Australia's reigning gelato kings are back at it. Gelato Messina, which transformed from a single Sydney store in 2002 into a bona fide national empire, has just launched two Woolworths-exclusive flavours — and we are running, not walking, to get out hands on these ones, winter be damned. Landing now in freezers nationwide and online, the brand-new P.B. Peanut Butter Fudge & Praline and Super Flan sound exactly like the types of indulgent flavours that has seen Messina become a household name, stacked with in-house sauces and signature mix-ins. Channeling strong 'give the people what they want' energy, each of the new flavours is a riff on a beloved Messina signature. Long-time devotees might find the P.B. Peanut Butter Fudge & Praline familiar, and they wouldn't be mistaken — it's a supermarket-ready take on one of the brand's most in-demand scoop-shop specials. Each tub is a flavour bomb of creamy peanut butter gelato swirled with house-made peanut praline and rich peanut fudge. Meanwhile, Super Flan brings one of the brand's biggest fan faves to the masses: a creamy vanilla custard gelato rippled with Messina's in-house dulce de leche, made the proper Argentinian way. Each flavour comes in a 475ml pint, and joins the five Messina tub flavours lining Woolies shelves — namely, Pistachio Praline, Tiramisu, Dulce de Leche, Hazelnut Praline and Dulce de Leche, and Robert Brownie Jr. Since its October 2024 launch, the tub line has become one of the supermarket's best-selling frozen dessert lines, with over 500,000 pints already having flown off the shelves. While you're likely more concerned with what's going on inside the tub, the artwork on the front is worth a second look. The colourful characters that adorn each tub have been designed by Bondi-born, New York-based artist Jeremyville, who was also responsible for the vibrant murals in Messina's original Darlinghurst store. "Gelato Messina has always been about quality, creativity, and making people happy, and pushing the boundaries of flavour and quality," says Gelato Messina founder, Nick Palumbo. "Expanding into Woolworths has allowed us to share our passion with more Australians, while staying true to our roots." Messina's new P.B. Peanut Butter Fudge & Praline and Super Flan flavours are available now and exclusively at Woolworths, in the freezer aisle or online. For more info, head to the Messina website.
Can you feel a tingling in your toes as your feet start to defrost? That's the feeling of winter slipping away (or maybe you've been sitting cross-legged for too long) and with its demise comes the return of Australia's beloved Moonlight Cinema. Ahhh balmy nights on the grass, we have missed you. Heralding the coming of the warmer months, Moonlight Cinema is a summertime tradition that is thankfully making a comeback despite everything 2020 has thrown our way. The film program is yet to be announced, but we'll keep you updated as soon as it is. Nosh-wise, Moonlight Cinema will again let you BYO movie snacks and drinks (no alcohol in Brisbane, though), but the unorganised can also enjoy a plethora of snacks from food trucks — perfect, messy treats made for reclining on bean beds. This season includes screens in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, running from November through to April. Only vague dates have been announced for now, but expect to hear a lot more in the coming weeks. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2019 DATES Sydney: November (Centennial Park) Brisbane: November (Roma Street Parkland) Adelaide: December (Botanic Park) Perth: December (Kings Park and Botanic Garden) Melbourne: January (Royal Botanic Gardens) The Moonlight Cinema kicks off in November. For more information and bookings here.
In all art forms, creativity is the cornerstone of the craft. As we move into a modern world where everything has been created before, creative work has come from all corners of contemporary life. One could list many crevices where the beauty of the art form has spawned an unlikely trade, but never before has gelato been the source of such delicious innovation. Not like this. It is the cult of Gelato Messina, of course, which has spilled into every corner of Sydney like a sugar-laden avalanche blanketing the city. People eat it for breakfast, follow the rotating specials like movements of the sun and — I can only assume — thank the goddamn world each morning that Messina is open seven days a week, 364 days a year. It’s a sheer phenomenon and, with the opening of the first Melbourne store today, it's not one that's waning anytime soon. With 10 years already under their belt, an operation that started with just three guys and a gelataria in Darlinghurst has become one with a slew of stores, a factory and over 100 staff. While it's taken a while for Messina to drip down to Melbourne, it was just a matter of finding the right place, says part owner and founder Nick Palumbo. "We feel at home in Melbourne, even Fitzroy kind of reminds us of Darlinghurst," says Palumbo. "For us it just made sense." The Smith Street store may take their total to six (with four in Sydney and one in China), but the additional demand certainly won't affect the gelato's artisanal properties. Ask anyone in the Messina family, and they'll tell you that their gelato is unlike anyone else's in Australia. It's artisan gelato in every way; everything is distinctly made from scratch and nothing is out of the question. "What we do differently is that we don't use any pre-prepared pastes or powders that come out of Europe," says Palumbo. "Until about six years ago we had a few flavours that we could not get right, where still using pastes would achieve a better product, but, we finally cut that and now we don't use anything that comes out of Italy. We just do everything ourselves." While most gelato makers rely on flavoured pastes — akin to a box of cake mix — Messina works of the premise of creating recipes from raw, mostly local ingredients. One of their most popular permanent flavours, tiramisu, was the flavour that spearheaded the whole concept of making their own versions of desserts, says Palumbo. And so, they built a real tiramisu, complete with egg yolks, mascarpone cheese, marsala wine and coffee-soaked biscuits that could be frozen, churned and sold in-store. There's no doubt that this is doing things the hard way — "it's a very labour intensive procedure," says Palumbo — but it seems it's the only way these guys know how to do it. And the proof is in the numbers: they go through 1000 litres of milk a day, 2 tonne of sugar a week and an obscene amount of salted caramel each month. The way Messina develop and produce their gelato is not only one of skill, but one that's reliant on constant innovation. With Palumbo's love of gelato dating back to early visits to his family's native Messina in Sicily, he saw an opportunity to bring real, Italian gelato to Sydney — with a twist. "Back then, and even now, gelato places are doing the same flavours they've been doing for twenty years, and, in Australia, gelato has become this hard, icy thing — which it's not at all," says Palumbo. "We saw an opportunity to do something different and be creative and innovative with flavours." After starting to experiment with flavours such as Pavlova and coconut lychee, the team has progressively moved from tame to all-out rebellion with inventions such as Isn't That A Salad? (goats cheese, walnut, beetroot) and Nacho Libre (avocado cream, salsa, crushed corn chips). Taking inspiration from their mums, aunties, customers and progressive chefs, a lot of the flavours are variations of dishes or desserts they've eaten at restaurants. With five or six specials constantly rotating each week, the creative process is always in action. Managed by Simone Panetta, a man with a strong gelato background, Messina Melbourne is set to continue the gelato revolution. While the mix will be shipped to Fitzroy from the Rozelle factory, all the churning of the gelato will be done in store. If you're already following their Instagram account, you'll know that Sydney's weekly specials are posted as they are placed in the cabinet — and, for now, Melbourne will run on the same schedule. "We're going to start off with whatever specials are running in Sydney, will also run in Melbourne at the same time," says Palumbo. "It's going to be huge, but we’re going to give it a shot." And, giving it a go is something that's worked out pretty well for these ice cream artisans. Gelato is now an art form, with Messina at the helm of its reinvention. Gelato Messina is located at 237 Smith Street, Fitzroy. As part of Good Food Month, Gelato Messina is holding Talk & Taste Classes on Saturday 16, 23 & 30 at their Fitzroy store, $60.
It can be tricky to do something truly new in Melbourne's packed dining scene, but recently opened Ms Parker in The Motley is well on their way to achieving just that. Nestled on the ground floor of the bold and eclectic Motley Hotel, the menu celebrates seasonality and locally-sourced produce, taking cues from chef Steve Harry's rich and diverse culinary experience. Earlybirds can tuck into the likes of wattleseed sourdough, 'nduja shakshuka with dukkah, and even a brekkie pavlova paired with coconut sorbet. But while Ms Parker serves up coffee and excellent cafe fare by day, it's the transition into a clever yet unpretentious diner in the evening where the menu really shines. Guests will spot a healthy dose of Australian nostalgia, from a kangaroo tartare on top a vegemite cracker and a reimagined Dagwood dog, spiced with 'nduja and pickled mustard seeds. Diver deeper into the menu to indulge on plates that might touch on Harry's experience in Japanese kitchens, nod to his Northern African heritage or showcase traditional French technique. Bone marrow is elevated with a miso brûlée and fermented daikon, while rainbow trout is done up with roe and a beurre blanc. Grilled tiger prawns are tossed through tamarind and curry leaf, while duck liver parfait profiteroles showcase the team's creativity and culinary flare. Pavlova makes another welcomed appearance in the dessert section, and a small but curated menu of wines, cocktails and local beers are available throughout the day. Ms Parker is open daily 6.30am–late Monday–Friday, 7am–late Saturday–Sunday at 205 Bridge Road, Richmond. You can book via the Ms Parker website.
