The term 'cheap and cheerful' is more likely to be shouted by pensioners at their local RSL on bingo night than by any city-dwelling foodie on the hunt for a feed. While the Little Greek Taverna is a Brisbane institution needing no introduction, it is a refreshing break from a dining world where paying $35 for a main meal has become 'the norm'. Take your $35 to Little Greek and you can order any entree and main, pop down to the bottle shop and pick up wine, pay the corkage and still have change left for baklava. With consistent, healthy and quality food it's no wonder this place has become a local favourite. With busy tables that spill out onto West End's well-trodden footpaths and prices that mimic the state of the Greek economy (read: cheap), its atmosphere and authenticity give it a big tick in the right direction. Little Greek keeps it simple with minimalistic decor and a touch of traditional music. Sit back and relax, let the sounds of the bouzouki take you to whitewashed walls of the Mediterranean and tuck into a feast. Mains come in at around $15 for a set of lamb cutlets, chicken souvlaki or pork chops with salad. Or if you wish, take creative control of your meal and pick and choose from the big range of meats and throw a salad on the side later - perfect for those #bulking and #cleaneating. Those who prefer to leave it up to the Greek gods can go halves in a $35 share platter. We told you your money goes far here. Be sure to order the spanakopita ($6), these three crispy spirals of spinach and ricotta go down a treat, and save room for loukoumi ($3), their delicious rose flavoured turkish delight. And remember, if you hear the kitchen smash a plate, it was probably intentional.
New Year's Eve is a night that calls for celebration. And, if you want to dance, eat and drink your way into 2020, while also enjoying one of Brisbane's best views, Jade Buddha's Shadow Lounge is throwing a sparkling, roaring 20s-themed party that fits the brief. To make sure you're well catered to, grab a standard ticket ($95) and for three hours you'll be served sliders and skewers along with bottomless tap beer, house wine, Aperol spritzes and non-alcoholic bevvies. Or, you can up the stakes with a VIP ticket ($135), which will add basic spirits and tap cocktails to the mix. Both these packages offer the goods between 6–9pm. Packages aside, doors will be open for all to join the bash (free before 9pm) to take advantage of the waterfront views for prime firework watching at both 8.30pm and midnight. You'll be entering a world of glitz and glamour, so, if you love to dress up, you can don your finest suit or flapper dress. Just make sure to rest your feet in the days prior because DJs will be playing all night long and tearing up the dance floor is non-negotiable. For more information and to grab your tickets, head here.
When The Market Folk brought a heap of stalls to Newstead's Gasometer last Christmas, it was clearly a smart move. Browsing and buying beneath one of inner-city Brisbane's most striking sights, including at night — what's not to love? Because some ideas are too great to only happen once a year, this winning combination is making a comeback — even though we're months and months away from festive season. Of course, February has its own date worth celebrating, so you'll be shopping for fashion, art, homewares, plants and ceramics on the romantic occasion that is Valentine's Day. [caption id="attachment_758933" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Market Folk[/caption] Taking place from 5–9pm on Friday, February 14, the Gasworks Valentine's Day Market will feature plenty of artisanal goodies to tempt your wallet — and a heap of perfect gift ideas for your special someone, too. As always, Brisbane creatives will be in the spotlight, so you'll also be showing them some love as well. Top image: Andrew S via Flickr.
Five decades after it was first released, Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' is still a perfect song. It rarely bodes well when it pops up in movies, TV shows or trailers for either, though. Take the just-dropped first sneak peek at Westworld's fourth season, for instance — where the words "you're going to reap just what you sow" feel especially eerie. Since it first hit HBO back in 2016 — and channels/streaming services such as Foxtel, Binge and Neon Down Under that bring the US network's series our way, too — Westworld has been unnerving from the get-go. It's all there in the concept, which first unfurled on-screen back in 1973 thanks to the Michael Crichton-directed movie of the same name. Here, in the eponymous android amusement park, humans pay to live out their fantasies while surrounded by supremely realistic-looking androids. What could go wrong? Everything, obviously. Across its second season in 2018 and third batch of episodes in 2020, the TV version of Westworld has built upon this premise, twisting in wild, strange, violent and surreal directions. Naturally, with season four set to start arriving from Monday, June 27, that's only going to continue. The first teaser trailer isn't big on plot, but it does set a huge mood — or reinforce the tone that Westworld fans already know and love, to be more precise. While narrative details are scarce, the show is bound to keep wading through the fallout that's been shaping its story from day one, after some of the robot theme park's electronic hosts started to break their programming, make their own decisions and question their creators. What it lacks in plot specifics, Westworld's first look at season four makes up for in atmosphere and recognisable faces, including Evan Rachel Wood (Kajillionaire), Thandiwe Newton (All the Old Knives), Ed Harris (The Lost Daughter), Jeffrey Wright (The Batman), Tessa Thompson (Passing), Luke Hemsworth (Young Rock), Aaron Paul (Truth Be Told) and Angela Sarafyan (Reminiscence). Joining them as a newcomer this season: newly minted West Side Story Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose. If you feel like you've been hanging out for new Westworld for years, that's because the show always seems to bring its android dramas back in two-year intervals. Still, it's worth remembering that the first season of the show arrived 43 years after the Michael Crichton-directed movie that it's based on, and 40 years after the film's sequel Futureworld. If you haven't done so already, both are worth viewing while you're waiting for the TV series to return. Check out the teaser trailer for Westworld's fourth season below: Westworld's fourth season will start streaming via Binge in Australia from Monday, June 27 — and via Neon in New Zealand.
More than a month has passed since the death of David Bowie; however his isn't a loss the world can just get over. Arcade Fire and Ewan McGregor are among those who have paid tribute to the iconic performer in recent weeks, and now it's The John Steel Singers, WAAX, Born Joy Dead, MKO Sun and Inigo's turn. They'll all be taking to the stage at Ziggy Played Guitar, aka the Foundry's aptly titled celebration of one of music's enduring heroes. And they'll be joined by Dean McGrath from Rolls Bayce, Spencer White from Morning Harvey and Orphans Orphans, Joe White and Nathan Kendall from The Jensens, Jonathan Boulet, Emma Dean and more. Yes, there's an ever-growing list of talent keen to recognise the life and influence of an artist like no other. Watch this cast of local greats belt out classic Bowie tracks and do their best to channel the spirit of Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and the Thin White Duke — and know that you're doing your part to help, too. Proceeds from the evening will be donated towards helping cancer charities, in an effort to not only assist others suffering from the disease, but to mirror the great man's passion for addressing the world's many problems.
It has been four years since Brisbane Powerhouse added a new festival to their events calendar, giving the Brisbane Queer Film Festival a multi-arts sibling celebrating all things LGBTIQ+ beyond the screen. And while BQFF and MELT no longer coincide, they're both still going strong — with the latter back for another round of diverse theatre, comedy, dance, art, circus, music, burlesque and more from May 17 to 27. Taking place a little later in the year compared to previous fests, 2018's MELT actually kicks off on IDAHOT, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. To mark the occasion, it'll unleash 11 days filled with more than 20 different events, making Brissie an even more vibrant place than it already is. Prepare for pop, drag, parties, pride and plenty of fun —and our top eight picks of the event, too.
If you're a Sydneysider with a trip to Queensland in your future — or vice versa — the pandemic might've just interrupted your plans. With two new locally acquired COVID-19 cases identified in the New South Wales capital in the past two days, and the Greater Sydney region reinstating some gathering restrictions and an indoor mask mandate, the Sunshine State has announced new border rules. It isn't shutting its borders, but it does now require travellers who've visited an exposure site to undertake 14 days of quarantine. The change was announced today, Thursday, May 6, and has two components. Anyone who is currently in Queensland, or arrives in the state before 1am tomorrow, Friday, May 7, is required to quarantine at their home or accommodation, call the state's 13 HEALTH number (13 43 25 84) and get a COVID-19 test. Folks who arrive after that time won't have the same luxury, though; instead, they'll be sent to mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days once they enter Queensland. The latter process — sending people who've visited a declared interstate exposure site into compulsory hotel quarantine for a fortnight — is part of Queensland's new Interstate Exposure Venues Direction. It came into effect on April 28, and applies moving forward. So, whenever an outbreak occurs somewhere other than Queensland, anyone who has visited declared exposure venues and then heads to the Sunshine State will be sent to mandatory hotel quarantine. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1390171507226136579 The list of exposure sites was first announced by NSW Health yesterday, Wednesday, May 5, and has been growing since. Queensland Health has also been keeping a list, if you're a Brisbanite who has spent some time in Sydney lately, or you're a Sydneysider keen to head north in the near future. Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young also advised that anyone who has been in Greater Sydney on or after Tuesday, April 27 "should be monitoring closely for symptoms and getting tested immediately if they experience COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild." And, if you need a reminder, the symptoms to look out for are coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste. For more information about southeast Queensland's COVID-19 border requirements, or about the status of COVID-19 in the state, visit the Qld COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
First, Brisbane finally got its first day-long vegan festival. Then, the first regular vegan market popped up. Now, keeping the trend going, Vegucation Festival & Market is the city's first evening gathering of stalls solely devoted to eating plant-based diets. Just head to the Northey Street City Farm from 4.30pm on December 9 for all of your healthy, sustainable, cruelty-free, vegetarian needs. And yes, if you're looking for inspiration for a meat-free Christmas, we're sure you'll find it here. Vegucation Festival & Market will feature multiple food stalls and vendors for all of your shopping needs, plus live music and educational awareness stands to keep you entertained and informed. And, given that it's taking place at a community farm in Windsor, it'll also boast gorgeous, relaxing, natural surroundings. If that doesn't make you want to stock up on fruit and veg, nothing will.
It's not every day someone asks you to steal their things. Stolen Rum did just that. They posted notices to telegraph poles asking "Is this your sofa?" and kindly let the good people know where to steal them from. You steal it, you keep it; that was the deal, no tricks. On the same day across three countries — Sydney, Australia; Miami, USA; and Dunedin, New Zealand — people lined up for hours hoping to secure a sofa. Needless to say, all 150 sofas were burgled, plundered and nicked in less than seven minutes. Seven. With the average sofa weighing at least over 30kg, that's some speedy thieving. The Stolen Sofas Project generated a gargantuan amount of public interest, with budding thieves nabbing a spot in line hours before kick-off in each city. The first 50 lounge bandits in Sydney, Miami and Dunedin then had one job to do: nick the lounge and get the heck home. Punters scraped together their best burglary getaway vehicles, trucks, cars, bikes, even skateboards. But the purists simply came with ready hands and previous experience in moving house for their mates. The result? Pure, debaucherous international chaos. Stolen Rum, a new drop on the market, has been winning over hearts in bottle shops across Australia, New Zealand and the States. The company’s inspiration is a rebellion against the “tedious existence of work and pay”. “We cannot buy our lives back, nor can we beg them back,” writes the vagabond theorist on their site. “Our lives will only be our own when we steal them back — and that means taking what we want without asking permission.” Want to know where you can taste Stolen Rum? It's on the shelf at BWS Australia wide and in some of your favourite Sydney bars. Check out all the happy couch thieves from The Stolen Sofa Project day below. Sydney Dunedin Miami
Hitting the ski slopes this season? If you're quick, you can be among the first to book a stay in the just-opened Numbananga Lodge — a self-contained, ski-in ski-out snow lodge in Smiggin Holes, with easy access to all the fun of Perisher. With room to sleep six, this cosy, newly renovated pad could be an ideal base for that group snow trip you've been planning. Just keep in mind that you'll need a cool $1500 per night (during peak season) to book it — which works out to $250 each, if you can find five friends. The lodge is perched only a five-minute drive from Perisher Valley, though many will be tempted to take the scenic route: travelling by skis right from the front door, or on the nearby Link T-Bar. The lodge is available to hire out year round, and summertime at Numbananga has plenty of drawcards of its own, boasting primo views and endless opportunities for fishing, bike riding and bush walking in the nearby Kosciuszko National Park. It also costs significantly less to hire out in the off-season, dropping to as little as $350 a night. Owned and operated by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the nature-based accomodation is a pretty rare gem, as the only publicly available, free-standing, self-contained lodge in the area. Book your Numbananga Lodge stay via the National Parks NSW website.
UPDATE, July 22, 2021: The postponed 2021 Brisbane Night Noodle Markets will now take place between Wednesday, September 22–Sunday, October 3. UPDATE, July 13, 2021: Due to travel and quarantine requirements stemming from Greater Sydney's current lockdown, the 2021 2021 Brisbane Night Noodle Markets have been postponed. With many of the event's vendors based in New South Wales, the markets can't go ahead as planned on from Wednesday, July 21–Sunday, August 1. New dates haven't yet been announced, but we'll update you when they are. At the end of May, Brisbane's Good Food Month revealed that it was returning for 2021, which is great news for grumbling stomachs across the city. Also part of that announcement: the news that the Night Noodle Markets would also be returning, although few other details were given. Wondering where you'll be perusing the usual hawker-style array of stalls? And when? This year, you won't just be heading to South Bank as usual. Instead, the 2021 Night Noodle Markets will take place at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens — and you'll be making a trip (or several) between Wednesday, July 21–Sunday, August 1. This'll be the sixth year that the Night Noodle Markets have hit up our fair town, after sitting out 2020 for obvious reasons. It's also a rare physical event for the event of late, with both Sydney in 2020 and Melbourne this year doing at-home versions instead. As for what Brisbanites will be eating this year, and which vendors will be slinging all manner of food, that hasn't yet been revealed. In previous years, as well as more than a couple of pop-up bars, the likes of Chu the Phat, Hoy Pinoy, Waffleland, Puffle, Donburi Station, Bangkok Street Food, Bao Brothers, Little Kyoto, Okonomiyaking and Gelato Messina have served up dishes. And, they've whipped up everything from Malaysian and Indian-style paella, Japanese octopus dumplings and Korean barbecue tacos to cheeseburger puffles and waffle sticks with peanut butter, ice cream, bananas, pretzels and caramel. Obviously, arriving hungry is recommended. This year, so is registering that you'll be attending in advance for contact tracing purposes. And, entry will remain free — but you'll clearly have to pay for whatever you're eating and drinking. The 2021 Night Noodle Markets will pop up at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens from Wednesday, July 21–Sunday, August 1. We'll update you when vendor details — and the lineup of foods they'll be serving — are announced. Images: Bec Taylor.
