Artists are some of the most outspoken people on issues concerning us all. While they might not be protesting in the street, their art speaks volumes about their thoughts and opinions on topics close to their heart. While art isn’t always subversive, art that impacts on a large scale usually comes with a message. Agenda is the latest exhibition at the QUT Art Museum that showcases artists whose works have an agenda. Each artist has created powerful images that question notions and positions of authority on important topics. Political commentary at its sharpest, Agenda is a must-see exhibition for anyone with a mind for current affairs and a passion for commentary on controversial issues.
Having recently returned from a spot of European travel-on-a-shoestring, I think I can hyperbolically decree that the Sleepbox may well be one of the greatest things I have ever seen. Sleepbox, designed by the Arch Group, does essentially what it says on the tin: it's a pod wide enough for a bed and a drop-down desk. This means that the days of sleeping on rows of metal chairs while clutching your belongings for dear life or sitting slumped over coffee-flavoured hot water in an airport food court may well be behind us. The first Sleepbox has recently been installed in Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, and can be rented out from half an hour to many hours. Kitted out with an LED reading light, WiFi and electrical outlets for you to charge your phone or get your ironing done or whatever it is you need to do, the pods also come with a mechanism which automatically changes the linen once each guest checks out. Which means there is less chance you will have to come into close contact with the bodily odours of others before you have to sit wedged beside them for fourteen hours in a flying tin can. Arch Group is proposing Sleepbox as a contemporary staple of urban life, with plans to set them up in other airports, railway stations. large shopping spaces, and even on the streets in warm climates. Genius. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3qxnqy37KPc [Via PSFK]
Doughnut chain Krispy Kreme has had sweet-toothed Aussies in its grip for years now, and it's showing no signs of relenting on our tastebuds. The chain doesn't just pump out its original glazed doughnuts, but also serves up various themed versions that've been getting everyone salivating. Who can forget trying to catch all of the Pokemon-themed doughnuts last year, or coveting those Caramilk doughnuts, too? Now, the doughnut chain has teamed up with fellow iconic US brand Hershey's, whipping up three brand-new American-inspired sweet treats that you might be tempted to travel to New York for. Don't worry — you actually only need to travel to your nearest Krispy Kreme or 7-Eleven stores. The first on the lineup of Hershey's Krispy Kreme deliciousness is the Choc Strawberry doughnut, which comes filled with a special Hershey's choc crème and dipped in strawberry truffle, before being topped with chocolate chips and icing. Or if you're a die-hard chocoholic, you'll probably go for the Ultimate Choc: again filled with the choc crème, this doughnut is then dipped in milk chocolate ganache, before it's finished off with chocolate chips and ganache drizzle. And, only at 7-Eleven stores, you can get S'Mores doughnuts. They take Krispy Kreme's usual ring of deliciousness, swirl it with whipped marshmallow filling, then cover it in chocolate dip — and adds Hershey's semi-sweet choc chips and biscuit crumb on top. Yeah, we'll take one of each, thanks. But, be quick: launching on Tuesday, February 22, these special edition doughnuts are only available for a limited time, so you'll want to hustle. And you won't want to tell your personal trainer. Krispy Kreme's Hershey's doughnuts launch in-store, online and at 7-Elevens on Tuesday, February 22 — and will be available for a limited time.
Portside is no stranger to hosting markets, after holding Mother's Day markets, a dedicated vegan market, and a blossoming plant and flower market as well. For its next event, it's celebrating spring — by the water, with stalls to browse, and with free posies and coffee to grab. If you really like browsing and buying, taking in the riverside air, and having a reason to stop for a bite and a drink, you'll want to head to Hamilton on Saturday, September 24. From 10am–2pm, you can shop, stroll and sip, which sounds like a mighty fine weekend itinerary. More than 50 stalls, Portside's biggest showing so far, will offer up plenty for you to browse and buy, including art, plants, ceramics, pet treats, clothing, accessories and more. If you've been to markets at the Gasworks, or in Fish Lane, Coorparoo and Gabba South City, you'll have a firm idea of what you're in for — because The Market Folk is behind all of the above, and is running this returning Portside event as well. To give your shopping a soundtrack, live tunes from Sam Perren will echo through the Hamilton precinct. For snaps, there'll be an Instagram photo wall. And, if those hunger pangs strike — or you're just keen on having a drink — the precinct's eateries and bars will be open. As for those freebies, there'll be 100 free posies and 50 free coffees on offer on a first-come-first-served basis. Images: Claudia Baxter.
This Saturday night, Greaser wants you to dress up like you've just stepped out of your favourite Michael J. Fox-starring '80s movie. Okay, your second favourite. At their annual Halloween get-together, Teen Wolf is in the spotlight. Prepare to have a howling good time. Yep, there ain't no Halloween party like an '80s werewolf Halloween party, so you'd best do your part. That means dressing up in your furriest costume and pretending you're a high school teenager who transforms into a basketball-playing canine monster, for starters. Anything '80s, horror-ish and college-like will count as well, though you really do want to wear something that'll stand out in the evening's neon disco.
The frogs need your help. At least 30 Australian and New Zealand species of frogs are currently considered endangered, a statistic that wasn't helped by the disastrous 2019/20 Australian bushfire season. In response to this dire frog situation, Cadbury has partnered with Taronga Zoo, Zoos Victoria and Conservation Volunteers Australia to raise awareness about at-risk frog species by replacing the iconic Freddo mascot with real amphibians on the front of each packet of Freddo Frogs. Cadbury isn't just raising awareness though, the chocolate brand has also pledged $600,000 across three years to support zoo and conservation experts in Australia and New Zealand and their efforts to save our smiley little friends. These funds are going towards research and breeding programs including a new breeding bunker at Healesville Sanctuary. Taronga is also introducing a new frog exhibit to its beloved Sydney site that centres around educating people on endangered frogs and conservation efforts. The Freddo packets, which are currently available in Australian supermarkets, feature two endangered species: the spotted tree frog and the northern corroboree frog. Both are among Australia's most endangered species. Zoos Victoria has been fighting save the former from extinction through its role in the Spotted Tree Frog Recovery Program, while Taronga Zoo has already released hundreds of corroboree frogs and thousands of eggs into Kosciuszko and Brindabella National Parks through its breeding programs. The Freddo packets are available in 12 packs or as individual Freddos at major Australian supermarkets and independent retailers. You can find out more about the campaign and donate to the conservation projects via Cadbury's website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Maybe you were planning to do your Christmas shopping in the CBD this year, and had a stop at Brisbane Arcade on your agenda. Perhaps your present-buying strategy just involves seeing what's on offer in the Queen Street Mall — amid all the festive hustle and bustle, obviously. For the third year in a row, there's an option that involves all of the above: the Brisbane Arcade Christmas Markets. That's when, for two big days, the Brisbane Arcade spills out onto the mall to fill it full of seasonal markets showcasing designer wares, fashion, gifts, accessories and other goodies (for your loved ones or for yourself). In 2022, the QSM takeover is happening from 10am–7pm on Friday, December 2 and 10am–4pm on Saturday, December 3. So, you can stop by after work during late-night shopping or make a day of it. The markets usually involve tunes — 'tis the season — and photo opportunities, and you can obviously still wander through the arcade to check out its latest festive decorations.
Director Pablo Berger's retelling of the Grimm Brothers' Snow White story is generating a lot of buzz right now. A silent, black-and-white, Spanish reinterpretation of that well-known childhood tale, the film is wowing critics and charming the pants off judges at film festivals worldwide (particularly San Sebastian and Toronto). It well may snaffle the Best Foreign Film Oscar. Macarena García gives a much-applauded performance as Carmen, a young orphan girl who suffers under the tyranny of her wicked stepmother Encarna, played with evil relish by Maribel Verdú. Long story short, she changes her name to Blancanieves (Spanish for Snow White, obvs), teams up with a crew of wily dwarves and becomes a successful bullfighter. There's lots of flamenco music, some fabulous cinematography and a stellar Spanish cast. Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian enthuses, "All I can say is that there's a flash of pure inspiration, unfakeable and unmistakable, in this extraordinarily enjoyable film." If you struggled to sit through 2011's silent black-and-white hit The Artist you might already be ruling this out — but you should know that Blancanieves is a very different film, one that Berger had already been working on for eight years by the time Jean Dujardin's face was first lighting up the screen at Cannes. Blancanieves is in cinemas on October 24, and thanks to Rialto Distribution, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
Winter is coming, as Game of Thrones has been telling us for years — but the show's final season is coming first. Before the weather turns cold again in the southern hemisphere, fans of the epic HBO series will be able to discover how the popular series wraps up, so mark your calendars accordingly. After leaving everyone hanging for the entirety of 2018, HBO has announced that Game of Thrones' eighth and final season will hit the small screen in April 2019, nearly two years after season seven premiered in July 2017. The US network hasn't announced an exact premiere date as yet, but even knowing which month to look forward to is good news. If you're eager to get your fix of the series' staples — that is, battles, bloodshed, betrayal, bare chests, family bickering, Jon Snow knowing nothing (including about his long-lost aunt) and plenty of dragons — then you can almost start counting down the days. HBO revealed the month in a fairly generic video on the Game of Thrones Facebook page, and you can probably expect a precise date and even a trailer to follow soon enough. If you're looking for clues from past seasons, seasons one to six all premiered between March 31 and April 24, so really any Sunday in April, US time — so Monday in Australia — is possible. Of course, we all know that this isn't really the end of the world created by author George RR Martin — and no, we're not talking about the now seven-year wait for his next book in the literary franchise, The Winds of Winter. A prequel TV series to Game of Thrones is in the works, set thousands of years before the events we've all be watching since 2011, with Naomi Watts set to star. Come next year, you'll also be able to tour original GoT filming locations in Northern Ireland. https://www.facebook.com/GameOfThrones/videos/734669123560089/ Game of Thrones season eight will arrive on HBO in April, 2019.