Where do artists find inspiration? The answer to that question is virtually endless, as perusing the Archibald Prize finalists every year illustrates. For the acclaimed Australian portraiture award, sometimes actors, musicians, comedians and filmmakers provide a spark. Authors, footballers, the folks doing the painting themselves: they all fit, too. Frequently, though, fellow artists inspire others to get the creative juices flowing. Among recent Archie winners, that was true for Tony Costa with Lindy Lee, Blak Douglas with Karla Dickens and Peter Wegner with Guy Warren, for instance — and, in 2025, it's also the case for Julie Fragar with her likeness of Justene Williams. This year's pick for the prestigious prize, Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), is also an instance of one Brisbane artist painting another to claim the $100,000 award. Fragar's win makes it three in a row for women at the Archies since 2023, following Laura Jones in 2024 with her portrait of author Tim Winton and Julia Gutman the year prior for a depiction of Montaigne. That said, Fragar is still just the 13th woman to win the 104-year-old art accolade. Even with recipients who've emerged victorious more than once — Judy Cassab in 1960 and 1967, and Del Kathryn Barton in2008 and 2013 — this is still only the 15th time that the prize has gone to a female talent. [caption id="attachment_1003358" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winner Archibald Prize 2025, Julie Fragar 'Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene)', oil on canvas, 240 x 180.4 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter.[/caption] "You work your whole career imagining this might happen one day. Thinking back to myself as a 17-year-old showing up at the Sydney College of the Arts — a kid from country New South Wales — it's incredible to think I have won the Archibald Prize," said Fragar about her win. "Portrait painting wasn't taken as seriously in the 1990s as it is today. I have always regarded the Archibald Prize as a place that understood the value of portraiture. To be the winner of the Archibald Prize is a point of validation. It means so much to have the respect of my colleagues at the Art Gallery. It doesn't get better than that." Fragar is the Head of Painting at the Queensland College of Art and Design, where Williams is the Head of Sculpture. "Justene is incredible. I feel very fortunate that she allowed me to do this portrait. There is nobody like her. The work is a reflection on the experience of making art to deadlines, and the labour and love of being a mother," said Fragar of her now-Archibald Prize-winning subject. "Here are two of Australia's great artists in conversation about what matters most to them. Julie Fragar has a sumptuous ability to transcend reality and depict her subjects technically but also psychologically. Justene Williams is a larger-than-life character, a performer — cacophonous and joyous," noted Art Gallery of New South Wales Director Maud Page about 2025's pick. "In this work, she is surrounded by her own artworks and, most important of all, her daughter Honore as a tiny figure atop a sculpture. It speaks to me as a powerful rendition of the juggle some of us perform as mothers and professionals." Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene) was selected from a pool of 57 finalists, including another awarded two-artist combination in Abdul Abdullah's portrait of fellow creative Jason Phu, aka 2025's Packing Room Prize recipient. Other contenders included likenesses of Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, Boy Swallows Universe star Felix Cameron, Miranda Otto, Grace Tame, Vincent Namatjira, filmmaker Warwick Thornton and comedian Aaron Chen, as whittled down from a total pool of 904 Archibald Prize entries for 2025. AGNSW also awards the Wynne and Sulman prizes at the same time as the Archibald — and across all three, from 2394 submissions, 2025 marks the first year that there were more finalist works by women artists in the accolades' history. [caption id="attachment_1003359" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winner Wynne Prize 2025, Jude Rae 'Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal', oil on linen, 200 x 150.4 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio.[/caption] For $50,000 Wynne Prize, which is all about landscape painting — and is Australia's oldest art award — Sydney artist Jude Rae's Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal was picked from 52 finalists and 758 entries. This is the third time that Rae has made the top batch of Wynne contenders. She's also been an Archie finalist four times (in 2014, 2019, 2021 and 2022) and was a Sulman finalist in 2021. "There is something compelling about the constantly flashing gantry lights and the floodlights blasting away in those hours just before dawn. I am up at various times and love to watch the pre-dawn light, when the sky is just starting to change colour. From my bathroom window on the fifth floor of my building, I have a clear view of that scene. There is no way to photograph it — it's too subtle and too fleeting. It's a big sky and we're all really little," Rae said about her piece. [caption id="attachment_1003361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winner Sulman Prize 2025, Gene A'Hern 'Sky painting', oil and oil stick on board, 240 x 240 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio.[/caption] The Sulman rewards genre painting, subject painting and mural projects, with Gene A'Hern 2025's pick for the Blue Mountains-inspired Sky painting, getting the top nod for the $40,000 gong from this year's 30 finalists and 732 entries. "Painted with expansive movements to capture a sense of scale and colour, this painting unfolded as I immersed myself in skywatching, while reflecting on the ceremonial choreography of the surrounding environment. It conveys a sensation of nature's gestures, composed to resonate from within, translating an omnipresence that comes from dust and returns to dust," said A'Hern. "The work draws on charged memories — birds singing in harmony, branches sighing in the wind, the closing curtain of the setting sun, all forming a living landscape that I breathe with and through. For me, the sky and the Blue Mountains intertwine and reveal themselves as a place of origin, deep memory and belonging." 2025's winners and finalists across all three prizes are on display at AGNSW from Saturday, May 10–Sunday, August 17, 2025, before touring to Geelong Gallery, Gosford Regional Gallery, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, Mudgee Arts Precinct and Shoalhaven Regional Gallery over the 11 months afterwards. Archibald Prize 2025 Exhibition Dates Saturday, May 10–Sunday, August 17, 2025 — Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, NSW Saturday, August 30–Sunday, November 9, 2025 — Geelong Gallery, Victoria Saturday, November 22, 2025–Sunday, January 11, 2026 — Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW Saturday, January 23–Saturday, March 7, 2026 — Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW Friday, March 20–Saturday, May 3, 2026 — Mudgee Arts Precinct, NSW Saturday, May 16–Sunday, July 19, 2026 — Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, NSW 2025's Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prize-winners will display at various locations around the country from Saturday, May 10, 2025. If you can't make it to any of the above exhibition dates, you can check out the winners and finalists of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes on the Art Gallery of NSW website. Top image: Excerpt of winner Archibald Prize 2025, Julie Fragar 'Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene)', oil on canvas, 240 x 180.4 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter. Sitter: Justene Williams. Excerpt of winner Wynne Prize 2025, Jude Rae 'Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal', oil on linen, 200 x 150.4 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio. Excerpt of winner Sulman Prize 2025, Gene A'Hern 'Sky painting', oil and oil stick on board, 240 x 240 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio. Installation images: Installation view, 'Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2025', Art Gallery of New South Wales, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio.
Annie Leibovitz once famously stated that "there are still so many places on our planet that remain unexplored. I'd love to one day peel back the mystery and understand them". It is in this spirit that National Geographic presents its Photo of the Year winners. In an effort to uncover the "unexplored" and clandestine wonders of the world, National Geographic's annual competition provides a fascinating glimpse into the incredible beauty and complexity of the natural world, the places that define it, and the people that inhabit it. In 2012 a whopping 22,000 photographs from over 150 countries were submitted, with an expert panel of judges whittling this number down to a winner in each of the three categories (people, places, and nature) and the $10,000 Grand Prize Winner. Based on its remarkable creativity and visual flair, this year's "nature" winner and overall champion was Ashley Vincent's image of Busaba, the Indochinese tigress from Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo (above). Have a look below to see the rest of the winners along with the National Geographic readers' favourites and some other honorable mentions. Winner - Places The Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland. By Nenad Saljic. Winner - People Workers in Kenya's Dandora Municipal Dump Site, the only dumping site for waste in Nairobi, East Africa's most populous city. By Micah Albert. Viewers Choice - Nature Female cheetah Malaika and her cub in Masai mara National Reserve, Kenya. By Sanjeev Bhor. Viewers Choice - Places An iceberg frozen in place in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada. By Adam Coish. Viewers' Choice - People Explorers follow a race route over 100km of the Hardangervidda Mountainplateu, Norway to cross Greenland. By Kai-Otto Melau. Honorable Mention - Nature Thousands of fish moving in synchrony in Komodo, Indonesia. By Fransisca Harlijanto. Honorable Mention - People The traditional Chinese entertainment Dragon boating is a water sport, in Yanbu Town, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China. By ? ??. Honorable Mention - Places The Eiffel tower in Paris on a grey day. By Indra Swari Wonowidjojo. Honorable Mention - Nature A red fox goes after a mouse hidden under 2 feet of snow in Squaw Creek, Park Country, Wyoming. By Micheal Eastman. Honorable Mention - People Stilt fishing in Midigama, Sri Lanka. By Ulrich Lambert.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you aboard the new luxury superyacht Scenic Eclipse II as it travels all over the world. We've also teamed up with Scenic Eclipse to offer a totally exclusive travel deal that takes guests from Darwin to Broome in 11 days. It includes a free room upgrade, unlimited alcohol, meals at any of the ten dining areas and a heap of unique excursions — plus, we got 20% off the whole experience. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This ultra-luxurious superyacht only finished construction this year, meaning it has stacks of the latest lavish features. Every guest will enjoy relaxing on their own verandah, on-shore excursions, unlimited food and drinks at any of the ten restaurants and bars, use of the spa and pools and a special butler service. Of course, this doesn't come cheap — but if you can afford it, boy is it worth it. THE ROOMS There are 114 suites on this massive yacht, each with separate bedrooms and lounge areas as well as a large private deck. And the bathrooms are next-level luxe. Expect white marble counters and showers with mist settings and colour light therapy. Because why not? Every guest also has access to the on-board butlers. Order a bottle of champagne and a dozen oysters to your deck and get ready for an epic journey. FOOD AND DRINK We know that when joining a trip like this — with all your excursions included — you shouldn't spend every moment of your time on the boat. But, we'll admit, with ten unique dining experiences on board, we could easily spend the entire holiday eating and drinking atop the yacht. Try out a few of the main restaurants or book one of the really special dining experiences. Our favourites? Night Market at Kokos is an eight-person teppanyaki grill inspired by the food markets of Asia, India and the Middle East. And the indulgent chef's table offers guests an alway-changing 11-course degustation. Drinks are also included in the price of your trip — even the top-shelf tipples. Get around aged whiskies, champagne (not simply sparkling wine), award-winning vinos from the regions you are visiting and all the cocktails your boozy heart desires. Every suite even comes with a coffee machine, specialty teas and a fully stocked minibar (that will be quickly refilled should you call the butler). It is all so over the top, and we love it. THE LOCAL AREA There is no single local area for Scenic Eclipse II. It sails all over the world — with tours to Australia's Top End, Antarctica, the Pacific Islands, Scandinavia, The Med and Buenos Aires as a start. But, our exclusive deal takes travellers from Darwin to Broome, stopping off at sites that include King George River, Ashmore Reef, Collier Bay and the Kimberley region. It has got to be the most luxurious way to explore this pristine part of Western Australia. THE EXTRAS You have every extra under the sun when travelling aboard Scenic Eclipse II. After seamless transfers to the vessel, you can head to the lounge and bar for live entertainment or hit up the theatre for its dedicated musical nights. Head to the spa for separate men's and women's spaces — each with steam rooms and saunas. Take a class at the yoga or pilates studio or simply swim in one of the pools located on the deck. Then, jump on the superyacht's own helicopter to discover the area you're in — or go on one of the complimentary tours that are just as luxurious as the boat you're sailing on. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
If nothing says Christmas to you like catching a festive film under the stars, ideally while kicking back on bean beds and eating a picnic, then Moonlight Cinema's November and December 2022 program has you firmly in its sights. The beloved Australian outdoor movie-viewing setup is back for another summer, and it's kicking off with a heap of recent big-name flicks — plus a couple of weeks of the merriest pictures that it can find. Fresh from revealing its dates for the summer 2022–23, Moonlight Cinema has now locked in its first titles, with the openair picture palace heading to Sydney's Centennial Park, Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens, Brisbane's Roma Street Parkland, Adelaide's Botanic Park, and Perth's Kings Park and Botanic Garden in a matter of mere weeks. The lineup varies per city as usual, but most spots get the same movies eventually. And yes, everywhere is getting festive. Firstly, the non-Christmas lineup — which starts with Baz Luhrmann's Elvis in Brisbane on Thursday, November 24, 50s-coveting thriller Don't Worry Darling in Sydney on the same date, page-to-screen adaptation Where the Crawdads Sing in Perth on Friday, November 25, and Billy Eichner's gay rom-com Bros in Adelaide and Melbourne on Thursday, December 1. Also on the bill across all five locations: Top Gun: Maverick, Smile and Ticket to Paradise, while the likes of Bullet Train, Thor: Love and Thunder, Minions: The Rise of Gru and Black Adam screening in some cities. Everywhere is hosting a throwback session of Grease – because retro flicks are always a big part of this program — and then the festive fun begins. Yes, Elf, Home Alone, The Holiday and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are on the lineup. So is Die Hard twice and Love Actually a whopping three times. To wrap up December, there's also a preview session of Steven Spielberg's new release The Fabelmans, culinary thrills with The Menu and a preview of Australian drama Blueback — plus the family-friendly Lyle, Lyle Crocodile and Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody. The rest of the Moonlight lineup will drop month by month. Nosh-wise, Moonlight Cinema will again let you BYO movie snacks and drinks (no alcohol in Brisbane, though), but the unorganised can also enjoy a plethora of bites to eat from food trucks — perfect, messy treats made for reclining on bean beds. There'll be a VIP section for an extra-luxe openair movie experience, a beauty cart handing out samples, and dogs are welcome at all sites except Perth — and there's even special doggo bean beds, and a snack menu for pooches. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2022–23 DATES Brisbane: Thursday, November 24–Sunday, February 19 in Roma Street Parkland Sydney: Thursday, November 24–Sunday, March 26 in Centennial Park Perth: Friday, November 25–Sunday, March 26 in Kings Park and Botanic Garden Adelaide: Thursday, December 1–Sunday, February 19 in Botanic Park Melbourne: Thursday, December 1–Sunday, March 26 in Royal Botanic Gardens Moonlight Cinema kicks off in November 2022, running through until March 2023. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website — and we'll update you with further program details when they're announced.
