Put down your croquet mallet, plaster on your best game show host smile and grab a slushie: it's Heathers time, again. The end of this month marks 30 years since one of the most very films of the 80s first hit American cinemas, and fun-loving cinephile Kristian Fletcher is putting on a screening to celebrate. 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, you're in for a deliciously twisted night commemorating one of the cult classics of the past three decades. Whatever will be, will be, after all. So, what's the event's damage? It starts at 6.30pm on Tuesday, March 26 at Metro Arts, and drinking blue beverages isn't recommended. Be there, or be a pillowcase — or be jealous much.
Weekend afternoons, The Triffid and a roots lineup go hand-in-hand, and have since Newstead hangout started running acoustic gigs back when it opened. Accordingly, it was only a matter of time until the venue decided to turn their regular shindigs into a festival — and after a winning start in 2016, they're returning for another round. Meet the Newstead Roots Festival, aka a beefed-up version of the events everyone already knows and loves. With Caravana Sun, Fat Picnic, The Steele Syndicate, Karl S Williams, Little Georgia, Aine Tyrrell, Jordan Merrick, Angharad Drake and DJ Paul Watson on the bill, playing on both the main stage and out in the beer garden, it's the ultimate weekend roots session — and, it's even better given that it takes place on the Saturday of a long weekend.
The divine cabaret performer, Meow Meow, is performing for three nights at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Hailing from England, she is the Queen of Cabaret and has created her own unique performance style that combines comedy with music. Her larger than life stage presence and pure unbridled charisma has mesmerised audiences across the world as she manages to single handedly entertain her fans. Meow Meow embodies a bygone era of glitz and glamour. She has the ability to enchant and captivate her audiences as her performances not only showcases her angelic voice, but are also injected with side-splitting comedy. The sequinned songstress will be performing three 70 minute shows this week. Meow Meow's talent is unparalleled, we assure you, you've never seen anything like this delicious diva, so why not head along for a purr-fect show.
It's the summer dilemma. Or, in Brisbane, one that lingers whenever the weather is warm. Just try to rove your eyes over a body of cool, inviting water in this city and not feel the immediate urge to plunge right in. But maybe you've splashed in all of Brissie's water holes. Perhaps you've paddled in pools, chased waterfalls and dipped your toes into every beach from Noosa to Tweed Heads. Now, you'd like to do more than just wade through the waves, swim laps or snorkel — to take these experiences up a level. Because upskilling isn't confined to your professional life, we've teamed up with Gage Roads Brewing Co, in celebration of its aptly named Single Fin summer ale, to help you ramp up your aquatic abilities. Always wanted to dive into the ocean's depths? Just heard about underwater hockey, but are now desperate to try it? Yearning to unleash your inner Keanu on a surfboard? We're here to help. We've found the best ways to add another feather to your swim cap. GET CERTIFIED IN SCUBA DIVING If you're going to truly embrace Sebastian's "it's better down where it's wetter" mindset, then there's only one thing to do: make like a wannabe mermaid or merman and learn to scuba. You can take your pick of schools, but you do want one main thing: a shiny scuba certification at the end of it. Brisbane Dive Academy holds two-day courses that start in the Palm Beach Aquatic Centre before progressing to the ocean in Tweed Heads, while Go Dive's four-day personalised lessons will take you to a number of seaside spots. And, if you want to make a holiday out of it, there's the Manta Lodge and Scuba Centre on North Stradbroke Island, where you can stay at the backpackers while you take the three-day open water diver course. [caption id="attachment_703094" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] UQ Sport.[/caption] HONE YOUR SWIMMING SKILLS Whether you're in the pool every chance you get or you're more of a casual swimmer, knowing what to do in the water is an essential life skill. And every skill needs practice, which is where adult learn-to-swim classes come in. Maybe you've long mastered the basics, but still lack the confidence when taking a dip. Perhaps you really want to take your time in the water more seriously. Whichever category you fall into — and even if you're a true beginner who needs to learn everything — Brisbane boasts a heap of options. Heading to one of the university facilities around town will also give you access to water sports classes, such as at UQ Sport in St Lucia and group fitness sessions, as held at Griffith University's Mt Gravatt campus. TAKE SURF LESSONS We can't all chase a team of bank robbers, infiltrate their surf crew and head for the nearest point break, but we can all do the next best thing. Book a set of classes with a surf school and you'll be hitting the waves in no time. Unsurprisingly, you'll need to journey either north or south — although you can just mosey to Bribie Island, where you'll find the closest surf school to Brisbane. Our pick, however, is the Gold Coast's Currumbin Alley Surf School. Take a learner group lesson from $35, then laze on one of the area's best beaches afterwards. If you're an early bird, you can also enjoy your time in the water as the sun rises. [caption id="attachment_703086" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane Barracudas[/caption] ENTER THE WORLD OF UNDERWATER HOCKEY It's hockey, but not on grass. It's that simple really. You'll don a mask, snorkel and flippers; pick up a hockey stick; and try to slide a puck along the bottom of the pool. Dating back to the 1950s, and also known as Octopush, the game seems like the kind of thing that someone thought of by going "hmm, but what if we did it underwater?" — but it also sounds like plenty of fun. Brisbanites can give it a try by making their way to a Brisbane Barracudas session at the Sleeman Aquatic Centre Chandler, with games for players of all skill levels (including newcomers) held from 7pm for 7.15pm every Monday and Thursday night. UP YOUR UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GAME Think you've mastered everything there is underwater — besides becoming actual Aquaman? Think again, because we've found your next step. You can snorkel, scuba and play underwater sports like everyone else, or you can do all of the above and learn how to take the best snaps beneath the shoreline. It's a popular dive centre course, although it is one you'll need your scuba certification and the right equipment for. If you'd like to try it out somewhere other than Brisbane, you can do so at the Gold Coast Dive Centre. Or — and even better scenery-wise — make the trip to Byron Bay to take classes from award-winning snapper Ross Gudgeon. Make your next summertime fling a Single Fin. The light-bodied ale is packed with plenty of hoppy flavour to keep you smiling all season. Top image: Tourism and Events Queensland.