First, get excited about autumn Down Under. Next, get a sneak peek at the number-one show on your early 2023 viewing list. HBO just has announced when its award-winning family-feud drama Succession will return for its fourth season — down to a three-month period, at least — and dropped a full teaser trailer giving a glimpse at what's in store. Sometime between March and May in Australia and New Zealand, Succession will unfurl its next round of squabbles over a media conglomerate, between a father and his adult children, and likely between siblings as well. So far, HBO hasn't been more specific about timing than that, just noting that season four of the show will arrive in spring in the US — which, yes is autumn Down Under. The American network gave a firmer of idea of what the new batch of Succession episodes will cover, however, following on from an initial sneak peek in a broader HBO trailer in mid-October. As patriarch and business titan Logan Roy, Brian Cox (Remember Me) is still monologuing with the best of them, including about his kids. "I'm a hundred feet tall. These people are pygmies," he spits, as the teaser also shows Kendall (Jeremy Strong, The Trial of the Chicago 7), Connor (Alan Ruck, Freaky), Shiv (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman) and Roman (Kieran Culkin, No Sudden Move) banding together to form a rebel alliance against their dad. All the chaos stems from the season-three move to sell the Roy's company Waystar Royco to a tech visionary played by Alexander Skarsgård (The Northman). Unsurprisingly, not everyone is thrilled. When an entire series is about who'll take over the lucrative and powerful family business, removing that option for everyone is going to cause some hefty fallout. Also included in this sneak peek: Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen, Operation Mincemeat) addressing the aftermath of his own actions at the end of season three, and his betrayal of his Shiv. "Do you want to talk about what happened?" he asks his wife, who — also to the astonishment of no one — does not look impressed. It was back in 2021 when HBO announced that Succession would return for a fourth run, after its Emmy-winning third season proved that exceptional — and popular. Viewers can clearly expect more power struggles and more savaging of the one percent, aka more of what Succession has always done best. Indeed, if you're a fan of twisty TV shows about wealth, privilege, influence, the vast chasm between the rich and everyday folks, and the societal problems that fester due to such rampant inequality, there's been plenty of ace examples of late, including The White Lotus and Squid Game. No series slings insults as savagely as this tremendous series, however. No show channels feuding and backstabbing into such an insightful and gripping satire, either. Check out the teaser for Succession season four below: Succession season four will arrive sometime in autumn 2023 Down Under, including via Foxtel, Binge and Foxtel On Demand in Australia and Neon in New Zealand — we'll update you with exact details when they're announced. Check out our review of season three.
When Sydney Sweeney was in Sydney at a Sydney Swans game earlier in 2023, it wasn't just because she was playing the Sydney version of Pokémon and catching them all. Rather, the Euphoria and The White Lotus star was filming a romantic comedy. And when Boxing Day hits this year, cinemagoers will be able to see the end result. Right now, you can watch a sneak peek at rom-com Anyone But You, too, thanks to the movie's just-dropped first teaser trailer. The setup: Sweeney plays Bea, who had a great first date with Ben (Glen Powell, Top Gun: Maverick), then suggests that they pretend to be a couple when things don't quite work out otherwise. There's more to the story, but that isn't what teaser trailers are for — so why the pair's spark fizzled after their first date hasn't been revealed so far. As for that pretence, it comes while they're at a destination wedding. The location: Australia, obviously. From the first look, this clearly falls into a specific category of Aussie-made movies, aka flicks shot Down Under that can't stop reminding viewers that they're set Down Under. So, the trailer includes multiple shots of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The latter even features in the background as Bea and Ben are having a Titanic moment on a boat. Anyone But You is directed and co-written by Will Gluck, who has both Easy A and Friends with Benefits on his resume, then the vastly dissimilar Annie and the two Peter Rabbit movies. On-screen, as well as Sweeney, Powell and a whole lot of Sydney — the city — Alexandra Shipp (Barbie), GaTa (Dave), Dermot Mulroney (Secret Invasion), Bryan Brown (C*A*U*G*H*T) and Rachel Griffiths (Total Control) also feature. Check out the trailer for Anyone But You below: Anyone But You opens in cinemas Down Under on December 26, 2023.
Whether or not you've ever splashed in its wave-filled waters or taken a selfie around its edge, where the pool borders the ocean — or even if you've simply seen images of it everywhere, including sometimes featuring Margot Robbie in Barbie mode — feeling the urge to plunge into Bondi Icebergs is a side effect of watching Ian Darling's The Pool. The yearning to take a dip in your nearest body of water also strikes. Equally radiating from the screen as the Sydney landmark receives a cinematic tribute: the sensation that just by viewing the latest documentary from the filmmaker behind The Final Quarter and Paul Kelly — Stories of Me, you've enjoyed the next best thing to hopping in. Everyone knows Bondi Icebergs, thanks to about as many photographs as there are grains of sand on Bondi Beach, or perhaps more. It's the most-snapped pool in the world, in fact, The Pool notes. Darling's film explores its allure beyond its scenic aesthetic, even if the movie is stunningly gorgeous to look at (how could it not be?) and perfectly set to a 60s-inspired soundtrack. This is a doco about community, and about why one has formed around the haven of blue at the southern end of Bondi Beach that's been welcoming in swimmers for almost a century. Some come to Icebergs to relax. Others come to train and compete. Some head along with friends and/or family. Others arrive solo, knowing that their fellow swimmers are their friends and family. Some do indeed fill their Instagram feeds with photos, and The Pool sees them. But the film spends its time largely observing the immense cross-section of folks who frequent Bondi Icebergs, from daily devotees to casual weekenders, newcomers to veterans, young to old, and lifeguards and swimming coaches to baristas as well, as they congregate, revel in the spectacular tidal pool's gifts no matter the weather and discover a place to belong in the process. That's how Darling overcame what might've been a challenge for other filmmakers: diving beneath the surface of a place that is so instantly recognisable, and for good reason. It's also how he's made a movie that is meditative to watch, mirroring what many of its interviewees say about the body of water. And, it's why The Pool has been getting the love flowing from audiences around the country — not just in Sydney, where it fittingly world-premiered at the 2024 Sydney Film Festival; which "was actually quite emotional, because three of the key characters had died in only the month or two beforehand, and this was the first time that a lot of the audience had seen them again," Darling tells Concrete Playground; not only among swimmers as well. "We've been doing a lot of the film festivals, and so just meeting people all over — after launching at Sydney Film Festival, we went over to CinefestOZ in Margaret River, and then Byron, Sunshine Coast, Adelaide Film Festival. Then we've been doing a few pre-cinema release screenings up at Noosa when the triathlon was on, and Brisbane and Gold Coast," the director notes when we chat in the lead up to the film's release nationwide. "What I'm especially pleased about is that we weren't sure whether it was such a Sydney-centric film that it wasn't going to speak to other audiences, but it it's been wonderful seeing that there are so many common themes in it that it's speaking to people not only all across Australia, but to swimmers and non-swimmers. Which I was surprised about. Coming out of COVID, people are still hurting and yearning for a community, and really putting a greater value on any community they're a part of. And so it's had a much more emotional response than we than we expected." "I was especially pleased at the screening over at the Orpheum, where a number of people came up — and a couple of ladies who were very emotional said 'we don't swim, but we're part of a book club. And we feel that you've spoken the same language in terms of what we do in our book club. And we value it even more, it's about community and it's about a shared language'," Darling continues. "I was asking them exactly what they mean. She said 'well, we talk about a book and we could see here people were just talking about swimming'. And the penny dropped, and it made me realise that's so much about what we look for in a community — whether it's a film festival where we're all talking the same language, or a book club, or even at a pool. It never ceases to amaze me how long people can talk about swimming. But it is a shared language, and everyone comes from all different walks of life and they have this common link." Where inspiration strikes as a filmmaker, the 'I need to make a movie about this' moment with Bondi Icebergs, his own first experience with the pool, choosing interviewees, finding the doco's ebb and flow, the importance of community, what Bondi Icebergs both says about and means to Sydney: we also spoke with Darling about all of the above. On Darling's First Bondi Icebergs Moment "I came up from Melbourne in the early 90s, and my wife and I were swimming in the middle of winter at the beach, and suddenly realised how many people were swimming — and coming from Melbourne, I'd never swim in winter. And I was thinking 'how long does this happen?'. I saw this building down the end — and I wasn't familiar with the Icebergs. And I always was intrigued by it. I actually thought that it was more of a private club. Actually, for the whole of that decade, I never went to it. When someone told me that it was a public pool in the early 2000s, I remember walking in and it just blew me away. I suddenly actually did feel like I was in a 60s film, and it was one of the most-beautiful places and pools I'd ever swum in. There are so many pools I've swum in and I don't have any recall, but I remember walking in and just feeling like I was in this time warp, and it was a very positive experience." On When the 'I Need to Make a Film About This' Moment Came with The Pool "I think it was post-lockdown, and I think when we have something taken away from us — we're social creatures and we all realised that that we do need a sense of community. Also having come out of The Final Quarter and The Department on child protection, I wanted to give myself permission to actually make a happy film and a feel-good film, and a film where people could just meditate and contemplate their own life. I was sitting down at Icebergs with a friend of mine, Marg Simpson-Lee, who's a swimmer. And I was saying 'I'm really looking for something which is a connected story about a community that is uplifting'. And she said 'well, what about here?'. And so it was right under my nose. The more I thought about it, I thought 'actually, it is going to give me a platform to tell these stories about community and connection'. So it was as simple as that. I wasn't sure what it meant. And it took us a while to get a sense of how to make it and why we, in the end, decided to make the pool the central character, and let all the other characters, almost like 30 sets of arms and legs, give us context of to what was in there. But I think I was ready myself as well — I think we often wear the hair shirt as documentary filmmakers, and I had to give myself permission to say 'actually, it's okay to make a film where we just actually sit back and think and observe and hopefully feel happy at the end of it'. So that was the the intent." On Digging Into What Makes the Most-Photographed Pool in the World Special Beyond Its Aesthetics "It's a good question, because I think with the notion of it being the most-photographed pool in the world, with that comes all the connotations of Instagram and body image, and all of that. And we almost wanted the film to be the antithesis of that. One of the things we weren't sure of was how people would feel when we were down there with cameras, because people are perhaps at their most vulnerable when they're just in their swimmers. And we were very aware and respectful of it. So we had signs up everywhere, and we made sure, our producers went around, that anyone who didn't want to be in the film could come and tell us, and we'd make sure that they weren't and absolutely honour that. On the first morning, about three people came up and I thought 'wow, this is going to be challenging over the course of the year'. And then over the the whole year, I think only one or two other people came up and said that they didn't want to be in it. So we gained the trust, but it also made me realise that the people down there were actually very comfortable in their own skin, and all different body shapes and all different, all different types. I think that is very different from the notion of it being the most-photographed pool in the world. It was a very grounded experience, and the pool jumps out as something very beautiful — but I think whenever we were there on weekends, we'd see people doing selfies and everything, and we wanted to reflect that in the film but also highlight that it wasn't the story we were telling." On the Process of Choosing Interviewees From the Bondi Icebergs Community "On the website, we did 100 full-length interviews — because we never wanted to make the film about the history of the club, but we thought 'well, let's grab a time capsule of history and get the full stories'. And from that, we got a lot of clues. It was almost like an audition. A lot of the characters jumped out, and the stories. We didn't want to make it a character-based film. We said 'let's make the pool the central character, but let's define them by themes'. So what we saw was the characters were around things like friendship and routine — there are a couple of friends that get there at 13 minutes to seven every morning, and that's a very important thing about commitment. And then there are stories around mental health and physical sickness and endurance, and volunteering and perseverance and fear. A number of the characters were fearful of the water and learning to swim. So it was more 'how do we represent all those themes?' rather than characters. And so the two went sort of hand in hand. We had so many people that unfortunately we couldn't fit in, more because they told the same story rather than not having a great story. And I think that was the thing, as I was saying before, very few people didn't want to be in it but we I think we upset a number of people who desperately wanted to be in it but didn't make the final cut." On the Film's Crew Swimming at Bondi Icebergs Themselves for 99 Days of the 100 Day-Shoot "I think it was an important part. So the only day we didn't swim was the one when the huge storms were there. And I think people at the start of any film are wary when these outsiders come in, and we just we started very gently, but right from the start, we got in. And we started in May when the water was getting really cold. I think that helped with the locals, when they saw that we were prepared to get in the cold water and that we actually swam ourselves, and that we could speak the same language. I've never really asked them, but I know we were always observed — and I think just in a quiet sort of way that that enabled us to get even closer to everyone. But also, I thought if we're making a film at a place like this, if we don't actually get in and enjoy ourselves — because when we were at the homeless shelter, that was a three-year film shoot and that was all hours of the night. And when we were there at three o'clock in the morning, I was thinking 'hmm, we're certainly earning our stripes as documentary filmmakers here'. So unashamedly, we thought if we're doing a fun film, let's enjoy it." On Making a Meditative Film to Match the Mindset That Bondi Icebergs Can Inspire "I think we had two intents. One, sometimes we'd jump into a scene of a storm or the word of the coach and everything — it's quite bracing when you jump in the cold water. But also, the meditative nature we thought was really important. I think we've forgotten sometimes just to sit when we're on top of a mountain, just to look out and not look at our phone. And I thought it's really important for us just to have a feeling of what it's like just to sit and look at the waves, and that it's actually okay to sort