Next time you fly domestically, you might notice something missing during your time in the air. Virgin Australia has announced an overhaul of its menus, effective immediately, with one big change bound to hit economy passengers' stomachs: the scrapping of free snacks. Those small bites to eat that helped stop your hunger pangs while zipping around the country have been axed, in favour of a new lineup of snacks to purchase. The airline says that it "has found that travellers would prefer to choose their own food and beverage in a buy onboard model on domestic flights, instead of receiving a predetermined snack." It also advises that the price of the snack has been taken out of the company's economy ticket prices, making them slightly cheaper. So, unless you stock up on food in the airport, you'll be forking out some cash while you're in the air — on cheese and crackers, muffins, chips, chocolate, lollies and two types of noodles. The drinks list includes soft drinks, hot chocolates, wine, beer, spirits and premixed gin and sodas, but you will still get complimentary tea, coffee and water. Virgin plans to expand its economy menu down the line, too, once the demand for flights gets back to near pre-pandemic levels. For those travelling in business class, the airline has dropped a bigger range of hot meals and salads, including smashed avocado on sourdough for breakfast, haloumi and quinoa salad for lunch, and lamb and rosemary pie for dinner, all of which is being served on crockery and glassware — and with proper cutlery as well. For more information about Virgin Australia's menu changes — which are in effect now — head to the airline's website.
With a certain mid-November leaders' summit coming up ever sooner, you'd be forgiven for succumbing to some of the niggling public confusion that's abounding in Brisbane. Common questions are "What even is the G20?" and, more importantly, "Do I get a public holiday?" While we can't answer those ones for you, we can tell you that reigning Brisbane burger empire Burger Urge is crafting a special, G20-exclusive burger that'll give meaning and purpose to those coming three days of inevitable road closures, military-level security, and jokes about presidents with a penchant for macho publicity stunts involving doing equestrian sports in the (semi) nude. It's called The Big Bad Vlad, it's billed as the "taste of G20," and it's only available when the G20's happening — November 14, 15 and 16. Burger Urge say they're not naming names, and that "The Big Bad Vlad in no way singles out any individual leader." But with the timely tagline "Shirtfront one today!", picking up one of these babies is basically the same as giving a big fat up yours to a certain oppressive leader of an unnamed ex-Soviet megastate, a la this. (The cringe level on that one is high, click at your own discretion.) The Big Bad Vlad comes from a long tradition of continually rotating Burger Urge specials. Recently they've cooked up Fat Elvis burgers with lashings of bacon and three types of sauce, made magic of a plain ol' bun with pork and fried noodles and called it The Genghis Khan, and gone all US of A with ranch sauce and cheddar for The Manhattan Project. Now, while world leaders and delegates are discussing Important Stuff like the future of world economies and labour mobility, you can do your bit for sticking it to the shirtless horse-riding man. So what, according to Burger Urge, does that undoubtedly highly satisfactory feeling taste like? Although the burger contains their much-loved thick-cut fries, the Vlad is far from being your regular old chip butty — this is a megalithic stack of two chicken breasts, two rashers of bacon, two slices of cheese, lettuce 'n' tomato, and a dollop of sweet chilli mayo that you'll be hard pressed not to slop all down your own shirtfront. Yeah. Shirtfront that one, Mr. President-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. Image by Ria Novosti.
Calling all wizards, witches and muggles: a nail-biting Harry Potter trivia is coming to South Bank. Taking place at Little Big House, the night will feature two hours of Harry Potter fun. This is a must-attend event for all Potterheads who have read all eight books from cover to cover, know their alohomoras from their sectumsempras, and have seen Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — because of course they have. Dressing up is highly encouraged, and while butterbeer isn't on the menu, you will be able to purchase the regular variety. There'll also be live music, themed specials and plenty of potty contestants. Entry is free, with the questions flying from 6pm on Monday, September 16 on Little Big House's verandah. Choose your team wisely.
Expect this weekend spectacle to bring a beacon of hope to Brisbane's skyline during this year's festival. Sunsuper Night Sky is a large-scale light and laser installation, with accompanying sound by acclaimed audio-visual artist Robin Fox. More than a dozen rooftops across Brisbane CBD will light up every Friday and Saturday night, from 7–9pm, from September 4–26. Each one hosts an interconnecting and pulsing laser beam show set to an ethereal soundtrack. You'll be able to see it dance across the skies from vantage points across the city, so take an evening stroll or cycle to catch the light artwork from afar.
Port Macquarie's Festival of the Sun has been running for nearly two decades, and the boutique summer music festival is still bringing the goods. The lineup for May has just been released and it looks like it'll be another doozy. Hermitude, Skeggs, Middle Kids and San Cisco lead the three-day fest's bill, with Ruby Fields, A Swayze and The Ghosts, The Buoys, Caitlin Harnett and the Pony Boys, Concrete Surfers and First Beige lending their voices too. The list goes on, so get ready for a big couple of days of music. Running between Thursday, May 19—Saturday, May 21, the camping festival is also — excitingly — BYO, so you don't need to spend your hard-earned cash on overpriced UDLs. Alongside the lineup of live music, there will also be a heap of food trucks (serving everything from burgers to vegan fare), silent discos and silent comedy. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday, April 15. FESTIVAL OF THE SUN 2022 LINEUP Hermitude Skeggs San Cisco Ruby Fields Middle Kids A Swayze and The Ghosts The Buoys Caitlin Harnett and the Pony Boys Concrete Surfers First Beige Hayley Mary Jelly Oshen Kim Churchill Lazywax Liyah Knight The Rions Romero Pink Matter The Oogars Saint Lane Radolescent Boycott Fungas Palomino Updated Tuesday, May 3.
We have a quick chat with the people behind new theatre company Arthur about their new play Dirtyland, and their novel approach to funding the project. If you want to score some tickets to the play, and support new Australian theatre in the future, head to their funding page, but be quick, there's only one day left! Tell us a little about yourselves? We are Arthur and we are a brand new independent theatre company in Sydney. Our motto — well one of them — is organised chaos. This means, amongst other things, that we're pretty interested in having fun in making our work — and in delivering a fair amount of heart and a wallop of surprise to our audience. To split Arthur into personalities, we are Paige Rattray (director), Elise Hearst (writer) and Belinda Kelly (producer). You can meet Paige and Elise here, as they spruik for Arthur's first production, Dirtyland on the Pozible crowdfunding website. The Arthur people have a common link with the mighty Griffin Theatre Co in Kings Cross. Paige, a recent NIDA directing graduate, is a current resident director there. Elise, who has had residencies further afield including at The Royal Court, was resident writer in 2009, and Belinda is the company's Artistic Associate. Tell us a little about your project? We will be bringing the world premiere of Dirtyland to Sydney audiences in April as part of the inaugural Spare Room season at the New Theatre. This eight-character play is set in an unspecified village following the massacre of one half of the residents by the other. Nice. However, it's not just your standard post-apocolyptic tale. What should audiences expect? A play that is rowdy, entertaining, and, for those who fear an interval, pretty short. With live sound, epic atmospheres and striking visuals, the show is also pretty funny and very involving as you desperately barrack for our anti-heroes; willing them on to escape their dirty, dystopian world. Phew, that sounds full on, but fun no? What's the inspiration behind Arthur? We are setting up a new company because we want to make work that wouldn't otherwise see the light of day. Paige our director first came across Elise's writing while reading a stack of plays for a playwriting award. This was the beginning of Arthur. We didn't know it at the time, but we realized that this was the kind of work we needed to see and the only way it was going to happen was if we made it ourselves. Dirtyland is a cracking play that has generated a fair bit of industry interest, but the commercial reality is that a new play by a new writer with a cast of eight is never going to be a likely project to back for the main stage in Australia. What are your ambitions for the company in the future? We would like to stage 2-3 plays per year, and work on the development of a further 2 plays for future production. Arthur is very much interested in new Australian work, but also in creating devised work and text/performance/musical fusions. We plan to stay true to the company's touchstones of serious fun and organised chaos. Why have you taken the crowd-funding route? Because we only had three weeks' notice that we had secured a spot in the Spare Room season until rehearsals kicked off — yikes! The short lead time meant that we did not have access to more established forms of funding, such as government and foundation grants, nor the time to source company sponsorship. We decided to think laterally. I think we were actually drinking some beers at the pub and thinking of different models and really very much talking about old subscription models for publishing of books and so forth. The next day a few friends sent some links to crowdfunding websites, and we were off. It feels very much of the zeitgeist. How is it going? So far, so good. But — argh! We are 80% funded with a day left. Our target is $8000, so we have $1600 to go. Our target is high considering the amount of time until our project cuts off. In this all-or-nothing model, if you don't reach the target, the project receives none of the pledged funds. You also can't change the target or time limit once the project is away — so very nerve racking and we are obsessed with checking twenty times a day (give or take) to see if any more pledges have come in. It's going down to the wire!
