of folks firmly in their comfort zones. The plot rides the usual emotional rollercoaster, ending exactly where everyone expects. With the film's tone, Peter Hedges tries to find a balance between sensitive and tense, and between heart-wrenching and sombre as well. Visually, the picture makes the most of grey hues and anguished close-ups, each adding to the recognisable mood. And although Lucas Hedges' performance is reliably raw and multifaceted, the impressive young actor never quite reaches the heights that he demonstrated in Manchester by the Sea and Boy Erased. Still, Ben Is Back has a spark to it, with Julia Roberts proving the picture's powerhouse package. Wearing the weight of a mother's unconditional love in every patient step and searching gaze, she plays suburban mum-of-four Holly Burns. Arriving home from Christmas Eve church choir practice with her excited pre-teen kids (Jakari Fraser and Mia Fowler), she suddenly shares their enthusiasm when she spies Ben (Lucas Hedges) standing on their snowy doorstep. Only high-schooler Ivy (Kathryn Newton) is wary — thanks to his complicated history, her older brother is supposed to be in rehab, as paid for by Holly's second husband Neal (Courtney B. Vance). But Ben promises that he's happy, healthy and has his habit in check, which Holly chooses to believe, imploring the rest of the family to follow suit. With reminders of his past mistakes littered around both his home and his hometown, Ben's pledge to his mother and Holly's faith in her son each prove hard to maintain. While there's little that's surprising about Ben Is Back's story (even when it endeavours to chart its own path into near-thriller territory), Roberts remains a source of continual astonishment. A much rarer presence on cinema screens of late than in her 90s heyday, she steps into her second doting mum part in as many movies, after 2017's Wonder. And yet, nothing about her performance paints by the numbers. Indeed, this is really her film, and it tells her character's tale. Holly has experienced a life tougher than her well-appointed two-storey house makes plain, although not as rough as the places that Ben's return takes her to — and Roberts makes that difficult clash evident without needing to explain it in words. Also present in Roberts' fine-tuned portrayal is a narrative that everyone knows, yet is scarcely given such nuance and attention. Ben Is Back tells of parental sacrifice, as evident in everyday choices rather than grand or tragic gestures. It's a story about the cost of caring — the toll a mother willingly pays when always offering a shoulder to cry on, lending a helping hand, trying to see the best in her children and endeavouring to do what's right for one kid when she has three others at home. Hedges' script attempts to thread this idea into a broader statement on suburban addiction, and, specifically, the destructive influence of prescription drugs. It's a noble quest, and one of the movie's more ambitious moves. Ultimately, however, Ben Is Back works best when it focuses on the quietly expressive Roberts, and lets her commanding work turn an intimate snapshot into a bigger story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQI_hkFKlHc
Normally ugliness is relative and objective, but not if you’re at one of the stranger events taking place during the Basque city of Bilbao’s annual cultural festival Aste Nagusia or ‘Big Week’. Somewhere in between the comparatively commonplace displays of music, art, fireworks and bullfights taking place over the nine-day celebration falls the bewildering Concurso de Feos, which literally translates to ‘The Ugly Competition’. Concurso de Feos was apparently initiated as a spin on the controversial and outdated beauty pageant. Though it is also a great alternative for those not endowed with the skills required to perform the spectacular facial feat known as a gurn (perhaps due to still having at least six teeth) but who continue to dream of having their ugliest mug immortalised on the Internet. The Spanish competition apparently encourages the use of fingers to assist with the distorting process, with entrants stuffing digits into their nostrils, eyeballs and inner cheeks in their quest to perform the most unsightly sneer in all the land. There appears to be no age restrictions on competing, with the event popular amongst both old and young alike. And, obligatory jokes aside, Concurso de Feos can claim the dual merits of providing locals with a comical distraction from the Basque County’s economic woes and the rest of the world with a good boost of self-confidence. via Geekologie
A slice of Italy has come to Bulimba and a waterside favourite has undergone facelift. After attracting eager diners to the end of Oxford Street since 2009, The Jetty has sailed off into the sunset, with Il Molo taking its place. Reopening in 2017, the site has a whole new focus for the kitchen and bar, but owners Jason and Katie Coats are still nodding to their past restaurant in a fitting way. If you know much Italian, you'll be smiling at Il Molo's moniker: translated to English, it means The Jetty. Amidst black, white and wooden decor or on the sun-lit outdoor deck, patrons will still enjoy views of the Brisbane River at its most scenic; however the revamped space now serves up flavours and meals that will make you dream of a European jaunt. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, think prosciutto and mozzarella-filled omelettes, a seven-pizza menu, pappardelle pasta with a pork shoulder ragu, and lamb shanks with parmesan polenta and green tapenade. Il Molo also offers Italian coffees, pastries and cakes to take away, wine and beer for those after a stiffer drink, and a decadent range of desserts. Who can pass up sweet ricotta and orange zest-filled Sicilian cannoli? Italian chocolate and raspberry doughnuts with hazelnut gelato? Here, a change really is as good as a holiday — for your tastebuds, at least.