For locals and tourists alike, Mt Coot-tha is one of Brisbane's must-see spots, particularly if you like peering down at the world from a great height. Over the past three years, it has also been the subject of heated debate over the proposed addition of a zipline — and now, mere days after the city received a new Lord Mayor, the controversial project has been scrapped. New Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, who took over the post on Monday, April 8, has announced the cancellation of the Mt Coot-ta zipline, stating via Twitter that the decision comes after consultations with local councillors and the Brisbane City Council CEO. "Mt Coot-tha is a place for everyone where people can connect with our clean and green city and I want to make sure it's protected and remains a great asset for the city — that's my priority going forward," said Cr Schrinner in a statement, as reported by News Corp. The decision reverses the council's own move earlier this year, when it officially gave the zipline the go-ahead. First approved in 2017, confirmed in 2018 and then rubber-stamped after a public consultation period late last year, the project was due to start construction later in 2019 for a late-2020 opening. Both before and during the public consultation period, the zipline attracted substantial criticism about its potential environmental and noise impacts, especially throughout Mt Coot-tha's vegetation-heavy area — which would've likely required some amount of clearing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjjtLfALN48 The high-flying plans were certainly ambitious, and consisted of three parts: actual ziplines spanning nearly three kilometres comprised two of the components, including a treetop canopy tour starting at the west of the summit and finishing to the west of JC Slaughter Falls; and a two-stage, six-line 'megazip' between the summit and the Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens. The final section of the project would've involved a guided Indigenous experience across a new 335-metre suspension bridge built above JC Slaughter Falls, connecting to the treetop canopy tour and the new arrival centre on Sir Samuel Griffith Drive. Brisbane City Council was set to put $1 million towards the zipline. Images: Brisbane City Council.
Since debuting at 2003’s Mercedez-Benz Australian Fashion Week, Melbourne’s Kit Willow Podgornik has been an unstoppable force. The following year in 2004 she premiered at London Fashion week, and the year following that she showed at New York Fashion Week, cementing her status as one of the most respected Australian brands, both locally and internationally. Her namesake brand Willow is known for its feminine elegance and exceptional quality, fusing art and fashion as one. For three days only, Willow’s setting up shop in the city’s June Dally-Watkins building, faring end-of-season wares from past and recent collections at massively reduced prices. Not just limited to frocks and tops, there’ll also be shoes, accessories and lingerie on the sales table. It’s almost the end of the financial year, which just so happens to be the perfect time to pick up something that’s silky, draped, and Willow.
Personally, I need no excuse to spend some time at the Powerhouse. There’s something about that old school recycled building, with it’s modern extension and furnishings, nestled on the best little spot right on the river that does it for me. But if you actually need motivation to get on the CityGlider and take a satisfying walk through New Farm then here it is: this Sunday, LiveSpark will be showcasing two incredible Brisbane bands, Texas Tea and Pear and the Awkward Orchestra. LiveSpark is a weekly indulgence at the Powerhouse, and every Sunday they exhibit free live music from local bands. This Sunday Texas Tea, a country/soul duo will be playing before they head off for a European tour next month. They’ll be supported by Pear and the Awkward Orchestra, a jazzy, indie folk band fronted by Pear and accompanied by the Awkward Orchestra, three talented musicians flaunting their ability to play multiple different instruments and sing. When you wake up Sunday morning feeling like you’ve been run over by truck, drink your imported Brazilian coffee, fix your sex hair and make your way to that beautiful bend in the river. You’re about to hear something that will make you forget about the night you’ve already forgotten.
Who’s cooler than your daily Facebook check and a Llama combined? Why, it’s the Dalai Lama of course (get it? Daily Llama!). His Holiness will be presenting a community forum at the Suncorp Piazza on how to feel empowered and hopeful in personal ventures. After what has happened to the state, this is sure to bring hope to those affected by the floods. After the persecutions the Dalai Lama has faced and his standing as the holy leader of Tibetan Buddhism he is sure to inspire, educate and help listeners achieve one step further on the path of enlightenment. This also a chance to ask that burning question you have for His Holiness as he will be taking questions from the audience. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the 14th Ocean High Priest (according to Wikipedia, that’s the English translation of Dalai Lama) and ask for his advice in your personal ventures. The forum itself will be mediated by Nova FM’s Meshel Laurie, which will ensure the event will be enlightening and hilarious at the same time.
When I was a child my mother never allowed me to have too much chocolate or coffee. Since moving out of home, I have formed an adoring and somewhat crazed love affair with both of them and now my dream of chocolate and coffee coming together has become a reality, with Portside Wharf hosting the Merlo Coffee & Chocolate Affair. If Cadbury and Nescafé don’t satisfy you anymore then I’m sure you’ll find something there to tickle your fancy. Once you're on a sugar high or are just a little too wide awake then you should head on over to one of the classes being held there on the science of coffee and the secrets of how to make the perfect brew, which will be hosted by the owner of Merlo coffee, Dean Merlo. Chocoholics and Coffee addicts: ready your bibs and prepare your body for what is sure to be a sensation overload! Even those people who “claim” to not like chocolate or drink coffee will become devotees once they experience the pleasure of Brazilian roasted coffee beans or handmade Swiss chocolate. Even my own mother would become a fan! As Bach once said: “Ah! How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweeter far than muscatel wine! I must have my coffee”. I’m sure this could be applied to chocolate as well.
No one ever talks about it, but everyone knows Brisbane has a longing desire to be a little bit more French - to have that je ne sais quoi, to be a little bit more tres chic, to speak in dulcet Parisian tones while eating baguette as a man plays the accordion across the cobblestone road. No one ever talks about it, but the evidence is there – all you have to do is walk into your standard Albion McMansion to find a spread of francais-inspired tiki-tack from Ici et La. Want a coffee? Sure, the café is in the garde-manger – sorry, pantry, woops – and you can find the lait in le réfrigérateur. Oh, you’re leaving now ? Bon voyage – woops, I mean, um, excusez moi – seeya later mate ! While a lot of us won’t have the chance to claim a French passport in our lifetime, we can still celebrate Bastille Day with our froggish friends. Enter the Brisbane French Festival. Taking place on South Bank’s Cultural Forecourt, the festival will see thirteen hours of authentic French food and fun, including: Le Defilé, Cirque du Nouvelle Caledonie, Le Trois Petit Cochons puppet show, and more. If you’re feeling a little out of place with your fellow antipodeans (oui, moi!) the French Festival is the one day of the year that you can be brought closer to the Parisian dream. Je t’aime, France!
The music scene in Brisbane needs changing – lately it seems like everyone’s just going to gigs just for the sake of getting extremely tanked and checking in to Woodland on Facebook. Sorry, what was that band you saw on Friday night? You can’t remember their name? For some reason I’m not surprised… Setting a precedent for change are three of Brisbane’s finest in post-rock: Nikko, Screens and Big Dead. To give a brief rundown – Nikko are one of Brisbane’s finest acts, having formed in 2005, developing and maintaining a strong presence in the Brisbane music scene. Having released their debut album The Warm Side in 2010, the group are currently working on a follow-up release. Screens are a five-piece that make ambient progressive post-rock soundscapes, complemented live by unique visuals controlled by an unseen sixth member. Big Dead have just finished independently recording their first EP titled A Very Short Story, a compilation of material created since their conception in 2008. Set in the iconic Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, this is an unmissable event for those who enjoy their music without a side of annoying non-punters furiously tapping their iPhone’s Places app.
