Cross your fingers, dog lovers — here's hoping that your four-legged friend feels like heading to a brewery. From 1–5pm on Saturday, August 27, Ballistic Beer Co will be turning its Salisbury space into a pupper wonderland, all while people knock back a pint or several. On the Dogs Go Ballistic agenda: craft brews (obviously), dog-centric market stalls, canine activities, an obligatory dog show, a chance to raise money for dog rescue organisations, and live music. We can't promise that the latter will feature pooch-related tunes, but perhaps both you and Fido will be wondering who let the dogs out, asking if the dog days are over and crying all the time like a hound dog. Entry is free, and all woofers great and small are welcome at the picnic-style event — although these very good doggos must stay on their leashes. And, your pupper can compete in a few contests like they're in Best in Show, including vying for the best dressed and best trick titles.
Another year, another new version of Cinderella. Some stories just can't stay away from the screen, and this is one of them. Filmmakers have been drawn to the fairy tale since the silent era, resulting in beloved animated flicks, playful takes on the tale such as Ever After and Ella Enchanted, and Disney's 2015 live-action adaptation. Arriving next, and soon: a new musical that combines glass slippers and pining for a better life with singing, dancing and a fairy godparent named Fab G — with the latter played by Pose's Billy Porter. This version of Cinderella stars singer Camila Cabello as the titular character, while The Craft: Legacy's Nicholas Galitzine plays Prince Robert. Also popping up: Idina Menzel (Frozen II) as Cinders' stepmother, Minnie Driver (Starstruck) and Pierce Brosnan (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) as the king and queen, and Romesh Ranganathan (Staged) and James Corden (The Prom) as both footmen and mice. The latter is a producer, too, and came up with the idea for the film, while Pitch Perfect writer and Blockers helmer Kay Cannon sits in the director's chair. Clearly, if a new version of Cinderella doesn't hit the screen every few years, Hollywood must turn into a pumpkin. While musical takes on the tale aren't new — see also: the stage version that's slated to hit Australia — this one is set to feature pop songs. So, you'll be seeing Cabello, Menzel and company singing tracks you know, as well as crooning their own new original tunes. Just how that'll turn out will be revealed on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, September 3, with the film originally slated for a cinema release, but then snapped up by the streaming platform instead. In both the initial first-look trailer and a just-dropped first new sneak peek, there's plenty of songs, colour and empowerment. Cinders won't stand for her stepmum's terrible treatment, or for simply being a dutiful princess when she hits it off with Prince Robert. There's also humour in this version, crucially, including around Fab G and the abilities that come with being a fairy godparent. "Do you want to go to that ball?" asks Fab G, to which Cinders replies: "yes, I was just crying and singing about it like two minutes ago". Check out the latest Cinderella trailer below: Cinderella will be available to stream via Amazon Prime Video from Friday, September 3. Top image: Kerry Brown.
First, the obvious news: no matter how chilly it feels, including during this year's particularly frosty start to winter so far, it doesn't snow in Brisbane. Now, the better news: thanks to various events around town, you can still enjoy a snow day right now — or even a snowy evening. Forget booking a skiing or snowboarding trip. Still go searching for your warmest, puffiest and cosiest clothes, though. Around the River City this winter — and down on the Gold Coast, if you're keen to make a day trip south — you can throw snowballs, frolic in the snow, sip cocktails while snow falls and hang out in an alpine lodge. Ever wanted to play mini golf while snow rains down on you, too? That's also on the agenda. Here are our five picks for bringing some snow into your Brissie winter.
It has been almost three months since Queensland closed its borders to Greater Sydney, making the Sunshine State off limits to residents of specific local government areas in the New South Wales capital. Over that period, the status of Queensland's borders has changed multiple times — as it has throughout much of 2020 — including shutting out all of NSW, then reopening to areas down to Byron Bay. But Sydneysiders won't be able to make the trip up north anytime soon. Today, Friday, October 30, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that Queensland will remain closed to folks from 32 local government areas in Sydney. On the list: Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Camden, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Inner West, Ku-Ring-Gai, Lane Cove, Liverpool, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Ryde, Strathfield, Sutherland Shire, Sydney, The Hills Shire, Waverley, Willoughby, Wollondilly, Woollahra and Sydney Harbour (Unincorporated). The Queensland border will also remain shut to people in Victoria, covering the entire state. In good news for NSW residents outside of Sydney, however — and for Queenslanders keen to head to parts of the state without quarantining upon their return — Premier Palaszczuk also revealed that the Sunshine State will open up to the rest of NSW come 1am on Tuesday, November 3. The announcement arrives a day before Queensland's next state election, which takes place on Saturday, October 31. Back in August, Premier Palaszczuk had already noted that the state was unlikely to reopen its borders to Victoria and Sydney until there has been no community transmission in those areas, so today's news wasn't unexpected. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1321968426349256704 Going into detail about the decision, Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said "it is all about numbers. There are 4.8 million people who live in those 32 LGAs in Sydney. They are the risk, they are the ones moving around". She also noted that there have not been any cases in the past 28 days outside of those 32 LGAs, hence the move to open Queensland up to the rest of NSW. If you're a Queenslander now keen on a southern getaway, you can do so by flying via Sydney airport at Mascot — and that isn't counted as entering one of the 32 LGAs. But you can only travel through the airport, flying in and then flying out to somewhere outside of Greater Sydney. If you go anywhere else in the city, the quarantine rules come into effect upon your return back north. Whichever way you're heading — whether you're a NSW resident from outside of Greater Sydney who is keen to come to Queensland, or a resident of the latter eager to venture beyond the state's borders for a bit and then come home — you will still need a border pass. It isn't required to leave the state, but NSW folks will need one to enter and Queenslanders will need one to come back. To obtain a pass, you'll need to apply online, with each one valid for seven days. Regarding when Queensland might open to Greater Sydney, Dr Young said that she couldn't predict a date. "I genuinely do not know — it depends what happens with the virus. We are learning more and more about it every day. And what we are learning is that it is actually very contagious so we just have to look at the evidence, and I look at the evidence every single day, seven days a week, and work out what is the best advice." For more information about Queensland's border policies, head to the Queensland Government website.
If you're a Harry Potter fan keen to relive the wonder of your favourite book-to-film series, you don't need to cast a spell or wind your time turner to get some wizarding fun. Pottermore, Fantastic Beasts spinoffs and The Cursed Child might've followed the original franchise, but JK Rowling's boy-who-lived and his pals are never far away from a big screen — or a concert hall. After doing the honours with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it's hardly surprising that this piece of prime movie and music magic for muggles has now turned its wand to the third flick in the series. From April 2018, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban will be heading to the Sydney Opera House, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to screen the film while the score is played live by each city's symphony orchestras. Prepare for John Williams' Oscar-nominated music to echo through your ears as you watch Harry, Hermione, Ron and company meet Sirius Black, realise that they shouldn't believe every dark tale they hear, learn something new about their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and tussle with Peter Pettigrew. That means dogs, wolves, rats and Dementor's Kisses are all part of the action, plus Buckbeak the hippogriff, and trips to The Leaky Cauldron and the Shrieking Shack. It's arguably the best movie in the series, as directed by a pre-Gravity Alfonso Cuarón, and it's certain to prove even more enchanting with live music. We've said it before and we'll say it again — will sell like pumpkin pasties, so get in quick or spend eternity griping about it like some Moaning Myrtle-type character. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert teams up with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House from 18 - 20 April 2018, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for two shows on 19 May 2018, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 8 - 9 November 2018. For more information, head to the SSO, QSO and MSO websites.
The 79th Annual Wee Waa Show, while 'a highlight of the district calendar', was never destined to be more than a warm up for the big 'eight oh' in 2014. We all knew this. Of course, the 'Wee Waa Has Talent' contest (alongside the showgirl, wood chop and mouse racing competitions) is always a riot. And let's not forget the demolition derby! But the 80th Annual Wee Waa Show was the party on everyone's mind. Then along came two helmeted Frenchmen, whose music has been described as "a dafty punky thrash", with an announcement that would shake Wee Waa (and the entire internet) for weeks to come. Their new record Random Access Memories, out May 21 through Columbia Records, will be launched at the festival on the evening of Friday May 17. The global release party for Daft Punk's first studio album in eight years... in Wee Waa. And, unless you're already locked in as a 'wool steward' or wood chop competitor, chances are you missed out on the 4,000 tickets that were released and exhausted in April. But read on, oh readers, for we may have good news for the desperate Daft-devotees among you. Concrete Playground is giving readers the chance to win ten (!) tickets to the Daft Punk album launch at the Wee Waa Show. That's right, one lucky reader will get to take 9 of their friends along to the most hyped album launch OF ALL TIME. To go in the running, enter your details below. The competition is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Bianca Macliver.
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.
Earlier this week, on Monday, July 12, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that life would soon be changing in Queensland — with the restrictions that've been in place for the past fortnight across the state set to lift from 6am on Friday, June 16. In the past 24 hours, however, three new locally acquired COVID-19 cases have been reported. As a result, the Premier has announced today, Thursday, July 15, that the limits and caps will no longer ease in 11 Local Government Areas in and around Brisbane. Instead, those areas will continue under the present restrictions until at least Friday, July 23. That'll apply in the Brisbane City Council, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim LGAs. That means that the existing rules will keep limiting what you can do, where and with how many people, as we've all become used to during the pandemic. And yes, dancing is still banned, so Footloose might make for good weekend viewing — yep, again. The 30-person limit on at-home gatherings will remain, and that cap includes folks who live with you. And, as well as banning dancing, standing up at cafes, restaurants, bars and nightclubs is still not permitted. So, to eat, drink and hang out, you'll need to be seated. Hospitality businesses will also have to stick to the one person per four-square-metres indoors and one person per two-square-metres outdoors rules. That said, venues smaller than 200 square metres will be permitted to welcome in one person per two-square-metres with a cap of 50 people. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1415470586759766016 Outdoor events can go ahead, but only if they have a COVID-19-safe plan in place. Indoor events can too — and both can have 100-percent capacity if they're seated, or one person per four-square-metres indoors and one person per two-square-metres outdoors rules otherwise. Wearing masks will still be required whenever you're not at home — and you'll always have to have one with you as a result. So, they must be worn in all indoor spaces other than your own house, all indoor workplaces unless it is unsafe to do so, on public transport, in taxis and ride share vehicles, and outdoors, unless you're doing vigorous exercise. "We won't be able to ease our restrictions in the Greater Brisbane area and I know people will be disappointed by that," said the Premier. Queenslanders are asked to keep social distancing, maintaining the hygiene practices that have been in place since March 2020, and checking the state's list of exposure sites — and to get tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
How do you capture the essence of a pub in a drink? How do you make sipping a cocktail conjure up the feeling of hanging out in a hotel's front bar, with your feet almost glued to the carpet and the unmistakable smell of beer in the air? How do you whip up a spirit that pays tribute to an iconic Australian watering hole that's closing in on a century and a half of pouring beverages, too? These are the questions that Four Pillars is answering with its Sticky Carpet Gin. This tipple dates back to 2018, when it arrived as a boozy ode to the legendary haunt that is The Espy in St Kilda in Melbourne. First, you could only try it in cocktails at the pub it was inspired by. Then, it became available by the bottle in 2019, but only as a limited release. Now, Four Pillars has brought it back — and also given it some tinkering. The Healesville distillery had one aim from the outset with its Sticky Carpet Gin: capturing the spirit of a venue that's meant many different things to different people for many, many years. Four Pillars co-founder and distiller Cameron Mackenzie's first effort was such a success that it's become the gin that more folks request to be brought back than any other of the brand's gin. Start saying cheers to Sticky Carpet Gin again, then, given that it's back in Four Pillars' online store now. The new version of the tipple still wants to give everyone that's sipping it an unmistakable pub feel. This time, however, Mackenzie has swapped out roasted dark stout for using Little Creatures Pale Ale in the gin's base. The beer goes into the still with juniper, coriander, barley, cassia, macadamia nuts, orris root, lemon myrtle, honey, lavender, ginger and lemon peel, plus the base spirit. Also, hops hang in a bag over it to extract the aromatics. "The Little Creatures brewers have made a beer that is the benchmark for American-style pale ale, with slightly tropical and resin-y flavours, like Sierra Nevada, my fave US beer," said Mackenzie. "In a way, this is the closest we've come to making a Jenever-style of gin. It's a dense canvas of resin-y juniper with deep brown spice notes. There's a chewy, malty hop character that hangs onto the macadamia nut and it's a touch fruity with bright citrus notes, too. As well as buying Sticky Carpet Gin online for your gin shrine or getting it from Four Pillars in-person — it retails at $88 for a 700-millilitre bottle — it's on offer at The Winery in Surry Hills in Sydney; both The Regatta and Riverland in Brisbane; Yarra Botanica, The Espy (of course) and Garden State Hotel in Melbourne; and the Claremont in Perth. The Espy is also hosting a free launch party on Wednesday, April 17 from 6pm, complete with free gin and tonics upon arrival. You'll need to nab a complimentary ticket to attend, however — and you'll catch live sets from Floodlights and Back Pocket as well. For those knocking it back at home, Four Pillars recommends using Sticky Carpet Gin in a new twist on the G&T called Sticky and Tonic, in a boozy pink lemonade spider, with cordial, or as part of a lemon, lime and bitters sour. Four Pillars Sticky Carpet Gin is available to purchase online, from Four Pillars in-person, and from select bars — head to the distillery's website for more details.