of — bored is not the word I'd want to use in a film, but it's actually okay to do nothing. So we have an unusually long opening-credit sequence, but we wanted to play the whole of the Cream song 'I Feel Free' and just get people into the rhythm. Sometimes, I certainly know at the theatre when I'm there, sometimes I go 'wow, ten minutes has gone and I haven't been concentrating'. It can take us a while to get into it, so we thought let's just try and set up the rhythm of the film so that audiences give themselves permission just to sit and get into that meditative state. It felt like it was in sync with the intent of when you're swimming, because we wanted to make it immersive. But also I think sometimes it is good to let audiences — and a number of them have said during those meditative sort of scenes, the swimming or a storm or the purple tumble turns scene, that that's where they're actually thinking about their own place in a community. Or they're yearning for it. And so people have been doing a lot of self-reflection during the film as well, and that's really pleasing, because that was the intent as well." On What Darling Learned About the Importance of Community From Making The Pool "I think it really is that sense that we all need to be a part of a community and we all need to find people that share a common language — and, as I say, it means we can talk for hours about swimming or films or whatever. That, as a community, we deeply have this yearning to connect. And when it's taken away from us, we really miss it. If we haven't got it, we're yearning for it. It's such an important part of — at a pool, our physical health, but I think the most important thing is around our mental health. And as time goes on, we've got to ensure that cinemas remain open as a shared experience and that pools remain open. So many pools are closing, and we're going to do a bit of a campaign to try to get every mayor and council to come to watch the film, and actually see the importance that a local pool has on a community. As I say, so much of it is just around that connection, a meeting point, the importance of being with others. And I think that was very much the intent of the film, just to show how we do have to keep working hard at creating these gathering points, because the health of the community is very much dependent on them." On What Bondi Icebergs Means to Sydney — and Says About It "It says 'look at me', which is one of the things that, coming from Melbourne, where there are different seasons and everything, Sydney seems to have one season and it's sort of saying 'look at me' — which can be positive, but also I can be cynical about it. So that's on the surface, but I think it also says 'have a look below the surface and you'll find something that's far more profound and grounded — and if you are looking for a community, you'll find people with a common language there;. At the outset, it's a shining beacon and a tourist destination. The amount of times we've heard people go 'oh, I've had that swim. It's been on my bucket list'. People like to go to Bondi Beach. They'd like to go to the Opera House. In Queensland they love to go to the Gold Coast or the Barrier Reef. As a destination for Australians, but also as tourists, I think it's very much an important part of — unashamedly Australia has a strong beach culture, and I think it reflects that as a piece of beach history." On Where Inspiration Strikes for a Filmmaker with Documentaries About Everything From Bondi Icebergs, Adam Goodes and Paul Kelly to Capitalism and the Welfare of Homeless Youth on His Resume "Because I've had so many films that have fallen over, answering this way, typically the films that have fallen over are ones where I haven't had a strong-enough contact or connection with the subject matter. I'm a pretty slow filmmaker, most of the film shoots have been at least a year, and we take a long time in the edit suite. And I think to go on that long journey, I have to have a real interest in it. So with this one, The Pool, swimming's my main physical activity. I'm not a member of Icebergs, but I like cold-water swimming, so that gave me clues. With Adam Goodes, I'm a huge AFL fan and I go out every week — and we were thinking before he retired, actually, because he was one of my favourite all-time footballers, of making a film on him in his twilight years. So it ended up being a very different one, but having been so aware of it and been in the crowds when he was being booed, and being there when he was celebrated, suddenly he retired and I thought 'wow, are we going to' — I was just confused — 'are we going to let history be rewritten?'. So it took a few years but it just never left me, I think because I'd had such an intimate relationship with watching him as a player. I hadn't met him at all until we spoke about the film, but he was certainly present. [caption id="attachment_715066" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 29th September 2012, The Age Sport, Picture by Wayne Taylor[/caption] And then with Paul Kelly, I grew up in Melbourne — and in the 80s, just the Melbourne band scene was just extraordinary, and Paul Kelly spoke to me like no other sort of musician had. And again, I hadn't met him until we sought his approval, but he was my favourite musician — which can be dangerous, making films about your hero, as such. Then with the homeless, I'd spent a lot of time volunteering at this homeless shelter in Sydney and really got to know a number of the street kids, and just saw that homelessness was totally off the agenda, and felt it was really important to bring it back and try and put it into every home. We got a lot of philanthropic funding to present a report to the government. It's those sort of things, where I've had a connection and felt that I was in a place to be able to tell a story." The Pool opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, November 7, 2024.
You may think you have a good handle on David Attenborough docos by now. He waltzes into an amazing natural landscape, dispels an extraordinary amount of knowledge on Everything in the Entire World, and promptly films something incredibly disgusting or depressingly ruthless. I think we're all still trying to forget that time he narrated hermaphroditic slug sex. Nevertheless, his latest venture is set to blow your mind all over again. Returning to Australia in November, this legendary, knighted filmmaker is filming his latest work in 3D at the Great Barrier Reef. Intended as a three-part series, Attenborough is excited about the possibilities of filming underwater in 3D. "People will think ‘for God’s sake not another program on the Barrier Reef. Haven’t we done enough?’ But underwater is a marvellous subject for 3D, I mean it really is absolutely breathtaking," he told The Herald Sun, sporting his trademark British charm. But honestly, we have no idea why Attenborough feels the need to convince us. While we've felt a little tired with the gimmick of 3D in recent years, this is the type of work the technology was made for. Attenborough won't be diving himself — give him a break, he's 88 years old — but he will be exploring the reef with the help of new underwater equipment that renders an incredibly high resolution. Though nothing has been released about the content of the series, Attenborough will more than likely be covering the political and environmental problems the reef has faced in recent times as well as its friendly fauna. It's a topic that has been in the news once again with #fightforthereef emerging on everyone's Twitter feeds earlier this year. Between global warming, the threat of coal ports in surrounding areas, and questionable preservation practices from the state and federal governments, the World Heritage listed site has faced a lot of problems in recent years. Documentary filming begins in November, but we won't know how far off the actual film is for months yet. Regardless, get ready to be transported directly to the heart of all your underwater Disney dreamlands. This is going to be well worth the IMAX money. Via The Herald Sun. Photo credits: ciamabue, stuandgravy, robdownunder, richard ling, richard ling via photopin cc.
In the space of a mere six months across the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024, Godzilla fans have enjoyed not one, not two, but three opportunities to see the now 70-year-old kaiju trample across the screen. Talk about a new empire. Not all of those projects are officially connected. Not all of them unleashed their giant creature upon cinemas. But just like standing at the foot of the lizard-like behemoth, there's been no avoiding the prehistoric reptile's footprint — in Japan's Godzilla Minus One, the film that finally won the Godzilla franchise an Oscar; in American streaming series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, as led by Kurt and Wyatt Russell playing the same character; and now in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the latest Monsterverse flick, which its TV predecessor also ties in with. Thinking about anything Godzilla-related seven decades into its life brings up a numbers game, then. The Gold Coast-shot Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the fifth Monsterverse movie and the seventh entry in the US-made saga that started with 2014's Godzilla. It's the 38th Godzilla film overall. Because King Kong is part of the equation, it's the 13th feature in that franchise, too. In other words, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a flick with a massive history. Director Adam Wingard, who helmed 2021's Godzilla vs Kong first, knows the weight that such a hefty past brings to his second entry in all of the above sagas. That said, the filmmaker behind A Horrible Way to Die, You're Next and The Guest also knows the possibilities that can spring. One such opportunity: having its two titans join forces, rather than do battle. Godzilla vs Kong wasn't the debut picture to pit Japan's scaly icon and the world's most-famous towering simian against each other — that idea dates back to 1962's King Kong vs Godzilla — and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire isn't the first feature to see how Godzilla can benefit from having friends to fight beside. But Wingard's sophomore Monsterverse film values its titular pairing, which arises to try to save the world from new threats. It also enjoys putting its characters in an action-adventure escapade in Hollow Earth, the titans' home world, as much as being a monster movie. And, it appreciates its human cast, such as the returning Rebecca Hall (Resurrection), Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) and Kaylee Hottle (Magnum PI), plus Wingard's The Guest lead Dan Stevens (Welcome to Chippendales) joining as a veterinarian equipped to do dentistry on Kong. Each of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire's core quintet came to the movie via different paths, and with an array of backgrounds with the fictional creatures they're now linked with. "The origins of my memories of Godzilla and Kong go back as far as I can remember. I think the Godzilla films and the King Kong movies, specifically the original and the 76 one, they've always existed in my reality as far back as I can remember," Wingard tells Concrete Playground. "Specifically, I think that they were playing on daytime television all the time. That's how I would see movies in general, and that's how I got into them in the first place." In contrast, teenager Hottle, who plays Skull Island orphan Jia, is deaf, and made her acting debut in Godzilla vs Kong, notes that "I had heard of them, but that's about it." She continues: "I didn't know much more about either of them. And once I acted in the movie, I thought it was, of course, strange, but a great experience." [caption id="attachment_948230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Warner Bros.[/caption] Hall's leap into the Monsterverse as "the Jane Goodall of Kong", aka Dr Ilene Andrews, slots in on her resume alongside the vastly dissimilar Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Town, Christine and The Night House — and Tales From the Loop on the small screen — among other work, but also after featuring in Iron Man 3. Henry, who steps into the shoes of conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes, boasts an Emmy nomination for Atlanta, an Oscar nomination for Causeway and a Tony nomination for Lobby Hero. His recent flicks include Bullet Train and Eternals. And Stevens has period drama Downton Abbey, playing the second half of Beauty and the Beast's title, superhero series Legion and giving German-language dramedy I'm Your Man its humanoid robot on his filmography. Ask them about their time with Godzilla and Kong, as we did, and Hall mentions always wanting to be in "big, iconic kind of movies", Henry says it's a "a place to have fun" and Stevens advises that having the part of Trapper written for him was "a huge honour". With Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire releasing in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, March 28, we also chatted with Wingard, Hottle, Hall, Henry and Stevens about the sense of responsibility behind any Godzilla or Kong entry, and the kind of preparation required for a Monsterverse team-up flick — plus ensuring that the movie was grounded in its human characters, subverting stereotypes, working together, the film's buddy scenario between its eponymous critters and more. On Swinging Into Godzilla and Kong's Huge On-Screen History Wingard is no stranger to entering well-traversed realms. Before hopping behind the camera with the Monsterverse, he directed 2016's Blair Witch, the third flick in the big-screen horror series that began with the low-budget sensation of 1999. Then, in 2017, he gave Japanese manga Death Note an American live-action adaptation. Still, there's no denying that making a Godzilla and Kong movie, and therefore working with characters that date back seven and nine decades, involves a feeling of duty. "It absolutely does," says the director. "And it's such an honour to be able to carry on their legacy, because they've been around since the beginning of special effects in cinema, to a certain degree. The original Kong was so groundbreaking in terms of its approach to stop-motion at the time." "So I don't take that lightly. And what's cool about Godzilla and Kong, those characters, is that there's been so many iterations over the years, and so many tonal takes and stylisations. Even Godzilla as a character, he's existed as a good guy, a bad guy, a metaphor, a character, all these kind of things and everything in-between, and sometimes multiple things at once. So there's a lot to take in, but there's still somehow so many new possibilities of how you can explore them," Wingard continues. "That's why it was so exciting for me to take on this film. Even though I've even made a Godzilla vs Kong movie myself, I still felt like there was still plenty of untapped potential and ways to utilise these characters to innovate the way movies are made. And to be able to lean into a film that has so many long sequences of nonverbal visual storytelling is something you really couldn't do in any other subgenre than this." On Becoming the Heart of a Coming-of-Age Story Within the Monsterverse In Godzilla vs Kong, Hottle's Jia was in as unique a situation as anyone can be in the Monsterverse: as the last surviving member of the Iwi, the tribe that resided on Skull Island, the adopted daughter of Dr Andrews had a bond with Kong like no one else. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire continues that thread as Jia endeavours to fit in in her new life, and also when she's drawn into Hollow Earth to assist with the ultimate animal pal. "I think that her journey is very tough, but it's a great journey for her," Hottle reflects about Jia's coming-of-age narrative in the new movie. "She grows up, she's older, and she's figuring out how to belong somewhere that she wants to belong — and she's going to get there in the end of her journey." As for what she hopes comes next for Jia, "I think I can see her helping others," Hottle explains. Preparing for her role simply requires "trying to understand the storyline of who Jia is, and what she wants to be as well. So I try to think of that when I'm portraying her character," Hottle also notes. But it's equally crucial that the film is grounded in its humans, especially Jia. "If you watch the whole monster movie, of course that's what we want. But the additive of the human factor, making those connections, and Jia's experience in her journey, that adds more to the movie. It's a great connection to show in this kind of movie," Hottle advises. Ask Hottle what gets her excited about being part of the Monsterverse — and such a pivotal part, too — and she's clear: "my character just being portrayed in a movie — and figuring out who I get to act as, and what I get to act as, as well". On Challenging Damsel-in-Distress Stereotypes in Monster Movies — and Having Fun If you're wondering why Hall initially took on the role of Dr Andrews, "the first time, it was unlike anything I'd done. Also, Adam Wingard pitched it to me as 'the Jane Goodall of Kong', which I thought was such an interesting pitch," she shares. Henry jokes that "he pitched it to me that way too, to get me to come back here" — which is exactly the banter you'd expect about a movie that its three biggest on-screen names, Stevens among them, all describe as plenty of fun. "I wouldn't say that I wasn't a kid that dreamed of being in a Kong or Godzilla movie, but I was a kid that dreamed of being in movie movies — like real popcorn, like entertaining, like big, iconic kind of movies. And this is that opportunity," Hall furthers. "There is so much fun to be had in that." "I am a cinephile sort of snob in many ways, but my snobbery includes good popcorn movies. There are some good, good movies. A good movie is a good movie, is what I'm saying." "So it's everything to me. Plus, there's a history of women in Kong movies that puts them in the damsel-in-distress place, and they're very rarely in positions of authority or capability, or able to call the shots or have any autonomy on some level. And I think that that has been changing over the last few years in this iteration of the Monsterverse. And I think Andrews is a really big step in that direction. In this movie especially, she's really the boss, and that was fun." On Being Able to Further Flesh Out Characters the Second Time Around Henry doesn't just jest about why he joined the Monsterverse. He starts digging into how he prepared for playing Bernie by answering that "channeling my inner neuroses was really fun — to have an outlet to just let it all out, to be able to scream as often as possible, to cry. Oh, were you talking about this movie?". Bernie might be one of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire's sources of comic relief, but he's still a character that's taken seriously, including by Henry. "I signed on to champion Bernie because I really love Bernie. I love everything about him. I love that he was looked at as a crackpot. I love that he has always been right about his theories. I also love that he found a team," he advises. "He was kind of out there on his own. No one really received him in any kind of way. And Rebecca's character, Dr Andrews, really coming to me and being like 'hey, you are valuable; hey, we actually could use you' was really exciting. And really getting a chance to go in and show all of who Bernie can be: that he had dreams of being a documentarian, that he had these wishes to see Hollow Earth. And then watching him immediately regret it the minute that he gets down there. To me it was like 'aaaah, I get this guy very much'." "So, he was a place to have fun. I got to wear leather. Like, that was truly all I really wanted. I was like 'can we put Bernie in leather?'. And Adam was willing to go along with my ride as well," Henry says. Pointing to Hall and Stevens, he also notes that "to be able to play with them" was among the appeal of returning to the character. "To be completely honest, to be able to play with them, to see that Bernie found a tribe and to find a family — it was a no-brainer to come back." On Leaping From Indie Thrillers to Monster Movies with the Same Director When Stevens starred in The Guest for Wingard in 2014, he'd already amassed a decade of on-screen credits. Downton Abbey had come calling by then as well. But the indie thriller was a breakout performance. At the time, reteaming with his director on a movie about Godzilla and Kong wasn't something he could've conceived would arrive ten years later, however. "I could definitely see Adam going on to direct big movies like this. He's steeped in fandom. He's a guy who worked in the video store throughout his adolescence and watched every single movie in that store. He just knows this world so well and is able to transmit that to fans, transmit that enthusiasm through the screen," Stevens says. "I never dreamed that I would be teaming up with him on this. I loved the job he did on the last movie with these two [Hall and Henry], and I just enjoyed that as a fan. So I was giddy when he asked me to join it, really." "And the fact that they wrote Trapper with me in mind was a huge honour — it made it very, very attractive. But also Trapper is a great character to join this world with. And it really embodies the spirit of fun, I think, that Adam brings to these kind of movies, and enables us to just go on a really wild ride with this one." On Letting Godzilla and King Kong Team Up, Rather Than Battle Each Other Hottle, Hall, Henry and Stevens' on-screen alter egos are Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire's human heroes. Their monster equivalents: both Godzilla and Kong. Neither were born into pop culture as villains. Watching them fight it out, including in Godzilla vs Kong, has always felt manufactured. Here, thankfully, they have other foes to deal with — primarily the Skar King, the orangutan-esque enemy that's been throwing his weight around Hollow Earth — in their roles of protectors of humanity and the natural world. Not just because he helmed Godzilla vs Kong, Wingard understands the appeal of having Godzilla and Kong face off. "I can remember as far back as being in maybe first or second grade and having arguments on the playground about who would win a fight, Godzilla or King Kong. That's just how iconic they are, that kids all know and love them," he notes. But with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, he also appreciates that getting Godzilla and King Kong teaming up is a dream scenario. "As a filmmaker, it's just the ultimate stomping ground of being able to play with toys on a creative level. And we're always finding new, interesting ways to explore their realities. These are 300-foot-tall characters, and so it's always fun to try to find things that you can juxtapose onto them that are relatable," he shares. "So, for instance, we have one scene in this film where Kong has some dental work done, and that was something that I was really pushing for right out the gate — because I've also had a lot of dental work done over the years, and had some pretty traumatic experiences. So in a way, I had to work in my own catharsis through Kong's experience of dental work in this movie. But that's just an example of how you're always trying to find relatable ways to re-experience the monsters." Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Read our review. Images: courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Overnight tours don't come more scenic than an exploration of Far North Queensland's Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest — a part of the world estimated to be 135 million years old. On this two-day tour, you'll take in native wildlife including saltwater crocodiles, birds and goannas on an eco-friendly river cruise. You'll also hike through the lush rainforest in search of a cassowary in the wild, before staying the night in Cape Tribulation in either a beach house, rainforest lodge or beachside budget accommodation. The next day, it's a reef trip to the Great Barrier Reef, zip-lining and a trip to the swimming holes of Mossman Gorge. Paradise with a bow on it. [caption id="attachment_829633" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Images: Tourism and Events Queensland
We are all well acquainted with the fascinating leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. Shrouded in mystery, marvelously eccentric and either architecturally amazing or atrocious, leaning towers and buildings are simply fascinating structures, which arouse our amazement and curiosity. However, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is far from being the only leaning tower in the world; in fact, it doesn't even top the list for being the oldest, tallest or having the greatest lean. Here are ten of the most stunning, mystifying leaning buildings from around the world that will be sure to make you look at buildings from a new angle. Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi Granted the title of the world's furthest leaning man-made tower, the recently built Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi boasts of a whopping 35 stories, all leaning at an impressive 18-degree slant. This structural wonder is a 520-foot sleek and futuristic design which requires 49 piles drilled 100 feet into the Earth to maintain its integrity. Qianwei Leaning Tower, China In Huludao City in China's Liaoning Province lies the world's first leaning tower. Aside from it's rich historical background, the Qianwei leaning tower is believed by many to also have the largest lean in the world, yet it is not recognized by Guinness World Records. Leaning Tower of Barceloneta, Spain Situated on Barceloneta Beach in Spain, this iconic tower features four cubes stacked precariously on top of each other at varying angles. Scores of tourists and visitors flock to this beautiful part of the country, not only for the sun and sand, but also to take in the view of this unorthodox building. Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan, Malaysia The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan, formerly known as just the water tower, is one of the major attractions of this small Malaysian town. Shortly after the construction of the tower the building began to tilt due to the stream of water running through the ground below, which made the foundation soil weak. Neuer Zollhof, Germany Part of the redeveloped port in Dusseldorf, this unconventional building was created by renowned architect Frank Gehry. The three buildings curve and lean in varying directions and are made of different cladding, whether that be white plaster, red brick or reflective stainless steel. Leaning Temple of Huma, India The only leaning temple in the world, the Temple of Huma was built in 1670 on the banks of the Mahanadi at an angle of 17 degrees, and is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. It is said that the construction of the temple came about due to enquiries made because of a milkman's daily ritual of crossing the Mahanadi and offering his milk to the rock which cropped out on the bank, and the rock would miraculously consume the milk each time. Tilting Hypo Alpe-Adria Bank, Italy This eco-friendly building is an architectural feat in its own right as, rather than using shading devices to protect the south-facing walls, the solar passive design instead uses its own floors with the 14 degree tilt. The office also features a myriad of sustainable building strategies to provide comfort and save energy. Leaning Tower of Nevyansk, Russia The mysteries surrounding this Russian tower work to make this ethereal building all the more stunning. No-one knows exactly what the tower/prison/science lab for secret experiments is actually for, when in the 18th century it was constructed, by whom, or the origins of its tilt. Although there are bizarre speculations including crying walls or throwing architects off the balcony, this one is better shrouded in mystery. Gate of Europe, Madrid The twin towers that make up the Gate of Europe are named as such for good reason. These foreboding structures, known as Puerta de Europa, lay at the top of a stone staircase and appear to barricade the city of Madrid. The 114m towers have 26 floors of office space and have fittingly appeared in a number of movies, such as The Day of the Beast. Leaning Tower of Suurhusen, Germany Before the Capital Gate was built in Abu Dhabi, this medieval steeple held the title of the most tilted tower in the world. Located in a village in North Western Germany, the 14th century church was built with oak tree trunk foundations, which rotted in the surrounding marshy land.
The murky world of web analytics is usually left to advertising types and businesses who want to know about you so they can sell stuff to you. But the newly launched browser extension and website, Voyurl, aims to enhance your browsing experience through infographics that break down your web habits with real-time recommendations. Founder Adam Leibsohn was one of these advertising types. Having had a successful career in advertising as Group Director of Digital Strategy at a NYC advertising agency, Anomaly, Leibsohn has channelled his expertise in consumer behaviour and developed Voyurl, or what he calls the "anti-social social network." He says while social networking sites bring your social circle to the fore, Voyurl is more concerned with how you browse the web. At this month's NY Tech Meetup, Leibsohn was applauded by the audience when he said: "unlike a lot of services, we [Voyurl] actually don't want you to authorise Facebook or Twitter." Instead, what Voyurl does is collect your browsing information and present it in a series of infographics that lets you see trends, recommendations and comparisons seamlessly. There is an option to share your information through social networking of course, but the focus remains on your browsing habits. A feature that lives up to Leibsohn's claim that the browser extention is the "anti-social social network" is the "anti-me" button that presents information based on your anti-self (in case you were curious about what sort of websites your anti-self would be looking at). Concrete Playground got in touch with Adam Leibsohn in New York and asked about the gap Voyurl fills in the user browsing experience and, yes, the usually murky world of web analytics. What did you have in mind when you thought of the concept for voyurl? So, for a long while, I worked as a digital strategist at an ad agency in New York. After being introduced to countless marketing technology firms and data auctioneers that use an ethical gray area to peddle in user data, I thought it was time for a platform that was open about its data use and put the user first. With that in mind, we sought out to build Voyurl. We want to disrupt the behavioural data marketplace that occurs without most peoples' awareness by putting the control of this behavioral data back into the hands of those who generate it: all of us who use the web. We want empower people through their data. So, we've begun to build a platform that puts all this data to work for anyone who generates it. The best part is that you don't have to do a thing. You just browse the web like you already do; and, we'll do the rest. How does it work? We analyse behaviour, not identity. So we try our best to determine where on the web your behaviour indicates positive preference. Then, we find other people who have behaved like you. And then, we figure out what stuff those folks have looked at and liked that you haven't seen yet... and we recommend those things to you. And since your browsing behaviour powers our content recommendation engine, we'll never recommend something to you if you've clicked on it before... ever. This way every recommendation we make to you is guaranteed to be genuinely new, each and every time. How will this benefit businesses? For us, this is mainly about how it can benefit our members. If our members are empowered through their data, then maybe businesses will be encouraged to figure out a better way to interact with them to get data they need. So really, we're trying to create a dynamic that fosters a positive experience through data for everyone. If both consumers and businesses can get what they want by leveraging data, we think we're taking a step in the right direction. What feedback have you gotten so far? The feedback has been incredible. People are really enjoying the data, the trends, the content recommendation, and the comparisons and fun features we offer. For instance, we allow users to invert our recommendations so that they can get content fed to them that's 180º away from who they are. It's our little way of allowing you to take yourself out of the filter bubble. Folks have been really great with feedback and input. They're already looking for some fun new features to help make things more social. If you want to try Voyurl for yourself, can can access the private beta via invitation at www.voyurl.com/concreteplayground
After belting out more than a few tunes in its maiden outing last year, the state's annual celebration of cabaret is back for more music-fuelled fun. Brightening up the Brisbane Powerhouse and a selection of other venues for ten wintry days, it's the only event filled with heart-warming storytelling and fabulous songs. In fact, the 2015 Queensland Cabaret Festival is absolutely overflowing with crooning and comic tales, making deciding what to see a hard task. An '80s and '90s double is probably the easiest choice you can make, the former seeing Michael Griffiths revel in the pop of his teenage years, and the latter guilty pleasures coming courtesy of I Will Survive star Tom Sharah. Elsewhere, audiences can witness rock icon Tex Perkins' take on cabaret, find out the confessions of a Cyndi Lauper stalker, get swept up in the sounds of Cool Britannia and hear the warbling of a celebrity bikini waxer. Yes, this is a festival filled with diversity. Here, as the song says, anything goes.