If you're looking for your first glimpse of the latest Star Wars movie, there's no need to travel to a galaxy far, far away, because the initial teaser trailer has just dropped in this one. Nine months before the main franchise's ninth episode hits cinemas (and 11th theatrical flick overall), Disney has gifted audiences a sneak peek of what comes next — and the movie's moniker. Come December, fans will be getting comfy to watch Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker. Right now, there's a two-minute sneak peek to whet your appetite. Given the title, the way that Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi wrapped up and the theories that have been swirling around Daisy Ridley's Rey since she was first introduced in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, it should come as no surprise that the scavenger-turned-pilot takes centre stage. Also popping up are Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron and John Boyega's ex-stormtrooper Finn, helping out the film's plucky heroine once more; Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, wielding his red lightsaber for the dark side yet again; and long-standing series favourites Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO, of course. The late Carrie Fisher features as well, with the actor's appearance as General Leia Organa made possible by using previously filmed footage. And two other familiar characters also rejoin the fold, including Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian and a sinister figure who's heard rather than seen. The huge cast list keeps going, with Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran and Lupita Nyong'o all returning, Mark Hamill also included, and Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell and Naomi Ackie among the Star Wars newcomers. As he did with The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams sits in the director's chair. And while this isn't the end of the Star Wars story by any means — a new TV series, The Mandalorian, is headed to Disney's new streaming platform later this year, and two big-screen spinoff trilogies are in development from The Last Jedi helmer Rian Johnson and Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, respectively — The Rise of Skywalker is being badged as the finale of the Skywalker saga. Feel the force with the first teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adzYW5DZoWs Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker releases in Australian cinemas on December 19.
Tempting daytime diners with its cheeky name, Eat Mii brings hawker-style breakfast, brunch and lunch options to West End's Boundary Street — and spicy selections in several ways. First, there's the selection of banh mi to start the day, as filled with charcoal-grilled meat. Then there's turmeric lattes, which are bound to put an extra spring in your step. Or, for something sweet, a rocky road concoction. With eating inside, outside and taking away all available — plus vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free variations, as well as regular coffees and a selection of alcoholic beverages — the choices don't stop there. That's particularly relevant for those looking for something other than the standard Vietnamese fare. Homemade rice paper rolls are on offer, of course; however so are the kinds of dishes you won't find co-opted by food court outlets, including vermicelli noodle salads with pork patties, and pork meatballs made from a family recipe. If there's one meal worth making a special trip for, though, it's the one every cafe makes — but not like this. That'd be the big breakfast, but forget bacon and eggs. Here, it's all about saucy steak and eggs with bread, served on a sizzling plate. You know you want to try it.
Anywhere Theatre Festival is back in Brisbane for another year of impressive, imaginative and spontaneous performances. With a vision to propel theatre outside the traditional stage spaces, Anywhere Theatre is providing exactly that. It's a smart, simple concept appealing to a logical yet creative notion. You don’t need a big expensive stage to have a big performance. They maintain an any time, anywhere type of experience for anyone who wants it. So you're thinking, this sounds fun but how exactly does it work? Don't fret, we've got you covered! This ten day theatre festival is packed with instructions and options of how, when and where to enjoy its incredible experiences. Because each performance location is different, you must check out their website to determine what show and what setting you're after. There is an amazing array of options for you to choose from. You don't need to be a theatre buff to enjoy this event. It's a festival for everyone. Get out to experience and explore the unique, outer theatre venues of Brisbane. With many performance mediums to appeal to almost anyone, there is sure to be a performance and location that fits you. We recommend: The Gremlins - Gravity Is Only The Beginning (pictured), The Alleyway Project and 'Merica.