Thailand is undoubtedly one of Australia's favourite holiday destinations, and Bangkok is one of the world's most visited cities by international tourists. The sprawling metropolis makes room for the old and the new — one minute you're cruising down the Chao Phraya river, the next you're travelling through the city at breakneck speed on the BTS skytrain. We've going to bet that a few of you have been to Bangkok before. Maybe you've even trekked up to Chiang Mai and Pai, or soaked up some sun scuba diving off one of Thailand's many islands. That's why we've left some of the obvious Bangkok destinations out of this article, like the mind-boggling Chatuchak markets, the opulent Grand Palace and the silk-lovers heaven that is Jim Thompson House. If you're in the country's capital and looking for a fun way to spend a few days, we recommend giving a few of these a visit. Drink at high altitudes Bangkok has quite a nifty reputation for its rooftop bar scene, so we decided to check out the highest one we could find — it was the Sky Bar at the Lebua State Tower (also known as the rooftop bar from The Hangover 2). Come alone or come in a wolf pack to the 65th floor — the service is friendly and the cocktails are outstanding. We could drink their blueberry sour G&T's all damn day, but there's also a Hangovertini for those looking to stay in theme. Sunset is generally the best time to arrive but, then again, we're yet to find a bad time to drink at high altitudes. We also climbed to the top of Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree Bangkok, located on the 61st floor. It's extremely easy to pass the hours when you're seated against the glass wall overlooking the city — with free bar snacks that were constantly replenished, no less. There was a smart casual dress code at both of these rooftop bars, so it's worth checking ahead to make sure drinking in the clouds stays firmly on your conquered list. Yes, both of these places were a bit pricier than your average 60 Baht bottle of Chang beer, but if you're after a nice night out, this is it. What can we say? Bangkok has us now. Work Your Way Out Of Escape Hunt Escape rooms are becoming a bit of a thing in Australia, but we tried out the Bangkok version at Escape Hunt anyway. For the uninitiated, escape rooms are like playing real-life Cluedo: you get 'locked' in a room, left to solve a murder mystery before your time is up. In our case, we had an hour to figure out who had killed a female painter — one of her three boyfriends, or the groundskeeper? This was totally awesome. And if Bangkok hasn't already tested your relationship with your travel partner, this certainly will. You're allowed to get clues from your host, but each clue deducts one minute off your time, so we recommend only using them when you're desperately seeking some Sherlock intuition. Thankfully, we made it out with just under two minutes to spare, and we were given the cutest tweed detective gear to put on and take photos in. Check Out Cat, Dog and Bunny Cafes Cat cafes did originate in Asia, so it's no surprise there are a few here in Thailand's capital. We're not sure exactly how many cat cafes Bangkok has, but we know there are at least three. Purr Cat Cafe Club is one of the more prominent ones in Sukhumvit, and in a city filled with apartment buildings and high rises, it's no wonder Bangkok locals are looking to spend some quality time with a furry friend. Purr is run by a Thai sitcom actress and houses 14 fluffy Persians cats. At the cafe you can have cat-shaped brownies and whiskers drawn on your hot chocolate. There is also Kitty Cat Cafe and Makura Cat Cafe in Bangkok if you can't get enough of your feline friends. Cats not your thing? Don't even worry about it. Bangkok also has a cafe that specifically houses Siberian huskies called True Love Cafe. There are 17 of these adorable pups running around, all of different colours and sizes. One final animal establishment we'd like to throw out there is the Lucky Bunny Cafe & Restaurant, which houses happy, healthy rabbits. All of the cute, all at once. Food and (Safe) Sex Together At Last With a tagline like 'Our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy', how could you possibly refuse a meal here? There are mannequins covered in elaborate condom costumes which are hilarious and honestly quite impressive, but Cabbages and Condoms is not the money-grabbing, photo-opportunity establishment you might first think. Cabbages and Condoms was initially created to promote a better understanding of sexual health and family planning, as a portion of the profits go towards the Population and Community Development Association (PDA). It's all in the name of an excellent cause, so you might as well get amongst. The menu is strictly Thai cuisine, and there's plenty to choose from. There are a few Cabbages and Condoms located all over Thailand, so if you're heading over to Thailand but not staying in Bangkok, there's still a chance to check this out. Grab a handful of free dingers on the way out and have yourself a safe and merry day. Choose Your Own Adventure: Thai Street Food Let's be honest, this section could be a whole article to itself. Thai street food is the best kind of street food — cheap, unpredictable (in a good way), and, above all, delicious. The rules are simple: eat anything that looks interesting, ask questions later and try something new every time. On a personal note, I spent two years of my childhood living in Thailand, so I had a slight advantage of knowing that (1) My chances of death were slim if I chose wisely, and (2) I could identify some of the strangest looking toppings on Thai snow cones. Boat noodles (kuay tiew rua) are a Bangkok street food staple, and there is a whole alley dedicated to this delicacy located near Victory Monument. For other noodles on the run, a safe bet is the readily available stir-fried wide rice noodles (pad see ew) or Pad Thai. Our favourite savoury snacks were easily the bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms, as well as the ever-present and super cheap grilled pork sticks (moo ping). For sweets you can't go passed mango and sticky rice (kao niao mumuang) — it's traditional and delicious. For some who are keen for a little lucky dip, give the Thai snow cone (nam kang sai) a go. You fill the bottom of the bowl with anything from black jelly, chestnuts, sweetened taro to red beans, then place a mound of shaved ice on top of that and cover with flavoured syrups and condensed, evaporated or coconut milk, depending on how sweet you want it. Top image thanks to Scalino, Lubua photo taken by Vicky Chung via Flickr, cat image thanks to ironypoisoning, Cabbages and Condoms image thanks to micamonkey, street food image thanks to jaaron.
Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway or drive 30 minutes inland from Cairns to visit the eclectic rainforest village of Kuranda. Here you'll find a plethora of artists and street performers roaming around town as you explore the town's quirky art shops and market stalls. If you're lucky, you might even be able to catch a live show at the much-loved Kuranda Amphitheatre. Also in Kuranda is the Rainforestation Nature Park showcasing the very best of the tropics. Want to gain in depth knowledge of the region? We recommend taking a guided walk with the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Djabugay People, via the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience. Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
Ever wanted something other than a beer to go with your burger on a Friday night? Or wondered which bev would pair well with the ramen you get delivered from UberEats? Well, the answer is wine. It doesn't just go well with steak or cheese — it goes down a treat with any number of foods. You just have to know which wine to choose. It's all about balance. A successful pairing creates a symbiotic relationship between the dish and the wine, and neither element will overpower the other. This can be achieved by picking a flavour in both the wine and the dish that you wish to enhance — this will create a connection between the dish and what you're drinking. A basic example is smoke; when you pair barbecued or chargrilled beef with a red wine that has a smoky element to its bouquet, it's going to enhance that flavour in both things. It makes for a cohesive dining experience that begins with the first bite of food and continues with a sip of wine. The other rule to remember is that acid and tannin (that's the 'puckering' feeling in the mouth when you drink a wine) break down protein in food — it's why your folks love a Barossa Shiraz or Coonawarra Cabernet when they're eating roast lamb on a Sunday. And don't forget to experiment with flavours and matches — it's how you'll get better at it. My only word of caution is to always take into consideration the weight of the wine that you plan to match with your dish, as a lighter, more aromatic wine can tend to get lost in a dish that is a heavier style of protein (and vice versa). To get you started, we've done the hard work (that is, the eating and drinking) to come up with the best Aussie wine pairings for some unconventional dishes. RAMEN AND ROSÉ Now that we're heading into winter, there will be more soups and broths on the agenda — and the king of liquid-based meals is, of course, ramen. However, ramen comes in all different flavours and styles (miso vs. broth, pork vs. tofu, black garlic vs. chilli, or all of the above) making it hard to pinpoint which style of wine to pair with it. Which is why Rosé is your hero — it comes in all different flavours and styles and has just enough fruit character to counteract the varying degrees of chilli in ramen. Side note: don't be fooled by the colour of the wine, as not all deeper-coloured Rosés are automatically sweet. Some have bolder fruit flavours with a dry finish, and for those of you who load up their ramen with every type of chilli, a more fruit-driven rose may just be your saviour. In one sentence: No matter your style of ramen, a fruity style of rose will create a nice counterbalance to any chilli or salt-driven flavours. Good if you like: Bold flavours, strawberries, sitting in the warm autumn sun when there's just a slight chill in the air. One to try: 2016 Vignerons Schmolzer and Brown 'Pret-a-Rosé' (Sangiovese, Pinot Noir and Shiraz), Beechworth, Victoria. FRIED CHICKEN AND PINOT NOIR One of the biggest mistakes you can make when pairing wine is thinking that you have to match red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat. Not true. If you work on the principle that you're matching flavour with flavour, the possibilities for food and wine matching become exponential. Fried chicken is a great dish to experiment with a lighter or aromatic style of red, like Pinot Noir or Cabernet Franc. You just need something with enough tannin structure to break down some of the protein of the chicken, a touch of acid to freshen the palate and counteract the grease, and something with a bit of spice to complement or enhance the seasoning on the chicken. In one sentence: A lighter red like a Pinot Noir will give a bit of freshness to the dense protein of fried chicken — and if the winemaker has used whole bunch to create a savoury element in the wine, this will pair nicely will the spices in the seasoning. Good if you like: Cranberry sauce on your turkey at Christmas time or like experimenting with flavours in the kitchen. One to try: 2016 Mallaluka Pinot Noir, Canberra District, NSW. CHEESEBURGER AND SPARKLING A vintage sparkling wine (particularly one from our spiritual home of sparkling, Tasmania) and a great burger is one of my all-time favourite food and wine pairings. The crunch of a toasted brioche bun with the smokiness of the grilled meat and a creamy bit of cheddar cheese is perfect paired with a sparkling wine — particularly one that has similar toasty flavours but the same backbone of acidity. This will refresh your palate after each greasy (but delicious) bite. In one sentence: Bring an element of luxury to your next takeaway burger with a sparkling wine — the toasty notes in the sparkling will pair with the bun and the acid will cut through the greasiness of the burger. Good if you like: Well, if you're human with tastebuds, you will love this pairing. One to try: 2007 Arras Blanc de Blancs, Tasmania. GOLDEN GAYTIME AND CHARDONNAY Desserts are often the hardest thing to create a pairing for as sugar tends to coat and dominate the palate. Find something with acid (like a late harvest Riesling) or a more delicate style of dessert wine (like a fortified wine or Mistelle) that isn't going to be cloyingly sweet on the palate (just avoid anything that has Botrytis on the label at all costs). Try sweet dishes paired with a lighter, fresher style of wine with citrus flavours and white floral notes, like a Chardonnay, so that the palate is refreshed at the end of the dessert. In one sentence: Sugar + sugar = avoid. Good if you like: Caramel and honeycomb flavours — basically anyone with a sweet tooth. One to try: Bremerton Mistelle fortified Chardonnay, Langhorne Creek, SA. POKÉ BOWL AND RIESLING Like Bert and Ernie and Vegemite and cheese, there are some pairings that are sacrosanct. Riesling and seafood is one such pairing that works every time — in particular with creamier or oilier fish like tuna, kingfish and salmon that you would find in a poké bowl. The floral layers of Riesling (in particular ginger blossom) would work harmoniously with this dish too, as they would pick up on the subtle ginger, miso or sesame characters you might have in your bowl. In one sentence: A creamier or oily fish paired with a bright and acid-driven Riesling is a classic pairing. Good if you like: Squirting lemon on your fish and chips before devouring it. One to try: 2016 Ochota Barrels 'Kids of the Black Hole' Riesling, Adelaide Hills, SA. Celebrate all types of Australian wine by getting involved with Aussie Wine Month over May — there will be events and tasting opportunities all over the country. Images: Kimberley Low.
Classic flicks just keep making the leap to the stage, turning their big-screen tales into song-filled musical adaptations in the process. From 9 to 5 and Muriel's Wedding to Moulin Rouge! and Shrek, a hefty number of beloved movies have done just that — and now Adam Sandler's smash-hit film The Wedding Singer is joining them. The Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy was originally due to hit Melbourne in June this year but, as we all know, the pandemic hit. Now it'll head to the city in April 2021, before hitting up the Gold Coast in June and Sydney in July. When it does finally arrive on our shores, The Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy will deliver an all-singing, all-dancing stage show based on its hilarious namesake 90s flick. And it's from the same crew that propelled it to sell-out success on Broadway and across the UK, including the writer of the original movie, Tim Herlihy. This one promises to yank you right into The Wedding Singer's 80s world of big hair and classic wedding bangers, thanks to a toe-tapping score that's sure to prompt a few hearty crowd singalongs. It retells the story of party-loving wedding singer and wannabe rock star Robbie Hart, who's left stranded at the altar at his own nuptials. Heartbroken, he sets out to destroy every other wedding he's a part of, until a chance encounter with a waitress: Drew Barrymore's character Julia. Now, he just has to win over the girl... and somehow put a stop to her own upcoming marriage along the way. If you need a refresher, you can watch the OG nostalgic film trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yjOXMTa6vA THE WEDDING SINGER: THE MUSICAL COMEDY AUSTRALIA 2021 TOUR Melbourne: from Friday, April 30 at The Athenaeum Theatre, with tickets via Ticketek Gold Coast: Wednesday, June 16–Saturday, June 26 at HOTA, Home Of The Arts, with tickets via the venue Sydney: from Thursday, July 1 at the State Theatre, with tickets via Ticketmaster The Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy starts touring Australia from Friday, April 30, 2021, with seasons in Melbourne, on the Gold Coast and in Sydney. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, December 1 — for more details, and to join the waitlist, head over to the show's website.