Now in its twentieth year, the Brisbane Running Festival is no longer a teenager – it’s a bona fide adult in marathon circles. It’s no wonder the annual event has stood the test of time – there seems to be no suburb in Brisbane that doesn’t have its stock of runners that seem to go hard at any and all hours of the day, either in packs or as a lone soldier, sweating it out solo. The Brisbane Running Festival takes all those religious runners and all those other not-so-religious runners (i.e. me) and takes them to Riverstage. Then, they run! The length of which you run is totally up to you – if you’re a marathon noob, you’re probably best going for the two-kilometre beginner run. Then there’s the ten kilometre run for the slightly more agile, the half marathon for the serious, and finally – the 42.190km epic looping around the river and ending up in Milton. Do it for yourself or do it for the prizes involved – whatever the reason, the Brisbane Running Festival is an exciting event for all who participate.
Uni holidays are great – it’s one week of sleep ins and pretending you don’t have a 4000 word essay due the Monday following. You might also be able to sneak in a bit of drunken debauchery in your busy anti-uni schedule, and the best time to fit in a sloshy soiree is at Oh Hello on a Thursday Night when Cobra Kai brings the ruckus. This week’s party is going to be their best one yet, with Velociraptor, Dune Rats and Gung Ho invading the main stage. Then there’ll also be the usual Passion Pop jugs, Cobra Kai Pale Ale and jam jar cocktails and slew of fun time pretty party people to get low with to a DJ set from DZ Deathrays. Though Thursdays are usually reserved for quality Operation Repo viewing while eating cheese in my uni best (read: whatever I went to sleep in), this Thursday I think I’ll amuse myself within the polka-dotted doors of Oh Hello. We at Concrete Playground think you should step away from the TV lair as well, and we’ll help you out by giving out a double pass to tonight’s Cobra Kai party. Go to our Facebook page for more details.
If you've ever wondered what it would be like to have a close encounter with a real-life dinosaur, Hartley's Crocodile Adventures is about as close as you can get. Located between Cairns and Port Douglas at Wangetti, this eco-certified tourism operator has plenty of thrilling crocodile action that'll get your heart racing. For $43, your park pass includes a cruise with crocs at the on-site lagoon, access to the daily wildlife presentations such as crocodile feedings, snake shows and the nail-biting crocodile attack show. Plus, if one dinosaur-like creature isn't enough, you can also check out the cassowary feeding. Or, if you want keep things cuddly, make sure you stop by the koala talk.
If you’re into alternative indie rock you’re probably overwhelmed by the ridiculous amount of kids starting hip little indie bands, playing at every venue you love, almost every single night. This might be great for you, but for someone like me, who doesn’t really love the whole scene, it’s just another annoying bunch of pigeon-toed, curly haired dudes wasting my time and the lifespan of my probably already damaged hearing. But since I’m usually quite critical, it’s always for very good reason when you don’t find me viciously patronising a band. I have only recently heard of Gold Fields but when I did hear them, they blew my mind. No wonder they’ve just done a big tour in the States, they’re definitely aesthetically pleasing. They really have talent and a unique flare. They’re back from America and if an emo like me loves them, I can only expect that the more open-minded of you will go nuts for this show.
Mixed media, multimedia, new media, cross-disciplinary art – there’s a lot of words to describe art that is made outside of the ‘traditional’ domain of drawing, sculpture and paint. You know one local artist that isn’t using one of those terms (or made one up herself)? Madeleine Kelly. Originally studying Science/Philosophy/Psychology at the University of Queensland, Kelly is now an oil painter by trade, part of the Queensland College of Art staff and a current PhD student. Her works are inspired by the world around her, conveying mans relationship to nature – more specifically, its relationship to the burning of fossil fuels. The pieces Kelly creates are strong and vibrant with an ephemeral feel. Kelly’s latest exhibition, Hollow Mark, will be exhibited at Kelly’s stomping grounds of the Queensland College of Art Gallery from this Friday until mid-November. If you’re looking for a little less genre-mashup headache and a little more single-layer imagery, stroll down to the better part of South Bank this Friday night.
Mary Poppins was one of my favourite childhood films. I was lucky enough to get my hands on my very own copy on VCR (recorded from television of course) so I could watch it whenever I wanted to: frequently. Combine this with a love of stage musicals and I am one very happy lady because at QPAC this summer, we have the privilege of jumping feet first into a footpath chalk drawing of wonderful characters, originally created by P. L. Travers in the 1930s around a magical nanny who was blown by the East wind to No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane. The musical version of the story has been created by Disney as something of a mix between what we all remember from the film, and the broader storyline traversed in the series of eight books. It will contain all of your favourites, including Chim Chim Cher-ee, A Spoonful of Sugar, Feed the Birds, Jolly Holiday and of course Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Brisbanites have't been able to travel far during the pandemic, but domestic flight sales have been doing big business. When Jetstar launched a heap of cheap options last year, it sold 70,000 seats in just five hours. When Alliance Airlines offered $99 trips from Brissie to the Whitsundays, it understandably received plenty of interest, too. The list goes on — because we've all been exploring our own backyards and taking whatever getaways we can get. International holidays will be back on the cards from November; however, if you're a Brisbanite still eager to head north for a getaway in the next few months (to salvage what's left of 2021, perhaps), it's now Virgin Australia's turn to help your vacation plans. The airline is holding a sale on flights from Brissie to The Whitsundays (via Proserpine), Hamilton Island, Cairns and Townsville — all costing $75 each way. The sale has already kicked off, and is available until Sunday, October 31, unless sold out earlier. Obviously, it's likely to be popular and seats will probably get snapped up quickly, if you're wondering when you should book. In terms of making the trip, you can get tropical between now and Sunday, December 12, giving you almost two months to slot in your vacation. And, heading north won't require you to navigate Queensland's border rules, given that you'll be staying within the state. The flight sale is being run in conjunction with the Queensland Government, in an $8 million campaign designed to encourage stays within the Sunshine State — which also includes reduced rates on accommodation and up to 50 percent off tourism experiences as well. Virgin Australia's $75 sale on flights from Brisbane to Proserpine, Hamilton Island, Cairns and Townsville runs until Sunday, October 31 — unless sold out earlier.