It's only a few years young, but Australia's most inclusive music festival just keeps getting bigger and better. Case in point: Ability Fest just announced the jam-packed lineup of artists that'll be joining in the fun for its next instalment on Saturday, March 25 — and it's a cracker. Leading the talent firing up the crowds at Melbourne's Birrarung Marr this autumn: Aussie hip hop legends Hilltop Hoods, dance duo Mashd N Kutcher and ARIA Award-winning songstress Sampa the Great, along with names like Paris, Meg Mac, DZ Deathrays, Linda Marigliano and dameeeela. Unfolding across two stages, including one devoted to dance acts, there's something on this program for all kinds of music fiends — with SHOUSE, Telenova, Juno Mamba, Mulalo and Latifa Tee just some of the other artists who'll be working their magic at Ability Fest 2023. The brainchild of 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott and Untitled Group (the crew behind Pitch Music & Arts and Beyond the Valley), Ability Fest is carefully designed to be completely accessible and as inclusive as they come. It'll feature ramps and pathways for easy access, Auslan interpreters working alongside the artists, and elevated platforms to give everyone a shot at seeing the stage. Plus: quiet zones, a dedicated sensory area, ticketing for companions and accessible toilets. And tickets start from $89. During its life, the not-for-profit fest has raised close to $500,000 for the Dylan Alcott Foundation, while continuing to dish up primo live tunes and music experiences to Aussies of all abilities. "I'm so proud to see the path Ability Fest has already paved for inclusive events across the country," says Alcott. "First and foremost, our main priority is to create a kick-ass festival that happens to be accessible. And that's something I think we've achieved since launching in 2018." Here's the full lineup: ABILITY FEST 2023: Alex Lahey Alter Boy BROODS Daine Dameeeela DJ Cooper Smith DZ Deathrays Hilltop Hoods Juno Mamba Latifa Tee Linda Marigliano Mashd N Kutcher Meg Mac Mulalo PARIS Sampa the Great SHOUSE Telenova The Journey Tiff Cornish Tyson O'Brien YO! MAFIA Ability Fest 2023 will hit Birrarung Marr in Melbourne on Saturday, March 25. Pre-sale tickets are available from 6pm AEDT on Monday, January 23 (register online), with general tickets selling online from 12pm on Tuesday, January 24.
In 2022, Airbnb had travellers worldwide vying for nights at the Bluey house, the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine and The Godfather mansion, plus the South Korean estate where BTS filmed In the Soop, the Sanderson sisters' Hocus Pocus cottage, Hobbiton and the Moulin Rouge! windmill, too. That's last year's batch of must-stay destinations. New year, new range of spots that you wouldn't normally get to slumber at, but can if you're lucky enough to score a reservation. And if you're keen on spending the night hearing the music of the night, you'll be excited about the accommodation platform's latest addition. If you don't know the Palais Garnier by name, that's okay — but if you've ever seen or even heard of The Phantom of the Opera, be it on the stage or screen, then you're familiar with the Parisian opera house without realising it. The theatre inspired French author Gaston Leroux's novel back in the early 20th century, after he reportedly heard rumours about the 19th century-built, 1979-seat venue. The rest is literary history, and musical history as well thanks to Andrew Lloyd Webber and company from the 1980s onwards. As an opera house, Palais Garnier doesn't usually let folks slumber overnight — whether they're wearing masks like The Phantom of the Opera's namesake or not. But for two guests, that'll change on Sunday, July 16. This'll be the first time ever that the venue has opened for a sleepover, and whoever nabs the booking will even sleep in an opera box. The theatre's largest box, aka its box of honour, is normally reserved for visiting dignitaries — but that'll mean whoever gets to stay overnight this winter, too. For the Airbnb reservation, the chamber is being turned into a bedroom, complete with heavy splashes of luxurious red and gold. Of course, actually sleeping in such rare and decadent surroundings, and soaking in Palais Garnier's splendid architecture from the best spot in the house, is just one part of the visit. Also included is a tour of the theatre's hidden areas in the Palais Garnier, which usually aren't seen by the public — such as the Opera de Paris' private archives and its famed underground lake. You'll also get a private ballet initiation with one of the company's dancers, and watch a recital by the Paris Opera Academy over champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Dinner will take place in the private Foyer de la Danse, the backstage dancing rehearsal room. Also, a tour of the private dance studios that sit beneath the building's eaves will let you scope out stunning views of the Paris skyline. Your host: Véronique Leroux, the great-granddaughter of French novelist Leroux, who is keen to "welcome 'phans' to the famous setting of his much-loved novel for a once-in-a-lifetime stay". Folks already dreaming of a night — and a Paris trip — to remember will need to get booking on Thursday, March 2 at 4am AEDT / 3am AEST / 6am NZDT. Your stay will cost you 37 euros, which is AU$57, and honours the box of honour's number. You will need to be over 18, have a verified Airbnb profile and boast a good record on the service — and getting to and from Paris is not included in the reservation, so that's at your extra expense (and you'll need to organise it). For more information about the Palais Garnier listing on Airbnb, or to apply to book at 4am AEDT / 3am AEST / 6am NZDT on Thursday, March 2, head to the Airbnb website. Images: Blue Max Media / Thibaut Chapotot.
Like karaoke? Fond of singing along to well-known songs, whether you're solo or in a group? Happy to belt out a tune from your couch? If you answered yes to all of the above questions, then it's time to up your crooning game during Australia's Biggest Singalong. If you love singing when you're in a pub with a beer in your hand, too, then you'll want to join in as well. Since early 2017 in Brisbane, Pub Choir has been amassing brew-loving music fans in venues around the city. The regular event asks its attendees to learn a particular song in three-part harmonies, with talented professionals on hand each time to show everyone the ropes and lead the way. Every evening then culminates in a big boozy singing session, with the event making its way to bigger Brissie locations over the years, as well venturing around the country. Now, it's heading to television. Set to air on SBS, NITV and SBS On Demand at 8.30pm AEST on Saturday, June 5, Australia's Biggest Singalong transports the Pub Choir format to TV — with a few adjustments, obviously. While still feeling like a far more organised version of exactly what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the pub jukebox, it'll have big-name hosts in Julia Zemiro and Miranda Tapsell — and it's asking for viewers at home to record their own videos in advance, upload them and hope they'll be screened during the two-hour-long special. Multiple songs will be covered, but Hunters and Collectors' 'Throw You Arms Around Me' is the big track that eager crooners can film themselves singing in advance. Entries close on Monday, May 17, with all of the details available on the Couch Choir website — which belongs to Pub Choir's pandemic-era spinoff from last year, as you might already be aware. Hunters and Collectors lead singer Mark Seymour will be part of the broadcast, and Pub Choir co-founder and choirmaster Astrid Jorgensen will be guiding the singing, too. So, you just need to decide whether you're fine to take part from home while pouring yourself something cold from your own fridge, or if you'd rather head to the pub and sing with your mates during the show. Pub Choir's IRL events are mighty popular, with tickets getting snapped up very quickly each time, so that's something you don't have to worry about in this format. Australia's Biggest Singalong will screen on SBS, NITV and SBS On Demand at 8.30pm AEST on Saturday, June 5, Australia's Biggest Singalong. For more information, head to the SBS website. To upload your own video before Monday, May 17, visit the Couch Choir website. Images: Jacob Morrison.
Keen for a beachside beverage on the St Kilda foreshore now the weather is heating up? You'll have to hold off till April. The City of Port Phillip Council has just voted in a seasonal ban on boozing, which will be in place 24 hours a day from November 1 to March 31, every year. The vote took place at a Council meeting last night and follows a night of violence on the foreshore this Saturday. It's not the first time booze has been banned on St Kilda foreshore, with a temporary ban being instated over the 2018 New Year's Eve period after a wild Christmas day party — then extended until April — but it is the first permanent ban. During the long meeting, dozens of local business owners and members of the community relayed their experiences with alcohol-fuelled violence on St Kilda beach. One local justified the ban by referring to other popular Aussie beaches — such as Sydney's Bondi and Coogee beaches and all WA beaches — that are also alcohol-free. According to the Age five of the eight councillors, including newly reelected mayor Dick Gross, voted through the ban. The new laws define the St Kilda foreshore as all beaches, reserves, parklands and carpark from Langridge Street to Thackeray Street. The summer ban will also coincide with increased police presence on the beach and a broader 'Community Safety Plan', focusing on creating a welcoming community and crime prevention. The effectiveness of the ban will be reviewed by the Council after March 2019 and before August 2019.
If you eagerly drink your way through the taps at most craft beer bars, then a host of tell-tale signs await the next day: headaches, cold sweats, dehydration, a queasy stomach and a strong craving for greasy food, usually. That won't be the case at BrewDog's latest venture, however, with the Scottish brewery opening up the world's first alcohol-free craft beer joint. Called BrewDog AF — with the final two letters standing for "alcohol-free", rather than the other term that instantly popped into your head — the bar launches in London on Monday, January 6. Every one of its 15 taps will pour booze-free brews, focusing on draught craft beer sans alcohol. That includes both zero-percent and 0.5-percent tipples, with the latter also officially classed as alcohol-free. On the menu: BrewDog's 0.5-percent pale ale Nanny State, as well as the alcohol-free version of their flagship Punk IPA, Punk AF. It's also creating two new booze-free brews: a coffee stout called Wake Up Call, and Hazy AF, an alcohol-free version of its New England IPA, Hazy Jane. Alcohol-free spirits and cider will be available too, as will burgers, salads and buffalo wings — and if you're looking for something to do over your booze-free pint, get ready for karaoke and bingo, among other activities. While BrewDog has been busy opening bars and breweries around the globe over the past decade — launching its first Australian site in Brisbane late in 2019, in fact — BrewDog AF marks its first fully alcohol-free venue. It's not London's first booze-free bar, or the world's, but it is the first to focus on alcohol-free (and hangover-free) craft brews. To celebrate that fact, as well as the new range of booze-free beers, the brewery has also dubbed the entire month 'drink all you can Jan' — when it comes to alcohol-free beers, that is. Not only at BrewDog AF, but at all of BrewDog's bars and breweries worldwide, drinkers can score free refills of all alcohol-free beers throughout January. BrewDog AF and its increased non-alcoholic craft brew range forms part of the company's mission to whip up a craft beer for everyone, including folks who like their brews sans booze. As brewery founder James Watt explains, "drinkers opting for low or no alcohol are in danger of compromising on quality, taste and experience. And that's just the beer – forget about places in which to enjoy it. We are going to change that. We exist to be a point of difference, and our first BrewDog AF Bar is just that." Even if a trip to London isn't in your future, BrewDog's new venture is a welcome development for anyone who has tried to forgo alcohol during Dry July, doesn't drink booze but would still like to sink a few cold ones with their mates, or can't imbibe for a number of reasons — medication interactions, other health reasons or just by choice. With non-alcoholic spirits like Seedlip and Brunswick Aces gaining more attention, bars such BrewDog AF are the natural next step. Yes, you can get non-boozy beverages like juice and soft drinks anywhere, but it's not the same as knocking back booze-free beers in a spot that celebrates the drink but not the alcohol. Find the BrewDog AF Bar at the Mews Unit of the Bower Development at 211 Old Street, London, from Monday, January 6 — open 12pm–11pm Sunday–Thursday and 12pm–11.30pm Friday–Saturday. For booze-free beer lovers in Brisbane, BrewDog's first Aussie brewery — DogTap at Murarrie — is serving up unlimited refills of BrewDog alcohol-free beers until January 31.
