All of the taste, none of the hangover: that's what the recent move towards booze-free beers, wines, spirits and cocktails has promised. And, whether you're playing designated driver for a night, embracing Dry July midyear or just don't partake in the hard stuff for whatever reason you fancy, the trend has been rewarding non-drinkers' tastebuds with much-welcomed sipping options other than the usual soft drinks, juices and sparkling waters. Even bottle-os have been getting in on the zero-alcohol action, as you've likely spotted if you've browsed through your local rather than heading straight for your favourite tipple — and Dan Murphy's is now taking the idea a step further. The big booze-store chain has just launched its first-ever bar, a standalone venue, but it's strictly a teetotalling affair. Indeed, this Melbourne hangout only serves up drinks that won't give you a fuzzy head and fast-food cravings the next day. Bars that don't serve booze aren't new — back in 2021, Melbourne also became home to Brunswick Aces' Aussie-first temptation-free drinking destination, and it's no longer alone across Australia — but a brand as synonymous with alcohol as Dan Murphy's ditching the hooch is clearly designed to make a statement. The resulting watering hole is called Zero% by Dan Murphy's and pours more than 30 different non-alcoholic beverages at the bar, as well as selling 200-plus other booze-free drinks to take home. So, Melburnians can now stop by the Hampton spot for zero-booze beers from $2.99, including on tap — sips such as Urban Alley Pale Ale and Mornington Free Pale Ale — and 11 different wines sans alcohol starting from $5 a glass. Cocktails are also on the menu, as are booze-free premixes. And while Zero% dishes up snacks as well, patrons are able to order in their own food via delivery services. Folks eager to get drinking while staying stone-cold sober can head along seven days a week from 11am, with the bar staying open until later on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. But, although clearly aiming to get customers equating Dan Murphy's with more than just liquor long-term, Zero% is only sticking around for a few months — operating until the end of June. While there's no booze on offer — some drinks might contain up to 0.5-percent alcohol by volume, but they're considered non-alcoholic by Food Standards Australia — you might still get carded upon entering or ordering a tipple at Zero%. That's part of Dan Murphy's policy to ensure that alcohol-like products aren't sold to under-18s. So yes, with no kids, dim lighting and bartenders serving drinks, the aim is to recreate the usual bar experience — just without the headaches. Zero% by Dan Murphy's is now open at 470 Hampton Street, Hampton — trading 11am–9pm Thursday–Saturday and 11am–7pm Sunday–Wednesday.
Everyone loves a one-stop-shop — and if you live around Yeronga way, you're going to love the new addition to Orontes Road. When it opens its doors in late October, Osteria Epoca will offer food fiends a restaurant, cafe and provisions store all in one. We know you can count: that's three reasons to stop by. The trifecta of tastiness is a labour of love for chef Lorenzo Nobilio, so much so that he's starting the venture with his partner Natalie Fraser and her parents. The ex-Bistro Alegria kitchen wiz and Ash + Monties owner's side of the family will get some recognition in a menu that reflects his late grandmother's hearty, homemade food, and in the general neighbourhood vibe the Italian eatery aims to cultivate. Think the kind of place that welcomes leisurely feasts of pasta, bread and more at its osteria, is ideal for a quick wine and a share plate at its cafe, and includes a salumi counter and bar in its alimentari. Nope, you won't be looking for excuses to call in — once you're there, you'll be scrambling to justify leaving. Find Osteria Epoca on Orontes Road, Yeronga from late October. Via The Courier-Mail.
After the work-week marathon, holing up at home all weekend can be mighty tempting, especially as the cooler weather approaches. And while technology has gifted us with the amazing ability to get both food and entertainment without changing out of our PJs, you might still feel like fresh air and socialising. So, every Friday and Saturday, swap the hermit life for an outside hangout. The Sound Society is an initiative that fills South Bank Parklands with music, with live tunes echoing through different parts of the inner city spot depending on the day and date. If a cruisy Friday evening or slow Saturday afternoon accompanied by a soundtrack is your style, this is the place to head — picnic blanket in hand. Most Fridays, you'll be making your way to the River Quay Green either from 4–6pm or 5–7pm, with times changing depending on the week. Come Saturday, you'll want to make a date with the Rainforest Green from 2–5pm — and, it's also the location for some Friday sessions as well. Of course, you can BYO snacks and, if you're heading to the River Quay gig, you can even BYO booze. The lineup changes for each show, but the laidback vibe, free price and leafy views all remain. On the bill in the coming weeks: Rose Rogers, Modeo, Georgia Corowa, Joe Geia, Joseph Vea, Jamie-Lee Dimes, The Urban Sea, Hayden Hack, Andrea Soler and other musicians presented by the Queensland Conservatorium.
Perhaps, unsurprisingly for the Sunshine State, the Brisbane food scene tends to be geared towards early birds rather than night owls. Spots open after the witching hour with sit-down service and good quality nosh seem few and far between. So, we've rounded up a comprehensive list of Brisbane's flavoursome feeds to fight the post-midnight munchies, from mega burgers to Korean barbecue and even all-night breakfast faves. Whether you need comfort food or a quick caffeine refuel, the city has some gems offering both. If you find yourself scrambling for scrumptious repast after midnight, these are the places you need to round off your evening with a full belly.
With new locally acquired COVID-19 cases popping up throughout Queensland over the past couple of weeks, the Sunshine State's response has been rolling out as expected. In southeast Queensland and select other parts of the state, a lockdown is currently in effect, and masks are now required outside of the house. And, as always happens, the list of places visited by people who've tested positive to COVID-19 continues to grow. You know the drill from here, because naming locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited is key element of Queensland's containment strategy, and has been since last year. The list has been expanding in recent days, and includes a number of big and notable sites — especially if you've been to two of Brisbane's big shopping centres recently. Both Chermside and Indooroopilly shopping centres have been named as exposure sites — aka the two biggest shopping centres in Brisbane's north and west. A case visited Chermside on Monday, June 28, stepping into Rebel Sport and Footlocker between 3.20–3.35pm, Country Road between 3.30–3.55pm and Athlete's Foot between 3.55–4.10pm. If you were there at the same time, you'll need to get tested ASAP and then self-isolate until you receive a negative result. And if you were just at the northside shopping centre at all from 3.15–4.20pm that same day, you need to get tested; however, you don't have to self-isolate unless you're experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Indooroopilly's place on the list dates back to Tuesday, June 22, at Coles between 6–6.45pm — and also covers Friday, June 25, at the Commonwealth Bank from 9.55–10.25am and JB Hi-Fi from 10.10–10.25am. Again, if you were there at the same time, you'll need to get tested ASAP and then self-isolate until you receive a negative result. Broader alerts apply to the centre on both days as well, so if you dropped by on the Tuesday from 6–6.45pm or on the Friday from 9.45–10.30am, you must get tested, but self-isolation is only necessary if you have symptoms. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1410134000312610816 Other places of note currently named as exposure sites include gyms in Fortitude Valley and Hamilton, Cotton On at DFO at the airport, Chez Nous Cafe in Roma Street in the CBD, Woolworths Gasworks at Newstead and a number of Virgin flights — for the full list, head to the Queensland Health website. As always, the usual advice regarding COVID-19 applies anyway. So, requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms in general are still in effect, as they have since March 2020. Queensland currently has 42 active cases, with locally acquired numbers increasing in recent days due to four clusters: one around the The Portuguese Family Centre, one relating to a Northern Territory mine worker who returned to Queensland, one involving an employee at the Prince Charles Hospital, and another linked to Sydney's current outbreak via a Virgin flight attendant. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the Queensland COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. Top image: Google Maps.
Thirty years since Expo 88 lit up the Brisbane River's southern banks, the area we all know as South Bank still has a few luminous tricks up its sleeves. Flowstate is one of them, a new temporary creative space taking over the former Arbour View Café precinct, featuring an immersive digital art installation, an open-air performance pavilion and a grassy relaxation zone. It's the first aspect, JEM by design studio ENESS, that'll immediately capture the city's attention — and have Brisbanites rushing to the South Brisbane parklands. A glowing arc-like structure fashioned from LEDs, it responds to movement, meaning that everyone can influence its display of light and sound. Or, to put it another way, it emits a symphonic and visual experience when approached. In addition to JEM's eye-catching wonders, the 3000-square-metre space will also boast an array of performances, including a year-long free program during its first year of operation. On the just-announced 20-show-plus bill: CIRCA showing off their acrobatic skills in Aura, Dead Puppet Society unleashing their roving installation Megafauna and live, immersive, moonlit orchestra event Song to the Earth. Other highlights include participatory dance performance Planets, South Bank art tour What I'm Here For, and whispered storytelling from Brisbane writers, poets and artists in These Frozen Moments. Find Flowstate at South Bank Parklands near the Epicurious Garden, and visit flowstate.southbankcorporation.com.au for further information.