Maybe your weekend plans were rained out. Perhaps you were hoping to go to an event that was postponed earlier in the week when the forecast heralded wet weather. Or, you might've been woken up overnight by the sound of quite the hefty downpour. Whichever category fits — and all three very well might — Brisbane has received a drenching over the past few days. And, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, it's in for a wet and wild afternoon and evening again today, Monday, March 22. BOM has just issued a severe weather warning that covers the bulk of southern and western Queensland — including Brisbane. Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and possible flash flooding are predicted, and the organisation is also cautioning that the conditions might become life-threatening in some areas. The warning spans Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast, Coolangatta, Maroochydore, Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Warwick, Thargomindah, Dalby, Roma, Charleville, Birdsville, Emerald and Goondiwindi — so, yes, a big chunk of the state can expect to get wet. Rainfall could reach up to 100–150 millimetres over a six-hour period, if you're wondering just how damp today might get. Accordingly, if you're currently reading this from somewhere dry and cosy, we suggest that you keep it that way for the rest of this wet and gloomy Monday. Between 60–90 millimetres of rain is specifically forecast for Brisbane for the remainder of the day — adding to the 125 millimetres that fell in the 24 hours between 9am yesterday and 9am this morning. To put that latter figure in context, Brisbane's average rainfall for the whole of March sits at 140.7 millimetres, so the city almost received a month's worth of water from the sky in a single day. https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1373811299583426567 As the wet conditions continue, the usual common sense tactics obviously apply: secure loose outdoor items, stay inside and, if you do go outside, don't enter flood waters under any conditions. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services's number is 132 500 if you need SES assistance. Forecast-wise, it's predicted to stay wet for the next few days. Tuesday is set for more rain, receiving between 30–45 millimetres, while Wednesday is expected to get 10–25 millimetres. From Thursday through until Sunday, though, sunny conditions and tops between 29–31 degrees are predicted. For now, stay dry out there. And remember to check Live Traffic, Translink and BOM for warnings and updates. For more information about the Bureau of Meteorology's weather warnings, head to its website.
When Za Za Ta launched back in 2019, it brought Middle Eastern-style dishes and drinks to Fortitude Valley's Emporium precinct. Then, in 2020, it kept the same culinary focus while switching to an entirely plant-based menu. Now, the team behind the Ann Street spot has branched out — launching Tel Aviv-inspired cocktail bar Kazba in the same part of town. Launching earlier this month, Kazba is serious about its boozy concoctions, with 27 different types leading a menu that also features a small range of wine and beer. With the watering hole forming part of Fortitude Valley's Ovolo hotel, as Za Za Ta does, the accomodation chain's Director of Food and Beverage Jared Thibault has overseen the lineup, which incorporates Middle Eastern-style cordials made in house from the region's produce, as well as creative garnish choices. Standout sips include a Turkish coffee martini, which features spiced rum, caramelised yoghurt and chocolate cardamom bitters among its ingredients; a fig rum old fashioned, complete with almond bitters and dehydrated fig; and a Tel Aviv sazerac made with an applewood smoke blend of arrack musar, za'atar rye, peychaud bitters, demerara, lemon zest. The venue's version of the Israeli Gazoz, called the Fizzy Bubbly, comes in five different types — and if you'd like to try The Sun also Rises, which adapts the Hemingway daiquiri and is named after one of the author's novels, your drink will be poured from a flask hidden in a novel. To complement Kazba's cocktails, Executive Chef Roy Ner's street food-inspired vegetarian menu features fried sesame falafel with tahini and amba pickles, hummus, wood-fired flat bread, and chilli haloumi savoury doughnuts paired with pomegranate and chilli jam. From 10pm, the late-night range also spans murtabak gozleme, falafel wraps, and arayes with kofta. While eating and drinking, patrons will hear tunes from the venue's vinyl collection, including Afrobeat, funk, soul, disco, and Mediterranean and Arabic music. And, decor-wise, interior designers Luchetti Krelle have taken cues from the Victorian era, 1940s cocktail joints and traditional Queenslander architecture. Find Bar Kazba at 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley — open from 5pm Wednesday–Saturday.
In February, Brisbane's annual BrisAsia Festival returns for 2024 for 19 jam-packed days celebrating Asian culture, cuisine and art, as timed around Lunar New Year. City Hall's resident museum is getting in on the action, but it isn't just limiting its festivities to that period. Arriving with the start of the fest and running until June, Christine Ko and Louis Lim's Departure earns another iteration — and if you've seen it elsewhere before, it's always evolving. Ko and Lim explore the migrant experience using kites as a symbol, with the Museum of Brisbane exhibition from Thursday, February 1–Friday, June 7 featuring family photos that have been turned into the flying objects. The number installed in MoB's hallway will change over the showcase's free run, as more are added based on conversations and workshops with first- and second-generation migrants. To tell each person's full story, written transcripts are also featured alongside the kites, as are individual recollections — which you can explore online as well. Ko and Lim are also MoB's artists in residence from January–May 2024, a program that has previously featured Dead Puppet Society, Anita Holtsclaw, Lawrence English, Tammy Law, Liesel Zink, Vanghoua Anthony Vue, Robert Brownhall and more. Images: Louis Lim.
Before SXSW made its way Down Under, Australia was already home to an annual event filled with live tunes, plus musicians and industry experts chatting about the business. In 2025, BIGSOUND marks 24 years of serving up that exact combination, and also of making Brisbane the centre of the Aussie music scene for a spring week in the process. How is it celebrating nearing its quarter-century milestone? With quite the hefty lineup. Briggs, Tash Sultana and Blur drummer Dave Rowntree are just some of the talents on the program — and that's just at BIGSOUND's conference. There are two key strands to this Sunshine State event: getting an array of people talking about all things music, and enlisting as many Brissie sites as possible in turning the River City into a multi-venue festival heaving with gigs. The first part is where well-known names usually come in. The second is where discovering your next favourite act is on the agenda. In 2025, you can enjoy both across Tuesday, September 2–Friday, September 5. Yorta Yorta rapper and Bad Apples Music founder Briggs will be in conversation with Gomeroi musician Kobie Dee, digging into their journeys, while Sultana is on the bill fresh from releasing her Return to the Roots EP. As for keynote speaker Rowntree, he heads to Brisbane just as he releases his new photography book No One You Know, which is filled with behind-the-scenes snaps taken by the man himself. Also among the folks on the conference lineup: Mallrat, Elly-May Barnes and Josh Pyke, adding to the musos picking up the microphone in a different way; Darcus Beese, aka the first Black President of a UK major label and the executive who signed Amy Winehouse at Island Records UK; Music Supervisor Anne Booty, who has worked on Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness; plus SXSW Music Festival Director Dev Sherlock, Reeperbahn Festival's Senior Partnerships Manager Robin Werner and The Great Escape's Head of Music Adam Ryan. The list of musicians among the 120-plus acts that will play 18 Brisbane stages includes WAFIA, KAIIT, Inkabee, Azure Ryder, The Southern River Band, Hatchie and plenty more — all following in the footsteps of Sultana, Flume, Courtney Barnett, Baker Boy, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard and others at past BIGSOUND festivals. Images: Simone Gorman-Clark and Dave Kan.
