Garlic bread — representing the holy trinity of bread, garlic, and butter — is something created by the gluten gods to make us mortals (sans coeliacs) very, very happy. Welcome to Bowen Hills is aware of this, as demonstrated by its two whole days devoted to your fave carbohydrate situation: the Garlic Bread Festival. But April 7 and 8 aren't just for standard garlic bread. You'll also find genius hybrids such as garlic bread burgers and garlic bread gozlemes on offer. So prepare thy tummy — while the food truck lineup hasn't yet been revealed, garlic bread toasties, garlic pizzas and garlic sausages in toasted garlic bread buns have also been promised. There is an ATM on-site for emergency carb top-ups. Kids are welcome from noon until 9pm, doggos are welcome all day and all night, and both will probably lose their minds over the tasty scraps. Praise be to wheat.
Two days. One sprawling venue. No animal products in sight. That's what's on the agenda when the Brisbane Vegan Expo hits up the Brisbane Showgrounds across Saturday, September 17–Sunday, September 18 — returning for its second time after proving quite the drawcard in its first 2019 outing. If adding more plant-based options to your diet gets your tastebuds salivating, then you'll be in the right spot. If you're keen to only purchase cruelty-free wares, you will be too. The 2022 lineup includes a hefty list of options — coconut soft serve from I Should Coco, vegan doughnuts from OMG Decadent Donuts, meat-less burgers from Grassfed and Netherworld's food spread all included. From vegan chips to plant-only pizzas, the list goes on, spanning clothing, skincare, healthcare and household goods as well. In addition to food, other goodies to purchase and a range of cooking demonstrations, Brisbane Vegan Expo will also feature an array of guest speakers — and showcase vegan charities. [caption id="attachment_704811" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Grassfed[/caption] Top image: OMG Decadent Donuts. Updated September 9, 2022.
There's no doubt Australian same-sex couples have had a pretty rough go of things this year, as the nation decides the future of marriage equality via a postal vote. But in a potential win for Sydney-based same-sex couples keen to get hitched, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the City of Sydney has announced they'll be able to marry for free in some of the city's best-loved buildings and parks — if same-sex marriage is given the green light by the Federal Government, of course. In a motion passed yesterday, the council would allow gay couples to hire halls, parks and community facilities free of charge for 100 days after the government legislates gay marriage, and has also suggested it will make Sydney Town Hall available for a mass wedding ceremony. It has, however, promised that no existing bookings for straight couples would be cancelled or moved. Lord Mayor Clover Moore tweeted on the subject this morning. But if YES 🌈 then we will provide city spaces free for 100 days to welcome same-sex couples to civil marriage #marriageequality #postyouryes — Clover Moore (@CloverMoore) October 23, 2017 The City of Sydney has been a vocal supporter of the Yes campaign, gifting the likes of mailouts, the erection of banners and the use of office space. A result is expected to be announced on November 15. So if you haven't yet posted your vote, well, make sure you do it ASAP. Via The Sydney Morning Herald. Image: Letícia Almeida.
There's a right way and a wrong way to give someone a living gift. Puppies and kittens might be the cutest things ever, but they're the kind of responsibility you shouldn't sign someone else up for. Opting for something flowery or leafy is the much safer option — which makes The Botanist a must-visit destination. At the Bakery Lane florist, you'll find succulents and cacti galore, aka plants even someone lacking a green thumb can look after. Beautiful blooms and designer homewares also line the store's shelves for those who'd prefer a bright but fleeting burst of colour, or something to put them in.
The Big Day Out has finally announced its replacements for pull-outs Blur. Not replacements that look or sound like Blur, but replacements all the same. Liam Gallagher's Beady Eye, The Hives and The Deftones are set to take to the BDO stages in the new year. Happy fans of those bands can hold on to their festival tickets; the still disgruntled can go ahead and claim their refund. Festival promoter AJ Maddah (the man behind Soundwave and the ill-fated Harvest) was originally set to make the announcement last Friday, but wanted to wait until he had all three of the bands' contracts in hand. In a move that shocked fans and festival organisers, Blur announced their decision to pull out of the festival last week via their Facebook page, citing "the constantly shifting goalposts and challenging conditions of the organisers" as the reason for the decision. Many fans took to social media to express their disappointment, with some blaming the festival, while others directed their anger at the band themselves, calling them a "bunch of sooks" and even rubbing in England's recent Ashes loss. Blur were one of founder Ken West's "white whales"; it took him 14 years to finally land them. The band even had their own purpose-built stage, called the Love Stage. The promoters disputed the claim that they were to blame. Big Day Out CEO Adam Zammit tweeted "22 years and thousands of bands, I don't think we are the issue."
Hotel LA is pretty much your standard Queensland bar, and funnily enough that’s the one thing that sets it apart. It doesn’t try and be something it's not. There’s enough Pokie machines to entertain all the residents of a small resthome, plenty of TV’s playing strictly Sports, and with the brewery in plain sight, XXXX flows out of its taps all week long. Hotel LA really is a huge bar and has little corners and couches for you and your mates to spin yarn. Sitting at the top of Caxton Street, Hotel LA makes for the perfect pre or post match beer. Perhaps even more so though, with the $5 Sunday pizza special, it is the ideal place to round out the week, which is exactly what we were doing on this occasion. Choose from a decent range of [izza options (I went with Hot Sausage) grab a $5 Pint (another Sunday special), and watch Shane Warne bowl one more 20/20 match out of his suspiciously tanned right arm; because nothing’s more Sunday than beer and cricket. For $5 the Pizza is quite amazing. Oh and if you stay after six there’s usually a very cool acoustic act on stage. Other weekly regulars include Mon-Sat happy hour 4-6, Table Tennis Mondays, $6 roast lunch Wednesdays, and Karaoke Thursdays. Mate.
What would Brisbane Festival be without a new show from Strut & Fret Productions? It wouldn't be boring, but it certainly wouldn't be quite as bright. After bringing Blanc de Blanc, Limbo Unhinged and Fun House to the fest in previous years, the creative outfit return with LIFE - The Show, which once again takes over The Courier-Mail Spiegeltent. Cocktails, clowns, cabaret, circus and acrobatics are all a part of this world-premiere effort, serving up a celebration of what it means to be human and alive, as the name suggests. A word of warning: Strut & Fret's shows are always popular, which is why it's running every night except Mondays for the entire duration of the festival, aka until Saturday, September 29.
They grabbed our attention with their New Yorker waffle sandwich, a layered concoction made with everyone’s favourite breakfast dessert, maple-glazed bacon, gruyere cheese and an egg. Then, they kept our interest with their haloumi burger, because we all know that a tasty, salty slab of cheese deserves to be the main attraction, not a side dish. So, who might the purveyors of such yumminess be? Milton residents, meet Whisk & Ladle. Inside their modern surroundings, the inner-west's latest breakfast, brunch and lunch spot is the perfect place to start the day — and, they're pet friendly, so bring your furry best friend along with you. Plus, to answer the question you've all been pondering: the rest of their menu sounds delicious as well. All the cafe staples you know and love are on offer, of course. To eat, think avocado on toast, acai bowls or a big brekkie, and then salads and burgers once the clock hits 11.30am. Drinks-wise, Colombian Reserve and Byron Bay Blue coffee will take care of your caffeine fix. And, those after a cold beverage can slurp up a frappe, smoothie or milkshake straight from heavy-handled jar — aka a sweet burst of liquid bliss.
When you take a photo of yourself and share it on social media, or a video, you're staging a moment to broadcast to the world. It's a performance, even if you don't quite realise it at the time. The lighting, the angle, making sure you look your best, choosing your words, deciding what to snap or film — it's all part of putting a specific version of yourself out there. In Testament, American artist Natalie Bookchin explores this concept through four video works. Spanning from 2009 to 2017, her pieces endeavour to expose the repetition and shared elements common as people present their preferred take on themselves via online means. Using video blogs and testimonials, the entire project touches upon four common subjects: unemployment, medication use, sexual identity and body image. It's screening on a loop at the Gallery of Modern Art as a companion piece to documentary series All the World's Memories until February 24. Image: Natalie Bookchin.
