The National Gallery of Victoria's 2019 program continues to pull in the big guns, with an ever-growing lineup of internationally acclaimed artists — including Keith Haring and Jean-Michael Basquiat — heading to the gallery. And from Friday, September 20, that list will include Brooklyn-based Kaws (aka Brian Donnelly), who's bringing his instantly recognisable pop-culture sculptures to Aus. Kaws is best known for his large-scale sculptures, vivid murals and distinctive, pop culture-inspired characters. You're probably familiar with his reinterpretations of iconic figures like Mickey Mouse, Snoopy and The Smurfs, all reworked with those signature Xs over the eyes. While it's a stable of work that's laced with a healthy dose of humour, this NGV exhibition, entitled Kaws: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness, focuses on the rest of those underlying emotions. You'll get a glimpse at how KAWS celebrates generosity and explores our need for companionship, offering up an antidote to the world's current 'Age of Loneliness'. Off the back of solo exhibitions at the Yuz Museum Shanghai and the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis in 2017, as well as the Hong Kong Contemporary Art Foundation earlier this year, Kaws' NGV presentation has plenty of never-before-seen goodies. It features a sprawling collection of his pop culture reworkings, human-size figures and collaborative pieces, while a newly commissioned monumental work will be the artist's largest bronze sculpture to date: Gone (2019), a seven-metre-tall bronze sculpture standing imposingly in the NGV's Federation Court. The main event is be backed by Kaws: Playtime – an interactive, touch-focused installation centred around Kaws' bright blue BFF character, complete with soft sculptures and a hands-on multimedia game. While it's created for 'children', we'll sure you'll find a few kidults exploring it, too. Top images: Kaws, Gone (2019); Kaws, What Party (2019); Kaws, Kawsbob (2007); and installation views of Kaws: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness at the NGV International. All photos by Tom Ross.
If your New Year's resolutions are to be a) more honest with yourself and b) save money, then December 31 might be the perfect time to put them in action. It takes an honest person to accept that on New Year's Eve (after a few drinks) money is bound to be burnt. Black Bear Lodge has the perfect solution to keep your bank account intact. For one solid price of $92.90 you can dance and drink the night away and welcome 2015 without a care in the world. The price includes all you can drink — that's Mountain Goat beer on tap, basic spirits and house wine, a glass of champagne on arrival, and live sets from some of Australia’s best. If you haven’t heard of The Creases, Babaganouj or Donny Benet, then maybe your New Year's resolution should be to get your head out of the clouds and pay attention to the Australian music scene. These guys have been making leaps and bounds on national and international rock radars — between The Creases landing a pretty sweet deal with London's Rough Trade Records and Donny Benet's open (and highly contagious) synth addiction. This is one solid New Year's lineup to combat the usual 'Destination Unknown'-spinning NYE DJ. You can grab tickets online here, or take your chance grabbing them on the door.
Have you ever wanted to run away and join the circus? Well now it looks like you finally can. Cirque du Soleil, the world famous circus troupe, is heading to Australia, and they're inviting all of us to audition. What could possibly go wrong? Preliminary auditions will take place in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth throughout the second week of February, with talent scouts on the lookout for artists, acrobats, sportspeople, singers, musicians and dancers, as well as "everyday Australians" who are looking to show off their "creative performance talent." We don't know about you, but that description sounds just vague enough to mean pretty much anything. Time to bust out the hula hoop people! If it all sounds a bit like an episode of Australia's Got Talent, you're actually not that far off the mark. Turns out the audition process is part of an as-of-yet unnamed reality show. A selection of talented and/or ridiculous candidates from each city will be flown down to Melbourne for a second audition on February 14. Hurrah! If you dream of being the next Philippe Petit or are just happy to make an idiot of yourself on TV, you can register for an audition in your home city at the following website. Registrations close at 5pm on Monday February 8.
Festival season is well and truly upon us, with the Woodford Folk Festival set to kick off this month. If you fancy seeing out 2019 and welcoming in 2020 while catching a heap of bands, wandering between arts performances and getting a little muddy across a grassy patch of southeast Queensland, the fest has you covered for its whopping 34th year. Taking place at Woodfordia about 90 minutes north of Brisbane, this year's event will be held for six days between Friday, December 27, 2019 and Wednesday, January 1, 2020 — with Amanda Palmer, Lior, Horrorshow, The Herd, Kate Miller-Heidke, Electric Fields, Emma Louise, Archie Roach with Paul Grabrowsky, and Kasey Chambers among its high-profile talent. In total, over 2000 artists will put on more than 1600 shows across the festival's 25 stages, all in venues that range from a 25,000-seat amphitheatre to chilled-out hangout spots. With the lineup featuring everything from music, art, circus and cabaret to yoga, dance and comedy, there's plenty of other highlights — including a spoken word, comedy and performance program that tasks American Gods and Stardust author Neil Gaiman with reading from his work as the sun sets on the first day of the new year. Elsewhere, Woodford's 2019–20 bill spans arts, dance and meditation workshops, plus a heap of circus and cabaret shows. And, if you're bringing littlies, the event's Children's Festival within the broader fest is also returning. Or, you can explore Woodfordia's rainforest plants on a guided tour, eat a feast of bush foods, play a real-life fantasy game and soak in the flames at the fest's annual closing fire ceremony. Fancy celebrating New Year's Eve with an Elton John sing-along? Woodford won't go breaking your heart, because that's on the agenda also. While the annual Queensland festival has weathered an uncertain future in recent years, it remains a staple of the state's end-of-year calendar — and visit will also boast a whole heap of stalls around the grounds (195 in 2018–19), turning the site into a mini-village for its duration. That includes everything from bars, cafes and restaurants, to an on-site doctor's surgery and two general stores. As always, camping is available at one of the fest's multiple campgrounds, or you can nab a ticket just for the day. Either way, expect to have company, as around 132,000 people attend each year. Images: Woodford Folk Festival via Flickr.
One of Broadway's hottest and most prohibitively priced tickets of the last five years, The Book of Mormon, is set to get an Australian staging. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement today on his Facebook page, saying "I'm thrilled we're bringing the most successful piece of theatre in the world today to Victoria." The musical will make its Australian premiere at Melbourne's Princess Theatre in early 2017. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints, African missions, AIDS, bum jokes and super ironic racism. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards and a Grammy since it debuted in 2011, and has been called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". Directed by Parker with choreographer Casey Nicholaw, the show will have a new local cast. Parker has commented on the team's enthusiasm for the Australian production and then made a Tasmania joke: "We can't wait to get started. Everyone says we should look to Tassie for casting so that's where we're going first." If you've been among the throngs to see the musical in New York, Chicago or London, then you'll be plenty excited that your Melbourne friends will now get the chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. And because this is the most exciting piece of musical theatre news since Matilda, the waitlist for tickets has already opened. Sign up at the Book of Mormon website for priority ticketing information. Whether the show will tour outside of Melbourne is yet to be confirmed. In the meantime, get in the mood by watching this clip of Girls star and original Mormon cast member Andrew Rannells singing the ballad of religious faith 'I Believe' at the Tony Awards. UPDATE MONDAY, DECEMBER 7: Priority tickets for The Book of Mormon are now on sale via Ticketmaster. GO.
No doubt you're pretty busy keeping up with Australia's gangbusters craft beer scene. Whether your go-to is Four Pines, Young Henrys or James Squire, our local brewers are always on-the-go with cracking new ideas — from beer that tastes like Anzac biscuits to a porter that lives up to any chocolate dessert you can throw at it to a drop that doubles-up as breakfast, made from banana bread and coffee beans. As it turns out, our international beer-worshipping brothers and sisters are far from dragging the chain. Here are ten of the best craft brews you'll find outside of Australia right now. FUBAR BY TINY REBEL (WALES) Introducing the 2014 Champion Beer of Wales. This unique brew, first released in February 2012, arrives on your tongue with a floral, hoppy blast and leaves with a satisfying, spicy aftertaste. FUBAR is the flagship for Tiny Rebel, a craft beer company started in 2008 in a Welsh garage, where founders Brad and Gazz would home brew for fun on the weekends. Last year, the duo opened Cardiff's first craft beer dedicated bar and, in August, followed up FUBAR's triumph when their red ale, Cwtch, was named 2015 Champion Beer of Britain. PELICAN NOIR BY PELICAN BREWING CO. (US) Pelican Noir's cinnamon-chocolate flavours and caramel-raisin aromas inspired a Gold Medal win in the Belgian-Style Dark Strong Ale category at the 2015 North American Beer Awards. Three sources of hops go into its creation: Aramis, Goldings and Nugget, as does a trio of malts, giving it a delicious, well-rounded taste. Pelican Noir is made by Oregon's Pelican Brewing Company, which has won literally hundreds of national and international awards in its 14-year lifespan. BOURBON COUNTY BRAND STOUT BY GOOSE ISLAND BEER COMPANY (US) Bourbon County Brand Stout offers one of the densest, darkest, foamiest stout experiences on the planet. And you know it from the moment the bottle opens, releasing a heady mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoky goodness. It's made by Chicago's Goose Island Beer Company, which a man by the name of John Hall started 25 years ago after a brew-focused journey through Europe. “America deserves some damn fine beer like this, too,” he thought to himself, and set about making it happen. Bourbon Country Brand Stout won gold at both the 2006 World Beer Cup Awards and the 1995 Great American Beer Festival. BEER GEEK BREAKFAST BY MIKKELLER (DENMARK) This beer single-handedly gave Mikkeller legendary status. Back in 2006, maths teacher-turned-brewer Mikkel Borg Bjergso came up with the ingenious idea of adding French press coffee to oatmeal stout. And Beer Geek Breakfast was born, shooting straight to first position on global beer popularity platform ratebeer.com. Since then, Mikkeller has used the recipe as a base for all manner of craft beer wonders, like Beer Geek Breakfast Brunch Big Blend and Beer Geek Vanilla Shake. THE VANDAL IPA BY PANHEAD (NEW ZEALAND) According to the Society of Beer Advocates, this was the best beer made in New Zealand in 2014. It's a potent 8% Indian Pale Ale (IPA) made with a serious dose of hops from Kohatu, Riwaka and Nelson Sauvin that tastes like tropical fruit. The Vandal is made at Panhead Custom Ales, a brewery housed in a former tyre factory in Upper Hutt, Wellington, established in 2013 when brewer Mike Neilson quit his full-time job at Tuatara Brewery to go solo. AMA BIONDA BY AMARCORD (ITALY) Italy might be traditionally known for wine, but microbreweries are on the up. One of the best is Amarcord, located in the medieval village of Apecchio, which is close to both the Adriatic Coast and the Appennini Mountains. Amarcord's AMA Bionda is a Belgian pale ale, made with Sicilian orange blossom honey, spring water and three types of hops. It's complex, floral and fruity. HOMMAGE BY DRIE FONTEINEN (BELGIUM) Made of 30% raspberries and 5% cherries, this sour beer is dark red in colour, big on flavour and heavily carbonated. It's definitely not for drinkers looking for something light. Drie Fonteinen, a brewery in Beersel, near Brussels, has made just two batches — the first in 2007 and the second in 2013 — and released only 5,000 bottles globally. So the only catch is that it's not easy to get your hands on. Image: 3 Fonteinen Hommage 2007 via photopin (license). YUZU WHITE ALE BY MINOH (JAPAN) Most wheat beers (like Hoegaarden, for example) are brewed with orange peel. But a couple of years ago, Minoh, a family-owned and operated microbrewery in Japan's Osaka prefecture, came up with a twist, instead using a local citrus fruit named yuzu and adding a dash of coriander. Their experimentation paid off — in 2012, Yuzu White Ale won gold in the fruit wheat beer category at the World Beer Cup. DOREE BY BOREALE (CANADA) This smooth, easy-to-drink beer is made with tasty Quebec honey and a decent dose of malt. In 2012, Doree topped the specialty honey beer section at the World Beer Cup and won silver in the special honey category at the Canadian Brewing Awards. Its home is Les Brasseurs du Nord, a microbrewery in the Lower Laurentians, where the brewing ethos is all about keeping things natural. OLD FREDDY WALKER BY MOOR BEER CO. (ENGLAND) This old ale has won no fewer than 20 prizes, a run that began back in 2004 when it took out CAMRA supreme champion winter beer of Britain. It's so rich and dense that you can drink it like a vintage wine. It is made at the Moor Beer Company in Bristol by an ex-soldier who hails from California.
Jackson Browne dropping a cover of The Eagles' 'Take It Easy'? Classic Bluesfest. Kendrick Lamar echoing across Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm with "This. Dick. Ain't. Freeeeeeeee."? New Wave Bluesfest. Bringing over 200 performances to seven stages over five 12-hour days, Bluesfest returned to the hallowed, well-gumbooted grounds of Tyagarah just out of Byron Bay over the Easter weekend. This outrageously-loved festival brought in its 2016 chapter with one of its most eclectic lineups yet (but importantly, brought back the festival's renowned yearly menu of fish tacos, Yemen rolls and organic doughnuts). From Celtic voodoo to pre-WWII 'minstrel blues', Icelandic indie folk to truly avant garde performance art rock, this year's festival took the genre-spanning game next-level. Kicking off the first night, Kendrick Lamar drew one of the most dominantly Young Person crowds of the festival. Following widely praised shows in Melbourne and Sydney, the 'King Kunta' gamechanger brought his wildly eloquent unpacking of race and identity to the festival's opening night — from 'Backseat Freestyle' to 'Alright'. Lamar gave ups to fellow festival headliner and R&B legend D'Angelo, who, helped the Bluesfest crowd find new hinges in their pelvises with his two highly seductive sets — even though multiple reports from Thursday's set saw Kendrick fans actually booing the R&B icon. Really. Booing D'Angelo. Kids today. Big favourites Tedeschi Trucks Band and Grammy award-winning, face-melting multi-instrumentalist Grace Potter made most Bluesfesters highlight lists, alongside a swathe of relative newcomers to many Aussie ears. Jerron"Blind Boy" Paxton had the festival well abuzz, the twenty-something multi-instrumentalist specialising in '20s and '30s blues a la Fats Waller and "Blind" Lemon Jefferson. Our jaws are still on the floor in the Delta tent after seeing San Francisco's super fun outfit Con Brio, lead by the unforgettable Ziek McCarter — the lovechild of Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars with better abs. Punters stood open-mouthed and wonderfully freaked out watching legendary avant garde experimental art rock collective The Residents. We raised plastic cups to Mojo Juju's "love song to Newcastle", attempted terribly to sing along Nai Palm-style with Melbourne's Hiatus Kaiyote, madly Googled 'Shooglenifty' and generally flailed around in bona fide Dad Dancing style to Mick Fleetwood. Big ups have to be paid to Friday night's heart-in-mouth set from The National, ending with frontman Bryce Dessner genuinely gobsmacked by one heck of an emotional, to-the-syllable singalong. Bluesfest delivered yet another feelgood, like-clockwork festival, nabbing only one and a half days of downpour and less mud than usual. More than one artist, including the legendary Jackson Browne, called it "the best festival in the world". With police happy, punters happy, sleeping kids in wheelbarrows happy and artists happy, we reckon that calls for another organic doughnut. Images: Andy Fraser. Words: Shannon Connellan.
