We all love to daydream. Don't deny it. It is a valuable skill we learned during our formative years (for me it was during maths class) to let our imagination run wild. In our minds we could do anything, be anything, have anything, but over the years we all stopped daydreaming. Reality set in and our lives became full of deadlines, rush hour commutes and family commitments — you know, life stuff. Lucid is a collective of creative minds that never stopped daydreaming, and they do their darndest to remind everyone in Brisbane how great our imaginations are and what they can actually do for our city's culture. This weekend, Lucid are hosting the Daydream Festival in Acland Lane, a massive street party with amazing art, food and music for everyone to enjoy (as well as a whole bunch of holi powder!). It is a remarkable idea, one that combines our love for a good party with the thriving elements of Brisbane's culture. We spoke to Ruben Laukkonen, the executive director of Lucid and one of the founding members of the collective, about what Lucid is trying to do for Brisbane and what we can expect from the Daydream Festival on February 15. Thanks for talking to us Ruben! First of all, tell us how Lucid started. We were just a couple of reckless youths with some miscellaneous skills. The original idea was to bring creative young people together to create something greater than the sum of their parts. We started out by offering our artists and ourselves out for hire. In the back of our minds, we knew we wanted to engage a broader population, and so the concept evolved, and so did our projects. What did you want to achieve with Lucid in the beginning? In other words, what did you think Brisbane was missing that you think you provide? To be completely honest, Lucid has a message, and this particular message is difficult to communicate. We needed to find a way to share our ideas and our philosophy with the general public, so we had to be creative. We think Brisbane is missing a meaningful cultural narrative that defines our young people in a positive way. A big part of our intention is to bring people together to celebrate the positive aspects of our community. Our young people love to party, we have a lot of underground talent in music and art, and Lucid is aiming to create a space where nobody is an audience and everyone participates in creating something meaningful and transformative. Generally speaking, we value many of the same concepts as our '60s and '70s festival predecessors: creativity, freedom, unity, community, self expression, and music. How has the group grown since the beginning? We started out as two mates, one psychology student, and one professional rugby player (and DJ), who by some happenstance had the drive to create what I just described. This was back in 2011; today our team includes several producers, DJs, photographers, graphic designers, painters, bands, film and visual effects students. Our strength comes from our diversity. What are some of the great things about the Brisbane cultural scene as it stands now? There are a bunch of local venues around Brisbane that promote art openly and without constraints. I think our young locals sometimes underestimate themselves, we're a pretty clever and creative bunch of people who know how to have a good time, and there are a number of places and events that are uncovering this positive side in Brisbane's cultural scene. How did the idea for the Daydream Festival come about? This really comes back to Lucid's message. Here's a few paragraphs from the 'Daydream Manifesto' that might give you an idea: 'Be a part, not apart, in celebrating local music and art' ... Imagine a colourful place, with art, food, and bass. Picture a Brisbane alleyway, not looking quite as grey. A place where bands and 'bangers' mash, and 'holi' colours pave the way. .... Become a part, of something great, express yourself without restraint, for one day, let's not draw lines, let's daydream together, and forget our divides. Was there anything in particular that you wanted to do with Daydream Festival to make it stand out? The Daydream Festival is intended to be half party, half movement. We're hoping that it stands out because there's a little less ego, there's a little more sharing, a little less fighting, and a little more freedom to express yourself. What are some individuals or organisations in Brisbane that you think are doing great things and are 'thinking outside the box' creatively? Coniston Lane has had a few killer events recently and The Fort before it closed down. But we particularly like what the crew from 'Lost Movements' has been doing. I don't know about you, but that is a kind of movement I can get behind. Daydream Festival takes place in Acland Lane, Fortitude Valley and will feature live performances from Tyler Touche, Jordan Rakei, Young Franco, Brat Camp, Chanel Van Tovier, Little Casino and heaps more. Get your tickets here.
Valentine's Day is coming up, and despite mounting partner pressure, serious self-doubt and a blank canvas, you've got this — but only if you take our help. Whether you want to keep it cheap yet classy or blow the budget and go all-out blockbuster style, Brisbane’s got a fair few options that can easily have the ladies swooning and lads doing just the same. RITZ AND ROMANCE Watt is love? I sure don’t know, but The Powerhouse’s Watt Restaurant are cupids at this stuff. They’re offering a two-course dinner, a river view and a glass of sparkling wine at the not so ridiculous price of $59 for the special day. Bacchus is presenting a Valentines Day degustation with an exceptional menu that will have your stomach falling in love with food all over again– check it. Spring have just done just about the same, in their own fresh and free reigned style, with a four-course menu that boasts gnocchi, chocolate, kingfish, chocolate, eye fillet, quail and chocolate. Foxy Bean can transform your day into a vintage affair, with their three-course dinner and live cabaret show. Don’t ruin the day - and probably the rest of your love life - by not booking – that’s far too textbook. DRUNK IN LOVE If you’ve got the type of partner who is unbearable without a little chemical stimulant, then why not add some alcohol to the Valentine's picture and drink the night away. Jetty Southbank is so excited for the big V they’ve gone ahead and whipped up a special cocktail for it - The Scarlett Darling, a vibrant red cocktail with a mix of gin, fresh watermelon, Chambord, cucumber, mint and lime. Canvas Club in Wooloongabba is forever courteous and classy, and ready at hand with fine drinks in a finer atmosphere. If you want to head West, venture to The End and share a cocktail jug – and if you’re not at the sharing stage yet, just stick to a jug each. CHEAP AND CHIPPER Just because it's “Valentine's Day” it doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to show your partner how to have a good time. Dollars and Cents have some great $2 Valentines cards, produced by the hands of this world's finest photoshoppers. Food and entertainment wise, nothing beats fish and chips by the river. Swampdog’s meal for two is more than enough food for the most romanced of couples - fish and chips for him, calamari and prawns for her. The one thing better than being in love is haloumi, and Little Greek know how to fry it up just right. And if all that’s a tad too pricey, Milton Maccas is pretty nice as well. LOVE ON THE LAWN Grass is great, especially when you have someone to share it with. So why not pack a basket with exotic cheeses, discount crackers, and a couple of bottles of apple cider and waste away Valentine's Day fending off green ants. Highgate Hill Park on Dornoch Terrace has a fantastic gradient for sitting and rolling down, and has a better view of the city than Stefan’s tower. New Farm park is a safe space, that offers views of everything from the river, flowers to that strange pink Barbie mansion in East Brisbane. Or better still, have a picnic in your back yard – cute, convenient and your mum can come. ADRENALINE APHRODISIAC Nothing says “I love you”, quite like “I’m willing to die for you”. So why not face death in the face with these not too unsafe activities right here in Brisbane. Hot air ballooning comes at a pretty steep price, but is sure to be a winner, or why not a helicopter flight over the city, all the while pretending you’re in Top Gun – Maverick and Goose were quite the star studded couple after all. Sky diving is a wonderful, fun, safe, cool and by not means not cliche option – a couple that sky dive tandem, grow old tandem. PAINT HER LIKE YOUR FRENCH GIRLS Girls love to be painted. Rose loved it, Napoleon Dynamite’s crush loved it, and the Girl with The Pearl Earing went CRAZY for it. So why not pull a Leo and paint her/be painted for Valentines Day. Cork and Chroma are hosting an evening of wine, Picasso flare, and intense staring, and at the end of the evening you’ll have a 40cmx50cm canvas of your significant other. You'll also be fed - yum, and get to meet other couples, who you can then talk to about The Mentalist. Because that's what couples do. ALL BY YOURSELF If you've conquered this whole article, in hope this Valentines Day will be different - no Tim Tams, no The Notebook and no Celine, then good for you. But that's probably wishful thinking, so you'd best prepare to tackle this day solo - why not do it in 21st century tech-style. Limes Hotel is hosting a Tinder Rooftop Party, and chances are your Joaquin Phoenix will be perched at the bar, waiting for Her (you) to just swipe right. Valentines Day will be a Friday night, so head to the Fortitude Valley after, with a trail of Tinderers at toe and dance the rest of this joy filled holiday away to the sounds of Bromance Records at Oh Hello. Alternatively, most Cold Rocks are open till 10.30pm, and the brownie mix-in can replace the warmth of any man. Roses and romance aside, don’t forget that Saint Valentine himself went through life a lone soldier. And that’s okay. Sometimes you don’t need a partner, or friends or even people to remember your name to be happy. Because it's you who gets to venture through Valentine's Day, and life, and if you want do it alone, then good on you. Call me, Molly Glassey: 0418 660 783.
Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs. It can take you a while to get your head around it. But although it seemed unlikely, there's actually a decent physical resemblance, and word is Kutcher pulls it off. Although it opens with Jobs showing off the iPod to his staff, the film Jobs soon reverts back to the early days of Apple, pre-black skivvies, though with Steve firmly in the lead. It documents the ups and downs of the '70s, '80s and '90s. Though his inventions are obsessively loved, Jobs is a character not without controversy, and the film will have you feeling sorry for him, then hating him, then loving him again and rooting for him, while at the same time shaking your head and saying to yourself 'Oh Steve'. Jobs is worth a watch if you are a fan of Apple products, his company and what he created, or a fan of biography that isn't about putting its subject on a pedestal. Jobs is in cinemas on August 29, and to celebrate we have 15 double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3rOiXeKaUUM
When it was revealed that Watchmen was returning — with the comic book series getting the HBO treatment a decade after the movie of the same name — it felt like obvious news. Caped crusaders are big business on screens both small and silver, and every old superhero becomes new again at some point. But no one could've predicted just how this nine-part series would turn out, how timely it'd feel and how it'd take on an identity of its own. Set 34 years after the events of Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and John Higgins' graphic novels, there's a reason that it has been scooping up all the awards for the past year. This version of Watchmen is still set in the same alternate reality; however, under showrunner Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers), it turns its focus to racially motivated violence and vigilantism. It's brought to the screen with a top-notch cast (including Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Hong Chau and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and a bucket load of murky complexity.
We all have a family story to tell, but we can't all tell it like Sarah Polley. The actor known for such films as Dawn of the Dead and Splice and director of quietly acclaimed features Take This Waltz and Away From Her has turned her hand to documentary with Stories We Tell, and it's been demanding attention from festival audiences around the world. Unfortunately, it's one of those films that it's best to know as little of as possible when you go in, so there's going to be little in the way of synopsis here. Suffice to say, Polley's primary interest is her mother, Diane Polley, a casting agent, thwarted actress and extrovert who relished the escape from home life that came with roles on the stage. She died in 1990, when Sarah was 11, leaving behind a web of secrets that lay hidden for many years — until her daughter grew up and started to pull at the threads. How a film with such an ostensibly narrow focus can be so compelling to so many viewers is one of those wonders of cinema. It just is. Polley has a great cast of characters in her life to work with (every member of her family is interviewed, at length), but the magic of this movie is ultimately in her storytelling. The film is wittily edited, warm and sensitive to all parties. It has a lightness of touch as might be expected of a distant observer, but all the unguarded reflection that comes from being intimate with her subject. There's a lot of technique to it. Polley reminds us of her own directorial presence constantly: Her father Michael is also the narrator, and we see her barking commands at him in the audio booth. The grainy '80s Super 8 footage that runs throughout cannot be trusted. The nature of 'truth' is being examined, and not just because it suits postmodern obsessions — in this case, it matters to people's lives. And yet (thankfully) these intellectual enquiries don't crowd out the human drama. The result is simply the most enthralling, idiosyncratic and entertaining family memoir around. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ytq4VZ2Nyxg
Kangaroo Point's One Fish Two Fish is lapping up the warmer weather with a two-month-long seafood and spritz feast. Eat your way through four courses of the ocean's finest while sipping on bottomless tipples — yep, there's your next leisurely lunch sorted. Running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Friday, October 29 right through until Christmas Eve, Fish & Spritz starts as plenty of great seafood meals do: with kingfish ceviche. From there, you'll tuck into an Asian-style crab omelette, then move onto grilled snapper paired with Tuscan salad. The dessert doesn't include seafood — but it will serve up a chocolate gelato trio. Drinks-wise, you'll be able to sip all the spritzes you can across a two-hour period — including watermelon and limoncello flavours. Fish & Spritz runs in two sittings, from 12–2pm and 2.15–4.15pm. Settle in for the whole thing for $99, or stick with the food only for $69.
Mindfulness practice — achieving the mental state of focusing on the present moment — is gaining popularity as people attempt to regulate their stressful lives. People have turned to everything from meditation to colouring books to achieve mindfulness, but perhaps few people would think of doing a triathlon to achieve inner peace. Take three activities that promote mindfulness — specifically running, yoga and meditation — and you've got yourself a 'mindful triathlon'. Wanderlust 108 has been running these triathlon festivals since 2014, and the standard day has a few main components. First, there's the five kilometre run, although the site reassures you that you can walk instead of running — or even "prance, skip, stroll or strut" — as long as you reach the finish line. After that, theres 75 minutes of yoga accompanied by a DJ set, and finally 30 minutes of meditation to round out the whole-group activities. Once the structured section of the day has wrapped up, participants can also head to activities such as aerial yoga, acroyoga and hooping, or to lunch. It's part exercise, part dance party, part fest — and 100% focused on helping attendees feel great inside and out. Also on the agenda: walking meditation, essential oil classes and the Mindful Marketplace, which will help you take your new blissed-out state home with you. By Siobhan Ryan and Sarah Ward.
Here’s an opportunity to drink beers while listening to the bands that bring the grooves, while bettering your personal karma rating. Block-AID are having a fundraiser to stop the Maules Creek coal mine in northwest New South Wales, all while saving the environment (as well as your Friday night). Fat Picnic, Baskervillain, Cheers G’Day and Henry James are joining forces to conquer ecological landfills and your eardrums. As the nights grow colder, why not make the most of the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere? Enjoy some mulled wine or cheap beers, grab some soup and dahl to embrace the community spirit, and meet your friends at the Slab. All it’ll cost is a gold coin donation on arrival, plus drinks. Each beer plays its own part in raising much needed funds to help a community not unlike our own, and will prove to be an action-packed night by its own merits.
With its pools, gardens, restaurants, bars, array of events and riverside views, calling South Bank a multi-sensory playground isn't a stretch. But since September 2021, the inner-city precinct has been home to Imaginaria, an immersive series of installations that firmly earns that term. Bringing light-filled mazes, inflatable spaces, electronic hall of mirrors and more to town will do that. Haven't had a chance to head by yet? Keep meaning to make a date with the pop-up underneath the Goodwill Bridge next to Queensland Maritime Museum? Brisbanites, you now have another chance. Because it proving so popular, Imaginaria has extended its Brisbane stay yet again, ditching its plans to wrap up at the end of January and sticking around until Sunday, April 30 instead. Wondering why it's been proving such a hit? The installation is made up of different structures, each filled with lights, sounds and smells. First, you take your shoes off — and then you wander through a space filled with artificial intelligence projections, sensor-triggered LED waves and giant silk parachute canopies. Also included: cosmic gardens, an anti-gravity sunset, an electronic hall of mirrors and a digital wishing well that whispers your greatest desires. Entering a serene white bubble, touching a digital eclipse, engaging with an interactive constellation — they're all featured, in an event that was always going to prove popular in Brisbane. When Imaginaria first set up in Melbourne before making its way north, more than 100,000 people went along. Open for patrons to wander through at their own pace, and filled with chairs and lounges so you can stop wherever you want to linger, Imaginaria spans ten rooms in total — and the choose-your-own-adventure setup means you can spend 15 minutes skipping through or take your time. An all-ages-friendly event, it still has capacity limits and strict hygiene measures — and tickets start at $23.95 a pop for adults. Imaginaria will remain underneath the Goodwill Bridge, next to Queensland Maritime Museum at South Bank, until Sunday, April 30 — with tickets on sale now for all dates until then. Images: Annette Dew / William Hamilton-Coates.
With one year on the Brisbane art scene under wrap, Poly Gone Cowboy is kicking off 2015 with a brand new exhibition, Life, Death + In Between. Featuring the work of Queensland artists Elana Mullaly, Ken Smith and Philip Schouteten, Life, Death + In Between shows off principals of illustration and design, through three very different interpretations. Mullaly is a fine drawer of faces, animals and all things ethereal; Smith prefers the digital side of illustration; and Schouteten is a recognised graphic and brand designer. If you’ve never been to Poly Gone Cowboy, it’s a multi-use creative space located on the ground floor of an old Queenslander in the Valley. As well as a gallery, it’s also a screen printing studio, T-shirt label and artist-run project space. If that, along with the exhibition, doesn’t rustle up a little pride for the Brisbane art scene, then enjoy sporting that heart of ice. Opening night is on Friday, January 23, at 6pm.
Right now you're probably thinking about your next meal (we know we are). Will it be another Bon Appétit-inspired cook-up to impress everyone you're cooped up with in isolation, or have you earned yourself a night off from all that upskilling in the kitchen? If your enthusiasm for cooking has begun to wane, you may be reaching for your favourite takeaway app to start browsing the options for a quick fix. Before you do, check your booze stash. Trust us, there is a connection. At the moment, if you spend $50 or more on any Pernod Ricard products — such as vodka or gin for your quarantinis — you'll receive a $10 voucher to use on Deliveroo. [caption id="attachment_745926" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's Burgers by Nikki To[/caption] While we don't want to encourage excessive drinking during the COVID-19 lockdown, it's possible that you've already emptied your last bottle of wine and those cocktails you were shaking in week one have made your liquor cabinet look a tad dry. Pernod Ricard's range includes champagnes, cognac, gin, tequila, rum, whiskies and wines from brands like Absolut, Glenlivet, Jameson, Kahlua and Monkey 47, as well as Australian whites and reds from Jacob's Creek and St Hugo Wines. And the best part is that you can make your purchase from any online or bricks-and-mortar store, including BWS, Dan Murphy's, Liquorland, Porters Liquor, and a number of other participating stores. Just make sure you keep your receipt. Once you've made your purchase, it's easy to claim your Deliveroo voucher. Simply upload an image of your receipt to Pernod Ricard's website and, once validated, you'll be sent a discount code to your email address. You can then use the Deliveroo code for any food order — whether you're craving a hangover-busting burger, an icy Gelato Messina, or a comforting curry. Find out more about the Pernod Ricard offer here. The offer runs until the end of July, or until stocks last, and once you have your Deliveroo voucher you can use it immediately or until April 8, 2021. Find all the FAQs here.