Welcome to Australia's first sofubi exhibit. You might not immediately think that you know what that is, or that you should be excited — but you probably do, and you really should. Sofubi is the Japanese nickname for soft vinyl toys, as first seen in the form of cute mascot characters in the '60s and monster toys in the '70s. Today, they're made by hand and with care by experienced craftsmen in Japan. They're also regarded as the world’s best grade of vinyl toy as a result. That's why Bad Teeth Comics, Derrr Toys and Laced Brisbane have joined forces to show their love for the modern indie vinyl toy movement for one night only. Work by over 20 artists from Japan, Australia, the US and the UK will be on display, and for sale. There'll even be a few exclusive releases that you won't see elsewhere, for those extra keen on adding to — or starting, perhaps? — their own collection. Image via UAMOU.
Before Deborah Mailman became one of Australia’s most-loved performers, and before Wesley Enoch took on the role of artistic director at Queensland Theatre Company, they wrote The 7 Stages of Grieving. That was in 1995, the one-woman play helping shape their careers that followed. Twenty years later, it remains among their best works. The 7 Stages of Grieving shares personal stories and public grief, all stemming from the state of Indigenous Australians and the impact of Aboriginal history. Decades may have passed; however, this narrative of hope stemming from hurt, and of reaching for reconciliation beyond tragedy and simply surviving, is as timely and topical today as it was then. Here, Chenoa Deemal takes the lead in the latest staging of a performance that doesn’t just tell a wealth of tales but opens up a conversation about issues that continue around the country. Theatre is rarely as funny, devastatingly sad, politically relevant and culturally profound as this.
A few years back at Southside in South Brisbane, diners were treated to a dream collaboration: chefs Benny Lam and Brendan Fong joining forces. On Sunday, April 27, 2025 over at Central in the Brisbane CBD, the pair — the former being the underground eatery's Executive Chef, the latter a Brisbane-born kitchen talent — are teaming up again. Here's how to close out your long weekend: with a two-hour lunch sitting feasting on dishes whipped up by these two friends. Lam and Fong have a particular focus at event that's been dubbed B2B: A Franco-Canto Culinary Affair, drawing upon their backgrounds training in classical French dishes and Cantonese cuisine. For $144 per person, you'll tuck into four courses plus dessert. For an extra $88 each, you'll get wines to match as well. On the menu: rock oysters, raw scallops, razor clams, and smoked foie gras with salted duck eggs among the starters; pork and pistachio siu mai, lobster and prawn har gow with caviar, and prawn toast as dim sum picks; Moreton Bay bug thermidor with house XO sauce for a small bite; and smoked duck à l'orange, stir-fried red emperor fillet and chicken fat rice pilaf as larger dishes. And for dessert? Jasmine tea crème brûlée.
Nothing like an award to stir up fresh interest in an established restaurant; a title like ‘Restaurant of the Year’ certainly does have some pulling power. Black Hide Steakhouse by Gambaro, having been awarded that very title (along with Best Steak Restaurant) at the 2014 Queensland Restaurant & Caterers Awards for Excellence on Monday, September 8, was full to the brim at our midweek dinner time visit a couple of days later. The title is yet another feather in Black Hide’s cap, following their receipt of a Good Food Guide Chef's Hat earlier this year. Regardless, Brisbane carnivores don’t need much convincing to visit this already highly regarded steakhouse. The menu, devised by head chef Lukas McEwan (formerly of Sydney’s Rockpool), features Angus, Wagyu and organic cuts of meat (sourced from Stanbroke Beef), which are cooked on the restaurant’s Montague Broiler Grill. It seems to do a good job. We recommend the Wagyu rib eye (note: the price is a bit hefty at $57.50). Though all steaks come with Wagyu fat roasted royal blue potatoes, rosemary and garlic (and your choice of sauce), consider it a garnish. The hand-cut fat chips with aioli ($9.50) are quite special, and if you’re in the market for a decadent extra, the bone marrow with parsley, caper and eschallot salad ($12.90) is hard to overlook. Accompanied by grilled bread, the richness of the marrow is nicely offset by the zesty saltiness of the salad. If you are the type of person for whom too much beef is never enough, precede your main with the steak tartare served with cornichons, chilli, eschallot and crostini ($19.50). Though if you’re after a bit of variety, the share plates deliver. The delicately flavoured beetroot and horseradish cured salmon with celeriac remoulade ($22.50) whets the appetite. Service is attentive and the interior is warm (literally. Possibly even a little hot). Though dimly lit almost to a fault, the atmosphere is very agreeable. This is just as well, as it may take you a little while to polish off your steak. Especially if you’ve selected the 1200g Tomahawk.
This time last year, Salt Meats Cheese didn't have any Brisbane stores. Come early 2019, it'll boast three. The Italian eatery has set its sights on a new spot, with plans to bring its pizza and pasta-heavy spread to Woolloongabba's South City Square in the new year. An official opening date has yet to be revealed; however, we do know that the restaurant will join the growing precinct at 148 Logan Road — with Tuckshop Time and Kivahan already open, and an eight-screen Reading Cinema also in the works. Still under construction, South City Square will eventually feature a luxury hotel, market hall, more restaurants and cafes, and 5000 square metres of green space. Giving locals a taste of things to come, SMC will first pop up in Woolloongabba on Saturday, October 13, as part of an Italian-inspired spring fling party, alongside La Macelleria. Running from 12–6pm, attendees can expect pizza stretching, tossing and cooking, as well as the eatery's famous cheese wheel pasta. For those that arrive at 12pm, 100 free pizzas will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis. There'll also be plenty of spritzes and negronis, a cushion-filled hangout zone, plus bocce demonstrations and food trucks, all accompanied by a live music soundtrack. If it seems like SMC is carving out a ring of stores on the outskirts of Brisbane's CBD, that appears to be the plan. In addition to its original Brisbane location in Newstead, the chain has also been popping up in West End's West Village recently, an arrangement it'll make permanent this month. Find Salt Meats Cheese at South City Square, 148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba from early 2019. We'll keep you updated regarding an opening date.
Calling a beautiful art deco building on the corner of South Brisbane's Fish Lane home, Julius Pizza serves up authentic Italian cuisine in a relaxed — yet usually packed — setting. While you've probably heard about the delicious pizza, there's one section of the menu that flies under the radar — dolci. Once you've devoured a margherita with fior di latte, tomato and basil, treat yourself to one of their no-nonsense, authentic Italian desserts. Our pick? The traditional and authentic tiramisù, which includes rich Italian style trifle made with coffee, creamy mascarpone and sponge finger biscuits for only $11.
Oh Jonathan, you bearded god, how happy we are that you are back! In even better news, Boulet is this week packing up his van and heading for Brisbane. Hooray! It is The Hi-Fi in West End that will welcome the beautiful sounds of Boulet and his band. The Brisbane stop will be his third of eight, meaning the sound will be perfected and the musicians not yet exhausted. The tour follows on from Boulet’s performance at Sydney’s Vivid Festival, and is in celebration of the release of his latest album, We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart (what a name!). Joining Boulet on tour will be Australian group, Wolf & Cub. Boulet’s latest musical offering has been featured across music outlets like Triple J and FBI. Apparently we can expect to hear soaring melodies, combined with primal, persistent rhythm. Pop music to our ears!
If you liked alternative and indie rock in the late '00s, then Common People probably means something to you. We're not talking about the ace Pulp song, though you should think highly of that as well. We're talking about the club night that used to play all the best tunes. If you ever went along, you'll be keen for another Common People experience. If you didn't but it sounds like your thing, you probably are as well. Either way, you're in luck, with The Foundry hosting a one-night-only reunion. Put on some comfy shoes, and prepare to dance the night away to everything from LCD Soundsystem to Dizzee Rascal and Arcade Fire to Missy Elliott.