In 2023, Kylie Minogue was one of the headline acts at the first-ever Sydney WorldPride. In 2024, Australia's favourite homegrown pop star is leading the bill at another huge event: Splendour in the Grass. 'Padam Padam' will echo across North Byron Bay Parklands to warm up winter — and festivalgoers will be spinning around to the music megastar's three-plus decades of hits. Kylie tops a lineup that also boasts Future and Arcade Fire, with Minogue headlining the Friday night with an exclusive set, then Future doing the Saturday and Arcade Fire taking to the stage on the Sunday. The dates, in case you don't already have them in your diary: Friday, July 19–Sunday, July 21. And yes, 2024's biggest Splendour names have plenty of company. [caption id="attachment_870885" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darenoted Ltd[/caption] You'll also be catching G Flip, Turnstile, The Presets doing a DJ set, Yeat, Hayden James, Girl in Red, Baby Gravy, Tash Sultana, DJ Seinfeld, Fontaines DC, Royel Otis, Tones and I and more. Of course the list goes on from there — it's Splendour. Omar Apollo, The Last Dinner Party, Lizzy McAlpine, The Kills, Thelma Plum, Partiboi69, Angie McMahon, Viagra Boys: add them all to your schedule for the three days, then a whole heap more. [caption id="attachment_945649" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leonardo Samrani via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Splendour 2024, which is the festival's 22nd birthday, will feature beats and projections at The Forest, LGBTQIA+ dance club Rainbow Bar, everything from immersive installations to giant sculptures as part of its arts program, and Little Splendour turning a trip to the fest into a family-friendly experience, too. Don't forget that there's also a lineup for the Thursday night as well, with Jimi the Kween, Krissy Jaman, Victoria Anthony and Summer Lover kicking off the proceedings. Splendour in the Grass 2024 Lineup: Friday: Kylie G Flip Turnstile Tash Sultana Omar Apollo Partiboi69 Angie McMahon Viagra Boys ISOxo Confidence Man Otoboke Beaver Allday A.B. Original Yard Act Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers JK-47 Leisure Kita Alexander Skeleten Radio Free Alice Becca Hatch Nick Ward Triple J Unearthed Mix Up DJs: Dameeeela Baschoe Reenie The Forest: Anthony Pappa Wongo Morgazmk Miles Jackson Arya Data Roaming K Dizzy Saturday: Future Yeat Hayden James Fontaines D.C. Lizzy McAlpine Tones and I The Last Dinner Party The Presets (DJ set) Pond Boywithuke Middle Kids Beddy Rays Swim Coco & Clair Clair Michael Marcagi Floodlights Rona. The Dreggs Teenage Joans Good Neighbours Rum Jungle Willo Miss Kaninna Logan. Mix Up DJs: Naynay Naycab The Forest: Grouch Marnie Megapixel Ish K Sophdexx Lucidream Justtim Camila Rosa. Sunday: Arcade Fire Girl in Red Baby Gravy (Yung Gravy X Bbno$) Royel Otis DJ Seinfeld The Kills TV Girl Thelma Plum Fletcher Polaris Eyedress Sofia Kourtesis Sam Alfred Pacific Avenue Erika De Casier Grentperez Danny Ocean Old Mervs Paris Paloma 6 Sense The Slingers Vv Pete Belair Lip Bombs Triple J Unearthed Mix Up DJs: Jhassic & Rakish Bria The Forest: Opiuo Godlands Käse Kochen Grouch in Dub (solo) April Kerry Surge Crooks Farfetchd Smish Wren Thursday night: Jimi the Kween Krissy Jaman Victoria Anthony Summer Lover Splendour in the Grass will take over North Byron Bay Parklands from Friday, July 19–Sunday, July 21, 2024, with ticket presales from 9am–9pm AEDT on Thursday, March 14 for Splendour members, 10am–4pm AEDT on Sunday, March 17 for locals, 9am–9pm AEDT on Monday, March 18 for PYP, 9am–12am AEDT on Tuesday, March 19 for Optus and 9am–9pm AEDT on Wednesday, March 20 via TikTok — and general sales from 9am AEDT on Thursday, March 21. For more information, head to the festival website. Images: Charlie Hardy, Bianca Holderness and Claudia Ciapocha.
After seven years of bringing food to Australians' doors — and alcohol, kitchen and household products, and pop culture-themed board games in some places, too — Deliveroo has delivered a significant piece of news: it now no longer operates in the country. Via a series of messages to customers, on social media and on its local website on Wednesday, November 16, the company announced that it was shutting its Aussie service effective immediately. "Deliveroo no longer operates in Australia," the organisation's website now reads. "Deliveroo has taken the difficult decision to leave Australia. We have been proud to bring so many people amazing meals from Australia's great restaurants over the years," it continues. The company is now in administration, with KordaMentha appointed to oversee the process. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deliveroo (@deliveroo_au) In its statements on social media, Deliveroo called the news a "sad announcement" and reiterated that it "has been a very difficult decision to make". It also called out Australia's "amazing food" and "thousands of brilliant restaurants and riders". Obviously, the sudden shuttering will impact both considerably. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Deliveroo staff will receive compensation, and drivers who made a delivery in the past three months. As a result of the closure, Deliveroo's app is now no longer accepting orders, leaving customers to use competing food-delivery services such as UberEats, Menulog and DoorDash. Since opening in Australia in 2015, in efforts to stand out in a crowded market, Deliveroo has done everything from giving away burgers and Tim Tams, offering free delivery during lockdowns and slinging free fries based on vaccination levels through to even dropping off free Gelato Messina choc tops by boat. For more information about Deliveroo ceasing operations in Australia, head to the service's website.
Fining guests for posting bad reviews of your Vanderbilt-built hotel? Might want to think twice on that poorly-formed brainwave and avoid giving internet reviewers a reason to unite. Union Street Guest House in Hudson, New York is doing exactly that. The Rockefeller/Vanderbilt estate hastily took down a controversial rule from its own website yesterday, according to Huffington Post. The super dumb, money-grabbing rule charged wedding guests (primarily the newlyweds themselves) for any bad reviews posted on review websites like Yelp and Trip Advisor. Yep. Apparently, as pointed out by the initial New York Post story on Monday, couples holding their wedding at the USGH would see a sneaky $500 deducted from their security deposit for each thumbs down posted online by their guests. After a few WTF inquiries, the hotel took to Facebook and pulled the ol' 'it was all a joke' card to quash the backlash, but then mysteriously that post went missing too. "The policy regarding wedding fines was put on our site as a tongue-in-cheek response to a wedding many years ago," read the Facebook post. "It was meant to be taken down and certainly was never enforced." Although it's no longer (obviously) up on the hotel's website, Business Insider snapped it up before it was lost to the ages. Here's what the rule read, seriously: If you have booked the Inn for a wedding or other type of event anywhere in the region and given us a deposit of any kind for guests to stay at USGH there will be a $500 fine that will be deducted from your deposit for every negative review of USGH placed on any internet site by anyone in your party and/or attending your wedding or event. Although the team attempted to put out the fire, the sparks had already flown. Over 500 angry reviewers threw the hotel major shade with the lowest possible rating, again and again and again. Although sites like Yelp delete reviews who haven't actually stayed in the venue up for review, the slams are still coming for USGH: Now Union Street Guest House's rating looks like this: Yikes. Think before you joke-fine. Via Business Insider, Huffington Post and New York Post.
"Well sir, there's no easy way to say this. Your wife isn't who she says she is." So starts the just-dropped full trailer for the fifth season of Fargo, the anthology TV show inspired by the big-screen Coen brothers masterpiece. Spinning blackly comedic crime tales just like the movie, this series charts a different caper with each go-around — and enlists a different cast, too — with the wife being spoken about here played by Ted Lasso's Juno Temple. Like season one, two and the movie, Fargo season five spends its time in Minnesota and North Dakota. The year: 2019. Dorothy 'Dot' Lyon (Temple) is the otherwise-ordinary person falling afoul of the law, or so it seems. Indeed, as her husband Wayne (David Rysdahl, Oppenheimer) learns, she not an average Midwestern housewife. And, as also seen in two prior sneak peeks, there's plenty more to this story. With Jon Hamm (Good Omens) also starring as Roy Tillman, the North Dakota Sheriff (and preacher) on Dot's trail, this tale is set to get twisty fast — and also include a heap of other familiar faces. Joining Temple, Hamm and Rysdahl: Jennifer Jason Leigh (Hunters), Joe Keery (Stranger Things), Lamorne Morris (Woke), Richa Moorjani (Never Have I Ever), Sam Spruell (The Gold) and Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall). In a case of spectacular casting, Keery will put his famous hair to good use as Tillman's son Gator, in a franchise that also loves unpacking the ties of blood that bind and cause chaos. Spruell plays a drifter who is enlisted to help on the search for Dot, while Leigh hops onboard as Wayne's mother, aka the 'Queen of Debt' thanks to being a debt collection company CEO — and Foley plays her in-house counsel. Among the cops, there's Moorjani as a deputy from Minnesota and Morris as a North Dakota counterpart. Oh you betcha there's accents, crime capers, dedicated cops, and people doing dark deeds for selfish reasons and then getting karmic comeuppance, with Fargo season five arriving in Australia via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22. 2023 marks almost a decade since writer, director and producer Noah Hawley leapt from Bones, The Unusuals and My Generation to diving back into crime in often-frosty American places with sly laughs. The first two seasons arrived back to back in 2014 and 2015, with season three then following in 2017 and season four in 2020. Now, after another three-year gap, the show returns with another new story and cast, but still set in the same world as the Fargo movie. Check out the full trailer for Fargo season five below: Fargo season five will start streaming via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22. Images: Michelle Faye/FX.
While some people seem to want to make it harder to be a cyclist in the city (ahem, NSW Government), others want to make it easier. We could point to many European cities — for example, Amsterdam's solar powered bike path and London's cross-city cycle highway — as well these low-cost recycled cardboard bikes and this beautiful fold-up one from Lucid Design. But this time it's IKEA who are getting on board with urban cycling, creating a chainless bike for commuters. The bike, named SLADDA, is designed to be low maintenance so that anyone (i.e. the general population who don't know anything about chains and gears) can use and ride the bike without worrying about all the technical stuff. Instead of a chain it will have a corrosion-resistant, maintenance-free cogged drive belt that, according to IKEA, will be good for up to 15,000 kilometres. The whole concept of the bike, which was created by global design consultancy Veryday and has already won an award, has been "designed to fit an urban lifestyle". The bike's aluminium frame is lightweight, which makes it easier to carry up and down stairs and manoeuvre in and out of your house, as well as scratch-resistant and adjustable. It will also be integrated into a 'click system', which will allow you to buy accessories — like baskets, racks and even a small trailer — that simply 'click' onto the bike. The SLADDA is set to be available from August in Europe, with a worldwide release potentially following soon after. It will cost €699 (or about $1000 AUD). Via Core77.
A smart, self-effacing send-up of the entertainment industry, Top Five, like most of Rock’s best material, feels at least partly autobiographical. Rock plays Andre Allen, a comedian turned Hollywood superstar and recovering alcoholic, best known for his role in the million-dollar Hammy the Bear franchise. Unfortunately, Allen’s funny bone has been blunted since going sober, and his first attempt at a ‘serious’ film — playing Haitian slave revolutionary Dutty Boukman — is shaping up to be a box-office bomb. Even more out of control is his upcoming televised wedding, to Kardashian-esque reality star Erica Long (Gabrielle Union). Enter Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson), a sardonic, whip-smart writer for the New York Times, who’s been assigned to profile Allen over the course of a single day. Although initially suspicious of Brown and the Times, whose resident film critic has made a career out of tearing his movies to shreds, Allen soon finds himself opening up to the writer, as the pair begin to trade stories while walking around NYC. Top Five (©2015 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.) is in cinemas on March 12, and thanks to Paramount Pictures, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address. Read our full review here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
While face masks were first mandated in Melbourne back in mid-July, the Queensland Government has only ever encouraged its citizens to cover up, rather than making face coverings compulsory. From 6pm tonight, Friday, January 8, however, that's all changing. In a bid to contain the latest coronavirus outbreak, which currently only includes one hotel quarantine worker — but involves the new, more contagious UK strain of COVID-19 — the Queensland Government is mandating the wearing of masks across Greater Brisbane. That spans the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands local government areas, running from 6pm on Friday, January 8 until 6pm on Monday, January 11. The move is being implemented in tandem with a three-day lockdown in the same areas, with Brisbanites required to don a mask everywhere in those areas for the three days other than if you're inside your own home. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1347309459891109888 "If you are leaving home, you are leaving your place of residence, from 6pm Friday to 6pm Monday, and you will living in those council areas — again, let me say them: Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands – you must wear a mask," said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at her daily press conference today, Friday, January 8. Children aged 12 years and under and people affected by a medical condition are exempt from the mask rule, and you're also allowed to temporarily remove your mask for eating and drinking, and if it's necessary for your job. The Queensland Health website notes that "compliance measures will be in place" regarding masks, but how much folks will be fined for non-compliance isn't listed. With a lockdown in effect during the same period, and the Greater Brisbane region returning to the rules in place during March's lockdown, that means you're only allowed to leave the house — wearing a mask, of course — for four reasons. So, you can only head out for work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about the lockdown, masks and associated restrictions can also be found on the Queensland Health website.