This weekend sees the closure of the first round of La Boite Indie productions. These shows have captured imaginations and sparked conversation with their dazzling range and professionalism. This is Capital City is experienced on a truly hands on scale. Audience members are set loose into Capital City (the Kelvin Grove Village) and are tasked with the job of investigating the history and the myths of the city. Trigger points, audio logs and flags help lead participants through the city, slowly unravelling the mystery behind the sinister facade. The Séance is an acclaimed production about a group of supernatural phenomenon enthusiasts who dabble in the arcane art of speaking to the dead. This interesting experience brings a small audience together in a binding ritual of 'shamanic incantations and abstract pop covers.' Combining modern technology with performace theatre, Blindscape utilises an iPhone application that turns the performance space into a virtual world. The key word is discovery, as audience members will percieve reality in a new light that pushes boundaries to their limit. Do yourself a favour and check out the productions wrapping up this weekend, the next round of productions will be out in July.
West Village is already one of the greenest parts of West End, and now it's letting you take some plants home with you. No, you can't raid the precinct's garden — but you can browse the stalls at the spot's returning Plant Market. Looking for something leafy to sit on your window sill? A statement plant for your back deck? Terrariums and kokedamas to place (and hang) wherever fits? Ceramics to spice up your shelves? Succulents and cacti, because they brighten up any space? Good ol' fashioned flowers, just because? Thanks to a long list of participants including All the Green Things, Max and Mort, Luvia Designs, Lecky Studio, Succulent Mummas, Makers of Something Special and Black and Bloom Floral Studio, they're all on offer. Just head on down to the free event from 9am–2pm on Sunday, August 2 — and if you have some plants at home that don't quite suit, you can bring them along to the onsite greenery adoption centre. It works the other way, too, so you can pick up a plant that someone else didn't want and take it home with you for free. The Plant Market runs from 9am–2pm on Sunday, August 2 .
Since first opening its doors back in 1973, the Sydney Opera House has played host to a wealth of performances, spanning far further in genre than just the art form that gives the venue its name. But it was only during Vivid Live 2016 that the iconic locale serenaded visitors into an evening-long slumber, all as part of Max Richter's live recital of his eight-and-a-half hour work Sleep. Across 31 tracks comprised of 204 movements, the German-born British composer's concept album unfurls music based on the neuroscience of getting some shuteye. In its intonation, the ambitious yet soothing piece favours the range that can be heard in the womb for much of its duration. When performed for an audience, it is played overnight, with beds set up — and doing as the work's title suggests is highly encouraged. Attendees recline, listen and let Richter's blend of strings, synthesisers and soprano vocals lull them into the land of nod. If they'd prefer to stay awake, that's fine as well, but soaking in Sleep's ambient sounds while you're snatching 40 winks is all very much part of the experience. In its live version, Sleep has echoed through spaces in London, Berlin and Paris, too; however, it's the first openair performance in Los Angeles' Grand Park in 2018 that takes pride of place in the documentary Max Richter's Sleep. A filmmaker was always bound to be so fascinated with the concept that they'd turn their lens Richter's way, and that director is Natalie Johns (an Emmy nominee for Annie Lennox: Nostalgia Live in Concert), who endeavours to capture the experience for those who haven't had the pleasure themselves. The resulting film doesn't run for more than eight hours, or anywhere close — but those watching and listening will quickly wish that it did. As a feature, Max Richter's Sleep isn't designed to advertise its namesake. Rather, it documents, explores and tries to understand it. Still, the movie so easily draws viewers into the music, and so deeply, that making its audience want to snooze in public while Richter and his band plays is a guaranteed side effect. In its observational footage, Max Richter's Sleep wanders and peers as Angelenos arrive, settle in, turn their attention to the stage, get comfortable and drift off. It keeps gazing their way as they slumber, as Richter and his fellow musicians keep playing, and, later, as a change in pitch in the music and the dawning sunrise both eventually herald the morning. Johns and editors Michael Carter (Dayveon), Matt Cronin (the Arctic Monkeys' 'Four Out of Five' video) and Dom Whitworth (Lily Allen and Friends) weave in footage from other concerts, too, including Sydney. The film also flits between interviews with Richter and Yulia Mahr, his partner and an artist and filmmaker, plus other collaborators. And, it speaks to ordinary folks who've signed up for a night of music — some knowing exactly what they were in for, others not quite as aware — and been moved by the experience, As a concert film, Max Richter's Sleep is entrancing; again, viewers won't want those segments of the documentary to end. And if the feature had simply played the Los Angeles concert in its entirety, or as an abridged glimpse, it would've conveyed many of its points without further explanation. So much of the music's power — and the live performance's as well — is evident without words. An eight-plus-hour album that's engineered to be listened to in a sleeping state is a clear anomaly in popular culture, and in our non-stop world. Every artwork demands an investment of time, whether it's a song that plays for just a few minutes, a movie with a two-hour duration or a painting that requires more than a moment to soak in its beauty, but when something takes up a third of one's day, it forces a shift in engagement. Mindfulness, meditation, slowing down, switching off — all of these words and phrases apply to Sleep, both as a record and as a gig, and that always comes through in Max Richter's Sleep's concert footage. When Richter speaks about Sleep, he mirrors these aforementioned ideas, and stresses how much he wants his listeners to disengage from the regular hustle and bustle while they're taking in his music. First released in early September 2015 and initially played live later that month, the album was obviously ahead of its time. The documentary is too, after premiering in November 2019, then playing Sundance in January 2020. Viewed now in the middle of a pandemic, it feels like a calming balm for the soul — as it was clearly always supposed to, even long before the world dissolved into its current status quo. The interviews in Max Richter's Sleep aren't superfluous, of course, and neither are the film's dives into Mahr's Super 8mm-filled personal archive. Hearing not only about the immense amount of work that went into Sleep, but the ways in which Richter had to alter his own thinking to even compose it, ensures that viewers appreciate the magnum opus for its artistry and effort, and not just its effect and prescience. The tales that flesh out these chats, including Richter and Mahr's frank admissions about struggling to make a living as artists, and to afford to raise their family, help put the massive quest to bring Sleep to fruition into context. Also known for scoring films and television shows, Richter has everything from Waltz with Bashir, Perfect Sense, Lore and Wadjda to The Leftovers, an episode of Black Mirror, Mary, Queen of Scots and Ad Astra on his resume, but Sleep is undeniably a labour of love. This tranquil cinematic examination of his lengthy lullaby makes that plain, and plunges its audience into the album's dreamlike state. The ethereal and insightful movie's soundtrack is a highlight as well, naturally. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb9PBr7Qhec Top image: Stefan Hoederath.
Each year, once winter takes a hike across Brisbane, the city comes alive with the sound of music. Spring and summer are prime festival seasons Australia-wide — but southeast Queensland sure does know how to throw a huge live gig, pack it with eager festival-goers and get everyone dancing. Now that making shapes is allowed again, and hanging out in crowds is becoming part of daily life once more as well, the Sunshine State's music festival calendar is starting to fill up. Fancy spending three days hopping between Fortitude Valley venues? Kicking back in a riverside park? Seeing in 2022 at a massive fest? They're just some of the big events filled with live tunes that Brisbanites can look forward to.