In what's proving to be a huge year for new places to stay in Brisbane, Fortitude Valley has just welcomed its next addition: The Calile Hotel. Two years in the making — as anyone that spotted the constant construction site on James Street will know — the seven-storey, 175-room spot is calling itself 'Australia's first urban resort'. Yes, that means that going for a splash in the central pool, lazing around in cabanas or on a sun lounge, and eating on the hotel's outdoor deck are all on the agenda. So is hanging out at the spa, which is also open to the general public, and just making the most of Brissie's climate. The white brick design, by architects Richards and Spence, certainly highlights the tropical side of things. Think open-air spaces and breezeways, natural ventilation and plants aplenty, as well as a cool, soothing colour scheme. Inside the rooms, guests will find oak furniture, cork floors and sisal matting in the bathrooms, day beds for afternoon naps, linen robes and a mini bar stocked from local suppliers. Recognising how sunny the city gets, every room is also fitted with motorised blackout blinds. If you need to escape the glow, the in-suite Chromecast and sound bar will help as well. Rooms start from just over $200, with The Calile also featuring nine suites and two premier suites, complete with poolside and terrace-style balconies as well as two private rooftop terraces — for when you're feeling like splashing some cash around. Operated by TFE Hotels Collection, other drawcards include the all-day Lobby Bar, the opening of Hellenika's first Brisbane digs — bringing the Gold Coast's favourite Greek eats to town — and meeting and function rooms that can cater for up to 500 people, including an outdoor amphitheatre. The Calile joins W Hotel Brisbane, the Ovolo Inchcolm Hotel in Spring Hill, the Novotel in South Bank, the new Emporium (also in South Bank) and the revamped Ovolo in Fortitude Valley among the fresh staycation spots opening their doors across the city in 2018. It will boast one unique highlight, too — Ada Lane, a micro-precinct filled with five bars and eateries, that's set to open later this year. Find The Calile Hotel at 48 James Street, Fortitude Valley. Images: Sean Fennessy.
This year, Brisbanites have another excuse for enjoying a G&T in a garden — Australia's gin and tonic festival is coming to town. After being postponed from 2021, the Fever-Tree Gin & Tonic Festival is descending upon the Howard Smith Wharves precinct. Mark Thursday, April 28–Sunday, May 1. in your diary, because that's when you can sip your way around this huge tasting event dedicated to the classic tipple. Here, you'll have the chance to sample 20 different gins — from Melbourne's world-renowned Four Pillars to Queensland's Wolf Lane — matched with top tonics from Fever-Tree's range of mixers. Archie Rose, Never Never, Sunshine & Sons and Kalki Moon will all be taking part, too, because the more gin the merrier here. Explore the pop-up Gin Village, Tonic Discovery Bar and Ultimate Gin & Tonic Bar, then grab a snack from one of the restaurant pop-ups, including an oyster and prawn bar — you will be at HSW, after all. Rounding out the fun will be live entertainment, as well as a series of complimentary drink demonstrations and expert-led workshops. Seven sessions are being held: 5–9pm on Thursday and Friday evening; 11.30am–2.30pm and 3.30–6.30pm on both Saturday and Sunday; and 7.30–10.30pm just on Saturday night. Tickets to the Fever-Tree Gin & Tonic Festival clock in at $65 (or $55 if you get in quick), which'll score you entry and six mini gin and tonics.
For the past nine years, Surfers Paradise has played host to the Sand Safari Festival. If you're fond of elaborate, super-sized sandcastles, you've probably attended. In 2021, however, the event is getting a revamp — and hitting the Gold Coast from Saturday, March 13–Sunday, March 21 as the all-new Beyond the Sand Art Festival. Sand fans, relax. You will indeed still see big sand sculptures, including featured pieces along the beach, plus the best and brightest creations on offer at the Australian Sand Sculpting Championships. But, you'll also check out eight large-scale installations, and see artworks on display as part of a beachside art gallery, with the fest setting up its base on the Esplanade from 10am–9pm daily. The big highlight: the world premiere of Lost, the latest artwork by Amanda Parer. Brisbanites might remember her name from 2020's Intrude, which saw six giant seven-metre-tall bunnies pop up at Eagle Street Pier. On the Goldie, she'll be scattering larger-than-life botanicals around Surfers Paradise, focusing on extinct or endangered species, with inflatables and LEDs part of the installation. Beyond the Sand is going with a circus theme this year overall, so there'll also be circus performances, roving entertainment and workshops, too.
Australia's theatre scene didn't have much to smile about in 2020; however, now that 2021 has rolled around, some venues around the country are kicking back into gear with a little help from their friends. Well, with Friends! The Musical Parody to be specific — with the comedic, song-filled satire of everyone's favourite 90s sitcom touring the country. Initially, the show was due to hit local theatres in August and September last year. Then, when the pandemic struck, the musical rescheduled to November and December instead. But it seems that 2020 wasn't anyone's year — and it didn't include anyone's favourite day, week or month, for that matter — so the production has now shifted its entire run to 2021. Scheduled to hit Brisbane from Wednesday, August 18–Saturday, August 28 before also being there for audiences in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney, Friends! The Musical Parody will spend time with Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey and Phoebe, of course. Here, they're hanging out at their beloved Central Perk — and sitting on an orange couch, no doubt — when a runaway bride shakes up their day. Call it 'The One with the Loving, Laugh-Filled Lampoon', or 'The One That Both Makes Good-Natured Fun of and Celebrates an Iconic Sitcom'. Yes, no one told you that being obsessed with the Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer-starring show about six New Yorkers would turn out this way — with on-stage skits and gags, recreations of some of the series' best-known moments, and songs with titles such as 'How you Doin?' and 'We'll Always Be There For You'. That said, no one told us that being a Friends aficionado would continue to serve up so many chances to indulge our fandom 16 years after it finished airing, including via the upcoming reunion special that's gathering the TV series' main cast back together. Updated August 16.
You've probably heard of Oedipus, the fellow from Greek mythology who killed his father and married his mother. He's been the butt of many jokes for centuries, and even has a psychological complex named after him. But, what if he lived today? And what if he was your next-door neighbour? What would he do, and how would you react? Playwright Daniel Evans has wondered just that, and then turned his train of thought into a striking new work. He even won the 2014-15 Queensland Premier’s Drama Award for his efforts, and now you can judge his updated take on this classic tragedy for yourself. Oedipus Doesn't Live Here Anymore follows the famed figure through the sleepy cul-de-sacs of modern Australia. One of the most infamous families in folklore becomes the most gossiped about family on the block, and audiences will be forced to reconsider not just the tale at the heart of it all but how today's communities tackle topics everyone would rather not talk about.
A few years back, prior to starting Concrete Playground, I worked at a creative agency in New York. The oversized SoHo loft it was housed in was an exciting place to find yourself working each day, and things got fun when I was transferred to work on the Converse account. One of the first big projects I was a part of in 2007-08 was a campaign called '3 Artists, 1 Song', created to celebrate the brand's centenary around the world. Pharrell Williams worked with his band, N.E.R.D, as well as The Strokes' Julian Casablancas and Santogold, on a brief to make a song as a group of artists. 'My Drive Thru' was the result. More than four years on and the project is still going strong. LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy was the person whose involvement was most coveted (on our end at least) on the original project, and now he has teamed up with Gorillaz and Andre 3000 from Outkast to create 'DoYaThing'. It's a good track, and it's free. You can get the download here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yNeF30RverQ
Cafes are no longer just serving great coffee. They're serving great locally roasted coffee in many forms (from cold drip to batch and single origin espresso), great fare that caters to all dietaries. They also boast interesting decors and are passionate about sustainability and the ethical sourcing of ingredients. And our favourite cafes of the year do an impressive job at covering it all. From gluten-free doughnuts and perfectly flaky croissants flown in from France to vegan eateries and all-day spot serving V60s through to raspberry mojitos, these six cafes are doing it all. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Brisbane to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new cafes, opened in 2018, were nominated for Best New Cafe in Concrete Playground's Best of 2018 Awards. You can check out all the winners over here.
If you're planning to head to Cunnamulla, you don't have to leave your favourite set of clubs behind. The Cunnamulla Golf Club offers 18 challenging holes that ensure you practice your game overlooking the great outback expanse. However, don't expect the Augusta National when you arrive. This remote golf course is landscaped using dirt fairways and sandy 'greens', meaning you might have to give your swing some extra oomph. Sections of the course are lined with river gums and coolabah trees, so keep an eye out for local wildlife using the course as a thoroughfare from the nearby Warrego River.
It's happening again: in response to a new community case of COVID-19 in Brisbane, other states are changing their health advice and border requirements. So, if you're a Brisbanite planning to head south soon, you're located elsewhere and you'll soon be travelling to the Sunshine State, or you've recently journeyed from the latter to another state, you might have some new rules to adhere to. New South Wales has issued two pieces of health advice. The first from NSW Health says that anyone who is in the state and has been in Brisbane or the Moreton Bay area since Saturday, March 20 should abide by the requirements outlined by Queensland Health regarding venues visited. It also advises that anyone who falls into that category and went to Mamma's Italian Restaurant in Redcliffe from 12.30–3.10pm on Sunday, March 21 must get tested immediately and go into isolation for 14 days. As noted in the second alert, NSW Health now requires anyone who has been in Brisbane City Council or Moreton Bay Regional Council areas in the past fortnight and enters NSW from 12.01 am today, Saturday, March 27, to fill out a passenger declaration form — which includes confirmation of whether you've visited any venues of high concern. And if you have been in a venue of high concern as listed by Queensland Health, you should not enter NSW at all. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1375392223844429825 Victoria has mandated that anyone who has entered the state from Brisbane and Moreton Bay since Friday, March 12 needs to immediately self-isolate, get tested within 72 hours and stay isolated until they receive a negative result. It's imposing this rule strictly, with Brisbanites who'd travelled to Geelong for the Brisbane Lions versus Geelong AFL match on Friday, March 26 asked to leave the ground when the new requirement came into effect. Brisbane and Moreton Bay have also been designated an orange zone under Victoria's traffic light travel permit system. That means that if you're entering Victoria from the area, you have to apply for the appropriate permit. And you won't be given one if you have COVID-19 symptoms. Upon arrival in Victoria, you'll also have to self-isolate immediately, get a coronavirus test within 72 hours of arriving and stay in isolation until you return a negative result. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1375358820634013696 How long these new border requirements will apply hasn't been revealed. Other states have similar rules in place, with Western Australia mandating that anyone who has arrived in WA from Queensland since Saturday, March 20 and visited any of the affected locations during the relevant times must get tested immediately for COVID-19 and self-quarantine. The ACT requires 14-days of quarantine for arrivals from Greater Brisbane since Saturday, March 20 who visited any of the close contact exposure sites, and testing and self-isolating until receiving a negative result if you've arrived in the same period but haven't been to any of the places listed. Tasmania won't allow entry from folks who've been to sites in Brisbane now deemed high risk, and everyone else who has arrived from Brisbane and Moreton Bay since Monday, March 8 is asked to monitor for symptoms. The Northern Territory requires anyone who has been to a high-risk venue to get tested within 72 hours and isolate until receiving a negative result, while South Australia is yet to update its travel advice. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Chances are if you’ve ever had your luggage lost at the airport, you understand the value of a suitcase and all it can hold. Suitcase Rummage, a monthly market held in the city, is further testament to the precious contents that can be stored within a travel case. Unlike your average Brisbane markets, Suitcase Rummage is free of marquee tents selling glazed bowls and pungent homemade candles. Instead, it’s a laidback event packed to the suitcase brim with an eclectic mix of vintage clothes, artwork, bric-a-brac, handmade goods, second hand books and records. On the first Sunday of every month, Reddacliff Place plays host to Suitcase Rummages’ scattered cases, market enthusiasts browsing for a bargain and a live band playing music from the sixties and seventies. Preloved clothes and shoes are a particular specialty of the markets, so it’s best to get their early to nab yourself something precious. If you have a few bits and bobs that you would like to stow in a suitcase and sell to the highest bidder, you can register to take part in the next Suitcase Rummage on their website.