Adoration opens with the seaside funeral of Theo, an event which doesn't seem to have particularly bothered anyone. His wife, Lil (Naomi Watts), and her best friend, Roz (Robin Wright), are altogether content with their lot; they live in a Garden of Eden-like seaside town and enjoy a friendship so enduring and close that people in the small community whisper that they are "lezzoes". When Roz's husband, Harold (Ben Mendelsohn), leaves for a job teaching drama in Sydney, the path is clear for them to give into temptation as each takes the other's gym-toned surf-loving son, Ian (Xavier Samuel) and Tom (James Frecheville), as lovers. At a preview screening, there were scattered laughs throughout, a worry for a film aiming for thoughtful adult drama rather than comedy. Adoration takes itself very seriously, though there are some potentially interesting ideas bubbling away underneath the slick surface, not least a sense that Lil and Roz are taking up these younger lovers for deeper reasons than a simple desire for their attractive sons — they are grasping at the memory of their own faded youth and seeking to be even closer with each other, the young men acting as substitutes for their own sublimated love. But too often the film wastes the dramatic potential of its material and settles for clunky symbolism rather than nuance; a scene where the characters sit down to eat an apple for no particular reason apart from the obvious biblical symbolism is particularly galling. Perhaps a director as versed with melodrama as Pedro Almodóvar could have made a great film out of Adoration, but this version stubbornly refuses to embrace the essential soapy silliness at its core, instead stretching for serious drama. Cue Lil looking off into the middle distance and intoning "We've crossed a line here" as she and Roz ponder their latest transgressions. A baffling development sees Tom, previously a monosyllabic lunk, declare his ambitions of working in theatre and temporarily move to Sydney, where he meets an aspiring actress, Mary (a scene-stealing Jessica Tovey), who also gets dragged into their web of adultery and deceit. Meanwhile, Lil's hapless suitor Saul (Gary Sweet) trails after her like a despondent puppy, dimly unaware of the fraught emotions of the group he longs to be part of. Blessed with a paradisiacal backdrop and shot with a stylish malevolence, Adoration is a kind of interesting failure. It isn't as bad as unintended guffaws would suggest, but it's hard to escape the feeling of missed opportunity here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=4xYrRsZpoxI
UPDATE Monday, October 24: Almost Summer has been cancelled due to major flooding in the region, with organisers saying they "are committed to revisiting the concept soon". Full refunds are available. For more details, see the website. There's something pretty sweet about being done and dusted with another Melbourne winter, and having months of balmy days stretched out just around the corner. And it's that blissful energy that's at the heart of regional Victoria's newest music festival, which is set to debut at the end of spring. Almost Summer is a three-day celebration of good times and great tunes, descending on Bendigo from Friday, November 25–Sunday, November 27. The brainchild of Melbourne creative agency Hear Them Holler, it's dishing up a jam-packed lineup, headlined by a mix of local talent and much-loved artists from across the country. [caption id="attachment_864599" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kardajala Kirridarra[/caption] Gracing an openair stage outside Bendigo's legendary Capital Theatre, there'll be 16 acts, tripping through genres ranging from disco to new-school R&B. You'll catch the likes of alt-folk singer-songwriter Gabriella Cohen, electronic trio Black Cab, Yorta Yorta Dja Dja Wurrung artist Carissa Nyalu and hip hop legend Pookie. Plus, all-female First Nations act Kardajala Kirridarra will be playing their first Naarm gig in over four years, coming in hot from the Red Centre. Ever-upbeat Melbourne group Bananagun will be helping ring in those summer vibes, as will psychedelic pop act Sunfruits and Mornington Peninsula songstress Suzi. Meanwhile, you'll find DJs like Friday and Joey Lightbulb hitting the decks, and Aplegate, Nadia Phillips and Flora flying the flag for the local music scene. [caption id="attachment_864598" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DJ Joey Lighbulb[/caption] Bendigo Vinyl will be running a pop-up record store throughout the duration of the festival, and there'll be loads of local eats and drinks on offer to keep you fuelled for all those big sessions on the dance floor. What's more, with tickets capped at just 500 per day, it's set to be a much more intimate affair than some other of the season's large-scale music fests — aka, the ideal way to cruise on into summer in a blissed-out bubble of musical goodness. Almost Summer is being presented in conjunction with new statewide music program Always Live, which kicked off with Grammy Award-winning US rockers Foo Fighters playing to a massive crowd at Geelong's GMHBA Stadium in March. A full three-day festival pass will cost you $150. Otherwise, nab tickets to the individual days' happenings — Friday night clocks in at $42 (5.30–11pm), Saturday is $82 (11am–11pm) and Sunday will set you back $58 (11am–6pm). [caption id="attachment_864600" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sunfruits, by Kalindy Williams[/caption] Almost Summer hits Bendigo from November 25–27. For more info or to buy tickets, see the website. Top Image: Bananagun
Leading Aussie winemaker Handpicked uses grapes sourced from across the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Barossa Valley, Tasmania and more to create its diverse stable of drops. But, its most recent project has made a home right in the heart of the city: a glam cellar door located within the new 80 Collins precinct. It's a grand affair, too, with three floors encompassing a premium cheese, charcuterie and wine bar, as well as a retail space complete with 'tasting pods' and an experience room. Open daily for breakfast through to those after-dinner vino sessions, the cellar door has fare for any time of the day, but also works as an elegant tasting bar where you can dig into Handpicked's varied portfolio of sustainably-made wines. Inside, celebrated architectural and interior design firm Design Office has created a stately space that's heavy on the American oak and filled with locally made and designed furniture pieces. If wine is on the agenda, you can sample some of Handpicked's latest and greatest with a tailored wine tasting or wine flight, or one of the expert-led wine workshops that'll be taking over the experience room on the regular. And, with an extensive range of both regional and single-vineyard wines, there's a drop here for just about everyone, whether you're enjoying in or picking up something for home. [caption id="attachment_803633" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nastia Gladushchenko[/caption] Like the vinous delights, the food offering boasts a strong focus on regionality, headlined by a cheese selection to impress even the most avid of dairy fiends. Expect everything from Tassie's Pyengana clothbound cheddar, to a truffle-infused brillat-savarin out of Burgundy. The charcuterie situation is also one to write home about, with a global array of cured meats available sliced to order, alongside additions like cornichons, olives and quince paste. Lunchtimes and snacking sessions call for a mix-and-match spread of the gourmet deli goodies; maybe some Ortiz anchovy fillets and Espinaler canned mussels served with artisan sourdough, or olive bread slices topped with combinations like scorched heirloom tomato, buffalo yoghurt and basil. Drop by for breakfast and you'll find small-batch Merna crumpets finished with the likes of lemon curd and crème fraîche, or smoked trout with Meredith goat's cheese and Beechworth honey. And if you want to get really fancy, pre-order yourself something from the impressive caviar selection to level-up that after-work wine tasting session. The Handpicked Cellar Door joins other high-profile 80 Collins Street residents including Alejandro Saravia's Farmer's Daughters and the soon-to-open Chris Lucas, Martin Benn and Vicki Wild venture, Society. Find Handpicked Cellar Door at 80 Collins Street, corner Pink Alley and Benson Walk. It's open from 8am weekdays and from 11am on weekends. Images: Tony Mott and Nastia Gladushchenko
Fashion zombies of the '90s, your favourite mood readers have had a big ol' 2014 update. Mood rings have become the latest focus of a new startup out of Finland, who've taken your shitty piece of faux emotion-reading tin and turned it into a piece of wearable tech that can actually tell you how you're feeling. Finnish techheads Moodmetric unveiled a brand new smart ring at the Slush startup conference in Helsinki, Finland last week, one that can apparently actually use a biometric sensor to report on those pesky feelings of yours — rather than waiting for your $2 Reject Shop toy to turn blue. Always blue. Proposed to launch commercially in 2015 after an upcoming crowdfunding campaign, Moodmetric's ring is the smallest wearable technology in the world for measuring emotions. Apparently the device works using a biometric sensor to measure the small changes in your skin generated by your nervous system, which can measure your "emotional voltage". Then, your little wearable buddy sends the data to your smartphone app and diarises your moods for the day. International Business Times compared the Moodmetric ring to current developments like the Smarty Ring, Ringly or MOTA, but noted this new ring isn't just a notification extension of your smartphone inbox — it reads you. "It's possible for people to analyse their emotional levels throughout the day and learn when they're the most stressed, what makes them calm down and what times of the day are significant in terms if emotional intensity," Moodmetric COO Niina Venho told the IBT. "By naming those feelings Moodmetric allows people to get to know themselves better." One step further than the ol' teenage jewellery box edition, the Moodmetric ring has teamed up with your 'Dear Diary' time to help you track your emotional ups and downs and to calm your mind at certain "emotional load peaks" of the day. A ring that helps us de-stress? Proposal accepted. Via IBT and Dazed.