If there's anything cuter than a dog on a beach, it's a puppy on a paddle board. Rounding up a whole heap of pooches, getting them to stand up in the waves, and sending them on a watery course with their human best buddies: that takes the concept to another level. Put together by Surfing Queensland to support the Animal Welfare League, Pups on SUPS is the splash of canine fun you didn't know you needed — whether your four-legged friend is barking mad to get on a board, or you're dog-free but planning on lapping up every second of it. Taking place in Currumbin Creek near Palm Beach's Salk Oval on October 28, participants can enjoy a leisurely two-kilometre social paddle or a 250-metre dash for cash, or both. Entry is open to pooches of all ages and sizes, with a special guest on hand to help show them — and their humans — the ropes. It'll cost you $20 in advance or $40 on the day, but the look of joy on your doggo's face will be worth every cent. The look of exhilaration on your own will be as well.
Outdoor clothing brand Merrell wants your photos to stitch together the world's largest panoramic photo. You can be a part of it by uploading your geo-tagged shots of the outdoors to the Add Your Own Scenery website where they are pinned to a virtual globe, or you can just browse others' photos and see what things look like in their neck of the woods. As well as inspiring people to get and share their love of the outdoors with others, the project has a philanthropic purpose: for every photo uploaded Merrell will donate $1 to a range of conservation groups, up to their target total of $250,000. Unfortunately only residents of the US, UK and Canada are eligible for the prizes on offer, but sharing your favourite part of nature with the rest of the world to help conserve it should be reward enough! [via PSFK]
Sports are often spoken about as a type of art form, but the Basil Sellers Art Prize took this idea to new levels. Celebrating a decade of paintings, UQ Art Museum's latest exhibition Play On: The Art of Sport showcases the best artworks presented throughout the biennial prize's run. Awarded for the best depiction of sport or sporting culture, many of Australia's leading artists are represented, all offering up a different perspective on some of our favourite sporting pastimes. Play On features Melbourne-based artist Jon Campbell — who took home the $100,000 award in 2012 — and his work Dream Team, a series of 22 paintings depicting nicknames of much-loved AFL players, while 2016 winner Richard Lewer's work Theatre of Dreams will also be on display. Other artists include: Shaun Gladwell, Daniel Crooks, Tony Albert, Fiona McMonagle, Tarryn Gill and Pilar Mata Dupont, Lauren Brincat, Gabrielle de Vietri amongst others. The exhibition displays at the St Lucia gallery until February 9, 2019. Image: Kerrie Polliness. Marking the field (still). 2012. Single-channel SD video, 16:9 ratio, colour, sound. 20:00 minutes. Courtesy of the artist and Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne.
Due to its location, Tasmania stands apart from the bulk of Australia. It's an island at the bottom of the continent, so of course it's separate from the rest of the country. But, for much of 2020, the Apple Isle has been shut off from the nation in another way — with Tassie enacting strict border restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, just as many other states on the mainland did as well. Thankfully, while most Aussies couldn't head to the country's southern-most state for much of this year without seeking permission and then going into quarantine, border restrictions don't have any dominion over our tastebuds. You mightn't have been able to spend time in Tassie for big stretches of 2020, but drinking beverages by Tasmanian producers has always remained on the menu. Obviously, it still does — letting everyone nationwide do what Tassie residents have always done and show their love for the Apple Isle's top drops. Whether you prefer a refreshing cider, a hearty vodka or gin, or a nice vino, that's great news. Tasmania has all of the above covered. Indeed, when BWS asked the state's drinkers to name their favourite local picks as part of the bottle retailer's Local Luvvas initiative, those aforementioned beverages from Plenty Cider, Hellfire Bluff Distillery and Pepik Wines topped the poll. All three brands will now receive an extra helping hand with getting their products stocked in more BWS stores — and we spoke with the teams at each about loving their jobs, showcasing homegrown produce, garnering local support and making it through 2020. APPLE CIDER FROM THE APPLE ISLE Of course Tasmania makes great apple cider. When tasked with picking their favourite brewed beverage, including beer, of course Tassie residents went with apple cider, too. That kind of local support no longer comes as a surprise to Plenty Cider co-owner Grace D'Arcy, but it is always heartily and eagerly appreciated. "People really resonate with where we are from, and love the fact they know where it is — and they understand the quality of the produce that comes from the area," she says. "Without local support, Plenty wouldn't exist, so we can't thank Tasmanians enough for what they have done for us and for many small businesses across the state throughout COVID-19". Plenty Cider is not only a celebrated homegrown brand, but is also beloved for its use of 100-percent southern Tasmanian-grown apples. And yet, the company's journey actually started with a different kind of alcohol and type of fruit. It wasn't hard to make the switch, though, D'Arcy explains. "The transition from wine to cider ten years ago was an easy choice to make, as cider was an emerging sector with so much hope and potential." Cider is also an easy field to be passionate about. That might sound self-evident — who wouldn't want to spend their days turning fruit into a sweet and delicious drink? — but D'Arcy's enthusiasm shines through. "There is also plenty of room for innovation and creativity. This is what keeps me passionate, along with striving to continuously improve and craft delicious ciders," she says. "When a cider is fruit-driven and you get that fresh full flavour on the palate, nothing is better." GIN AND VODKA MADE ABOVE A ROCKY COASTAL OUTCROP Potatoes might not be as synonymous with Tasmania as apples, but they're the reason that one of the state's other much-loved drinks producers exists. The site that Hellfire Bluff Distillery calls home is actually a potato farm on a cliff above Marion Bay that dates back more than 30 years. "We were looking for a way to value-add to the potatoes we grow," advises marketing coordinator Kyla Flanagan. "We wanted to bring something unique to the well-respected Tasmanian spirits market and, after investing a significant amount of time and research, in 2017 we launched Hellfire Bluff Distillery with our premium potato vodka." Clearly, local fresh produce is crucial here. "The distillery was built out of our love for premium Tasmanian ingredients, driven by our passion for farming sustainably, and influenced by our beautiful wild and remote region," Flanagan says. Hellfire now not only makes vodka, but also three styles of gin, a selection of small-batch liqueurs, and other limited-edition releases — using rainwater sourced from the farm, locally sourced lemons in its limoncello, and other "quintessentially Tasmanian ingredients," she explains. "When we say our products are handcrafted, we really mean it." Given how pivotal all things local are to Hellfire, it's hardly surprising that the distillery has proven a big hit in the community. "Product provenance has always been important to our customers, and local support has been integral to our brand from the very beginning," says Flanagan. And that homegrown love is a source of inspiration, too. "It's important to us that people feel connected to where their purchase comes from, and gain an understanding and insight into the business they are supporting," she notes. TURNING 61-HECTARES OF LAUNCESTON-GROWN GRAPES INTO VINO It was back in 2004 that Josef Chromy launched the wine brand that bears his name, setting up shop just south of Launceston on a scenic and sprawling 61-hectare vineyard. Pepik is one of its labels, and its moniker also has a close connection to its founder — because 'Pepik' is Josef's nickname, as given to him by his mother. Chromy handpicked Tasmanian winemaker Jeremy Dineen to lead the business, a role that the latter still holds today. As Pepik sales and export manager David Milne explains, making wine isn't just a job here — it's a passion, an obsession and a puzzle all in one. "It's the challenge of crafting the best wines from whatever the vintage throws at you that keeps things interesting," he says, with Pepik favouring "a minimal intervention style of winemaking to allow beautiful, aromatic Tasmanian fruit to achieve full expression in the glass". The resulting tipples, especially Pepik's pinot noir, have proven popular locally. But in 2020, the true level of community support has actually surprised Milne. "As a small wine producer in Tasmania, we probably didn't realise just how strong our following was until this year," he says. "People have made a concerted effort to support the local brands that they love and want to see come out the other side of this pandemic… In a year like no other, we've never been so honoured to be carried on the shoulders of our tribe." To find these or other Tasmanian drinks as part of the BWS Local Luvva initiative, head to your nearest BWS store.