When Netflix decided to give The Addams Family a new take, it was a lightbulb moment. More than two decades after the last live-action version of the beloved creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky characters hit screens, the Jenna Ortega (Scream VI)-led revamp Wednesday proved a smash. No one likely stuck a lightbulb in their mouth when they came up with the idea to revive the franchise, and we're hoping that no one did to celebrate the show's success, either; however, the streaming platform's next series linked to the horror-loving crew could feature exactly that. After dropping its first season in late 2022, then notching up more viewers, memes and mimicked dance moves than the Addams crew have pieces of black clothing, Wednesday was officially renewed for a second season at the beginning of 2023. That's still on the way, with no ETA as yet after Hollywood's strike-filled year, but Netflix is already thinking about giving the show an Uncle Fester-focused spinoff. Bloomberg reports that while production on Wednesday season two hasn't begun, the streaming service is eager to keep all things Addams Family on-screen via multiple shows. The Uncle Fester series has been put forward as the first. Presumably, that'd mean Fred Armisen (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) reprising his role — unless it's an Uncle Fester origin story. There's nothing locked in, so no casting details, no storyline and no timeline for the show to hit your streaming queue so far, but we all know how much pop culture's powers that be — aka studios and streamers — love franchises. The Addams Family realm has always been beloved by audiences — the Christina Ricci-led 90s films have been favourites for decades for good reason, plus the 1960s TV show and 1930s The New Yorker comics before that — so Netflix wanting more is far from unexpected. Indeed, if you were channelling your inner Wednesday, as we all should, you wouldn't raise an eyebrow in astonishment. Wednesday's first season broke the Netflix record for most hours viewed in a single week, then did so again — earning 341.23-million hours viewed in its first week, then 411.29-million hours viewed in its second. There's no trailer for the Uncle Fester spinoff yet, of course, but you can check out Wednesday season one's sneak peek below: Wednesday streams via Netflix, with season one available now and season two arriving at a yet-to-be-announced date. We'll update you with further details about season two and the Uncle Fester spinoff when they're revealed. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Via Bloomberg. Images: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
It was back in 2021 that the Gold Coast gained another impressive attraction: the largest public gallery outside a capital city in Australia. When HOTA, Home of the Arts opened its new six-level space dedicated to creativity, it became a new hub for southeast Queensland's art lovers — and, in 2023, it's now celebrating two years of lining its walls with stunning artworks. With Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York currently on display, showcasing work by iconic artists Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, HOTA is marking its birthday by inviting everyone in. Sure, you've got until Sunday, June 4 to take a gander anyway; however, head by between Saturday, April 29–Sunday, May 14 and a ticket will only cost you $15. Even better: on Monday, May 8, entry is free. That said, expect those tickets to get snapped up ASAP. Either way, you'll need to book online to either enter for nothing or score a discount. Pop Masters pairs the three artists' pieces for a world-first celebration of pop art masters, including featuring 40-plus works never before seen Down Under. The exhibition is wholly drawn from the private collection of prominent art collector Jose Mugrabi, surveying the 60s, 70s and 80s art scene through the output of these legends of the pop art and street art movements. There are more than ten pieces by Warhol, acting as the showcase's introduction, with 1964's Sixteen Jackies and 1982's Cross among them. As for Haring, one of his earliest-ever works from 1979 features alongside others such as Untitled (Dancing Dogs), while the range of Basquiat pieces includes 1981's New York, New York and — fittingly — a Warhol-Basquiat collaboration. Although art by the three icons provides Pop Masters with its huge drawcard, the exhibition also seeks to celebrate the ongoing legacy of pop art alongside its origins. That means that you can peer at pieces by Katherine Bernhardt, Kwesi Botchway, George Condo, Damien Hirst, KAWS, Barbara Kruger, Joel Mesler, Richard Prince, Tom Sachs, Julian Schnabel, Mickalene Thomas and Tom Wesselmann — such as KAWS' 2.8-metre-tall 2018 sculpture What Party, plus Barbara Kruger's If it sees, blind it, from a section of her 2009 installation Between being born and dying in New York's Lever House.
If battling zombies in your lounge room through a games console no longer cuts it, an augmented audio running game called Zombies, Run! might be the answer. London-based games and app developers, Six to Start, have combined mobile GPS technology with augmented audio technology to create a game whose story unravels in the outside world. The game's storyline may be based on an old cliché - a player runs from zombies in a post-apocalyptic world - but its method of delivery is certainly new. Players are presented with location-specific challenges in their mission to rebuild civilisation, completing the game by listening to atmospheric audio commands on their headphones and finishing a series of runs in which they collect medicine, ammo, batteries and spare parts. Adrian Hon, CEO and co-founder of Six To Start, told PSFK: "The idea is that we want to make running – and exercise in general – more fun and more captivating through game-play and story." The game for iPhone, iPod and Android devices has over 30 unique missions to be completed and most recently featured on Kickstarter. It can be pre-ordered online at their site.
Shen Yun presents traditional Chinese culture as it is intended to be—a brilliant blend of beauty, energy and grace. The world’s top classical Chinese dancers, original live music by the Shen Yun Orchestra, animated backdrops and exquisite costumes all work together to take you on a journey to an enchanted realm. See ancient legends of virtue brought to life alongside modern tales of courage. Hear soaring songs by masterful vocalists that will move and inspire. Experience a sense of beauty and enchantment like no other with this unique, thrilling, and unforgettable show for all ages. “It was an extraordinary experience for us and the children... the level of skill, but also the power of the narratives were startling.” – Cate Blanchett
Peering at art isn't just an indoor activity confined to galleries and museums. It's something that you can do across Brisbane's streets, too, if you know where to look. That's what Brisbane City Council's Outdoor Gallery offers the city's art lovers, first popping up in 2016 and filling locations around the CBD with eye-catching work ever since — in spots as varied as Howard Smith Wharves and Fish Lane. Exactly what graces the Outdoor Gallery changes regularly — and from Monday, June 19–Monday, October 2, First Nations art is in the spotlight. So is the Brisbane River, with Reflections: A Reflection of Brisbane's Waterways enlisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to muse on the H2O around us. Both emerging and early-career creatives are in focus, showing new and existing works across large-scale banners, installations and projections lighting up the nights. Ten artists have works on display: Lewis James, Ben Barker, Dean Tyson, Tai Bobongie and Taliah Saylor, plus Kylie Hill, Nicole Williams, Paula Dewis, Brett Leavy and Luke Mallie. As for where else to visit, hitting up a laneway — including Eagle Lane, Irish Lane, Edison Lane, Giffin Lane and Hutton Lane — is recommended. Or, you can head to Ann, Queen and Elizabeth streets, or the King George Square car park.
If, like most Australian kids, you once dreamed of spending your school holidays at one of the Gold Coast's theme parks, then you probably hoped that you'd be making your way to Sea World. Historically Dreamworld has been home to plenty of rides, while Movie World has its whole 'Hollywood on the Gold Coast' theme going for it — but Sea World is the one with an onsite resort. In the near future, that might change, with slumbering at Dreamworld after a long day spent riding rollercoasters now on the cards. Ardent Leisure, the theme park's parent company, has announced plans to turn part of the land next to the Coomera spot into a new $75 million Dreamworld Resort, which is set to include a hotel and a tourist park. For those keen to bunk down for the night, there'll be options. The resort's four-star hotel is slated to include 250 rooms, and there'll be 40 bungalows as well. Making the trip to the Goldie via caravan? There'll also be 100 powered sites in the adjacent tourist park. Guests will have access to restaurants, swimming pools, a gym and conference facilities, too. Ardent Leisure also plans to include accommodation and theme park package deals, including exclusive offers to access both Dreamworld and White Water World during your stay. Just what that might look like hasn't been revealed — and, before you start making holiday plans, neither has a timeframe for the hotel and resort's opening. [caption id="attachment_810953" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Saberwyn via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] At present, Ardent Leisure has entered into an agreement with accommodation developer Evolution Group to fund and build the resort and tourist park — although it is non-binding, and also subject to a number of preconditions being met. Planning approvals also need to be secured; however, it's hoped that if the resort comes to fruition, it'll help Dreamworld, White Water World and the Coomera region to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic. For more information about Ardent Leisure's plans for Dreamworld Resort, head to the company's website. For further details about Dreamworld, visit the theme park's website.