The Apple iPod has been nipped and tucked since its original version to become the compact, nearly paper-thin music-playing masterpiece that it is today. We now have room for thousands of songs and videos on a piece of metal that's smaller than a playing card and lighter than a feather. Just when we thought there was no more improving the little guys, technology went ahead and proved us wrong. Scientists from Georgia University of Technology, lead by Dr. Zhong Lin Wang, are in the experimental stages of developing nanotechnology that will create self-generated energy that could power portable devices like iPods. In presenting their findings to the American Chemical Society, Dr. Wang explained that the devices would have a microchip made of zinc oxide nanowires (500 of them could fit on a human hair) that generate energy at any body movement, even just the beat of a heart. So far the human-powered technology has been used to power LCD screens and store radio signals. These advances may seem small, but Dr. Wang believes that the team's development of the microchip is a significant milestone in the creation of power that isn't battery-operated or plugged into an electrical outlet. "Their potential is only limited by one's imagination," he said. We're certainly looking forward to listening to beats powered by heartbeats. [via The Telegraph]
Bookworms, word nerds and literature lovers, rejoice — after a tumultuous couple of years due to the pandemic, Brisbane Writers Festival will be spreading its love for stories, novels, text in general and the act of putting pen to paper (and fingers to keyboards) all around the city again in 2022. And, it's doing so in a big way. For six days in May, the beloved fest will host more than 200 events across town, all to celebrate its 60th birthday. Mark Tuesday, May 3–Sunday, May 8 in your diary, and prepare to have a huge new reading list afterwards — because that's always a hefty part of attending writers festivals. This year's fest comes after a virtual-only 2020 event, and then a hybrid in-person and online fest in 2021. And, in the spirit of getting everyone out and about, it's hosting sessions everywhere from pubs, music venues and suburban restaurants. BWF is also setting up shop at its usual base at the State Library of Queensland, of course, and venturing to a heap of local libraries as well. But the aim is to spread the love as far and wide as possible. Accordingly, plenty of BWF's 2022 locations come courtesy of the Nick Earls-curated Brisbane as a Storied City program, which is new for this year. It not only focuses on local writers and poets, but takes them — and the festival audience — to spots they've drawn inspiration from. So, that means hearing Pig City author Andrew Stafford chat to Yumi Stynes about his book about Brisbane's music scene at The Zoo, and heading to Sunnybank's Landmark Restaurant with Benjamin Law, who'll talk about his memoir The Family Law. It also includes hitting up the RE with writer Rebecca Sparrow for a session about Brissie in the 80s and 90s. Other highlights from the full lineup span the Our Country of Focus initiative, which is all about Aotearoa New Zealand and Pasifika talents; the In Your Suburb program, which takes the fest to libraries around the city; Indigenous writer Tony Birch doing First Word and Last Word festival bookend events; and actor Bryan Brown (Sweet Country) discussing his crime-fiction short story collection Sweet Jimmy. Brisbane will finally welcome Literary Death Match, aka a writers' battle royale, which is heading to The Princess Theatre — and there's also a Mother's Day high tea session at Customs House, a Bluey on the Green picnic for families at South Bank Parklands, and exhibitions that explore the intersection between books and visual arts at the State Library. There is still a small digital component in 2022, if you're keen to play along from home. Plus, the fest has launched a new smartphone app, which is filled with local anecdotes, yarns and story snippets about Brisbane that pop up as you visit different locations around town. Images: J Ruckli.
For locals and tourists alike, Mt Coot-tha is one of Brisbane's must-see spots, particularly if you like peering down at the world from a great height. Over the past three years, it has also been the subject of heated debate over the proposed addition of a zipline — and now, mere days after the city received a new Lord Mayor, the controversial project has been scrapped. New Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, who took over the post on Monday, April 8, has announced the cancellation of the Mt Coot-ta zipline, stating via Twitter that the decision comes after consultations with local councillors and the Brisbane City Council CEO. "Mt Coot-tha is a place for everyone where people can connect with our clean and green city and I want to make sure it's protected and remains a great asset for the city — that's my priority going forward," said Cr Schrinner in a statement, as reported by News Corp. The decision reverses the council's own move earlier this year, when it officially gave the zipline the go-ahead. First approved in 2017, confirmed in 2018 and then rubber-stamped after a public consultation period late last year, the project was due to start construction later in 2019 for a late-2020 opening. Both before and during the public consultation period, the zipline attracted substantial criticism about its potential environmental and noise impacts, especially throughout Mt Coot-tha's vegetation-heavy area — which would've likely required some amount of clearing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjjtLfALN48 The high-flying plans were certainly ambitious, and consisted of three parts: actual ziplines spanning nearly three kilometres comprised two of the components, including a treetop canopy tour starting at the west of the summit and finishing to the west of JC Slaughter Falls; and a two-stage, six-line 'megazip' between the summit and the Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens. The final section of the project would've involved a guided Indigenous experience across a new 335-metre suspension bridge built above JC Slaughter Falls, connecting to the treetop canopy tour and the new arrival centre on Sir Samuel Griffith Drive. Brisbane City Council was set to put $1 million towards the zipline. Images: Brisbane City Council.
Elton John summed it up perfectly: when Marilyn Monroe died in 1962, her candle burned out long before her legend ever would. Six decades since her passing, the actor remains a Hollywood icon. Like Elvis, she may as well be mononymic. Her face is instantly recognisable, and still everywhere. Ana de Armas just received an Oscar nomination for playing her, after Michelle Williams earned one back in 2012 for also stepping into her shoes. And, the Some Like It Hot, Gentleman Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire star is also the subject of a sizeable exhibition heading to Australia for the first time: Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon. This Marilyn celebration will make its Aussie premiere at Sydney Town Hall, in the Lower Town Hall, from Saturday, July 1–Sunday, September 24. On display: more than 200 artefacts spanning Monroe's life, including handwritten notes, personal letters and other possessions. [caption id="attachment_905883" align="alignnone" width="1920"] New York Sunday News via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] This is the largest Marilyn collection of its kind. Indeed, the objects set to grace the showcase stem from Ted Stampfer, owner the world's largest range of Marilyn items. With Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon, he's aiming to share insights into Monroe as a person, not just a celebrity — spanning her time in the spotlight, of course, but also back when she was Norma Jeane Mortenson. Stampfer will be on hand on opening day providing a curator's tour, as part of an events program accompanying the three-month memorabilia exhibition. Friday-night sessions will feature music and entertainment, and film screenings will also be part of the lineup, letting attendees experience Marilyn's movie magic for themselves. [caption id="attachment_905881" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joseph Jasgur, Ted Stampfer[/caption] As it celebrates the woman who scaled the heights of fame, became a household name, but received horrific scrutiny for her sex-symbol status and her love life — focusing on her hard work, not the stories spun about her — this'll be the only time that Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon will open to the public in this form. "With rare insights and exclusive access to Marilyn's personal belongings, this exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the private world of this cultural icon," said Stampfer. "From humble beginnings to Hollywood stardom, Marilyn Monroe remains an enduring cultural icon, whose life continues to fascinate and intrigue us to this day." [caption id="attachment_905878" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ted Stampfer[/caption] Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon will display at Lower Town Hall, Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney, from Saturday, July 1–Sunday, September 24 — head to the exhibition website for further details.
A festival dedicated to listening? You probably think you've been there and seen that before. MESMERISM isn't just a music event, however. Don't expect bands on stage, crowds standing around, or the hustle and bustle that you're familiar with. In its autumn outing, MESMERISM is dedicated to the aural experience, rather than just the acts that make our heads hum and the melodies that make our feet dance. An offshoot of sound and visual artist Luke Jaaniste's residency at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts throughout 2015, it offers a series of sonic immersions of ambient noise designed to entrance your body, mind and soul — or, 'full-body listening', which might just be our new favourite term. You'll enter an emptied out, darkened performance space filled with cushions, where you can lie down, sit or walk around — the choice is yours. On Friday night, you'll bathe in wave propagations and sonic palpitations. On Saturday, you'll consume experimental electronica and beat-based music as a fully spatial experience. Whether you go along to one or both, prepare to have your perspective changed. This isn't just sound — it's art.
Some shows should always be on TV, and The X-Files is one of them. Across nine initial seasons between 1993–2002, an additional two seasons that aired in 2016 and 2018, and two big-screen movies as well, this sci-fi favourite investigated all manner of weird and wonderful cases — usually with FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny, You People) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson, Sex Education) doing the sleuthing. Anything could happen in The X-Files. Almost everything did, in fact. If it involved the paranormal, supernatural and conspiracies, spanning aliens, psychic abilities, sewer-dwelling man-worm creatures, teenagers who could channel lightning and more, it helped make the series a smash while it was airing, and also a science-fiction classic ever since — as well as a show that might just be making another comeback. Fittingly, there's almost always a rumour about The X-Files popping up again. A few years back, an animated series was floated, going the comedic route to cover investigations considered too ridiculous for Mulder and Scully. Now, the word is that a new live-action TV show could be on its way from filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who has Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on his resume. The Hollywood Reporter and Variety report that the aim is to reboot the series with a diverse cast. The news came from The X-Files' creator Chris Carter during a radio interview to celebrate 30 years since the show launched, made Duchovny and Anderson into huge stars, and had plenty of folks wanting to be FBI Agents just like Mulder and Scully, There's no word on when The X-Files latest go-around will reach screens, who'll star, if Anderson nor Duchovny will be involved in any way, or any other specifics. If the truth is out there on this, all hasn't been revealed as yet. The X-Files does like to keep on keeping on, though, including the OG show itself's hefty run, its big-screen adventures, the revival, and two spinoffs: 1996–9's Lance Henriksen-starring Millennium, which was set in the same universe; and 2001's The Lone Gunmen, about the three conspiracy-obsessed characters initially seen helping Mulder and Scully. The X-Files' existing 11 seasons are currently available to stream via Disney+ and SBS On Demand. We'll update you with news regarding the reboot if and when more details are announced. Via The Hollywood Reporter / Variety.
Pre-loved fashion is the gift that keeps on giving; one person's sartorial trash really is another's stylish treasure, after all. Hopefully, you'll find the latter at Revive Fashion Festival. Yes, it's an event dedicated to all things vintage and secondhand — or a way to spread the pre-loved love. Popping up at the Cultural Centre Forecourt at South Bank for one afternoon only, Revive is a chance to grab a bargain and garner a heap of great outfit ideas all at once. The city's best best pre-loved and revived clothing stalls will be selling their wares at a pop-up market, but that's only part of the fun. Who doesn't want to watch a fashion parade filled with secondhand savvy, enjoy some live entertainment and feast on bites to eat from an array of the city's best food trucks as well? Plus, you can get some sewing and style tips from the experts to ensure you really are making the most of your wardrobe. Now in its second year — celebrating all things old never gets old, after all — the fest is a precursor to National Op Shop Week, which runs from August 27 to September 2, so consider it a warm-up for all of the vintage shopping in your future.
Tonight, tonight, there's only Steven Spielberg's lavish and dynamic version of West Side Story tonight — not to detract from or forget the 1961 movie of the same name. Six decades ago, an all-singing, all-dancing, New York City-set, gang war-focused spin on Romeo and Juliet leapt from stage to screen, becoming one of cinema's all-time classic musicals; however, remaking that hit is a task that Spielberg dazzlingly proves up to. It's his first sashay into the genre, despite making his initial amateur feature just three years after the original West Side Story debuted. It's also his first film since 2018's obnoxiously awful Ready Player One, which doubled as a how-to guide to crafting one of the worst, flimsiest and most bloated pieces of soulless pop-culture worship possible. But with this swooning, socially aware story of star-crossed lovers, Spielberg pirouettes back from his atrocious last flick by embracing something he clearly adores, and being unafraid to give it rhythmic swirls and thematic twirls. Shakespeare's own tale of tempestuous romance still looms large over West Side Story, as it always has — in fair NYC and its rubble-strewn titular neighbourhood where it lays its 1950s-era scene. The Jets and the Sharks aren't quite two households both alike in dignity, though. Led by the swaggering and dogged Riff (Mike Faist, a Tony-nominee for the Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen), the Jets are young, scrappy, angry and full of resentment for anyone they fear is encroaching on their terrain (anyone who isn't white especially). Meanwhile, with boxer Bernardo (David Alvarez, a Tony-winner for Billy Elliot) at the helm, the Sharks have tried to establish new lives outside of their native Puerto Rico through study, jobs and their own businesses. Both gangs refuse to coexist peacefully in the only part of New York where either feels at home — even with the threat of gentrification looming large in every torn-down building, signs for shiny new amenities such as Lincoln Centre popping up around the place and, when either local cops Officer Krupke (Brian d'Arcy James, Hawkeye) or Lieutenant Schrank (Corey Stoll, The Many Saints of Newark) interrupt their feuding, after they're overtly warned as well. But it's a night at a dance, and the love-at-first-sight connection that blooms between Riff's best friend Tony (Ansel Elgort, The Goldfinch) and Bernardo's younger sister María (feature debutant Rachel Zegler), that sparks a showdown. This rumble will decide westside supremacy once and for all, the two sides agree. The OG West Side Story was many things: gifted with a glorious cast, including Rita Moreno in her Academy Award-winning role as Bernardo's girlfriend Anita, plus future Twin Peaks co-stars Russ Tamblyn and Richard Beymer as Riff and Tony; unashamedly showy, like it had just snapped its fingers and flung itself off the stage; and punchy with its editing, embracing the move from the boards to the frame. It still often resembled a filmed musical rather than a film more than it should've, however. Spielberg's reimagining, which boasts a script by his Munich and Lincoln scribe Tony Kushner, tweaks plenty while also always remaining West Side Story — and, via his regular cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (The Post) and a whirl of leaping and plunging camerawork, it looks as exuberant as the vibrant choreography that the New York City Ballet's Justin Peck splashes across the screen, nodding to Jerome Robbins' work for the original movie lovingly but never slavishly. From the famous first whistle that's always opened the tale, West Side Story feels like it's dancing through the narrative instead of merely telling it. The savvy realisation that gang struts and brawls suit balletic movements — a notion from when the idea first hit the stage — pairs marvellously with the peppier visuals, too. Spielberg's fluid and kinetic stylistic approach springs from the same source as many of his other touches, with the director aiming not just to finally make a musical, bring the playfulness of his action scenes to the genre, or to give a work he loves his own stamp, but to ground the story in notions that are pressingly relevant today. Viewers here see more of the west side, get a bigger sense of the place, tap into its energy, and glean a more grounded view of the poverty, racism, factionalism and violence that's always sat at West Side Story's core. Switching some of the film's Leonard Bernstein-composed, Stephen Sondheim-penned songs between characters and locations makes this a more thoughtful and textured movie as well. See: the on-the-street version of earworm 'America' led by Hamilton veteran Ariana DeBose as the new Anita, and transforming 'Somewhere' into a community-focused ballad sung by the returning Moreno as a new figure. Both are magnificent. Still, as delightful as almost everything about Spielberg's film is — its inspired changes and passionate tribute to the first feature alike — it has an Ansel Elgort problem. He's a bland island in a sea of spectacle, and the lack of chemistry between him and the radiant Zegler would be a killer if examining the place, time and struggles that give rise to Tony and María's love didn't take precedence over the romance itself. Make it a 1950s NYC R+J, but about why its tragedy unfolds: that's another of Spielberg and Kushner's clever choices. And, while it takes a lifetime of unfortunate moves to strand the Jets and Sharks in their bloody turf war, thankfully one bad casting decision can't taint everything that glimmers about their latest big-screen outing. Indeed, enough praise can't be slung Faist, Zegler, Alvarez or DeBose's way, in what deserves to be a movie star-making effort for all four. Faist's turn as Riff is sinewy, smooth and vulnerable all at once — the film is electric every time he's on-screen — and Zegler's woozy and hopeful performance as a woman in the throes of first love is equally revelatory. Bringing EGOT-recipient and all-round entertainment icon Moreno back is touching, as well as exactly the right kind of nostalgic; looking both backwards and forwards is another of this sublime achievement of a feature's many successes, after all.