Towards the end of Victoria and Abdul, Judi Dench's face fills the frame during an extended speech. For the second time in her career she's playing Queen Victoria in a film about the British monarch's relationship with a servant. Whereas 1997's Mrs Brown saw her bonding with Billy Connolly, this time the 19th century sovereign has forged a strong platonic bond with Indian Muslim clerk Abdul (Ali Fazal), but her son (Eddie Izzard) and staff are none too happy about it. Cue a memorable dressing down delivered by a figure well-aware of her power and responsibilities, as well as the type of scene designed to garner awards nominations. That's Victoria and Abdul in a nutshell. The latest regal flick from The Queen's Stephen Frears, it's the kind of film that knows where its strengths reside, and how viewers are likely to react. That's not to downplay Dench's formidable talents, or her ability to inhabit Queen Victoria's many shades and depths. Indeed, she's the best thing on screen. But there's no ignoring the fact that Frears has plunged the beloved actress into a decidedly average historical drama that isn't always worthy of her talents. Despite taking its inspiration from real life, Victoria and Abdul sticks closely to a familiar culture-clash formula. Typically, one of two things happen when folks from different stations in life meet in a movie. Either they get along nicely, but their connection isn't met with the same fondness by those around them, or, after a rocky start, they're forced to learn from their differences. When Abdul is picked to journey to Britain to present the queen with a ceremonial coin during her Golden Jubilee celebrations, the film seems destined to take the second path. Then he breaks protocol by making eye contact with the monarch, she's intrigued by the good-natured newcomer in her midst, and before long they're facing off against institutionalised racism. While Dench plays Queen Vic with considerable texture and nuance — more than early scenes seem to indicate, in fact — the feature around her doesn't share the same fortune. There's a difference between probing engrained prejudices and just presenting a scenario filled with them, with Victoria and Abdul taking the easier, latter option. Adapting the book of the same name by Shrabani Basu, screenwriter Lee Hall (War Horse) keeps things light and simplistic when it comes to scheming naysayers, cultural disharmony and Abdul himself. Given that the film supposedly sets out to dispel racist stereotypes, the fact that Abdul is portrayed as a jovial, exotic outsider who helps Victoria get her groove back is more than a little bit troubling. Where the film succeeds is as a misty-eyed ode to friendship. As Rose-tinted as much of the lavishly shot movie proves, it thoughtfully and tenderly conveys the effect that having someone to talk to, and to listen back, can have. The rapport between Dench and the spirited Fazal helps, ensuring that Abdul remains an engaging presence, even if he's flimsily written. Their time together mightn't delve deep into the intricacies surrounding their characters, but Victoria and Abdul is at its best when its stars share the screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtC8jNHSxgQ
Montreal-based artist, Shelley Miller, has turned graffiti into a tasty artform. Her sugary designs have covered city walls in ornate scrolls and decorative motifs. She takes the conventional approach to graffiti, and turns it completely upside-down. Her designs are beautiful, intricate and look straight out the Victorian era. Miller's latest installation titled Throw-Up was part of the Nuit Blanche ("white night") project in September at the Metro Hall in Toronto, Canada. You could call her a sugar graffiti veteran. Having worked with cake icing for several years, Miller has exhibited works around the world including Canada, India and Brazil. And, she is even cooler than you think. Not only does she make amazing art, but it often represents more serious and important global issues. Her work has represented consumer culture and the historical links between sugar and slavery. Miller's pieces have been acquired by The City of Montreal, The Museum of Modern Art of Bahia, Reliance Industries and the Just for Laughs Museum (Montreal). Check out some of her unique street-art below and her website, here.
Carved in marble in the 17th century, and gracing an Italian chapel, the statue Ecstasy of Saint Teresa is one of the iconic artworks depicting religious fervour. It's also considered one of the standout pieces of the Roman Baroque period. Understandably, it isn't on display at UQ Art Museum's Ecstasy: Baroque and Beyond exhibition — but, it's safe to say that inspiring an entire collection really is the next best thing. From September 16 to February 25, the St Lucia gallery will contemplate depictions of ecstasy old and new, as well as examples of Baroque art, in a showcase marked by its passion, extravagance and exaggeration. Featuring pieces by everyone from Salvador Dali, to Italian artists of the time, to contemporary Australian practitioners, expect to see excess in each and every item included, be it painted recreations, bronze statues or copper creations. Image: Anastasia Booth (Australia, 1988–); Teresa; 2016; copper; 200 x 270 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the artist, Brisbane. Reproduced courtesy of the artist.
Make no mistake: Sandra Bernhard is an icon. Not just in stand-up, where she has offered her outspoken views to anyone who’ll listen for almost four decades, but in films such as Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, and for playing the first openly gay character on a network series on television’s Roseanne. To say she’s pretty great is an understatement. For the last 12 months, Bernhard has been touring the United States with her one-of-a-kind live show, Sandyland, an all-out celebration of just what makes her so fabulous. Now, she’s bringing it to Brisbane for one hysterical night of rock 'n' roll, cabaret, stand-up, burlesque and just telling it like it is.
Hosted by Triple J’s Sarah Howells and seminal vocalist Katie Noonan the 2012 Queensland Music Awards will celebrate its most innovative songwriters and musicians, the masters whose sounds sweep the state and its radio waves. Judged by an experienced team of professional from all aspects of the music industry the awards will recognise artists of a number of genres, from pop and rock to country and jazz. Featuring performances from artists like Ed Kuepper (Pictured), Art Of Sleeping, Rainman and Velociraptor, the night will also see awards given out for the album of the year, with Ben Salter’s The Cat and The Grates’ Secret Rituals just two records in the running. Seated tickets are sold out, but standing ones are still up for grabs, so don’t miss out on the event of the year.
Take one of popular culture's biggest supervillains, throw in one of today's very best actors and add the director of The Hangover trilogy. Only a few years ago, the above sentence might've seemed like a joke. Today, it's the reality we're living in — the reality that sees a standalone Joker movie cackling its way towards cinema screens, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role. Move over Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger and Jared Leto — it's Phoenix's time to don exaggerated clown makeup, wield a killer smile and wreak havoc on Gotham City. The just-released final trailer for Joker promises plenty of all three, as failed standup comedian Arthur Fleck turns to a life of facepaint-wearing crime (and eventually obsessing over Batman, we're guessing). As directed and co-written by Todd Phillips (Old School, Starsky & Hutch, Due Date), Joker also comes with a suitably unhinged vibe, as if Phoenix's You Were Never Really Here character stumbled into Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy. (Fittingly, the latter film plus Taxi Driver and Raging Bull have been cited as inspirations for the new DC Comics flick, and Scorsese is one of Joker's executive producers.) It also looks certain to help everyone forget that the last take on the famous villain only arrived three years ago, because who wants to remember Leto's green-haired turn in Suicide Squad? If the first and second trailers are anything to go by, it looks like Phoenix will — thankfully — follow in the footsteps of Nicholson and Oscar-winner Ledger instead, as he plays alongside his nemesis (and talk show host) Robert De Niro, his love interest Atlanta's Zazie Beetz and his mother Frances Conroy, as well as Marc Maron and Brett Cullen. But we'll have to wait till October to know for sure. If you'd like a dose of terrifying clown cinema before then, IT: Chapter Two drops next week. In the meantime, check out the final trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAGVQLHvwOY Joker releases in Australian cinemas on October 3, 2019.
For those who haven't been there, there's much that's simply unimaginable about war, including fighting on the front lines and being left behind. It's the latter that Merge Dance Theatre explores in their latest work. Through the medium of dance, they'll bring to life the untold tales of women waiting for their loved ones to return. It's a different kind of ANZAC story, staged by a different kind of dance group, with Merge endeavouring to bridge the gap between dance schools and professional companies. And, at a time when everyone's enjoying a break from work, it's a reminder of the sacrifices behind our way of living.