2018 isn't even two months old, and it's already been a great year for Queensland beers. The Gold Coast's Balter Brewing Company took out top spot in the GABS Aussie craft beer list, and Brisbane's Murarrie was chosen as the site of BrewDog's first Australian brewery. Yes, you should be pouring yourself a cold one, taking a moment and saying cheers. The next thing worth celebrating? It's Brewsvegas, of course — and getting merry with a beverage in your hand is well and truly on the agenda. Returning for its fifth year, the yeast and hops-focused festival will spread the beer love in every bar, pub and watering hole across the city from March 10 to 18. It'll also host a pre-fest pool party on February 17 and a launch shindig on March 9, because containing all of the fun within nine days is just impossible. Also on the agenda: doggo-friendly drinking sessions, handball tournaments, monster movie nights, zombie-themed recovery parties, Aussie brewing celebrations, state-specific showcases, cities made out of cardboard, tiki shindigs, tours, talks, classes, dinners, degustations and more. No wonder it's all paired with brews aplenty — with more than 70 events at 50 locations, you're going to need it to get through what's certain to be a massive fest. Image: Bloodhound Bar.
People who live in Sydney's beachy suburb Manly have always thought they had it all. It 'all' used to be the surf, the sand, the pub, an 18-minute alcohol-serving fast ferry into the city and a home within walking distance to all these things. But things are changing in the suburb on the other side of the bridge from the CBD — and it's giving locals even fewer reasons to leave the Manly bubble. And more reasons for visitors like you to see what it's like inside. Reason one: the food. It's not just wharf-based spots like Hugo's, Manly Wine and Wharf Bar anymore. Sydney hospitality giant Merivale has opened a second Queen Chow outpost, 4 Pines brewery now has an all-day eatery and the iconic waterside Manly Pavilion has finally reopened. There's also Chica Bonita and its newer Japanese joint, plus The Boathouse set up shop at Shelley Beach in 2015, bringing a whole bar dedicated to charcuterie and cheese (!!) and even a cafe dealing in fermented foods. Reason two is not a new one — it's the water. The surf isn't as life-threatening as Bondi, and Shelley Beach is prime for snorkelling on a clear day. If you want to explore past the Esplanade (and you do), there's plenty of kilometres for you to walk and even a few hidden coves to discover. Travelling to Sydney soon? Book a flight with Qantas and set out for this suburb by the sea packed with a burgeoning food and bar scene, plenty of scenic walks and, of course, lots of beach — ocean-side, bay-side and tucked away shores. FRIDAY NIGHT: DINNER AT SUNSET SABI Most destinations that aren't bed are a bit tough to get to on a Friday night, but not Manly. If you're based near Circular Quay and you could be there before you can even finish a beer. The fast ferry only takes a very precise 18 minutes, and it has a bar on board. For accommodation, there are plenty of Airbnb options, but if you want to stay right across from the beach, the Novotel Manly Pacific is your best bet. While watching the sun go down over the beach is highly recommended, stray away from the beachfront to Pittwater Road for a sunset of a different kind. At Sunset Sabi, food is done in an izakaya style, but it sure ain't tradition. Ingredients like jalapeños, bacon, parmesan and kettle chips (the chilli kind) all make their way into sushi rolls and other bite-sized morsels. Make sure you try the teeth-glueing caramel miso popcorn, the deep fried rice balls and the sweet heat roll with spicy tuna, cucumber, green beans and avocado inside, and tuna, white onion, shallots, chilli roe with sabi'q sauce on the outside. Book in advance to ensure you get a seat — this place is busy. SATURDAY MORNING: BREAKFAST BOWLS AND A BIG WALK Healthy eating seems to be synonymous with beachside suburbs, but this ain't Bondi — well, not yet anyway. Manly does have its own little health hub though, with Pure Wholefoods, Ora and Bare Naked Bowls. A contender for the best breakfast bowls in Sydney, this hole-in-the-wall cafe does seven different acai bowls, along with oats, porridge and smoothies. Best to get there early as the post-yoga crowd fill it out quite quickly — or get it takeaway, get a coffee from Barefoot around the corner and eat it by the beach. After you've finished breakfast, pull your walking shoes on and join up with the Manly Scenic Walkway and head in the direction of North Head. The track will take you past Spring Cove, uphill to the North Head sanctuary, right out to the killer views at Fairfax Lookouts and back down the other side of the head to Shelley Beach (see map). All up, it's about nine kilometres. You might want to wear your bathers for a post-walk dip. [caption id="attachment_557644" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Boathouse[/caption] MIDDAY: LUNCH AT THE BOATHOUSE Every challenge must have its reward and after that hefty, hilly walk, your reward is this: lunch at The Boathouse. Securing the absolutely kickass location with frontage at pedestrian-only Shelley Beach, The Boathouse has really outdone itself. You can head in salty and sandy or recently showered in your crisp white linens — it doesn't matter here. Order seafood, perhaps in the form of the tuna crackers, the trout board (with sliced trout and trout pate) or the decadent seafood platter. The hectic 'order at the counter and find a table' system still stands, so come with both patience and an appetite. It's worth it. [caption id="attachment_560528" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Manly Kayak Centre[/caption] AFTERNOON: KAYAK TO STORE BEACH Manly Beach is great for a surfing lesson (see Sunday's activities) or a quick dip, but it's pretty busy and generally feels a bit hectic. So we suggest going somewhere a bit more secluded for the afternoon. Store Beach on Manly's North Head is accessible only by water, meaning its visitors are restricted to boat owners, stand-up paddleboarders and kayaks. Rent a kayak from Manly Kayak Centre at Manly Wharf, take in a few tips and paddle around the head to the small beach. It only takes about 30 minutes, and it's well worth it for this little patch of paradise. EVENING: BEER, WINE AND CHEESE Brewery 4 Pines was named after the pine trees that line Manly beach. And you'll be able to get a good look at 'em from the 4 Pines Brewpub, which sits just across the road from the beach on the East Esplanade. Here you can try a pint of the pale ale or stout, or give them all a go with a tasting rack. When you're feeling peckish, wander over to Cured, which sits in one of Manly's little laneways off the main mall (which, we're warning, you should probably avoid on a Saturday night). This small bar ticks all the small bar boxes with its triple threat offering of cheese, charcuterie and wine. They've got 18 meats — most of which come from a farm up at Byron Bay — and ten cheeses, which include an epic triple cream brie, a tasty blue and some seriously milky burrata. They'll also help you out with some chicken liver pate, an Aperol Spritz if you're so inclined, or some local beers from Dad & Dave's Brewing. Buy a bottle and settle in. SUNDAY MORNING: BREAKFAST AT ORA You've ticked breakfast bowls off your list, and at Ora you can cross off fermented foods as well. Ora has a long mission statement — of which is literally written on the walls — but here's the short of it: all the ingredients are organic, healthy and locally grown. Much of the menu is good for your gut too; the fermented oatmeal with carrots and spices may just be the thing to settle your wine-addled stomach. The breakfast plate is much more satisfying though, with eggs fried in ghee, mushroom, greens, avo, sauerkraut and the seedy 'sai' bread. Naturally, Ora serves kombucha, as well as turmeric lattes (and normal lattes as well) and — for the really committed — cups of bone broth for $6. [caption id="attachment_561211" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Manly Surf School[/caption] MIDDAY: JOIN A SURFING LESSON On one of our best beaches to learn how to surf at, it would be remiss for you to spend a weekend in Manly without catching a wave. Book a lesson with the guys at Manly Surf School — they'll get you kitted out with a wetsuit and a board, and then take you out for two hours on the waves. Their groups are small, the instructors are literal pros, and they're very patient with even the most unpromising of surfing students. Lessons run for two hours and cost $70. Book in advance and hope for some sweet surf. Or, head along to the Australian Open of Surfing from February 27 to March 6 to watch instead. AFTERNOON: LUNCH AT THE HERRING ROOM There's just something about swimming in the ocean that inspires a tummy to rumble, and after two hours in the surf, it's probable that yours will be absolutely roaring for something to eat. If you can manage to shower without wasting away with that empty stomach, know that lunch is going to be worth it at The Herring Room. Set in a renovated surf shop on a quiet part of Pittwater Road, it's away from all the hubbub of Manly's main drag and is an absolute delight. The space is cosy, bright and feels somewhat like a friend's home, making it perfect for Sunday lunch. Order a bottle of sparkling (or bring your own for $6 corkage per person) and tuck in. The salt and pepper squid is a must if you're dining post-surf, and the scallops with cauliflower puree and pancetta are top notch. Cut into the squid ink ravioli and watch it ooze with egg yolk, then eat it up with the crabmeat, salmon roe and lemon-thyme beurre blanc it's served with. The service here is excellent, and it's the ultimate way to wind down your weekend in Manly. Ready to get away and experience Sydney? Book with Qantas for great fares to Sydney and NSW until 24 September. Terms and conditions apply.
Heading to Northshore Hamilton's Eat Street for a food fix has become a weekend staple for many Brisbanites; however, everyone's favourite evening markets have just gotten even better. No, they're not adding even more delicious bites to eat. Yes, they want you to hang around while you're digesting their tasty wares. From November 6, you won't just be hanging around — you'll be jumping in your car, driving down the road, then parking and peering up at a big screen with a riverside, city view. You'll also be taking all the edible morsels you've bought at Eat Street and devouring them while enjoying a movie at their pop-up drive-in. Films will run every Friday and Saturday night, spanning recent releases like Trainwreck and Everest, as well as classic fare. Fast & Furious 7 jumpstarts the program, because there's no better movie to watch while sitting in a vehicle, obviously. Just make sure your engine remains switched off, because no one needs to add to the feature's sound effects. If you're only interested in the movie, not the markets, don't distress — you won't go hungry. An American-style, retro-themed diner will be on site, or you can flag down the drive-in's Segway crew to deliver snacks, ice creams and non-alcoholic drinks to your car window. Yep. Segway delivery. Those with not-so-short memories might recall that the Brisbane International Film Festival did the same thing in the same spot back in 2011 and 2012. The current iteration is a limited time deal, only running until Eat Street moves into the space from its current site. When that happens, outdoor cinema will become a feature of the markets, just sans cars. All tickets must be purchased online and in advance, whether you're going with the romantic option (two people in a car for $32), coasting along on a double date (four people in a car for $44), or bringing every pal you can (seven people in a car for $54). Those without a set of wheels can get comfy in one of 200 moon chairs for a real under-the-stars viewing experience for only $13. For more information about the Eat Street Drive-In, visit their website.
Burgers flying through the sky in Melbourne? It's not a mere pipe dream. The wacky scientists at Monash University have teamed up with Mr Burger to create Future Burger, the new delivery service powered by drones and your insatiable love of burgers. If you’re in Melbourne and interested in receiving a burger that flies majestically through the air as if by magic and flutters delicately into your lap, oozing with cheese and relish (actual experience may be sloppier), you can sign up via the Future Burger website. A few caveats though. You have to be at the Monash campus at Clayton on August 2 (a Sunday on campus) and you'll have to actually be picked by the Monash Future Burger overlords as the chosen burger recipient. You have until July 28 to enter your details and be considered for this esteemed honour. We haven't been this excited about novelty food delivery since parachute jaffles. This seems to be an experiment coming out of Monash's drone department (or, more correctly Monash's Faculty of Information Technology, but we like 'drone department') and as such, we will strive do all in our power to help science — by stuffing our faces. Future Burger is brought to you by Monash University and Mr Burger. To be in the running for drone burger delivery, enter your details here.