Asked why he broke into Oslo's Gallery Nobel in 2015 and stole two large oil paintings in broad daylight, Karl-Bertil Nordland gives perhaps the most honest answer anyone could: "because they were beautiful". He isn't responding to the police or providing an excuse during his court appearance, but speaking to Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova, who wanted answers about the theft of her work. Captured on camera, the pilfering of Kysilkova's Swan Song and Chloe & Emma initially appeared to be a professional job. As the two pieces were removed from their frames in such an exacting manner, it was presumed that experts were behind the crime. But Nordland and his accomplice didn't plan their brazen heist, or have a background in purloining art. Thanks to the effect of illicit substances, Nordland can't even remember much about it, let alone recall what happened to the stolen works that Kysilkova desperately wants back. That said, as the thief tells the painter when she first talks with him, he does know that he walked past Gallery Nobel often. He's aware that he saw her photorealistic pieces — the first of a dead swan lying in reeds, the second of two girls sat side by side on a couch — many times, too. And, he's candid about the fact that he marvelled at and was moved by the two canvases long before he absconded with them. As a result, he doesn't seem surprised that his life led him to that juncture, and to snatching Kysilkova's creations. A victim confronts a perpetrator: that's The Painter and the Thief's five-word summary, and it's 100-percent accurate. But such a brief description can't convey how fascinating, thoughtful, moving and astonishing this documentary is as it unfurls a tale so layered and wild that it can only be true — a story that stretches far beyond what anyone could feasibly anticipate of such an altercation and its aftermath, in fact. Nordland was arrested and charged for his crime, with Kysilkova initially making contact with him at his trial. From there, the skilled carpenter and heavily tattooed addict unexpectedly gained a friend in the woman whose works he took. Kysilkova first asked to paint Nordland as part of her attempts to understand him, and he then became her muse. As all relationships do, especially ones forged under such unusual circumstances, their connection evolved, adapted and changed from there. As Norwegian filmmaker Benjamin Ree (Magnus) pointed a camera in their direction for three years, the duo weathered their own ups, downs, twists and turns, as did their friendship. If Nordland's reply to Kysilkova feels disarmingly frank and unguarded, that's because it is. The same tone remains throughout The Painter and the Thief's entire duration. Absent the usual tropes and stylistic markers that true-crime documentaries are known for, the film eschews the standard mix of talking heads, re-enactments and explanatory narration in favour of truly observing and stepping inside its subjects' unique bond. Demonstrating an abundance of empathy that's as haunting as Kysilkova's striking pieces, Ree also gravitates to moments as equally sincere and direct as Nordland's initial admission. To see the latter's response to Kysilkova's first painting of him — physically cycling through shock, amazement, wonder and gratitude, and starting with his eyes wide in bewilderment before being overwhelmed with emotion to the point of sobbing — is to witness the most intimate and complicated of reactions. It's to no one's surprise that Ree lets his movie linger here, and lets his viewers soak in the full breadth and depth of Nordland's reckoning with who he is, how he has long felt about himself, what it means to him to be immortalised in an object of beauty and how it feels to be truly be seen by someone else. When it comes to its titular figures, The Painter and the Thief's focus doesn't just flow in one direction. Kysilkova helps piece together Nordland's story, including voicing a montage of photos and clips that takes a snapshot of his life from his childhood onwards; however, she's just as much of a subject of Ree's film as he is. Indeed, when it's time to expand upon her own tale, Nordland returns the favour by recounting what he knows about his friend in the same fashion. Both have experienced tumultuous histories. Neither's path from their first meeting is straightforward, either. Nordland is involved in an accident that leaves him hospitalised. Kysilkova struggles with her finances, and with her partner Øystein's worries about her new connection. Flitting back and forth between the two — but always leaving an extra impression whenever they're together — The Painter and the Thief offers a level of detail that also matches Kysilkova's paintings, all while charting the intersection of two unlikely kindred spirits. When this affecting and sensitive documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2020, it won a special jury award for creative storytelling — and the intuitive way in which Ree weaves together Kysilkova and Nordland's stories is worthy of the recognition. The gentle tone, the willingness to let things unravel as they will, the care and attention shown in all directions, the utter lack of sensationalism: they're all instrumental in shaping an extraordinary film. So too is the blend of raw yet gorgeously observed imagery by Ree and fellow cinematographer Kristoffer Kumar (Arctic Superstar), the delicate and patient editing by Robert Stengård (Rebels), and the engaging score from Uno Helmersson (Bobbi Jene). An intricate and unflinching insight into kindness and compassion in even the strangest of circumstances needs all of the above, as does a considerate and ruminative exploration of trauma, redemption, addiction, art, power and friendship. The Painter and the Thief is exactly that film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yJ4r7ON974
Two big countdowns happen at the end of January each year. One involves music. The other involves beer. We all know about Triple J's Hottest 100, but the GABS rundown of the top 100 Aussie craft beers is equally worth your attention, especially if you like a cold one or several. Think of it as your beverage list for the next few months. Drink beer, attend a party celebrating 2018's best beers, watch the countdown live-streamed on the big screen — that's Catchment Brewing Co's GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers Party. Just who'll emerge victorious won't be revealed until Sunday, January 27, so head on down from midday. Drinks-wise, Catchment will be pouring its own entry, a lemon myrtle pale ale, as well as its latest batch of season beers. And if you're wondering who's in with a shot to come out on top, perhaps previous winners will give you a few clues. In 2015 and 2016, Stone & Wood emerged victorious, while the Gold Coast's Balter Brewing did the honours in 2017. If you're keen to vote yourself, entries are open until Friday, January 18.
The stars are shining bright at the 2015 BBC First British Film Festival. Returning to Palace Cinemas around the country for another year, the three-week celebration features some of the most acclaimed and anticipated movies of the past 12 months, plus a look back at that most British of genres: the big screen romance. The festival opens with Paolo Sorrentino's Youth, an introspective buddy comedy about a pair of elderly artists, played by Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel, vacationing together in a luxurious Swiss resort. Other standout titles include Lance Armstrong biopic The Program starring Ben Foster and Chris O'Dowd; women's voting rights drama Suffragette starring Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep; and dark comic crime thriller Kill Your Friends starring Nicholas Hoult. Film buffs looking for a good date option can also check out the festival's retro stream, featuring ten iconic British love stories. Whether you're into lavish period dramas or just want to watch Andie MacDowell and Hugh Grant making out in the rain, we guarantee there's something on there to make you swoon.
Beer halls aren't just for drinking brews, at least where Felons Brewing Co is involved. The Howard Smith Wharves mainstay regularly puts its barrel hall to a range of other uses, whether by hosting movies or markets — or the Seasonal Fruit music festival. On Friday, August 30 from 6pm, the latter is on the agenda for its spring 2024 edition, with this riverside fest curated by Jet Black Cat Music. Here's one way to get ready to start the new season: with a lineup of acts taking to the stage over one afternoon. On the bill this time: Gut Health, Clamm, Parsnip, Radium Dolls and Gimmy. And for the sips? Well, you will be in a brewery after all, with Felons' beers on offer. Tickets cost $36.50 for the gig and, as you say cheers to the end of winter, beginning of warmer weather, farewelling the working week and the arrival of the weekend, you'll pay for your beverages on top. Summer Fruit — Spring Edition Lineup: Tirzah Gut Health Clamm Parsnip Radium Dolls Gimmy Images: Darcy Goss Media.
In the near-ish future, Herston's Victoria Park / Barrambin is set to look a whole lot different, thanks to plans to transform the site into a 64-hectare destination complete with a tree house lookout, water play gully, high ropes course, mountain bike track, reinstated water holes and wetlands, and a community edible garden. And, back in September, the Brisbane City Council revealed a new draft master overview of how it should look. The huge redevelopment will completely reshape the patch of greenery near the RBH — and if you're keen to find out more, BCC is hosting a Discovery Day in the Park. But learning about your future hangout spot is only part of the fun, thanks to everything from live music to rock climbing. Head along between 10am–2pm on Saturday, October 22 — entering off Gilchrist Avenue — to relax on the grass, enjoy tunes, browse market stalls and tuck into bites to eat from food trucks. Also on the agenda: lawn games, kite making, boomerang painting, mini golf and more — some for kids, some for everyone including kidults. Entry is free, and if you want to bring your own picnic, that's up to you.
Winter has well and truly settled in, and what better way to embrace it than with a trip to the snow? Not only do you get to try out your moves on the slopes, if you're at the winter haven of Thredbo, you can match it with time lounging about the fire or in the hot pools, watching your mate go for glory in a snowboarding comp and savouring a few delectable mulled ciders. Rekorderlig are offering you the chance to win this winter dream vacay — including flights, accommodation and ski hire — for a group of six, just by entering their Facebook comp. Sweetening your weekend away even more, the Swedish giants of cider have a little something extra and exclusive lined up. They're hosting an intimate winter forest picnic, Swedish style, on Thredbo's golf course on Saturday, September 13. What's 'Swedish style' you ask? Well it's not this. Rather, think an al fresco four-course meal of Swedish-inspired recipes (not this) eaten from beneath warm blankets while you overlook a striking skyline of snow stretching as far as the eye can see. Then add in a whole bunch of Rekorderlig to complete your magical Swedish stopover. Will there be reindeer? You'll have to enter via the Rekorderlig Facebook page to find out.
For 2023's World Science Festival Brisbane, Erth is winding the clock back 65 million years with a series of dinosaur-heavy picnics at South Bank. Popping up at the Piazza, Erth's Prehistoric Picnic will bring a series of huge dinosaur puppets and inflatables to the riverside precinct for a show filled with dino wonder. These dinosaur recreations will stretch their legs and wander their way around the picnics to the delight of adults and children alike. Included in the roster of millennium-old creatures is the newest edition to Erth's repertoire: a set of three-metre tall thunderbirds that will be strutting their stuff across the prehistoric events. Entry costs $30 for adults and doesn't come with a picnic included, so it's recommended you break out the blankets you bought during lockdown and pack an array of snacks for the whole group. Sessions are running from Wednesday, March 22–Sunday, March 26, with 9.30am and 11.30am time slots available on weekdays and an extra 1.30pm event running on Saturday and Sunday. Top image: Yaya Stempler.
El Camino Cantina has several locations around Brisbane and southeast Queensland — at South Bank, Bowen Hills, Chermside, Robina and Sunshine Plaza — and, at every one, the chain is giving the people what we want. If you're heading to a Tex-Mex bar and eatery, then you want plenty of tacos. Ideally, you want them cheap as well. Enter the brand's weekly $2 Taco Tuesday sessions, which is exactly what it sounds like. Head by every Tuesday and you can tuck into a highly affordable feed of caesar salad tacos, cheeseburger tacos and spicy cauliflower tacos, all using soft shells. There's also a special flavour each week, still just for a gold coin. If you'd like a beverage to wash your tacos down with, the regular range of margaritas, cocktails, wines and beers are on offer. Consider this a PSA: El Camino is known for its slushie machines, so you might want to sip something semi-frozen. And if you're after a couple of other varieties of taco and you're willing to spend $4 a pop instead, you have even more options. The chain is dishing up its cadillac range for that still-discounted price, spanning everything from tempura barramundi, chorizo and jerk chicken to pulled pork, sautéed steak and beef brisket.