Paying tribute to great authors and writers is easy. Libraries beckon, as do whatever happens to be on your own bookshelf or Kindle. Getting the chance to celebrate the talents behind some of the greatest works of literature ever committed to paper in a stunning exhibition is far more rare, however. Indeed, Writers Revealed: Treasures From the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London is a world-first. Clearly, it's a special treat for word nerds — especially if you're a fan of Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, JRR Tolkien, Bram Stoker, the Brontë sisters, Virginia Woolf, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and more. What goes on display at a showcase dedicated to wordsmiths? Featuring at HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast from Saturday, April 12–Sunday, August 3, 2025, Writers Revealed spans author portraits, plus rare handwritten manuscripts and first editions. Over 70 pieces of art include the likenesses of the writers responsible for Pride and Prejudice, Romeo and Juliet, The Lord of the Rings, Dracula, Wuthering Heights, Sherlock Holmes and other masterpieces. More than 100 texts are on the lineup, too, with six centuries of literature covered. [caption id="attachment_987065" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jane Austen by Cassandra Austen, pencil and watercolour, circa 1810. © National Portrait Gallery, London[/caption] As the exhibition's full name states, this is a collaboration between the British Library and the National Portrait Gallery, London. If you're wondering why the two institutions are pairing portraits with texts, one of the showcase's aims to explore how literature and visual expression are linked. Also in the spotlight: the legacy of influential writers, plus digging into their creative processes. Oscar Wilde, Harold Pinter, William Blake, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, Lord Byron, TS Eliot, Thomas Hardy, James Joyce, DH Lawrence, John Keats, William Wordsworth and Rudyard Kipling are some of the other greats earning Writers Revealed's attention, as are AA Milne, Beatrix Potter, Dylan Thomas, Sir Kazuo Ishiguro and Zadie Smith. Among the highlights that's filling 1000 square metres in HOTA's Gallery 1 for 16 weeks: Austen's writing desk, what's thought to be the only Shakespeare portrait to be painted while he was alive, illustrated letters from Tolkien to his grandson, Lewis Carroll's diary entry about Alice in Wonderland and Virginia Woolf's handwritten Mrs Dalloway manuscript. [caption id="attachment_987063" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Charles Dickens by Daniel Maclise, oil on canvas, 1839. © National Portrait Gallery, London[/caption] Top images: William Shakespeare, associated with John Taylor, oil on canvas, feigned oval, circa 1610. © National Portrait Gallery, London. Beatrix Potter by Delmar Harmood Banner, oil on canvas, 1938. © National Portrait Gallery, London. Harold Pinter by Justin Mortimer, oil on canvas, 1992. © National Portrait Gallery, London.
Get your tissues out. Margaret and David — as in the Margaret and David of At the Movies – are officially, totally and truly, really going off-air. We're in shock. For 28 years now, the legendary duo has been giving us their dynamic weekly film round-up: an idiosyncratic mix of smart commentary, quick wit and frequent sparring. They first paired up at the SBS, where they hosted The Movie Show for eighteen years before moving over to the ABC in 2004. But on December 9, they’ll be recording their final episode. Ever. "After 28 years reviewing films on television with Margaret, ten of them at the ABC, I feel it’s time to go,” David said in a media statement. “We’ve had a wonderful time, thanks to very supportive and encouraging audiences, throughout that period. And we’ve worked with wonderful teams, both at SBS and at the ABC... Most of all, working with Margaret, whose enthusiasm, commitment and passion has been amazing (and only occasionally irritating) has been a joy for over a quarter of a century. But, since I turned 75 last week, I look forward to less pressure and more opportunities to enjoy the movies I love, in the years ahead." Margaret was similarly gracious. "As David says, it’s time to go from the small screen after a great innings,” she said. “Thanks to all our viewers and the fabulous teams we’ve worked with over the years. And thank you to the ABC and SBS. We’ve been lucky to work for two great public broadcasters, and long may they prosper . . . My gratitude goes to David who gave me credibility just by being prepared to sit by me and discuss film when I am just a film enthusiast, not the great walking encyclopedia of film that he is. He’s a grand person, a most generous, decent man, even if a little stubborn at times." And just in case you’re wondering, no more Margaret and David also means no more At the Movies — the last episode will air on ABC on December 9.
Alex Chinneck carved up the road today, and not in a Top Gear way. Literally ripped it up. The Hackney-based installation artist, who recently made a section of Covent Garden 'levitate', has today unveiled his latest work at London's Southbank Centre, Pick Yourself Up and Pull Yourself Together. Sitting in the Hungerford Car Park of the Southbank Centre, the work sees a sizeable bit of tarmac pulled up in a wave, casually suspending a Vauxhall Corsa 4.5 metres above the ground. Using cars in installation art is no mean feat; if you caught Cai Guo Qiang's Inopportune at the 2010 Biennale of Sydney you'll know what we're saying. Commissioned by Vauxhall as a made-you-look type of spectacle activation, Chinneck's installation uses hidden steel to keep the car in place — the work involved a whole bunch of metal workers, carpenters, tarmac layers, structural engineers, steel benders and road painters. Best bit? The team installed the artwork overnight. Crafty devils. Via Dezeen.
This November, there's only one piece of advice worth listening to — and you can get it right from the source. Back in 1995, TLC memorably told us all not to go chasing waterfalls, and to just stick to the rivers and the lakes that we're used to. Thanks to their slot on the 2022 Fridayz Live tour, they'll be singing those words of wisdom all over again. This year's throwback R&B bill has been renamed from RNB Fridays, but it don't want no scrubs, either — and, as well as one of the biggest girl groups of the 90s, it's bringing a heap of other nostalgic names to Australian stages. Shaggy will get boombastic, Craig David will croon about his weekly routine and Ashanti will rock wit u. Also on the lineup: Akon, Macklemore, Jay Sean and Dru Hill. Kicking off at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Friday, November 4, then heading to Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane before finishing up at Giants Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, November 12, the Fridayz Live gigs will feature Lumidee and Havana Brown as well, with Yo! Mafia on DJ duties. Playing host: Abbie Chatfield and Fatman Scoop. [caption id="attachment_863975" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arturo Lorde[/caption] From remaining TLC members T-Boz and Chilli, who also played this year's Glastonbury back in June, expect to hear everything everything from 'Creep' through to 'Unpretty'. From the rest of the bill, 'Thrift Shop, 'Same Love', 'I Wanna Love You', 'Don't Matter', 'Walking Away', 'What's Your Flava', 'Baby', 'Foolish', 'It Wasn't Me', 'In the Summertime', 'Ride It' and more will get a whirl. By now, with Splendour in the Grass going ahead this year, Falls Festival locked in for a summer return and a heap of huge tours heading Down Under before 2022 is out, it's clear that live music is back. But when the big retro gigs start happening again, you know that the touring music circuit is returning to pre-pandemic normality. FRIDAYZ LIVE 2022 LINEUP Macklemore TLC Akon Craig David Ashanti Shaggy Jay Sean Dru Hill Lumidee Havana Brown Yo! Mafia Hosted by Abbie Chatfield and Fatman Scoop FRIDAYZ LIVE 2022 DATES Friday, November 4 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Saturday, November 5 — HBF Park, Perth Sunday, November 6 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre Friday, November 11 — Brisbane Showgrounds Saturday, November 12 — Giants Stadium, Sydney Fridayz Live's 2022 tour will head around the country in November in New South Wales in October. Telstra Plus ticket pre-sales start at 10am local time on Monday, August 8, then Frontier Members pre-sales at 1pm on Wednesday, August 11 — with general sales from 11am on Friday, August 12. For more information, head to the tour website.
Across November, New South Wales is hosting 1000 gigs at more than 300 venues, all thanks to the State Government-run Great Southern Nights. The event is helping to restart the state's live music scene after this year's lockdowns and restrictions, and it has just gained a huge new addition — especially in terms of crowd size. While you might've already filled your calendar with smaller shows both in Sydney and across the rest of NSW, make room for The Great Southern Nights series, which'll take place on Saturday, November 28 and Saturday, December 5. Not only will the two gigs hit up Qudos Bank Arena — marking the first big indoor arena shows in Australia since the beginning of the pandemic — but they'll host just over 5000 punters at each gig. That's just a fraction of the venue's 21,000 total capacity, but it still covers a hefty number of music lovers in a year that's been mostly devoid of listening to live tunes en masse. It'll all be held in a COVID-19-safe manner, of course — and, across the two shows, it's expected that crowd numbers will near 12,000 in total. As for the lineup, the first evening will see Ocean Alley, Jack River, Ruby Fields and Jack Botts doing their thing on stage — while the second gig will feature Bernard Fanning, Matt Corby and Merci Mercy. The Great Southern Nights series will take place as NSW's events calendar is slowly filling up, and as venues are being given the go-ahead to welcome in bigger crowds. The state's outdoor stadiums can have up to 10,000 fans in the stands; theatres, concert halls and cinemas can host events of up to 1000 people, and country shows of up to 5000 people will be allowed to happen this summer. The Great Southern Nights takes place on Saturday, November 28 and Saturday, December 5 at Qudos Bank Arena. For more information, or to buy tickets — from 10am ADST on Monday, November 9 for the first gig and at the same time on Tuesday, November 10 for the second — head to the Ticketek website. Top image: Ocean Alley, Neegzistuoja via Wikimedia Commons.
The eighth season of Game of Thrones won't hit our screens until 2019 — and while waiting it out might just be the less-frosty equivalent of facing a White Walker, there's something more painful in store. As you probably already know and have tried to forget, the next run of episodes will be the show's last. That said, HBO isn't letting go of its hugely popular commodity completely While we'll all be saying goodbye to Jon Snow, the scheming Lanisters, and Daenerys and her dragons when the series wraps up, Westeros isn't going anywhere. Last year, the US network announced it was considering five different prequel ideas, and it's now doing more than that, greenlighting a pilot for a spinoff set thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones. Co-created by A Song of Ice and Fire author George RR Martin with British screenwriter Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and the two Kingsman movies), the unnamed series will chronicle "the world's descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour", Variety reports. Although HBO have only agreed to make an initial episode to test the waters, you don't have to be the Three-Eyed Raven to see that it's highly likely the show will get the final go-ahead. If/when that eventuates, expect to start feasting on your new favourite show in 2020 at the earliest. Via Variety.
Launched by former medic Wade Nicholson-Doyle, Hello Sailor cafe in Hawthorn is a nod not only to Wade's time in the Australian navy, but also his grandfather William "Paddy" Doyle, an Irish sailor in the Royal Navy who jumped ship in 1942 to start a new life in Australia. While the name may evoke whimsy, the cafe space is soft and refined, with organic colours combined with wood accents and plants to create an intimate but relaxing atmosphere. Although, it's not just the aesthetics that are good. Using produce sourced from local Victorian suppliers, the menu has all the delicious breakfast staples you'd expect from Melbourne's best cafes, like french toast with mascarpone or perfectly poached eggs, plus Seven Seeds coffee. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
Gone are the days when it was safe to assume that a long-running music festival would definitely return each year, as Groovin the Moo and Splendour in the Grass' recent fortunes have underscored. As a result, when a fest announces that it's coming back, it's big news. Good Things is the latest to confirm a spot on 2025's calendar, and also its dates. Once again, the event will be starting off summer. As it has in past years, Good Things will hit up all three of its stops — Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane — across one huge weekend. There's no venues locked in so far, after the festival took over took over Flemington Racecourse, Centennial Park and Brisbane Showgrounds in 2024; however, you can mark Friday, December 5 in your diaries for the Victorian capital, then Saturday, December 6 in the Harbour City and Sunday, December 7 in the Sunshine State. As for who'll be on the bill, that hasn't been revealed as yet either, and neither has a timeline for future announcements. 2022's lineup dropped in June, while 2023's and 2024's each arrived in August, so expect to know sometime in winter if that pattern holds. Last year, Korn, Violent Femmes and Billy Corgan were on headlining duty, with Electric Callboy, Mastodon, The Gaslight Anthem, L7, Kerry King, Jet, The Living End, The Butterfly Effect and Killing Heidi among their company. 2023's fest featured Devo, Limp Bizkit, Corey Taylor, Pennywise, Bullet for My Valentine, Taking Back Sunday, I Prevail, Enter Shikari, Pvris, Behemoth, Sepultura, Spiderbait, Frenzal Rhomb, Jebediah and Eskimo Joe, among other acts. In 2022, the reunited TISM, Bring Me the Horizon, The Amity Affliction, NOFX and Millencolin led the roster. Good Things 2025 Dates Friday, December 5 — Melbourne Saturday, December 6 — Sydney Sunday, December 7 — Brisbane Good Things will hit the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in December 2025. We'll update you when the lineup is announced and tickets go on sale — head to the festival website for more information and to sign up for the event's mailing list in the interim. Images: Kane Hibberd.