Having won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at both the Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival in 2010, Bill Cunningham New York is finally landing in Australian cinemas on November 3. Directed by Richard Press, the documentary follows the life and work of 80-year old Bill Cunningham, photographer for The New York Times and candid fashion icon. For decades he has documented the world's fashion trends through his lens, and subsequently become one of the best renowned street photographers of all time, becoming king of his craft while The Sartorialist and Garance Doré were still running around in nappies. Bill Cunningham New York highlights the man's work in one of the world's busiest fashion capitals. Cunningham captures both the elegance of high fashion and the eccentricity of downtown street culture beautifully. What results is a visually stimulating piece of cinema that represents Bill and the Big Apple. His impressive catalogue of work has been treated as a testament to the changing nature of fashion trends throughout the last century. Notable American icons Anna Wintour, Tom Wolfe, Brooke Astor and David Rockefeller all appear in the film. More than just a showcase of fashion, Bill Cunningham New York takes a deep insight into the history behind the man responsible for such stunning images. It reveals his relationship with celebrities and the public, his often secretive personal life and the reasons behind his fascination with clothing and culture. Thanks to Madman Entertainment, Concrete Playground has ten double passes to giveaway. To win tickets to see Bill Cunningham New York, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=NYqiLJBXbss
With the holidays just coming to an end, we're all now emerging from prime binge-watching season. So, if you feel like you've glued your eyes to every possible TV show and movie there is recently, that's completely understandable — but the great thing about streaming is that there's always something else popping up, demanding your attention and helping you maintain that comfy groove in your sofa. Returning series releasing their latest seasons, brand new shows that haven't been on your radar, recent favourites that you mightn't have seen, retro classics that are always worth a revisit, flicks that'll keep you talking — they're some of the fresh additions to the streaming world recently, and they're all ready to add to your 2021 watch list. If you're wondering where to start, we've teamed up with streaming platform Binge to pick five must-sees that'll help you start the year with some top-notch viewing. You can view them all on the Australian service, including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
They're doing more than just jamming: actors Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch and James Norton, plus writer/director Reinaldo Marcus Green, that is. Teaming up for Bob Marley: One Love, the first major biopic about its namesake — and a film driven by Marley's family, with wife Rita producing with children Ziggy and Cedella, plus their sibling Stephen the music supervisor — this quartet knows that their task is formidable and important. Anyone wondering whether the feature's focal point, a Jamaican icon and the initial person that anyone instantly thinks of when reggae is mentioned, could be loved is pondering a pointless question. Ben-Adir, who stars as Bob fresh from playing one of Barbie's Kens — and steps into another real-life figure's shoes again after giving One Night in Miami its Malcolm X and TV's The Comey Rule its Barack Obama — is among Marley's fans. He has company on the movie; of course, everyone should be. "He was an artist first, and one of the great, great songwriters. I don't know if there's anyone who can write songs [like him]. Like, he's top five, but my number one," he tells Concrete Playground. So for him, his job "was always about trying to understand him as an artist, and as a father, as a man," Ben-Adir explains. "Here's a musician who dedicated his life to writing songs that we now all get to enjoy. Understanding what that meant, to play the guitar and to write that many songs, that many albums, in that ten-year period, it was just incredible." Bob Marley: One Love arrives after documentaries have already had the sun shining on Marley's impact and legacy. A birth-to-death filmic biography isn't its aim or approach, then. The man, the music, the message: that's the movie's trinity as it hones in Bob in the late 70s, specifically around the making and touring of his 1977 album Exodus. The record was named the best album of the 20th century by TIME magazine; however, it's not just its contents but the political context in Jamaica that brought it to fruition that speaks volumes about the man behind it. "That was a period of time of musical genius, musical creation. Bob created Exodus, which was one of the greatest albums of the 20th century — and after the assassination attempt on his life in 1976, [and the] political turmoil in Jamaica, it was just such a rich period of time," says Green. The filmmaker both directs and co-writes, in his first feature since fellow biopic King Richard. "And also, he had made several albums that we can pull from. The backbone of the story is the music. So it felt such like a rich period of time in Bob's life, before he obviously gets sick — it just felt like a really prime time in his life that that captured the essence of who the man was," Green continues. [caption id="attachment_940714" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Antony Jones/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures[/caption] This isn't just a story of one person, either. Turning in the picture's other powerful main performance, Captain Marvel, No Time to Die and The Woman King's Lynch is Rita to Ben-Adir's Bob. It's as much her tale as well. "Frankly, if her voice wasn't as present as it is in the movie, if she wasn't as dynamic a character as she is in the movie, I wouldn't have taken the role," Lynch advises Concrete Playground. "Because I knew from afar before I had the role who she is, what she represents, how respected she is in Jamaica, in Ghana, in different countries over the world — that if it wasn't going to be that, then I don't have any business lending my voice to that." As for Happy Valley, Nowhere Special and Little Women star Norton, another veteran of playing real-life figures after Mr Jones and Rogue Agent, he brings influential record producer and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell to the screen. "It is daunting," he advises. "Especially if they're alive, because you know they're going to watch it — well, they might watch it one day — and there's only one person who's going to give you the full appraisal of your work: it's the person who you just played." With Bob Marley: One Love releasing in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, we also chatted with Ben-Adir, Green, Lynch and Norton about the importance of finding the right person to play Bob, plus making a Bob Marley movie with his family so heavily involved — as well as why a Bob Marley biopic hasn't reached screens before and learning about the singer while working on the film. On Finding the Right Actor to Play Bob Marley — and Being That Actor Reinaldo: "We looked at thousands of tapes from everywhere, everywhere we could find. It's just hard. It's Bob Marley. You're looking for a needle in the haystack — and we're talking really good actors — that it just was really hard to find it. So when I saw Kingsley's tape, it was the first time that I thought it was possible. He had a look. He had an enigma. He had a vulnerability. He had a charisma. And his tape, it was pulling me closer to him. I was leaning in in a way that I hadn't leaned into any of the other tapes, and so I knew that there was a baseline. Obviously I wanted to meet him immediately. I didn't know Kingsley or Kingsley's work — or I didn't remember 'oh, that was the guy that played that'. And so it was interesting to find it and say 'oh, okay, he was a chameleon in those movies, he was able to disappear'. And there was something quite special about that. There was obviously a level of intelligence that I was looking for, somebody that was going to put in the work and be able to make an interpretation of Bob, rather than mimic Bob. So the tape gave me so much excitement that it was possible to even attempt to make a movie about Bob, and from that moment we went on the journey of discovering who the man was." Kingsley: "When the audition came through, I was told that as soon as you get the tape to us, the family will see it within 24 hours. So that's a good motivation to get your shit together and prepare something meaningful or worth sharing. That's what I always do when there's a big audition or interesting audition or something that feels substantial, you just take three to four days — you just need a bit of time to wrap your head around, in this case, Bob. I spent some time really watching him and watching him in concert and listening to some of his interviews. And yeah, I guess when I got the call saying that Ziggy had approved and wanted me to fly over and meet him, it was a pretty special feeling. I didn't have the job, but I was going over to meet Bob's child, which is really surreal." On Making a Movie About Bob Marley with the Help of Bob Marley's Family Kingsley: "Ziggy remembers a lot about him. He was in Zimbabwe with his dad. He was in Jamaica. What was so amazing was that the process of building the character was with Bob's friends and family. So I read all the books, but after a while you just go 'don't need those, I can just call people who knew Bob — I can just call people who were there in London with Bob, I can call people who are on stage with him'. It's really incredible, looking back. It was work, there was a lot to find out and there was a lot of work to do, but I loved working with Ziggy. All throughout the prep, we would message and talk, and then he was there with us every day on set, which was just game-changing. Neville Garrick [Bob Marley's art director] and Ziggy were with us every day from the beginning. And I mean, there wasn't a morning where Ziggy wasn't on set first. He was always there. Any questions? Anytime. And so my process was really our process — it was really a communal thing." Lashana: "You read everything. You read her book — thank god she wrote one. You watch everything. And then you hope that it makes sense. And it did, to a certain extent, until I called for some time with her. Then after I met her, I thought I could just throw away all the information, to be honest. It's really helpful to have facts, but it's more the types of beings that Mrs Marley and that Bob are and were at the time for everybody, is so intricate and so beautiful, that it requires a tapping in of their level of spirituality in order for me to even portray any of her. There needs to be a spiritual connection there. So I ensured that the energy was right, and whenever I didn't feel like I was approaching her well, I had to just take a beat with myself and remember who she is and what she deserves. And thankfully, this production knew that we had the children's support and guidance throughout the shoot. That helped us really get to those sweet spots in the movie." Reinaldo: "It was quite special obviously to meet Ziggy for the first time, and to understand why they were making this movie — and why me, and just try to try to get an understanding of that. Ziggy had seen a short film of mine called Stone Cars. It wasn't even the King Richard Oscar [attention] — he was talking about my short film, which I shot in South Africa, and I thought that was really interesting because I shot that film with no money, with no lights, all natural light. And it was raw, and I think that's what he was after. He was after something raw. He was after something pure. And once I knew that, I knew that he wanted to make something quite special. So that was just a connection. It was an immediate connection, somebody's valuing your short film work as a filmmaker. Since then I had learned a lot, so I was like 'okay, I can take what I learned from my short films and bring that to that'. I can bring that kind of energy. I can bring a City of God energy to this film in a way that maybe we hadn't seen on the screen, or I was hoping that that what we were trying to achieve was something different — not necessarily a musical biopic; a movie like City of God or Black Orpheus, something that felt organic and pure and raw. We were aligned right away when it came to that, to the visuals in the film, and what I wanted to look and feel like. I'm very grateful to him for that, and that was the start to a three-year-long journey." On the Process of Stepping Into Such Influential Figures' Shoes Kingsley: "What was really exciting about it originally, he's an icon and a hero and everyone knows Bob, and there's a huge pressure around that and the family are involved, but really when I started working, it was about understanding the musician — and understanding the meaning of his songs, and understanding what it was that Bob was trying to do. And my mind was just blown. I'd spend a few days on an album, then I'd move on to another one, then I'd get stuck on a song, then I'd be on that song for four weeks. And Cedella, Bob's daughter, sent me some files that only the family have. There were a number of interviews that are not available on YouTube or anywhere. I was listening to them and transcribing them all the way through, even when we were shooting. It was just amazing to get to listen to Bob talk over a 12-year-period so extensively about his religious beliefs, about writing, about life, about everything." Lashana: "I wanted to make sure that she was authentically portrayed, and that she was given the light and the flowers that she deserves — and that her spirit and her energy was in the film. So it was important for me to be able to rest firm in that at the beginning, and then be able to impart, I guess, the wisdom and the information that I gained from meeting her into the script and onto set. I think that the most-daunting thing at the very beginning was the fact that I have a responsibility to Jamaica. I represent Jamaica to the fullest. I'm of Jamaican heritage. My parents were born there. And also this is one of the queens of our country. So I knew that the responsibility was going to be big and that this had to be right. Once I saw how weighty that responsibility was, I just threw it away and decided to just focus on Mrs Marley, because she's who has the voice here and she's who people are going to remember — whether they're learning more about her because they know her already, or they don't know her and they're learning her for the first time. I wanted her portrayal to be balanced." James: "Chris Blackwell was a legend in his own right. In terms of music producers through the ages, there's no one really like him. As people have said, he's more one to introduce reggae to the world than anyone. And if you look at his roster of talent that he's represented and careers that he's launched, his taste is immaculate and he's clearly brilliant at his job. Also, the way that he kind of cross-pollinated, the way that he brought Junior Marvin into The Wailers because he knew the sound it would bring, which is nodded to in the movie — the guy's a genius. I think most music producers would say that there's only been one Chris Blackwell and there only will be one. So it was a responsibility to get him right. It was a pleasure and a privilege to learn about him. It was a privilege to meet him in Jamaica when we premiered the film, and I got to shake his hand — and I think he was approving of my portrayal. He didn't seem too upset, which is which is a relief." On Why a Bob Marley Biopic Hasn't Reached Screens Before Reinaldo: "I think time. Time wasn't right. I know they tried to make it for 30 years. Neville Garrick, who was our consulting producer on the film, told me I think he had tried to make it for 25 years. I had heard names like Oliver Stone and Scorsese, and many, many directors at some point, because everybody loves Bob. I just think time wasn't on their side. Time was on my side. It was the family's time. I think it was hopefully finding the right filmmaker. I think there's a time for everything and for whatever reason, this was our time. And we had to run with it. And also part of it was discovering who was going to play Bob. I think for so long it was trying to find who could carry the weight, who could carry that burden in in a lot of ways. Fortunately for us, it was Kingsley." On Learning More About Bob Marley by Making the Film James: "I was a fan, but like a lot of people, my life as a fan was limited to legend. I think probably when I was a teenager I was given or I brought that compilation, and I gorged on it. It became really, genuinely an important part of my teenage years and my 20s. He provided an apt soundtrack to those periods: the upbeat, celebratory moments; the crashes; the lower, more-pensive moments with 'Redemption Song' or whatever it might be. So I listened to his music and I didn't really know much about the context. And this is why I think this film for me and for hopefully the audience is going to be so important, because you realise that his message is so much bigger than his music. As there's a line in the film, the message and the music can't be separated. But it's been a real journey, a real revelation to me, to understand more about the man and where that message came from — and the fact that it came from struggle. Reinaldo: "I was definitely a fan. Grew up with the music in my household. My dad named me Reinaldo Marcus Green after Marcus Garvey [the Jamaican political activist], who Bob had studied, and so there were all these kismet signs that I was somehow supposed to be the person that helped bring this story to life. And I resisted it like I resist everything. 'Why me? It's too much. It's too hard. This is crazy. This is Bob Marley!'. But it was something about Bob in particular. He's a superhero. He's really unlike any other musician. He's like Peter Parker — he's a common man who then puts on a cape at night and rescues us with his music. It's a fantasy, and it's amazing when you see somebody that has that ability to transform our lives with his music. I mean, it's very rare to get that. You see the face, you see the image on the T-shirts and it's like 'who is that? Who is that man?'. I think we always we always feel that. He's a revolutionary, his spirit, what he was singing for. So going on that discovery was amazing. I only knew the tunes, right? Very rarely do you dissect lyrics. And that was the quest for me in this film, was really trying to understand where the music was coming from. I wasn't so well-versed in Jamaican politics, what was happening at that time, what was really going on — and Jamaica's rich history, and colonialism, and what was happening in politics. And so it was a great way for me to rediscover that period of time and do it through his music. I was hoping that we can weave the film in a way that the music comes out in a very organic way in the film that feels part of the fabric of how we made the movie; it's the DNA, it's the backbone, but it's not a musical." Bob Marley: One Love releases in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Read our review.