UPDATE, May 22, 2021: Black Panther is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. There is one dull moment in Black Panther. Exactly one. And the fact that it comes courtesy of Stan Lee's now-inevitable cameo speaks volumes about this rich and electrifying instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When the man who ostensibly founded the franchise shows up, it feels like a predictable, obligatory inclusion in a film that runs from those labels every other chance it gets. Lee's presence nods to the usual formula that's been deployed for 17 big-screen chapters — but, coming in at number 18 in a series that shows no signs of slowing down, Black Panther refuses to stick to that template. It's one of the few comic book flicks in living memory that doesn't spend its time setting up the next movie or shoehorning in links to past titles. The film stands on its own merits, and it's absolutely glorious. Although viewers first met Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa, aka Black Panther, back in Captain America: Civil War, his debut solo outing is still something of an origin story. Despite this, in exploring who the newly crowned Wakandan king is, where he's from and the struggles he's facing, the film prowls down its own path. After the death of his father, T'Challa finds himself at a crossroads about the future of his nation — a place that has long chosen to hoard its considerable technological advancements, close its borders and hide its true nature from the world. Some close to him, such as his head of security W'Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya), support the insular status quo. Others, including his ex-girlfriend turned secret special forces operative Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), advocate for helping those in need. A Marvel movie that weighs up the merits of isolationist policies versus social responsibility, all while grappling with race and class as well? With its eyes firmly on current world affairs, Black Panther certainly isn't afraid of getting topical. Directed and co-written by Ryan Coogler, the film blends the rousing politics of his debut, Fruitvale Station, with the earnest spectacle of his follow-up, the Rocky-spinoff Creed. It's a superhero flick with something to say and no qualms about saying it. At the same time, the ambitious effort nods effectively to Shakespeare in its family dynamics, and offers up smart spy action complete with its own gadget guru (Letitia Wright, a scene-stealer as T'Challa's younger sister Shuri). Packed to the brim (although it never feels overstuffed), the movie also makes a stand for formidable women through General Okoye (Danai Gurira), the king's loyal, lethal and highly memorable bodyguard. Marvel's last title, the wonderfully distinctive Thor: Ragnarok, successfully carved its own niche within the MCU's usual confines. While that film proved an impressive feat, Black Panther goes one step further, effectively smashing the standard mould to pieces. This shines through in two areas in particular. The first is in the film's treatment of its primary antagonist, with unruly weapons dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) a mere distraction on the road to the determined Erik 'Killmonger' Stevens (Michael B. Jordan). Villains aren't typically Marvel's strong suit, but here the fight between opposing forces feels refreshingly astute and even-handed. Casting assists considerably in this regard, with both Boseman and Jordan bringing considerable gravitas to their roles. Coogler also demonstrates an exceptional command of tone, delivering a film that serves up a few well-earned laughs, but takes its overall task seriously. In a picture positively teeming with highlights, however, Black Panther's greatest quality is its all-round embrace of African culture. In every aspect of its look, sound and feel, this chapter is like nothing else in the Marvel universe, and that's clearly by design. Twice during the film, outsiders enter Wakanda and try not to let their jaws drop to the floor — and it's easy to understand their reactions. Frankly, it's the same one we had as the end credits rolled. Coogler has crafted an entertaining, engaging and impassioned movie that is both proud of and confident in its differences, and is also committed to shining the spotlight on the people that blockbuster cinema so often ignores. What could be more awe-inspiring than that? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph9_oITIefE
Aunty's done it again; inviting the whole country round for a cup o' chai and a grand ol' hootenanny — the 2015 lineup for Meredith Music Festival is here. Returning to beloved Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, near Golden Plains over December 11-13, Meredith's more eclectic than ever — it's the Silver Jubilee 25th anniversary after all. Following the recent major announcement of Ex-Fleet Foxes minstrel Father John Misty as this year's top headliner, Aunty's added the likes of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ratatat, The Thurston Moore Band, Tkay Maidza, Neon Indian, Big Daddy Kane, Shellac, Fatback Band, Jessica Pratt, Briggs, and many more to the bill. As always, Meredith's a BYO paradise, and of course, the 'No Dickhead Policy' stands stronger than ever. There's just one ticket type (none of this fancy schmancy VIP tiered business) and it'll set you back $338.70 + $10BF + $7.50 post. Like every year, it's a ballot system and first round ticket offers will be made today, the second on August 20. Enter over here. But enough chatskies, here's who's ringing in 25 years of glorious Meredith fun with Aunty this year. MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2015 LINEUP Big Daddy Kane Bully Father John Misty Floating Points Fatback Band GL Goat Harvey Sutherland Jessica Pratt Julia Holter Levins Lucy Cliche The Peep Tempel Master Khalil Gudaz MC Jane Clifton Mighty Duke and The Lords Briggs Moon Duo Neon Indian Optimo Pearls Power Ratatat Shellac Steve Miller Band The Thurston Moore Band Tkay Maidza Totally Mild Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats Unknown Mortal Orchestra Meredith Music Festival is happening December 11 to 13 in the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, Meredith. Enter the ballot here. Image: Meredith Music Festival.
He's brought Brisbane doughnuts and bubbles, made Alfred & Constance one of the Valley's top hangouts and the Limes one of its coolest hotels, plus added Kwan Bros to our list of must-eat Asian eateries, too. He's Damian Griffiths, Brisbane restauranteur and entrepreneur extraordinaire — and his next stop is South Bank. If you've ever thought that the riverside precinct that hosted Expo '88 all those years ago needs more kiosks, then you're on Griffiths' wavelength. Over the coming months, he'll be filling a space on Grey Street with more than a couple of places dedicated to your favourite foods. With Doughnut Time one of his most popular eateries, expect glazed, fried pastry circles to start hitting South Brisbane. Ice cream sandwiches and milkshakes are among the other options currently mooted. Regulars to the area will have spotted that Grey Street has been undergoing a revamp in recent times, with a number of beloved shops — including now online tea store Tlicious — closing down and making way for new businesses. If revamping the inner-city hotspot means more sweet treats like Griffiths is planning, then consider us all for it. Image: Sam Petherbridge, Flickr.
In 1978 Robert Redford helped oversee the first Sundance Film Festival, an event originally designed to attract the cinema world to Utah. Four decades later, and that aim has well and truly been achieved. Come the end of January each year, the who's who of filmmaking rush to Park City for a feast of film surrounded by wintry snow. And, with good reason. Over the decades, Sundance has helped launch everything from Reservoir Dogs, The Blair Witch Project and Donnie Darko to Boyhood, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Manchester by the Sea. In 2017, two movies that we were excited about after their Park City debuts — Call Me By Your Name and The Big Sick — ended up on Concrete Playground's best movies of the year list. So did Get Out, which premiered at Sundance as a secret screening, wowed viewers around the globe afterwards and recently picked up four Oscar nominations. In short, the fest's lineup usually offers a reliable roster of the flicks to look out for in the months afterwards. With 110 feature-length films on Sundance's 2018 program, as selected from 29 countries, including 47 first-time filmmakers and culled from 3901 full-length submissions, there's plenty to tempt cinephiles on this year's bill. One of them, the amusing National Lampoon insider effort A Stupid and Futile Gesture, is already screening on Netflix if you're keen to jump right in. Another, Australia's own stellar Indigenous western Sweet Country, just opened in local cinemas. As for the rest, here's our picks of the flicks we're hoping to see on our shores soon. SORRY TO BOTHER YOU Earning more than a few comparisons to Get Out thanks to its smart social satire, Sorry to Bother You marks the directorial debut of The Coup frontman Boots Riley. A workplace comedy set in the world of telemarketing, it's the tale of a black salesman (Lakeith Stanfield) who suddenly discovers magical selling abilities. As his career takes a turn for the better, his artist girlfriend (Tessa Thompson) has some concerns. Acclaimed for its distinctive voice, its no-holds-barred humour and its provocative absurdity, it's one of the most talked-about flicks of the fest, and also features Call Me By Your Name's Armie Hammer in a memorable supporting role. Also watch out for: Blindspotting, the hip hop-style comedy co-written by and starring Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, who play two Oakland pals trying to get their lives on the straight and narrow. DAMSEL Two of cinema's best current trends combine in Damsel — everybody's making westerns, and Robert Pattinson is making, well, everything. Trust the folks behind Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter to bring them both together; if brothers David and Nathan Zellner can turn a Fargo-inspired urban legend into a thoughtful and intriguing film, then they can remake the Old West in their own comedic way, and take Pattinson along for the ride. The former Twilight star-turned-indie darling features opposite Aussie actress Mia Wasikowska, veteran Robert Forster, and the writing, directing and producing Zellners themselves. Also watch out for: The latest effort from Aussie filmmaker Claire McCarthy, Ophelia takes on Hamlet in a fresh, female-focused way, with Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, George MacKay and Tom Felton among the cast. THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST You have to admire Desiree Akhavan's Sundance record. The writer/director's second feature marked her second stint at the festival, and it picked up the US Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic for its troubles. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, American Honey's Sasha Lane and The Revenant's Forrest Goodluck, and adapted from the novel of the same name, The Miseducation of Cameron Post follows a high schooler sent to a gay conversion centre. She might be stuck in a place of oppression and repression, but a sense of community springs among her fellow attendees. Four years ago, Akhavan's Appropriate Behavior proved astute, insightful and amusing, so expect good things. Also watch out for: Bisbee '17, the latest documentary from Kate Plays Christine's Robert Greene, this time exploring a different historical chapter: the Bisbee Deportation of 1917, where 1200 striking miners were taken from their home, banished from the town and left to die. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiakAVaXgU TULLY After completely hitting it out of the park on their first collaboration, Young Adult director Jason Reitman, writer Diablo Cody and star Charlize Theron join forces again with Tully. Where their last effort was steeped in arrested development — the state of not quite growing up, not the TV comedy Theron once appeared on — this time around they're wading into the womb of motherhood. When Theron's stressed mother-of-three Marlo welcomes the titular night nanny (Mackenzie Davis) into her life, a bond blooms, as does an empathetic dark comedy anchored by two of today's best actresses. Your usual mum-focused movie, this is not Also watch out for: Laura Dern stars in The Tale, writer/director Jennifer Fox's handling of the tough topic of sexual abuse, following a journalist and professor forced to delve back into her childhood relationship with two adult coaches. KUSAMA - INFINITY Yayoi Kusama is everywhere. The Japanese artist's work is splashed across the walls of Australian galleries, she now has her own Tokyo museum, and she also features in a documentary at Sundance. Kusama - Infinity seems an apt title for many reasons, not only due to Kusama's famed mirrored 'infinity rooms', but also because the singular creative's adaptability, innovation and influence seems like it will go on forever. Understandably, writer, director and producer Heather Lenz spent years charting the course of Kusama's seven-decade career beyond the dots and pumpkins. Whether you're a fan or a newcomer, you're in for an informative ode to an artist like no other. Also watch out for: U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking winner Mind the Gap, the personal documentary not only made by Bing Liu, but interweaving his return to Rockford, Illinois to reconnect with his childhood skateboarding buddies with archival footage of their younger heyday. LEAVE NO TRACE It's been eight years since filmmaker Debra Granik made one of the first great films of this decade, won Sundance's Grand Jury Prize and unearthed a star in the process. In Winter's Bone, the movie-watching world was gifted a tense family drama, as well as a career-making performance from Jennifer Lawrence — and Granik might've just done it again with Leave No Trace. Ben Foster features opposite acclaimed newcomer Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, playing a father and daughter living off the grid until their cover is blown. If you're thinking that it has been too long between fictional films for the exceptional writer/director, then you're right. Also watch out for: In Shirkers, Sandi Tan hunts down her own film — one she penned in the '90s, was shot on 16mm, but disappeared along with her mentor, friend and director Georges Cardona. THE GUILTY Winner of the audience award in Sundance's World Cinema Dramatic section, The Guilty is the latest Nordic noir effort exciting cinema-goers. And, following in the footsteps of Alfred Hitchcock, recent films such as Buried, Locke and more, it's the latest single-setting flick as well. From first-time Swedish helmer Gustav Möller, the movie finds its story in the police emergency dispatch department, as a cop takes a call from a kidnapped women. Starring Jakob Cedergren (The Killing, Those Who Kill), it's a claustrophobic ticking-clock thriller that has already started buzz about an inevitable English-language remake. Also watch out for: Idris Elba steps behind the camera with Yardie, a gangster effort that's also a tense coming-of-age film, as split between Kingston and London in the '80s. SEARCH Another favourite with the Sundance crowd, this time winning the audience award in the festival's Next section, Search gives viewers what we've always wanted: a decent online-focused thriller, and a showcase starring role for John Cho. Sure, other films have unfurled their content via on-screen computer screens, but this debut effort from 25-year-old writer/director Aneesh Chaganty has been pegged as a potentially huge hit — and it's likely a case of when, rather than if, it'll make it to Aussie cinemas. Cho plays a father worried about his teenage daughter when she doesn't come home one night, and doing what everyone would do in that situation these days, aka taking to his computer and phone to look for answers. With that in mind, Search also won Sundance's Alfred P. Sloan Prize, which is awarded each year to a film focusing on science or technology. Also watch out for: Pity, directed by Greek filmmaker Babis Makridis, and co-written with Dogtooth and The Lobster's Efthimis Filippou, about a man who proves happy when his wife falls into a coma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6wWKNij_1M HEREDITARY If it already sounds like this year's Sundance lineup has been doing what the festival always does best — that is, uncovering ace new talent — then Hereditary isn't going to change that perception. The first film from writer/director Ari Aster has been earning rave reviews for its take on haunting, grief-fuelled, despair-ridden horror, particularly in regards to its emotional depth and fleshed-out performances. Given the feature boasts an applauded turn by Australia's own Toni Collette, the latter is understandable. As for the story itself, it centres on a family's reaction after the death of their grandmother. Also watch out for: Nicolas Cage is back in the vengeance-driven Mandy, which sees Beyond the Black Rainbow director Panos Cosmatos dive head first into the pulpy genre realm. LIZZIE The story of Lizzie Borden has fascinated the masses for more than a century. Being accused and tried for the murder of your father and stepmother, but ultimately acquitted in a case that was never solved — well, that'll do it. Ballets, songs, operas, plays, novels, musicals, TV shows and films have all examined her story, with Lizzie the latest. Set in 1892 and starring Chloë Sevigny, it focuses on Borden's bond with her live-in maid, played by Kristen Stewart, while working towards the scandal that's now a matter of history. And if that doesn't intrigue you enough, it's billed as a psychological thriller, as well as a film that champions feminism and sexuality. Also watch out for: Four-time Independent Spirit Award-nominee The Rider, about a rodeo star yearning for the ring after suffering a head injury, from Chinese writer, director and producer Chloé Zhao. Images: courtesy Sundance Film Festival.