Ask most folks which Shakespeare play they're most familiar with, and Romeo and Juliet would likely be their answer. But anyone with a fondness for a certain rom-com starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger actually knows The Taming of the Shrew just as well — because that's the classic that 10 Things I Hate About You updated to become the 90s hit that's still rightly adored more than two decades on. Also tinkering with and modernising the same work: Taming of the Shrew, Queensland Theatre's latest production. This time, the story about two sisters — one looking for love, the other happy being single — has been shifted onto an Italian film set during the silent era. You've already watched how the overall narrative plays out, of course, but you definitely haven't seen the story unfold in this exact way before. Playing at QT's Bille Brown Theatre until Saturday, June 5, Taming of the Shrew has chosen its setting carefully — because the early 20th century was a time of growing agency for women, at least in terms of voting, but also of exacting beauty standards, especially in the entertainment world. Helping navigate that contrast, and this version of the Bard's play in general, are Anna McGahan (Picnic at Hanging Rock) as the free-spirited Kate, Nicholas Brown (Amazing Grace) as her suitor Petruchio and Claudia Ware (The Tempest) as her sister Bianca. Images: Brett Boardman.
Thanks to all manner of classes and sessions around town, it's never been easier to bend and stretch your way to wellness — and to do so in a variety of places. Brisbane has played host to yoga classes on Mt Coot-tha, in breweries, at sports stadiums and more. But yoga on a stand-up paddle board in a rooftop pool with a swim-up bar? That's something that you really don't get to do every day. Across two sessions at 8am and 9am on Sunday, December 1, The Westin Brisbane will turn its Nautilus Pool into your next yoga spot, with Kat Harding leading the 45-minute classes. Tickets cost $25, and as well as a morning exercise session — and, of course, a splash — you'll also sip mimosas and tuck into brunch bites afterwards. This is a one-off event, so if you're keen, nabbing a ticket asap is recommended.
If there's one thing Brisbanites like, it's watching Studio Ghibli films in a cinema. In fact, over the last few years, a whole heap of cinemas around town have hosted their own celebrates dedicated to the Japanese animation house — and now, it's The Elizabeth Picture Theatre's turn. Screening on select Thursday evenings from in May and June — on May 3, 10 and 31, plus June 14, to be specific — it's not just the flicks movie buffs know and love that's the attraction here. Fans should be jumping for joy at the chance to see some of their lesser-known efforts on a big screen. You won't be watching Spirited Away, but you will feel like you've been transported somewhere magical. Catch Kiki's Delivery Service, From Up on Poppy Hill, My Neighbour Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies — and if you need convincing regarding the latter, we consider it an absolute masterpiece from director and studio co-founder Isao Takahata, who passed away this month. If you've missed these films in their limited cinema runs or fest appearances in the past, consider this your chance to catch up. At only $12 per session, make like a moving castle and mosey your way over there.
Before Thelma and Louise went on their famous road trip, another set of ladies wreaked havoc on the open highway. Their clothes were tight, their cars were fast, and their guns were ready. They danced, they schemed, and they weren’t to be underestimated – or messed with. The go-go girls of Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! were the creation of Russ Meyer, the filmmaker who has become synonymous with the low-budget sexploitation movement. To celebrate one of his most famous works, the New Globe Theatre is channeling his spirit with not only a movie screening but a night of entertainment to match. Watch the cult bad girl crime thriller in a rare big-screen outing, and then revel in the 1960s-themed fun. Courtesy of music by The Plastic Fangs, burlesque by Miss Bertie Page and Rosie Peaches, and tunes from DJ Wolvie Trash, the vibe will be sassy – and you should be too.
If there's an occasion worth celebrating, including Christmas and winter, Woolloongabba's South City Square sure does like marking it with stalls. So, now that spring is in full swing, of course the inner-east precinct is rolling out the festivities — this time at a dessert festival on Saturday, September 16. Running from 10am–4pm, Spring Dessert Festival and Laneway Eats will hero Japanese and Korean sweet treats among other bites. You'll also find market stalls slinging all kinds of wares at this family-friendly affair. On the agenda as well: live tunes plus other entertainment. At past events, that's included dance performances — and, for kids, a jumping castle, face painting and twisted balloons. It all tales place in and around a brick-lined, industrial-style space, which tends to make you feel like you're wandering around a European-style market. Fancy seeing a movie while you're there? Take the opportunity to check out the precinct's brand-new Angelika Film Centre, which has only been open for a couple of weeks. [caption id="attachment_893537" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Markus Ravik[/caption]
Do you want to see a world class comedian without the world class price tag? Yes? You do!? Then venture forth from your room ridden with posters of Home and Away heartthrobs to the Sit Down Comedy Club and come and see Simon Kennedy! Back from writing sketches and starring in commercials across the UK and Australia, Simon Kennedy is back to doing what he does best: stand-up comedy. Rave Magazine have lauded the Melbournian comedian, saying he “has ways of making the audience see things for what they really are without judgement, and that, ultimately, signals the hallmark of a good stand-up comedian.” Not known for his ability to stay in one field, you might recognise Simon’s voice from radio or the short film Atonement Tonight. Or you may recognise his face from The Today Show, Thursday Night Live or possibly have even seen play a serious role in Home and Away, where he was cast as a prison guard. So sit down (the name of the venue commands you to!), take a load off and prepare your stomach for gut-wrenching comedy.