After putting on a spectacular footballing show as the host of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup — and the Matildas making history in the process — Australia will next roll out the green carpet for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup. The Asian Football Federation has given the Aussie bid for the event the go-ahead, meaning that the country will host two major women's soccer tournaments in the space of just three years. Get ready for a sea of green and gold again. Australia has welcomed the Women's Asian Cup to our shores before, back in 2006, with the tournament taking place in Adelaide. In 2026, you'll be able to check out the football action in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. All three states were put forward as locations during the bidding process. And yes, that means that the tournament won't head to other parts of the nation — so there'll be no games in either Victoria or South Australia, notably. Twelve countries will compete in the 2026 Women's Asian Cup — including Australia, of course, with the hosts automatically qualifying. So, the Matildas will get another moment to shine on home soil in a major contest. China will also compete, defending their title from the last edition in 2022, which took place in India. The Tillies were knocked out in the quarter finals — and were runners up in 2014 and 2018. Back in 2010, we won the competition, our only time as champions so far. "Securing the AFC Women's Asian Cup is a testament to our nation's dedication to football. It is not only a victory for the sport but for every Australian, offering significant economic and cultural benefits," said Anter Isaac, Chairman of Football Australia, about hosting the 2026 tournament in a statement. "We are profoundly honoured to host the 2026 edition of the AFC Women's Asian Cup™. This decision reflects the global football community's confidence in our capability to deliver outstanding events. Following the resounding success of last year's FIFA Women's World Cup™, we are eager to create another tournament that celebrates women's football and inspires a new generation," added James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia. Exactly when the in 2026 the Women's Asian Cup will take place hasn't been locked in as yet, so you can't mark your calendar just yet. The Matildas next play in Australia at the end of May and beginning of June, hosting two games against China in the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the latter, in July and August, they're in the same group as Germany, Zambia and the US. During the team's next Aussie leg, goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and Mackenzie Arnold and coach Tony Gustavsson will also hit the stage at Vivid Sydney 2024 to talk all things Tillies. [caption id="attachment_912895" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matildas: The World at Our Feet[/caption] The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup hasn't yet announced its exact dates — we'll update you when they're revealed. Head to the AFC website for more details in the interim. Images: Tiffany Williams / Football Australia.
Back in January, you should've already marked your diary for one of the dance-music highlights of 2025: The Warehouse Project making its second trip to Australia. Now, it's time to discover who'll be spinning tunes while you make shapes. Partiboi69, Hector Oaks, X-Coast, Miss Bashful, Carla Martinez: they're all on the just-dropped lineup. If you went to The Warehouse Project's first-ever Australian dates in 2024, then you experienced a slice of history, as this Manchester-born rave-scene mainstay finally made the leap Down Under. The event's Aussie debut clearly went well, hence the return for a second year running. The Warehouse Project is again hitting up Sydney and Melbourne, this time across Thursday, April 24–Friday, April 25. The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, Fred again.., Skrillex and Happy Mondays have played it overseas. De La Soul, Aphex Twin, Carl Cox and deadmau5, too. For fans of dance music, and just music fans in general, The Warehouse Project's fame extends far past its UK home. For its second Australian trip, Melbourne's PICA will welcome The Warehouse Project for the second time; however, Sydney's event is taking place at Hordern Pavilion in 2025, after setting up shop at Munro Warehouse in Sydney Olympic Park in 2024. This year's events are one-day affairs in each city, too, rather than two nights apiece as happened last year. This remains a two-city tour, though, so if you're keen on hitting up The Warehouse Project in Australia and you live somewhere other than Sydney or Melbourne, you'll need to plan an interstate trip. The Manchester institution's Aussie debut in 2024 came after initially going international in 2023 in Rotterdam and Antwerp. It was back in 2006 that The Warehouse Project first unleashed its club nights on its birthplace, kicking off in a disused brewery and then moving underneath Manchester's Piccadilly station, in a space that's also been an air-raid shelter — and also to a warehouse that dates back to the 1920s. Now, it calls former railway station Depot Mayfield home when it's on in its home city. "After the incredible success of last year's debut, we're excited to revisit Sydney and Melbourne to build on the magic we created. Once again, we'll be pulling out all the stops in production and bringing a mix of both international and domestic artists to two special venues," said The Warehouse Project Co-Founder Sam Kandel about the event's Aussie comeback. "With the special atmosphere the Australian crowd creates, we know this will be an experience that resonates long after the music stops." The Warehouse Project Australia 2025 Dates Thursday, April 24 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Friday, April 25 — PICA, Melbourne The Warehouse Project Australia 2025 Lineup Partiboi69 Hector Oaks X-Coast Miss Bashful Carla Martinez The Warehouse Project returns to Australia across Thursday, April 24–Friday, April 25, 2025, with general ticket sales from 11am AEDT on Wednesday, February 5. Head to the event's website for further details. Images: Duncographic / Jordan Munns.
Ask four people what their favourite takeaway meal is and you'll probably get four different answers — and none of them will match yours. If you live with those four people, deciding what's for dinner can be as challenging as finding a supermarket that has toilet paper in stock. And, even if you get your way, the battle is only half won. To really earn those nods of approval at the end of the meal, you have to choose the perfect bottle of wine that'll make the food taste even better (and make your victory even sweeter). Though a takeaway meal at home has many upsides — like being able to eat in your PJs — you're unlikely to have a sommelier on hand (if you do, we're jealous). Sure, we all know the basics: white wine goes well with seafood and red meat should be paired with a glass of red. But there's a little more to it than that — you also need to consider things like the acidity, tannins and weight of the wine. So, we've teamed up with online wine retailer Cellarmasters to put in some of the hard yards for you. We've selected five excellent takeaway options in your city and found a top-notch drop that'll perfectly complement each one. And thanks to Cellarmasters, which has wiped its home delivery fees on all orders, you can get your hands on all of them without having to leave your house. [caption id="attachment_694683" align="alignnone" width="1920"] RaRa by Luisa Brimble[/caption] SLURP SPICY RAMEN AND SIP FRUITY ROSÉ Cooking a decent meal isn't that hard so, most of the time, ordering a takeaway is just a sign you can't be bothered. But if it's ramen you're craving, you're 100 percent excused. This is not a dish you can whip up in 20 minutes. No matter what base style you go for — shio (salt), shoyu (soy), miso or tonkotsu (pork) — you can be certain that the chef has had that broth bubbling away for hours to perfect the complex flavour. Considering all the flavour combinations that are available with ramen, choosing a vino can be pretty tricky, but a well-rounded rosé should do the trick. Aim for one with good acidity and a slightly dry finish, which should work with a creamy, salty broth. And, if you like to load up on the spice, look for a drop that has bold, fruity flavours to balance that hit of chilli. What to order: In Melbourne, you can get Neko Neko's spicy tofu ramen takeaway or via Deliveroo. In Sydney, order the tonkotsu with housemade chilli and black garlic for pickup or delivery from RaRa. Pair with: Zonte's Footstep Organic Rosé — this bright tempranillo rosé from the Fleurieu Peninsula showcases blackcurrent and red grapefruit aromas, and retains a good acidity that helps it pair well with most spicy dishes. [caption id="attachment_683821" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Capitano by Kate Shanasy[/caption] ENJOY A SLICE OF PIZZA WITH AN EARTHY SANGIOVESE Unless you have somehow scored a woodfire oven in your crib, pizza is another dish that you could never create as well at home — try as you may. Especially not when you can get a perfectly crispy, chewy slice from some of the best in the biz with one quick phone call. The endless topping options can again make wine pairing a challenge. But if you're sticking to a classic tomato base, sangiovese will serve you well, thanks to its high acidity. Choose a wine that has rich stonefruit notes — think cherry or plum — which will balance out savoury toppings like parmesan, anchovies and olives. What to order: In Sydney, Bella Brutta produces some of our favourite slices, including an extra-saucy marinara topped with anchovies, which are all available for pickup and delivery. Meanwhile, in Melbourne, Carlton joint Capitano is also offering takeaway and delivery on its goods, including the classic tomato pie and double pepperoni. Pair with: Altero Sangiovese — you'll find sour red cherries and spice on the nose and oaky, earthy notes on the palate with this Fleurieu Peninsula drop. [caption id="attachment_674536" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tipico by Julian Sansone[/caption] PAIR A BOWL OF MEAT-BASED PASTA WITH NERO D'AVOLA A big bowl of pasta may not be the most traditional takeaway option. But given the state of the supermarket shelves at the moment, we're so fortunate that many local restaurants are remaining open so we can get our favourite carb fix. Our tastebuds deserve better than Dolmio right now anyway. A lot of time, love and (metaphorical) elbow grease goes into making a traditional meat-based pasta, and this is a dish you want to take your time eating to savour all of the complex flavours. A full-bodied Italian red will not only stay on theme, but the long finish will also linger on the palate and complement the rich sauce. What to order: Melbourne's Tipico has launched a to-go menu with pasta and sauce packs, including beef ragu, duck ragu and beef lasagne, to whip up whenever the craving strikes. Meanwhile, Sydneysiders can get a hearty serving of lasagne from Darlo bar Love, Tilly Devine for $25, available for pickup or delivery. Pair with: Colpasso Nero D'avola Appassimento — this award-winning Italian wine is made by partially drying the grapes prior to fermentation and has spent 6–8 months in oak resulting in an intense flavour and long finish. [caption id="attachment_753792" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Horn Please by Peter Tarasiuk[/caption] TRY CREAMY FISH CURRY WITH A GLASS OF CHARDONNAY There's just something about an Indian curry that makes the prospect of spending yet another night at home not seem so bad. While the weather is still decent, opt for something like a mild coconut fish curry — it'll still give you that cosy, belly-warming feeling, but it's easy on the chilli so you won't need to worry about overheating. Pairing this dish with a crisp chardonnay will also help keep things light and bright. The fresh tropical fruit flavours work well with seafood, while the citrus acidity will balance out the rich creaminess of the sauce. What to order: Sydneysiders can order the coconut fish curry with turmeric and mustard seed from Surry Hills spot Don't Tell Aunty, while Melburnians can snag the same dish from sister joint Horn Please in Fitzroy North. Both spots are offering takeaway and delivery. Pair with: David Lowe Wines Chardonnay — expect subtle oak notes and tropical fruit flavours from this fresh, easy-drinking drop from New South Wales. [caption id="attachment_763009" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Teta Mona by Tracey Ah-kee[/caption] TUCK INTO A LEBANESE FEAST WITH A BOTTLE OF PINOT NOIR A giant Lebanese feast can snap you out of even the lowest of stuck-at-home slumps — something many of us will likely face over the next few weeks and months. It's hard to feel bored or blue when faced with vibrant dishes like hummus and pita, fattoush, crunchy falafel, marinated chicken and spicy lamb kofta. With such diversity, a Lebanese feast will sing with almost any type of wine, but we recommend something that has a little character like pinot noir. The fruitiness will lift the peppery and spicy aspects of the dishes, while the silky tannins team well with the heartier meat dishes. What to order: For a spread of traditional Lebanese plates, hit up Teta Mona if you're in Melbourne or Emma's Snack Bar in Sydney. Pair with: Dovetail Yarra Valley Pinot Noir — with partial maturation in hogshead barrels, this Yarra Valley drop emits red berry fruits on the nose and subtle oak on the palate. Be prepared for your next takeaway occasion and place an order via the Cellarmasters website. Each order includes free delivery and a 100 percent money-back guarantee. Plus, use code CPLAYGROUND for $20 off sitewide until April 26 (minimum spend of $99). Top image: Bella Brutta by Kitti Gould
With cafe pedigrees taking over Melbourne, this new addition comes from one of the best. Building on the success of Coin Laundry and Station Street Trading Co., the team behind Tall Timber has brought a slice of hinterland idyll to a bustling Prahran. Be welcomed by the expansive front room, draped in winter's sun and rustic white decor. Little pots of herbs and preserves highlight your way, snaking along the side of the cafe to reveal a sheltered courtyard; the outdoor seating complements this charming feeling of home. Such a raw, effortless atmosphere makes the hospitality at Tall Timber easygoing, with the service unassuming, attentive and friendly without being pushed to a fault. This sleepy feeling is accented by a menu that is produce focused and inviting. Featuring a host of favourites that shine through careful attention to the little details, the serves are assured to impress. Although a simple concept, the breaky board (one poached egg on sourdough, house cereal with natural yogurt, poached fruit and an OJ cleanser; $16) hits the spot perfectly for both the indecisive and the eager. Such an idea is all too often missing from cafe offerings, but Tall Timber knows how to please. Likewise, the lumberjack's fry up ($19.50) is a hearty selection of breakfast necessities. Coffee is additionally reliable and handled with expertise ($3.50-4.50). From Niccolo, and soon to be roasted in-house, its consistency is sure to only get better. Complement this with a careful selection of sweets ($4-4.50) on display on the crisp cake counter. For its first weekend, Tall Timber exceeded the pressure of expectant crowds to deliver a charming, leisurely experience. It's a local that has the potential to entertain and impress your dearest of friends, while also being a reliable choice for a comfortable, solo retreat. With the team already working together as smooth as a lumberjack's axe, Tall Timber is a standout.