If you like your TV viewing as deconstructed as you like your cheesecake, the new web comedy The Katering Show is for you. Written and directed by coincidentally alliterative comedians Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, the series takes aim at our food-obsessed culture and its raft of related cooking shows. The "food intolerant" (McCartney) and "intolerable foodie" (McLennan) spend each episode trying to find the middle ground between the food that one loves and the food the other can digest, all while exploring such key culinary topics as Mexican cuisine, ethical eating, quitting sugar and food porn. The duo already have one award-winning web series, Bleak, behind them, as well as a combined CV that name checks It's a Date, Offspring, Adam Hills Tonight and Kath & Kim. Now the The Katering Show's hilarious and on-point references to paleo, locavores and food trucks should get them even more notice. How close to their real-life counterparts are the characters in the show? We'll probably never know, but they sure did turn it on for this interview. Read on for McLennan and McCartney's personal food philosophies, opinions on kale and feelings for Heston Blumenthal. Then head to ABC iView to watch all of season one of The Katering Show, with series two out very soon. Where does your passion for food come from? Or, for McCartney, your aversion? McLennan: I grew up in the country, so I've always had a strong connection to the food that we were killing and eating. One of my earliest memories is slaughtering a sheep with my grandfather and then feeding its shanks to my dolls. McCartney: From hanging around people like McLennan. See above. How would you describe your food philosophy? McL: Cook from the heart, but also use your hands. And your eyes. McC: If it's good enough for my cat, it's good enough for me. When did you realise your food journey was one you had to share with others, via your web series? McL: When we received funding from Screen Australia. McC: When we received funding from Screen Australia. What is the best use for kale? McL: Kale is great to use in salads, frittatas, and to take to a picnic, if you want to meet like-minded people with no personality. McC: I find if you soak it for an hour in cold water, it makes it easier to throw out. What hybrid food (eg cronut, ramen burger) would you like to try inventing? McL: I'd like to create a giant hotdog filled with Mac'n'Cheese and I'd call it "DON'T LOOK AT ME! STOP LOOKING AT ME!" McC: I'd to combine macarons and dry-rubbed chicken to create something called a "MacChicken". Actually, I just want a McChicken. I'll probably just get a McChicken. Who wants a McChicken? What is your relationship with sugar? McL: Lately I've cheated on it with stevia, rice malt syrup and agave (I hope sugar isn't reading this) *giggles* McC: Well, I can't have most alcohol, cheese, breads, cakes, which means I also can't have friends. So sugar is literally all I've got. If sugar leaves me, I'll have nothing. I'll have to embark on a life of crime just to feel something. What's your favourite kitchen gadget? McL: I have a smoking gun. It's a great little gadget, and if you don't qualify what it is, it's a great way to liven up a dull dinner party! McC: I have a butcher's knife that was given to me by a very nice gentleman who I met a train station. How do you make sure you're eating ethically? McL: I honour the life of every living thing I eat by preserving their memory in a handmade quilt. It's getting very big. McC: I personally kill every packet of two-minute noodles that I eat. What is your rule of thumb for wine matching? McL: Shiraz goes well with brisket, chardonnay goes well with barramundi, and chilled rosé goes well with drunk women at the races. McC: From experience, any bottle of anything goes well with an $8 price tag. Would you rather (a) eat at Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck, or (b) not? McL: Not, because there are so many starving people in the world, and I think I could probably do a better job at home. McC: I'd eat there. I feel sorry for Heston, given his name in Greek means "to poop oneself". Watch The Katering Show on ABC iView.
He's collaborated with everyone from Kylie Minogue to Kendrick Lamar. Even Grumpy Cat wears that hat. Now, Pharrell Williams has teamed up with choreographer Jonah Bokaer and visual artist Daniel Arsham for a unique multidisciplinary dance project — and it's coming to Australia. From September 14 to 17, Brisbane Festival will host the Aussie premiere of Rules of the Game, which brings eight on-stage performers together in a combination of dance, music, video, art and theatrical expression. Williams crafts his first-ever orchestral score for the stage to accompany Bokaer's crisp, elegant dance moves and Arsham's offbeat, architectural environments. Loosely based on Nobel Laureate Pirandello's controversial play Six Characters in Search of an Author, the piece "recasts dance as something close to moving sculpture" as Bris Fest's artistic director David Berthold puts it. For Bokaer, who is as acclaimed and innovative in the field of contemporary dance as Williams is in music, it's a blending not only "of cultures, but a blending of forms, expressions, and of inheritance". Rules Of The Game's four-day, five-show Brisbane run will mark only the second time it will have be seen by an audience, after debuting in May at the SOLUNA International Music and Arts Festival in Dallas. In fact, the production won't premiere in New York until November. And if you're not in Brissie, you'd better book plane tickets fast, because it won't be showing anywhere else in Australia. Catch Rules of the Game at Brisbane Festival from September 14 – 17. Check out the Brisbane Festival website for tickets and further details.
If you’ve been feeling lousy about procrastinating and putting off your dreams to watch cat videos on YouTube, prepare to feel even lousier. A resourceful rapper from New York City has made a legitimately amazing album solely using the display computers available in Apple stores. Prince Harvey, a 25-year-old rapper from Brooklyn, was floored when his laptop and music equipment was stolen and he couldn’t afford to replace them. But instead of doing what the Average Joe might have done (buying a bucket of caramel corn to cry-eat in the shower while pounding red wine), Harvey worked his way across New York and put his album together at Apple stores. "New York is expensive. I couldn’t just buy another laptop," he told Daily Beast. "I just thought, ‘I’m going to die before anyone knows I’m hot.’" Harvey's debut album is straight-up wonderfully-named PHATASS, which stands for 'Prince Harvey at the Apple Store, Soho', and the beats were made entirely by manipulating vocal recordings. He also befriended his neighbourhood Apple store Geniuses who showed him how get around obstacles (read: security), let him save his work instore, and generally helped the guy out over the four-month creative process. Talk about helping someone make the best of a shitty situation. They say hardship makes you stronger and Harvey joins a lineup of creatives who’ve overcome poverty and disenfranchisement to realise their dreams."I don’t think I’m poor. Poor is a mentality," Harvey told Daily Beast. "I mean, I can be broke — no money in my pocket — but I’ve never been poor." Mary J Blige survived a childhood of violence, poverty and sexual abuse only to be signed on the strength of a cassette tape of a karaoke recording. J.K. Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book in cafes while raising her daughter and scraping by in London and Jay Z grew up in the notoriously rough Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, sold drugs to make ends meet and is now married to Kween Yonce and worth $550 million. Damn. Round of applause. Harvey is now making waves for his tenacity, inventiveness and talent while further highlighting important issues that face young people across America. So let’s all of us get up off the couch, block YouTube for a while and go do. Via Elite Daily. Image: Sarah Wang.
Kween Yonce is about to tower over Melbourne. A skyscraper inspired by Beyonce’s fierce aesthetics in the 'Ghost' video clip is set to be built near Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station. Although 'Beyonce' is not yet a recognised religion (give it time), the 76-storey tower will pay homage to the mother of us all by mimicking her monochromatic twists and turns in 'Ghost'. The 13012 Premier Tower will house retail space and hotel rooms as well as apartments and creates those curves with an innovative vertical cantilever system designed to make Beyonce fans weep (and effectively redistribute mass and stabilise the building but whatever). The tower has been designed by the architectural firm Elenberg Fraser, who have a monopoly on the chic apartment market; they're responsible for 42 percent of the apartments under construction in Melbourne right now and we're stoked they're Beyonce fans too (can we please have a 'Crazy In Love' apartment block next?). It may just be a marketing strategy but if so, boy do they have our number. We would love to live inside Beyonce. And we can even discern some graceful and svelte curves in the initial renderings of the 13012 Premier Tower. It’s a case of art mimicking life and who better to mimic than the Kween herself. Bow down bitches. Via The Guardian. Images: Elenberg Fraser.
Chef Matt Stone wants to you to make a bar out of your own backyard. Really. Melbourne's young gun head chef of Victoria's Oakridge winery, Stone made his industry name as head chef of Joost Bakker's Greenhouse, Silo and Brothl, then as the culinary brains behind IconPark's Sydney pop-up Stanley Street Merchants and a MasterChef regular. At his core, Stone's a stickler for ethical and sustainable cooking, so he's just released his first cookbook The Natural Cook to help fuel some of that philosophy in everyday Aussie kitchens. The (extremely well photographed) cookbook's brimming with recipes meant to make you rethink food, bring you back to basics, try traditional techniques, adopt new sustainable cooking habits and make the best of the bounty of native ingredients Australia's got going on (one of the most sustainable ways Australians can cook). Of course, the book champions Stone's infamous 'zero-waste' philosophy, whether you're making yoghurt, pickling things or making a Bloody Mary. We've taken a couple of recipes out of of Stone's book, to show you how easy it is to incorporate native Australian ingredients into your everyday — well, into your cocktails in particular. Here's a little humdinger of a recipe for a Bloody Mary using native Australian spices — a truly homegrown breakfast of champions. Once you've crafted this gem, try making Stone's ant-rimmed Aussie South Side too (recipe over here). NATIVE SPICED BLOODY MARY "For a fresh kick, you can also add finely chopped veggies such as tomato, cucumber, celery and chilli. Hangover be gone!" INGREDIENTS Serves one ice 3 dried bush tomatoes 60 ml (2 fl oz/¼ cup) vodka 15 ml (½ fl oz) lemon juice 6 dashes of Worcestershire sauce 5 dashes of Tabasco sauce (or other hot sauce) 2 large pinches of ground pepperberry, plus extra to garnish 2 large pinches of Australian Seven Spice (recipe below) (see page 211), plus extra to garnish 1 pinch of pink salt, plus extra to garnish 125 ml (4 fl oz/½ cup) tomato juice celery stalk or cucumber slice, to garnish Fill a serving glass with ice and let it stand. Muddle the bush tomatoes, and any other vegetables you feel like, in your cocktail shaker. Add all the other ingredients except the garnishes to the shaker and fill with ice. Slowly 'roll' your shaker end over end to mix and chill the ingredients without frothing things. Taste-test with a straw and add additional Tabasco if you'd like it spicier. Discard the ice from the serving glass and replace with fresh ice. Single-strain the liquid into the serving glass. Add the celery stalk or cucumber slice and finish with a pinch of salt, pepperberry and Australian seven spice. Note: Online bush food specialists offer a variety of Aussie fruits, herbs and spices, including bush tomatoes and pepperberries. HOW TO MAKE MATT STONE'S AUSTRALIAN SEVEN SPICE This is my version of Chinese five spice and it's perfect on barbecued meats, vegetables and fried bugs. If you don't feel like eating bugs with your beer then perhaps try it rubbed into barbecued chicken wings or slow-cooked beef ribs. The individual spices can vary due to season, availability and personal taste, so think of this as a rough guide. Use double the amount of mountain pepper if you like your spice mixes hot. 1 tablespoon ground bush tomato 1 tablespoon ground lemon myrtle 1 tablespoon ground wattleseed 1 tablespoon ground pepper leaf 1½ tablespoons ground mountain pepperberries 2 teaspoons ground aniseed myrtle 1 tablespoon ground mangrove myrtle Note: While most of the Australian ingredients used in this book can be substituted with something non-native, this is the one recipe I urge you to stick to (otherwise it will become 'mostly Australian seven spice'). Mix all ingredients. Store in an airtight container or jar. Recipe and image from The Natural Cook by Matt Stone (Murdoch Books). Photography by Mark Roper RRP $39.99 available now in all good bookstores and online.