Generally when you order a burger, it doesn't come flying to you at 100km an hour. The thought of that doesn't actually sound very fun or delicious; it sounds a lot like copping a pickle to the eyeball. But at Christchurch's C1 Espresso, high-speed sliders are a reality that doesn't hurt or impede your vision, thanks to an impressive overhead air suction system that delivers your chow straight from the kitchen to your table via pneumatic tube. It's the future, as owner Sam Crofskey puts it. And there is something very Fifth Element about food travelling through clear plastic tubes to get to your mouth, but this system is actually more in tune with the past than the future. Originally operating as a bank — and taken over by C1 after their previous site was destroyed in the February 2011 earthquake — the High Street building was already fitted with old-school pneumatic tubes. After using the vacuum-like system to transport handwritten orders to the kitchen, the next step, naturally, was to stick food up there and see what happened. With the existing tubes not quite big enough for edibles, new, slider-sized ones had to be fitted. They run from the kitchen and along the ceiling before dropping down to arrive at tables that sit up against the walls (and there's even talk of expanding delivery to outside tables through underground tubes). This means the cafe is always whirring, moving and buzzing; people's eyes flicker as they see a cylinder fly past up above and then grin in delight when said cylinder arrives at their table, holding three sliders and piping hot curly fries. "We just thought it was very Willy Wonka or something, and we had to do it," says Crofskey. "It was really important that when people talked about us after the earthquake, that they connected with us in the same kind of way as before ... We had to make sure that people would make the effort to come back." And with most of the city shut down — particularly when they initially reopened in November 2012 — C1 didn't just need a novelty; they needed to do something unique that fit in with their already-established brand and the community. Pioneering the second wave coffee movement since their beginnings in 1996 (back when no one knew what a barista was, according to Crofskey), C1 has always been known for great coffee and breakfast and details like their customised sugar packets that look like crayons and the sparkling water on tap from an old sewing machine. The pneumatic burgers and the decision to open for dinner are another extension of the C1 culture, and a good reflection of Crofskey's approach to hospitality. "We had a chance to reinvent ourselves and, when we reopened, we were deciding who we wanted to be," says Sam. "We didn't want to deviate from our brand — it's still warm and inviting, and a place for the community to come together." But offering breakfast, lunch and dinner isn't the only thing on Crofskey's agenda. Along with the cafe, he also works with a Samoan community to create a sustainable coffee industry in partnership with Women in Business, he bottles and sells OK! fruit nectars that also originate from the region, and he produces his own honey from the building's rooftop beehive and garden. And, with the cafe sharing real estate with a video store, art house cinema and, temporarily, the Christchurch Art Gallery, the space is so much more than somewhere to eat. "We had this idea that we wanted to have this space that people could get lost in for a while, so you can go here and go to the movies, come out and go to the art gallery," says Crofskey. And with plans to turn the upper levels into a boutique hotel, C1 will be like an island for the people of Christchurch. One where the room service is delivered at 100km an hour, of course.
Every major exhibition gives art lovers two gifts: the joy of discovering what'll display on its walls and halls when that first announcement hits, and the thrill of actually seeing the end results IRL while wandering, peering and contemplating. With Boston Dynamics robot dogs, work by Yoko Ono, a collaboration with Paris haute couture house Schiaparelli, and Tokyo-based artist Azuma Makoto's room-sized tribute to plants all on the just-revealed NGV Triennial 2023 bill, that initial round of delights starts now. Since 2017, the Melbourne-based National Gallery of Victoria has hosted the art showcase every three years, with this upcoming summer's iteration from Sunday, December 3, 2023–Sunday, April 7, 2024 the third. Designed to provide a portrait of the world each time it is staged — if art trends and breakthroughs; the artists making them; and the themes, ideas and events they're responding to — each NGV Triennial delivers a hefty program. This time, there'll be 75 works from 100-plus artists, complete with more than 25 world-premiere projects, all tying into the themes of magic, matter and memory. [caption id="attachment_896126" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Azuma Makoto, Block Flowers 2020 ©️ Azuma Makoto Courtesy the artist.[/caption] A big highlight: those mechanical pooches, who will also show off their very good painting skills. This clearly isn't Black Mirror, with Polish-born Agnieszka Pilat training the robot dogs to make art, which NGV Triennial attendees can then watch happen. They'll create a monolithic durational work, with Pilat exploring technology's power in modern life in the process. While attending NGV Triennial is free, you won't have to go inside the NGV International on St Kilda Road to see Yoko Ono's contribution. Drawing upon six decades making art, including her famed Instruction Pieces and major public art commissions, she's providing a large-scale text-based piece that'll display on the building's façade. [caption id="attachment_896130" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Sheila Hicks's Nowhere to go 2022 at Off Grid, The Hepworth Wakefield, United Kingdom. Proposed acquisition, NGVWA.Courtesy the artist and Alison Jacques.