Lovers of Die Hard references and 'title of your sex tape' jokes, rejoice — and start planning your next Halloween heist. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the beloved sitcom that all of the above gags form an important part of, has just been renewed. And if this feels a little like deja vu, there's a good reason for that. Basically, what a difference 18 months can make. This time back in May 2018, the show was cancelled after its fifth season by Fox, its original American network. An outcry followed, so rival US channel NBC came to the rescue, picking up the series just 31 hours later and committing to a sixth season of cop comedy. It was the latest tense move in the B99's history, with the threat of axing looming over the show since it premiered in 2013. Now, much to delight of fans, that's no longer the case — at least for the next two seasons. Back in March, the series was renewed for a 13-episode seventh season. Just last week, it was announced that those new episodes (and gags) will hit screens in both the US and Australia from early February. But there's even more exciting news in store for the fine fictional detectives of Brooklyn's 99th precinct, with NBC now renewing the series for an eighth season even before the seventh season airs. It seems that the network is rather fond of Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) and Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher) — and even Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller). https://twitter.com/nbcbrooklyn99/status/1195037124342378497?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Enews%7Ctwgr%5Etweet Yes, Brooklyn Nine-Nine fans can't utter "noice" fast or often enough. Or, as Peralta would say: cool cool cool. Expect season eight to air during the 2020–21 US TV season — although just when it'll screen obviously hasn't been revealed this far in advance. We do have season seven to get through first, after all. Aussie fans have been very fortunate in recent years, with SBS dropping new episodes in line with their US screenings, and that'll continue with season seven from February 2020. Here's hoping the same proves the case when season eight rolls around. As always, there are plenty of B99-appropriate ways to mark this development. Breaking out a celebratory yoghurt, Terry Jeffords-style, is definitely in order. If you're more like Captain Raymond Holt, perhaps you'd like to treat yourself to a trip to a barrel museum. Or you could channel your inner Gina Linetti and dance about your happy feelings. Brooklyn Nine-Nine's eighth season will air sometime in 2020 or 2021. Before that, the show's seventh season will start screeening from Friday, February 7, 2020, Australian time on SBS Viceland. Via Variety.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same few days as possible. Last year, more than 400,000 Aussies took part at this festival of pre-loved stuff, holding more than 14,000 sales. Will this year's Garage Sale Trail top those hefty numbers? It'll certainly try via a huge array of events that will open their doors to bargain hunters, selling millions of items across two big spring weekends: between Saturday, November 9–Sunday, November 10, and then again from Saturday, November 16–Sunday, November 17. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Garage Sale Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There'll be a right slew of sales happening all around Brisbane, so keep your eyes on the event website — or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
This winter, the Night Noodle Markets will finally return for 12 nights of culinary delights after sitting out the last couple of years for obvious reasons. That means that it's time for plenty of tasty things on sticks, bowls of noodles, bao and extravagant desserts, all at the event's new home in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. While you'll be heading to a different spot to get your fill of hawker-style dishes between Wednesday, June 15–Sunday, June 26, this is a case of new location, same delicious outcome. And if you haven't already worked up an appetite just thinking about the event in general, the markets have just unveiled the full list of stalls that'll be slinging all manner of foods. In total, 16 culinary stallholders will set up shop, all so you can feast on everything from chicken karaage noodles to deep-fried Milo gelato. Expect a heap of pop-up bars, too, and a generally busy and bustling vibe. If you've been to the Night Noodle Markets before, you can start getting excited about a few returning favourites — such as Hoy Pinoy, Bangkok Street Food, Flying Noodles and Gelato Messina. That means Filipino barbecue street food will be on the menu, including pork belly skewers in a banana ketchup glaze and chicken skewers in traditional soy glaze. So will pad thai with prawns and gravity-defying braised pork belly noodles, too. As for Messina, it's doing Asian-inspired gelato and desserts such as its famed mango pancakes (which stuff mango sorbet and vanilla chantilly into mango crepes), that aforementioned deep-fried Milo gelato (which also includes Messinatella pudding and Oreo crumble) and HK French toast (made with dulce de leche and peanut butter French toast). Another big drawcard, and a first-timer to the Brisbane Night Noodle Markets: Demochi Donuts. A Sydney favourite for its mochi doughnuts, it'll be serving them up in original honey glaze and cinnamon flavours, and with milk chocolate drizzle and butterscotch drizzle (and also showing Brissie what all the fuss has been about down south). Other national stallholders dishing up their wares include May's Malaysian, Wonderbao, Calabang, Roll Up and Twistto, which'll be doing fried radish cakes, Korean fried chicken gua bao, sweet custard bao, calamari, peking duck rolls and twisted potatoes as part of their menus. From local favourites Teppanyaki Noodles, Raijin, Stone & Copper and Steamed, you'll also be able to enjoy yakisoba fried noodles, teriyaki chicken skewers, those chicken karaage noods, bang bang butter chicken, chicken satay dogs and rainbow-hued dumplings. On the already-announced drinks list: a Gage Roads Beer Garden, an Aperol Spritz Kombi Bar and the Dan Murphy's Zero% Bar, with the latter following on from the bottle-o chain's alcohol-free Melbourne venue and only slinging up non-boozy beverages. And, there'll be Heaps Normal's alcohol-free beers, Rekorderlig's boozy ciders and vino from Naked Wines. Also, if you're keen to spend more time eating and less lining up, Mr Yum will also be on hand to allow you to order via your phone — skipping all the queues, selecting food from different vendors and paying in one transaction. The 2022 Brisbane Night Noodle Markets will take place from Wednesday, June 15–Sunday, June 26 at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, 147 Alice Street, Brisbane City. For further details and to register for a free ticket, head to the event's website.
As a nation, Australians devour approximately 190,000 tonnes of meat per year. This equates to 120kg per person per annum, which is almost three times as much as the world average. Despite the phenomenal increase in meat consumption over the last few decades, particularly in pork and poultry, the number of pig producers in the country has reduced by 94 percent and there are only two major producers of chicken. This is largely why two-thirds of the world's meat now comes from factory farming. So what can you do about the animal cruelty and health problems this gross over-consumption is causing? Take part in Meat Free Week from March 18-24 to help spread the word and raise funds for this important issue. All money raised from the initiative goes to the animal protection institute Voiceless, who help protect factory farmed animals in Australia. And they're not trying to persuade you to become an avid vegan or vegetarian; it's simply about modifying meat consumption: limiting meat intake and only choosing free-range animal products in order to reduce the amount of factory farming in Australia. You could also improve your own health in the process as eating excessive amounts of meat can lead to heart disease, kidney failure or even cancer. Simply sign up and create your profile, read up and learn about factory farming so you can explain to others why it's so important, tell all your family and friends about it and get them to sign up as well or to sponsor you with a small donation, stock up on fresh ingredients and try out some delicious meat-free recipes designed by celebrity chefs, then go without meat for seven days and tell everyone how it's going through social media, particularly with the hashtag #meatfreeweek.
Scenic sights, food-filled days and nights, a jam-packed program teeming with event highlights: that's how winter starts each year in the Scenic Rim. For the month of June, this world-renowned southeast Queensland region gets into festival mode, celebrating the eating and drinking options that the area is known for. When you're not touring farms, for instance, you're tucking into farm-to-table feasts. When you're not settling in for long lunches and fire-cooked meals, too, you're learning how to make cheese, saying cheers to spirits, meeting camels or picking edible flowers. That's the Scenic Rim Eat Local Month way, as attendees can enjoy from Friday, May 30–Sunday, June 29 in 2025. By the numbers, this year's fest is going big, with more than 100 food events on the itinerary — and almost 40 of them newcomers to the program. Among that total figure, there's also over 40 long lunches, dinners and degustations; 64 on-farm activities; and 25 workshops and classes. It falls at the end of 2025's Scenic Rim Eat Local Month, but the fest-within-a-fest celebration that is the Winter Harvest Festival remains one of the event's standouts, taking over Kalbar for three days. Beforehand, across a region that spans from Beaudesert, Kerry and Mount Alford to Beechmont and Tamborine Mountain, too, camel tours, vodka tastings, becoming a brewmaster for a day, high tea and cocktails in a rainforest, a market put on by Towri Sheep Cheeses and learning to make citrus liqueur are among the month's offerings. Also included: a fest dedicated to fermented food, taking to the sky in a hot-air balloon, crafting your own rum, picnicking and walking with alpacas, meandering along an edible garden trail and marking the winter solstice with a camping cookout. If you've ever tasted carrot ice cream, that's likely because you've hit up Scenic Rim Eat Local Month before — or Scenic Rim Eat Local Week, as it was known until 2022. This is the only time of the year that Moffatt's Fresh Produce whip up the unique dessert. The event's annual Kalfresh Carrot Day is also on the agenda, and is always popular. This is a part of the world where 600 million of the orange vegetables are grown each year, after all.
I’m that person that constantly mentions and complains about how inflexible they are. I can barely touch my toes; don’t even get me started about my hamstrings. I always say that I should start yoga, as all my friends (and even my mum) are doing it and enjoying it. Are you like me? Do you crave a bit of extra flexibility? Do you need to relax and unwind? Do you need to ease yourself into some form of exercise? It’s our chance to make a change: Yoga Fest 2014. Trust me, I know that a festival of yoga sounds like a tame affair, but it isn’t. Get this: market stalls, dance workshops, food stalls, natural medicine demonstrations are all happening throughout the two days as well as heaps and heaps of yoga. Head over to the Old Museum where there will be five halls of yoga. Tickets are on sale now, so make sure you buy ahead as they will be more expensive on the day.
Everyone knows what school holidays mean: noisy kids causing a ruckus everywhere, all the time. Nowhere is this more highlighted than at your average shopping centre, food court or cinema. During these trying times dotted throughout the calendar, it can often be hard to have an ‘adult’ moment when surrounded by those enjoying their own fleeting freedom. Rather than give up the idea entirely of an enjoyable outing, it’s easier to adapt. Don’t risk your local Event Cinema – it’s definitely not worth it. Instead, head for somewhere guaranteed to be quiet and sophisticated, and full of people your own age. The Powerhouse is one of these venues and most certainly can assist you with their monthly screening of Antidote Films – movies that matter. This Sunday they’ll be screening Life In Movement, a documentary about a death in the Sydney Dance Company. Plus, as well as saving you from contact with kids, this event is free.
One king. Six wives. Centuries of folks being fascinated with the regal story. Throw in pop songs as well, and that's the smash-hit Six the Musical formula, as Australian audiences discovered in 2021, 2022 and 2023 — and can again in Melbourne and Sydney in 2024, then in Brisbane in 2025. If you've ever needed proof that some stories never get old, the ongoing obsession with Britain's royal history provides plenty. 2024's inescapable Kate Middleton fixation and photo situation has served up just the latest reminder. On screens and stages, a slice of regal intrigue is regularly awaiting our viewing, too, interpreting and remixing the past in the process. The Crown might take ample artistic license with reality, but it's got nothing on the empowering pop-scored twist on the 16th century that's been wowing audiences in Six the Musical. This theatre sensation takes a few cues from well-known history, adds toe-tapping tunes and makes stage magic. If you think that you know the stories of Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr, then you probably do — even those with little interest in Britain's past kings and queens are likely aware that Henry VIII had six wives — but Six the Musical's version isn't about telling the same old tale. Victoria's next dance with the show arrives from Saturday, August 3 at Comedy Theatre. Sydney's will start on Friday, October 25 at Theatre Royal Sydney. And in Brisbane, theatre lovers can start 2025 with Six the Musical at QPAC Playhouse from Thursday, January 2. First premiering back at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, then jumping to London's West End — and winning Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Costume Design, plus a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theatre Album, along the way — Six the Musical gleans inspiration from one of the most famous sextets there's ever been. It also finds its own angle despite how popular the Tudor monarch's love life has been in pop culture. So, move over 00s TV series The Tudors and 2008 movie The Other Boleyn Girl — and this one takes the pop part rather seriously. Six the Musical is presented as a pop concert, in fact, with the Catherines, Annes and Jane all taking to the microphone to tell their stories. Each woman's aim: to stake their claim as the wife who suffered the most at the king's hands, and to become the group's lead singer as a result. Expect Six the Musical's comeback tour to be popular. In Sydney, it played a whopping 15-week Sydney Opera House from December 2021, then returned to the Harbour City from August 2021 due to demand. Six the Musical Australian Tour 2024–25: From Saturday, August 3, 2024 — Comedy Theatre, Melbourne From Friday, October 25, 2024 — Theatre Royal Sydney, Sydney From Thursday, January 2, 2025 — QPAC Playhouse, Brisbane Six the Musical is touring Australia again in 2024 and 2025. For more information, for pre-sale tickets and for general ticket sales from Wednesday, March 27, 2024, head to the musical's website. Images: James D Morgan, Getty Images.