Frustrated at the distant Australian release date for The Great Gatsby? Forget the flamboyance and pizzazz of Baz Luhrmann's film, because the best way to get lost in the decadent world of The Great Gatsby is through this 8-bit video game. Okay, maybe we're exaggerating a pinch, and maybe this isn't the best bit of Gatsby paraphernalia going around. But the Great Gatsby video game is undoubtedly the best Friday afternoon procrastination that we have stumbled across in a very long time. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yqTUKgQ_Cz4 The story behind the making of the game is a Gatsby-esque rags-to-riches tale in itself. Having come across the 8-bit Nintendo game at a yard sale and forking out a whopping 50c for it, the developers thought it deserved some time in the sun and transformed it into an open-source online game. For all the Gatsby fans out there, the thrill of playing as a butler-and-showgirl-killing Nick Carraway in search of both your fortune and the mysterious Gatsby himself is only matched by the games plethora of references, some of which we loved (like that deliciously smug gentleman reading a book and dishing out directions), and some which I imagine flew right over our heads. If nothing else, the game may just be one more thing to get us in the mood for Luhrmann's film, which by now we're busting to see. Via Fast Co.Create.
When you woke up this morning, Thursday, February 18, your Facebook news feed probably looked a little different. Instead of news about the pandemic, restaurant openings, events and all the usual things you're used to seeing as you scroll, it was filled with memes, photos from distant family members and groups you don't even remember joining. So, what on earth is going on? Well, there's been a bit of standoff between the Australian Government and Facebook and Google, because of the Federal Government's controversial media-bargaining code, which passed through the House of Representatives on Wednesday night. In response, Facebook has banned Australian users and publishers from viewing or sharing any "news articles" on its platform. And it hasn't just banned news. Everyone from embattled Sydney art institution Carriageworks to state government-run Queensland Health, which posts daily COVID-19 updates and streams press conferences, and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival have been kicked off the social media platform. And we have, too. That means, to keep up to date with all the exciting things going on in your city, you need to track us down in other spots. Like, right here on our website, over on our Instagram pages (@concreteplayground, @concreteplaygroundmelbourne and @concreteplaygroundbrisbane), or on Twitter (@concreteplay) and by signing up to one of our newsletters. If you're in Sydney, you can sign up here: Melburnians, get your fix here: And Brisbanites, discover all the best things to do right here. You can also bookmark some of your favourite content of ours. Like the best waterfalls to swim under around Sydney, the best things to do on the weekend in Brisbane and Melbourne's best boozy bottomless brunches. Just because Facebook is boring RN, doesn't mean you have to be. Top image: Kitti Gould
One progressive hotel in Oslo is making a pretty bold statement through entertainment programming choices: opting for high culture over the pleasures of the flesh, it has replaced all its TV porn channels with contemporary art videos. Billionaire, magnate, philanthropist, art collector, environmental activist and sensitive dream-man Petter Stordalen, the owner of the large Nordic Choice Hotels chain, has dropped the porn-on-demand channels from all 171 of his hotels across five northern European countries. His motivation? Concern about the link between pornography and the hideous child prostitution industry, which he hopes to help UNICEF fight in its anti-exploitation campaign by doing his part via revamped in-hotel programming. Though dropping porn could seem shocking to some, Stordalen has pointed out that Nordic Choice was also the first hotel chain in the world to ban smoking, a ban which is now considered normal in most public spaces. One of Stordalen's hotels, The Thief, is an 'art hotel', an establishment with its own in-house curator (former director of Norway’s National Museum Sune Nordgren) as well as artworks by Tracey Emin and Peter Blake and special rooms where "art installations signed by supergroup Apparatjik add to your hotel experience" — itself an exciting concept, no? This provides the perfect context for art-video-on-demand in place of the former nookie channels. Nine pieces of high-end video art are currently on rotation on the rooms' interactive TVs, including Sam Taylor-Wood’s 'Still Life' (2001). In this work, you get to watch a bowl of still-life oil painting-like fruits slowly become festooned with mould and decay (perhaps a winking nod to and comment on porn?). Surely it would be soothing to switch from Miley twerking on the VMAs to a thought-provoking piece of modern art while you relax in Oslo. Apparently guests have responded very favourably to the change. Via Hyperallergic.
IKEA's blue-and-yellow Frakta bag has been a shop staple for 30 years. It has helped carry your purchases of (too many) tea light candles, has been an integral part of moving house, has been used to make everything from masks to boots and has even inspired a $2000 Balenciaga knockoff. And now, it's getting a (temporary) new colourway. IKEA has just dropped a limited-edition rainbow version of the instantly recognisable, and super versatile bag, and it's available at all Aussie stores. The multi-coloured Kvanting — with six stripes of purple, blue, green, yellow orange and red, and yellow handles — was first released in the US at the start of June to coincide with Pride Month, with 100 percent of profits from the bag going to the Human Rights Campaign. In Australia, IKEA has decided to make a one-off $20,000 donation to ACON, a NSW organisation that works in HIV prevention and LGBTQI+ health, instead. https://www.instagram.com/p/ByLAEnWAJh9/ Kvanting is available to purchase in-store at all Aussie IKEAs now for just $1.99. It'll be available online from August, too. Kvanting is now available for $1.99 at all IKEA stores across Australia. To find your closest, head to the IKEA website.
Seminal Canadian post-rock outfit Godspeed You! Black Emperor are visiting Australia for the first time this month, and are greeting Brisbane at the premier venue, The Tivoli. Born in 1994 as a solo outlet for Efrim Menuk, with the name finding its inspiration in a little-known Japanese black and white documentary. Later on, live performances called for larger numbers, and so bassist Mauro Pezzente and guitarist Mike Moya joined the group; at present day, the core band consists of 9 members, who have 3 studio albums and an EP to their unusual name. This band is nothing if not dynamic and diverse. They work on the smallest and grandest of scales, incorporating the likes of rickety piano melodies and emotive strings, through to the growl of guitars and percussion. They typically incorporate art and visuals to create a musical experience to overwhelm the senses.
Life is so busy these days, one can't help but wish some things would just sort themselves out. We have technological advancements and perhaps Google to thank for such laissez-faire attitudes. PumpTire's prototype for a self-inflating tyre appeals to the whinger in us but also proves to be an eco-friendly invention saving time, money and extraneous resources needed to pump a flat bicycle tyre. Components of the PumpTire includes a tyre, a detachable valve and inner tube. It can be used in conjunction with existing rim models and works as the cyclist rides their bike. According to founder of PumpTire Benjamin Krempel, it works "by using the rolling motion of the tyre to draw in air from the atmosphere". A hollow tube attached to the edge of the tire pushes air into the tyre. The tyre is even capable of sensing when the ideal air pressure is reached. PumpTire is currently promoting its invention on Kickstarter to raise funds for further engineering design, testing and purchasing tools and materials. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rMmZnzG9QqI [via PSFK]
With her obliteration and infinity rooms drawing huge crowds around the globe, a range of merchandise brandishing her dot-filled designs on scarves and umbrellas, and even her own busy museum in Tokyo, Yayoi Kusama is one of the most popular artists alive today. That makes a documentary about the art star feel almost inevitable; however for filmmaker Heather Lenz, Kusama: Infinity was nearly two decades in the making. Drawn to Kusama's work as an art student in the 90s, Lenz decided to make a movie about the Japanese artist long before her pumpkins filled Instagram feeds. It wasn't an easy process. As a female filmmaker trying to direct a documentary about a female artist — and, more than that, about a female Asian artist — the path from concept to finished film was filled with knockbacks and setbacks. And that's before even getting Kusama involved. In several ways, the difficulties that Lenz experienced prove apt for a doco about Kusama, who found the world far from welcoming when she started to pursue her dreams. Lenz's struggles are also indicative of a filmmaker who was simply ahead of the times. When Kusama's star began to rise, the writer/director/producer/editor's path became smoother. With Kusama: Infinity now screening in Australian cinemas, we chatted to Lenz about her colourful and informative movie. The first-time feature filmmaker actually initially planned to make a biopic about Kusama — and that's just one of our topics of discussion, alongside the long and complicated process of bringing the documentary to fruition, the allure of Kusama's work and the joys of meeting the artist. BECOMING INTERESTED IN KUSAMA'S WORK BEFORE HER CURRENT FAME "It began in the early 90s — that's when I first saw an image of her work. I was earning degrees in art history and fine art, and for probably every thousand or so male artists we learned about, we learned about perhaps five women artists. And Kusama was definitely not among them at that time. Around 1990, there was an exhibition at the Centre for International Contemporary Art, and that helped start the process of putting Kusama back on the map in America. I saw an image of her work in that catalogue, which at the time was the only catalogue on her art — and I really felt from that exposure that her contribution to the American art world hadn't been properly understood or recognised. I was just really interested in her, and later I decided to go back to school and get a film degree. While I was a student, I started working on a biopic script about her. Then, over time, I decided to put that on hold and work on a documentary — in part because Kusama was still alive and able to tell her story her own words." THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE FILM'S DIFFICULT PATH AND KUSAMA'S OWN CAREER "In the beginning, it was her artwork and the fact that she had been neglected