Brisbane cinephiles, prepare for six words you never imagined you'd hear again: it's Brisbane International Film Festival time. The city's major cinema showcase was killed off following its 2013 festival, then replaced by the short-lived model that was the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, and now rises from the dead like a ravenous film-loving zombie. Instead of eating brains, however, the now Palace-run festival wants to fill movie buffs' heads with plenty of ace new international cinema. Indeed, with 60 shorts and features on the agenda between August 17 and September 3, BIFF's returning lineup aims to do just that. Austere Russian dramas, endearing first-time Aussie efforts, national icons taking on more roles than seems humanly possible, slice-and-dice samurai dramas and docos about Brisbane legends are all on the bill, and that's just the beginning. Here are our ten top picks (plus a few other recommendations) to help you fill nearly three weeks worth of movie-going. LOVELESS Dissecting a society infected by oppressive politics, Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev captures modern life in his homeland in bleak slices, whether exploring brothers reunited with their absent father in The Return, a woman forced to do whatever it takes for family in Elena, or a family taking on a corrupt mayor in Leviathan. Stark and stunning from start to finish, Loveless is no different. Here, a squabbling couple on the brink of divorce discover that their largely neglected 12-year-old son has gone missing — and there's no one like Zvyagintsev at taking an already tense and heartbreaking situation into formally composed, emotionally brutal, absolutely astonishing territory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0tsu0UaTk0 THAT'S NOT ME Some of the best comedies find their laughs from relatable drama. And, while we all haven't watched our twin sister live out our wildest dreams of becoming a successful actor (and date Jared Leto), we have seen hopes and wishes fall by the wayside, taken leaps of faith that haven't paid out, and had to redefine our idea of a happy ending. That's the tale of low-budget Aussie comedy That's Not Me, the first feature from writer/director Gregory Erdstein and writer/star Alice Foulcher, and an earnest, astute, insightful and thoroughly amusing exploration of making it, faking it and the fact that life usually exists somewhere in between. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hKtgrj7UXo GRADUATION Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu has proven a Cannes Film Festival favourite — if he's not winning the Palme d'Or for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, he's nabbing best screenplay for Beyond the Hills, and best director for Graduation. One of the key talents in the Romanian new wave, his acclaim is justified, as the latter demonstrates. Delving into the consequences of a fateful act and the decisions that follow, he chronicles a hardworking doctor's attempts to ensure that his daughter gets into university, exposing the horrors of real life — the unfairness, the corruption, the compromises and the sacrifices — in the process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqIXtTZNnck THE WAY STATION Award-winning Vietnamese actress Pham Thi Hong Anh turns director with The Way Station, making her helming debut with a passion project about an isolated restaurant. Lives intertwine, problems coincide and a love triangle springs as the handy-with-a-knife Phuoc wanders into the eatery, then finds himself both employed and living in the same space as his boss's family. The film won best feature, actor and cinematography at this year's ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards, and is also in the running at the Brisbane-based Asia Pacific Screen Awards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no-aseDD2Z0 MANIFESTO Cate Blanchett was already won two Oscars and a whole host of other acting awards, however she's deserving of many, many more for her work in Manifesto. The formidable Aussie talent plays no fewer than 12 roles for German artist and filmmaker Julian Rosefeldt, with each of her characters spouting a political, social or artistic creed within their ordinary lives. If the fact that this was originally designed as a gallery installation doesn't give it away, then the precise framing and composition will — this is an art film through and through. It might test some viewers' patience, but it's also a unique piece of cinema determinedly endeavouring to provoke and challenge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NRXPSBycy0 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL Long after we're all gone, Takashi Miike will probably still be alive — and still be making movies. The prolific and provocative Japanese director has done everything from unnerving horror to superhero comedy to ultraviolent crime to a film about ninja kids on his resume (and much, much, much more), and he's simply not stopping. With swords flying, samurais fighting and carnage swelling, Blade of the Immortal is his 100th directorial effort, telling of a blade-wielding mercenary who cannot be killed. A word of warning for those new to Miike's inimitable antics: expect a bloodbath and then some. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BncEmI_OXx4 THE GO-BETWEENS: RIGHT HERE They're the Brisbane band so iconic, we've named a bridge after them — and whether you're a lifelong fan going round and round through the streets of your town, or have always wondered what the South Brisbane-to-Milton structure was all about, The Go-Betweens: Right Here has the answers (about the group, not the toll roadway.) Making his third film in less than a year, Red Dog: True Blue and Australia Day director Kriv Stenders weaves the tale of the band that leapt from the University of Queensland to the top of the international music scene, with plenty of archival footage, an ace soundtrack (obviously), and candid interviews from The Go-Betweens' current members. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCgM2IsnwOM FUN MOM DINNER Fun Mom Dinner takes an ace cast (including Toni Collette, Molly Shannon, Adam Scott and Paul Rudd), an Aussie director (first-timer, Jungleboys signing and former Tropfest winner Alethea Jones, who is next set to helm the live-action Barbie flick), a carload of inappropriate gags, a heap of heart and a '99 Luftballoons' karaoke singalong, and turns it into a frank and funny girls-night-out comedy. And if you feel like you've seen this before, and recently, don't worry: the terrible Rough Night, this definitely isn't. Ignore the not-so-ace title and settle in for a spirited, sometimes silly effort filled with great performances, moments and banter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=9xyoKq6_3HY NAMATJIRA PROJECT Australia has long been filled with talented folks. And, at the moment, we're increasingly filled with documentaries celebrating that fact. Hot on the heels of docos about Brett Whitely, Anthony Lister, Dr G Yunupingu and more, Namatjira Project sets its sights on Indigenous art pioneer Albert Namatjira, however this isn't just a life-and-times type run through of his career and impact. Filmmaker Sera Davies directs her focus towards his family's long and ongoing battle to reclaim the copyright behind his pieces, which was sold by the Australian government in the '80s, and therefore get back an important part of their culture and heritage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx5EfTvQc0w RETURNEE It's not every day that you get to see a Kazakh film on a big screen. And no, the Sacha Baron Cohen comedy you're thinking about definitely doesn't count. Far, far removed from Borat's outlandish antics, Returnee takes its title from the term used to describe Kazakhstan residents who have moved back to the country since its 1991 independence. In a measured drama filled with striking imagery, director Sabit Kurmanbekov examines the events that follow when an Afghanistan-raised family is finally able to head home. Eager for a few more picks? We have you covered. As well as being keen for Patti Cakes when it played Sundance, Song to Song at SXSW, Wonderstruck at Cannes and Happy End in general, we saw and loved The Party and On Body and Soul at Berlinale. Plus, we enjoyed Ali's Wedding and The Square at the Sydney Film Festival, and My Life as a Zucchini at the Gold Coast Film Festival as well. And then there's Faces Places and In This Corner of the World, two of our must-see selections from the Melbourne International Film Festival. The 2017 Brisbane International Film Festival runs from August 17 to September 3. To view the complete program and grab tickets, visit the BIFF website.
Sometimes, you need to take a break from your city, to get out and soak up the sun somewhere new. The sun-plenty city of Sydney is the perfect destination, it's bursting with beaches where you can ride the waves, catch some rays and let your worries dissipate. But you don't want to get stuck visiting the same old tourist traps, beaches with screaming kids, expensive eats and way too many people. Instead, an excellent option is to visit one of Sydney's incredible harbour beaches. Usually far more serene and less populated, with excellent views and (sometimes) more parking, these coves are Sydney's hidden havens. To help you out, we've partnered with Qantas and curated a list of the best harbour beaches in Sydney. Perfect for a date, a picnic or even some topless baking. Get away from everything loud and crowded, relax, and make the most of your Sydney escape. [caption id="attachment_598328" align="alignnone" width="1280"] via Flickr.[/caption] CAMP COVE The parking at the easternmost edge of the Eastern Suburbs can be a bit of a drag on a hot day, but if you pray to your parking angel you'll find somewhere eventually. It's worth the frustration, as this laid-back beach is big enough to have a social vibe (there always seems to be a lot of good-looking people here) and the lack of waves means you can bob in the water and still chat to a friend. There's a little kiosk selling snacks and sorbet in coconut shells, too. If you're brave (and skilled) you can do the big jump off the rock on the right like a bona fide Sydneysider. [caption id="attachment_598329" align="alignnone" width="1280"] via Flickr.[/caption] LITTLE CONGWONG BEACH If you want to beach like a real local, head to this pretty place in Botany Bay for a spot of 'clothing-optional' sunbaking. It's usually pretty quiet so you can avoid any potentially awkward encounters. If the thought of getting your togs off makes you blanch, just next door is Congwong Beach, where you won't be the odd one out if you're a strictly clothes-on type of person. [caption id="attachment_598331" align="alignnone" width="1280"] via Flickr.[/caption] BALMORAL BEACH You've probably heard of Manly, given the chance any Sydneysider will proudly talk about the beach. You may not have heard of Manly's little sister, Balmoral. Smaller and more romantic, it has a lovely sleepy vibe despite it's popularity. Have a long lunch at the famed Sydney institution Public Dining Room and float it off in the cooler hours of the afternoon. MILK BEACH This sandy cove is hidden behind Strickland House in Vaucluse — one of Sydney's fanciest suburbs. It's a short, steep walk down the driveway and across the lawn, but the views of Opera House and Harbour Bridge are well worth it. Be sure to snap a few pics and populate your Insta feed to make all your friends back at home super jealous. [caption id="attachment_538469" align="alignnone" width="1280"] via Flickr.[/caption] CURRAWONG BEACH If you've made the trip to Sydney, it's worth that little bit of extra effort to get to Currawong beach. It can only be accessed by boat, so jump on the ferry at Palm Beach ('Summer Bay' for you Home and Away fans) and prepare for a phone and internet-free 48 hours. There are no shops so bring food and water with you and stay at one of the cottages for a full-blown Sydney experience. You'll be able to deal with the worst Bondi Road traffic jam with a blissful smile on your return. LADY MARTIN'S BEACH Lady Martin's is the beachside backyard of Sydney's very, very rich — the surrounding suburb, Point Piper, is one of the most expensive places in the world to live. If you want to pretend one of Sydney's millionaires for the day and rub shoulders with Malcolm Turnball and Frank Lowy, then wear your darkest sunglasses and say "dahhling" at the end of every sentence and you'll fit right in on this quiet strip. Entry is via a narrow lane off Wolseley Road that passes by the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club. [caption id="attachment_598357" align="alignnone" width="1280"] via Flickr.[/caption] STORE BEACH If your keen for an outdoor adventure on your mini-holiday, hire a kayak from Manly Kayaks and paddle around to this little beach (it can only be reached by water) for a picnic. Lay back, let the stresses of back home float away, and enjoy this little slice of paradise. If you're lucky, you'll see some fairy penguins. [caption id="attachment_598333" align="alignnone" width="1280"] via Flickr.[/caption] NIELSEN PARK Sydney beaches need not be compared with their foreign counterparts because it's only a slight exaggeration to say we have the best in the world. However, I can't help thinking that Nielsen Park reminds me of the Mediterranean coast. Maybe it's the amazing aqua colour of the water or the stained glass windows of the restaurant. It can get a little noisy with all the kids that are usually there but there is a large, leafy park surrounding the beach which you can escape into to eat your ice cream in peace. DAROOK PARK BEACH If you feel like a spot of solo fishing, try Darook Park Beach in the Shire — you might just catch yourself a flathead. There are onsite toilets and picnic shelters, making it perfect for a day-long escape. Once you've finished at the beach, drop into the sun-drenched hotspot Henrys Cronulla and enjoy a tipple with the Sydney locals. [caption id="attachment_570643" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Danny Butler.[/caption] LITTLE SIRIUS COVE A small stretch of sand surrounded by bushland, this beach has a unique feature — dogs are allowed. So if you're missing your pupper from back home, head down (after grabbing a coffee at Bacino Bar) and spend the day among some new four-legged friends. Pack some snags to cook on the BBQs provided and bask in Sydney's unparalleled beachside beauty. Ready to get away and experience Sydney? Book with Qantas for great fares to Sydney and NSW until 24 September. Terms and conditions apply. Top image: Eddie Milfort.
Come July, Brisbanites can knock back cocktails at a gin-soaked high tea, taste creations from the city's next breed of culinary wizards, and dine under the stars at Eagle Street Pier, all thanks to one event. That's right, Good Food Month is back from July 9 - August 9. Gird your stomachs, and prepare to go gaga over gastronomy. To help keep you from going wild and eating yourself to death, here are our picks for the ten tastiest Good Food Month events. Tuck in.
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 7, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its third year running. Last year, 415 cafes and 20 coffee roasters raised $120,000 to fund 91 community projects. Not too shabby. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 7 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. CafeSmart is happening around the country on Friday, August 7. Check the website for participating cafes near you. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Fair is foul and foul is fair, and both words can be applied to the harrowing new film adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Foul in that Australian director Justin Kurzel evokes the pervasive bleakness and epic tragedy of the source material in a manner that few other screen adaptations have ever managed. And fair in that the film's hypnotic aesthetic, along with the incredible work of its cast, ensures that it will be remembered as one of the most awe-inspiring movies of the year. Fans of local cinema may remember Kurzel's name from his debut feature, Snowtown, which hit cinemas back in 2011. Based on a notorious South Australian murder case, the film's immaculate craftsmanship is matched only by its repellent content — it's the kind of movie critics appreciate and admire but find almost impossible to recommend. Either way, it could hardly have been a better audition piece for a director looking to tackle what is arguably one of Shakespeare's grimmest plays. Plenty of talented filmmakers — including Orson Welles, Roman Polanski and Akira Kurosawa — have made adaptations of the Scottish play, but rarely has the dialogue sounded darker or more enthralling. It helps that Kurzel has recruited two of the greatest actors alive in his quest to bring literature's ultimate power couple to life. Michael Fassbender is magnetic as the eponymous Scottish thane, a good man brought low by his own overleaping ambition. His whispered delivery in the film's early scenes brings the audience in on his character's moral misgivings. Yet it is his work in the second half, as Macbeth descends rapidly into cruel, paranoid madness, that will stick with viewers for days. Marion Cotillard, meanwhile, is steely-eyed and silver-tongued as Macbeth's conniving lady wife — and like Fassbender, she saves her best work for the back end. Kurzel shoots Lady Macbeth's famous "Out, damned spot!" scene in a single unbroken close-up, and it proves to be a very smart choice. Think Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables. Minus the singing. But while Macbeth contains no shortage of great acting moments in which the cast get to bear their soul for the camera, there is nothing remotely stagey about Kurzel's adaptation. From the opening frame to the close, his stylistic fingerprints are all over this film, and the results are absolutely magnificent. The selective employment of slow motion and evocative use of colour — along with the imposing images of the Scottish landscape captured by cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, and the haunting score of droning strings by Kurzel's brother Jed — make this unquestionably one of the most cinematic Shakespeare adaptations ever put to screen. It's as compelling in its moments without dialogue as it is when the characters are speaking. So heavy is the atmosphere that the film feels almost like a nightmare; one in which you're slowly being smothered and from which you cannot seem to wake. Now you may not think all this sounds like a particularly pleasant viewing experience, and to be honest you'd be right. Kurzel, to his credit as an artist, never attempts to make the film more palatable for a mainstream audience. Despite the period setting, the grizzly violence and the power plays, this is not Game of Thrones. It's a hard watch. A gruelling watch. But it's also an intensely rewarding one. All hail Macbeth.