There's no shortage of heartbreak in Till, a shattering drama about the abduction, torture and lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955. Clemency writer/director Chinonye Chukwu tells of a boy's tragic death, a mother's pain and anger, and a country's shame and trauma — and how all three pushed along America's 20th-century civil rights movement. Heartache lingers in the needless loss of life. Fury swells at the abhorrent racism on display, including in the justifications offered by the unrepentant perpetrators. Despair buzzes in the grief, personal and national alike, that hangs heavy from the second that Emmett is dragged away in the night. Fury seethes, too, because an atrocious murder like this demands justice and change, neither of which was ever going to be easy to secure given the time and place. Indeed, the US-wide Emmett Till Antilynching Act making lynching a federal hate crime only became law in March 2022. Heartbreak builds in and bursts through Till from the outset — and in sadly everyday situations. Emmett, nicknamed Bo by his family, is played as a lively and joyful teen by the impressive Jalyn Hall (Space Jam: A New Legacy). He's confident and cheery, as his mother Mamie Till-Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler, Station Eleven) has lovingly raised him to be in Chicago. But even department-store shopping for a trip to the Deep South is coloured by the threat of discrimination. So, as his departure to see relatives gets nearer, Mamie utters a few words of advice. She's stern and urgent, trying to impart to him the importance of adhering to Mississippi's unspoken rules. She implores him not to do anything that could be construed as looking at white people the wrong way, to apologise profusely and instantly whenever he has to, and to heed the different set of norms. "Be small down there," she says — and it's one of the movie's many crushing moments. More devastation follows, in a film that wouldn't need to exist in a better world but is essential viewing in this one. While stopping at a grocery store in the sharecropper town of Money, Emmett talks to white shopkeeper Carolyn Bryant (Haley Bennett, Cyrano) — a fateful incident with specifics that've long been disputed since, as seen in infuriating testimony in the feature's later court scene. Chukwu depicts Emmett being chatty and charming, commenting that Bryant looks like a movie star. She responds by heading outside to get a pistol. Emmett's cousins and friends are frightened, a reaction that proves well-founded when Bryant's husband and brother-in-law arrive at Mamie's uncle's (John Douglas Thompson, The 355) door a few evenings later. The next time that the film's central teenager is seen, he's a horrendously beaten and barely recognisable corpse. Scripted by Chukwu with producers Keith Beauchamp (director of 2005 documentary The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till) and Michael Reilly, Till isn't called Emmett or Bo, and isn't just the murdered boy's story — because Mamie was determined to make her heartbreak mean something. Accordingly, the movie devotes much of its running time to the aftermath, as Emmett's mother turns unspeakable sorrow into two quests: to try to hold the culprits responsible and to do whatever she needs to stop this from occurring to anyone else. Chukwu's film is sincere and clear-eyed about Mamie's courageous fight and the fortitude it takes, but it never veers away from the loss and hurt behind it. This is a portrait of a woman who became an activist icon, and also an ode to someone who was committed to ensuring that her boy's senseless killing wouldn't be excused or forgotten. When Till does see Emmett again after he's ripped from his family, the feature is careful — but also faithful to Mamie's actions. Chukwu smartly and sensitively chooses not to show the violence that Emmett was subjected to. When farmhand Willie Reed (Darian Rolle, Hard Drive) hears screams from a barn, it's deeply chilling without anyone needing to witness a single blow. And Mamie's cries when she greets her son's coffin are unsurprisingly hard to shake. But America and the globe were confronted with exactly what this crime looks like when Mamie insisted on holding an open-casket funeral, a move that Till both dramatises and copies. Chukwu is still restrained, however, never making a spectacle out of Emmett's maimed face and body. And, she's aware that watching how Mamie and others respond to the bludgeoned boy — seeing their faces crumple in distress and torment, as they naturally do — is equally as powerful. In fact, Chukwu and cinematographer Bobby Bukowski (Archive 81) can barely bring themselves to peer away from Deadwyler, who stuns in frame after frame. With both subtlety and potency, she's the picture of nervous, protective worry even before Emmett leaves — a venture that Mamie is against but her mother Alma (Whoopi Goldberg, Harlem) believes will help him know his roots — and, when he's away, conveys the motherly fear that something awful will eventuate in every look and gesture. Then, when the worst does come, Deadwyler is phenomenal in showing how Mamie summons up strength from enduring such horror. Till is a film of mourning, but it's also a movie about galvanising that mourning. While awards bodies have been woefully inconsistent with recognising Deadwyler's exceptional performance, with the BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild offering nominations but the Golden Globes and Oscars overlooking her entirely, this is a haunting portrayal. The only Black woman employed by the US Air Force's Chicago office when Till begins, as well as a widow and a single mother, there's more to Mamie than living every mum's nightmare and crusading afterwards — and although that isn't the focus of Chukwu, Beauchamp and Reilly's screenplay, Till finds ways to layer in crucial detail. How rich the film appears, especially when it's observing Mamie, Emmett and their modest but happy life in its opening chapter, is a particularly pivotal touch. Amid the dread that Mamie patently feels about Emmett's trip, and the foreboding the audience shares as well, there's such warmth radiating from the screen early on. There's such vibrance, too, because that's the existence she had worked hard to give to her child — one she knows likely wouldn't have been possible in the south. In that and every way it can be, Till is a film about love first and foremost, even when its true tale is so heartbreakingly and irrevocably altered by hate.
They don't call Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull one of the best plays of the modern era without good reason. The Russian dramatist's work, the first of his four major offerings, tells of love, art and the conflicts of both through the interplay of a quartet of interconnected characters. So we have writer Boris Trigorin, ingénue Nina, fading theatrical diva Irina Arkadina and her son and playwright Konstantin, all circling around each other. And, in the hands of director Dan Evans, we also have a new take on the quintessential dramedy — indeed, he thinks Chekhov's effort was instrumental in shaping recent television shows such as Six Feet Under, Orange Is The New Black and Transparent. Accordingly, a classic work about family, power, sex, fame and passion gets a fresh interpretation — and Brisbane audiences receive a stripped-back, raw theatre experience. At the end, hopefully you won't just think that The Seagull is one of the greatest-ever works, but that this version is as well.
Because you're reading this, we know you're not someone who would receive a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably hoping that you do receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. We understand your yearning, and so does RSPCA Queensland. In trying to find permanent homes for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens surrendered into their care from all over the state, they're bringing all those cuddly creatures to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, January 12 for their fifth annual pop-up adoption event. Entry is via gold coin donation, and includes demonstrations, entertainment, food, and activities, as well as RSPCA stalls and information. And then there's the hundreds of animals waiting for your affection — and for you to take them home with you. 432 critters found homes last year, in case you're wondering. Although you can't put a price on the happiness that a new four-legged friend will bring, those wanting to adopt an older cat or dog can do so for a cheaper price. If you've got your heart set on loving your new family member from an early age, kittens and puppies aged under four months will also be looking for human companions. There's more to pet adoption than overdosing on cuteness, of course, with making the commitment to care for an animal serious business. For further information, read RSPCA Queensland's FAQs. And, while you can take a pet home with you, you can't bring your existing furry pal.
It's time to mark another food-based commemorative occasion. Yes, another one. By now, we all know that they're just excuses to eat more of a certain dish — and there's so many of them that you really could use them to plan your daily eating choices. But we keep celebrating dates like National Fish 'n' Chip Day because they're both tasty and fun. At Kangaroo Point, One Fish Two Fish is getting into the spirit of this seafood extravaganza in 2022 by, well, serving up seafood. And it's doing so across three days — from Friday, June 3–Sunday, June 5. You won't be tucking into just any old fish 'n' chips over this seafood-filled weekend, however. That OG pairing is a classic for a reason, so it's still on the menu, of course — as is a vegan version made with battered banana blossom — but One Fish Two Fish also has a couple of specials on offer. That means that you can opt for the fish 'n' chip brioche sub ($24) made with beer-battered cod, shredded baby gem, pea and mint smash, tartare sauce, crushed salt and malt vinegar crisps, plus a side of shoestrings fries. Or, there's the fish 'n' chip pie ($32) that comes filled with salmon, blue cod, prawns, mussels, bechamel and dill, and topped with chips. Also on the menu: fish schnitties ($28), which includes panko-crumbed barramundi plus warm potato salad, cornichons, golden shallots, dill, fennel and mayo. And, because it wouldn't be a fish shop meal without it, deep-fried Mars bars ($14) are being whipped up for dessert. One Fish Two Fish's National Fish 'n' Chip Day lineup is available for both lunch and dinner.