that attracted me to her. But over time, I began to tune in more and more into her tenacity and everything that she had to overcome in order to finally achieve success — because it was, of course, mirroring the issues that we were facing. When I started the film, I was rather naive about the obstacles and challenges women directors faced. I just thought, 'oh, if you work hard, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to'. But when I started pitching the film to people, I was constantly told that it was a terrible idea, that no one would be interested. And it was men telling me that. I just felt like, well, we don't have the same taste. But there was a point where I had the opportunity to pitch the film to a woman who actually worked for Madonna back when she had a production company. And I thought, 'oh wow, she's really going to love this'. Instead, she questioned the fact that I wanted to make a film about a foreign female, so it never advanced to Madonna to review. At the time, I really wasn't thinking of Kusama as a woman or as Asian. I just thought here's someone who's lived this super compelling, interesting life, who's a brilliant artist, so she would be a great subject for a film. But that's when I started to get the idea that there were pre-conceived ideas about what's going to sell and what isn't. And even within the last few years, I had someone tell me 'you can't put her on the poster because she's Asian and no one will want to see the movie'." DOING MORE THAN JUST CONNECTING THE DOTS "I wanted to shine a light on her and her accomplishments — I wanted her to get more attention. These days, people know about her from social media, so they've seen images of her art, but they really don't know her backstory. I wanted to show the world in which she was raised, which was Matsumoto City. She was growing up in the 30s, and her dreams and ambitions to be an artist at this time, they were just completely out of step with the expectations for her. The idea her family had for her was that she was get married — not only get married, but have an arranged marriage — and become a mother. And to just to have a much more conventional life. She was just really really out of step with that. I think she thought that when she got to America [in the 50s] that the doors would be much more open and things would be much easier, but of course she still had many, many obstacles to overcome. I wanted to show everything she was up against, and to correct her place in history. That remains very very important to me. Recently I screened the film at a college and I had an art history professor, who was a man, tell me that the film was going to change the way he taught this section of art history in the 60s. That was very exciting. Those kinds of things are really meaningful." THE ALLURE OF KUSAMA'S ART "She's made a broad range of work. The work that seems to be featured these days is a lot of the infinity rooms and a lot of the more colourful pieces she's made in recent years. I think people see it as a very optimistic and cheerful work, which is very interesting given the issues she's had with depression and everything. It's almost like she's managed to take her own trauma and transform it into art that functions in a way like an antidepressant for society." WORKING WITH KUSAMA "Kusama actually has a history of cancelling on people, because maybe she's not feeling well or she's just not in the mood or whatever it is. So it was very risky to go all the way to another country, hire a crew and just take on all this expense and just not even know if she would show up. But fortunately she did show up and we really clicked. At the end I told her it was the happiest day of my life, and she said 'mine too'. Then a few months later I was able to go back, and that time I was able to spend a whole month in Japan. I had this very rare opportunity to go through her archives, which were just extraordinary. There were so many amazing photos. There were letters and receipts and calendars — there was just a treasure trove of archival materials for me to explore. It was really amazing." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRqxWNn3iQU Kusama: Infinity is now screening in Australian cinemas. Read our review.
There once was a time when our Esky's only knew the beers of Fourex, Tooheys and the token import, Corona. Times have changed and these days beer-drinkers Australia-wide are swapping their in-and-out six pack (carton) for lengthy conversation with the bottle shop's resident beer connoisseur on the brewing process for the latest boutiqe beer on the shelf. Beer enthusiasts have turned casual beer-drinking into a full-blown hobby, seeking out new and unique craft beers to try and discuss. Brisbane bars and pubs have well and truly embraced this new found tradition. If you are wanting to turn your beer-drinking into an artform, then look no further than Concrete Playground's list of the five best craft beer spots in Brisbane. The Scratch Park Road in Milton has traditionally been known for its large Italian food presence. The Scratch however is focused solely on beer. Craft beer. With four taps and one hand pump, the guys at The Scratch change these on a daily basis keeping everyone on their toes. Aware that not everybody is a beer-spert they welcome newbies into their home with open arms, eager to explain what's on tap, where it's from and how it has been made. It is a totally relaxed vibe and you'll often find a group huddled around one of the many boardgames they have on offer. There is no kitchen but peanuts in the shell are on offer, otherwise you can BYOF. 8/1 Park Road, Milton; 07 3107 9910; www.scratchbar.com Tippler's Tap Amongst the thriving suburb of Newstead sits Tippler's Tap, a dreamy watering hole dedicated to top quality craft beers and delicious food to go with it. The fit-out is reminiscent of a mountain cabin with timber finishings and images of nature on the walls, giving the place a homely feel - it would be hard for the locals to stay away. The expert bar staff can take you through the ten-tap offering as well as what's being served off the hand pump and the extensive list of bottled beers. Food off of the Chicago-influenced menu will accompany your beers to perfection. Think sliders, chili and buffalo wings. 22 Masters St, Newstead; 07 3122 9886; www.tipplerstap.com.au Yard Bird Ale House We know we have mentioned Yard Bird before, but it would be remiss of us not to put it into our top five seeing as they have Sunday Crafternoon's dedicated to their love of craft beer. With a constantly changing supply of boutique beers in the fridge and on tap, Yard Bird has the much loved combination of top shelf beers matched with top shelf food. Their pizzas, burgers and wings never disappoint. Neither do the television screens which are generally displaying gratuitously violent or sexual movies. 6/24 Martin St, Fortitude Valley; 07 3852 6413; www.facebook.com/YardbirdAleHouse Archive Unlike the majority of boutique beer specialists in Brisbane that are intimate in both feel and size, Archive wins when it comes to size. The regular pub section is big enough for a dance floor (which regularly rocks thanks to the great tunes of the acoustic performers who play there) but also has the Next Door Cellar that hosts a huge amount of domestic and international boutique beers. The barstaff are very well-educated in this area and are always willing to let you try before you buy (after all some of these pints will set you back a pretty penny). You can get solid pub food at Archive and if you go mid-week can enjoy the night time activities hosted such as bingo and trivia. 100 Boundary Street, West End; 07 3844 3419; www.archivebeerboutique.com.au The Villager Up the George Street end of the CBD sits The Villager, a gastrobar known for its top quality drinks and food. This is the perfect place to let your hair down for a long lunch or after work. There is an extensive offering of domestic craft beers in the fridge as well as local favourites and guest beers on tap. All of the Gastrobar Classics (think really good burgers, fish and chips, pies) have accompanying beer suggestions, making your visit that little easier and more satisfying. You can also enjoy a three-course meal here and there's no doubt that the resident beer experts will happily recommend a beer with every dish...if you wish. 185 George Street, Brisbane; 07 3211 1300; www.thevillager.com.au
For the second year running, Formula 1 cars won't race around Melbourne's Albert Park during the Australian Grand Prix, with the event cancelled once again in 2021. It was scrapped in 2020, too, after it was initially due to take place just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia. This year, the race had already been postponed from March to November, but now it won't be held at all. Announcing the news today, Tuesday, July 6, the Victorian Government advised that the event has fallen victim to the pandemic — and to Australia's slow vaccination program and new caps on international traveller numbers specifically — as has this year's Australian MotoGP on Phillip Island. The Formula 1 race was due to take place on November 21, and the MotoGP on October 24; however, the state was unable to give the sports' governing bodies assurances that both would be permitted to proceed. As a result, the organisers of the two events have chosen to move on with their 2021 seasons without stops in Victoria. Both races are expected to return in 2022, though. "The Victorian Government understands the need for Formula 1 management and MotoGP controller Dorna Sports to confirm their schedules, and the decision not to proceed in 2021 was mutually agreed with those bodies," said the Victorian Government in a statement. https://twitter.com/ausgrandprix/status/1412275229800292353 The big Formula 1 race has hit Melbourne every year since 1996 — every year until last year, that is. At present, it's contracted to return to Albert Park between 2022–25. The MotoGP's history on Phillip Island is very similar, with the event first held there in 1997, and contracted to continue until 2026. Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said that "it's very disappointing that these much-loved events can't proceed but this is the reality of the pandemic — but until we get much higher vaccination rates we cannot return to more normal settings." He continued: "we are getting to work on plans for 2022 immediately and can't wait to welcome the world's best drivers and riders and all motorsport fans back to Albert Park and Phillip Island." Whether Melbourne's other big international sporting event, the 2022 Australian Open, will also be impacted by Australia's sluggish vaccine campaign and our traveller caps — and the fact that anyone heading here from overseas needs to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival — is obviously yet to be seen. The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and Australian MotoGP will no longer go ahead in 2021. For more information about the cancellation, head to the Victorian Government website and the Australian Grand Prix website.