Back in 2018, when Milton welcomed its first rum microdistillery, it challenged the suburb's beer-loving status quo. This is the home of the XXXX brewery, its giant neon sign and its constant yeasty smell, after all, as well as Newstead Brewing Co's second site, fellow brewery Milton Common and beer-loving dive bar The Scratch. But there's room in this inner city spot for more than one type of booze, or even two — as newcomer Warehouse 25 is also keen to demonstrate. Setting up shop on Finchley Street — so, in the shadow of both XXXX and Newstead Brewing — Warehouse 25 is all about gin and vodka. If you like clear spirits, you'll be happy here. It distills both onsite and, when it opens its doors on Saturday, November 7, will serve them at its bar, too. It also bottles them for folks to take home under the Calm Spirits Co label, although the venue's bottle shop is still in the works. Everyone stopping by for a drink will be able to see the distilling magic in action, with the 100-litre vodka still and 50-litre gin still in full view. Walk through the converted warehouse's barn-style doors and you won't miss them. You'll also spot wooden tables galore, as part of an indoor and outdoor area that includes an underground function space — and twinkling lights strung up above. Owner Cameron Lee has designed the space to cater for a number of purposes, too: casual drinks, live music, art exhibitions and vintage garage sales, for instance, plus both block and private parties. But, in addition to the spirits lineup, it's the in-house pizzeria that's bound to be a big drawcard. Patrons can choose from nine different types, including ricotta and meatball, and a potato bake pizza — and pair them with other Italian-style bites such as caprese and arancini. As for the drinks themselves, obviously gin and vodka feature heavily in the venue's cocktails, which span its own signature tipples and a range of classics. If you're in the mood for a different type of tipple, yes, there's beer on the menu (and yes, XXXX is one of them). Plus, there's also a small wine selection. Find Warehouse 25 at 25 Finchley Street, Milton from Saturday, November 7 — open Monday–Wednesday 11am–2pm, Thursday 11am–10pm and Friday–Sunday 11am–1am.
Thanks to all manner of markets around town, it's rather easy to stock your wardrobe with pre-loved threads. Brisbane's op shops help considerably as well, naturally. Still, if that's how you boost your outfit choices, you can never have too many options — which is where the Upcycle Pre-Loved Fashion Market on Sunday, August 15 comes in. From 11am–3pm, the Food Connect Shed in Salisbury is hosting a thrifting session. If you're fond of all things sartorial, this is the way you'll want to spend your day — and there'll be bargains to be found. In fact, nothing will cost more than $20, so your bank balance will thank you. So will the planet, given that donning secondhand threads is far more eco-friendly than buying brand new items. And, if you have some ace clothes to send off to a new home, you can host your own stall as well. If that's you — and you want to make some room in your cupboard so that you can fill it with other people's unwanted fashion treasures afterwards — you'll need to apply first by contacting Food Connect.
You've gotta love the way the folks behind Woolloongabba's Canvas think. Not content with serving up some of the inner east's best bites and beverages, they're doubling their output by brightening up a second spot just across the road. Prepare to rock down to Electric Avenue (and have a catchy, cheesy '80s song stuck in your head as well). Thankfully, that's not an indication of what the bar and bistro will be like when it opens its doors at 23 Logan Road. Taking over the space formerly occupied by the Crosstown Public House, Canvas owners Daniel Rodriguez and Bodie Schofield, their former head bartender Nick Royds and carpenter Adam Pykett will launch what they're calling "a fun, intimate venue with a few secrets to discover" within the fortnight. Designed to be the kind of place you could kick-start your evening, drop by late or hang around all night, Electric Avenue boasts ex-Sourced Grocer chef Will Quartel in the kitchen, whipping up more than just your usual bar food. Whole grilled kimchi-glazed fish, blackened duck breast and black garlic crepes — yes, that's a dessert — are just some of the menu standouts. Lunch will also include the "fish and bush" combo of crispy fish and tempura saltbush, while snacks range from pork crackling with pecan salt and pepper and corn husk aioli to crispy cockscomb (that's the top 'waddle' on the chicken, in case you didn't know) with spicy remoulade. Patrons can expect to wash all of that down with their choice of more than 70 wines, or a range of cocktails that twist the classics. Yes, one is called And Then We'll Take It Higher in honour of the track you're still humming as you read this, and will feature dark rum, sherry, dark chocolate liqueur, house pimento bitters and espresso in an absinthe misted glass. As for those surprises, you'll have to head upstairs to find out the answers when the place opens — for the time being, the Electric Avenue crew are keeping that revelation close to their chest. Electric Avenue will open at 23 Logan Road, Woolloongabba within the next two weeks. Keep an eye on the Canvas Facebook page in the interim. Image: Canvas.
You've been to Shorncliffe, walked along the shore, strolled the length of the pier and probably even stopped for ice cream. That's something every Brisbanite has enjoyed — and if you haven't, you should add it to your next spare Sunday afternoon. What most of us haven't been lucky enough to experience is a sit-down dinner on the stretch of boardwalk heading out into the ocean. No, hanging your feet over the edge while you eat a picnic doesn't count. At The Long Table, you'll plonk yourself down at a long table and tuck into canapes, drinks and dinner, all to the strains of life entertainment. Basically, it's a gourmet meal and party on one of the city's most iconic waterside structures — and it was such a hit the first time round in 2016, it's no wonder they're bringing it back again. This year's event takes place on November 4, and booking your ticket asap is recommended. Unsurprisingly, it's expected to be popular, even at the price of $149 per person.
Stones Corner's Shady Palms has just the activity for your Friday night — and if you guessed that it's giving a game your nan probably plays a musical twist, then that's a bingo. At Musical Bingo, you don't just wait for someone to tumble a sphere of balls, pick out a number and make a bad joke. Instead, you'll hear bits and pieces of songs, and then match them to the ones listed on your bingo card. Running from 6.30pm on August 24, it's as simple as it sounds — so if you're keen to both face and match the music, then you're more than catered for. Entry is free, the session runs for two-and-a-half hours and there are prizes up for grabs, of course. And yes, given the nature of the night, we're guessing there'll be sing-alongs.
Among playwright Henrik Ibsen's many famous stage creations, Hedda Gabler remains one of his most iconic. The play follows the newly married eponymous character, who has gone from being her father's daughter to being her husband's wife, but is beginning to yearn for her own existence. It's a portrait of boredom, unhappiness and destruction — and over the past 127 years, everyone from Ingrid Bergman to Isabelle Huppert to Cate Blanchett have stepped into her shoes. Now Wentworth and Rake's Danielle Cormack follows them. Queensland Theatre's production, simply entitled Hedda, isn't quite like all of the others, however. For one, it transports the tale to the Gold Coast and places Cormack's Hedda in the middle of a drug empire — with her husband running the show, and her addict ex-flame just out of prison and back on the scene. Written by London-based playwright Melissa Bubnic and directed by Paige Rattray, this is a distinctive re-imagining of the play, updated with spritzes and poolside scheming to the 21st century. Hedda's season runs from Saturday, November 10 to Saturday, December 8 at Queensland Theatre's Bille Brown Theatre.
There's nothing better than putting on a piece of clothing and instantly looking effortlessly cool. The team at Wolfe and Ordnance agrees, which is why it built the whole boutique around that idea and makes sure everything it curates and stocks does just that for its customers. The boutique boasts looks from bohemian brand Spell, Sir The Label's contemporary style and Nobody Denim's casual threads, making it easy for locals and visitors of James Street to snap up the in-demand styles on offer. Think statement accessories, on-trend prints and timeless silhouettes — all the makings of maximum impact with minimum effort.
Jason Bird is a Queensland designer, a rather accomplished one at that. Earlier this year, Jason released a book entitled Hightide, and in depth look at Queensland’s design industry which is thriving and becoming renowned globally. Incorporating several of the books the featured designers in an immersive and interactive exhibition, Hightide is the perfect chance to witness Queensland design innovation in person. Showcasing the versatility of the assembled designers (many of whom were recently showcased at BIGSOUND Music+Design), video interviews, electronics, lighting, timber work and furniture will be on display. The artists and design firms on display are: Alexander Lotersztain Bjorn Rust Christina Waterson CMD Daniel Tobin Darcy Clarke David Shaw Deka Designs Dreamfarm Ellaspede Fukutoshi Ueno Infinity Design Intelli Design Jason Bird Kent Gration KT Doyle Luis Nheu Marc Harrison Neil Davidson Pro Design Street and Garden Surya Graf Hightide is running at Aritsan until February, so do yourself a favour and check out the work that is putting Queensland in the design conversation.