Earlier in 2018, a massive change was announced for this year's Brisbane International Film Festival, with the festival heading to the Gallery of Modern Art for the next three years. With its previously revealed October berth fast approaching, further details have been unveiled for this year's fest — namely its specific dates and broader range of venues, as well as its opening night film and a retrospective series. While the South Brisbane gallery's Australian Cinémathèque will present and host the event from October 11–21 (and in 2019 and 2020 as well), BIFF will also take place at a range of cinemas around town. Cinephiles can expect to catch the festival's program of more than 100 films at Event Cinemas Myer Centre, New Farm Cinemas, the Elizabeth Picture Theatre and Reading Cinemas at Newmarket, with events also at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Powerhouse and the State Library of Queensland. As for what'll be screening, the full lineup won't be announced until mid-September; however the fest will open with the north Queensland-shot Celeste, which was directed by Brisbane-born filmmaker Ben Hackworth, stars Radha Mitchell and is set in the rainforest splendour of the Innisfail region. Across this year's BIFF, it'll be joined by a selection of movies either involving or considered inspiring by festival patrons Bruce Beresford and Sue Milliken — who've worked together on a number of titles, including this year's Ladies in Black, and will also feature in an in-conversation session about their careers. Retrospective screenings will include key films that Beresford has directed, as well features he's specifically enjoyed, such as 1928's The Passion of Joan of Arc, 1947's Odd Man Out and and 1995's Casino. Elsewhere, a curated series will explore current ideas from Iranian, Asian, and African filmmakers, while other sessions will come with live music, conversations, panel discussions. Of course, whatever else ends up on BIFF's screens, 2018's festival marks a landmark year after a period of significant upheaval and uncertainty for Brisbane's major government-supported festival. It was first run from 1992 to 2013, then cancelled in favour of the short-lived Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival between 2014 to 2016, which was also axed after a three-year stint. BIFF was brought back in 2017 via Palace Cinemas, but when that decision received criticism — both for awarding the festival exclusively to one commercial operator, and for doing so without calling for tenders from other interested parties — funding body Screen Queensland opened the event to submissions, with GOMA emerging victorious. The 2018 Brisbane International Film Festival will take place from October 11–21 at the Gallery of Modern Art, Event Cinemas Myer Centre, New Farm Cinemas, the Elizabeth Picture Theatre, Reading Cinemas Newmarket, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Powerhouse and the State Library of Queensland. The full program and tickets will be released in mid-September — visit the GOMA website for further details.
Vivid Ideas is bringing innovative humans from all over the world to Sydney stages. Championing change-making creative voices, you can hear Troye Sivan explore beauty and fluidity, delve into the experiences of those who were raised in cults with filmmaker Sarah Steel or listen as experts discuss the ethics and potential ramifications of a future reliant on artificial intelligence and QR codes. Joining a lineup that's not lacking a lick in talent is Gretchen Carlson in conversation with Lisa Wilkinson. The prolific journalists and media personalities will dissect power (specifically the fallout when it's out of balance), toxic workplace culture and finding the courage to expose wrongdoing. As well, the pair discuss the intricacies of what's needed to make it easier for people to come forward after experiencing sexual assault. In 2016, Carlson — the highly respected and acclaimed US journalist and ex-Fox News anchor — successfully sued Fox founder and CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. This win, which inspired 2019's Bombshell, saw Carlson receive an unprecedented apology and settlement. The landmark case laid the foundation for the #MeToo movement's catapult to the global consciousness, as well as take down a predator who was in a position of immense power. [caption id="attachment_813274" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivid Sydney 2019, Destination NSW[/caption] Bound by an NDA, Carlson has tirelessly fought to break the culture of silence and remove protections from perpetrators — working to ban NDAs, enact legislative change and encourage survivors to share their experiences of harassment (which has resulted in the most significant changes to labour laws — passed by Joe Biden in March, 2022 — in over 100 years). The trailblazer was also named in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World (2017). With a social climate that's been immersed in the courage of those sharing their stories of trauma in the quest for justice and a safer existence — the Grace Tames, the Brittany Higgins, the Saxon Mullins — the pair will discuss the shifting media and legal landscapes both here and in the US. They will look at what still needs to change so survivors are encouraged to draw upon reserves of bravery and resilience to keep pushing forward — for the good of others, for safer communities and to upend the status quo. Sydney's Town Hall will host Gretchen Carlson and Lisa Wilkinson on Speaking Out on Sunday, May 29 at 1pm. Head to the website for details. Top image: Destination NSW
Five generations back, the Hamilton family planted some of the first vineyards in South Australia. It was 1837, a mere year after the arrival of European settlers in the state, and to this day they continue to produce top-quality, award-winning wine under the name Hugh Hamilton Wines. Mary Hamilton, Hugh Hamilton’s daughter, has been the CEO for the last seven years and explains that her father has always been considered the black sheep of the Hamilton flock. “He was a very spirited young boy and got up to a fair bit of mischief," she says. "He was never going to be corralled into anything and has always remained an elusive character.” Hugh’s lively sense of humour and his ability to march to the beat of his own drum has never wavered, so it makes sense then that the wines have names such as The Scallywag Chardonnay and The Scoundrel Tempranillo. Quality, flavoursome wine is the number one priority for Hugh Hamilton Wines and they have ensured this by sourcing grapes from their three vineyards. McLaren Vale hosts perfect conditions for ripening grapes and viticulture, as it’s located between the Adelaide Hills and the coast. “Most people are not aware of this, but McLaren Vale has the most diverse geology of any wine region in the world,” explains Hamilton. Each of the three vineyards have very different soil types which greatly influence the flavour of the grapes, from the black clay at their cellar door vineyard, producing darker-style shiraz (think bitter dark chocolate and black olives) to their next vineyard 500 meters down the road that produces more red-fruit flavours due to a different soil type and climate. Hamilton refers to this as their "big comfortable red velvet chair" with a generous and juicy yield. As part of the FreeWines app, Hugh Hamilton Wines have contributed two of their expert drops; 'The Trickster' Pinot Grigio and 'The Rascal' Shiraz. The Trickster is made from grapes sourced from the Adelaide Hills and came about due to Hugh’s love of freshly shucked oysters and his desire to create a wine that would pair with it perfectly. Described as “racy, upbeat and brisk,” Hamilton would recommend pairing this wine with seafood dishes such as salt and pepper squid, prawns and, of course, fresh oysters. The Rascal, described as “the quintessential McLaren Vale Shiraz, with lots of fruit ripeness but also elegance,” goes beautifully with a scotch fillet or beef casserole. When it comes to selecting a wine for herself, Mary is often influenced by her mood first, rather than having a constant go-to drop. At the moment Hamilton is particularly taken with the medium-bodied 'The Mongrel' Sangiovese, “It’s got lots of lovely, juicy cherry-flavoured fruit, and it tends to be a great partner with the food I cook, which is often Mediterranean or Middle Eastern.”
Get the bacon and whisky ready, and prepare your ears for some high-pitched laughter. They're the only things you can do — other than start making your own canoe, and generally squealing with glee — upon hearing the news that Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally are coming to Australia in early 2016. That's right, the dream off-screen duo — aka Parks and Recreation's on-screen Ron and Tammy Swanson — are bringing their latest comedy tour to our sunny shores for the first time ever. Just take a moment to let that sink in. Ron effing Swanson will be in the country. Offerman and Mullally's show, Summer of 69: No Apostrophe, will not only showcase their comic stylings but also delve into the inner workings of their long-term marriage. Given that there may not be a showbiz duo more in love than the pair — who've also featured on Will & Grace, Childrens Hospital, Smashed, Somebody Up There Likes Me, The Kings of Summer and Bob's Burgers together — exposing all the salacious details of their fiery union for the world to enjoy promises to be something special. Mullally describes Summer of 69 as "like comedic sex-ed" and "a variety show comprised of talking, singing and sex acts", in case you needed any more convincing. It also features "songs, funny talking, heavy ribaldry, light petting and an astonishing final act of completion". Consider us excited. SUMMER OF 69: NO APOSTROPHE DATES January 29 — State Theatre, Sydney January 30 — Theatre Royal, Hobart January 31 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne February 2 — Astor Theatre, Perth February 4 — Festival Theatre, Adelaide February 6 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday, August 27, via Live Nation. UPDATE DECEMBER 21, 2015: Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally's Summer of 69: No Apostrophe show will be replaced by Offerman's solo show Full Bush. Mullally is no longer able to tour early next year as she starts a major film production overlapping directly with her Australian dates. There are no changes to the current tour dates, times or venues. Tickets for each show will remain valid for the new performance — Nick Offerman’s Full Bush show — without the need for exchange. For patrons who are no longer able to attend, a refund is available at point of purchase. Refund requests must be submitted prior to 5pm, January 19, 2016.
When it comes to lining Fortitude Valley with new eateries, King Street is the revamped inner-city space that keeps on giving. The stretch of roadway between Gregory Terrace and St Paul's Terrace has already welcomed The George Bar and Bistro, GG Espresso and Fat Dumpling, announced that Italian restaurant Il Verde and Greek-focused The Lamb Shop will be joining them, and unveiled plans for a new creative and dining precinct. Now, they're adding Brisbane's first Sushi & Nori and a Korean fried chicken van to the mix. Both arrive courtesy of restauranteur Sunny Lim, who is expanding an existing venture and debuting a new one with her King Street stores. First up, Sushi & Nori will see executive chef Leo Park running the kitchen. The Kaiseki sushi train will feature simple, natural dishes, including the delicious-sounding truffle tuna tartare, within a restaurant decked out to nod to traditional Japanese architecture and evoke a tea-room feel. The best part: it's now open. In the latter's case, prepare to greet Hello Chicken with an eager smile and a hungry stomach when they start cooking up fried chicken, Korean-style, from a Kombi van. Food-wise, they'll be serving special recipes such soy and garlic, 'snow cheese', carbonara and crazy hot chilli, and cranking out tunes. And, their juicy chook pieces will also be available to takeaway, although hanging around and soaking up Brissie's newest dining destination is definitely recommended. For more information about King Street, visit the precinct's website and Facebook page.
Throw those GoPros, bubble bottles and novelty gumboots in your rucksack, Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year of festival merriment. As usual, speculation has run wild in anticipation of the lineup announce — will Kendrick and the Arctic Monkeys make an appearance? Will there by more than three females on the lineup? — but the details for Splendour 2018 are finally here. And we're happy to report that some of the rumours were true. There will be no Arctic Monkeys, but King Kunta himself, Kendrick Lamar, will be Splendouring. The lineup also doesn't state that Splendour is his only show, so stay tuned for news of a national tour (hopefully). The other huge name is Lorde, who will be doing her only Oz show at the Parklands — better get practising that 'Green Light' hair flip now. She leads a female contingent — that is kick-ass but still nowhere near as big as the pool of male performers — which includes Amy Shark, the Lauren Mayberry-led Chvrches, Sampa The Great, Alex Lahey, Jack River, Anna Lunoe, Stella Donnelly, female four-piece All Our Exes Live in Texas and Wafia. Also doing their only Australian shows at Splendour will be Vampire Weekend, Khalid and Girl Talk. The lineup seems to go on forever, including The Wombats, Gang of Youths, Franz Ferdinand, Superorganism and MGMT. Anyway, we know what you're here for. We'll cut to the chase. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2018 LINEUP Kendrick Lamar Lorde (only AUS show) Vampire Weekend (only AUS show) Khalid (only AUS show) The Wombats Hilltop Hoods Chvrches Miguel Girl Talk (only AUS show) Angus & Julia Stone Gang of Youths Franz Ferdinand MGMT Ben Howard Dune Rats & Friends James Bay PNAU Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite The Avalanches DJ set Chromeo DMA'S Ball Park Music Henry Rollins (only AUS show) SAFIA The Jungle Giants Lil Xan Methyl Ethel Amy Shark The Bronx Ocean Alley Carmada (L D R U & Yahtzel) DZ Deathrays Lord Huron Middle Kids Hockey Dad Towkio Cub Sport Touch Sensitive Sampa The Great Dean Lewis Skegss Albert Hammond Jr Mallrat Marmozets Alex Lahey Riton & Kah-Lo Jack River Superorganism Anna Lunoe Lewis Capaldi All Our Exes Live In Texas Alex The Astronaut Yungblud Crooked Colours Nina Las Vegas Soccer Mommy (only AUS show) Elderbrook Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Tim Sweeney Stella Donnelly Bully Baker Boy Wafia No Mono Waax Angie McMahon West Thebarton Eves Karydas G Flip The Babe Rainbow Haiku Hands Didirri Alice Ivy Amyl & The Sniffers Ziggy Ramo Fantastic Man Lo'99 Human Movement Manu Crook$ Kasbo Madam X Andras Alta Ara Koufax Two People B Wise Made In Paris Jensen Interceptor Woodes Teischa Antony & Cleopatra Muto Elk Road triple j Unearthed winners (TBA) Mike Gurrieri Love Deluxe Lauren Hansom Poolclvb Godlands Nyxen Emma Stevenson Ebony Boadu Splendour will return to North Byron Parklands on Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July. Onsite camping will once again be available from Wednesday, July 18. Image: Justin Ma.