Back in May, Prime Minister Scott Morrison outlined a three-step roadmap to a 'COVIDSafe Australia', which included all interstate borders opening and the possibility of a travel bubble with NZ as part of the third step. That roadmap was then put on hold after a spike in cases across the country, but the Prime Minister has today announced some good news: seven out of eight states and territories are onboard for a revised version of the plan and hope to reopen their borders in time for Christmas. At a national cabinet meeting today, Friday, September 4, the Prime Minister said leaders of the country's states and territories discussed the reopening of interstate borders and all bar WA agreed to work towards reopening them by December. "We agreed today with the objective that was set out in the May plan to be at the end of that three-step process, which we will seek to ensure is even better defined. We said before we wanted to get there in July. And the virus prevented us from achieving that. Seven out of eight states and territories want us to get back to that position in December of this year," the Prime Minister said. He also said that WA has "a very different border and a very different economy than most of the other states and territories" and will not be "joining that aspiration at this time". To ensure the borders open safely, the Prime Minister said states and territories (bar WA) will be moving to a "hotspot model", but the exact definition of a "hotspot" still needed some work and has yet to be agreed upon. According to a document released by the government, and subsequently Tweeted by journalists, that starting point definition is 30 cases in three consecutive days (an average of ten locally acquired cases per day) for metropolitan areas and nine cases over three consecutive days (an average of three a day) for regional and rural areas. Over the past three days, the number of new locally acquired cases in NSW have been seven, nine and 16; and the new daily cases in Victoria have been 81, 113 and 90. [caption id="attachment_772589" align="alignnone" width="1920"] New Zealand[/caption] The Prime Minister also raised the issue of a possible "travel bubble" with New Zealand again, but said at this point it would just be one way. "I spoke to Prime Minister Ardern this morning, and what I advised her was that Australia will be looking to apply the same hotspot approach to New Zealand," the Prime Minister said. "So, that means, when we're in a position to do so... then we would be able to have New Zealanders come to Australia. That doesn't mean Australians can go to New Zealand. That's a matter for Prime Minister Ardern. But if there's no COVID in Christchurch, and there's no COVID in Queensland, then there's no reason both of them can't come to Sydney. And that will mean, I think, an important boost for our tourist economy, whether it's in New South Wales or anywhere else." In terms of other travel, Australia's international travel ban was yesterday extended until Thursday, December 17, but the Prime Minister has previously suggested that the country's border may not open until 2021. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and current interstate travel restrictions, head to the Australian Government website.
Brisbane's hyped-up and Island-signed foursome The Cairos are about to embark on a national tour that you cannot afford to miss but certainly can afford to attend. Immediately following a national support slot for Sydney big timers The Holidays, the triple j Unearthed-winning newbies to Island Records are taking their celebrated sound across the country with their own headliner tour. The Brissy lads are keeping the motor running off the back of releasing their brand new debut album Dream of Reason. Tracks 'Desire' and 'We All Buy Stars' just scream "hear me live" and if the feedback coming out of their recent Asia tour is anything to go by, this is going to be one of the most justified sub $30 spends this year (now you can't even use budget-related gripes as an excuse to not go). Plus they just got a new keyboard. Now you're really obliged to head along. Make sure to get there early as Chinese psych band Nova Heart kicks things off. Seems Beijing psychedelia proves a perfect support pairing ahead of the Brisbane up-and-comers, so pop in early for a crispy Alhambra bevvy and a fully-fledged bliss out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LAsjO3UIUsY
Collaboration is the name of the game when it comes to exhibitions at Artisan. This gallery is notorious for putting minds together to create unique and thoughtful art works and their latest exhibition is no exception. Greensmith is a collaborative effort between designers from Queensland and San Francisco. Jewellery is the focus here, as environmental issues are forcing jewellers around the world to rethink their practices and look for greener ways to produce goods. The latest in green design will be on display, with work from both Queensland and San Francisco adorning the Artisan gallery space. This exhibition looks deep into the issues at hand, with environmentally friendly studio practices and the use of recycled and reclaimed materials adhered to strongly. Check out the exhibition and see a jeweller at work at the pop-up studio in the heart of the exhibition. Greensmith was created by Jewellers & Metalsmiths Group of Queensland (JMGQ) and Metal Arts Guild San Francisco (MAGSF).
Daniel Lopatin's 2011 album Replica won him Best New Music, but he was steering analogue synths through unchartered territory long before the tastemakers caught on. Not to suggest Pitchfork was slow on the uptake or anything – Lopatin's first few albums were released on cassette only, making them significantly less RTable than SoundCloud uploads. It's the retro equipment though that makes Oneohtrix (pronounced "one-oh-trix) Point Never's progressive sound so immediate and so immediately recognisable. Droning synths (made on an old Roland Juno-60) are scraped through astral echoes and across jittery chord progressions, giving them an intimacy that's heightened further by the hiss of black thread. He's managed to keep that sound while incorporating both noise and accessible melodies in 2010's Returnal, and venturing into 2011 with an album recorded on studio software. Which is great because, you know, Spotify and stuff. https://youtube.com/watch?v=hiwi7d0f91Y
If you're a fan of a stiff drink, finding a bar, pub or other boozy establishment generally isn't difficult. Locating a bottle shop selling your beverage of choice usually isn't, either. But if you're giving your liver a rest for a month or longer, you're often the designated driver, or you're staying away from the hard stuff for health, cultural or any other reason, filling your fridge, cupboard and bar cart with decent non-alcoholic alternatives isn't always as easy as it should be. Enter Killjoy Drinks, the new curated online store that specialises in booze-free beverages that you can knock back while your pals are hitting the sauce. It's set to launch on Tuesday, December 1 — and to showcase the best in non-alcoholic drinks from around the world. No, opting away from booze doesn't just mean consuming copious amounts of soft drink. Indeed, showing that there's much, much more to sipping alcohol-free tipples than being stuck with juice, lemonade or water is one of Killjoy Drinks' aims — hence its curated approach. The brainchild of Brisbanite Kat Brophy, who decided to launch the online store after her own experiences trying to find tasty booze-less bevvies, it'll be selling standout local and international drops across three categories: drinks for the wine glass, drinks for the bar cart and drinks to hold in your hand. Think non-alcoholic Melbourne gin, alcohol-free rum from Sweden and zero-proof wine from London, plus non-boozy cocktail premixes from the UK and ready-to-drink G&Ts sans alcohol from our own shores. Heroing indie makers and distilleries, Killjoy Drinks' range will all be available to purchase via its site — and it'll then be delivered to your door anywhere in Australia. You'll be able to nab packs, too, in case you don't quite know where to start. Some will focus on recreating the cocktail experience ($60–80), and others on making you feel like you're sipping wine ($85–170) — or you can opt for a pack with a bit of everything ($160). Explaining her motivation for starting the online store, Brophy explains that "so many of us have enjoyed a glass of wine on a wintry evening. And if you want to spend your Saturday doing Jaegerbombs, go for it. But our philosophy is that you shouldn't have to feel bad for not drinking alcohol. And you shouldn't have to sacrifice your tastebuds either". Killjoy Drinks launches on Tuesday, December 1 — head to the online store's website for further details. Images: photo credit Annika Kafcaloudis / styling credit Nat Turnbull.
Big Fork Theatre's addition to Anywhere Theatre Festival 2016 isn't about the destination — it's about the journey (don't hurt us, HSC-survivors). Come on, given that their show is actually a comedy walking tour of West End, that's a completely understandable reference. In character as Bevan, Beryl, Bob, Barb and Benjamin of the Edenglassie Historical Society, the group will enlighten interested parties about the past, present and future history of the inner-city area over a leisurely stroll. Whether you're a newcomer or a local, you're certain to learn something — or to laugh at a feast of sketches and improv. Or both.