It's hard to talk about The Darkside. It's a collection of true Aboriginal ghost stories. It's the follow-up to Warwick Thornton's first feature, Samson and Delilah. And it's unlike any other feature film — in format, in feeling and in content. It's a bit like The Turning by Robert Connolly — an anthology of mini-films rather than a long narrative that arcs forward in a straight line. So you have to take it for what it is; there's no suite of regular characters who change or interact or grow or hug or learn together, there are no subplots, no tricks, no twist at the end, no irony, no winking cleverness, definitely no CGI. In 12 small chapters, an encounter with an Indigenous ghost is recounted, usually by an actor, straight into the camera in leisurely, long takes. It's a simple and honest approach to pure storytelling without the cinematic gimmicks we're used to. That makes The Darkside a film to approach with total trust and zero skepticism. Thornton put a call-out all over the country for people to tell their stories of interactions with spirits and the inexplicable. The fact that the stories are real is important. The fact that you may not believe in ghosts is unimportant. After all, you don't need to believe in zombies to enjoy a horror movie. I engaged less with the spiritual side of the film, and more with its sincerity and its unique Indigenous cultural perspective. Thornton's detours from the direct-to-camera thing are highlights: we watch artist Ben Quilty painting a symmetrical, roaring landscape with the spirit of a small, lost girl floating sideways (it is astonishing, and a rare insight into this painter's creative process). We see a long-limbed Claudia Karvan meets the rainbow serpent and dances into Massive Attacked oblivion. And we see quietly distressing archival footage of 1900s colonialists' anthropological studies into Aboriginal people, who were once thought of as the missing evolutionary link between 'legit' humans and apes. There are a few sneaky laughs and a few sneaky creeps. This new tide of Indigenous filmmakers — Thornton, Wayne Blair, Ivan Sen, Rachel Perkins — are speaking for themselves, making Aboriginal stories for all audiences, and showing that black culture cannot be compartmentalised into the past or into the margins of non-white populations: this is not Australia's heritage, this is Australia's present. This film may be in limited release in theatres, festivals and galleries, but it deserves to be seen by everyone. The Aboriginal ancestors of Australia are still here and they're living on in The Darkside. https://youtube.com/watch?v=AUQ-8MBFjjE
Let's face it: nothing beats Mum's cooking. That is, unless she delivers up fresh, comforting, 'good for you' meals to your door and cleans up afterwards. In which case, give her break. There's an alternative. (And, for the record, you should always be doing the dishes anyway.) Youfoodz is a new healthy food delivery service that, quite simply, delivers yum, nourishing food to your door. Without you having to lift a finger — other than placing the order, of course. The Brisbane startup is all about fostering a healthy lifestyle by creating cleaner alternatives to Aussie favourites, such as their bacon and egg bagel and superseed-crusted fish and sweet potato chips. The 45 meal options are promised to stay fresh seven to nine days in the fridge, and the delivery turn around time is as little as 12 hours. As if healthy, prepared meals delivered fast aren't good enough, Youfoodz also makes sure you won't go broke, with most meals priced at $9.95 each. Cheap and healthy don't generally go hand-in-hand — especially for Sydneysiders who are accustomed to paying $19 for a salad — but healthy, fresh and cheap food for under a tenner? That sounds like a pretty sweet deal. From brekkie to dinner and all the snacks and drinks in-between, Youfoodz have all the bases covered. The menu may use all of the buzzwords — chia seeds and quinoa get a mention — but also means that everyone can get in on the fun. Even if you're dairy or gluten free. They're now spreading their wings beyond Brisbane to deliver to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as major grocers across Australia. So go ahead and tuck into their new summer menu, which includes meals like the sesame pork summer salad and the pesto and pumpkin chicken salad. Mum would most definitely approve. Concrete Playground readers can get their first Youfoodz meal for free by entering the code YF-FreeMeal at checkout. To order your meal and view the full menu, head to youfoodz.com.
Melbourne seems to be following the pattern of another day, another new development. But instead of completely decimating the environment around it, Melbourne's newest mini suburb development in the city's inner-northeast looks like it might the most sustainable yet. It's set to become the world's first 'Tesla Town', with Tesla Powerwalls built into every home along with solar panels and electric car recharging points. The new 2500-home development is called YarraBend, and it will border Alphington, Ivanhoe and Kew in Melbourne's northeast. It's being developed by local property group Glenvill, who, on the YarraBend website, have billed the new residential space as "a world-first Tesla suburb" which is "designed to achieve the highest level of sustainability and quality of life". So what exactly does having a Tesla Powerwall in each home mean? Well, quite a lot. A Tesla Powerwall is a battery that not only powers your home but one that stores power for when you need it. It's designed to hook up with your power source, which is either solar power, or the grid, where most people get their electricity from. And it's really smart, because depending on which power source you have, the Powerwall will either store the solar energy for later or charge itself from the grid in off-peak times. This not only saves you and your household some cash, but it's a step away from Australia's reliance on dirty coal and fossil fuels for power, and means that we can move towards cleaner energy like solar, wind and geothermal. Plus, with Australia only getting its first shipment of the batteries earlier this year, this will be the first large-scale project to utilise them. According to the Urban Development Institute of Australia, YarraBend will be one of the most environmentally sustainable developments in the country. "This development leads the way in sustainability," the UDIA's Danni Addison told the Heidelberg Leader. "Some areas that are a standout include water reduction of 43 per cent, landfill reduced by 80 per cent and the potential to reduce energy use by 34 per cent." Along with the Powerwalls, solar panels will also be a standard on houses in YarraBend. Making it even more futuristic, residents will also be connected through their own app and have access to a complimentary tech-concierge, who'll be on hand to help when your internet goes down. Which, if your internet connection's anything like ours, is all the goddamn time. Via Heidelberg Leader.
If you only ever see sunrise because you've been up all night, often eat lunch as your first meal of the day and don't really kick into gear until twilight hits, you're what we call a night owl. And we're guessing that you've run into a particular issue more than once: when you're just getting going, but the bars seem to be winding down for the evening. Owls, we're here to assist. If partying till late is your idea of a good time, we, with the help of Heineken, have found four Brisbane bars where you can do just that. Whether you've got something to celebrate, or you simply don't want to go to bed, these places have you covered. We won't wait up.
Wednesday is a great night for a play. If it were up to me, Wednesday would be Play Night and every Wednesday I‘d ride my bike into the city to see a play. Then I would ride home thinking about just how great that play was and I’d have a really nice sleep because of it. After work the next day I’d be wide-awake and ready for Thursday night, which I already call Drunk Thursdays. This week on Play Night you better be goddamn excited because at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts (which we all know of, because we’re very cultured) there’s a play on to start your ritual. Presumed Guilty is the story of Ellen Thompson, who in 1887 at Boggo Road Gaol, became the first woman in QLD history to be hanged. Apparently she was in a bit of a Schappelle Corby in terms of solid evidence supporting the murder of her husband. The playwright Margaret Dakin made sure her play shows all sides of the story, just like a good story should. Everyone likes a fence sitter, but which side will you be on? Cycle your way to Brunswick Street from Play Night, aka Wednesday 22 June and make a date of it.
"Ideas mostly come from a compulsion to layer colour, repeat triangles... and ultimately to express the un-ending parade of emotions life marches you through,'' Laura Horrocks says, referring to the work in her debut exhibition, Hole Hearted. Exploring femininity and angst through a series of sherbet-hued nudes with a geometric element, Horrocks’ work is abstract but her message is clear. With a series of amazing supporting artists: Charlie Hillhouse, Luke Kidd, Dominique Elliot, Alex Winters, Holly Ryan, Jack Pemble, Tom Dolmau and Martha Poggioli, Hole Hearted is one of those unmissable exhibitions that people always talk about and you wish you went to. The opening night is this Friday at 6pm, and after your eyes have taken in the views, walk down to Magic Mountain for the official Hole Hearted afterparty, with a DJ set from Die! Die! Die!’s Lachlan. If your heart’s not made whole after Hole Hearted and a set from the kiwi punk's best, then I don’t know what else will cure you. Image credit: Laura Horrocks
Spandex leotards, chunky leg warmers and feathered hair at the ready, Brisbanites: it's time to get sweaty 80s-style. Sydney favourite Retrosweat is finally bringing its throwback aerobics class our way, making its debut appearance more than ten years after setting up shop down south in 2011 — all for one fitness-fuelled evening. If you're new to Retrosweat, it was founded by Shannon Dooley, who studied at the Fitness Institute Australia and also at NIDA (learning from Baz Luhrmann's official choreographer John 'Cha Cha' O'Connell, among other teachers). The vibe really is all there in the name, combining bending, stretching and all the usual aerobics moves to 80s tunes — aka a fitness-fuelled step back in time. So, if you turned to streaming Aerobics Oz Style during pandemic lockdowns to keep fit, you'll know the drill — or you might've actually checked out Retrosweat's own at-home workout, including its VHS workout club, too, or its recent Olivia Newton-John tribute. In Sydney, Retrosweat hosts several weekly sessions; however, for its first-ever Brisbane class, it's holding a one-off hour-long stint from 6.30–7.30pm on Monday, October 10 at the Bombshell Burlesque Academy Studios in Bowen Hills. Fingers crossed that this 80s-loving motivation to get active comes back Brisbane's way again, because everyone deserves to star-jump, flick-kick and grapevine to tunes by Prince, Madonna, David Bowie, Bananarama, Pat Benatar, WHAM! and more.
There's one thing that all wine festivals have in common: vino, and plenty of it. But this returning rosé fest hosted by Brisbane's inner-city winery adds something extra to the mix — because, when it takes over West End market space Westoria on Sunday, April 2, you'll be able to help make rosé between knocking back glasses of the pink stuff. At 2023's Rosé Festival by City Winery, stomping and pressing grapes is one of the big attractions. And, the results of all that jumping up and down will be bottled for the company's rosé release for the year, too. So, down the track, you'll be able to grab one, add it to your wine rack and know that you had a hand — or two feet — in making it. If you'd rather just sip the rosés already on offer, that's obviously also part of the festival. Bands and DJs will provide a soundtrack while you're tasting your way through different drops, and there'll be masterclasses and workshops to help up your knowledge on the topic as well. And, expect food trucks to setup shop around Westoria as well, helping to line your stomach. Also, because of the change of venue, expect this fest to be bigger than ever, too. The fun kicks off at 2pm and runs till 8.30pm, with tickets starting at $29.