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.
Do you have the time to listen to Green Day live? Do you now have 'Basket Case' from the California-born band's iconic 1994 album Dookie stuck in your head? To celebrate three decades since releasing one of the records that defined the 90s, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool are returning to Australia to play it in its entirety — and to also bust out their American Idiot album from 2004 in full as well. If you're a Green Day fan, welcome to paradise come Saturday, March 1, 2025, when the band will hit up Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. We hope you have the time of your life getting a blast of 90s and 00s nostalgia, complete with 'When I Come Around', 'Longview', 'She', 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams', 'Wake Me Up When September Ends', 'Holiday' and, yes, 'American Idiot' echoing. [caption id="attachment_972774" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alice Baxley, Apple Music[/caption] While the visit is part of the group's global The Saviors Tour, which is named for their 14th studio album Saviors, they're clearly happy to keep working through their best-known tunes — and, while they aren't on either Dookie or American Idiot, 'Minority', 'Brain Stew' and 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)' have been on Green Day's recent setlist overseas. In support, also bringing the 90s and 00s to mind, fellow California-born group AFI will share the stage on Green Day's 2025 Aussie tour. [caption id="attachment_972777" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Flickr.[/caption] Top images: Raph_PH via Flickr, Alice Baxley.
If you endured Morbius in 2022, finding joy only in the 'it's morbin' time' meme, you weren't alone: the annual Golden Raspberry Awards also deemed it one of the past year's worst movies. Famously designed to recognise that all films can't be great, good or even watchable, the accolades always drop its winners for the year just before the Oscars — and as the current awards season comes to an end, it's that time again. Morbius took home Worst Actor for Jared Leto and Worst Supporting Actress for Adria Arjona, with the supervillain flick tying with Blonde and Elvis for the most amount of wins: two apiece. Blonde, starring Ana de Armas in her Oscar-nominated role as Marilyn Monroe, was anointed 2022's Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay, while Baz Luhrmann's king of rock 'n' roll biopic Elvis notched up a pair of awards for Tom Hanks. Firstly, the beloved actor nabbed the Worst Supporting Actor prize for playing Colonel Tom Parker. Secondly, he took out the Worst Screen Combo Award for his partnership with his latex-laden face (and, in the words of the Razzies, "that ludicrous accent"). Elsewhere, Disney's live-action Pinocchio — which isn't the same as Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, as the Razzies also point out — won Worst Remake, Ripoff or Sequel. And, Machine Gun Kelly's stoner comedy Good Mourning collected the Worst Director accolade for Machine Gun Kelly and Mod Sun. The Razzies also gave itself a gong: the Worst Actress Award. Back when its 44th nominations were announced, child actor Ryan Kiera Armstrong was among the Worst Actress contenders for Firestarter, which unsurprisingly sparked a backlash. So, the Razzies removed her from the nominees and took the prize itself instead. "The Razzies, for the first time in their history, took a Razzie themselves. After their blunder of nominating someone who should not have been considered, the organisation was put through the cyberworld blender," the awards said in its winners announcement. "They publicly apologised to the actress, changed the rules for anyone under 18, rescinded the nomination and put themselves in her place on the ballot — which won by a landslide," the Razzies continued. These accolades aren't just about calling out terrible movies, or terrible aspects of them — a task that, like handing out all awards, is subjective. The Razzies also give a prize to someone it decides has redeemed themselves from their past Razzie-level work. This year's recipient: Colin Farrell, awarded for going from 2004 Worst Actor nominee to 2022 Best Actor Oscar frontrunner (for The Banshees of Inisherin). Check out the full list of 44th Annual Razzie Award nominees and winners below: GOLDEN RASPBERRY NOMINEES 2022: WORST PICTURE Blonde — WINNER Disney's Pinocchio Good Mourning The King's Daughter Morbius WORST ACTOR Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly), Good Mourning Pete Davidson (voice only), Marmaduke Tom Hanks (as Gepetto), Disney's Pinocchio Jared Leto, Morbius — WINNER Sylvester Stallone, Samaritan WORST ACTRESS The Razzies for their 43rd worst actress nominations blunder — WINNER Bryce Dallas Howard, Jurassic Park Dominion Diane Keaton, Mack & Rita Kaya Scodelario, The King's Daughter Alicia Silverstone, The Requin WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR Pete Davidson (cameo role), Good Mourning Tom Hanks, Elvis — WINNER Xavier Samuel, Blonde Mod Sun, Good Mourning Evan Williams, Blonde WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Adria Arjona, Morbius — WINNER Lorraine Bracco (voice only), Disney's Pinocchio Penelope Cruz, The 355 Bingbing Fan, The 355 and The King's Daughter Mira Sorvino, Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend WORST SCREEN COMBO Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly) and Mod Sun, Good Mourning Both real life characters in the fallacious White House bedroom scene, Blonde Tom Hanks and his latex-laden face (and ludicrous Aaccent), Elvis — WINNER Andrew Dominik and his issues with women, Blonde The two 365 Days sequels (both released in 2022) WORST DIRECTOR Judd Apatow, The Bubble Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly) and Mod Sun, Good Mourning — WINNER Andrew Dominik, Blonde Daniel Espinosa, Morbius Robert Zemeckis, Disney's Pinocchio WORST REMAKE, RIPOFF or SEQUEL Blonde Both 365 Days sequels: 365 Days: This Day and The Next 365 Days Disney's Pinocchio — WINNER Firestarter Jurassic World Dominion WORST SCREENPLAY Blonde — WINNER Disney's Pinocchio Good Mourning Jurassic World Dominion Morbius RAZZIE REDEEMER Colin Farrell for going from 2004 Worst Actor nominee to 2022 Best Actor Oscar frontrunner.
There's something rather cool about being ahead of the curve when it comes to cinema, watching the latest and greatest flicks unfold on the silver screen before the rest of the world gets to see them. Well, at Flickerfest Short Film Festival you can do just that. Yep, break out the popcorn, the internationally acclaimed festival is touring in Melbourne on Wednesday, February 12 — and there's a swag of homegrown talent on the bill. This year, the folks at Flickerfest received a record 3500 entries from more than 100 countries around the world, making the 2020 program a real doozy. More than 200 handpicked creative and inspiring shorts screened at the festival's ten-day stint in Sydney earlier this summer. Now, at The Kino cinema, you'll catch the cream of the crop, with a focus on the best Australian — and more specifically Melbourne-based — shorts. Highlights include Elders, directed by writer director Tony Briggs and recently selected for the Berlin Film Festival; animated short Rebooted about a movie star who also happens to be a skeleton; thrilling drama The Widow; and Blackwood, which won best cinematography at this year's Flickerfest Awards. [caption id="attachment_759070" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Rebooted'[/caption] After seeing a bunch of Melbourne-produced shorts, you can head to the after party. There you'll find Vietnamese snacks — think rice paper rolls, skewers and dumplings — as well as beer, wine and non-alcoholic bevvies. Tickets for the evening cost $25 and include access to the after party. To see the full program and grab tickets, head here. Top images (in order): The Widow by Brendan Young and Catherine McQuade and Elders by Tony Briggs.