Brisbane's solid live music scene has filled the city's venues for decades — and it has inspired more than a few tributes in other places around town, too. Back in 2019, the Museum of Brisbane filled its walls with blasts from our musical past. Now, it's the State Library of Queensland's turn. On display until Sunday, May 9, Cut Copy: Brisbane Music Posters 1977–87 showcases all the artwork that helped advertise often independent and underground Brissie gigs for a ten-year period — and its links to Brisbane music history don't end there. Curators Robyn Hamilton and Rueben Hillier took inspiration from material collected by Dr John Willsteed during a research project. Willstead was part of The Go-Betweens in the 80s, so he obviously knows a thing or two about the subject. The Go-Betweens are one of the bands featured, unsurprisingly, alongside everyone from The Saints, The Riptides and The Leftovers to The Upsets, Razar and The Black Assassins. As well as letting you peer back at the designs of the era, the exhibition is likely to leave you with a heap of legendary local acts to add to your playlist. Entry is free, but bookings are required — with Cut Copy: Brisbane Music Posters 1977–87 open from 10am–5pm daily. Top image: QUT Media.
When The Triffid starts welcoming patrons at 11am at Saturday, January 25, 2025, here's a tip: rush through the door, find your favourite spot and settle in for the long haul. Trust the Newstead venue to have all your plans covered. Want to listen to the nation's biggest countdown? Have a few brews? Play bingo? Consider it all sorted. On the agenda: Triffid J's Hottest 100 Party, which boasts not only free entry but also drinks specials. And, you'll be in a place that exists thanks to someone who knows a thing or two about the triple j Hottest 100: Powderfinger's John Collins. The Triffid's shindig will make the most of the venue's leafy beer garden, where burgers, cheese and bacon fries, salt and pepper squid, and sweet potato croquettes are among the options to help line your stomach. The usual drinks list also includes spicy passionfruit margaritas, cherry whisky sours, lychee martinis and strawberry watermelon daiquiris — summery drinks if ever we heard of them. And as for the festivities, countdown bingo is on the agenda, as are beer pong and a jug-holding competition. Or, show off your skills in the handball arena. And yes, there's prizes to be won — other the prize of a great day.
While it felt like this year's cultural calendar was dominated by bottomless brunches and themed high teas (and there were a lot of them) a lot of other game-changing events were also taking place. From immersive dessert museums to spine-chilling installations and a pop-up creative space with a year-long program of free festivities, Brisbane has seen a influx of events celebrating the city's cultural ecosystem and bringing people together. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Brisbane to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new events were nominated for Best New Event in Concrete Playground's Best of 2018 Awards.
Is your wardrobe overflowing with clothes that you don't wear? We've all been there, and we've all been too busy to do anything about it. Through its op shops, Australian Red Cross finds a new home for your pre-loved outfits, shoes and accessories, with proceeds going towards its charity efforts — but we all know that wanting to donate your old threads is one thing and finding the time to do it is another. That's why Australian Red Cross has once again partnered with Uber for its annual Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive. When it launched in 2018, it collected over 43,500 kilograms of clothing in that first year alone, which saw clothing items worth an estimated $800,000 donated. And you'd best take the drive part literally, as the ride-sharing service will actually drive to your house, pick up your unwanted clothes and accessories, and deliver them to Red Cross Shops. Even better: it's not only super easy to take part, but it's free as well. Brisbanites, make sure you're ready between 10am–4pm on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Once you've bagged up all of your old bits and pieces (items you'd happily give your best friend, and no toys, books, furniture or electrical objects) into a bundle that weighs no more than 20 kilograms, it's all incredibly simple. Open the Uber app during that six-hour window, then find the Red Cross Clothing Drive image. After that, you need to set Red Cross Clothing Drive as the drop-off spot — and it should come up with a $0 amount. An Uber driver will then stop outside your house, meaning that you just need to take your preloved goods out to their car. Voila, you've cleared out your closet and you've helped folks in need, all with the tap of a button.
It sounds like something you'd hear on a Serial-esque podcast or binge-watch in a Making a Murderer-type true crime show: in 2010, Jarrod Duffy disappeared. His furniture was still in his house, and the University of Wollongong student had an Honours show coming up as part of the multi-art form collective Applespiel. Now, Applespiel delve into his story in Jarrod Duffy Is Not Dead — aka the tale of their lost ninth member, their search to find their friend and their quest for answers. And, in a nod to the way everyone consumes these kinds of cases these days, they're doing so in a live podcast-type show, presented on stage, and combining performance, personal storytelling and chatter. "The investigative nature of podcasts like Serial is really exciting, and throws up some tricky questions of ethics and what it means to tell someone else's story," says Applespiel's Nathan Harrison. "We thought the most challenging way to look at those questions would be to tell a story that happened to us," he continues. Challenging for them, intriguing for us — and an engaging, unique and inventive night out.
It's a juicy and joyous combination of noodles, protein, veggies, herbs and broth, and it's about to take over Brisbane. No, we don't mean ramen. Prepare your tastebuds for another great kind of Asian-style soup: pho. At Phat Pho on Commercial Road in Newstead, that's exactly what's on offer, as the name makes clear. Nestled into a 1920s-era shop, the new Vietnamese street food eatery doesn't just lean on one type of cuisine, though. Noodle salads, lettuce wraps, rice paper rolls, bao, banh mi thit and dinner-time dishes of pork belly and lemongrass chilli chicken are also on the menu, as is ca phe sua da — aka traditional Vietnamese iced coffee. Of course, the phrase "when at Phat Pho" comes to mind, meaning that if you're going to drop by, you really should try their specialty. If tucking into a bowl of bubbling liquid simmered for four-and-a-half hours, littered with pho rice noodles, topped with basil, sprouts, onion, shallots and lime, available in chicken or beef, and cooked according to owner Hong Nguyen's secret recipe doesn't get you in the slurping mood, then nothing will. Image: Bruce Truong.
Port Douglas is well known for its tropical climate and picturesque beauty. Yet don't overlook its burgeoning culinary scene, especially when annual events like Taste Port Douglas take over the calendar. Running from Thursday, August 7–Sunday, August 10, this celebration of feel-good food and drink in the tropics is marked by extraordinary cuisine and masterclasses, where Australia's top gastronomes reveal their secrets amid an idyllic sun-drenched backdrop. So, what can you expect if you journey to FNQ's shores? The Festival Village is the beating heart of Taste Port Douglas, featuring non-stop entertainment across two stages. Catch celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, panel discussions and musical performances from 10am–5pm on Saturday, August 9–Sunday, August 10. Of course, there's also plenty of time to savour and sip from award-winning local distilleries alongside international faves, including Estrella Damm and Tequila Tromba. Also on the agenda, the Long Lunch Series invites 600 guests to Market Park to relish a seaside meal beneath the dappled shade of poinciana trees. Meanwhile, The Takeover Series sees top-notch culinary talent move into restaurants across Port Douglas, Mowbray Valley and Palm Cove. There are numerous collaborations to explore, but one not to be missed is Stanley's chef Louis Tikaram serving up his creative Southeast Asian influences at the Lagoon House. Budding home cooks can also participate in Taste Port Douglas' enchanting Masterclass Series. Offering a rare chance to learn from some of the industry's best, guests can join acclaimed chef Roger Pizey to learn the mysteries behind his iconic tarte tatin, or explore centuries-old cheese-making traditions alongside Vannella Cheese's Giuseppe Minoia. With 11 exclusive events to discover, each session's seats are strictly limited.