Unlike a certain lab coat-wearing grandfather and his nervous grandson, we can't all exclaim "wubba lubba dub dub" and zap our way to a different part of the multiverse when things aren't going our way. But, we can get schwifty, kick back and watch a couple of animated interdimensional adventurers unleash their specific style of chaos, with Rick and Morty set to return in 2021 for its fifth season. Once again, Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith (both voiced by show co-creator Justin Roiland) will do what they do best: not just aping a concept straight out of Back to the Future, but wreaking havoc in as many universes as they can stumble across. Also back are Morty's mother Beth (Sarah Chalke, Firefly Lane), father Jerry (Chris Parnell, Archer) and sister Summer (Spencer Grammer, Tell Me a Story) — and, as the just-released first trailer for season five shows, they're playing a big part in Rick and Morty's dimension-hopping antics this time around. Sneak peeks at Rick and Morty's upcoming episodes are more about the mood, look and feel than the storylines. The show's trailers tease glimpses of all of the out-there situations that its characters will find themselves in, and leave the specifics for the new season itself. That's the case here, naturally — with nods to everything from Voltron to Blade bundled into the trailer, because that's the way the news goes. As for when you'll be able to watch the next batch of Rick and Morty anarchy — and rejoin the smartest Rick and Morty-est Morty in the universe, of course — the fifth season will start airing week-to-week in the US from mid-June. Hopefully Netflix Down Under will follow suit shortly afterwards. That's what happened with season four, which released its long-awaited episodes in two batches in 2019 and 2020. Watch the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Zy_mLgSNQ Rick and Morty's fifth season will start airing weekly from June 20 in the US. Down Under, the show airs on Netflix — and we'll update you with a release date for the new season when one is announced.
2023 is set to be a great year for art lovers, especially if you're a fan of Frida Kahlo. In Sydney from January, a multi-sensory installation will let visitors immerse themselves in Kahlo's works; however, that's not the only way to bask in the Mexican artist's creative glories. Come winter, the Art Gallery of South Australia will also pay tribute to the iconic figure, her well-known spouse Diego Rivera and the entire Mexican modernism movement. Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution will headline AGSA's 2023 program alongside another enormous and just-as-impressive exhibition: the already-announced Andy Warhol & Photography: A Social Media. That's three of the biggest names in 20th-century art, all gracing the Adelaide venue's walls and halls in the space of a few months, with the Mexican modernism exhibition running from Saturday, June 24–Sunday, September 17. [caption id="attachment_879279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frida Kahlo, born Mexico City 1907, died Mexico City 1954, Self-Portrait with Monkeys, 1943, oil on canvas, 81.5 x 63 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of Mexican Modernism, © Banco de México Rivera Kahlo Museums Trust/ARS. Copyright Agency, 2022[/caption] Visitors will be able to see more than 150 works during Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, spanning everything from paintings and photographs to works on paper and period clothing, as drawn from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection. Two key aims: examining why Kahlo's work, and Kahlo herself, holds such enduring appeal; and placing Kahlo and Rivera's art in context with their contemporaries. "Each generation brings a new lens through which to view the phenomenon that is Frida Kahlo. A 21st-century muse, Kahlo is today revered as a feminist and as a singular political and creative force. Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution speaks to the influence and ingenuity of art practice in Mexico and aims to recontextualise the foremost presence of Kahlo within our society today," said AGSA Director Rhana Devenport ONZM, announcing the exhibition. [caption id="attachment_879280" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Diego Rivera, born Guanajuanto, Mexico 1886, died Mexico City 1957, Sunflowers, 1943, oil on canvas, 90 x 130 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of Mexican Modernism, © Banco de México Rivera Kahlo Museums Trust/ARS. Copyright Agency, 2022.[/caption] "Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution is the most comprehensive exhibition of Mexican Modernism ever seen in Australia, from the unrivalled collection of Jacques and Natasha Gelman. Close friends of Kahlo and Rivera, the Gelmans were pioneering collectors who formed an outstanding collection of works representing Mexican modernism," explains Tansy Curtin, AGSA's Curator of International Art, Pre-1980s. [caption id="attachment_879281" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Martin Munkacsi, born Kolozsvar, Hungary (now Romania) 1896, died New York 1963, Frida and Diego, 1934, gelatin silver photograph, 35.6 x 27.9 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of Mexican Modernism.[/caption] Accordingly, while Kahlo, Rivera, and their art, connection, politics and influence all sit at the centre of this wide-ranging showcase, it'll also highlight pieces by Manuel and Lola Álvarez Bravo, Miguel Covarrubias, María Izquierdo, Carlos Mérida, David Alfaro Siqueiros and more. Focusing on the first half of the 20th century, this an Australian-exclusive exhibition, too — meaning that you'll have to go to Adelaide to see it — as well as most comprehensive exhibition of Mexican modernism that the country has ever seen, as Curtin calls out. [caption id="attachment_879282" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nickolas Muray, born Szeged, Hungary 1892, died New York 1965, Frida with Red "Rebozo", 1939, Carbro print, 25 x 20.3 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of Mexican Modernism, © Nickolas Muray Photo Archives.[/caption] AGSA announced Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution as part of its full 2023 slate, which also includes the first-ever survey exhibition of Western Aranda artist Vincent Namatjira, which'll open in October during the venue's contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art celebration Tarnanthi Festival — and then tour to the National Gallery of Australia in 2024. There's also the return of the Tarnanthi Art Fair and the $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize, the latter for artists under 40; ceramics exhibition Milton Moon: Crafting Modernism; Misty Mountain, Shining Moon, highlighting Japanese landscapes in art from the 16th century onwards; and Surrender & Catch: The Art of Brent Harris, focusing on the Aotearoa-born Australian artist. [caption id="attachment_879270" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Top image: Diego on my Mind, Frida Kahlo, born Mexico City 1907, died Mexico City 1954, 1943, oil on Masonite, 76 x 61 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of Mexican Modernism, © Banco de México Rivera Kahlo Museums Trust/ARS. Copyright Agency, 2022.[/caption] Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution will display at the Art Gallery of South Australia from Saturday, June 24–Sunday, September 17, 2023. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the AGSA website. Top image: excerpt of Diego on my Mind, Frida Kahlo, born Mexico City 1907, died Mexico City 1954, 1943, oil on Masonite, 76 x 61 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of Mexican Modernism, © Banco de México Rivera Kahlo Museums Trust/ARS. Copyright Agency, 2022.
In cinemas, on TV and on the page, the past decade or so has served up more than a couple of Nordic noir hits. It's also left audiences wanting more. So, when Australia's annual Scandinavian Film Festival rolls around each year — sitting out 2020 for obvious reasons, though — it tends to deliver a few twisty thrillers from that part of the world. In fact, when 2021's fest kicks off in Sydney on Tuesday, July 6 — and plays Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Byron Bay as well — it'll start with a must-see new entry in the Scandi-noir genre. Hailing from Denmark, opening night's Wildland stars Sidse Babette Knudsen (Borgen, Westworld) as the head of a family crime syndicate. She's charged with looking after her teenage niece and, in a movie that instantly brings Australia's own Animal Kingdom to mind, the latter soon learns more about the family business. Also on this year's Scandinavian Film Festival lineup: Knudsen again in Copenhagen-set psychological thriller The Exception; masterful and engaging Norwegian film Disco, about an evangelical dance champion who finds her faith tested; and surreal mother-daughter drama Psychosis in Stockholm. Or, for fans of Nordic cinema's big names, relationship drama Hope co-stars Stellan Skarsgård (Chernobyl), musical comedy A Piece of My Heart sees Swedish-born actor Malin Akerman (Rampage) back on home turf, and The Country hails from Icelandic filmmaker Grímur Hákonarson — who directed Rams, which was remade in Australia last year. Other highlights include Icelandic box office hits Agnes Joy and The Last Fishing Trip, the latter of which has been compared to The Hangover; Finnish biopics Helene and Tove, about painter Helene Schjerfbeck and visual artist and author Tove Jansson, respectively; Tigers, which tells the true tale of former Inter Milan player Martin Bengtsson; and closing night's 50th anniversary-screening of The Emigrants starring Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann. Australia's various country- and region-focused film fests have always let cinephiles see the world without leaving their cinema seats — and with trips out of the country (other than New Zealand) off the cards at the moment, that's clearly a big drawcard at this year's Scandinavian Film Festival, too. The Scandinavian Film Festival tours the country between Tuesday, July 6–Wednesday, August 4, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinemas from July 6–28; Melbourne's Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino and Pentridge Cinema from July 8–28; Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James St from July 15–August 4; Adelaide's Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas from July 13–August 4; and Perth's Luna Leederville, Luna on SX & Palace Raine Square from July 14– August 4. For the full program, visit the festival website.
Addiction. It’s a fraught word. Initial thoughts turn to booze and drugs, but in reality addictions reach further afield - carbs, shopping, watching Breaking Bad, facebook, sex. In fact there is an addiction to fit all types. X is the new performance by Sunny Drake exploring addiction through the world of Caitlin and Jamie, two best friends, alongside Naked and Fancy, two puppets. Drake delves into the quick fixes and obsessions that inhabit our lives and draw us in. This is a one-man show encompassing a range of different elements including stop-motion animation, puppetry and live performance, allowing the audience various entry points into the work. Drake has centered the piece in LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, intersex and queer) experiences. This is core to Drake’s work; he seeks to make art that reflects his experience as a queer transgendered person. Alongside this though his theatre is always fun and engaging for the audience, but it should leave them with a few questions and new ideas to ponder. Following the premiere season of X at Metro Arts the show will take the world by storm when Drake takes the production to North America for the USA National Queer Arts Festival.