It's almost that time of year, somehow. Christmas is fast approaching, winter is behind us, both New South Wales and Victoria have announced their plans for transitioning out of lockdown, and you're probably thinking about your summer shenanigans. While we don't know exactly when jetting overseas might become an option again for Australians just yet — other than likely at the 80-percent fully vaxxed rate — many Aussies can still make plans to roam around parts of this country we all call home. Border rules remain in place due to NSW and Victoria's COVID-19 outbreaks; however, for plenty of Australians, a trip to the Northern Territory is not only possible but comes with an extra incentive. Last year, the NT Government and its tourism body launched the NT Summer Sale campaign, which offered discounts on trips to Australia's Red Centre and Top End. To all of the Northern Territory, actually. This year, it's doing the same, but with two caveats. Firstly, the special is only open to Aussies who've had both their jabs. So, it joins the growing list of offers, giveaways and discounts that reward people who've rolled up their sleeves — and encourage those who haven't yet. It's also the first vaccine incentive by an Australian tourism body. Secondly, to take advantage of the discount, you'll need to come from a non-hotspot part of the country as deemed by Territory officials. That currently rules out all of NSW and large parts of Victoria — but the 2021–22 NT Summer Sale does run from Friday, October 1, 2021–Thursday, March 31, 2022, so it's possible that Sydney and Melbourne won't be on the NT's hotspot list for that entire period. What's on offer? For each $1000 you spend up to $5000, you'll receive a $200 discount. It maxes out at $1000 off, but that's still 20 percent off the price. The discounts are available for a number of things too, covering plenty of essential elements of every holiday. You can use them on flights, accommodation, tours and attractions, and vehicle hire. You will need to both book and travel between that six-month October–March period, though. The other big stipulation: you'll need to book through one of Tourism NT's campaign partners to score the discount. They include retailers such as Holidays of Australia, Helloworld Travel & Viva Holidays and NT Now. If you've always been meaning to make the trip — and you've had both Uluru and its incredible Field of Light installation on your must-see list for ages — here's a mighty fine excuse to put those dreams into action. Border-wise, it's best to keep an eye on the NT Government's coronavirus hub for the current rules — and any future changes, For further details about the NT Summer Sale campaign — which will be on sale between Friday, October 1, 2021–Thursday, March 31, 2022 for travel within the same period — head to the Tourism NT website. Top image: Tourism NT, Kyle Hunter and Hayley Anderson.
The Killers are taking a shot at the night, Satellite Stories are letting the lights go low and Cruiser want you to kidnap them. So kick off those work-week blues and listen to these five tracks to soundtrack your weekend. 1. 'SHOT AT THE NIGHT' - THE KILLERS This is a new direction for The Killers. It retains the anthem attributes fans love, but it presents a new element to their sound, courtesy of production by Anthony Gonzalez of M83 fame. It is like the two bands had a sonic love child, and this is it. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the Las Vegas quartet's tenth anniversary and is one of two new tracks to be featured on a greatest hits (so far) album, with 'Just Another Girl' also due to drop soon. The album Direct Hits will be released globally on November 11 so let this tide you over in the meantime. 2. 'BED PEACE' - JHENE AIKO FEAT. CHILDISH GAMBINO This is the smoothest song I have ever heard. Jhene Aiko's gentle vocals perfectly compliment Childish Gambino — otherwise known as Donald Glover — and his playful voice. When layered over the top of the simple R&B vibe it creates a song that is both graceful and sexy. You can play it to fall asleep, when you bring someone home or just on a lazy Sunday. This is an angelic song for all occasions. 3. 'LIGHTS GO LOW' - SATELLITE STORIES Satellite Stories have been receiving a lot of deserved hype lately. The Finnish band's sound has drawn a number of comparisons to Two Door Cinema Club, but there is one difference — they sound like they could be even better. Now that is saying something, as Two Door Cinema Club is this writer's favourite band. However, they just have an excellent understanding of the music they are trying to make, resulting in tracks like this that your ears will love you for offering to them. 4. 'KIDNAP ME' - CRUISER Cruiser is Philadelphia native Andy Stykes and he could not have dropped this summer-sounding track at a better time. So as the sun begins to heat things up, soak up this track's resplendent musical rays and please do not kidnap Cruiser. We need him to continue making music and his ransom would be far too high given how good this new track is. 5. 'DAWN' - CLOUD BEHIND Cloud Behind are a band from Thailand that make truly beautiful music. 'Dawn' is an excellent showcasing of their talent and has perfect timing, starting slowly before building momentum into a heartwarming ending. This is the type of music that accompanies life-changing decisions in indie movies so pop it on and see what epiphanies come your way.
MELT may be overflowing with fantastic shows, but the festival isn't just about the performance side of things. Simply take a look at the walls of the Brisbane Powerhouse, and you'll see what we mean. For the duration of the May fest, their foyers will play host to an array of MELT art pieces. In Unique Exotic, the work of artist Hillary Green is once again thrust into the spotlight, capturing Brisbane's queer arts scene alongside her own self portraits. Sophie Reid-Singer's The Cave operates as a single-player game, questioning the functioning of storytelling and identity. Explorations of queer relationships, depictions of men revealing their pain through tears and larger-than-life images of LGBTI+ artists also feature. Yes, this creative showcase lives up to its aims, highlighting not only artistry, but diversity too.
Chart-topping UK grime MC Stormzy is finally set to return to Australian and New Zealand before the end of 2022, with a slew of previously postponed tour dates being given new dates. Originally scheduled for 2020 before being pushed back multiple times for obvious reasons, the H.IT.H World Tour will make its long-awaited arrival across Australian and New Zealand from Wednesday, November 23. That's when the tour will begin at Perth's HBF Stadium, before continuing on to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Wellington — and concluding in Auckland on Sunday, December 11. Folks that purchased tickets to the original tour and held onto them for the past two years need not worry, as their purchase is still valid, while limited extra tickets are on sale now. Stormzy last graced our shores for Splendour in the Grass 2018. In the following half a decade, the rapper has released his second UK #1 album Heavy Is The Head, which was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize; made history by becoming the first black British solo artist to headline Glastonbury; and set up multiple social enterprises including the #Merky Foundation and the Storzmy Scholarship at the University of Cambridge. The tour will mark the first time audiences down under will have the opportunity to catch Heavy Is The Head hits like 'Vossi Bop', 'Own It' and 'Crown', alongside favourites from Stormzy's back catalogue. With many of the tickets already snatched up back in 2020, the remaining spots are sure to fill up fast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ClYy0MxsU0 STORMZY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES 2022 Perth — Wednesday, November 23, HBF Stadium Sydney — Sunday, November 27, Hordern Pavilion Sydney — Monday, November 28, Hordern Pavilion Brisbane — Wednesday, November 30, Riverstage Melbourne — Friday, December 2, John Cain Arena Adelaide — Thursday, December 8, AEC Theatre Wellington — Saturday, December 10, TBS Arena Auckland — Sunday, December 11, Trusts Arena Stormzy will tour Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2022. For further information and to buy tickets, head to Handsome Tour's website. Top image: Raph_PH.
When the ancient Greeks dreamt up democracy many moons ago, they surely knew their labour of political love would reap plentiful rewards for humanity — barbecuable rewards. Why else would our society have evolved so deliciously to the point where Election Day is synonymous with hot snags in bread? Yep, here in Australia, voting and sausage sizzles go together like Q&A and provocative tweets. But thanks to a bit of ingenious technology, you don't have to simply cross your fingers and hope your local voting booth is one of the ones firing up the barbie on voting day. There's a nifty online map that'll tell you exactly where to find those glorious democracy snags. The Democracy Sausage website crowdsources data from social media sites, as well as from direct audience submissions, to map out the polling places that feature sausage sizzles and other food and drink offerings. While the site has offered a comprehensive sausage database for various elections since 2016, it's currently getting a run for the upcoming 2022 federal election, which takes place this Saturday, May 21. [caption id="attachment_839440" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elliott Kramer[/caption] Jump onto the map to easily identify which polling places will be slinging sausage sizzles, cake stalls, bacon and egg rolls, and coffee. You'll even spy separate icons marking those spots that are serving vegetarian food and halal options. According to the website's own stats, there are currently 722 polling places confirmed to feature sausage sizzles for this weekend's voting, with more to come. Of course, since the map is built largely off community intel, it's not entirely exhaustive — if you've got some goss about sausage sizzle locations, you can help by sharing it with the team via a direct message or tweeting #democracysausage. If you're a diehard fan of the humble Election Day snag, you'll also find a selection of snag-related merch available on Democracy Sausage's Redbubble online store. Of course, if you're one of the many Aussies who took advantage of early voting or postal voting for this election, you might have to settle for a Woolies run and a home-cooked homage to that democracy sausage instead. To plot your sausage haul during the federal election on Saturday, May 21, head over on the Democracy Sausage website. Top image: Jonathan Taylor, via Unsplash.
The premiere Australian festival of journalism and storytelling is back in Sydney, and this year Storyology 2017 expands north to Brisbane, too. Brought to you by The Walkley Foundation, you could win a chance to network and mingle with journalists from Australia and abroad as they address today's big questions about the forever-changing industry. What will newsrooms look like as new technologies arise and develop? How does one go about turning their stories into successful podcasts? How has the 'Trump Effect' impacted media outside of the US? Topics like these and many more will be discussed in conversations lead by Buzzfeed and Google executives, Pulitzer Prize-winning critics and journalists flying in from across the world. The Sydney lineup includes founding editor of The Wire, Siddharth Varadarajan, and Boston Globe art critic, Sebastian Smee, and in Brisbane, we'll hear from 2015 Gold Walkley winner at Four Corners, Caro Meldrum-Hanna, and Kerry O'Brien, one of Australia's most notable journalists. The festival first kicks off in Brisbane on Thursday, August 24 with Storyology After Dark for a 'night of great yarns', then makes its way to Sydney on Wednesday, August 30, where it finishes up with the Storyology Social on Thursday, August 31 — a celebration of all the issues, ideas and stories discussed throughout. We have a full festival pass for two to giveaway in both Sydney and Brisbane. For your chance to win, enter your details below. [competition]630459[/competition]
For five years between 2005–2010, David Tennant played one of the most iconic roles there is; however, he'll never just be known for his work on Doctor Who. Since stepping out of the TARDIS, the British actor has been filling his resume with supremely interesting parts. Miniseries Deadwater Fell is the latest — and yes, if you've spotted that Tennant has become very comfortable in crime thrillers, drama and mysteries, you're completely right. Here, he plays Tom Kendrick, a doctor in a Scottish village who is also the only survivor when his home catches ablaze. Over four tense episodes, the twisty series explores the events and aftermath, including its impact upon the local community. It's not all what it seems, of course, which goes with the territory. In terms of actual terrain, the show is set in a fictional town, but expect to feast your eyes on plenty of scenic Scottish sights.