Perhaps it's the night before payday. Maybe you've committed all of your cash to a big purchase. You could just have a thrifty manner. Whatever the case, keeping a tight rein on your finances doesn't have to mean sitting at home each and every night. You can be sociable, see something other than your own four walls and have a top-notch evening out without regretting the monetary ramifications. To bring you some late-night inspiration, we've partnered with Samsung, whose new Galaxy S9 and S9+ have a camera with real low-light abilities, so your after-dark excursions photograph as good as they look. Here are some of our favourite places to visit for a little winter fun. Grab your mates and get ready for an epic night — and an epic Instagram story to go with it. HIT A FEW BALLS AT HOLEY MOLEY Whether you've been more times than you can remember or keep meaning to visit, Holey Moley has quickly established itself as one of Brisbane's favourite night-time venues. Sure, you can always drop by during the day, but who doesn't want to work their way around 18 putt-putt holes — all with completely over-the-top theming — once the sun has set? The Fortitude Valley venue's vibe lends itself to kicking back after dark with your crew, seeing who can emerge victorious on the mini-golf circuit, fitting in a few games of ping pong in-between and spending too long in the glow-in-the-dark section. Plus there's the bar, should your budget extend to a few sneaky cocktails. MASH BUTTONS AT NETHERWORLD Calling all pinball wizards, Pac-Man fanatics, Uno champs and everyone who loves Mario Kart (aka everyone): a night out at Netherworld should definitely be on your agenda. It's a 'pick your poison' kind of place, as long as games of all shapes and sizes are your weakness. Board games, video games, pinball games, games you haven't even thought of since you were a kid — they're all here. It's kidult heaven. Throw in bites to eat from the on-site Hellmouth Diner and brews from the bar, and this Fortitude Valley joint definitely isn't your usual watering hole. Just don't forget to bring your phone — you'll be wanting proof when you crack one of the machines' high scores. CATCH A FREE SHOW AT FLOWSTATE When Flowstate popped up at South Bank, it proved the best kind of surprise: one where the gift really does keep giving. A new temporary creative precinct by the river, it's set to stay in place for up to three years. As well as offering art, performances, music and more, the 3000-square-metre space is serving up its first year of events for free. There's always something on, be it Friday-night hangout sessions, twice-weekly dance classes, or JEM, a glowing, arc-like structure that you'll want a good camera on hand to capture. Moonlight orchestras, mega puppets and energetic acrobats are just some of the other efforts that have graced Flowstate's program, and there's still more where they came from. SING YOUR HEART OUT AT LITTLE BIG HOUSE When Little Big House opened its doors in late 2017, it gifted Brisbane plenty of things. A two-level hangout that's perfect for both day and night is one of them. The wonder that is chicken parmi spring rolls is another. And a dedicated — and free — private karaoke room is yet another. That's where you and your pals can spend some time belting out a tune like no one's watching. You'll find accessories on hand should you want an outfit worthy of your big stage moment, but really, this space is all about getting comfy and getting crooning. You will need to book in advance, however, as there's only one room and it's rather popular. Instead of spending your winter nights on the couch, discover all the after-dark happenings in your city here — and don't forget to document it all on the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, designed especially for low light so you can capture your best moments no matter what. Images: Cole Bennetts.
"Today is a good day to die," announced Kiefer Sutherland in Flatliners circa 1990. The film's opening line was moody and cheesy all at once, and set the scene for the blend of sci-fi and horror to follow. Before he was battling terrorists as Jack Bauer, a blonde-locked Sutherland played a medical student convinced that he could kill himself, find out what happens next, come back to life and get famous. Even with Julia Roberts and Kevin Bacon among the cast, the final product was far from memorable. Both Sutherland and that line of dialogue pop up in the new remake, the latest Hollywood rehash no one was dying for. His involvement is amusing, though not intentionally so, while the repeated phrase feels as routine and obligatory as it inescapably is. If only the entire movie had fallen into the first category, rather than the second. With director Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and writer Ben Ripley (Source Code) taking an average-at-best flick from almost 30 years ago, ditching the '90s brooding, ramping up the backstory and exposition, and throwing in some raucous party scenes because, hey, it's 2017, it was never going to be a good day for this film. This time around, Ellen Page's Courtney takes centre stage. While she says her obsession with near-death experiences is all in the name of science, an introductory car crash makes her personal motivations clear. Stressed-out classmate Sophia (Kiersey Clemons) and ladies' man Jamie (James Norton) are initially tricked into helping, but prove eager to follow in her footsteps when she returns with a better memory, a desire to knock down walls, some nifty piano playing skills and a need to bake bread. Yes, really. Ray (Diego Luna) only stumbles across the heart-stopping scheme when things go wrong, and Marlo (Nina Dobrev) literally follows him into the hospital's basement. But soon they're caught up in things as well. It's a silly premise, with the group forced to face some very obvious consequences. Dying isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when it's accompanied by haunting reminders about their various sins. Ripley's script cares not for surprises, and Oplev shows the same lack of concern for anything other than going through the motions. Even if you haven't seen the original Flatliners, if you've seen any other spooky flick that flirts with shuffling off this mortal coil, prepare yourself for a journey into been-there, done-that territory. While it's easy to decry the growing trend towards pointless remakes, Flatliners isn't terrible just because it needlessly revives a forgettable film from a bygone era. Likewise, it'd be easy to bemoan the fact that such a talented cast has been saddled with such crumby material, but wasting Page, Clemons and Luna in particular isn't the movie's main problem. None of that helps, but the killer jolt is the film's lack of energy. While its characters take a zap to the heart to step into the afterlife, Flatliners doesn't have a pulse to begin with. Flat and bland in style, plot and emotion, it's a work completely devoid of interest and scares as a result. The only thing that stands out in Luna's man-bun — and even it has nothing on Bacon's mullet in the original. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQB35rkRSM0
In their third year, the Brisbane Emerging Art Festival presents an eclectic mix of reclusive artistic geniuses who walk the streets of our very own city. From visual art, performance, experimental and contemporary dance, fashion, film, design and spoken word, this year’s festival promises a line-up of Brisbane’s leading creatives with their crafts on full-fledged display. Taking over the Judith Wright Centre, this one-night showcase will expose some of Brisbane’s most brilliant artistic minds, in turn connecting and highlighting the abundance of creatives our city holds. The festival will include a line-up of over a dozen artists, including the award-winning Sancintya Simpson and concept artist Rachael Haynes. This ever-growing yearly event in an opportunity to engage with fresh and innovative artists from different walks of life, while appreciating and sharing the creativity of Brisbane’s every-flourishing art scene.
Following the recent release of their debut album Foundations, The Medics are celebrating, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a gig for their adoring fans. The year so far has been very successful for the band. From their roots in Cairns to their feature artist spot on Triple J and release of their debut album, The Medics are so full of confidence, despite being newcomers to the wider Australian music scene. Their sets at festivals - Woodford, Peats Ridge and Groovin’ the Moo - never fail to get critics and fans talking, and their set this coming Wednesday night will be just as buzz-worthy. Wednesday’s show will be held at Fortitude Valley’s Black Bear Lodge, and is pegged to be packed with surprises. The unexpected blend of rock songs with melodic pop undertones is at the core of the band’s sound, and is what has prompted critics to call the band “one to believe in”. Special guest, DJ Sylvester, will open for the group. The price of the ticket includes entry to what is sure to be an outstanding gig, plus a signed copy of Foundations. The sounds of The Medics this coming Wednesday night is just what the doctor ordered.