Attention spans are waning in this digital age. Studies have shown that most people will spend just nine seconds looking at a webpage – information is digested fast or not at all. It’s not exactly a bad trait to have; in fact, if you use it correctly it’s almost like a superpower! You could be a superhero who absorbs information on lolcats and the random article button on Wikipedia at lightning speed and uses it to fight evil! But if you’re not ready to wear your undies on the outside of your lycra suit, head down to the Powerhouse for Pecha Kucha, an event that has become a worldwide phenomenon since its humble beginnings in Tokyo. Pioneered by Klein Dytham Architecture, the concept of Pecha Kucha is simple: Presenting designers get twenty slides for their presentation of work and/or ideas, with twenty seconds of airtime per slide. The result is a presentation that is concise, to-the-point, interesting and stimulating - even more so than Chuckles the red fox (and hopefully much less creepy). Go ahead and get inspired, because you’re more likely to be a creative visionary than the internet’s Clark Kent - you just need a push in the right direction. Image credit: Camera Obscura via Brisbane Powerhouse
A fresh batch of street art has popped up across Brisbane, brightening up the city's laneways and public spaces. And it's not any old outdoor exhibition, with Women's Work highlighting large-scale pieces by 12 female artists. On display until Sunday, December 1, this is a huge showcase in several ways. Each of the towering artworks earns that description, as does the the exhibition's sprawling inner-city footprint — spreading over Eagle, Edison, Irish, Hutton and Fish Lanes, as well as along Edward Street, through the King George Square Car Park and on the William Jolly Bridge. And, there's also the fact that it's Brisbane's largest display of women's street art. The idea behind the exhibition is hefty, too — tackling gender equality in the industry, showcasing the efforts of more than just the usual suspects and shining a spotlight on ace ladies. Courtney Brims, Claire Tracey, Dominique Falla, Emma Wright, Lusid Art and Mosessa rank among the artists, designers and practitioners involved, as do Nicola Holly, Rachael Sarra, Rae Cooper, Sarah Hazlehurst, Tori-Jay Mordey and Zoe Porter. Women's Work is the work of The Culprit Club, in collaboration with BAM - Brisbane Art Matriarchs, Brisbane City Council, and Griffith University's Queensland College of Art. Over the course of its run, the exhibition will also include curated walking tours, talks and events.
Sometimes, we all need to get a little lost. We need to leave our comfort zones — and the homes we've been spending so much time in during the pandemic — and go wandering through an otherworldly realm. We need to explore light-filled mazes, bound through inflatable spaces and check out an electronic hall of mirrors, too, and just completely forget about our day-to-day troubles while we're moseying around a multi-sensory installation. If all of that sounds like your idea of heaven at the moment, it's about to become a reality in Brisbane this September. This year's Brisbane Festival has just announced a new addition to its lineup in the form of Imaginaria — an immersive playground for kidults and children alike that's set to take over the Festival Garden hub underneath the Goodwill Bridge, next to Queensland Maritime Museum at South Bank, from Friday, September 3–Tuesday, November 30. And, if it sounds a little familiar, that's because you might've heard about Imaginaria's Melbourne season. From late in 2020, it set up shop in the Victorian capital for six months and welcomed in a lazy 100,000-plus people. So, expect its Brisbane stint to be busy (and cross your fingers that lockdown doesn't get extended and hamper the pop-up's plans, obviously). The installation is made up of different structures each filled with lights, sounds and smells. First, you take your shoes off — and then you wander through a space filled with artificial intelligence projections, sensor-triggered LED waves and giant silk parachute canopies. Also included: cosmic gardens, an anti-gravity sunset, an electronic hall of mirrors and a digital wishing well that whispers your greatest desires. There's ten rooms in total, eight of which are brand new for Brisbane — and it's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of experience, so you can spend 15 minutes skipping through or take your time. Open to all ages, it'll have capacity limits and strict hygiene measures, with tickets starting at $23.95 a pop for adults. Imaginaria will set up at the Brisbane Festival Garden hub underneath the Goodwill Bridge, next to Queensland Maritime Museum at South Bank, from Friday, September 3–Tuesday, November 30 — with Ticketmaster pre-sales running from 10am on Tuesday, August 10–11.59pm on Wednesday, August 11, and general public tickets open from 10am on Thursday, August 12. Images: William Hamilton-Coates
Put down your croquet mallet, plaster on your best game show host smile and grab a slushie: it's Heathers' dance party time, again. The fun-loving folks at Black Bear Lodge are celebrating one of the most very films of the '80s once more, and the whole decade in general of course. Big hair, blazers with shoulder pads and giant red scrunchies are a must. Complaining about everyone you know called Heather — that's optional. Whether you channel your inner Veronica or JD, or broaden your remit to other cult flicks of the era, you certainly won't lack in fashion inspiration in what will definitely be a night of big fun. The party's DJs won't lack in ace retro tracks to spin, either. Whatever will be, will be, after all. So, what's the regular event's damage? It's free, it starts at 11pm, and drinking blue beverages isn't recommended. Be there, or be a pillowcase — or be jealous much.
Think that you don't like Shakespeare? Sorry, think again. More than 400 years after the Bard's death, there truly is a Shakespearean effort for everyone — whether you're keen on his tragedies, comedies or histories; or traditional or modern interpretation; or versions on the stage or the screen. Only like contemporary updates like 10 Things I Hate About You, which is based on ol' Shakes' The Taming of the Shrew? That's fine. Love nothing more than seeing actors tread the boards and utter Hamlet's famous soliloquy? That's ace too. Fancy one of his hits dressed up with brand new songs? Yep, that's a-okay too. If you don't know what we mean by the latter, that's where Queensland Theatre's Twelfth Night comes in. Taking over the QPAC Playhouse until May 19, it's the tale of a twin, Viola, washed ashore in a shipwreck, separated from her brother and forced to disguise herself as a man to survive. If you saw the 2006 rom-com She's the Man, then you've already seen one version of this story. QT's is another, sticking closer to the script — aka, there's no soccer-playing Amanda Bynes here — and pairing the narrative with tunes by Tim Finn. The Split Enz and Crowded House great's tracks will accompany performances by Liz Buchanan, Sandro Colarelli, Jason Klarwein, Christen O'Leary and Jessica Tovey, in what remains one of Shakespeare's funniest efforts.
When you visit Artisan's latest exhibition, you'll be greeted with plenty of familiar faces. They're all individually sculpted, and they're all made by the same hand. More than that, they all wear a range of expressions that you'll undoubtedly recognise — expressions of grief, stress, concern, uncertainty, unhappiness and all-round anxiety. In The Worry Room, Pippin Blackwell has designed a gallery of woe, although the artist's intentions are empathic rather than bleak. With 400 sculptures included in the overall display, it addresses the feelings of unease that everyone experiences in different ways and at different times. Stare at each face, and you'll stare at the emotions that have coursed through your veins, reflecting on how they make you feel and what they represent. Free to attend, The Worry Room exhibits in Artisan's Small Object Space until Friday, November 2. Image: Pippin Blackwell, untitled, 2018, polymer clay. Courtesy of the artist.
Troye Sivan has something to give Brisbane: his Something to Give Each Other tour. The Grammy-nominated and ARIA Award-winning 'Rush', 'I'm So Tired...', 'My My My!' and 'Youth' artist has spent part of 2024 playing shows in Europe to sellout crowds, and hitting America for a co-headline arena tour with Charli XCX. After that, he's making an Aussie return. The Perth-raised pop star hits Brisbane's Riverstage on Tuesday, November 26, with Nick Ward in support. Set to get a huge workout: the 2023 album that gives the tour its name, of course, which was Sivan's first since 2018's Bloom, earned a heap of placings on best-of-2023 lists at the end of last year and hit number one on the album charts in Australia. But given that his discography dates back to 2007's Dare to Dream — and includes fellow EPs TRXYE and Wild, plus his debut album Blue Neighbourhood — he has tracks from across almost two decades to bust out. It's been a huge few years for Sivan — as a musician, acting in Boy Erased and The Idol, being parodied by Timothée Chalamet (Dune: Part Two) on Saturday Night Live. Dance to this, obviously.