It only took one song for The Spice Girls to become a hit — and what a hit they became. Since you started reading this article, one of their songs has become stuck in your head, hasn't it? If you wannabe our lover, you'll admit it. In fact, we're guessing that your toes still tap whenever you hear a Spice Girls tune, even if that's something else you don't really want to share. There's no need to hide your Spice love at Kristian Fletcher's latest event. It is a tribute evening celebrating 20 years since their first single and album burrowed its way into our ears, after all. The only response to news of such a Spice-tastic night? Say you'll be there, of course. An array of Brisbane performers will take to the New Globe stage to bring all things Spice back to life, with concert footage, music videos and rare clips featuring the real thing projected onto the theatre's big screen. Dressing like Posh, Baby, Sporty, Scary or Ginger for your chance to win a prize is heartily encouraged.
It’s hard to envision collage as a legitimate artform when only pipecleaners, preschool and budget birthday cards come to mind at its mention. Brisbane artists Rachael Bartram and Warren Handley, however, have reinvented the art of collage in a more mature medium, with not a pom pom, paddle pop stick or glitter shaker in sight. Their combined exhibition Assembling Worlds II presents an idea of two or more worlds in just one image. While Rachael re-contextualises her imagery by collecting, cutting, slicing and splicing – praise the glue stick – Warren’s process involves a digital form of collage where by a computer becomes his Clag. Their pieces show off characters upon clashing backdrops, with a manipulation of fiction and fact make for a minefield of challenges and questions about global issues. Some pieces provide stark contrast, while others fit together quite cleanly, but they always hold a composition that sits within the fringes of two worlds. You can catch the work of Assembling Worlds II at West End’s Depo till the October 26.
Step into the world of the mysterious and the macabre. Step into the world of Night Vale. Home to angels, dragons and an ominous glowing cloud, and ruled by a shadowy city council whose true form remains hidden, the small desert town is best known as the setting of the hugely popular podcast Welcome to Night Vale. Since debuting in mid-2012, the surreal half-hour show has amassed legions of fans and embarked on several successful live tours – the latest of which will bring them to Australia. The tour consists of a series of one-night-only engagements in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne across the second week of February. Fans — and curious — can join unflappable community radio host Cecil Gershwin Palmer as he guides them through the daily goings on in the weird and wonderful town that he calls home. Just make sure you stay on the right side of the Night Vale Secret Police. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiLrr0h4ek8
One day a year, the whole world celebrates romance. Do you know who loves you every day of the year? Your favourite barking cutie. That's the great thing about a pet pooch. Well, one of the great things. No matter what date it is, it adores you. Don't have your own four-legged bestie, but are keen to change that situation? Just eager to snuggle up to a woofer while you're at the shops? If you'd like to add some doggo devotion to this love-obsessed week, then Indooroopilly Shopping Centre's puppy kissing booth should be your first stop. Until the big day itself — Thursday, February 14, of course — Indro is welcoming RSPCA rescue dogs to the third floor, ready for you to pat, cuddle and perhaps even take home. They'll be onsite from 10am–2pm each day, and they're available for adoption. You can also spread the love even further by making a donation to the animal welfare outfit while you're there.
Usually, five courses of lobster is an expensive and indulgent meal — the kind that makes you break open the piggy bank, don your fanciest threads and lap up a big night out. But for a week at Fortitude Valley's SK Steak & Oyster, it's simply part of the menu for the immensely affordable price of $85. The reason: Australia's lobster industry finds itself overstocked, with shipments to China cancelled at present. That means more Tasmanian rock lobster left at home, so SK has snapped up plenty — turning it into raw lobster tartare, classic lobster cocktails, lobster risotto and butter-baked lobster, plus lobster mash and lobster salad. [caption id="attachment_760584" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] SK Steak & Oyster[/caption] Eat your way through all of the above at the Calile Hotel's latest addition, with the five-course menu available for a week from Friday, February 7. Understandably, bookings are essential — because, as the frenzy surrounding Betty's Burger's lobster roll has demonstrated, lobster is always popular.
Filling the silver screen with espionage action for six decades now, the Bond franchise has long had a license to thrill — and to spruik shaken-not-stirred martinis, all manner of gadgets and smouldering stares, too. The spy saga has also been home to some of the most iconic pieces of music to ever be paired with movies over the years. Indeed, each 007 film's theme song is an occasion in itself. At Skyfall: The Music of James Bond, those tunes are well and truly in the spotlight. In fact, the entire show is all about them. The Little Red Company's Naomi Price and Luke Kennedy will take to the stage — donning gowns and tuxedos, naturally — and sing through tracks by Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner and Tom Jones, as well as Adele, Sam Smith, Billie Eilish and more. Helping the pair work through songs spanning everything from Goldfinger to No Time to Die: a four-piece band, an eight-piece brass section, dancers and what's being dubbed 'the queen of all Bond villains'. There'll also be two different guest vocalists at each show. Skyfall: The Music of James Bond hits the QPAC Concert Hall from Friday, July 15–Saturday, July 16 — with both an afternoon and an evening gig on the latter date. And yes, Price is well accustomed to belting out tributes to pop culture favourites; see also: Wrecking Ball, Lady Beatle and Christmas Actually. Images: Steph Do Rozario / Dylan Evans.
Everyone knows who The Beatles are. Most people love them (yeah, yeah, yeah). George Martin mightn't have received the quite same amount of screaming fans and worldwide adoration as Paul, John, Ringo and George, but that's often the plight that producers must handle. When they do their job well, they ensure the on-stage talent steals the show. Indeed, Martin — who was also an composer, conductor, audio engineer and musician — helped give the Fab Four their ticket to ride. Paul once called him the fifth Beatle, and the Liverpudlians certainly wouldn't have enjoyed the same fame without him. He was another victim of 2016, passing away in March; however for one night, his contribution to the biggest band of the last century is in the spotlight. The title of the gig says it all: The Beatles: A Live Celebration Honouring George Martin. So, how do you pay tribute to such a much stalwart? Enlist a heap of ace Aussie talent, obviously. Linda Bull, Kram, Screamfeeder's Kellie Lloyd, Powderfinger's Darren Middleton and Halfway's Luke Peacock will come together under the guidance of You Am I's Davey Lane to play two sets of Beatles classics that Martin made possible. It won't be a hard day's night at all, but it will be an entertaining and celebratory one.