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. 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. 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 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.
If you know your alohomoras from your sectumsempras and have read your Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them from cover to cover, Harry Potter Trivia Night might be your time to shine. There will be glory, prizes and all-round Harry Potter cred to all those who can trance a boggart, tame a hippogriff and tell the difference between Finch's cat and Fluffy. Harry Potter Trivia Night will be hosted by the always brilliant Man vs Bear Trivia, and will take place at Shady Palms. It may not be the Leaky Cauldron, but you can pretend you're drinking butterbeer throughout the evening. There's your magical plans from 6.15pm on May 10. This is the type of trivia night that rounds up only the truest of diehard fans and makes them compete with more blood and gusto than a Quidditch grand Ffnal. A word of warning: choose your team wisely.
Is it classical music? Is it something you'd hear in a club? No, it's something somewhere in between. Dots + Loops has been blurring the lines between conservatory and underground music for a few years now, and now it's bringing that blend of sounds to Newstead Brewing Co Milton for a one-day festival. Post-genre is the term that Dots + Loops uses; however, whatever you want to call it, it's not going to be what you expect at Dots + Loops Nonstop Festival. Taking place from 4pm on Sunday, December 12, the fest features two stages jam-packed with talent — including Shoeb Ahmad's blend of guitars and electronics, Cigány Weaver's upbeat tunes, Expo 88's jazz-influenced electronica and DJ Avaxa on the decks. Taking place in Newstead Brewing Co Milton's barrel hall, the event also includes a pop-up art gallery with work curated by The Third Quarter, an installation by local artists Tim Tate and Zenobia Frost, and photography exhibition Obviously, given the venue, there'll be brews as well — and the fest is doing pay-what-you-can-afford tickets, with a $20 minimum and $35 recommended price. Top image: Sub Rosa.
For Melburnians, this long weekend is a little different to most. Lockdown might be over, but a number of restrictions still remain. Heading to a big music festival isn't on the cards, for instance — but, because we now live in a time where virtual fests are becoming the norm, The Long Weekender is bringing six hours of Victorian music highlights straight to your couch. The latest event in the Victoria Together initiative — aka the online program that delivered plenty of things to watch during 2020's lengthy stay-at-home periods — The Long Weekender will stream a heap of past festival sets from plenty of the state's big events. Falls Festival, Meredith Music Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Golden Plains and Yirramboi Festival are all covered, as are Summersalt, Share The Spirit, Brunswick Music Festival, Roots Picnic and A Day On The Green. You'll just need to head to ACMI's streaming service, Cinema 3, between 12pm–12am on Monday, June 14, and turn your volume up loud. Myf Warhurst is on hosting duties and, if you're wondering who'll be belting out tunes, it's a hefty lineup. Everyone from Courtney Barnett and Archie Roach to You Am I and Frente! is on the bill — with no clashes, no queues and no worries about rushing between stages. THE LONG WEEKENDER LINEUP: Adalita Alex Lahey Alice Skye Allara feat. Culture Evolves Archie Roach Cable Ties Courtney Barnett Djirri Djirri Dancers The Black Sorrows The Cat Empire The Dirty Three Frente! Hachiku James Henry King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Loose Tooth Magic Dirt The Meanies Mo'Ju Sampa The Great Spiderbait Simona Castricum Sleep D The Teskey Brothers Total Giovanni You Am I Top image: Falls Festival.
When Iron Man, Thor, Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, Captain America and their fellow caped-crusader pals all cross paths on-screen, they do so within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When it's Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman's turn, they populate the DC Extended Universe. But these kind of big-screen franchises aren't just the domain of superheroes. In the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, for instance, a number of Spider-Man supervillains are getting their own interconnected movies. First came 2018's Venom, starring Tom Hardy (Dunkirk) as a journalist who is forced to share his body with an alien symbiote. Next year — delayed from 2020 — Morbius will see Jared Leto (The Little Things) play a figure also known as the "Living Vampire". In-between the two, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is also hitting screens. The initial flick about Hardy's Eddie Brock and his parasitic pal did ridiculously big business at the box office, so it was always going to get a sequel. Due to hit cinemas Down Under this October — after being delayed from its September release date — Venom: Let There Be Carnage signals its other main point of focus in its title. This time around, Venom isn't the only formidable figure that Brock has to deal with, with Woody Harrelson (Zombieland: Double Tap) joining the cast as Carnage. For those who haven't dived deep into Spider-Man's comic book history, Carnage is another of the web-slinger's adversaries. Inhabiting the body of a serial killer called Cletus Kasady, he's also Venom's nemesis. And while Eddie's life isn't all that straightforward as seen in both the original Venom: Let There Be Carnage trailer and the just-dropped new sneak peek — living in harmony with Venom is about as easy as it sounds — things get a whole lot more chaotic when Carnage enters the scene. As these two villains face off, here's hoping that Venom: Let There Be Carnage gives Michelle Williams (Fosse/Verdon) more to do than the first Venom movie did, with the four-time Oscar-nominee returning as Eddie's ex-fiancée. Also seen briefly in the trailers: Naomie Harris (The Third Day) as yet another Spider-Man villain, Shriek, plus Stephen Graham (The Virtues) as Detective Mulligan. And, behind the lens, Lord of the Rings actor-turned-Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle filmmaker Andy Serkis directs. Check out the latest trailer below: Venom: Let There Be Carnage opens in Australian cinemas sometime in October — we'll update you when an exact date is announced.
When a big tour is announced, it's always worth paying attention to the dates around the shows in your city. Has whoever is taking to the stage spread out their gigs? Is there room to add more concerts? If you're worried about a huge demand for tickets, that's handy information to notice. When Drake announced his next trip Down Under for early 2025, for instance, the gaps between his visits to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane stood out — handily so, it proves, with more shows now added to the tour. Here's the latest headlines: Drake has added an extra gig in each of the New South Wales, Victorian and Queensland capitals, and before general ticket sales even kick off. It'll be his first trip this way since 2017 — and yes, you're still going to have 'Hotline Bling', 'Too Good', 'Passionfruit', 'Nice for What', 'In My Feelings', 'One Dance' and 'Laugh Now Cry Later' stuck in your head, as you have since the tour was first revealed. The Canadian artist is bringing his Anita Max Win tour Down Under, and is now playing ten shows in four cities across Australia and New Zealand. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland, this is what's next. The five-time Grammy-winner will head this way in February and March, kicking off at Rod Laver Arena in the Victorian capital for three nights. The following week, it's the Harbour City's turn at Qudos Bank Arena, again for a trio of gigs. After that, Drake will play two nights at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, then another two at Spark Arena in Auckland. The Degrassi: The Next Generation star last hit the stage in this neck of the woods on his Boy Meets World tour, and eight years will have passed between those shows and his 2025 visit. The platinum-selling singer is fresh off his 2023–24 It's All A Blur Tour, which saw him chalk up over 80 soldout shows in North America. On that last visit, Drake had four studio albums to his name: 2010's Thank Me Later, 2011's Take Care, 2013's Nothing Was the Same and 2016's Views. He's doubled that since, so expect tunes from 2018's Scorpion, 2021's Certified Lover Boy, 2022's Honestly, Nevermind and 2023's For All the Dogs, too. The Anita Max Win tour's announcement wasn't new news if you've been paying attention to Drake's social media, where he's been teasing details — but now consider it all officially locked in and even bigger. Drake's 'Anita Max Win' Tour 2025 Australian and New Zealand Dates Sunday, February 9–Monday, February 10 + Wednesday, February 12 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Sunday, February 16–Monday, February 17 + Wednesday, February 19 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Monday, February 24–Tuesday, February 25 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, February 28–Saturday, March 1 — Spark Arena, Auckland Drake is touring Australia and New Zealand in February 2025, with various ticket presales from Tuesday, December 2, 2024 at various times — and general sales from 12pm local time on Friday, December 6, 2024. Head to the tour website for more details. Images: The Come Up Show via Flickr.
Christmas is coming to Rocklea, and that shouldn't come as a surprise. Since launching earlier in the year, Brisbane Night Markets has celebrated winter, mango season and Halloween — so dedicating three December Friday nights to all things festive was always going to happen. Taking place from 4pm on Friday, December 6, 13 and 20, Festive Flavours will be filled with holiday treats. There'll be old favourites, new takes on classic dishes and particularly creative concoctions. Tuck into flame-grilled turkey drumsticks, then follow it up with a pudding — or maybe you'd prefer fruit mince pie ice cream and spiced sarsaparilla ice tea? They're all on the menu from a range of food trucks and vendors. For gifts, you'll be able to browse the markets' dedicated Christmas Lane (just don't let your loved ones see what you're buying them). Because it's the time of year for it, get ready for Christmas carollers, too. Santa Claus will also be doing the rounds for the littlies. And, the markets will also be breaking out the snow machines — now that'll make you feel mighty jolly.
What is the one thing better than something excellent? Two excellent things merged into something incredible. That is the beauty of the mash-up, providing the best of both worlds inside a brand new world. We should all say a deafening thank you to all those inspired enough to say 'por qué no las dos' when confronted by the dilemma of choice, who create something ingenious for us all to enjoy. Now, inspired by Red Bull Flying Bach's (think Bach meets breakdancing) forthcoming tour of Australia, we've gathered the top ten mash-ups of anything ever for you. Some you may be pretty familiar with; others may blow your mind. BRUNCH When someone suggests brunch, I get exactly this excited. While this list is not hierarchical, brunch is the greatest mash-up ever. Combining the best elements of breakfast (the food) and the temporal qualities of lunch (that it isn't early), there is no greater meal in culinary history. Brinner deserves an honourable mention here, but given brunch's ability to cure any hangover and save your Sunday, it has to win, hands down. Whoever decided to put the likes of pancakes, bacon and a cheeky bowl of Coco Pops on the menu after a much-deserved sleep-in deserves all of the Nobel prizes. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yfG94k41MrI GIRL TALK When most people think of a mash-up, their brain takes them to the musical kind. In fact googling 'mash-up' returns page after page of remixes. Some are awful, others aren't too bad, and then there are those that excel, and they are made by artists such as Girl Talk. Having sampled songs for over a decade, Girl Talk (otherwise known as Gregg Michael Gillis) knows what he is doing, seamlessly blending around a dozen songs per track into his own musical masterpiece. While hip-hop in the 1970s brought sampling to the fore, artists such as Girl Talk really laid the foundation for the modern mash-up, allowing songs that shouldn't belong together to fuse perfectly into songs such as this. RED BULL FLYING BACH This is a serious clash of cultures, a performance where Bach meets breakdancing and produces brilliance that "turns the international classical world upside down". It is really no surprise it has been so successful; it features music from arguably the greatest composer of all time (who happens to be German) expressed physically by four-times breakdancing world champions Flying Steps (also German). No coincidence, just a collaboration that shatters the suggestion that breakdancing and Bach don't blend and thrusts the cohesion of the classic and the contemporary into the present. The best part? It's coming to Australia, visiting Sydney September 10-12, Brisbane on September 24-26 before heading south to run in Melbourne from October 1-4, so grab your tickets now. SLAMBALL In a nutshell, Slamball is basketball that includes full contact and, most importantly, TRAMAMPOLINES! That's right, while the court remains much the same dimensions as a regular basketball court and retains a hoop at either end, there are also four trampolines at either end of the court for players to gain as much air as possible to dunk spectacularly. Dunking (or 'slamming' in Slamball) is pretty crucial as it scores three points compared to your usual two for non-dunks inside the arc. (You still get three-points shooting from deep as per normal basketball.) I don't know about you but I'm asking my local council to install some trampolines at my local court. Check out some Slamball highlights here. GLAMPING For those not in the know, glamping is glamour camping. It's just like camping, only comfortable, warm and something you want to do regularly. Still trying to paint a picture in your mind? Just imagine that you are in your bed, only the roof is now a nice canvas and you can hear the soothing sounds of nature right on your doorstep. Glamping has taken off in the last few years across the nation as it's removed almost all of the reasons that people use to avoid camping. It's basically an alfresco hotel and no matter where you are there's bound to be a five-star tent pitched nearby. HIP HOP SHAKESPEARE Bach is just a baby compared to old man Will. Joining Red Bull Flying Bach in the classic-meets-contemporary mash-ups are hip hop 'ad-rap-tations' of Shakespeare's classics. It's a perfect fit. After all, Shakespeare was the original lyricist and excellent at smack-talking: "A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-liver'd, action-taking, whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue; 1090 one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a bawd in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pander, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch; one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deny the least syllable of thy addition." Building on this wit and transforming it into modern urban classics are troupes such as the Q Brothers, whose Othello: The Remix is about an artist who rises out of the ghetto and wins the respect of the music industry, only be taken down by hip hop purist Iago. SWISS ARMY KNIFE The ultimate mash-up, the Swiss Army Knife is a must-have for general life. Need a knife? Done. Need a screwdriver? Done. Need a corkscrew? Done. Need a warm hug at night? I'm sure it can find a way to do that too, because they can do just about anything. If you don't have one and are now scrambling out the door to buy one (which you can do once you've finished reading this article all the way to the end), then spend the extra cash on a good one that will last as it could end up saving your life. TURDUCKEN A turducken is a deboned chicken stuffed inside a deboned duck, which is then stuffed inside a deboned turkey, which is then stuffed in the oven, cooked and then stuffed into your mouth with absolutely no regrets. Whether you know it as a turducken or a chuckey, this is something that you must try if you enjoy these three birds. Apologies to our vegetarian friends out there, but this really is delicious. If you're really into your meats, you can also wrap bacon around your turducken, but have 000 pre-dialled into your phone just in case you pop. CHESS BOXING If you laughed at the concept of chess boxing, then I don't blame you. It may sound absurd, but once you actually watch a match, you realise the mental and physical strength needed to take part and find yourself having a lot of respect for those who can cop a barrage of punches and then sit down and play chess so well. They do this for 11 alternating rounds of chess then boxing, for a total of six chess rounds and five in the ring. Victory either comes in the form of a knockout or checkmate. (PS Okay, after watching more matches this sport is ridiculous. The players wear headphones while playing the chess rounds in order to not hear the live chess commentary. I find this sport dreadful and yet feel weirdly compelled to play.) THE MEAN GIRLS OF EUROPEAN HISTORY Finally, we have arguably the greatest (and possibly only) Tumblr mashing up the classic Lindsay Lohan film Mean Girls with European history to create The Mean Girls of European History. Words are useless here, just visit the blog and soak in all of it's uncannily appropriate use of Mean Girls quotes and accept that it may have won the internet.