If humanity ever managed to cure or circumvent death — or even just stop being despairingly afraid of our own mortality — the horror genre would immediately feel the difference. Lives are frequently in peril in films that are meant to spook and frighten. Fears of dying underscore everything from serial killer thrillers and body horror flicks to stories of zombies, ghosts and vampires, too. Indeed, if a scary movie isn't pondering the fact that our days are inescapably finite, it's often contemplating our easily damaged and destroyed anatomy. Or, it's recognising that our species' darkest urges can bring about brutal and fatal repercussions, or noting that the desperation to avoid our expiration dates can even spark our demise. Accordingly, Saint Maud's obsession with death isn't a rarity in an ever-growing genre that routinely serves it up, muses on it and makes audiences do the same whether they always realise it or not. In an immensely crowded realm, this striking, instantly unsettling feature debut by British writer/director Rose Glass definitely stands out, though. Bumps, jumps, shocks and scares come in all manner of shapes and sizes, as do worries and anxieties about the end that awaits us all. In Saint Maud, they're a matter of faith. The eponymous in-home nurse (Dracula and His Dark Materials' Morfydd Clark) has it. She has enough to share, actually, which she's keen to do daily. Maud is devoted to three things: Christianity, helping those in her care physically and saving them spiritually. Alas, her latest cancer-stricken patient doesn't hold the same convictions, or appreciate them. Amanda (Jennifer Ehle, Vox Lux) isn't fond of Maud's fixation on her salvation or her strict judgements about her lifestyle. She knows her time is waning, her body is failing and that she needs Maud's help, but the celebrated ex-dancer and choreographer does not want to go gently or faithfully in that good night. Instead, she'd much prefer the solace that sex and alcohol brings over her palliative care nurse's intensely devout zeal. Playing out in a hilltop house near the British seaside that could host any number of gothic horror tales, Saint Maud directs plenty of attention towards the push and pull between its two central characters. But Glass isn't solely interested in an adversarial relationship between a pious young woman with her whole life seemingly ahead of her and the ailing hedonist who'll soon have hers cut far too short. The ideological, psychological and emotional dance that Maud forces Amanda into is gripping to watch — and shrewdly and potently handled — but that's just one of the movie's two key clashes. The other: the war raging within Maud herself. Despite her fervour, as well as the stern but feverish way in which she pushes her devotion to her faith upon others, her own story isn't straightforward. Flashes to her past, and to her previous job in a hospital, make it plain that pain, trauma and tragedy all linger in her recent history. That Maud has changed her name from Kate in the aftermath also colours her backstory, as does her alarm when she's approached by a former colleague, and the fact that her sanity just might be fraying. Set to star in the upcoming Lord of the Rings TV series, Clark also has Love & Friendship, Crawl and The Personal History of David Copperfield on her resume; however, her performance in Saint Maud is career-defining. It's one of the best of recent years by any actor, and it isn't easily forgotten. She's subtle but also severe, two traits that can co-exist in a portrayal this exceptional. She wears Maud's devoutness like a second skin, but also conveys how it itches when anything conflicts with the character's forceful but also fragile status quo. Ehle, who is perhaps presently best-known for Contagion despite boasting three decades of credits to her name, is similarly stellar in a vastly dissimilar way. Amanda isn't an object of pity, or meant to get audiences weeping for her misfortune. Her personality, warts and all, remains steadfastly intact even as illness visibly takes its toll. And, she isn't willing to simply nod, smile and acquiesce to Maud's religious zest out of gratitude, either. Most filmmakers can only dream of guiding such powerful and delicately layered performances out of their two stars — and in their very first stint as a writer and director — but again, Glass isn't willing to rest easy. In its narrative, Saint Maud is about control on several levels, as its titular figure attempts to use her faith to keep her own life and her patient's impending death in check. Behind the lens, Glass has crafted a work of supreme mastery, including in its vivid imagery and sinister mood. Whether the film is sinking into realism, embracing horror or getting surreal, the cinematography (by The End of the F***ing World's Ben Fordesman) and production design can't be faulted. As the movie steps further inside Maud's precarious existence, nor can the score, which conjures up as much unease as the overall feature. They each contribute to a swirling sea of tension, culminating in a thunderous final shot that really couldn't be more fitting, affecting, astonishing or memorable. Part of being a horror fan is spotting the genre's webs and threads, and seeing how the best and the worst examples — and everything in-between — build upon all that's come before. Glass evokes Hereditary and Midsommar-esque levels of dread as her anti-heroine is slowly forced to reckon with her beliefs spiritually, emotionally and physically. Focusing on a young woman seen differently by the world around her, her feature recalls The Witch, too. Both as a character study and as a part-religious thriller, part-body horror flick, it also feels like the product of a 70s binge. That said, Saint Maud is firmly its own movie. Awful and average films make you wish you were watching their influences, while excellent pictures leave you ecstatic that their sources of inspiration have given rise to something so stirring — and, as it haunts from start to finish, demanding viewers' reverence, this revelatory feature falls into the latter category. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP2MlPwflX4
Southeast Queensland musical fans, the iconic theatre shows just keep coming — and the next production heading the region's way wants you to take a jump to the left. After already starting its Australian comeback in 2023, which began with a Sydney premiere season, The Rocky Horror Show has locked in Gold Coast dates in spring. For half a century now, this hit musical has been astounding. And, with the Richard O'Brien-created production lasting that long, perhaps time really is fleeting. Either way, whenever this sci-fi/horror musical hits the stage — and wherever — a glorious kind of madness takes its toll. Come September, Queensland audiences will be able to listen closely — and watch Jerry Springer: The Opera, In the Heights and & Juliet Olivier Award-winner David Bedella as Frank N Furter put his hands on his hips, then bring his knees in tight, too — when the famed musical plays The Star on its huge 50th-anniversary tour. The Rocky Horror Show's brand-new Aussie run kicked off at Theatre Royal Sydney in February, is currently playing Adelaide, and next opens in Melbourne on Thursday, May 18. It will head to Perth before the Gold Coast, then Canberra afterwards. There's no word yet on a Brisbane season, so if you're keen to do 'The Time Warp' along with the production without leaving the Sunshine State, hitting up the Gold Coast from Sunday, September 3 is your only chance so far. On offer: the tale that theatre audiences have loved for five decades — and movie-goers as well, thanks to 1975's iconic big-screen release The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For the uninitiated, the story involves college-aged couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss getting a flat tyre, then wandering over to an old castle to ask for help. That's where they discover an extra-terrestrial mad scientist from the galaxy of Transylvania, plus his staff and his Frankenstein-style experiments. Bedella takes over from Jason Donovan, who has been slipping on Frank N Furter's fishnets down south. So far, the Australian tour has also been starring Myf Warhurst as The Narrator; however, whether she'll take on that role on the Gold Coast hasn't been confirmed. Either way, the show also features Ellis Dolan (School of Rock) as Eddie/Dr Scott, Darcey Eagle (Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical) as Columbia, Ethan Jones (9 to 5 The Musical) as Brad, Deirdre Khoo (Once) as Janet, Loredo Malcolm as Rocky (Hamilton) and Henry Rollo (Jagged Little Pill the Musical) as Riff Raff. Since first premiering in London in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has played in more than 30 countries — and over 30 million people have seen songs like 'Science Fiction/Double Feature', 'Dammit, Janet!', 'Sweet Transvestite', 'Over at the Frankenstein Place' and 'Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me'. If you haven't been before — and missed the live broadcast from Sydney back in March — this is your turn to join in. The Rocky Horror Show's 2023 Australian tour will play The Star on the Gold Coast from Sunday, September 3, with tickets on sale now via the production's website. Images: Daniel Boud.
If there's one thing the world probably doesn't need more of, it's drive-thru fast food joints. But hey, when doughnuts are involved, anything goes. Especially when they're free. So Krispy Kreme is gearing up to open the doors to a new Queensland drive-thru doughnut store in Acacia Ridge, in Brisbane's south. And to celebrate, it'll be giving out a hefty 10,000 free original glazed doughnuts to punters who visit the store on Thursday, July 18. You won't even need to leave your car to grab your signature glazed freebie, though if you'd rather not feel quite that lazy, you can physically head in and check out the new digs. If you've been inside a Krispy Kreme store before, you may feel like you've seen it all — but this one will be the first in the world to power its doughnut-making operations with solar panels. Obviously, Brisbane has many other doughnut shops — from gluten-free to patisserie-made — that we'd recommend over Krispy Kreme, but if you're keen on novelty and free stuff, hop to it. The doughnuts will be free from 7.30am–10pm, and there's a limit of one per person.