Most filmmakers are considered prolific if they make a movie every two years. Since leaping onto the scene in 2005, Joe Swanberg has made 18. One of the leading figures of the mumblecore movement (an American indie film subgenre characterised by microscopic budgets and heavily improvised dialogue), Swanberg most recently earned plaudits for his charming romantic dramedy Drinking Buddies, starring Olivia Wilde and Anna Kendrick. We now know Drinking Buddies was scarcely in theatres before Swanberg began work on his next project, one that sees him re-team with Kendrick, along with New Zealand actress Melanie Lynskey and Girls creator Lena Dunham. Shot in Swanberg's cosy Chicago home, Happy Christmas chronicles the rocky yuletide holidays of new parents Jeff and Kelly (Swanberg and Lynskey) after Jeff's irresponsible sister Jenny (Kendrick) comes to stay. As with most of Swanberg's movies, the film had almost no scripted dialogue, and relied instead on the improvisational talents of the cast. We chat to Swanberg about the origins of the story, as well as his decidedly laidback approach to feature filmmaking. Is it true that the original script for Happy Christmas was only 15 pages long? Yeah that's right. It was in paragraph form, sort of a breakdown of what I thought would happen in each scene. What is it about that approach to storytelling that you like? Well there's a couple of things. I really love the fact that as a writer, I'm not putting dialogue into character's mouths, and that I'm having the actors own their characters and bring all these different viewpoints to them. I also like showing up to work each day not sure what's going to happen, and having those scenes be a true collaboration between myself and the actors and my cinematographer and my producers ... having ten smart people solving a problem rather than me sitting at a laptop trying to write a screenplay. So where do your films tend to start, if not a full script? Sometimes it's a theme that I'm interested in, and other times it's a character, but either way I tend to cast pretty early in the process. I want to know who I'm going to be working with, and then that collaboration with the actor is there at the beginning of the process, and I can work with them to flesh out that character. By the time we get there to shoot the movie, I have a pretty good sense of the arc of it, but it's really all the nuances and all the personality that we find on set. If you were ever to look at one of my outlines, it would read like the finished movie, but missing everything that makes the movie good (laughs). https://youtube.com/watch?v=A3OhjYvyC0c And in the case of Happy Christmas, what was your creative inspiration? It was two things, actually, both of them autobiographical. It was my younger brother coming to live with my wife and I soon after my son was born, and the experience of starting my own family and having a sibling in the house, which was wonderful and terrible, depending on the day. So I kind of took that feeling and tried to put it in there. And then there were conversations I was having with my wife about motherhood and about her kind of identity crisis she was having as an artist and an independent person, wrapping her head around the idea of being a stay-at-home mum. Just circumstantially we found ourselves in these very conservative, classic gender roles of the bread winner and the stay-at-home mum, which is not something that we really identified with. So it was a weird period of time for us. And I didn't feel like I had seen that in a movie before. So I took these two life events that in reality happened a year apart from each other, and then just crashed them together into a movie. One of the things I really appreciated about the film, and about a lot of your films, is the attention given to female characters. Is that something you're particularly conscious of? Yeah, it's important for me. Just as a person, I feel like I know what it's like to be a man, whereas I have no idea what it's like to be a woman, so it's subject matter that I'm just drawn to through my own curiosity. And also it's just so underrepresented in the movies. It's sadly pretty rare to have interesting, strong female characters. I've always wanted to make movies in territory that's underexplored, and where there's still room for discovering. So I feel like again and again I keep getting drawn back there because there's so much undiscovered country. And it's a chance to work with great actresses who don't get offered leading roles all that often. Given how much improvisation happens in the your films, how much footage do you usually end up with? There have been movies where I've ended up with mountains of footage, and others where we shot almost everything in the movie. It really depends. With Happy Christmas we shot on 16 millimetre [film], so I budgeted a 4:1 shooting ratio, and I think we stuck pretty close to that. Certain scenes we only shot once or twice, other scenes we shot ten times. It ended up being not that much footage. I think when you shoot film you have to be smart about preplanning in a different kind of way. When I shoot video I'm a little more apt to just shoot a lot on set. On my previous film Drinking Buddies, I probably shot about thirty hours of stuff, and with Happy Christmas I probably shot five or six. It really just depends. And why did you shoot on film? I went to film school and my whole education was on 16mm, so I was excited to try that again in a professional context. And also I'll admit I was a little bit worried that film was going to disappear and that I was never going to shoot a full feature on film. So there was a bit of fear and nostalgia going into that decision. But it felt right for the project, and I think I was just waiting for the kind of movie that felt like it wanted that texture and that kind of visual look, so it all lined up. The Christmas season, and the fact that it focused on a family; I think I wanted that warm, grainy, old home movie look that only film can provide. Are you often surprised by what your cast improvises on set? Definitely. It's one of the fun things about working this way. In almost every scene there's some moment that I feel like I never could have written. It's too human and too spontaneous to have been generated in the screenplay process. That's kind of what keeps me going every day. I show up to set each morning hoping that we get something like that and that I'm surprised by what happens. I want to make sure that the movies are flexible enough that if something really exciting happens that wasn't in the outline, there's room to incorporate that, and that the movie can follow what's actually happening, rather than following some predetermined game plan. And in the case of Happy Christmas, what's one example of that kind of moment, something that got you excited to be there? I had this idea that I wanted the women to write this 50 Shades of Grey-style erotic novel, and so those are scenes in the outline where I didn't write anything other than 'the three women sit in the office and write the book', because I really wanted Anna and Melanie and Lena to improvise that stuff. I wanted to be surprised by the story they came up with, and how crude they got with it. So that stuff was really fun; it was all just totally playing around and letting them run wild. I was also really proud of and excited by this central conversation in the middle of the movie where again the three women are sitting down in the basement drinking beers together and talking about motherhood and responsibility. That was a really important scene for me because thematically it's a big shift moment in terms of the story we're telling, and also it was a big impetus for wanting to make the movie in the first place. I think they did such a great job, and I think those three actresses are so smart, and such great writers. You hope it's going to go that well, but it still feels really good when you finish at the end of the day and you feel like you actually got the thing that you were hoping to get. Happy Christmas is available now on DVD and digital download.
The power of Back to the Future isn't really a curious thing. As viewers have known since 1985, the Michael J Fox-starring sci-fi/comedy is timeless delight. But as well as making film lovers weep with joy for almost four decades, the iconic movie is now making other folks sing — the cast of the newly minted Olivier Award-winning Back to the Future: The Musical, that is. Exclaiming "great Scott!" is obviously the only fitting response to this development — and there's clearly plenty to get excited about. Yes, Back to the Future: The Musical is a real thing that exists, and has been racing towards clocktowers on-stage in the UK since early 2020 (around a pandemic hiatus or two, of course). Yes, it just picked up the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Yes, the show does indeed follow the Marty McFly and Doc Brown-led story we all know and adore, but with songs, including renditions of Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B Goode' and Huey Lewis and the News' 'The Power of Love' and 'Back in Time', naturally. Now, the news that might have you speeding 88 miles per hour towards Britain: for now, Back to the Future: The Musical is solely treading the boards in Britain. But if a trip to London is on your agenda between before Sunday, October 23, the show is playing at the English capital's Adelphi Theatre until then. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Back To The Future: Musical (@bttfmusical) If you won't be making a visit overseas by plane or DeLorean, start crossing your fingers that the production eventually makes its way Down Under — or pop on your own white lab coat, start tinkering around with electronics and whip up your own time machine to try to make it happen. Also featuring music and lyrics by OG Back to the Future composer Alan Silvestri and acclaimed songwriter Glen Ballard (Ghost the Musical), plus a book by Bob Gale — who co-penned all three Back to the Future film scripts with filmmaker Robert Zemeckis — Back to the Future: The Musical was nominated for seven Olivier Awards. It only won the big one, but emerged victorious over heavy-hitters and fellow screen-to-stage shows Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Frozen. Check out the trailer for Back to the Future: The Musical below: For more information about Back to the Future: The Musical, or to buy tickets for its London season, head to the show's website. If an Australian and/or New Zealand season is announced, we'll let you know faster than you can speed towards a clocktower. Top image: Sean Ebsworth Barnes.
The cinnamonny college-tastic whisky known as Fireball is under fire (#sorrynotsorry) this week after some pretty unwanted materials were discovered in a European shipment of the good stuff. According to The Daily Beast, it was revealed that Fireball whisky was being recalled in Finland, Norway and Sweden because the batch contains propylene glycol. Yep, that's a casual compound starring prominently in a little ol' thing called antifreeze. ANTIFREEZE. The chemical that helps protects your car's radiator and de-ices aircraft carriers. You won't be so quick to make a GoPro wedding video downing the spicy stuff now huh? European recipients of the batch in question were understandably unimpressed when the delivery rocked up; apparently the Fireball recipe with high levels of propylene glycol is aiiiight for America though. According to Huffington Post the propylene glycol is used to enhance flavour by absorbing water and is "generally recognized as safe" for use in food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But European (and Australian) regulations for food and drink ingredients are apparently tighter than the US — DB reminded us of the time Subway was all geared up to remove azodicarbonamide from its Australian and European bread (yeah, that's chemical commonly used in yoga mats, no biggie). Not in the States though, thing are more lax in the Yoo Ess of Ay. So, Fireball owners Sazerac are legally allowed to put more propylene glycol in their US/Canada bevvies. But don't grab your torches and pitchforks just yet. Sazerac were quick to make embers of this week's uproar, releasing a statement pointing out that propylene glycol is given the a-OK by the FDA in amounts up to 50 grams per kilogram — apparently that's about eight times the amount Fireball has hidden away in its party-starting belly. "Most people consume PG every day in soft drinks, sweeteners, some foods or alcoholic beverages," said the Fireball team, adding that "all Fireball formulas are absolutely safe to drink." "Unfortunately, Fireball shipped its North American formula to Europe and found that one ingredient is out of compliance with European regulations. Finland, Sweden and Norway have asked to recall those specific batches, which is what the brand is doing." Australian batches seem fine for now. Shots anyone? No? Fireball whiskey has antifreeze chemicals in it? So it tastes great and I won't freeze? Make mine a double! — Maddox (@maddoxrules) October 29, 2014 Via The Daily Beast and Huffington Post.
Whether you're a Brisbanite eager to head to another state, or you live elsewhere in Australia but you're keen on holidaying in Queensland, the past two years have been more than a little difficult. They've been hard for a heap of reasons during the pandemic, obviously, but the Sunshine State's border closures have definitely been tricky to navigate. In November and December, however, that'll all start to ease. Today, Monday, October 18, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that the state will start to reopen to the rest of Australia once the Sunshine State hits the 70-percent double-vaccinated mark among its eligible population. Queensland's domestic borders haven't been closed to the entire country this year, but with New South Wales and Victoria both experiencing lengthy lockdowns, they've definitely been shut to Sydneysiders and Melburnians — so this'll be welcome news to plenty of folks. "If we keep getting our vaccine, we can welcome family and friends from interstate hot spots in a little over a month who are fully vaccinated — and a month after that, in December, they can come without having to quarantine in time for Christmas, but they too will need to be fully vaccinated," said the Premier. "Queenslanders will acknowledge that that is a sensible and cautious approach to ensure that families can be reunited, but the people coming into Queensland will have to be fully vaccinated." Palaszczuk continued: "the faster we are vaccinated, the faster these deadlines will be achieved. It means that some of these dates may come forward if we get the vaccination rates up." BREAKING: Today we're releasing a plan for Queensland borders. Travel restrictions will ease when 70% and 80% of eligible Queenslanders are fully vaccinated.#covid19 pic.twitter.com/4PANA1CBjF — Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 18, 2021 So, when Queensland reaches the 70-percent double-jabbed mark — which is expected around Friday, November 19 — travellers who've been in a hotspot area within Australian in the past 14 days can enter the state again. They'll need to be double-vaxxed, to arrive by air and to have received a negative COVID-19 test result in the 72 hours before arriving. Also, anyone in this category will need to go into home quarantine for 14 days. Then, at the 80-percent double-vaccinated threshold — which is expected around Friday, December 17 — travellers from interstate hotspots can arrive by either road or air to enter the Sunshine State. They'll still need to be double-jabbed, and to have received a negative COVID-19 test result in the 72 hours before arriving. But, there won't be any quarantine requirements at that point. The announcement means that Queensland will be welcoming in travellers from elsewhere in Australia just as summer arrives — and that quarantine will be scrapped for double-jabbed Aussies before Christmas. When Queensland hits 70-percent double-vaxxed, international arrivals will still be handled as they currently are. At the 80-percent double-jabbed mark, though, double-jabbed overseas travellers will be able to undertake 14 days of home quarantine — if they've also received a negative COVID-19 test result in the 72 hours before getting to Queensland. Finally, at the 90-percent double-vaccinated threshold across the Sunshine State, all entry rules and quarantine requirements will be ditched for folks who've had both jabs. For the unvaxxed, the 14-day quarantine rule will still be in effect. At the same press conference, Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles revealed that more restrictions within Queensland will start easing at the 70-percent and 80-percent marks — covering things like gatherings, entering venues and the like. And, these relaxed rules will start having vax requirements attached, so both Queenslanders and visitors from interstate will need to be double-jabbed to take advantage of them. Exactly what that'll entail hasn't yet been revealed, so expect further details before mid-November. Queensland will start allowing domestic visitors back into the state from mid-November, when the 70-percent double-vaxxed threshold is met. For more information about Queensland's border policies, head to the Queensland Government website.
Where's the weirdest, wildest, strangest and most unexpected place you've seen a live show? Wherever it might be, would you like to best it? That's the challenge that Anywhere Festival gives Brisbane audiences every year, because this event's love of putting on theatre everywhere it possibly can is right there in its name. When you're not watching performances in a bar, you might be heading to a park — or a brewery, cemetery or someone's house. They're just some of the spots that Anywhere Festival is sliding into in 2023, with the event returning from Thursday, May 4–Sunday, May 21. Other destinations include libraries, paint factories, museums, laneways, galleries and a Harry Potter-themed store — and also a YMCA, a couple of universities, community centres, cafes, a beach and an old Stefan salon. [caption id="attachment_899326" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Travis Macfarlane[/caption] If you're new to Anywhere Festival, you can pick your way through the program in two ways: by whatever kind of show takes your fancy, or based on where you'd like to see everything the fest has to offer. There's only one kind of spot that you won't be able to catch an Anywhere Festival performance, whether you're keen on theatre, comedy, dance, cabaret, music, circus, spoken word or poetry: a traditional theatre. The 2023 event begins as it has in previous years, starting with a big laneway party on Fish Lane. From there, you can ponder cabin fever in someone's apartment, watch a dance work in an airport terminal, catch a musical parody of The Human Centipede and listen to live tunes in a Woolloongabba pedorthic clinic. Or, if you'd like to learn how to survive a zombie apocalypse — a handy skill — that's happening at a school. [caption id="attachment_899327" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Travis Macfarlane[/caption] Also on the lineup: pondering disaster at The Wilderness Society, musing on the worst funerals ever at South Brisbane cemetery, an immersive ten-year reunion at Blute's, songs about shopping at Garden City, a production about a hellish seaside escape at Northshore's beach, and the 12.7 million lights of the QUT Sphere backdropping music and movement. There's a show about the best bubbles — not the drinks — as well, and a string quartet at Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium. Dancing in a park, a circus show about the history of booze while beer is being made around you, an ode to introverts, wizard trivia and wondering what'd happen if Shakespeare's characters were still alive today are on the bill as well. And that old hairdressers? The Stefan's former South Brisbane home is this year's Anywhere Festival fringe hub, which means seeing plenty of comedy — no cuts, colours, foils or blow dries necessary. [caption id="attachment_810421" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stuart Hirth[/caption] Anywhere Festival's 2023 season runs from Thursday, May 4–Sunday, May 21 in spots all over the city. For more information or to book tickets, head to the fest's website.