Shopping for wine can be a complicated, overwhelming experience. There are often just too many shelves, labels, varieties and styles to choose from. When you don't know a lot about wine (or even when you do), picking a good bottle is a difficult job. We asked sommelier and wine expert Eddie Schweitzer from online wine store Vinomofo for some advice. How do you find out what style of wine you like? How do you get a decent bottle at a reasonable price? When is a bottle worth more than $100? And most importantly, should I be swirling the glass? Hi Eddie, I know nothing about wine — how do I shop for it? "Taste a few wines until you find a region or variety that you know you like, then take little steps to try new things. If you like a Pinot or a lighter-bodied red, ask the bottle shop what other wines they have in that style. If you can find somebody in a good wine store that you trust, that's fantastic because you can ask them for advice. Don't just go in and say, 'I want a good wine at this price,' or just buy what's on special for the sake of it — work with what you know you like." How do I buy a decent, relatively cheap bottle? "Australian consumers are shy of blends for some reason, we really like having one variety on the label. But often at a lower price point, you can get much better wine that's a blend of different varieties. A GSM — a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre — is a fantastic, crowd-pleasing, easy drinking wine that a lot of people don't pick up because they think winemakers are just putting the cheap bits together, but that's very rarely the case. Steer away from anything that says 'Wine of Australia' or 'Wine of South Eastern Australia' because Southern New South Wales all the way through to South Australia is a big area. It's big, bulk wine that's very commercial. Instead, get a wine that has a specific region. If you like bigger, richer reds, go for a wine from a warmer climate region. Lighter-bodied reds, like a Pinot, should be coming from a cooler climate region." Is bulk wine automatically of poorer quality? "It doesn't mean it's not a good quality wine, but people drink wine because it has personality. That's what makes wine different from a VB or a Carlton, it's talking about a vintage or a specific place. If you buy bulk wine, it could be fine, but it will usually be pretty boring and bland. A $6 bottle might be fruity and drinkable, but it's not going to give you much of an experience. We don't sell anything 'Wine of Australia' because it usually lacks any interesting flavour." What's worth paying a little more for? "Pinots and Chardonnay are only made well in cool climates, are a little harder to grow and are in high demand. If you want a good bottle of either of these types you'll have to spend a little more — probably about $15-25. Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz on the other hand is made in much bigger volume, and has a lower production cost, so you can get a good value wine in a lower price range." When is a bottle of wine worth more than $100? "There are a few things that can make a bottle of wine expensive. The first is the cost of production. Some wines are expensive because the vines only produce a few grapes, and the grapes are really sought after. Other production costs like how long it spends in oak and how long it's aged for can affect the price. Tasmanian wine tends to be a little bit dearer, because they don't produce a lot of grapes, and they're doing great things with food and wine at the moment so they're in demand. You'll spend a little bit more, but whether it's worth it or not is up to you." So if I buy a Pinot Noir in Tasmania that costs $100, and one in South Australia for $30, there's no guarantee that the more expensive option is going to be better? "No. It's about the enjoyment you get out of the bottle, not the price. At Vinomofo we're all about connecting people to really good wine, and good wine is personal. First and foremost, it's about what you find enjoyable to drink." I'm scared of wine tastings — how do I do one properly? "When I taste wine, I'm tasting it so I can describe it to people, so I'm paying attention to acid levels and alcohol percentage and other things. But you should be just smelling and tasting the wine to see if you enjoy it. Most of your perception of flavour comes through smell. Your brain puts the smell and taste of the wine together and decides if you like it or not. Have a smell, and a taste and think 'Hey, do I like this? Or don't I like this?' Then you can ask, 'Why do I like this? What is it about this wine that I'm liking?' Maybe it's a little bit lighter, or fruitier, or maybe it's got this really interesting herbal flavour. Or maybe it has something that you don't like. The more you pay attention to what you're tasting and what you like, the easier it will be to shop for wine." Should I be swirling the glass? "Yes. While the wine is in the bottle think of it like it's in bed, asleep. Giving it a swirl is like throwing it in the shower and waking it up, so then it can really come to the party and let you know what it's all about. On a technical level, by taking the wine out of the bottle and swirling the glass you're exposing the wine to oxygen, which releases the aroma of the wine. Then you can taste the wine properly." Any final advice? "Wine is a very personal thing. Just because someone says a wine is really good, that doesn't mean you're going to like it. Get a mixed case from Vinomofo and sample a bunch of different wines to find out what you like. Don't be scared to ask for advice — ask someone at a boutique bottle shop, or give us a call and tell us what you like and what you don't and we'll help you out." Visit Vinomofo and delve into a world of wine. Use the code 'CONCRETEPLAYGROUND' at checkout to receive $25 off your first order. Images: Chris Middleton.
Heading out to play board games while drinking beer is a fairly common prospect these days, but drinking and enjoying a round of BASEketball — well, that's not quite so usual. If you watched Trey Parker and Matt Stone's movie many moons ago and have always wanted to give it a try, now's your chance. The action all happens at Ploughman, with the Alderley joint serving up the game in question, hip hop and craft beverages for your afternoon pleasure on March 11. Bobbing for pickles is also part of the fun. No, this isn't your same old, same old kind of event. Image: Theresa Grace for Ploughman.
Sydney has Mardi Gras, Melbourne has Midsumma, and now Brisbane finally has its own celebration of queer arts and culture to add a bit of dazzle to the warmer months. Come February 5, the Brisbane Powerhouse will stage the first-ever MELT festival, focusing on LGBTIQ performance, art, music and film. After kicking off with what promises to be a huge — and free — opening night party, MELT will combine comedy, cabaret, circus and more over 11 days of fun. It may be the event’s inaugural year, but there are plenty of things to see — starting with our top picks.
It's the main reason most of Brisbane has made their way to Good Food Month over the last couple of years, and in 2016, the ever-popular Night Noodle Markets are back — and they're bigger and better than ever. Sure, every event says that these days. However, when 25 different food stalls take over the South Bank Cultural Forecourt for 12 days of Asian-inspired eating delights, that claim seems pretty accurate. Among the spoils will be Sydney's Black Star Pastry's famous strawberry watermelon cake, and Harajuku Gyoza will be bring their take on the famous clear raindrop cake to the food free-for-all for the first time. Come for the likes of Pasar Malam's pork belly satay slider on a black bun, and stay for the vibrant, delicious atmosphere.
If you've been searching for a supportive environment to use the phrase, "How very droll," listen up. NPR humorist, bestselling author and creator of uncomfortably real windows into human existence David Sedaris is coming back to Australia. Returning for a national tour in January 2016, the beloved American humour writer will bring his trademark sardonic wit and social critique to the stage for An Evening with David Sedaris, his third tour to Australia. Celebrated for his constant This American Life appearances, must-read pieces in The New Yorker and his unputdownable books Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames and his most recent book, Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls, Sedaris is no stranger to telling it like it is — and don't expect our own country to get away unscrutinised. "I love the airports of Australia," says Sedaris. "Security wise, they’re like stepping into a time machine and coming out in 1975. No one yells at you, you get to keep your shoes on. It’s heaven. Coming from the UK, I also appreciate how open the people are, how willing to talk about money. ‘How much did your house cost?’ I ask. ‘How much do you make per year?’ In Europe people pass out when you ask that question, but in Australia, they just jump right in and answer." Sedaris's last Australian tours sold out quicksmart, so you're going to want to lock these down when they're on sale 9am August 14. AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS TOUR DATES: January 17 — Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Tickets via ticketek.com.au. January 18 and 19 — Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall. Tickets via sydneyoperahouse.com. January 20 — Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane. Tickets via ticketek.com.au January 21 and 22 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne. Tickets via artscentremelbourne.com.au. January 23 — Theatre Royal, Hobart, Tickets via theatreroyal.com.au. January 24 — Octagon Theatre, Perth. Tickets via ticketswa.com. Tickets on sale 9am Friday, August 14. Image: Anna Fishbein.
To get a sense of Benedict Cumberbatch's Dr Stephen Strange, first picture in your mind Hugh Laurie's character from House. Tall and lanky, with a gravelly voice begging to be coughed into clarity and an unyielding arrogance that offends all who meet him, House is the super surgeon whose primary demon is his crippling fear of failure. To get, then, from House to Strange, just add a pinch of traumatic injury, mix in some eastern healing and meditation, and serve it up with a magical cape and the ability to manipulate space and time. Okay, yes, that's quite a leap, but as a departure from the last thirteen superhero flicks from Marvel Studios, Doctor Strange is as refreshing as it is successful. Strange's transformation from surgeon to sorcerer is an altogether conventional one – a Matrix-style 'forget everything you know' sequence comprised of training, studying and martial arts under the guidance of a mystical Tibetan monk named The Ancient One (a fantastic turn by Tilda Swinton). Driven by a solipsistic determination to heal his wounded hands, Strange's focus slowly shifts to larger matters – chiefly, saving the world – as his psychadellic journey of discovery reveals a multiverse of infinite possibilities and supernatural threats that only sorcerers can repel. As one character explains, the Avengers deal with threats on earth, but threats to the earth? That's where these guys come in. Like Ant-Man before it, Doctor Strange offers a more intimate, individual tale compared to the ensemble juggernauts of The Avengers and Captain America. That's not to say it's a small-scale production, however. Visually, this is Inception dialled up to eleven, a world-bending, shape-shifting and time-distorting Escher painting filled with heroes and villains duelling over the possibility of immortality. As always, there are Marvel's well-timed comic touches, as well as a pair of end-credit scenes (so do stay through to the very end for a hint as to Strange's next villain). A solid supporting cast boasts Rachel McAdams as Strange's love interest, Chiwetel Ejiofor as his sparring partner and Mads Mikkelsen sadly under-utilised as something of a two-dimensional villain. Wordier and more offbeat than the standard Marvel fare, Doctor Strange nonetheless rightly and proudly earns its place in the franchise's extraordinary universe, offering a visual feast unlike anything else seen this year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSzx-zryEgM
Fuzzy's national electronic-meets-hip hop festival Listen Out is back for another round and this year's lineup is a humdinger, topped by California's inimitable Anderson .Paak, with his live band The Free Nationals. He's joined by UK beatsmiths Gorgon City, big trap fiend Baauer, AV-happy producer Claptone live, Harlem Trap Lord A$AP Ferg, LA young gun Jauz, grime newcomer Stormzy, Swedish rap phenomenon Yung Lean and more. There's plenty of homegrown love on the bill this year, as always, with festival favourites Rüfüs marking their final Aussie shows of 2016, alongside the likes of Cosmo's Midnight, Ngaiire, L D R U, JOY, Sui Zhen and Willow Beats. Listen Out tours nationally to four of Australia's capitals, kicking off on September 24 and hitting Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane over two weekends. Tickets are on sale from midday on Thursday, June 23 from the Listen Out website. LISTEN OUT 2016 LINEUP: Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals A$AP Ferg Claptone Immortal Live Cosmo's Midnight Gorgon City DJ Set Baauer JAUZ JOY. L D R U Ngaiire Rüfüs Stormzy Sui Zhen DJ Set Tash Sultana Tchami Willow Beats Yung Lean LISTEN OUT 2016 DATES: MELBOURNE — Saturday, September 24 at Catani Gardens, St Kilda PERTH — Sunday, September 25 at Western Parklands, HBF Arena, Joondalup SYDNEY — Saturday, October 1 at Centennial Park BRISBANE — Sunday, October 2 at The Sporting Fields, Victoria Park All shows 1-10pm Image: Listen Out.
There are few places you can turn up for Friday knock-off drinks one night and be back the next morning for breakfast. And it will be there on that Friday, flicking through the leather-bound menu for cocktails or craft beers that your greedy eyes will spy a short but very sharp morning offering. More tempting than the mouth-watering yet simple combinations – such as 12-hour slow-cooked pulled pork – are the prices. Be sure to save your last $20 on Friday night as that's all you'll need to come away with a hangover-curing breakfast and salted caramel milkshake, with change to spare. Tucked away in South Bank next to the train station, but not on busy Grey St, Hoo Ha Bar is a polished but comfortable bar and cafe with an undeniably Australiana feel. The large space is filled with a mish-mash of of solid-wood tables and chairs and a set of brown leather sofas. The owners have sanded back many layer of paint to reveal brickwork behind the bar, one wall is painted a eucalypt green and native fresh flowers adorn each table. It's refreshing to find a bar that is spacious, filled with seating and plays music at just the right level, and great music at that. Hoo Ha boasts a fairly enviable cocktail list and we can tell you, first hand, that the Bison Shake is not to be missed. A mix of vodka, peach schnapps, apple juice, passionfruit puree and grapefruit bitters are shaken until foamy and served martini style. They have their own take on a few classics, and those with a penchant for an espresso martini should get their hands on the Cuban Espresso – rum, espresso shot, coffee liqueur, Angostura bitters and cinnamon syrup. They have a number of taps serving craft beers that rotate regularly, the current selection is updated on their website. Boozy nights call for a hearty breakfast to follow and if a fancy Mac 'n' Cheese won't do the trick, perhaps an eggs on toast stack will. Not to be called ordinary, Hoo Ha stacks rocket, a roasted field mushroom, haloumi, poached egg and homemade pesto on a slab of turkish toast for just $13. If vegetarian ain't your game, the aforementioned 12-hour slow-cooked pulled pork is served as a reuben sandwich on sourdough with house-made sauerkraut, gruyere and dijon, also $13, also out-of-this-world good. They serve Supreme Roasters coffee – a very smooth drop. And you mustn't, I repeat, must not leave Hoo Ha without having tried the salted caramel milkshake. They dust this beauty with cinnamon, it mightn't sound like much but it truly takes it to the next level.
Spotify had best watch its back, because there's a brand new music streaming service in town. Launching this week, BitTorrent Now is an Android and soon to be iOS and Apple TV app that lets users stream ad-supported music and video, with a special focus on curated content that might otherwise fly under the radar. While BitTorrent is probably best known as a way of sneakily pirating TV shows, the company has actually been helping artists distribute their work for years. Since launching their BitTorrent Bundle service in 2013, they've worked with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, comedian David Cross and countless other lesser-known filmmakers, musicians and miscellaneous creatives. Artists who make their work available via BitTorrent Now can choose whether or not they wish to participate in the ad program. If they opt not to, they can instead make their work available for purchase, or upload it for free without any ads whatsoever. According to the company, artists will receive 70 percent of revenue generated by ads on their videos, and 90 percent of revenue if they chose to place their content behind a paywall. BitTorrent will also make a concerted effort to curate content on the app, in order to help artists find an audience and vice versa. The app includes trending and new release sections, and allows users to build a list of favourites. Nothing too revolutionary — perhaps the most interesting thing about it is the focus on smaller artists, who'll hopefully be able to use the platform to make a name for themselves. No word yet on if/when BitTorrent Now will be available in Australia. Via Engadget.