Warm, cosy, rosy, charming, feel-good: typically when a film spins its story during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, none of these words apply. But with Belfast, Kenneth Branagh has made a movie set in its eponymous city when the Protestant-versus-Catholic violence was a constant sight, and also helmed a feature that's about a childhood spent with that conflict as a backdrop. It's an approach that only works because Branagh draws from his own experiences — the film isn't a play-by-play memoir, but it's also clearly personal. Here, it's 1969, when the actor-turned-filmmaker would've been nine years old. The movie's protagonist, Buddy (first-timer Jude Hill), is that exact age, in fact. And with the beginnings of a three-decade-long sectarian fracas bubbling and boiling around him, he navigates the usual age-appropriate antics, such as school, crushes, doting grandparents with ailing health and a potential big move. The Troubles are a constant sight in the largely monochrome-hued film, too, and the reason Buddy's that parents are contemplating relocating to England, something they wouldn't have dreamed of otherwise. Pa (Jamie Dornan, The Tourist) already spends most of his time working there as a joiner, leaving Ma (Caitríona Balfe, Outlander) at home with Buddy and his elder brother Will (Lewis McAskie, Here Before) — with assistance from the boys' Granny (Judi Dench, Six Minutes to Midnight) and Pop (Ciarán Hinds, The Man in the Hat) — and he's been offered a new job that comes with a house. The violence swirling through Belfast has already made it to the family's street, to their hounded Catholic neighbours and, when Pa refuses to join the fray, put them on their fellow Protestants' hit list. Shifting to London (or perhaps further, to Sydney or Vancouver) would provide a new start and a safer future, but leaving all they've ever known isn't a simple decision. Belfast's adult characters are only known as Buddy would know them, such is Branagh's commitment to seeing this story, time and place through a child's eyes as he once did. And, while there's much debate to be had between Pa and Ma about whether to go or stay, the film is filled with its young lead's joys and worries — with the prospect of never again seeing the Catholic classmate he swoons over high among the boy's concerns. Belfast isn't short on context, however, though there's zero chance that it could be mistaken for a meaty interrogation of The Troubles. Branagh weaves in examples of how the push-and-pull of the conflict that's inescapable in his neighbourhood every day, Molotov cocktails, broken windows, blazes, riots and all, puts Buddy and his family in the middle. Still, a magical view of childhood remains, including when Buddy gets thrust into the thick of the fray — where, after he returns home with looted supermarket wares, his mother marches him back to return the stolen products amid the chaos. Branagh also indulges in an origin story, perhaps inspired by his stint in the Marvel Cinematic Universe directing the first Thor film back in 2011 (Buddy is even seen reading a Thor comic). Escaping The Troubles as much as anyone can in Belfast, the writer/director's on-screen surrogate adores seeing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and A Christmas Carol also features — scenes that come to life in colour, unlike the bulk of the picture around them. In the process, Branagh helps trace the early steps of his own desire to become a thespian and filmmaker, which has led to everything from Shakespeare adaptations such as Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet, to doing double duty in front of and behind the lens with Hercule Poirot duo Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. He's played Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' Gilderoy Lockhart, helmed Disney's live-action Cinderella, gotten villainous in Tenet, and of course, enjoyed an applauded on-stage career as well, all stemming from those first rapturous experiences watching when he was growing up. You could also call Belfast Branagh's Roma moment, after Alfonso Cuarón also gave cinema a black-and-white vision drawn from his own childhood, although that comparison fades quickly — even with Oscar love likely to come this film's way, in nominations at least, as it did for its predecessor. Here, the Dutch angles have it, with one of Branagh's go-to stylistic moves visually reinforcing Belfast's skewed perspective. Everything that viewers see is gorgeously lensed by his regular cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos (a mainstay on everything except All Is True since 2007's Sleuth), and also fondly nostalgic as cherished memories of formative years always are, with the lean firmly towards Buddy and his subjective view. As often set to a Van Morrison soundtrack, there's no doubting that this is a portrait of the big and small moments remembered and given a tender glow far more than it's about matters of politics and religion. As carefully and sentimentally conjured up and constructed as it is, Belfast's message remains timely as it gazes five-plus decades back. Horror and conflict stalk Buddy's working-class turf, his routine and life are shaken and upended, but hope — and the reality that life does go on — shines through. The opposing forces of comfort and change jostle around him, and this boy and his loved ones endeavour to make their way through it. Indeed, it should come as no surprise that this was Branagh's pandemic project, or that he peers back with such affection. In one of the movie's least successful touches, he even finds a way to convey that process on-screen, starting with a glossy shot of Ireland today, then literally peeking beyond a wall to venture into the past. Branagh's best choice: his magnificent cast, although an actor who also directs guiding marvellous performances out of his key players also doesn't surprise. What's especially glorious about Hill, Dornan, Balfe, Dench and Hinds is how much their portrayals tell us about their characters in the beats between dialogue, with wide-eyed enthusiasm radiating from wonderful newcomer Hill, and Dench and Hinds perfecting Granny and Pop's world-wise lived-in dynamic, for instance. Dornan and Balfe are also exceptional; whether bickering heatedly about tax debts and far-off places or taking to the dance floor — or, in Dornan's case, belting out a big-hearted rendition of 'Everlasting Love' to give his Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar crooning a companion — they're a picture of that unceasing emotion that Branagh infuses into every element of the film. Yes, as its showcase number trumpets, that's love, which leads to a sweet, neat and light but still vivid and soulful snapshot of growing up amid swelling uncertainty. Image: Rob Youngson / Focus Features.
"My plan was to die before the money ran out, but I kept and keep not dying — and here I am." When asked about her strategy as she faces financial ruin, that's Manhattan socialite Frances Price's (Michelle Pfeiffer, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) frank response. Her fortune has dwindled, the banks are about to repossess everything she owns and she doesn't know what her now-precarious future holds; however, she's most annoyed about having to answer her financial advisor's exasperated questions. Conveying Frances' reply with little else but spikiness otherwise, Pfeiffer turns this early French Exit scene into a deadpan masterclass. The character's candour, irritation and sharp edges are all personality traits, rather than specific reactions to her current predicament, and Pfeiffer makes it clear that she'd still be spitting out acerbic retorts with the same poker face if Frances had been queried about absolutely anything else. She frequently does just that afterwards, in fact, and she's a caustic delight in this wry exploration of a familiar topic: weathering life's many disappointments. Widowed for a decade, and happy to keep cultivating an eccentric reputation as the years go on, Frances hasn't dedicated even a second to tangibly preparing for her present lack of funds. That said, she soon has another plan. Surreptitiously selling off her belongings as her accountant advises — and viciously haggling over commission rates in the process — she rustles up what cash she can and absconds to Paris, where a friend's empty apartment awaits rent-free. There, she reverts to her old approach. Once her remaining money has been frittered away on wine, coffee, and oversized tips to anyone and everyone, she doesn't see the point of going on. But her dysfunctionally codependent relationship with her twentysomething son Malcolm (Lucas Hedges, Waves), his on-and-off romance with his secret fiancée Susan (Imogen Poots, Black Christmas), and a new friendship with the lonely and besotted Madame Reynard (Valerie Mahaffey, Dead to Me) all add unexpected chaos to Frances' scheme, as does a cruise ship fortune teller (Danielle Macdonald, Unbelievable) and a runaway cat who just might be her reincarnated husband. French Exit doesn't watch on as Frances tries to live a modest life and adjust her extravagant ways. It doesn't follow the unapologetically venomous woman as she learns to reassess her choices and attitude, either. Rather, it unfurls a keenly observed character study that's wrapped up in an oddball comedy — and while mining the loss of extreme wealth for chuckles has served Schitt's Creek well, too, French Exit proves as distinctive as its protagonist. It's a film about a woman called Frances who was once married to Franklin, owns a cat called Small Frank and relocates to France, after all. She leaves suddenly and without informing New York high society of her departure, of course, as the movie's title suggests. That's the type of humour pulsating through this light yet still probing picture, as directed with a fluid touch by Azazel Jacobs (The Lovers), and scripted by author Patrick deWitt from his own 2018 novel. Indeed, the fact that Frances' son isn't called Frankie, and that no one called Fran also pops up, is actually disappointing once French Exit establishes its absurdist wavelength. A haunted sensation hovers over this portrait of privilege undone, though, and not just because of Small Frank's possible backstory. Casting Pfeiffer is the movie's best choice, and must've been far too delicious to pass up — seeing the former Catwoman chase a mouser around Paris is amusing, naturally — but it's easy to see how French Exit could've and probably would've crumbled without her. Finding the perfect person for a part that no one else would've done justice can do that. This film belongs to its equally slinky and scathing star, who adds another commanding performance to a resume filled with them, but she's the overwhelming reason that Frances' wounding one-liners, larger-than-life demeanour and all-round cattishness strike a chord. Equally icy and vulnerable even when she's playing for laughs, she also ensures that Frances never feels like a caricature, or as if she has simply stepped out of a Wes Anderson or Noah Baumbach picture. (In its pithy dialogue and idiosyncratic family dynamics, French Exit overtly resembles both The Royal Tenenbaums and The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected), and even offers a gender-flipped accompaniment to Sofia Coppola's On the Rocks as well). Thankfully, Pfeiffer is truly magnificent and magnetic, and the film's embrace of farce is just as compelling. The latter is refreshing, too, ignoring the usual poignant life lessons, and instead embracing the mess and mania Frances seems to cultivate every time she opens her mouth. Jacobs and deWitt haven't starved their feature of canny insights, especially in Pfeiffer's barbed words. A trace of unshakeable melancholy lingers over every sentence as her character tries to do what everyone must: figure out how to go on. But, paired with a lively pace, scenic but never gratuitously touristy Parisian cinematography, and a willingness to get silly and whimsical, French Exit bubbles rather than wallows — and while it doesn't quite find its mark consistently enough, it's a gem whenever it does. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0UbkJD2KDY
Celebrating Japan by actually heading to the country is back on the agenda, with the Asian nation's strict border rules finally relaxing. Can't make the trip ASAP? Fancy getting your Japanese thrills in a cinema instead — or until you can hop on a plane? Then Australia's annual touring Japanese Film Festival has timed its return well. As it does every year, this year's JFF has compiled a selection of must-see recent and retro Japanese movies, and will bring its lineup Brisbane in November. There's two parts: a classics series, showing iconic films on 35mm from Friday, November 11–Sunday, November 20 at QAGOMA; and a rundown the latest and greatest flicks the country has to offer, screening from Wednesday, November 23–Sunday, November 27 at Palace Barracks. The 2022 fest will open with historical drama Dreaming of the Meridian Arc, which hops between present-day Japan and the Edo period to tell the tale behind the man who completed the first-ever map of Japan. Also a huge highlight: the retro season's focus on filmmaker Mikio Naruse, with 1954's Sound of the Mountain, 1960's When a Woman Ascends the Stairs and 1964's Yearning on the bill — and showing for free. Back to the recent titles (and the paid part of the program), standouts include psychological thriller Lesson in Murder, which starts when a college student gets a letter from a serial killer on death row; drama In the Wake, about the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011; and the animated Blue Thermal, with the world of competitive gliding soaring onto the screen. Anime Supremacy! is unsurprisingly focused on characters who live and breath anime production; Baby Assassins gives battling the yakuza (and being hitmen) a kawaii spin, and culinary documentary The Pursuit of Perfection follows top Tokyo chefs Takemasa Shinohara (Ginza Shinohara), Natsuko Shōji (Été), Yōsuke Suga (Sugalabo) and Takaaki Sugita (Sushi Sugita). Top image: Baby Assassins Film Partners.