Eager to turn that hump day frown upside down? Like wearing stretchy pants? Here's your new Wednesday go-to. When the middle of the working week hits from Wednesday, September 29, Fortitude Valley's La Costa is dedicating its evening menu to bottomless gnocchi and pizza. Head by from 5pm, get comfy for 90 minutes, then discover how many slices you can handle — and how much gnocchi as well. You'll eat as much as you can from an eight-dish menu, which'll change each month. To start with, pumpkin, five-cheese and seafood varieties of gnocchi are on offer, as are five types of pizza that include chorizo, a vegetable-topped option, seafood, mushroom and pancetta, and mortadella. As with all all-you-can-eat deals, there are rules. To get the $25 special, everyone at your table needs to partake. Also, you'll only get one serving of pizza or gnocchi at a time, and you'll have to finish it before you get your next one. And, that 90-minute time limit will be strictly enforced. There's a gluten-free option as well, which'll cost you an extra $5. And, if all that pizza and gnocchi is making you thirsty, you'll get a beer or wine with your meal — included in the price. Beyond that, negronis and Aperol spritzes will cost you $10 a pop.
Brisbanites, get ready for mud crab mayhem at Eagle Street's Kingsleys. That's right, the epic steakhouse overlooking the beautiful 'brown snake' can do a lot more than just grill a mean piece of beef. Throughout May, it's celebrating the return of mud crab season with $69 muddies for the whole month. They're usually sold at market price — which can push $100 a kilogram — so this deal is one not to be missed. The hefty crustaceans come served one of three ways: steamed with tarragon and lashings of red wine butter; piled high with chilli, tomato and coriander; or chilled with lots of mayo for dipping. With plenty of (sea)foodies expected to take advantage of this crab extravaganza, pre-ordering is highly recommended. If mud crab doesn't quite tickle your fancy — or you have a dining partner who's not (yet) convinced — there are also oysters, Moreton Bay bugs, local fish and, of course, Kingsley's famed steak cuts. It's a butcher's (and a carnivore's) dream, with everything from Angus eye fillet to sous vide kangaroo and wagyu rump. You can also trade your usual desk sandwich for Kingsleys' fab (and affordable) Let's Do Lunch. Choose from two($35) or three($45) courses, and dive into (among other things) natural oysters, truffle arancini, a Kingsleys Burger and a caramelised honey crème brûlée. For a fancy waterside lunch that's under 50 bucks, it's a no-brainer.
If things seem a little impressionistic at QUT Art Museum for the next few months, that's by design — Australia's female abstract artists have taken over the gallery's walls. Until August 26, the CBD space will be highlight the significant contribution that women have made to the country's abstract and modern art thanks to touring exhibition Abstraction: Celebrating Australian Women Abstract Artists, which comes from the National Gallery of Australia. Expect shapes, colours, lines and any other abstract representation you can think of, all as part of an array of paintings and sculptures. There's 74 works by 38 artists, to be specific, with historical greats such as Margaret Preston, Dorrit Black, Grace Crowley, Margo Lewers, Janet Dawson on display beside into contemporary artists like Virginia Cuppaidge, Elizabeth Coats, Melinda Harper and Debra Dawes — and Indigenous talents including Emily Kam Kngwarray and Sally Gabori. If this kind of showcase sounds a little out of the ordinary, redressing that reality — and shining a spotlight on the country's creative ladies — is also part of the plan. The exhibition offers "a timely reminder of the role of women in the development of abstract painting, at a time when major art institutions have a tendency to applaud male artists," explains QUT Art Museum Curator Kevin Wilson. Image: Grace Crowley. Abstract painting 1947, oil on cardboard. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Purchased 1959. Courtesy National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
A new year has begun, and for us that means one thing — it's time to book new travel destinations for 2020. This time around, instead of searching for things like 'best beaches' or 'best cities', plan your travel from a different angle. An arts and culture angle, that is. Planning your calendar around the world's many festivals is a fun way to change up your regular trip routine. Think a biennale in India, a mountain burning festival in Japan and one celebrating 24-hours-of daylight in Russia. Here are seven lesser known arts/culture festivals to travel overseas for this year. [caption id="attachment_757197" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jirka Matousek via Flickr.[/caption] PINGXI LANTERN FESTIVAL, PINGXI DISTRICT, TAIWAN Taking place just outside of Taipei, the Pingxi Lantern Festival marks the end of Chinese New Year with one stunning illuminated display. Visitors write a message and place it inside a paper sky lanterns, then set it aflame and release it into the night — alongside thousands of others. It's an impressive sight that holds an air of magic around it. While the lanterns float overhead, the streets are filled with folk performances, street carnivals and contests. The annual festival has been taking over Taiwan for over 2000 years, having begun during the Xing Dynasty. We can't think of a better way to ring in the (lunar) new year. When? February 1–8, 2020 KOCHI-MUZIRIS BIENNALE, FORT KOCHI, INDIA Every two years, the charming seaside town of Fort Kochi becomes a mecca for all things art in India. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale showcases contemporary Indian and international art in heritage properties around the city — this year includes a townhouse, project space, art cafe and converted warehouse. Each biennale is curated by an artist who is chosen by a committee of artists, scholars and collectors. Now in its fifth edition, the 2020 curator for the festival is artist and writer Shubigi Rao. She was born in India but is based in Singapore, and is known for her layered installations across mediums like books, etchings, drawings and puzzles. The festival runs for over three months each year, so you have a good window in which to book your trip, too. When? December 2020 – March 2021 [caption id="attachment_757203" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nwhitely via Flickr.[/caption] WAKAKUSA YAMAYAKI, NARA, JAPAN For one seriously fiery sight, make sure you're in Nara, Japan on the forth January of the year. An ancient version of Burning Man festival, the Wakakusa Yamayaki festival sees the dead grass on Mount Wakakusayama set on fire — and that's followed by one big ol' fireworks display. No one quite knows the origin of the festival, leaving it shrouded in mystery. Some accounts claim the mountainside burning began due to boundary conflicts between the Kohfukuji and Todaiji Temples. Others claim the fires are meant to scare away wild boars, and even ghosts. Regardless of the origin, it's an impressive sight. The blazing mountain can be seen from any point in the city — with Nara Park being the best lookout. When? January 25, 2020 [caption id="attachment_757204" align="alignnone" width="1920"] This Is Edinburgh via Flickr[/caption] HOGMANAY, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh really knows how to ring in the new year. While parties happen all over the world on New Year's Eve, no one does it quite like the Scots — their celebration runs for two full days and features street parties, carnival rides, Christmas markets and a full on music festival to boot. The multi-stage festival takes place on December 31 straight into the new year, with at least five bands playing simultaneously. Alongside the festival is a torchlight procession on December 30. Also on the docket is an ice rink, ferris wheel, polar bear plunge in icy waters (dubbed he Loony Dook race) and even an arts festival that takes over nine unusual venues across the city. When? December 30, 2020 – January 1, 2021 ART FAIR PHILIPPINES, MANILA PHILIPPINES The Philippines' vibrant art scene is on full display each February when Art Fair Philippines transforms The Link carpark into a cultural marketplace. The weekend-long festival was only just founded in 2013, and has since become the top art event in the country. A wide range of contemporary art is available to view and purchase, ranging from paintings and sculptures to photographs and more experimental installations. All of the artists are on hand alongside their work, so you can chat to the makers of your favourite pieces. If you're travelling with a friend or partner, it's also a fun way to start out the evening — the exhibition stays open until 9pm each night and there are heaps of food and drink vendors available, so you can peruse with bubbly in hand. And entry tickets cost just a tenner. When? February 21–23, 2020 [caption id="attachment_757202" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sandra Cohen-Rose and Colin Rose via Flickr.[/caption] WHITE NIGHTS FESTIVAL, ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA While images of Russia's picturesque city of St Petersburg often depict a blanket of snow, the summer months actually see nearly 24 hours of daylight here. And the city celebrates these long days for three full months each year — specifically from mid-May through mid-July. Stars of the White Nights is a massive collection of arts and culture events spanning music, film, ballet and opera premieres (including at the Mariinsky Theatre, pictured above) and outdoor festivities. Many of the city's top museums stay open overnight during this period, too. Or simply wander along the River Neva, where gypsy bands, jugglers, fire eaters and other carnival acts can be seen performing all night long. When? May 22 – July 21, 2020 ART BASEL, MIAMI BEACH, USA Started over 40 years ago, Art Basel is considered to be the premiere art event of the year by many. It's held annually across Hong Kong, Basel, Switzerland and Miami Beach. The USA instalment takes place over three days in December and features works from over 250 leading galleries across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and even Australia. It showcases masterpieces from modern and contemporary artists, alongside exhibitions by emerging artists — and this year has partnered with KickStarter specifically to support up-and-comers. Art forms span paintings, sculptures and photographs, as well as large-scale installations films, and editions from master artists. And you have the added benefit of being next to one of the States' best beaches, too. When? December 3–6, 2020 Top image: Jirka Matousek via Flickr.
From dead characters to killer plants, M Night Shyamalan's films are known for veering off in out-there directions, as everything from The Sixth Sense and The Village to The Happening and Split has shown. So, when a trailer for one of his movies drops, you can expect that it'll tease a strange twist. That's what the first sneak peek at Old did back in February, with the feature's new full trailer now fleshing out a few more details. As already established in the first 30-second clip, Old follows a family led by Gael García Bernal (Ema) and Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread) as they head off on a beachside holiday. Finding a particularly secluded spot online, they lap up their scenic surroundings — even when a few more people show up. But then a dead body is spotted floating in the water, putting everyone on edge. Next, the couple's kids disappear behind a few rocks, only to return looking much older than they did mere seconds ago. There's an eerie tone to both the initial sneak peek and the new trailer, unsurprisingly. If you're wondering where Shyamalan will take the concept from there, you'll have to wait until the thriller releases in cinemas in July. The filmmaker has penned the movie's script, too; however, he's based it all Pierre Oscar Lévy and Frederik Peeters' graphic novel Sandcastle. Hoping that it turns out more like Unbreakable and less like The Visit is understandable. As well as Bernal and Krieps, Old has amassed a hefty cast, including Rufus Sewell (The Father), Alex Wolff (Hereditary), Australian actors Abbey Lee (Lovecraft Country) and Eliza Scanlen (Babyteeth), and New Zealand's Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit) — the latter of whom will be hitting our screens a few times this year, given that she also stars in Last Night in Soho. If you're already getting big Lost vibes, Ken Leung (Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens) also features. And no, neither him nor any of his co-stars say "I see old people" in the new trailer. Hopefully that'll remain the same in the movie itself. Check out the new trailer below: Old opens in Australian cinemas on July 22. Top image: Universal Pictures.