Ever since I started watching How to Make it in America I started noticing more and more graffitied vans looking very much like the Rasta Monsta van from the show. Although it's taken watching the television show to notice run-down but artfully graffitied vans about town, illustrated vans make quite an interesting addition to the otherwise boring-coloured vehicles that line the streets of the city. New York artist Kevin Cyr takes this admiration of cars-as-mobile-canvases-for-graffiti to another level. His Van Series of oil and silkscreen paintings capture the finer details of twenty vans and vehicles found in Brooklyn, NY, and take note of the commercial aspect of vehicles otherwise dismissed as well past their used-by date. [via Flavorwire]
This article is sponsored by our partners, Rekorderlig. Cider is having something of a renaissance, one that's not just limited to pub courtyards and picnics. The fruity beverage du jour is gaining a connoisseur-type following in culinary circles, appearing in pairings with food that would put your average sommelier or brewer to shame. Think light apple ciders with pork to conjure up memories of your Nan's Sunday roast with applesauce, or a richer, bolder variety to cut through the spice and cream of a dhal or mutter paneer. Testament to everyone's love of alcohol-fuelled food (and because everyone knows the alcohol content totally evaporates while cooking, right?), it's also being used in recipes. These chicken pistachio meatballs with Rekorderlig cider chutney prove how well cider lends itself to hearty, wintry meals of the kind you might expect to be served on a blizzardy night in a mountain log cabin in front of a crackling fire. In fact, these meatballs are straight out of the Thredbo Alpine Hotel, where Rekorderlig have a poolside lounge. This dish is boozy, fruity, nutty and gamey, and the perfect adieu to these final frosty nights of winter '14. Chicken Pistachio Meatballs with Rekorderlig Cider Chutney Meatballs (makes 50) 1kg chicken mince 500ml Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime Cider 100g cranberries 100g sour cherries 50g pistachio nuts 10g salt 10g parsley 1 egg pinch of white pepper Soak the cranberries in Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime Cider for 30 minutes. Place all the ingredients together in a bowl and mix by hand. Work the mixture till all the ingredients are combined. Place in the fridge at least one hour. Roll into desired size balls. Lightly coat balls in flour and saute very quickly. Sauce 1L chicken stock 1L white wine 500ml cream Reduce stock and white wine by half and then stir through 500ml of cream. Place the meatballs in a baking dish and cover them with the sauce. Bake in a medium oven for one hour. Chutney 60ml olive oil 1 tsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped 200g sultanas 100g raisins 100g sugar 400ml Rekorderlig Pear Cider 100g ginger grated 800g pears, cored and finely diced dash of nutmeg 2 heaped tsp of ground all spice 1 pinch of cinnamon Saute the rosemary, sultanas and raisins. After one minute add the sugar and then fry the fruit until it starts to caramelise. Pour in the vinegar and bring to the boil. Boil for a few minutes and then add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer until the sauce thickens. Continuously stir so the pear doesn't stick to the bottom. Serve with a warm Rekorderlig Winter cider.
Whether you watched along from 2009–15 when it was in production or you discovered its joys via an obsessive binge-watching marathon afterwards, Parks and Recreation is one of the 21st century's TV gifts — and the beloved sitcom cemented its stars, from its lead roles through to its supporting parts, as audience favourites. Plenty of those talents also share something else in common: a fondness for touring Down Under. Nick Offerman has done it, taking to Australia's stages. Amy Poehler has made multiple promotional Aussie trips for Inside Out and Inside Out 2. Henry Winkler even headed this way to chat through his lengthy career. Now, add the latter's on-screen son to the list. Ben Schwartz, aka Parks and Recreation's Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, has a date with Sydney and Melbourne in 2025. [caption id="attachment_968141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Disney/Image Group LA[/caption] Don't be suspicious: Schwartz will be performing his Ben Schwartz & Friends live improv show, which begins with just a couple of chairs onstage. Where it goes from there, you'll only discover on the night — because that's the joy of improv. He's doing two gigs, one at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday, May 3 and another at Hamer Hall on Sunday, May 4. Schwartz isn't just known for Parks and Recreation, although that's the first thing on his resume that'll always come to mind for Parks fans. Since his time in Pawnee wrapped up — since he stopped being one of the woooooooorst people in the fictional Indiana town, that is — he's also starred in murder-mystery comedy The Afterparty, voiced a certain spiny blue mammal in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, loaned his vocal tones to Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Invincible, and featured in Space Force and Renfield. You'll find Arrested Development, This Is Where I Leave You, The Interview, The Walk, House of Lies, The Lego Movie 2, BoJack Horseman, Bob's Burgers, DuckTales and Central Park on Schwartz's filmography, too, and a whole heap more. Does his resemblance to Stranger Things' Joe Keery come up in Ben Schwartz & Friends? Again, you'll need to attend to find out. [caption id="attachment_842850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Afterparty, Apple TV+.[/caption] Ben Schwartz & Friends Australian Dates 2025: Saturday, May 3 — Sydney Opera House, Sydney Sunday, May 4 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne Ben Schwartz & Friends plays Australia in May 2025, with ticket presales from 10am on Wednesday, July 31 and general sales from 11am on Friday, August 2. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: The Afterparty, Apple TV+.
It's been a tough time for huge music festivals over the past two years, including one of the biggest there is: Coachella. The 2020 event was less than a month out from its April dates when it postponed until October due to COVID-19 — and then, a few months later, it cancelled that year's fest completely. The aim was to return in April 2021 instead; however, unsurprisingly, that didn't happen either. But now the event has announced that it's definitely intending to make a comeback in April this year — and it's dropped its hefty lineup, too.. Mark April 15–17 and April 22–24 in your diaries, whether you're just keen to check out the livestream — remember, Coachella was livestreaming its sets long before the pandemic — or you have US travel plans for this autumn. The full bill is a jaw-dropper, as usual, with Harry Styles headlining the Friday nights, Billie Eilish doing the Saturday nights and Ye (aka the artist formerly known as Kanye West) on Sunday nights. Elsewhere, a bonafide metric fucktonne of squealworthy acts fill out the rest of the bill — Australia's own Flume and The Avalanches, plus Swedish House Mafia, Phoebe Bridgers, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Jamie xx, Run the Jewels, Fatboy Slim, Finneas and Joji, just to name a few. Anyway, let's be honest, you haven't truly read any of those words — you'll be wanting this: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) For music lovers planning to watch along from home, Coachella will once again team up with YouTube to livestream the festival. That's no longer such a novelty in these pandemic times but, given the calibre of Coachella's lineup, it's still a mighty fine way to spend a weekend. For those eager to attend, the first weekend is sold out, but you can signup for the waitlist over at the festival's website — and also register for tickets to the second weekend, too, which go on sale on Friday, January 14 US time. Coachella runs from April 15–17 and April 22–24 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Find out more info and register for tickets or the waitlist at coachella.com.
With the Australian Government tightening its restrictions on public gatherings and social distancing in a bid to contain COVID-19, the country's flurry of event cancellations was always going to continue. In Brisbane, that means a massive change to the city's August calendar, with the Ekka shuttering its 2020 plans. In a statement on the Royal Queensland Show's website, the RNA announced that "due to the worldwide coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, increasing social distancing measures and public gathering restrictions being implemented, the RNA has made the decision to cancel the 2020 Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) in the best interests of public health". This year's event was due to take over the Brisbane Showgrounds from Friday, August 7 to Sunday, August 16. First held in 1876, this is only the third time in the show's 143-year history that it has been cancelled — with previous cancellations in 1919 and 1942 due to the Spanish Flu and World War 11, respectively. https://www.facebook.com/TheEkka/photos/a.128140380559690/3837603359613355/?type=3&theater Competitors and exhibitors will receive refunds, but the process could take up to two or three months. Ekka joins a growing list of cancelled and postponed events, which already includes the likes of Texan music and film festival South by Southwest and California's Coachella. More locally, Tasmania's Dark Mofo, Sydney's Royal Easter Show and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival have all been cancelled. The 2020 Ekka will no longer take place from Friday, August 7 to Sunday, August 16. For more information, visit the show's website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Nuggets: Antipodean Interpolations of the First Psychedelic Era is an anthology of some of the best garage and psychedelic rock of the '60s. Put together by Lenny Kaye, who played in the Patti Smith Group, Nuggets is a defining piece of work and deserves a re-visit. This new anthology is a live tribute by some of Australia’s best, current and exciting bands. Playing at Alhambra Lounge this Sunday are three bands who feature on the new recording. From Brisbane, 12-headed monster group, Velociraptor (pictured) are headlining, supported ably by the much-loved psych-heads, Tiny Migrants. From Newcastle comes the rowdy punk duo, The Gooch Palms, who have shocked and soaked Brisbane audiences many times before.
It's a great time to be a fan of Neve Campbell-starring 90s horror movies. The Scream franchise is coming back again with Campbell onboard, but that isn't the only spooky film from the era that she's known for. Also leaving an imprint was The Craft, with its tale of four high school outcasts who decide to get witchy. And, 24 years later, it's now getting a sequel. Called The Craft: Legacy, this second effort appears to not only follow on from the original, but to also borrow its main storyline. A teenage girl moves to a new town, gets tormented at school and then buddies up with three similarly unpopular classmates, who initiate her into their coven. Soon, they're using their abilities against their peers, and learning that their powers have consequences. As the just-dropped first trailer for the film shows, this description applies as much to the new movie as it does to its predecessor. Also evident in the teaser: plenty of famed moments from the first flick getting a do-over, so prepare to start chanting "light as a feather, stiff as a board". And yes, when an adult tells this new gang of girls to be wary of strangers, they do indeed reply with "we are the weirdos". Devs, Pacific Rim: Uprising and Bad Times at the El Royale's Cailee Spaeny plays Lily, the new girl in town, while Gideon Adlon (Blockers), Lovie Simone (Selah and the Spades) and Zoey Luna (Pose) also feature as her dark magic-loving pals. And, because Lily needs a reason for showing up, that comes in the form of her mother, played by Michelle Monaghan (Saint Judy), who moves their two-person family to a new town to live with her boyfriend, played by The X-Files' David Duchovny. Written and directed by Zoe Lister-Jones (Band Aid), and adding to Blumhouse's growing slate of sequels and remakes — think Halloween, Black Christmas, Fantasy Island and The Invisible Man — The Craft: Legacy is headed to cinemas Down Under at the appropriate time of year. It'll hit screens on October 29, aka just before halloween. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxZ774gziwU&feature=youtu.be The Craft: Legacy releases in Australian cinemas on Thursday, October 29.
What's better than watching a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about music? Watching them do all of the above while answering questions, competing for points and just generally being funny, too. That's the concept behind ABC TV show Spicks and Specks, which took a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, pit Aussie musos and comedians against each other, and has proven a hit several times over. A weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011, it just keeps coming back — including its current series of new specials. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it returned with a new host and team captains. This time, it's back with its original lineup. That means that Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough have all stepped back into the quiz show realm yet again. When the trio did just that back in 2018, for a one-off reunion special, it became the ABC's most-watched show of the year. Unsurprisingly, that huge response played more than a small part in inspiring this new comeback. If you're already eager to show your own music trivia knowledge and play along — we all know that's as much a part of the Spicks and Specks fun as seeing the on-screen stars unleash their own skills (or lack thereof) — then you probably lapped up the show's Ausmusic Month special last year. And, in the first half of 2020, you probably enjoyed its 90s episode and episode dedicated to 00s tunes as well. Next up, it's tackling past decade, focusing on all the tracks, bangers, one hit wonders and more that released between 2010–2019. When it airs at 7.40pm AEST on Sunday, December 20, viewers can expect questions about the best and the worst songs the last ten years had to offer — and expect not just Adam, Myf and Alan, but musicians Kate Miller Heidke and Vance Joy and comedians Claire Hooper and Luke McGregor as well. The 10s-focused episode marks the fourth of Spicks and Specks' specials, wrapping up its four-show comeback over the past year. And, if you need a refresher in the interim, this comedic chat about a Star Wars Christmas album will do the trick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KNMtDu7TAY Spicks and Specks: 10s Special will air on ABC TV on Sunday, December 20 at 7.40pm. The show's Ausmusic Special, 90s Special and 00s Special are all currently available to stream via ABC iView.
Some workplaces encourage suggestions, speaking up and letting company leadership know if things aren't quite right. As Severance viewers discovered in season one, Lumon Industries hasn't historically been one of them. So what happens when a group of employees attempts to raise issues? In the just-dropped full trailer for the Apple TV+ series' second season, Mark S (Adam Scott, Loot), Helly (Britt Lower, American Horror Stories), Dylan (Zach Cherry, Fallout) and Irving (John Turturro, Mr & Mrs Smith) all find out, as Mr Milchick (Tramell Tillman, Hunters) informs them that they've now become "the face of severance reform" after their actions at the end of season one. The latest sneak peek at season two returns viewers to a world of innies, outies and workplace nightmares — and a sci-fi thriller mindbender with a first run of episodes that deserved all the praise that it received and more. Apple TV+ has released past teasers for the second season, but the latest unveils the most details yet of what's to come. Existence inside and outside Lumon isn't just on a collision course; the two are crashing into each other repeatedly, even if Mark S and co's secretive employer wants otherwise. Audiences will be clocking back in for more Severance come Friday, January 17, 2025, in a case of ideal timing. Thinking about how to best balance your professional and personal spheres, and the time you dedicate to them, is an annual tradition when each new year starts after all. The subject will get a bigger push via this hugely anticipated TV comeback — and so will how work-life balance can weigh on your mind, or not. If you missed the first season, disconnecting from your job come quittin' time — and giving your gig every ounce of your focus during your daily grind — has become literal in Severance in a hellish way. At Lumon, employees agree to undertake the titular procedure, which splits their memories between work and home. But as Macrodata Refinement division employee Mark S begins to learn, nothing about the situation is what it seems. The show dives into the kind of scenario that Black Mirror might've dreamed up, with technology that could've been used if Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was about punching the clock instead of romance. Mark S willingly signed up for severance, all to help process his grief over the death of his wife. And he was happy with the situation until his work BFF Petey (Yul Vazquez, The Outsider) left suddenly without saying goodbye, then new staff member Helly arrived to replace him — and instantly questioned the insidious setup, the rules and restrictions needed to keep it in place, and why on earth her "outie" (as the outside versions of Lumon employees are known) agreed to this in the first place. In season two, Mark and his work pals will attempt to dig deeper into the consequences of the severance procedure, and trying to escape it. They'll also find out the ramifications of messing with the system — and Lumon isn't just filled with the same familiar faces. Severance's return calls for a waffle party, an egg bar or a melon bar — or at least a big bunch of blue balloons with the face of Mark S on them. Jen Tullock (Perry Mason), Michael Chernus (Carol & the End of the World), Dichen Lachman (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), Christopher Walken (Dune: Part Two) and Patricia Arquette (High Desert) are all back among the cast, alongside new cast members including Gwendoline Christie (Wednesday), Bob Balaban (Asteroid City), Merritt Wever (Memory), Alia Shawkat (The Old Man) and John Noble (Twilight of the Gods). Ben Stiller (Escape at Dannemora) returns as a director on five episodes, too, and executive producer across the whole season, with ten episodes on the way. Apple TV+ will drop instalments through until Friday, March 21, 2025. Check out the full trailer for Severance season two below: Severance returns for season two on Friday, January 17, 2025 via Apple TV+. Read our review of season one.