When it comes to showcasing up-and-coming Australian musical talents, and also celebrating the country's music industry in general, Brisbane's BIGSOUND has never held back. Going big is right there in its name, after all. So, with the event finally making its in-person return after a pandemic-afflicted couple of years — and also marking its 21st birthday — it should come as no surprise that it's set to host its biggest lineup ever. Back in April, BIGSOUND confirmed its comeback details for 2022, including dates and basic numbers — a four-day event including the conference side of things, running from Tuesday, September 6–Friday, September 9, and popping up in 21 different venues, to be precise. It also promised that more than 150 bands and artists would take to its stages, too. Now that the full bill is here, that figure has gone up to a whopping 182. [caption id="attachment_861893" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jess Gleeson[/caption] That's 38 artists more than the last in-person event, in 2019, boasted — and they'll take to 23 stages at those 21 Fortitude Valley venues over three nights. Leading the charge: Adrian Dzvuke, Budjerah, flowerkid, Dallas Woods, Mia Wray and Teenage Joans, as well as Dulcie, Ghost Care, Ashwarya, Birdz, Jem Cassar-Daley, Concrete Surfers and VOIID. The list goes on, and also includes the event's first BIGSOUND Country lineup, spanning country The Buckleys, Hinterland, DARLINGHURST, Loren Ryan, Melanie Dyer, Taylor Moss and The Wolfe Brothers. A contingent from New Zealand will head over as well, with JessB, Soaked Oats, Troy Kingi, TE KAAHU, Church & AP, MELODOWNZ and Jenny Mitchell making the trip. [caption id="attachment_861894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] Wondering which venues will be doing the honours? The list features everywhere from Black Bear Lodge and both inside and outdoors at The Brightside through to The Wickham and The Zoo. If you're a BIGSOUND regular, you'll know what all of this entails: jumping between as many spaces as possible, all teeming with as many bands, industry folks and music-loving punters as possible, and enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent that's on offer. Expect 2022's iteration to be no different to usual — well, the pre-pandemic usual — although the vibe is set to jump up a few notches given that there's so much to celebrate. [caption id="attachment_851420" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bianca Holderness[/caption] Past events have showcased everyone from Gang of Youths, Flume, Tash Sultana and Courtney Barnett to San Cisco, Violent Soho, Methyl Ethel and The Jungle Giants, making the BIGSOUND program a very reliable bellwether of current and up-and-coming musos. This year's fest will also include 300 artist showcases and more than 20 parties, while the conference side of things will welcome in 150-plus speakers over 55 sessions (and more than 1500 delegates as well). Leading the conference bill so far: 'Friday' singer Rebecca Black; activist, author and #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke; Mushroom Group CEO Matt Gudinski; and Jaguar Jonze and Example. BIGSOUND's return to the Valley's streets follows a virtual event in 2020, and comes after 2021's fest was originally slated to go ahead in-person, but had to cancel due to COVID-19. [caption id="attachment_851423" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] BIGSOUND 2022 FESTIVAL LINEUP: Adam Newling Adrian Dzvuke AGUNG MANGO Alter Boy Andrew Gurruwiwi Band Andrew Swift Andy Golledge Anesu Aodhan Asha Jefferies Ashwarya Ayesha Madon Baby Cool Banjo Lucia Beckah Amani BIG SKEEZ BIG WETT Birdz BLOODMOON Blusher Bones and Jones BOY SODA Brekky Boy Bud Rokesky Budjerah Bumpy C.O.F.F.I.N Caroline & Claude Chanel Loren Chloe Dadd Church & AP CLOE TERARE Club Angel Cody Jon COLLAR CONCRETE SURFERS cookii Dallas Woods dameeeela Daniel Shaw DARLINGHURST Dean Brady Death by Denim Diimpa Dulcie Eastbound Buzz EGOISM Eilish Gilligan Eliza Hull Eluize Enclave ENOLA Evie Irie Fash Five Island Drive flowerkid FLY BOY JACK Folk Bitch Trio Forest Claudette FOURA Franko Gonzo Full Flower Moon Band Future Static Germein Ghost Care Girl and Girl Gold Fang Grace Cummings and Her Band Grand Pine Great Sage Greatest Hits grentperez Greta Stanley Grievous Bodily Calm Hallie HANNI Hauskey Hinterland Holliday Howe Hope D ISUA JACOTÉNE JELLY OSHEN Jem Cassar-Daley Jenny Mitchell Jerome Farah Jess Day JessB June Jones KANADA THE LOOP Kee'ahn KEYAN Kid Pharaoh Kutcha Edwards LÂLKA Lee Sugar LION Liyah Knight Loren Ryan LOSER MALi JO$E Melaleuca Melanie Dyer MELODOWNZ Memphis LK merci, mercy Mia Wray Mitch Santiago Molly Millington Monnie Moonboy Moss MOUNTAIN WIZARD DEATH CULT Mr Rhodes Mulalo MUNGMUNG Mvlholland Newport Nick Griffith Nick Ward Noah Dillon OK HOTEL Old Mervs Phoebe Go Pink Matter Platonic Sex Queen P RinRin Romero Roy Bing Ruby Gill Ryan Fennis & Voidhood Saint Ergo Sam Windley San Joseph Sappho Sarah Wolfe SayGrace Selfish Sons Selve Shanae (FKA MADAM3EMPRESS) Shannen James Siobhan Cotchin Skeleten Soaked Oats SOPHIYA South Summit Srirachi Stevan Suzi Talk Heavy Tasman Keith Taylor Moss TE KAAHU Teenage Dads Teenage Joans Teether & Kuya Neil Tentendo The Atomic Beau Project The Buckleys The Last Martyr The Rions THE RIOT The Terrys The Wolfe Brothers To Octavia Toby Hobart Troy Kingi Tulliah VOIID VOLI K Waxflower WIIGZ Wildheart Woodes Yb. Yen Strange yergurl YNG Martyr Zeolite ZPLUTO BIGSOUND 2022 VENUES: Black Bear Lodge Blute's Bar The Brightside The Brightside Outdoors EC Venue Ivory Tusk King Lear's Throne La La Land O'Skulligans The Outpost Press Club The Prince Consort Hotel Prohibition Ric's Bar + Backyard Stranded Bar Summa House Tomcat The Warehouse The Wickham Woolly Mammoth Mane Stage The Zoo BIGSOUND 2022 will take place between Tuesday, September 6–Friday, September 9 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit bigsound.org.au. Top image: Bianca Holderness.
A collection of Australia and beyond’s finest DJs descend upon The Family Club for a night of progressive, pumping and electro house. The Potbellee DJs, Jonny Sonic and Blue MC, are back where they belong, ripping dance halls and dance floors apart, having just emerged from the studio where they’ve been writing their second album, Destination Now. Benibee comes to each gig with a flexible feel for the music he creates, breaking each layer down into a separate, deconstructable piece. Beautifully arranged with shades of big room, progressive and electro house his sound has seen this British artist win a host of awards. You’ll see why. Jeremy Iliev creates an atmosphere that taps into the real music that lies beneath all the tracks he plays. With a sound that somehow comes across as a blend of strictly danceable chunky and jackin’, quirky electro, big room and club vibes Jeremy’s sound carries influence from artists like Dirty South, Micky Slim and Paolo Mojo. Other DJs on the bill include Fid Frantic and Tim Plunkett.
What's a conference without some late night hijinks? Boring, that's what — so thank goodness for Brisbane based independent record label Dew Process and their annual BIGSOUND party. After the first day of proceedings, stay up until just before midnight rolls around for a few live sets by Eves The Behavior and LK McKay, plus a bar tab and snacks. It's the only place to be, other than perhaps getting some sleep for the next few days of activities — but who'd want to do something sensible like that? This event is one of our top five picks of BIGSOUND. Check out the other four here.
Virtual assistants in our homes, facial recognition technology everywhere, drones throughout the skies — it's no secret that we're being watched and listened to more than ever before. None of us want our data used for nefarious purposes, but what is the true price of living in such a state of surveillance? The Ethics Centre director Dr Simon Longstaff is chairing a panel — which features AI researcher Toby Walsh, former national human rights commissioner Edward Santow and journalist and filmmaker Yaara Bou Melhem — that will attempt to answer some of the modern world's most urgent questions. Join these luminaries in The Great Hall at UTS as they share their ideas and concerns.
When is a Friday night market more than just a market? When it includes all the food, drinks and stalls you'd expect, and live music as well, but also pairs them with fire twirlers, stilt walkers and fortune tellers — and a neon forest and a jumping castle. That's all on the bill at Brisbane's latest way to farewell the working week, Westoria. As the name makes plain, not to mention the list of highlights, it's about to become West End's new after-work go-to. The vibe: weird, wild and wonderful, plus night market-meets-playground as well. Well, that's the mood and attitude that organisers are pushing before the first weekly event on Friday, October 7, which will run from 4–10pm on Jane Street next to the regular West End Markets site. For Westoria, the idea is for different sights, sounds and smells to await at every turn, whether you're keen for a bite to eat, something to sip or to take in the roving performances — or, ideally, all of the above. If it's the culinary side of the markets that has you excited, the food lineup will include Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers, Wagyu Blacks, Roll It Ice Cream Co and others. Drinks-wise, beer and wine will be on offer, alongside a signature cocktail called Stardust. Entry costs $4, and the event hails from Goodwill Projects, which has a hefty list of other markets around town to its name, including West End's aforementioned usual markets. If you've ever hit up the weekly Reddacliffe Place Markets in the CBD, too, or the Milton Markets, Nundah Farmers Markets and Carseldine Farmers and Artisan Markets, then you've been to its events.