It was one of Brisbane's best 2016 events, as well as the kind of shindig someone really should've thought of earlier. Now, after a killer kick off this year, the Mountain Goat Valley Crawl has announced its return for 2017 — and its lineup. Once again, it's the stuff live music fans' dreams of made of, and it's getting even bigger. Five gigs will happen at five of Brisbane's best hangouts, all within two blocks of each other, and all on the same day. Oh, and did we mention that they're all free? No, we're not making this up. The simultaneous sonic fun takes place on February 11, and other than upping the number of places you'll have to sprint between — and the number of bands belting out tunes, of course — it's business as usual. Music and beer-loving Brisbanites are invited to trek between The Zoo, The Brightside, The Foundry, Black Bear Lodge and Woolly Mammoth, take in a jam-packed lineup of local bands (and a couple of Sydneysiders and Melburnians too), plus devour plenty of frosty, refreshing beverages. The epic day of entertainment is sponsored by a brewery, after all. Details of the who plays at which venue variety are yet to be announced; however the whole shindig will kick off at 5pm. Given we know the what, where and when of it all in a general sense, the only thing left for you to do is clear your calendar for an ace day of tunes, brews and hopping around the Valley. Oh, and to get excited about the below lineup: Alice Ivy Angharad Drake Average Art Club BUTTERFINGERS Clea Dreamtime Evan Klar Future Haunts GILL BATES I Know Leopard Luke Daniel Peacock Mallrat Max Chillen + the Kerbside Collective Miss Blanks Moses Gunn Collective Pearls Polish Club San Mei Stevie sweater curse The Ocean Party These New South Whales Top Dollar WAAX WHALEHOUSE The Mountain Goat Valley Crawl takes place at The Zoo, The Brightside, The Foundry, Black Bear Lodge and Woolly Mammoth on February 11. For more information, check out the event's Facebook page.
Thanks to every movie that features someone cutting out magazines and sticking them onto a piece of cardboard, everyone thinks they know what collages are. And, thanks to every primary school art class ever held, everyone has made one at some point in their life. Forget all that — you won't find those at Pieces. In fact, Mitchell Donaldson, Ally McKay, Cosima Scales and Karl Shoobridge are understandably proud of the fact that no glossy pages were harmed in the making of their exhibition. To put it simply, there's more to the art of collage. To dive deeper into that idea, check out the quartet's work. Taking over Metro Arts between June 28 and July 12, Cut Thumb Laundry's group show makes a collage out of delving into collage — as a methodology, as an assemblage of styles and objects, and as a way of working with different materials. On July 8, the exhibition will also feature a screening of Snippets, video works selected by our artists to help put their way of weaving the world together into context.
Across the last few months of 2021, and spilling into 2022, there'll be something strange happening in Australian cinemas. This'll be the case in places where big screens have still been showing new movies over the past few months, and also in Sydney and Melbourne when they're permitted to reopen following the two cities' respective (and long, and ongoing) lockdowns. The flicks that'll be playing? Many will be films we've been hearing about for a few years now because they were meant to release in 2020, and were then pushed back a few times due to the pandemic. But, there'll be something different going on Down Under, because a heap of these already-delayed movies have just been postponed again — only for Aussie viewers. Been waiting for No Time to Die, Dune, The French Dispatch, Halloween Kills and Ghostbusters: Afterlife? You'll now be waiting a bit longer. They're just some of the movies that've delayed their Aussie releases because cinemas in our two biggest cities have been closed due to lockdowns. Instead of hitting the silver screen in places around the country that are open, then perhaps being fast-tracked to digital — as In the Heights, The Suicide Squad and a range of other titles have lately — these movies have been pushed back nationwide to wait for projectors in Sydney and Melbourne to start whirring. So, if you like your spy movies shaken, not stirred, you'll now be holding out until November 11 to see the latest Bond flick. Fancy sand worms and seeing Timothée Chalamet follow in Kyle MacLachlan's footsteps? Mark December 2 in your diary for your date with Dune. Wes Anderson's suitably star-studded latest movie, The French Dispatch, will now arrive on December 11, while Michael Myers will get slashing again in Halloween Kills on October 28 (because this horror sequel was always going to stay in October, at least). And, wondering when there really will be something strange in your neighbourhood again? That'll come with Ghostbusters: Afterlife on January 1, 2022. Venom: Let There Be Carnage will also releasing later than expected, hitting on November 25 this year — and, like all of the above movies, it'll arrive locally after it releases in the US. So, you might see your social media feeds filled with chatter about flicks that you've been looking forward to, are out overseas, but haven't yet opened in Australia. Aussies will also be waiting longer to see a few films that haven't been pushed around for a year or so — movies that've only dropped their first trailers in past months — such as Malignant (October 21), The Many Saints of Newark (November 4), Last Night in Soho (November 18), The Last Duel (November 18), Dear Evan Hansen (December 9), House of Gucci (December 26), The Matrix Resurrections (January 1) and King Richard (January 18). There's also Zola, which'll now hit on November 18 after being delayed everywhere until 2021, releasing in the US midyear, then having its Australian debut pushed back. And, some long-delayed flicks have kept postponing their releases worldwide, too, such as the Spider-Man-related Morbius, featuring Jared Leto (January 20); The King's Man, the next instalment in the Kingsman franchise; and Top Gun: Maverick (May 26), because it doesn't feel the need for speed just yet. If you're living somewhere where picture palaces have been shut for months, you're probably just keen to see whatever you can whenever you're allowed — understandably. In Sydney, that's due to happen when New South Wales reaches the 70-percent fully vaxxed mark, which is expected in mid-October. In Melbourne, no timeframe has been given for reopening cinemas just yet, or easing out of lockdown in general; however the travel radius will expand to ten kilometres and outdoor exercise will be allowed for three hours once 70 percent of Victorians have had their first jabs. Of course, moving release dates around was a regular part of movie-going life before the pandemic, too. More often than not, big blockbuster titles had been hitting Aussie cinemas at the same time as overseas, though. New films are still releasing in cinemas Down Under each week at the moment, where they're open, and will continue to do so; however, you'll just be waiting longer for some movies, including a number of big-name flicks, in some instances. To check out the new releases screening in Australian cinemas each week, check out our weekly rundown, complete with reviews. Image: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2021 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved
Following 14 months of restrictions, postponements and cancellations, Australia's arts sector is in need of support. Arts institutions have struggled with capacity caps, and with restrictions on dancing and singing — as well as snap lockdowns and continued last-minute cancellations. In response, the Federal Government has announced nearly $300 million worth of financial support for the arts sector as part of the 2021–22 Budget. As announced last night, on Tuesday, May 11, the government will direct funds to the art, music and film industries through several programs across the next two years. The Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund will receive $125.6 million over the next two years. So far, RISE has helped fund an array of the country's major COVID-era arts and entertainment events including Summer Sounds, Jurassic World by Brickman and Synthony. The fund is also helping to support upcoming cultural events like Rising Melbourne, Next Exit, Fresh Produce, Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Dark Mofo, plus some yet-to-be-announced events including a new mini festival from the team behind Laneway Festival and the return of The Tivoli's Open Season this winter. The $125 million investment is expected to help fund around 230 new projects. Mental health and crisis relief organisation Support Act, which works with artists, crew and music workers, will receive $10 million — alongside the landmark $2.3 billion investment in mental health services included in the rest of the Budget. [caption id="attachment_779827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Golden Age Cinema, Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] The film industry is set for a boost as well, with $20 million dedicated to supporting independent cinemas, $50.8 million set to go to the local film and television sector to fund productions, and $3.3 million allocated to Ausfilm in order to continue to attract international film productions to Australia. And, regional arts and tourism will be supported through an $11.4 million investment in the Festivals Australia's Regional Arts Fund and the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program, plus an additional $5 million towards performing arts touring through Playing Australia. Head to the Australian Government's website for more information about the 2021–22 Federal Budget and the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand fund.
In recent times, this fine country has seen Harry Potter brunches, dinners, movie marathons, train rides, spoof plays and trivia nights. And that's not to mention the Cursed Child mania that's been taking over Melbourne. But are you sick of it? No chance. If there's one thing we know, it's that the demand for Harry Potter will never die — and this latest pop-up, along with the fact that there is a seemingly endless stream of Harry Potter events to come, proves that. The next piece of mainstream Harry Potter fandom to hit Brisbane in September and October will be the Wizard's Cauldron. Inspired by the experiences that the gang had in potions class — and hopefully avoiding the botched polyjuice potion episode — the pop-up bar will mix magic and mixology. That's to say, there will be cocktails. Probably with some dry ice and bubbling substances. It'll be sort of like a science class, except you'll wear robes and mix your drinks with a wand. And drink what you mix, of course. The 'experience' will take 90 minutes — with sessions held between September 23–October 28. Tickets come with a $40–45.40 price tag. For that, attendees get a hot mug o' mead and help from a (probably) greasy-haired Potions Master to mix two potions for yourself. Challenges are also part of the fun, with participants tasked with unlocking the ingredients for their concoctions. You may or may not have to take your O.W.L exam after — and, either way, there'll be a cash bar so you can celebrate or commiserate your results for further drinks and snacks.
Prepare yourself for a total Punk/Hardcore annihilation over three days with the third edition of Total Attack Festival. This absolutely monstrous line up will be coming to Crowbar on May 3, the Transcontinental Hotel on May 4 and Coniston Lane on May 5. All of these main shows are strictly 18+, however Tym’s Guitars will be hosting Deep Heat for an all-ages, free show from 2pm on the final day of the festival. The best of Australia’s punk and hardcore bands will be converging on Brisbane for the event, as are the nation’s most devoted fans. Headliners, including the Euro-smashers Sotatila, Sydney’s Deathcage and Melbourne masters Kromosom are among the many bands attracting huge attention to this long awaited celebration of these genres. For the full line up, set times, locations and ticket prices, head along to the event website.
You might walk in the doors of Wooden Horse Restaurant & Bar simply seeking to pique your curiosity about Clayfield's newest eatery; however once you experience the buzzing atmosphere, you'll want to stay for much, much more. And if you don't believe us, maybe their Beatles-themed cocktail list will twist your arm. Yes, a Twist n' Shout (bourbon, maple, lemon, vanilla, egg white and cinnamon) or Strawberry Fields Forever (sparkling wine, Chambord and strawberries) can be yours to savour if you love the fab four. Even if you don't, the ode to Britpop's best goes down nicely with the modern Italian menu. When it comes to food, you'll feast on share plates and mains that boast all the favourite staples — cob loaf, chorizo and pork belly among them — without jumping on the trend-centric bandwagon. Our pick to kick things off is the Wooden Meat Board's delicious serving of wagyu bresaola, serrano, manchego, Sicilian olives and house grissini — aka the perfect thing to consume while sitting inside Wooden Horse's appropriately timber-heavy interior. Find Wooden Horse Restaurant & Bar at 278 Junction Road, Clayfield. For more information, visit their website or Facebook page.
If a trip to the markets is part of your regular Sunday routine, then this Brewsvegas event is for you — and, yes, the Sunday Brewer's Market comes with beverages. From 12pm on March 24, Ploughman Bar in Alderley is opening its doors to local craft brewers. Beer markets really are the best kind of markets, after all. When you're not browsing through a range of both home brewers and commercial breweries — including some top homegrown talent — you can also grab a few bites, peruse the arts and crafts offerings, and listen to live tunes. Entry is free, but bring your wallet for whatever you want to eat, drink and take home with you.