Faces carve deep impressions in Longlegs, in both their presence and their absence. As Agent Lee Harker, Maika Monroe (God Is a Bullet) does so with a clenched jaw, permanently on-edge eyes and mere bursts of words, aka the guise of a woman who'll never stop being vigilant in every moment but doesn't always know exactly why. As the movie's namesake, as announced in the opening credits, Nicolas Cage (Dream Scenario) has audiences straining to catch whatever glimpse they can whenever they can — and when a full look comes, it's scorching and haunting in tandem in the stare alone. Blair Underwood (Origin) gives Harker's boss Carter a weary gaze, but with fully rounded life experience beyond his FBI gig evident behind it. Alicia Witt (Switch Up) plays Ruth Harker, mother to Lee, as distance and struggle personified. As she relays a tale as survivor Carrie Anne Camera, Kiernan Shipka (Twisters) demonstrates how disconnected a grim reality can be from a dream. For his fourth feature following 2015's The Blackcoat's Daughter, 2016's I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House and 2020's Gretel & Hansel — the first of which also starred Shipka — writer/director Osgood Perkins has clearly assembled an excellent cast for his unease-dripping, get-under-your-skin, torment-your-nightmares serial-killer thriller. Another face leaves an imprint beyond his actors, however. Bill Clinton's portrait assists with setting the scene as it adorns bureau offices, with the majority of the movie taking place in the 90s. Think the FBI and three decades back, and there's no lack of pop-culture touchstones. The Silence of the Lambs is one. Monroe's portrayal as a newly minted operative tracking a murderer is every bit as layered, complex and unforgettable — and awards-worthy — as Jodie Foster's (True Detective: Night Country) Oscar-winning performance was. Twin Peaks and The X-Files, Point Break, even Cage's own Face/Off: they all also hail from the 90s and spin stories around the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This lineage is impossible not to ponder every time that Perkins reminds Longlegs viewers of the period that he's working with via Clinton's likeness — and it's a bold move. Getting your audience recalling other films and TV shows can simply spark the wish that they were watching those titles instead, especially when the list is as glorious as the aforementioned flicks and series. But the filmmaker who first started out in horror as a child actor walking in his father's footsteps — Anthony Perkins played Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho; Osgood was young Norman in Psycho II — makes good on the gambit. No one with their peepers glued to Longlegs would rather be ingesting anything else, no matter how equally exceptional, as it weaves its hypnotic spell. Longlegs bedevils and bewitches early, and earlier than its main era. The pristine snow that surrounds a young girl (Lauren Acala, Motherland: Port Salem) in her yard is a visual blank slate, soon darkened in shadow when Longlegs arrives with happy birthday wishes — and the mood, as thrumming through in feature first-timer Andres Arochi's cinematography, plus Graham Fortin (Ari's Theme) and Greg Ng's (Allegiance) editing, is as thick as the white blanket across the ground with apprehension and tension. When the movie hops forward, already festering is the feeling of an innocent state sullied. That's before learning about Harker and Carter's case, with a string of murder-suicides resembling each other garnering their attention. Families perish, fathers attacking before turning their violence upon themselves, which might be open and shut if there weren't a spate of such incidents over decades, if questions about motive weren't glaring, if a compulsive force — supernatural or otherwise — hadn't earned some thought and if letters in code signed by Longlegs weren't also found at the scenes. There's more than a tightly wound ball of anxiety to Harker, who sports a surname that brings being pursued and toyed with by Dracula — who Cage played in 2023's Renfield — to mind. (Longlegs is the second 2024 horror film to nod to Bram Stoker in its characters' monikers, after Ishana Night Shyamalan's The Watchers.) The movie's lead is also a source of intuition and perhaps clairvoyance, which the FBI is keen to capitalise upon. Indeed, that's why she's been assigned to the Longlegs investigation. She's as dedicated as dedicated comes when sifting through the analogue array of clues, too, with paper and tape amid dimly lit, cabin-esque interiors adding to the tactile sensation. As terse phone calls with her mum illustrate, there's nothing distracting her from her gig, either. Via framing, frequently with symmetry, Perkins conveys that Harker isn't just consumed by chasing down Longlegs — it might be the on-screen fate of ample detectives, including in Se7en and Zodiac, two David Fincher masterpieces that are also patent influences, but the hunt is consuming her back. With the fellow chillers that beat Longlegs to existence, and with elements as familiar in horror as serial killers, the occult, crime-solving procedural crusades, fixated sleuths and all-encompassing disquiet — to name just a few genre go-tos plastered across Perkins' cinematic mood board — the approach is fondness-meets-the filmmaker's own interpretation. That's the picture's guiding principle everywhere, including in Monroe and Cage's immense contributions, each of which is among their respective career highlights. All of Longlegs' key parties know that viewers have seen plenty of these same pieces before in a myriad of ways, and possess a single-minded resolve to avoiding serving up the same. Monroe does this with It Follows and The Guest on her filmography, the 2014 one-two punch about evil lurking among the ordinary and safe spaces terrorised. Cage does it with four decades of efforts that've solidified him as not just a singular actor but the singular actor, and ceaselessly able to surprise. Perkins crafts Longlegs as a dollmaker might, with the utmost of care apparent in each and every component, all building a creation that feels like it's staring piercingly back at you. He isn't afraid of a surreal Lynchian vibe, showing that waking life can immerse you in as much of a frightscape as the worst that your brain can conceive while slumbering — perhaps the most-alarming realisation that there is — but, again, as run through his own filter. He also isn't scared of using sound design to burrow that agitation deep into the audience's subconscious, so that Longlegs is distressing your soul before you, like Harker, are even aware. Chief among the film's strokes of genius is how inescapable its intense dread is, regardless of which traditional horror symbols taunt those watching or how much of Cage as Longlegs can be seen. In an instant classic, all of its pivotal faces are mirrors, then, reflecting the viewer's own.
Every Friday and Saturday night, Morayfield plays host to BITE Markets, complete with quite the array of food and stalls. But if you head by on Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 2, you'll find more than just the usual setup — and it'll be enough to get your furry, four-legged companion's tail wagging in delight. BITE Markets' Doggo Festival is dedicating two evenings to adorable canines, including pupper-friendly stalls, prizes for dressing up your dog — yes, there's even a fashion show — and the opportunity to pat oh-so-many pooches. If you have a barking bestie, you'll want to bring them along. If you don't, you can play every wannabe dog owner's favourite game: ogling all those fluffy cuties. For humans, the usual array of bites to eat will be on offer as well, and so will beer, wine, cider and mocktails to sip. And, there'll also be prizes for two-legged attendees, too, because your very good doggo isn't the only one deserving of attention.
Is there anything better than a day out in the sunshine, a cool breeze blowing in your hair, a cuddle from your beloved, a glass of wine in one hand and a piece of cheese in the other? Probably not. Only one thing could really make it better - some incredible musicians to watch and listen to! Essentially this is what A Day on the Green is: food, wine, friends and great music. Now in its eleventh year, A Day on the Green has brought some incredible acts from overseas to Australia, and also coaxed some fantastic Australian acts out of retirement. In previous years performers have included Chris Isaak, Diana Krall, Tom Jones, Ronan Keating, Mark Seymour, Wendy Matthews, The Whitlams, Lionel Ritchie and so many more. This month at Sirromet Winery, punters can see one of the best line-ups yet, with the consumnate musicians Daryl Hall and John Oates strutting their stuff alongside iconic band Icehouse and the likes of Husky, up-and-comers from Melbourne. Take a trip to the 80s and back with a wine in hand.
Nominated for Best Animated Film at the Academy Awards and BAFTAs, 3D stop-motion comedy, Paranorman, sees a misunderstood local boy thrown into a mad-cap fight with besieging zombies. Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is considered weird in his small town home of Blithe Hollow, and no one, save for his new found friend, Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), believes his supernatural ability of being able to talk to the dead is genuine. All that begins to change when his eccentric uncle tells him of an important annual ritual he must take up in order to protect the town from a curse cast on it by a witch centuries ago. But, once he decides to use his gift to help, things go badly wrong and the dead begin to rise. Norman must struggle to save Blithe Hollow, and discover the horrific truth behind the curse. Written for children this beautifully animated tale may prove too scary for the little ones, but it’ll entertain younger teens, and leave their parents with something to think about.
There's no right or wrong way to eat gelato. That said, if you're feeling a bit like you've licked every scoop ever, there is a more interesting way. Forget everything you've ever been told about flavour and texture combinations, and about not eating dessert for dinner, with Atelier Brasserie and La Macelleria teaming up for a creative degustation. Across five courses, Atelier Brasserie's head chef Dallas Costello and La Macelleria's Matteo Zini will treat your tastebuds to dishes you never even thought possible — beef tartare with mustard gelato is one of them. The idea is to get playful, explore different blends and temperatures, and challenge your preconceived notions about the Italian dessert. The one-off Fine Food Meets Gastronomical Gelato event is happening at Atelier Brasserie's King Street digs from 6.30pm on Wednesday, September 5. Tickets cost $79 for what promises to be a culinary adventure — although, if you have specific dietary requirements, it's worth noting that substitutions can't be made to the menu. Image: Atelier Brasserie.
Teenage drug use is an undeniable occurrence. Curiosity, experimentation, peer pressure, or the desire to escape are only a few reasons why teens take drugs. Every now and then we see on the news a story about a couple of kids being expelled from school because they were found handling or taking illegal substances. But also every now and then there are more devastating consequences, as explored in the play April’s Fool. In April 2009, two weeks short of his nineteenth birthday, Toowoomba teenager Kristjan Terauds died due to complications from illicit drug use. The idea to develop this story into a play was inspired after director Lewis Jones was given Kristjan’s father’s journal to read. Jones commissioned Toowoomba writer David Burton, and he had spent months interviewing Kristjan’s friends and family. The result was a verbatim script. Using the real words and real experiences of the interviewers, Burton shaped the tragedy into into a story of love, family and strength to create a performance reflecting on the choices we make in life. Originally debuting in 2010, this is a special two-night return season. April's Fool was universally praised by youth, parents, teachers and theatre critics alike for its honesty and ability to engage while never preaching or lecturing. Don't miss this honest, heart-felt performance.