Any venue can serve up a brunch that goes on for hours, or so it seems given the sheer number of such mid-morning sessions across Brisbane. Cloudland's Brunch With Bite fits that mould, offering plenty of food as well as bottomless booze — but it also adds something a little different to the menu. Fancy getting a bit of camp drag comedy with your meal? Watching an uproarious game show? Belting out a tune while brunch rolls on? They're all on the bill at this banquet each week. On Sunday, October 25, something a little extra special is on offer as well: a drag brunch halloween party. Yes, it'll be themed to suit the occasion, so prepare to get spooky. And, if you'd like to come in costume, there'll be prizes. Food-wise, you'll tuck into an Italian-inspired spread and nab a drink on arrival, all as part of your $69 ticket. The event kicks off at 11am, with two hours of bottomless spritzes, mimosas, bloody marys, select beers and sangria on offer between 11.30am–1.30pm. And, if you're going booze-free, you can opt for mocktails instead. Social distancing will be in effect, as will table service, capped numbers and sanitising stations. The Brunch With Bite Halloween Party takes place from 11am on Sunday, October 25.
Everyone remembers the childhood thrill of spotting a strange object — be it an odd-shaped pebble or a gleaming shard of glass — then picking it up, putting it in your pocket and keeping it for your own makeshift treasure trove. In fact, if you still collect shiny seashells whenever you go to the beach, you're still doing the same thing. Catherine Large does too, but on a different scale. The jewellery and small object artist crafts her creative pieces out of items inherited or unearthed in places she has lived or travelled to. She's not just retaining them for later; she's examining, reconsidering and coming up with new uses and configurations for her found bits and pieces. The aptly titled Strange Objects is the end result, as well as an attempt to transform items of mysterious origins into something different — and to speculate about their backgrounds in the process. Taking over artisan's Gallery 1 until April 9, the exhibition also marks the beginning of the venue's partnership with Queensland College of Art, showcasing QCA's best student, staff and alumni work.
Wandering through an exhibition, any exhibition, can bring plenty of wise phrases and old adages to mind. One in particular mightn't have popped into your head, but as you're perusing each piece on the wall, it should feel relevant: not being able to see the forest for the trees. As we walk around galleries, do we spend too much time thinking about the individual items, rather than the whole collection? What is an exhibition even supposed to be? In Corps à Corps, Céline Condorelli inspires these questions — because they're her motivation. Displaying at the Institute of Modern Art between May 5 and July 15, the showcase takes over both indoor and outdoor spaces to probe the very nature of exhibitions. If you're a fan of Condorelli, the London and Milan-based artist who works with both art and architecture, you'll also be interested to know that it's her first solo show in Australia. Expect to enter a range of diverse worlds on site, and view more through a video installation of her previous efforts.
Celebrated in Mexico and the USA, Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that fits in seamlessly with our ongoing obsession with everything Mexican, so we partnered with Corona to throw Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Brisbane's best Mexican bars. Here's how the night went down.
Indulging in some high-altitude hijinks — aka locating a vantage point to peer over the city from while consuming cocktails— isn't difficult in Brisbane, but doing so from the Sofitel's rooftop is. For most of the year, the hotel's highest space is only available for private functions and to folks of the VIP variety. Until December 18, that's changing as part of Pop Up Soiree. As a spring and summer treat, the Sofitel is throwing open their doors (and stairs and elevators) to the rest of the city. Of course, they're making an event out of it — why wouldn't they? Every Friday evening from 3.30pm, anyone fond of some panoramic fun can converge on the outdoor terrace on the edge of the building. You'll enjoy sweeping sights over the CBD, plus live music to set a festive mood, in case the 180-degree city vista hasn't done that already. If you think champagne and cocktails are the perfect drinks for the occasion, you'd be right, which is why you'll find both in abundance here. There'll also be share plates for snacking on and lounges for relaxing on. Given how chilled out you're likely to be thanks to ending your week on such a high, we think you'll need them. Pop Up Soiree runs every Friday afternoon until December 18. For more information, visit the Sofitel website.
Brunswick Street's resident arcade bar isn't short on activities, whether you want to mash buttons, bust out your board game skills or sip a few beverages. But that's just Netherworld's regular lineup. The Fortitude Valley joint is rather fond of turning an otherwise ordinary day into a special occasion, whether it's focusing on video games, carnival vibes, cult flicks or themed parties — or hosting an artist market. From 11am–2pm on Sunday, August 25, Netherworld will welcome a heap of local artists, letting them showcase their wares. Check out the results of their talents and find a few new creative pieces to take home with you, all while having a few cold ones and hitting the machines, too. The lineup is hefty, featuring Shani Finch, Planet Hostile, Serpentium Apparel, Kate Elizabeth, A.r.t Garbage, Kitty Kollect, Allegra Maeva, Gulp Magazine, Deeleeshous Treats, Gregory Hartogh and Silent Goat, just to name a few. And sure, it's only August — but it's never too early to start thinking about gift-giving season (or to buy yourself something just because). Image: Cole Bennetts.
On Saturday, September 22, Fortitude Valley's Chinatown mall will be glowing — under the moonlight, and while making lanterns and just generally being luminous. Running from 4–9pm, the Chinese Moon Festival harks back to Chinese tradition, and is timed to coincide with the moon at its roundest and brightest. It was originally a harvest fest, but has grown and evolved to become an all-round celebration, which is exactly what's on the cards in Brisbane. Learn how to make your own lanterns, pick up some calligraphy skills and browse the markets — or check out the lion and dragon dances, catch some V-pop and K-pop, and keep an eye out for other wandering entertainment. And, if you're feeling peckish, you're in the perfect place for dumplings, Peking duck and yum cha, thanks to the surrounding restaurants.
Hot weather? Check. A hankering for an icy alcoholic beverage? Check. Knowing that tennis is going to be on televisions everywhere? Check again. Welcome to January in Brisbane, where watching folks hit balls around a court comes second only to complaining about the heat. No wonder we're all so thirsty. And, no wonder that the Treasury Casino has whipped up the perfect pop-up bar for the occasion, aka their Treasury Summer Nights Courtyard Pop-Up. Three things are on the agenda: watching and playing the sport in question (and other games), listening to live music, and enjoying a frosty drink. It's the kind of summer hangout you wouldn't expect in the heart of the CBD, as well as a great place to knock back a few froses and Cooper's brews on a heap of chill out lounges. Head along on Friday evenings in January from 5pm, with a special Thursday event happening on Australia Day.
Photographers and wannabe photographers, listen up. The Sartorialist, Cobrasnake and Streetpeeper have nothing on Henri Cartier-Bresson. He was in before photographer pseudonyms and blogs were hip, becoming famous for his portraits as well as photographs during his travels to Mexico, Indonesia, Europe, China, Japan, the United States and the Middle East, photographing pivotal eras in history such as post-war Soviet Union. He was in before Leica’s were a hipster must-have, exclusively using a Leica 35mm rangefinder wrapped in black tape (to make it less conspicuous in public). He took thousands of portraits and documented thousands of moments in time before passing away in 2004 – prior to his passing he curated Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Man, The Image and The World with his friend Robert Delpire, to be exhibited at the Bibliothèque nationale de France Paris. It’s travelled the oceans to QAG, where it will be exhibited for three months. To see the images that created a movement in street photography and inspired today’s greats, head to the Cultural Centre.