[/caption] One of the joys of an exhibition like this is the sheer variety of works — although Schiaparelli's involvement would be a standout anyway. Artistic Director Daniel Roseberry is picking items from recent collections to display, plus a range of gilded surrealist accessories and body adornment. And, as well as showing his penchant for pushing boundaries and pairing art and fashion, there's set to be a celestial theme. Also immersive: Makoto's homage to nature, specifically plants and their magic, beauty and life force. The artist is freezing Australian flowers and botanicals into acrylic blocks, then combining them with a multi-screen film about the life and death of blooms. Yes, you'll be thinking about nature while you take it in. [caption id="attachment_896127" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Shrigley, Really Good, 2016, bronze, 680 x 380 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London © David Shrigley. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2023.[/caption] Tracey Emin is also contributing a series of works, including five-metre-high text-based neon light installation based on the British artist's own handwriting. From Paris-based and American-born sculptor Sheila Hicks, Nowhere to Go will stack her blue-hued bulbous sculptures against a wall. Or, there's David Shrigley's Really Good — a seven-metre-high thumbs-up. Elsewhere, the massive one-hundred-metre-long woven fish fence, Mun-dirra, was made over two years by ten artists and their apprentices from the Burarra language group Maningrida, Arnhem Land — while large-scale commission Megacities is tasking ten street photographers to snap Cairo, Dhaka, Jakarta, Delhi, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Seoul, Lagos, Tokyo and Mexico City in all their urban glory. Don't miss Hugh Hayden's The end installation, which recreates a primary-school classroom but gets apocalyptic with branches and dodo skeletons. The full list of featured artists also spans Petrit Halilaj, Betty Muffler, Hoda Afshar and Fernando Laposse, plus Flora Yukhnovich, Yee I-Lann, Joyce Ho, Shakuntala Kulkarni and SMACK — and more, obviously. [caption id="attachment_896128" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of the NGV.[/caption] "In the three years since the last NGV Triennial, the world has experienced a great many structural shifts, including a global pandemic. Through the work of more than 100 artists, designers, architects and collectives from Australia and around the world, the NGV Triennial offers a powerful insight into the ideas and concerns empowering creative practice in 2023," said NGV Director Tony Ellwood, announcing the program. "The artists, designers and architects of our time play an important role in helping us to understand, navigate and relate to the world around us. The 2023 NGV Triennial offers audiences a valuable opportunity to experience new and surprising forms of creative expression from around the globe, which, together, present a compelling snapshot of the world as it is, while also asking how we would like it to be." [caption id="attachment_896129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Hugh Hayden's The End 2022. Courtesy of the artist.[/caption] NGV Triennial 2023 will display from Sunday, December 3, 2023–Sunday, April 7, 2024 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Head to the gallery's website for further details. Top image: Aaron Richter.
On-screen, Ali Wong doesn't let go of grudges easily, at least in Beef. In rom-com Always Be My Maybe, she's also been romanced by Keanu Reeves. Tuca & Bertie had her voice an anthropomorphic song thrush, while Big Mouth sent her back to middle school. The American actor and comedian's next project: her current stand-up comedy tour, which has just locked in Down Under dates. Wong is presently working her way across the US and Canada, has also hit up London and Paris, and will head to Australia and New Zealand in July 2024. She's announced four dates, kicking off in Auckland, then jumping over to Melbourne. From there, she'll work her way up the east coast, next hitting up Sydney before wrapping up in Brisbane. Bringing her Ali Wong: Live tour this way comes after a massive 12 months for Wong. It was back in early April 2023 that Beef arrived, getting audiences obsessed and sparking plenty of accolades coming Wong's way. She won Best Actress Emmy, Golden Globe, Film Independent Spirt and Screen Actors Guild awards for playing Amy Lau, who has a carpark altercation with Danny Cho (Steven Yeun, Nope) that neither can let go of — and that changes both of their lives. The series itself, on which Wong was also an executive producer, has earned just as much love — including the Emmy for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television; Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series under 40 minutes; Film Independent Spirt Award for Best New Scripted Series; and PGA for Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television. [caption id="attachment_893741" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023[/caption] Behind the microphone, Wong's comedy career dates back almost two decades, including three Netflix stand-up specials: 2016's Baby Cobra, 2018's Hard Knock Wife and 2022's Don Wong. And, as an author, Wong also has 2019's Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life to her name. [caption id="attachment_946689" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Always Be My Maybe[/caption] Ali Wong: Live Tour Dates — Australia and New Zealand 2024: Monday, July 8 — The Civic, Auckland Thursday, July 11 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne Friday, July 19 — ICC Theatre, Sydney Monday, July 22 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Ali Wong is touring Down Under in July 2024, with presale tickets available from 9am on Wednesday, March 20 and general sales from 9am local time on Friday, March 22 — head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023.