Today marks the last day of Dark Mofo and, for those of us on the mainland, this means today is the last day our social media news feeds are bombarded with Tasmanian whimsy. Over the past few days you may have asked yourself what this congregation of lights and bearded men actually is. You may have wondered what kind of wizardry has conjured all this neon and Hogwarts-esque feasting, and how you can become a part of it. Well, we've scoured our Instagram feeds and compiled a handy outsiders' guide for you. Organisers may declare the festival a celebration of "large-scale art, food, music, light and noise," but we feel it's best summed up by the following. Here's what went down at Dark Mofo 2014: People spent their time washing ice This was probably the most confusing thing that's popped up in your feed over the past few days. In an act of — let's face it — supreme futility, Mofo-goers have been caught this year scrubbing a large tower of ice (although we guarantee they didn't keep it up for long once the photo had been uploaded). Watching this ice slowly, slowly erode into separate smaller blocks has been like a deeply unsatisfying game of Tetris played in reverse. Explanation: It's actually an artwork by Chinese artist Yin Xiuzhen. After freezing water from the Derwent River, Xiuzhen asked festival patrons to scrub the dirty water clean. It's a symbolic act that she terms an artist's solution to pollution. This radioactive bunny made its way down from Sydney Tasmania has stolen Sydney's giant neon bunny rabbit! How rude. You probably recognise this critter from your jaunts down to Vivid Sydney earlier this month. It's the kind of thing that definitely sticks in your mind (and your Instagram feed, for that matter). Because of this, Sydney-siders really can't be too jealous of its presence at Dark Mofo. But, for everyone else across the country, this is the holy grail of public art and the number one cause of jealousy. I maintain that if I got one hug from this amazing bringer of joy, at least half the problems in my life would be solved. Explanation: The bunny is the work of Tassie artist (and Sydney expat) Amanda Parer. We can neither confirm nor deny that it's radioactive, but we can say that it's maybe the greatest thing we've seen for awhile. There was a cat shooting laser beams from its eyes We can't even. This needs all of the explanations. Explanation: Disappointingly, we can't find out much about this little treasure. From the almighty power of hashtags we can deduct it has something to do with Dj Kiti playing at the festival club Faux Mo on Saturday night. We don't know how big the cat was. We don't know how strong its powers are. We don't know what it wants from us. We do however know that it's maybe the most mesmerising thing we've seen since Hypnotoad and we feel strangely compelled to obey it. If you know more, please get in touch! It's a good place to be if you like to feast From all the photos of mood-lit dining halls and opulent dinners, we can only reasonably deduct that Dumbledore and/or representatives from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have made their way to Tasmania. Sure, there are no ghosts flying around, but the twigs cascading from the ceiling do look suspiciously like broomsticks and the feast speaks for itself. Explanation: This is more or less right. The Winter Feast is one of the hallmarks of the festival and consists of a "three-night Bacchanalian banquet of feasting and fire, drinking and celebration, music and performance". Apparently there were some problems with capacity this year, but with the amazing spread on offer it's easy to understand why. Everyone got naked for some reason It's a strange thing to wake up to as you check your phone, but this morning we were treated to the sight of hundreds of bums along a beautiful beach at sunrise. Accompanying them (on what looked like a freezing morning) were a couple of old men in beanies shooting orange smoke into the air because, hell, why not? Explanation: This nude run into the water was in fact to commemorate the winter solstice. It's an annual event at Dark Mofo that's now in its second year. And, despite the unpleasant temperature, this year saw 700 people get on board! We're going next year Confusing art, giant animals, laser beams, opulent feasts, and reckless nudity — why is it that we don't live in Hobart, again? Photo credits in order of appearance: jackjesta, melfiddles, angela__g, katesaunders002, chdaku, rosiehastie.
Endings have always been a part of Succession. Since it premiered in 2018, the bulk of the HBO drama's feuding figures have been waiting for a big farewell. The reason is right there in the title, because for any of the Roy clan's adult children to scale the family company's greatest heights and remain there — be it initial heir apparent Kendall (Jeremy Strong, Armageddon Time), his inappropriate photo-sending brother Roman (Kieran Culkin, No Sudden Move), their political-fixer sister Siobhan (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman), or eldest sibling and now-presidential candidate Connor (Alan Ruck, The Dropout) — their father Logan's (Brian Cox, Remember Me) tenure must wrap up. He's stubborn, though. He's proud, too, of what he's achieved and the power it's brought. Whenever Logan has seemed nearly ready to leave the business behind, he's held on. And if he's challenged or threatened, as three seasons of the Emmy-winning series have done again and again, he shows no signs of ever letting go. Succession has always been waiting for Logan's last stint at global media outfit Waystar RoyCo, but it's never been about finales quite the way it is in its fourth season, which starts streaming from Monday, March 27 Down Under (including via Foxtel, Binge and Foxtel On Demand in Australia, and on Neon in New Zealand). This time, there's a ticking clock not just for the show's characters, but for the stellar series itself. In late February, in an interview with The New Yorker a month out from season four's premiere, Succession's creator and showrunner Jesse Armstrong advised that this is its last go-around. Nothing can last forever, not even widely acclaimed hit shows that are a rarity in today's TV climate: genuine appointment-viewing. So, this one is going out at the height of its greatness — yes, its final batch of episodes begins out that strongly — which is how Logan should've always wanted to as well. That Succession won't be tearing into its ultra-rich squabblers again after these ten episodes casts a shadow over the new season, unsurprisingly. That said, given that it commences with the Roys as fractured as ever in the aftermath of 2021's season three — with Kendall, Roma and Shiv all estranged from and actively working against their dad, who has badged them "rats" with his usual venom — there's a higher sense of tension, greater stakes and a firmer feeling of finality anyway. This bickering brood has split, backstabbed, betrayed, undermined and reunited many times before. They've overcome health scares, accidental killings, high-strung weddings, legal troubles, hostile attempted takeovers, dark scandals, political scrutiny and more. Armstrong and his writing team could've kept the cycle going, but there's an unshakeable sense of hurt to this round of tussles that feels like the last the Roys can endure. In season three, Waystar went from trying to buy streaming service GoJo to entertaining a buyout from it — and from its tech visionary Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård, The Northman) — instead. And, as Kendall, Roman and Shiv kept trying to lock in their futures, Logan found a way to cut them out that couldn't have cut deeper. Accordingly, when season four kicks off with Logan's birthday just as season one did, a party that he's characteristically miserable at, only Connor shows up among his kids. The other three are busy trying to secure financing for The Hundred, the new media venture they're pitching as "Substack meets Masterclass meets The Economist meets The New Yorker". What they really want to do, of course, is stick it to their old man above all else. Money, which the Roys have much more of than most, aren't afraid to splash about and are always chasing, sure can't buy a reprieve from good old-fashioned pettiness. That's always been a glaring truth at the heart of the series, just like its fantasy equivalent Game of Thrones, because boasting immense control and hefty fortunes can't make anyone a decent person. No one watches this takedown of unfettered power, wealth and entitlement for hugs and smiles, but for Shakespearean dramedy and tragedy that rips brutally and ravenously into the one-percent. However it concludes and whoever thinks they've won — make no mistake, Succession is always a battle — no one is likely to be living happily ever after, or even managing to be content enough with where things wind up. Still, Roman will probably be smirking, Shiv shooting a steely glare and Kendall wearing the intense gaze that never wholly masks his inner sadness. They all sport exactly those expressions to begin season four, all while building their plans to simultaneously cement their next step and topple Logan. As sycophantic grins beam noxiously around his birthday, he's as caustic as ever even in just his eyes — more so with Shiv's husband Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen, Operation Mincemeat) playing middleman in a crucial deal, and when cousin Greg's (Nicholas Braun, Zola) love life taints the festivities. Yes, the more that things change in Succession, the more that they stay the same, including with general counsel Gerri (J Smith-Cameron, Fleishman Is in Trouble), CFO Karl (David Rasche, Swallow) and vice-chair Frank (Peter Friedman, She Said) hovering around while looking like they'd rather be anywhere else. Family malaise is a dime a dozen on TV, and workplace struggles as well. Succession is so sharp and scathing — so devastatingly well-cast and delicious with its incisive insults, too — that it's in a stratosphere of its own. With this compelling ensemble and the cracking dialogue they're gifted, the show's directors could just point cameras at the former in glass-walled rooms as they spout the latter and the series would gleam from every angle. That isn't how the handsomely staged and executed effort fills its episodes, but both its actors and writers remain at the top of their games. Indeed, watching Succession in such savage vintage form in everything from Strong's concentration to Culkin's way with witty slights, plus Braun's cluelessness and episode-one helmer Mark Mylod's (The Menu) tonal mastery, viewers will never want it to end. There'll be much to miss when the show severs its final ties at the end of May, glorious episode titles included (the fourth season's opener is aptly called 'The Munsters'). It's going out how it's always gone on, though — without losing its bite, or its taste for blisteringly dark, pointed and funny family-feud chaos. Logan is pondering farewells again, too. Succession hasn't lost its ability to astonish, and its fearsome white-haired patriarch waxing lyrical about whether death is just an abyss over a diner dinner with his chief security guard is one such delight. There'll certainly be a chasm left in the show's wake but, like its most formidable figure won't stop doing, audiences will just have to make the most of it while it's here. Check out the full trailer for Succession season four below: Succession season four starts streaming from Monday, March 27 Down Under, including via Foxtel, Binge and Foxtel On Demand in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Check out our review of season three. Images: Claudette Barius, Macall B Polay / HBO.
Brisbane electronic music collective Silo is celebrating its first year of activity by throwing a birthday bash at Bar Soma. The group have been responsible for throwing great parties and shows over the past year, featuring some of Australia’s (and the world’s) best electronic artists. Celebrations will include performances from Oliver Tank (SYD), Silo affiliate OUTERWAVES, Rainbow Chan (SYD), and Charles Murdoch. Silo is also marking the occasion by launching its first vinyl release – a split 7-inch, featuring Rainbow Chan and OUTERWAVES. The discs will be hand cut onto clear vinyl and will be the first in a series of vinyl releases from Silo. There will be plenty of cake and shenanigans, tickets are $18 and there is a limited release. No birthday suits required.
When Avengers: Endgame reached cinemas back in April 2019, it was the culmination of more than a decade of superhero movies — and the box office behemoth was designed to help end the third phase in the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe. It definitely wasn't intended to be one of the last MCU movies to hit the big screen for a few years, of course, but that's how things have played out during the pandemic. After a two-year hiatus from cinemas — following July 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home — Black Widow brought the huge blockbuster franchise back to picture palaces just last month. Before the year is out, there'll be more where that came from. In early September, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will introduce a new figure, before Eternals arrives in November with more than a few fresh faces — and a big glimpse at life in the aftermath of the Avengers' battle with Thanos. The MCU has plenty of fans for all of its films, and for the ongoing saga that seems likely to never leave the silver screen, but Eternals has something no other movie in the franchise has ever boasted: history-making Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao. And, in not one, not two, but now three sneak peeks at her contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it looks like the Nomadland will be giving Marvel's next crew of superheroes — ancient and immortal alien beings who've been working in the shadows for thousands of years after arriving on earth via an eye-catching spaceship — a far more vivid yet naturalistic appearance. Led by Ajak (Salma Hayek, Like a Boss), these heroes are now forced to band together again to save the world from an evil threat, and also grapple with the effects of their inaction during the events of Avengers: Endgame. Narrative-wise, it seems like standard MCU stuff, at least on paper; however, with Zhao the helm, the film doesn't look or feel like your average Marvel movie, including in the movie's just-dropped latest trailer. The Eternals have always been charged with battling an enemy called The Deviants, and that's what Ajak, Ikaris (Richard Madden, Game of Thrones), Sersi (Gemma Chan, Captain Marvel), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani, Stuber), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff, Sound of Metal), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry, Godzilla vs Kong), Sprite (Lia McHugh, Songbird), Gilgamesh (Don Lee, Ashfall), Druig (Barry Keoghan, Calm with Horses) and Thena (Angelina Jolie, Those Who Wish Me Dead) will be doing here. One GoT star is never enough for any movie, so Kit Harington also features. In the new trailer, he doesn't appear to know nothing. Check out the latest Eternals trailer below: Eternals opens in cinemas Down Under on November 4.
Already home to everything from raindrop cakes to Nutella gyoza and salted caramel gyoza — and known to experiment with lemon meringue dumplings and marshmallow dumplings as well — Harajuku Gyoza clearly likes getting creative with its sweet treats. The chain is also fond of trying out new things with its savouring dumpling range, too, as its mac 'n' cheese and pepperoni pizza versions showed; however, it obviously has a soft spot for the kind of desserts that you won't find on any old menu. From Thursday, September 1, that includes Japanese air cheesecakes, the latest addition to the Australian gyoza brand's dessert lineup. You might've seen them online. Afterwards, you might've tried to whip them up yourself as well. The viral recipe hails from the back of a cream cheese packet in Japan, and has won fans thanks to its simplicity — but getting someone else to make it is even easier, naturally. Harajuku Gyoza now has its own two takes on the dessert available, both for $6. One comes dusted with kinako powder and paired with a pot of brown sugar syrup for you to pour over the top. Or, you can opt for the matcha variety of the fluffy air cheesecake, which features a white chocolate and matcha sauce. Whichever you choose, you'll find them at the chain's four stores — two in Brisbane, one on the Gold Coast and one in Sydney. And if you fancy tucking into the new gyoza after devouring two old favourites — cheeseburger gyoza, which is stuffed with burger pieces, aged cheddar, onion, pickles, mustard and tomato sauce; and mozzarella gyoza, which is filled with the obvious, then deep-fried and sprinkled with Twisties salt — that's up to you. Harajuku Gyoza's Japanese air cheesecakes are available at all Australian stores — at Darling Harbour in Sydney; at South Bank and the CBD in Brisbane; and in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast — from Thursday, September 1.