No one was in the mood for partying in 2020, so when one of Fortitude Valley's best-known watering holes hit a big milestone, it didn't celebrate the occasion. It isn't like The Wickham to pass up the opportunity to throw a shindig, though. Accordingly, from Monday, March 8–Sunday, March 14, it's pretending that last year didn't happen and marking its 135th birthday in 2021. Every day of the week this week, the venue has something on offer. On Monday night, you can sit in the beer garden, sip drinks and listen to a live podcast about the pub's history. On Tuesday, Brisbane's best upcoming drag queens will be doing their thing. Wednesday night sees live talk show Vollie and Friends take over for an anniversary special, and trivia is on the agenda on Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, there'll be both live tunes and DJs — and drag as well — while it wouldn't be a weekend without a Sunday session. Across the week, expect to spend time watching Solar Flair, Luna Thicc, Wilhelmina Westwood, Yana Michelle, Kelly Roberts, Chocolate Boxx, Stefani Stefani, Veritee, Kim Schotte and The Dandys, and listening to DJ Jamez Brown, DJ J-San, DJ Dolly Lama and DJ Galleon.
The last three times that Emily Blunt graced screens, all in 2021, she battled theme park ride-inspired chaos (in Jungle Cruise), monsters that pounce on every sound (in A Quiet Place Part II) and bad Irish accents (in Wild Mountain Thyme). That's quite the trio. The British actor isn't done battling yet, however, as the just-dropped trailer for her new western series The English demonstrates. Her quest here: taking on the old west and getting vengeance. Since first making a splash in 2004's My Summer of Love and then earning attention in a big way in The Devil Wears Prada a couple of years later, Blunt has amassed a killer resume, spanning everything from The Young Victoria, The Muppets and Looper through to Edge of Tomorrow, Sicario and Mary Poppins Returns. So her involvement alone gives The English a hefty push onto must-see lists, although that's not the six-part Prime Video show's only highlight. Also helping ensure The English is worth a look: the fact that it hails from writer/director Hugo Blick (The Honourable Woman, Black Earth Rising, The Shadow Line), boasts Blunt as an executive producer as well, and has Greg Brenman (Peaky Blinders) and Colin Wratten (Killing Eve) similarly in producing roles. And, on-screen, Blunt is joined by Chaske Spencer (Blindspot), Stephen Rea (The Stranger), Valerie Pachner (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore), Rafe Spall (Trying), Tom Hughes (A Discovery of Witches), Toby Jones (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain), and Ciarán Hinds (Belfast). As for The English's storyline, Blunt plays an aristocratic Englishwoman — hence the title — named Lady Cornelia Locke, who heads to America in the 1890s with revenge on her mind. Her mission requires teaming up with Pawnee ex-cavalry scout Eli Whipp (Spencer), then making their way across a country that's bloody and violent at every turn, with the new town of Hoxem, Wyoming their ultimate destination. Also included along the way: musings on race and power, and a series of unsolved murders. Check out the trailer for The English below: The English will be available to stream via Prime Video from November 11.
If there's one thing that almost every trip out of the house could use, it's more dogs. Thankfully, plenty of places around Brisbane are willing to oblige; however, you don't normally get to go "awwww" over cute canines when you're sitting inside a theatre. That alone makes new Brisbane Festival show Let's Be Friends Furever more than a little special — because yes, four-legged, fluffy-tailed woofers really are the stars here. This theatre experience pays tribute to all doggos great and small, all as part of a format that combines a dog show, a TED talk, and the usual shower of affection that all pooches deserve always and forever. There's also a video part of the proceedings, and a feeling that Brisbane Powerhouse's Powerhouse Theatre has been turned into a dog park. And, we can not stress this enough, real-life dogs will definitely be in attendance. Running from Thursday, September 16–Saturday, September 25, this show is all about celebrating real stories about real dogs and the real people that spend their lives with them, so expect warm feelings to emanate in a big way. In fact, this world-premiere production might just be the most adorable thing you can to in a theatre. Top image: Morgan Roberts.
When 2020 ticked over to 2021, Australians were asked to direct their eyeballs towards a brooding mystery set against our dusty, yellow-hued landscape. We did just that, and in big numbers, too, with The Dry quickly becoming a huge box-office hit. A year later, when 2021 becomes 2022, we'll be tempted to do something similar — but this time it's a six-part Stan series that strands Jamie Dornan in the outback that'll be demanding our attention to start the new year. That show is The Tourist, which sees Dornan add another TV role to his resume alongside The Fall, Death and Nightingales, New Worlds and Once Upon a Time. The Irish actor boasts an eclectic filmography — he's highly likely to get nominated for an Oscar next year for his role in nostalgic drama Belfast, in fact, and he hit Aussie screens big and small in the vastly dissimilar Synchronic, Wild Mountain Thyme and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar this year. For this new part, he plays the titular character, who has no idea why he's in the middle of Australia or even who he is. Written by brothers Harry and Jack Williams (Angela Black), and hailing from the Emmy-winning production company behind The Missing and Fleabag, The Tourist is a mystery-thriller, so its just-dropped first trailer starts out with an uneasy air — as Dornan's character gets pursued by a tank truck trying that's trying to drive him off the road. Things don't get easier after he wakes up in hospital with no memory, unsurprisingly, or when he's chased by plenty of other folks. On-screen, Dornan is joined by a heap of familiar faces, including Aussie actors Danielle Macdonald (French Exit), Alex Dimitriades (Total Control) and Damon Herriman (Mindhunter), English-born Australian talent Shalom Brune-Franklin (Line of Duty) and Icelandic American Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Trapped). You'll be able to binge your way through The Tourist's twists and turns on Sunday, January 2, Check out the trailer below: The Tourist will be available to stream via Stan from Sunday, January 2.
In his third motion picture as writer/director/star, comedian Chris Rock is the funniest he’s been in years. But then again, that’s not saying much. While comedy fiends will always remember Rock for his fearless, foul mouthed stand-up routines, his movie career — particularly in recent times — has smacked of safer choices. Madagascar and Grown-Ups are hardly the best outlets for one of the greatest living comedians to work his magic — which is a big part of why Top Five feels like such a pleasant surprise. A smart, self-effacing send-up of the entertainment industry, the film, like most of Rock’s best material, feels at least partly autobiographical. Rock plays Andre Allen, a comedian turned Hollywood superstar and recovering alcoholic, best known for his role in the million-dollar Hammy the Bear franchise. Unfortunately, Allen’s funny bone has been blunted since going sober, and his first attempt at a ‘serious’ film — playing Haitian slave revolutionary Dutty Boukman — is shaping up to be a box-office bomb. Even more out of control is his upcoming televised wedding, to Kardashian-esque reality star Erica Long (Gabrielle Union). Enter Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson), a sardonic, whip-smart writer for the New York Times, who’s been assigned to profile Allen over the course of a single day. Although initially suspicious of Brown and the Times, whose resident film critic has made a career out of tearing his movies to shreds, Allen soon finds himself opening up to the writer, as the pair begin to trade stories while walking around NYC. In a lot of ways, Top Five feels like the work of an artist finally free to speak in his own voice. From Allen laying out his theory about the racist undertones of Planet of the Apes to debating his agent (Kevin Hart) about whether a black man can get fired for using the N-word, the writing here feels like vintage Rock: free-flowing, profane and absolutely hilarious. He also manages to insert two of the most gleefully obscene on-screen sex acts this side of Nymphomaniac. Without going into details, let’s just say you’ll never be able to look at a bottle of chilli sauce the same way again. Dawson makes for a worthy comic counterpart, the playfully antagonistic chemistry between her and her director/co-star helping keep the film on track. Beyond this central pairing, Rock stacks the deck with a ton of famous faces, from Tracy Morgan to DMX. The highlight, though, is at Allen’s ribald bachelor party, where he receives marital advice from Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg and Adam Sandler. Frankly, the site of a balding Seinfeld making it rain is worth the price of admission alone. If we have any complaint of Top Five, it would be a lack of internal structure; in a lot of ways the film feels more like a collection of scenes than it does a cohesive whole. Still, when they’re all this damn funny, it’s sort of difficult to object. Where Rock’s career goes from here is anyone’s guess. Regardless, it’s nice to have this reminder of just how good he can be.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But during these pandemic times while scores of venues are closed, it might also be the only way to get your mitts on your favourite cult dish. Right now, dining out is off the cards and we're all inside racking up plenty of spare hours perfecting those kitchen skills. So, what better time for the minds behind some of the world's greatest cult dishes to share their culinary secrets? From Disneyland's sugar-dusted churro bites, to IKEA's much-loved meatballs, a bunch of famed spots have revealed their secret recipes for you to recreate at home. Add a few of these classics to your iso cooking repertoire. DISNEY'S CHURRO BITES AND MICKEY MOUSE-SHAPED BEIGNETS Disney's renowned collection of theme parks might be temporarily closed in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, but your inner child will be chuffed to hear it's simply relocating the magic...to your house. Along with virtual tours and new online offerings, the company's keeping that whimsical spirit alive by sharing some of its best-known recipes through its Disney Magic Moments series. Top of everyone's kitchen hit-list are the classic Disney churro bites, which are on the menu at every single Disney park across the globe. The recipe is fairly straightforward and if you've been lucky enough to wrangle some flour (if not, here's where you'll find some), you should already have most of the ingredients at home. Oh, and we're sure the four-person serving size is just a suggestion… Elsewhere on the site, you'll find recipes for its sugar-dusted Mickey Mouse-shaped beignets. PIZZA EXPRESS'S DOUGH BALLS Internationally loved, UK-born chain Pizza Express has done its many fans a solid, by releasing the recipe for its legendary dough balls into the world. While its restaurants are shut in accordance with public health measures, the group's fluffy, buttery snacks are yours for the making. Nab some yeast and flour, along with a few other pantry basics, and you could be pulling a tray of these beauties out of the oven in no time at all. Fancy something a little heartier? Pizza Express has also dropped the recipe for its classic margherita, so bring on the at-home pizza parties. https://twitter.com/PizzaExpress/status/1250363279945367553 IKEA'S MEATBALLS IKEA's Swedish meatballs have earned almost as much buzz for the furniture giant as its signature flatpack home accessories. And while those blessed balls are off the menu with the chain's in-store restaurants temporarily closed due to COVID-19, there's nothing stopping you recreating the goodness at home. IKEA has released its once-secret meatball recipe to the internet gods, complete with a handy, illustrated step-by-step guide. Each batch makes enough pork and beef meatballs — and matching rich cream sauce — to serve four. And chances are, you can knock it all together in less time than it takes to assemble one of IKEA's flatpack creations. DOUBLETREE BY HILTON'S CHOC CHIP COOKIES If you've ever stayed at a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, chances are you're a sucker for the complimentary warm chocolate chip cookies the group serves each of its guests on arrival. But you no longer need to book in an overnight stay to sink your teeth into one of these cult baked goods — the recipe's now available online. With most travel plans on hold while the world's in pandemic fighting mode, Hilton has shared the blueprint for its covetable cookies so you can have a crack at baking them yourself. Whip up a batch of these minimal hassle treats and inject a little jet-setting, hotel-living style into your iso situation. [caption id="attachment_768714" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr/Alpha[/caption] MCDONALD'S SAUSAGE & EGG MCMUFFIN Thanks to the magic of drive-through and delivery, there's pretty much no need to forego your Macca's fix here in Australia, even when self-isolating. But if you've jumped on the home cooking bandwagon hard, you can now have a go at perfecting your own version of the humble McDonald's sausage and egg McMuffin. After shutting all of its stores in response to the pandemic, McDonald's UK has gifted the world with the recipe for the brand's globally-loved breakfast treat. With just four ingredients and only a handful of steps, this one sure seems like a pretty easy culinary project and judging from the #McDonaldsAtHome feed on Twitter, has proved successful for plenty of folks. How will your DIY McMuffin stack up to the original? ACME-STYLE PASTA DISHES FROM MITCH ORR It was a sad day when Rushcutters Bay favourite ACME shut its doors for good last year. But the award-winning restaurant is back in spirit — kind of — to help cure those isolation blues and answer all your pasta cravings. Chef and co-owner Mitch Orr has taken to Instagram to share a slew of his own go-to recipes and it's about as close as you'll get to having ACME reincarnated, at your house. Jump over to his page for a step-by-step photo guide to dreamy dishes like pasta arrabbiata, creamy boscaiola, a classic bolognese and a 'turbo schnitty' featuring Lao Gan Ma chilli sauce.