Australians are notoriously picky when it comes to their daily coffee. But how many of us actually know how and why coffees can vary so much from place to place? Sure there's the skill of the barista, but it might be time to learn a bit more about the beans to inform our preferences. Here's a handy guide to coffee tasting, from what aromas to look for to how to drink better coffee in general. You'll be hosting your own coffee cupping sessions at home in no time — something you can even do with the humble coffee pod. [caption id="attachment_578979" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Daniel Ruswick.[/caption] WHY DO A COFFEE TASTING? Coffee cupping sessions are about educating people on the difference in beans. Where they're from, if they're single origin, how they're roasted and ground all contribute to a different product at the end of the line. Sam Gibson co-owner of Back and Forth cafe attends quarterly cupping sessions with his supplier Gabriel coffee. "Coffee tastings are important to identify the profile of the coffee, where it's from and how it's roasted determines the flavours which inform our choices of what to serve." Back and Forth has a house blend then a monthly single origin coffee it grinds freshly and sells to customers. Cupping sessions are also available and gaining popularity at places like Campos in Newtown and Rueben Hills in Surry Hills. DO'S AND DON'TS Don't do anything silly like brush your teeth just before doing a tasting. Cleanse the palate with sparkling water, that's not too cold between tasting. Don't swallow the coffee, but do leave it and swill it around your mouth a bit before spitting it out. Don't add sugar. When you're sipping, Gibson advises to take in a little bit of air with the mouthful, in the same way as when you're tasting wine. "It's really important as it gets the coffee to the back of the mouth and all over the tongue," he says. [caption id="attachment_578982" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Drew Coffman.[/caption] WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR "Aroma is really important and the first thing to be considered," says Gibson. Before tasting the coffee smell each one after the other and notice the difference. Then smell each one again just before you taste it. "Very roughly speaking the darker blends are better for milky coffees as they hold up with their more full bodied, bitter chocolatey characteristics." Lighter blends tend to be a bit more earthy, floral and citrusy which suit black coffee. When tasting the coffee think about characteristics beyond the actual flavour profiles like body, acidity, complexity, mouth feel and finish. Try to think of words that describe the flavours you're tasting, such as grassy, earthy. chocolatey, sharp, delicate, bitter, bold etc. COFFEE TASTING AT HOME With the rise in popularity of portable espresso machines at home, so too are people developing tastes for their favourite beans and blends in the pods. Australian startup company Tripod Coffee sources single origin and blended regional beans, then roasts and vacuum sealed locally to retain freshness. It might be an idea to get one of their sample packs, which has all five varieties from their spicy, savoury, cedar style 'Grey Gaucho' to their raisiny, citrusy and coco bean-esque 'Blue Beret'. Otherwise getting a small pack of a few different beans from a cafe, having them freshly ground and serving them French press style side by side, is a surprisingly good way to compare the characteristics of the beans. TIPS FOR DRINKING BETTER COFFEE Adding sugar is a real no-no for coffee purists. But knowing what kind of bean suits the way you drink your coffee (black, espresso or flat white, for instance) can help you make an educated choice to bring out the best in your coffee. Never keep coffee in the freezer at home, but tightly sealed somewhere dry. The best thing you can do is invest in a grinder and grind small quantities of beans as you make your coffee. And try as much coffee as you can — shake it up.
For decades, television screens have been filled with renovation shows. Every type of house has been transformed. However, no one on TV has ever tried to transform an East Brisbane basement into a work of art, without being able to paint anything, for only $500, and while making a political statement against Queensland's Homosexual Advance Defense at the same time. No, of course they haven't, but Ashgrove designer Kaylee Gannaway is going to try. At The Boy with the Rainbow Umbrella, expect astroturf, milk crates and a show that speaks out against injustice. Now that's a combination you don't see every day.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Brisbane is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the little things that bring that sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Brisbane. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, tee off at the Victoria Park Driving Range, step into the action-packed world of Marvel and do the time warp again with Dr. Frank N. Furter and the gang. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
Ever think about Brisbane's many, many pubs, bars and clubs, and realise that something's missing? No matter where you are in the city — and in most suburbs, too — there's no shortage of places for a pint. What you won't find among the array of watering holes, however, is a three-storey German-themed brewhouse. Well, you won't at the moment — but you will soon. Munich Brauhaus is bringing this exact kind of establishment to the Brissie drinking scene, with their first venture north of Sydney. And given that it'll feature five bars, 750 seats, a beer garden and a rooftop hangout space all in South Bank's heritage-listed Allgas Building, it's set to be massive. For those who haven't experienced Munich Brauhaus at The Rocks in Sydney or South Wharf in Melbourne, let us enlighten you with a few more details. As the name suggests, Munich-style shenanigans are the name of the game here, including a bier hall for knocking back one-litre steins of Crafty Bavarian (their own brew) and other beverages. They'll also have a very German menu that boasts everything from chicken schnitzel burgers to sauerkraut hot dogs to all sorts of roasted pork offerings, plus live Bavarian bands taking care of the tunes. It looks like everyone in Brisbane will be able to pretend it's Oktoberfest all year round (or try to make Februaryfest, Julyfest and Decemberfest a thing as well). Munich Brauhaus will also add another stop to the city's unofficial German pub crawl after Woolloongabba's beloved German Club and Eagle Street's Bavarian Bier Café. For more information and an opening date, keep an eye on the Munich Brauhaus website. Via The Courier Mail.
At Mac From Way Back, one thing monopolises the menu: creamy, gooey macaroni and cheese. And at Sabotage Social, it's about to take over their kitchen as well, with the food truck and the Valley bar teaming up to create Brisbane's first dedicated mac 'n' cheese eatery. From mid-to-late October, Mac From Way Back will make 143 Wickham Street its permanent base, serving up its 100 percent indulgent creations from within Sabotage Social. That means loaded bowls, fries and burgers will be permanently on offer to complement the venue's whiskey, beer and cocktail range. Operating from Wednesday to Sunday, there'll be meal deals too. For those who haven't experienced the food truck's existing mac dishes, think overflowing containers filled with the good stuff, such as the old favourite that is the five-cheese original — plus m'n'c drizzled over chips and smashed onto burgs. Their new digs will offer all of the above, with more mouthwatering varieties, and in monster-sized servings that might just feed two. Truffle mushroom and parmesan and chilli chorizo bowls are just two of the fresh flavours to look forward to, with fried haloumi and mozzarella sticks as sides, as well as onion rings. Coming just over a year after first hitting the road, it's a big move for Mac From Way Back, as well as indication of just how popular they've proven. Their actual opening date is still being determined, but we'll let you know when you can expect a mac attack. Mac From Way Back will open at Sabotage Social, 143 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley from mid-to-late October. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for further details.
UPDATE: JUNE 3, 2020 — Nimble has postponed its sale for a week, until Thursday, June 11. The below article has been updated to reflect this. There's nothing like a fresh haul of shiny new workout gear to inspire a little fitness kick. Especially when that workout gear takes the form of some high-performance threads from sustainability focused label Nimble Activewear. Well, this June, you're in for a treat, as the local brand pulls together a swag of great pieces for its huge permanent markdown sale. Running online and in-stores from 10am on Thursday, June 11 until stock sells out, the sale will be packed full of bargains, offering a hefty range of outerwear, tights, sports bras, sweats, shorts and more, with discounts of up to 40 percent. You might even be able to catch discounted pieces from the label's core CompressLite line, which is cleverly crafted from recycled plastic bottles. Nab one of these and you'll really have something to feel good about — Nimble's saved over 900,000 plastic bottles from heading to landfill since 2015. Nimble's permanent markdown sale kicks off at 10am on Thursday, June 11 and runs until stock sells out.
When Stuart and Lucy Martin started their own brewery back in 2017, they took inspiration from an easy source: Stuart's experience as a former commercial pilot. In fact, the idea for Archer Brewing popped into Stuart's brain during a flight from Melbourne to Sydney, and their beer-making outfit takes its name from Archer planes, the first type of aircraft he ever piloted. So, setting up a new brewpub in an old World War II hangar is the natural next step. Back when Archer first took off, it made Archer's Bunker in Spring Hill its home base, nestling into the space beneath The International Hotel in Spring Hill — and even requiring beer lovers to enter via the Archer Brewing fridge, which doubled as a door. But with that spot in Archer's past itineraries since 2019, the brewery has touched down in Wilston instead. On Newmarket Road, Brisbanites will now find a 200-person beer bar in the abode that Lifeline used to call home. Archer Brewing's new location isn't the first watering hole in an old WWII-era hangar in Brisbane, but it's obviously a case of the perfect business settling into the perfect surroundings. To keep the aviation theme going, the bar itself is made from the last-ever Ansett 727 plane to be flown. If you're fond of aviation yourself, that's definitely something to say cheers to — and over. Stuart and Lucy have brought over their portrait of their border collie to oversee the brewpub, and the space's design highlights its original use. But, as well as the focus on flying, it's the range of easy-drinking beers made using Australian ingredients that'll tempt patrons through the door. Archer Brewing pumps out yeasty beverages of the mid-strength lager, pilsner, pale ale, IPA and rice lager variety, as overseen by head brewer Chris Fletcher (ex-2 Brothers Brewing). Plus, cider fans can sip a new apple number made from Stanthorpe produce. The full booze lineup also spans rotating guest taps as well as an all-Aussie wine, spirit and cocktail range. In addition to drinking your way through Archer's tipples, Brisbanites making the trip to Wilston will soon be able to snack on a food lineup that's still being finalised. At present, an array of food trucks are popping by to fill the gap.
The Flaming Lips are the very definition of a band that has too much creativity to quit. Their unique psychedelic rock has been around since 1983, but they're not the type of band who'd sign, seal and deliver the same hits over and over. Having said that, you (or someone in close proximity) probably have their greatest tunes perpetually on high rotation, from ‘Do You Realise??’, ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song’, to ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Part 1’ and ‘She Don’t Use Jelly’. Listening to these psychedelic ditties is a joyous trip of an experience in itself, but seeing them live is something else entirely. The Flaming Lips' undeniably brilliant album, Clouds Taste Metallic, is currently enjoying its 20th anniversary and to celebrate, The Flaming Lips are off on tour yet again. Ahead of their Sydney Festival and Palais Theatre shows, we managed to catch up with the very chatty Wayne Coyne and asked him about giving new life to a 20-year-old record, his next-level live shows, and of course, his work with Miley. [caption id="attachment_554895" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: George Salisbury.[/caption] WHERE CLOUDS TASTE METALLIC AND HEADY NUGGS ROAM The Flaming Lips have released a whopping 16 studio albums since 1983, with the beloved seventh album Clouds Taste Metallic hitting shelves in 1995. Over a decade later, how does Coyne feel about the album now? "Some of those songs are just really great, dynamic, freaky songs to play. It’s one of those records that is never that far away from us.” The reissued vinyl, titled Heady Nuggs: Clouds Taste Metallic 20 Years Later, comes with quite a few extra goodies, including a live Seattle set from 1996. “We’re a very lucky group that virtually everything that we’ve ever recorded, we really do have absolute say over what we can reissue.” At first, the live vinyl was not going to cut it. “We never liked the quality. Even though we liked the show, it never sounded very good.” After a little playing around with plug-ins, the band was able to recreate the “crazy, freaky, exciting show" they knew they had on their hands. “I think when people listen to that they get a sense of that very amped-up punk-rock meets psychedelic rock, meets prog-rock weirdo group that we were," says Coyne. With track names such as ‘Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles’, it's hard not to ask for the story behind the album title Clouds Taste Metallic. Turns out Sydney had a hand in it. About 20-odd years ago The Flaming Lips were hanging out with Tool in Sydney. Tool’s then bassist, Paul D’Amour was taking a ride in a four-seater airplane (as you do) and asked the pilot to fly through a cloud (because Paul D'Amour). “He opened his mouth because he thought, 'How often do you get to go through a cloud?' I asked him, what did it taste like? And he said, 'You know, it tasted kind of metallic.' That’s an absolutely true story." ON FINDING A KINDRED SPIRIT IN MILEY The Flaming Lips are no strangers to collaboration; just check out their 15th studio album With a Little Help From My Fwends; a star-studded cover album of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. One creative partnership stands out amongst them: Coyne and Miley Cyrus. “The way that we live our lives is very similar,” Coyne explains, “She’s so on it. She has so much shit to say and songs to sing. I think that’s why we like each other. I’m always going and she’s always going, and so we meet up and we’ve got 20 things we want to do.” According to Coyne, the writing and recording process is more impulsive and natural rather than scheduled and labored. Coyne may start working on something at his studio in Oklahoma, then brings it to Cyrus, where sometimes all they’ll need is one take. “Usually even though we would say we’d start recording at noon, we usually wouldn’t start until 2am,” says Coyne, “She always has a lot of stuff going on. She can be in her house with 50 people and there can be a crazy party going on, and I’ll go in and say ‘Let’s go out and we’ll do some stuff for 20 minutes’. There’s five to six tracks we did together where it’s literally one take and I went into the house, got her, she came out, sang, and that will be the song.” [caption id="attachment_545696" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: Todd Spoth.[/caption] LIVE SHOWS AND THE VIEW FROM INSIDE A HUMAN-SIZED BUBBLE There's a good reason why The Flaming Lips have been declared by Q Magazine as one of the 'Top 50 Bands to See Before You Die'. If you're fortunate enough to have witnessed them live already you’ll be familiar with confetti guns, crazy light shows, costumes, and of course, Wayne Coyne rolling over the crowd in a human-sized bubble. So what’s it like to literally walk on your audience? “I’ve done it so much now that it’s not an utter freak-out surprise,” he says. “I have a certain control over where it’s going to go, I can get a sense of how freaky and exciting it is for the audience. It’s one of those cool moments that we embrace, we’re glad we get to do something like that, and that the audience gets to play along with it.” The only thing that Coyne worries about in the bubble is potentially breaking a nose or a pair of glasses. Bless. For Coyne, the live show experience is a chance to bring everybody into their colourful world. “The things that we do with the lights and the volume, it includes everybody. Even if they don’t know the songs, it brings everybody together. That’s why we want it to be so dynamic. You want everyone to get the most out of it.” The Flaming Lips are most at home in a festival atmosphere, as Coyne explains, “I think it works well with our type of optimistic message. The things we really love to sing, those really do communicate at festivals pretty well.” Coyne believes there could be a new Flaming Lips record ready by April or May this year, but depending on their future work with Cyrus, no plans have been set in stone. “But that’s the great thing about always creating, sometimes by shear accident you stumble across this great song that you didn’t even know that you were going to do. That’s what we want to happen, that’s the reason to always be doing stuff. Some special moment may accidentally happen.” See The Flaming Lips perform live at Melbourne's Palais Theatre on Friday, January 8 and at Sydney Festival on Saturday, January 9 for free in the Domain. More details on The Flaming Lips' website. Top image: George Salisbury (WB).