To put it simply, Stephen Hart is a creative genius. His artistic skills are phenomenal, as are his creative visions. His latest project, Fellow Humans, sees him immortalise 20 significant people from his direct community in the form of stunning sculptures. While some may be close friends of Stephen and unknown to the wider audience, others are major players in Brisbane's creative scene and will be instantly recognisable. Stephen is known for his traditional techniques regarding hand-carving timbers. His sculptures are eerily realistic and capture both the physicality and the spirit of the subject. Fellow Humans is part of a larger piece of work entitled, Document, a collection of exhibitions that explore the relationship between artists and Brisbane as a whole. Catch the artist talk on 20 October 2pm and 27 February 11am. Email publicprograms@museumofbrisbane.com.au with 'Stephen Hart' as the subject line for more booking information.
Humans didn't love the last couple of years, and with good reason. But we're guessing that our four-legged friends felt differently about the whole experience. While we were all in lockdown at various points during 2020 and 2021, we were spending more time at home with our tail-wagging canines — and you know that they just loved the extra attention. Two-legged Brisbane residents have all been heading out and about much more from 2022 onwards, of course. Don't forget to take your pup with you, though. No one needs an excuse to treat their pooch to a day out, but given that the returning Dog's Day Out at Gasworks is all about doggos, it really is their time to frolic. Browsing market stalls with your pupper is on the agenda from 9am–1pm on Saturday, June 10 in Newstead, with more than 20 different spots to go barking mad at — and pull out your wallet. There'll also be workshops and live music. Entry is free, and dogs of all sizes are welcome. [caption id="attachment_758933" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Market Folk[/caption]
If you've got a pile of gold coins burning a hole in your wallet, pockets or that void down the back of your couch — or just a spare $1 in your bank account because you haven't handled physical cash for years — BrewDog might just have the best way to put it to good use. Like beer? Keen to sample it? Always wanted to learn more about the amber liquid you're so fond of drinking? Meet BrewDog's $1 Beer School. No, there's no typo in that figure. A digit or two isn't missing, either. The Scottish brewery wants you to head by either of its two Brisbane locations — its Australian base by the river at Murarrie and its Fortitude Valley beer bar — and go to class. Beer class, that is, aka the best kind of learning there is. All throughout May at both venues, for less than the price of a coffee (or just about anything for that matter), you'll taste four BrewDog sips and boost your beer knowledge via a self-guided online tour. The two caveats: you do need to book in advance, meaning that you can't just walk in and decide it's time to go to beer school; and you can only have a maximum of eight people per booking. Happy learning — and drinking. Images: Anna Kucera.
Every gig should be its own distinctive experience, even if a band is hitting city after city on a massive national or international tour. But there's unique concerts and then there's Sigur Rós' latest run of shows. While there's nothing quite like seeing the Icelandic band live in general, they'll be doing something different on their next trip to Australia: taking to the stage with live orchestras. Jónsi Birgisson, Georg Hólm and Kjartan Sveinsson will play with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and more when Sigur Rós' current orchestral tour makes its way Down Under. Across the rest of 2024, fans across the US and Nordic countries can catch the group joining forces with a 41-piece orchestra. Then, come May 2025, it's Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane's turn to witness quite a few new members temporarily join the band. Sigur Rós have a one-night date locked in in Adelaide to kick off their Australian visit, and then will play Melbourne for two nights, Sydney for three and Brisbane for one. ÁTTA, their 2023 album, will be in the spotlight, as the last time they toured Down Under was in 2022, before it was released — and it was was recorded with arrangements featuring a 32-piece orchestra. Fans can expect tracks from their 1997 debut Von onwards, however, spanning tunes from fellow records Ágætis byrjun, ( ), Takk..., Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, Valtari and Kveikur. [caption id="attachment_974235" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alive87 via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] That last — and soldout — trip this way was part of the group's first tour in five years, but clearly they haven't left the same gap go by between then and their next tour. Sigur Rós first started doing the rounds with an orchestra in 2023, playing a limited number of gigs, before expanding the experience further. Next stop: Australia. [caption id="attachment_974239" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Goatling via Flickr.[/caption] Sigur Rós Australian Orchestral Tour 2025 Saturday, May 17 — AEC Theatre, Adelaide Monday, May 19–Tuesday, May 20 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne Friday, May 23–Sunday, May 25 — venue to be announced, Sydney Tuesday, May 27 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Sigur Rós is touring Australia in May 2025, with presale tickets available from 10am local time on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 and general sales from 10am local time on Friday, October 4. Head to the band's website for further details. Top image: Kathryn Parson Photography via Flickr.
Summertime comes with a whole heap of perks and benefits befitting hot weather, and pool parties come in pretty high on that long list. If you sadly don't have the pleasure of taking a dip whenever you wish, you might like to read on as Limes Hotel have planned your perfect pool party afternoon. Starting at 1pm, the chilled afternoon will include sets from Limes Hotel regular DJs. Stick around to catch Kolombo weave his magic and conjure up the very best in summer vibes. His successful singles, 'Get So Hot' and 'What Could Make Me Think' have helped earn his place in the house music spotlight. Keep cool this Saturday afternoon while you combine the very best things in life – drinks, a pool and great music. Grab your swimsuit, order an Espresso martini and let Kolombo provide the soundtrack to your balmy Saturday night. Tickets are available via Auditree.
It's no secret that Melbourne is home to some seriously good pizza. But, it's always nice to score some validation on an international stage. Michele Circhirillo and Fabio Biscaldi of 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar have come through with the crusty goods, taking out the title of Best Pizzeria In Oceania in the 2021 edition of the 50 Top Pizza awards last week. The esteemed online guide awards the world's best pizzerias each year, with a team of expert 'inspectors' judging venues based on their pizza quality, service, ambiance, interiors, waiting time and drinks list. Pizzerias across Italy and the rest of the world were anonymously visited and ranked, with our own 48h reigning victorious against all others in the Oceania region. It's not the first time this particular crown has been claimed by a Melbourne pizzeria, with 400 Gradi taking out the regional title three years in a row, in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Of course, 48h is no stranger to scooping awards itself, with its Di Parma pizza famously named Australia's Best Pizza at the Campionato Mondiale Della Pizza (World Pizza Championships) in 2019. [caption id="attachment_827048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Hi Sylvia[/caption] The top 10 list for the Oceania region also included fellow Melbourne venues SPQR Pizzeria in the CBD and Seddon's Mozzarella Bar. Sydney had two contenders in the lineup — Verace Pizzeria and Queen Margherita of Savoy — while Brisbane's Tartufo represented Queensland's sole top 10 ranking. With five 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar outposts located around Melbourne, local pizza fiends won't face too much of a challenge seeking out some award-winning slices. The South Yarra and Elsternwick pizzerias are currently open for takeaway, with other pop-up locations at Grazeland, Rocco's Deli in Yarraville, and Werribee's Wheelers Food Trucks and Bar. To find your nearest 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar location or to learn more about the award, see the website. Images: 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar and Hi Sylvia.