If you've been kicking yourself because you can't make Billy Bragg's rare solo showcase in Sydney this weekend, you can now give your legs a rest. The maverick song writer has just announced that he'll be back in March 2014. For a national tour. With his entire band. That's right, every State and one of the Territories (sorry, NT) will be treated to a show, and he'll also be popping over to New Zealand for a couple of appearances. In Sydney, he'll be playing the Opera House for the first time ever. The tour is largely about bringing Bragg's new LP, Tooth and Nail, to Antipodean audiences. Bragg's first album since 2008, it was recorded in California last year. He was invited to the basement studio of Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry, where he holed up with some of the world's most in-demand session musicians — Greg Leisz (Bon Iver), Patrick Warren (Lana Del Rey), Jay Bellrose (Regina Spektor) and David Piltch (Ramblin' Jack Eliott) — and was urged to sing live. Bragg has described the album as "the follow-up to Mermaid Avenue I never made". Influenced by soul, folk and country, Tooth and Nail is more personal than some of his previous offerings. "Most people, when they hear my name, think of polemical anthems born in struggle," Bragg says. "I often find myself having to remind people that I am also the Sherpa of Heartbreak, writing songs about the struggle to maintain our relationships with those we love the most." Tickets are on sale on Tuesday, 16 September, at 9am. The full tour dates are: Sunday 8 March – Perth Concert Hall – Perth www.ticketek.com.au Monday 10 March – Womad Festival – Adelaide www.womadelaide.com.au Wednesday 12 March – Federation Hall – Hobart www.tso.com.au Tuesday 13 March – Palais Theatre – Melbourne www.ticketmaster.com.au Sunday 16 March – Sydney Opera House – Sydney www.sydneyoperahouse.com Wednesday 19 October – Canberra Theatre – Canberra www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au Thursday 20 March – Tivoli – Brisbane www.ticketmaster.com.au
Here's the exceptional thing about being a movie lover: you're never short on stuff to watch. And, because where you see something can have a big imprint on your viewing experience, you're rarely lacking great places to get your cinema fix. Brisbane's latest: the city's riverside CBD brewery. On Tuesday nights until July 25, thanks to its returning Cinema Sessions, Felons Brewing Co is turning its Barrel Hall into a cinema and showing classic flicks — for free. From 7pm, you can lock your eyes on the big screen and enjoy a movie fave, all without paying a cent. You can also get comfy on a bean bag and reserve your seat at the same time; however, that part will cost you $25. That amount is redeemable on the night, though, on food and drinks. Either way, sipping beers with your movie isn't free unsurprisingly. There'll be cinema snacks on offer as well and, again, you'll need your wallet. As for the films flickering across the screen, it's an impressive retro lineup. The season includes plenty of nostalgic delights — Night at the Museum (May 30), Flubber (June 6, and outdoors) and The Princess Bride (June 13) included. Or, check out The Greatest Showman (June 20), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (June 27), Legally Blonde (July 4) and The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy (July 11), plus We Bought a Zoo (July 18) and National Treasure (July 25).
Get ready to roll: for one Saturday only, the first-ever Sun Skate Rollerskating Festival is gliding into Milton Park. With Brisbane's own Roller Dance Australia behind the new event, this fest isn't just about strapping some wheels to your feet. Rather, making shapes while wearing skates is the main attraction — complete with a Boogie Nights-themed roller disco. Taking place from 12–8pm on Saturday, December 9, Sun Skate is an all-ages affair except for the disco, which is open for attendees aged 16 and over. While it's technically free to head along to, in most instances you will pay to hit the rink. An hour-long session costs $10, as does skate hire. Getting your Boogie Nights on will set you back $25, while a full day pass other than the disco is $30. There are ways to put your skates on without opening your wallet, however. So, look out for the Zumba class, beginners' skating class and dance jam. Also on offer: markets, food trucks, a skate maintenance workshop, yoga, a treasure hunt and a dog park, plus activities for kids.
Bouncing across the screen with charm, energy and an 80s sheen, Air says one name often: Michael Jordan. This film spins an origin story so closely linked to the NBA all-timer that the true tale simply wouldn't and couldn't have happened without him; however, it isn't actually the six-time championship-winning former Chicago Bulls player's own. Instead, Ben Affleck turns director again for the first time since 2016's Live By Night to recount how Jordan also became an icon in the footwear game. Think shoes, and everyone knows the word that usually follows this flick's title. Think Air Jordans, and Nike also springs to mind. Those sneakers are still being made almost four decades after first hitting stories — in fact, the brand is now notching up $5 billion in annual revenue, $150 million of which is going to its namesake — so Air answers the question no one knew they had until now: how did it initially happen? Sports endorsement deals mightn't sound like compelling cinema, but neither did scouting, signing and trading in the right baseball players before Moneyball demonstrated otherwise. Working with a script by screenwriting first-timer Alex Convery — who is also one of Air's co-producers — Affleck turns the quest to sign a then just-drafted Jordan by a struggling shoe company into infectiously entertaining viewing. The actor and filmmaker might be nearly as famous for Sad Affleck and Bored Affleck as he is for movies, but he knows how to please a crowd. Forget his facial expressions when he's unhappy talking about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice or being at the 2023 Grammys with Jennifer Lopez; as Argo demonstrated back in 2012 to the tune of three Academy Awards including Best Picture, behind-the-lens Affleck is a feel-good wiz with lively and irresistible true tales. Indeed, give the Good Will Hunting screenwriting Oscar-winner an IRL event filled with tension and twists, and populated by vivid characters, then get him to replay it smoothly and at a snappy pace (and with ample talk): that's now not just a one-off Affleck formula. He's been helming films since 2007's Gone Baby Gone. He's up to five now, and he's also starred in them all since 2010's The Town. Also featuring Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Viola Davis and Chris Tucker on-screen, Air is one of Affleck's own greats as a director. Even from just the trailer, it's easy to see that he's in Argo mode again — welcomely so, as the end product shows. Somehow, we're currently living through a golden time for genuinely engaging pictures about corporate manoeuvring that could've just been expensive ads in lesser hands; see also: recent streaming release Tetris, which also stacked the right blocks into place. Air similarly heads back to the 80s, to 1984, when Jordan was a 21-year-old college standout newly in the NBA and facing a life-changing decision. Damian Young (Prom Night Flex) plays the basketball GOAT, but this is a movie about the making of a legend — so the pivotal character gets all the flick's admiration and praise while bounding into the boardroom wheeling and dealing. Crucially, Air doesn't block out Jordan. Rather, it pays tribute to his talent even without staging on-court scenes, and to the shrewd wrangling and negotiating that his no-nonsense mother Deloris (Davis, The Woman King) did on his behalf. The ultimate outcome is clearly well-known, because if there was no agreement, there'd be no Air Jordans and therefore no movie (and the Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike would still be best known for jogging shoes). But the slam dunk this endorsement proved for giving athletes their financial dues when their talents make bank for sponsoring companies is no minor matter, and nor is it treated as such. Working for founder and CEO Phil Knight (Affleck, Deep Water) four years after Nike went public, in-house basketball expert Sonny Vaccaro (Damon, The Last Duel) really just has one job: find the footwear outfit the right NBA name to tie their fortunes to, help them seem cool among the basketball crowd and get customers a-buying. His colleague Rob Strasser (Bateman, Ozark) wants three players, thinking that the company is already priced out of the market on top draft picks — and unalluring due to their paltry share of the market compared to Adidas and Converse. The stakes are high, albeit not Argo-level life-or-death high. The word is that Nike's basketball division will be scrapped if the next endorsement deal doesn't deliver. So, Sonny makes a bold suggestion. Instead of a trio of ballers, he's all-in on Jordan, certain that he's the future of the game and about to be its biggest-ever star. The latter's manager David Falk (Messina, Call Jane) won't entertain the prospect, though, which is what leads Sonny to courting Michael's parents Deloris and James (Julius Tennon, also The Woman King, as well as Davis' real-life husband). Sonny is a gambler, detouring to Las Vegas when he's scoping out college up-and-comers. On Jordan, he bets big. And, although Affleck ticks all the boxes that helped Argo become the hit and award-winner it is, Air isn't afraid to take its own chances. There's zero risk in the movie's spot-on aesthetic, which cinematographer Robert Richardson (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) roves over lovingly. (Commercials from the era are also spliced in). There's also no flukes in the period-appropriate soundtrack, which is as obvious as they come yet also still works. But Air is as much about what it means to leave a legacy and be remembered as it is about the ins and outs of teaming up Nike and Jordan — and crafting the kicks that became must-wear apparel (Hello Tomorrow!'s Matthew Maher plays designer Peter Moore) — a choice that might've been a long shot or even a miss if it didn't sail meaningfully but still breezily through the hoop. Actually, don't forget Affleck's facial expressions after all — he's having a blast on-screen as the grape-coloured Porsche-driving Knight, especially in his scenes with Damon. It's been more than a quarter-century since Good Will Hunting, that script collaboration and them apples, plus more than three decades since they were both in School Ties before that, and they remain a dynamic duo to watch simply bicker and banter. Including Tucker (Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk) as fellow Nike employee Howard White and Marlon Wayans (Respect) as George Raveling, a 1984 Olympics assistant coach when Jordan was first on the US team, Air's cast is a dream, but Davis unsurprisingly gives the swishest of performances. This is always a film about showing the money to the greatest to ever do it rather than just using him as a corporate asset, too, and in a movie that earns its audience's cheers, she's the face of that important battle.