For a few days, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is hosting a sales event of most peculiar stock. Strange things they are, full of pages, rampant with words and with covers of the most beautiful colours. You can't charge them, they don't run out of battery, their brightness is unalterable, and they won't smash when you drop them and have them lost forever. Yes, Lifeline Bookfest is back for another round of vintage bargains and startling ranges of everything from Australian Women's Weekly Cookbooks to a bit of cheeky erotica, with the mid-year sale running from Saturday, June 23 to Sunday, July 1. If you're been before, you'll know there are warehouse quantities of books for sale – your grade five diary is probably hidden under a copy of Shantaram and multiple versions of Harry Potter, and you'll come across at least three copies of Cooking with Days of Our Lives. Prices range from cents to the big bucks — bring a trolley and your glasses and absorb yourself in books. Or, head along after work on Friday, June 29, when Bookfest is pairing late-night shopping with live tunes.
Grab your togs, plus your mates or date, then get ready to indulge your love for swims, sips and breakfast: The Westin Brisbane has relaunched what's fast becoming an annual River City summer highlight. The Mary Street hotel doesn't just feature 298 rooms and suites with views, onsite eateries and bars, and a spa — it's also home to a swim-up spot for drinks, aka Nautilus Pool Bar, which opens its doors to the public when the weather is warm. From now until Sunday, April 28, you don't need to be a guest at the Marriott-owned international brand's first Queensland location to go for a splash while enjoying a cocktail in the water. As it did across 2022–23's hot temperatures, The Westin Brisbane is turning Nautilus Pool Bar into a beach club. This year's inspiration: The Maldives. Again dubbed Nautilus Beach Club, this seasonal stint includes live DJs spinning tunes on the deck, poolside cabana service and, for the first time, floating breakfasts. Yes, your food will be served to you literally in the pool, with the $280-per-person spread spanning fruit, pastries, juice, Mumm champagne, your choice of tea or coffee, and a number of hot breakfast dishes. If that sounds like your way to spend a morning, it's on offer from 10am–11.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. Nautilus Beach Club: Maldives Moments runs from Friday–Sunday until the end of March, then Saturday–Sunday in April, with its regular menu offering slow-braised octopus in a tomato chilli ragout; yellowfin tuna ceviche in a curry powder rub with red onion, chilli, coriander and tomato; and seafood platters that feature Moreton Bay bugs, tiger prawns, kingfish ceviche and green lip mussels. Drinks-wise, special cocktails include a Maldivian take on the piña colada and spritzes Attendees have a couple of other options for Mediterranean-influenced lounging by the pool, with a $49 ticket covering access, a towel to use while you're there and your first spritz. If you and a date or mate are feeling like treating yo'selves, there's also a cabana experience for $269 for two, which gives you your own cabana to hang out in, a seafood platter and a bottle of rosé. And the pool itself? It's heated to 28 degrees, perfect for comfortable swims during Brisbane's sultry summer.
Aspiring culinary wizards of Brisbane should already be familiar with Newstead's Golden Pig. In fact, if you've ever wanted to pick up a few kitchen tricks, you've probably taken a class there. Boosting your cooking skills is no longer the only reason to stop by, however, with the Ross Street venue adding a new pan-Asian restaurant to its warehouse building. Now called The Golden Pig Restaurant & Cooking School, the brick abode still lets everyone whip up a few dishes on Sundays and Mondays, hosting sessions on curry, Greek cuisine, gluten-free cooking, sour dough and bread-making, summer salads and more on its upcoming class calendar. Every other night of the week, the timber-accented 80-seat space will be filled with an array of Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese-influenced dishes. Think Sichuan spiced duck with mandarin and miso, turmeric curry of pork belly, vegetarian ma hor with sticky fried peanuts, and king salmon with black bean, sweet soy, chilli and ginger. Working with head chef Sarah Hockings, owner and chef Katrina Ryan has designed a menu that aims to showcase a range of tastes and flavours, as well as matching Brisbane's usually sunny weather. "I think Asian cuisine and ingredients are a beautiful match with our subtropical climate," she explains — and Golden Pig's dessert selection of lemongrass tapioca, deep-fried banana ice cream, lime and coconut sugar delicious pudding typifies that sentiment. Two banquets are also available for those keen to try a little of everything, and the drinks list has been crafted by bar manager Cameron Silk. Overlooking the central open kitchen, the bar itself opens from 5pm Tuesday to Saturday — prior to the restaurant opening at 5.30pm — and serves up bao, potstickers and scallops alongside wine, beer, cider and fruit-heavy cocktails. Find The Golden Pig Restaurant & Cooking School at 38 Ross Street, Newstead.
If the Scream franchise can make another comeback — and, come January 2022, it will again — then another late 90s horror series can pop up again, too. Both Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer were penned by the same screenwriter, they each followed slashers terrorising teens and, on-screen, they pushed Party of Five cast members to the fore. Now, as Scream already did between 2015–19, I Know What You Did Last Summer is heading to the small screen. We know what you'll be doing this spring, clearly. Once again, Lois Duncan's 1973 novel of the same name will come to life — and yes, a car accident will play a pivotal part here as well. This time, the show's group of teenagers find themselves being stalked by a killer a year after their graduation night turned bloody. You know how it goes from there, with I Know What You Did Last Summer's central characters forced to try to stay alive while they're also still attempting to hide their secret — and they need to work out who's swinging weapons their way, obviously. To flesh out the underlying concept over the course of the series, this version of the story is set to ponder everything else that lurks in the key figures' seemingly perfect town, so it's taking a few more cues from Scream there as well. On-screen, Madison Iseman (Jumanji: The Next Level), Bill Heck (Locke & Key), Brianne Tju (47 Metres Down: Uncaged), Ezekiel Goodman (Dragonfly), Ashley Moore (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping), Sebastian Amoruso (Solve), Fiona Rene (Underwater), Cassie Beck (Joe Bell) and Brooke Bloom (The Sinner) will be endeavouring to survive — or, maybe one of them is the killer? Australian director and horror genre hitmaker James Wan (The Conjuring, Saw, Insidious) executive produces the series, while Sara Goodman is in the writer's chair. Amazon Prime Video will start airing I Know What You Did Last Summer from Friday, October 15, with new episodes dropping weekly until Friday, November 12. The streaming platform has also just dropped an initial teaser trailer, if you're wondering how the premise shapes up almost a quarter-century after the original film. And no, there's no word if Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe or Freddie Prinze Jr will make cameos in the series. Check out the first teaser trailer below: I Know What You Did Last Summer starts streaming via Amazon Prime Video on Friday, October 15.
If blitzing the ARIAs and taking out the number one spot in this year's triple Hottest 100 wasn't enough for Sydney producer Flume, he's just landed himself a Grammy. The 25-year-old has just won Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards for his runaway May 2016 success Skin, beating Jean-Michel Jarre, Tycho and Louie Vega to the trophy. It's the first Grammy win for Flume, aka Harley Streten, who was also nominated for Best Dance Recording, for triple j Hottest 100 winner 'Never Be Like You', but was pipped to the post by The Chainsmokers with their popular single 'Don't Let Me Down'. Watch Flume's delightful acceptance speech here, which includes a mad shout out to Australian music: Check out Flume's exclusive anthem for Keep Sydney Open here. Image: Cybele Malinowski.
If you weren't aware, loveable hitmaker Post Malone has his own rosé. Created with award-winning Provence winemaker Alexis Cornu alongside music manager Dre London and Global Brand Equities' James Morrissey, Maison No. 9 is a classic Provencal pink wine, sporting a name inspired by Post Malone's favourite tarot card the Nine of Swords. The wine is crisp, dry and savoury, and comes in a sleek minimalist bottle sporting a tarot-inspired sword with a rose wrapped around it. The bottle also mirrors the theme of swords and knights, with a solid-glass cap shaped into battlements reminiscent of a historic medieval castle that's located near the vineyard where the wine is made. "Rosé is when you want to get a little fancy," says the diamond-certified, Grammy-nominated pop star. Following successful launches in the US and the UK that saw immense popularity — the wine sold 50,000 bottles in its first 48 hours in the UK — Malone has brought Maison No. 9 to Australia for a limited run of just 10,000 bottles. So, you're going to have to act quick if you want to get your hands on a bottle. Currently, the only way to order the rosé in Australia is through Dan Murphy's website, where you can nab a bottle for $42.99. Accompanying the Australian release of the wine is a line of merch available through the Maison No. 9 website. T-shirts sporting an image of Post Malone with the wine are available, as well as hoodies, crewneck jumpers, wine glasses, dog toys, socks and beanies, all with the wine's logo and signature sword printed on them. While you're at the website, you can also find recipes for a series of cocktails that you can make with the wine, including sangria, spritzes, rosé bloody marys and rosé palomas. 10,000 bottles of Post Malone's Maison No. 9 are available now via Dan Murphy's online.