After a top-secret operation goes horribly wrong, James Bond (Daniel Craig) is declared missing and assumed dead. As the identity of every active MI6 undercover agent is leaked onto the internet, M’s (Judy Dench) ability as leader is called into question, and she is put under the investigation of a government review. Soon, the fears of many become reality, and the secret service itself is attacked. Bond reappears, and M uses the opportunity to seek out a dangerous villain with connections to both of them, Raoul Silva (Javier Barden). 007’s search takes him from London to the South China Sea, a trail that sees his loyalty to M tested, as secrets from her past begin to emerge. Skyfall is, along with The Dark Night Rises and The Avengers, is surely one of the most anticipated movie's of 2012. It has been breaking box-office records overseas and will continue to be a hit once it is released this week. The twenty-third Bond film, and the third to feature Daniel Craig as the moody and rugged agent, marks just over fifty years since the release of Dr No and, because of that alone, it's bound to be amazing.
This promotion of Faber Castell is amazing. Watch an entire portrait being drawn in one single, circling stroke right before your eyes. It's incredible, isn't it, the things an ordinary person can do if they just have the appropriate felt-tip pen [tongue planted firmly in cheek].
When it comes to eating at a restaurant, everyone broadly knows what to expect — even in the time of COVID-19. You mosey on in, sit at a table, chat with whichever wonderful person happens to be sharing the meal with you, make plenty of eye contact over wine and dinner, and spend ample time soaking in the eatery's vibe and decor. That's the general process we've all been through countless times. Now, imagine what your dinner would be like if there were no lights. Actually, you don't need to imagine — you can simply head along to The Mix Bar's returning Dining in the Dark series. There'll be food, drinks and everything else that goes along with the experience, but absolutely no illumination. The idea behind the concept is to heighten your other senses — taste, obviously, but also smell — and allow you to experience dinner in a completely new and different way. If you're keen, tickets cost $89.50 for a three-course sitting, with the Woolloongabba spot going dark on select Fridays — with the next events held on July 3 and 10. Bookings are required, with pre-payment — and, even with the lights out, social distancing will be in effect. Top image: The Mix Bar.
In Beats, one of the best movies you probably didn't see last year, two Scottish teenagers are desperate to attend their first rave. Even if you've done your fair share of dancing to electronic tunes, it was easy to understand how they felt in 2020. With Brisbane's event scene still finding its way back to normal, that feeling remains the same now. South Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art has a big-screen option, however, thanks to a nicely curated lineup of movies about rave culture. The free program is called Rave, too, and it's filled with bangers of the cinematic kind until March 10. As well as Beats, you can tap your toes along to Gaspar Noe's nightmarish Climax, 2000 classic Groove and the Ewan McGregor-starring 90s masterpiece Trainspotting. The sublime Paris-set Eden dives into the 90s scene that gave us Daft Punk, while documentary Raving Iran explores Tehran's underground techno scene — and the selection also includes the moving BPM (Beats Per Minute), plus docos Bring Down The Walls, If It Were Love, Everybody in The Place: An Incomplete History of Britain 1984-1992, Modulations: Cinema for the Ear and A Life in Waves. Films screen on Saturday afternoons from around midday (with times changing per session) and on Wednesday evenings from 6pm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l1T9xs-o0o
Uniquely fusing biological forms with art, Vera Möller’s latest exhibition is a wonderful collection of painted forms, shimmering backgrounds and sculpture. Fictional biological entities surrounded by dappled hazy fluids, hover in movement creating a hallucinatory and fascinating dream world. Each artwork is also given it’s own scientific name to add to the effect of science meets art. Vera’s distinctive subject matter connects her with her past studies. Originally from Germany, she studied and worked in the fields of biology and microbiology, which has clearly influenced her immensely. Since moving to Australia she has studied Fine Arts in Melbourne as well as Philosophy. Through her artwork Vera looks at the distinction between the biologist's role, which is to analyse and measure the natural world, and the possibility for the artist to reflect on such research practices and relationships, viewed within the wider cultural context in which these occur. Combining artistic elements in a surrealist manner, these works will transport you to another world with their detail, fluidity and natural imperceptible energy. Don’t miss this opportunity to see this intelligent and inimitable collection, running until the 14th of April.
Grouplove are such a summer band. Their tunes are happy, their vibe is laid back and seriously, they wear face paint… I dare you to find a band more suited to Brisbane’s current atmosphere. Who wants to listen to sad, slow music when there are tunes like Itching on a Photograph and Tongue Tied out there on the radio? Save the depressing stuff for winter, I say. Grab an icy pole and dance like a lunatic instead. During July, the band briefly visited the country for a Splendour in the Grass appearance, causing Australia’s adoration for Grouplove to grow. According to ‘sources’ their Sunday morning set was the talk of everyone who saw it and apparently left the crowd in a Zen-like bliss of happiness, rainbows and unicorns, which is ideal. Luckily for those who missed out, Grouplove were tempted back to play the Falls and Southbound Festivals. This time sideshow punters also scored, as the band are doing sets Australia wide throughout January. Hitting Brisbane on the 10th, they will be playing to a jovial, crowded and unfortunately sold-out Zoo. Obviously news of their talent has spread since July, making tickets a hard commodity to come by. Therefore if you already have a ticket, you are under a large obligation to have a fantastic time. If you missed out, chin up, Grouplove are sure to be back soon as they’re practically made for Australia.
Some holidaymakers are avid planners, scheduling every inch of their getaways. Others like to see where the moment takes them once they've organised the basics. Australia's motels can serve both — but there's nothing like hitting the road, driving as far as you feel like on any given day, then checking into the local roadside place to stay. Indeed, that very experience is the subject of exhibition Reception This Way. Displaying at The Workshops Rail Museum until Tuesday, December 12, 2023, this celebration of Aussie motels makes its southeast Queensland stop after arising from a partnership between the National Archives of Australia and comedian Tim Ross. On offer: pieces, including photos and footage promoting motels, from the national archival collection. And the mood: pure nostalgia all the way. Whether you have fond memories of motel stays on family holidays when you were a kid or you've just heard stories from your parents, Reception This Way surveys Australia's embrace of the accommodation spots from the 50s onwards. Access to the exhibition is free with your general-admission entry to the The Workshops Rail Museum in North Street in North Ipswich. So, you'll pay $14.50 for adults to head along — and Brisbanites will take a road trip themselves, albeit a small one that won't require a motel for the evening.
Dive into a box of Lego, drink a few beers — it's the kidulting dream. Really, it's the best of both worlds, because getting older doesn't mean farewelling fun. While a dedicated brick bar popped up in Brisbane last year, that's not your only chance to build whatever your heart desires while knocking back tipples. Semi-Pro Brewing is also getting in on the action, hosting regular Bricks and Beers nights on the last Thursday of each month. From 6pm, you'll spend an hour working to a theme — and competing to construct the best Lego creation you possibly can. Three rounds will take place, each spanning around 30 minutes. If you've always wanted to make your mark in tiny plastic blocks, then go forth and do so. The next one takes place on Thursday, February 27. Prizes will be awarded for creativity in both categories, and drinks will be flowing. Entry is free, all Lego is supplied, so no need to raid anyone's toy box. But bring your wallet for beverages — and your doggo for company. Updated February 27.
A recent survey showed that satisfaction with festivals are at an all time low, and ticket holders are saying that douchebags without shirts on are ruining it for the rest of us. I may be wrong, but I have an inkling that Parklife's organisers have known about this for years, and have just started to take it on board. Parklife has gone from an all-out fluoro fest to an actual legit event with some actual legit names. This combo equals less douches - because we all know douches don't like good music - and less douches means more satisfaction! There's something for everyone this year: for real music lovers, the lineup includes Gossip, Lykke Li, Death From Above 1979, Kimbra, Santigold and The Streets, and for all of you who like to get drunk and listen to music, there's something for you too! Listen to the one song you know by Adrian Lux, The Naked and Famous, and Duck Sauce! Oh, and never fear, rich kids, there is also the Ridiculously Expensive Ticket still up for grabs. You get a slip and slide entry, a personal rider, a ‘Coming to America’ style chair as transport, side of stage views, and a drinks caddie, all for the low low price of seven thousand big ones! It's time to get your Barbra Streisand face on and get down to the Botanical Gardens this weekend, even if it is to see if anyone does buy that ridiculously expensive ticket.
If you're looking to host a house party soon, you might want to enlist the help of Behringer. The German electronics company has just revealed the iNuke Boom - a 700 pound, four-foot tall, eight-foot long dock and speakers for the iPod. While these speakers are wildly disproportionate to the device, they'll have a sound to match their size, with the capability of cranking out 10,000 watts. They are being released in January and will set you back a cool $30,000. The iNuke Boom is unusual given that electronic companies are constantly trying to make everything more minuscule and compact. Behringer are reminding everybody that size does matter. Dust off your old Snoop Dogg and NWA records, upload them onto your iPod and see how the old classics sound coming out of this absolute beast. Just keep your fingers crossed that the bass power doesn't cause the iNuke Boom to collapse and crush somebody. [via Gizmodo]