Road trippers have returned to the freeways, exploring rural Victoria's best towns and natural landscapes. And one of these towns has got to be Cobram which straddles the twists and turns of the Murray River. When visiting this area, you've got the option to really relax or go full hog and have a proper adventure. Hike up around the local forest, take to the water with some wakeboarding or jet skiing (whether you're a pro or total rookie), or slow right down and immerse yourself in the local wildlife and culture. We've teamed up with our Victorian road trip partner RACV to bring you a selection of incredible ways to experience Cobram and the surrounding region. And don't forget: if you're planning on having a drink, make sure there's a designated driver to keep you safe on your travels. [caption id="attachment_845463" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Godfrey, Visit Victoria[/caption] SWIM AT ONE OF THE LARGEST INLAND BEACHES IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Cobram is home to what locals claim is one of the longest inland beaches in Australia, Thompson's Beach. Sit on the sandy shore with a book for the day, dipping in and out of the water periodically, or jump in a canoe and let the current slowly take you downstream. You can easily spend an entire day here, being as lazy or active as you like. It's a popular meeting place for locals and tourists alike, making it a truly special spot for experiencing the area's culture. The local animals don't mind it either, and if you look up into the river red gums lining the shore you can catch a goanna or koala sunning themselves. [caption id="attachment_845466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria[/caption] TEE OFF AT ONE OF THE REGION'S MANY GOLD COURSES You don't need to swim in the river or go hiking in forests to experience some active fun in Cobram. If you'd rather work on your swing, the region is known for having some damn good golf clubs. You've got the Cobram Barooga Golf Club, the nearby Tocumwal Golf Club, Black Bull Golf Club at Yarrawonga and Numurkah Golf and Bowls Club. Each of these is a winner for golfers with a range of experience. Either plan your visit around one of the region's golf tournaments or pop by during quieter periods for more relaxed play. SEE THE BIG STRAWBERRY AND GO STRAWBERRY PICKING It's hard to pinpoint exactly why, but Aussies really do love big public sculptures of random fruits and animals. It's a thing – especially for seasoned road trippers. So, when driving near Cobram, you have to stop by The Big Strawberry. Yeah, it's great for the requisite happy snap for your 'Big Things' photo album, but you can also do some good old fashioned strawberry picking. Grab a bucket and take to the fields during a sunny day in Cobram. Grab as many as you like, either for jam making back home or just enough to keep you going for the next leg of your road trip around northern Victoria. And if you can't be bothered doing the work, you can grab a strawberry ice cream or jars of preserves from the cafe and store. [caption id="attachment_845468" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rob Blackburn, Visit Victoria[/caption] EXPLORE A HIDDEN DESERT OASIS FULL OF CACTI Rural Victoria offers up a whole lot of unexpected things to do – including a visit to Australia's largest cactus garden. Spend an arvo in Cactus Country's Mexican inspired garden and see a different, less Australiana landscape. Walk down some of the eight different paths spread across 12 acres, snapping pictures within this desert oasis, before diving into margaritas, nachos, and homemade cactus ice cream. You can also take in the views of the cactus fields and surrounding area from the elevated lookout dome. See how many of the 1000+ plant varieties you can spot, from the smallest of succulents to the largest of the cacti. You'll feel completely transported when exploring Cactus Country. [caption id="attachment_845493" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darren Donlen[/caption] EXPLORE THE DIVERSE TERRAIN OF COBRAM REGIONAL PARK When heading up this way, you must stop by the well-preserved Cobram Regional Park. If you're short on time, you can drive up to a few lookouts and walk along the shorter trails but we recommend you take your time here. Within Cobram Regional Park, you can hike along the Murray River, stopping to swim in and camp by several inland beaches. This is true escapism. You can also visit the Quinn Island Wetlands Sanctuary. This forty-hectare island was formed by a bend in the Murray River and is a waterbird haven. A trail winds its way through river red gum and silver wattle forest, and from a bird hide you can spot a huge range of native birds and animals — especially after some heavy rain. You'll feel like you're in an epic David Attenborough documentary when you walk around the area. [caption id="attachment_845475" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Godfrey, Visit Victoria[/caption] EXPERIENCE THE MIGHTY MURRAY RIVER UP CLOSE Cobram's unique cultural identity is directly linked to the Murray River. Locals have always lived off the surrounding lands which have been fed by the river, but these waters do more than just help the farmers. They also make Cobram a massive water sports destination. Go fishing along the banks, spend the day paddle boarding or get behind a power boat for some water skiing. You don't have to be a water sport pro to enjoy all this, either. There are several companies that offer water skiing lessons for total newbies, and you can easily join a guided canoe tour of the local waterway. There are also some romantic sunset cruises for those wanting to slow down. Everyone and anyone can enjoy a long day on the Murray. [caption id="attachment_845477" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria[/caption] LEARN THE LOCAL HISTORY AND ENJOY A TRADITIONAL FARMERS' LUNCH The Byramine Homestead is ideal for road trippers wanting to take in some regional history. Learn about the early pioneering days which helped make Cobram what it is today before having a morning tea in the picturesque gardens. There's also a brewery and cider house on site and a restaurant with paddock-to-plate meals (try the Ploughman's) so you can spend a few more hours drinking and snacking within this historic setting. Take a long rest here before heading back to your hotel, caravan park or tent for the night. ADMIRE THE MURRAY IN COMFORT AT THE RACV COBRAM RESORT When on a long road trip, you really want to stay somewhere that immerses you in the local area. And the RACV Cobram Resort does just that. Positioned along the Murray River, the property features a range of self-contained cabins where you and your crew can relax amongst the wildlife — or, sit out on your private balcony, pour yourself a glass of wine, and escape it all. Either spend the whole day making the most of the resort's facilities (there's a pool, tennis courts and a spa to enjoy in the colder months) or use it as a base to explore more of the region. At RACV Cobram Resort, you can take in the sights, scents, and sounds of the Australian countryside in pure comfort. Planning a road trip? Get RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance before you head off. Top images: Visit Victoria
It was back in September 2022 that Weird: The Al Yankovic Story first hit screens, premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival with its happily ridiculous take on its namesake's life, and with Daniel Radcliffe (The Lost City) sporting a mop of curls to play the titular part. And, it was in November last year that the film became available to stream in the US, releasing via The Roku Channel. Since then, however, there has been no sign of the movie Down Under. That is, unless you took Weird Al's advice. The man himself noted on Twitter at the time that "Roku's working on it. In the meantime there's VPN (Very Probably No) way to watch it legally. I'm sure you have a TORRENT of other questions, but I have to move along, sorry." Roku's working on it. In the meantime there's VPN (Very Probably No) way to watch it legally. I'm sure you have a TORRENT of other questions, but I have to move along, sorry. — Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) November 5, 2022 Thankfully, come Thursday, March 2, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will finally hit streaming in Australia thanks to Paramount+. When you're not getting yourself and egg and beating it, you might want to mark that date in your diary. This is the 100-percent Weird Al-authorised take on his own accordion-playing existence, so expect 'weird' to be the word in more ways than one. Indeed, in too many music biopics to count, a star is born — and also rises to fame after putting their talents towards a dream that's inspired them as long as they can remember. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story follows that same formula, but also parodies it. It wouldn't be a movie about Weird Al if it didn't take something that already works, then give it a satirical spin, now would it? "My whole life, all I wanted was to do... was make up new words to a song that already exists," Yankovic, as played by Daniel Radcliffe (The Lost City), says Weird's full trailer — which, yes, looks gloriously ridiculous. This line bookends glimpses of a childhood Al happily thumbing through accordion magazines and getting caught at a polka party. In other words, this humorous look at the man behind oh-so-many humorous songs takes the exact approach a film about Weird Al really has to. Viewers can also expect: accordions, obviously; recreations of Weird Al's film clips and live performances; oh-so-many Hawaiian shirts; chaotic meetings with Madonna, as played by Westworld's Evan Rachel Wood; and origin stories behind tracks like 'My Bologna' and 'Like a Surgeon'. Beneath wire-framed glasses, those shirts, that hair and Yankovic's instantly recognisable moustache — and in a piece of casting that seems like it jumped straight from the internet — Radcliffe looks to be having the time of his life as the musician behind 'Another One Rides the Bus', 'Smells Like Nirvana' and 'Amish Paradise', plus comedic riffs on pretty much every other big song of the past four-plus decades that you can think of. Yankovic is one of the screenwriters, alongside director Eric Appel (a TV sitcom veteran with Happy Endings, New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and top-notch cop-show parody NTSF:SD:SUV on this resume). If the man in the spotlight's career has taught us all anything apart from the wrong words to pop hits, it's that he doesn't take a single thing, including himself, seriously. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will hit Paramount+ in Australia with perfect timing, because Yankovic is touring the country in March, playing Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. Check out the trailer for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story below: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will stream in Australia from Thursday, March 2 via Paramount+.
When cinemas around the globe started temporarily shutting down in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, horror sequel A Quiet Place Part II was only weeks away from opening. The film's release was quickly moved to September 2020, when it was hoped that life might've returned normal — and, when that didn't end up panning out, to April 2021. Now, the film has just shifted its release date again, this time staking out mid-September as the new time that cinephiles will be able to see the John Krasinski-directed, Emily-Blunt-starring follow-up to 2018 hit A Quiet Place. Cinemas Down Under are currently up and running, and have been for months (although Melbourne's reopened, then closed down again during the city's second lockdown in the latter half of 2020, then relaunched once more). But with COVID-19 numbers still enormously high in places such as the US and UK — with many cinemas closed in America and all of them presently shut in Britain — Hollywood studios aren't willing to release their big movies on the silver screen and risk low box office returns. Over the past week, the companies behind a heap of high-profile films that had already been delayed at least once over the past year announced that they'd be postponing them yet again. That includes No Time to Die, the latest Bond flick and the last that's set to star Daniel Craig. It was actually the first big movie to reschedule its 2020 release, moving from April to November, then to April 2021. It's now set to reach screens on October 8 this year. https://twitter.com/007/status/1352416833815633922 If you were looking forward to more Ghostbusters, you'll need to wait longer for that as well, with the Paul Rudd-starring Ghostbusters: Afterlife making its latest shift to November. The Spider-Man-related Morbius, featuring Jared Leto, moved from October 2021 to January 2022, while The King's Man — the next instalment in the Kingsman franchise — postponed its release from March to August this year. At the moment, both Black Widow and Fast and Furious 9 are still set to release in the first half of 2021 — on April 29 and May 27 Down Under — but don't be surprised if they move back as well. Actually, as has proven the case for almost a year now, constantly moving release dates is just a regular of pandemic life for the time being. Some flicks that shouldn't be changing their release plans in Australia and New Zealand: Dune, Godzilla vs Kong, The Suicide Squad, The Matrix 4, In the Heights and the latest Conjuring film. All of the above were produced by Warner Bros, who announced in 2020 that it'd launch movies in cinemas were they could and on streaming platform HBO Max at the same time where the latter is available, enabling it to keep to a schedule and not have to continually push releases back. New movies are still hitting in cinemas Down Under each week at the moment, of course, and will continue to do so; however, you can probably expect the next few months to be light on big-name flicks — and possibly even longer depending on how the pandemic continues to play out. And, as for whether any of the above repeatedly delayed movies will shift to streaming platforms as Mulan, Soul and Hamilton did in 2020, it doesn't seem overly likely while studios are willing to just keep pushing their dates for them back instead. To check out the new releases screening in Australian cinemas from this week, check out our weekly rundown and reviews. Top image: Jonny Cournoyer. © 2019 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved
Australians, it's time to break out the gin and juice again — because Snoop Dogg is coming back to our shores. For the first time since 2014, the rapper is hitting stages Down Under as part of this new 'I Wanna Thank Me' tour, which'll be playing arenas in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in October and November 2022. Clearly, the musician/actor/cook book author/wrestling MC/wine brand owner will be dropping shows like they're hot as he raps his way through the RAC Arena, Qudos Bank Arena, Rod Laver Arena and Brisbane Entertainment Centre. He'll also be inspiring hip hop fans to be the life of the party and, if you can remember his time as Snoop Doggy Dog and Snoop Lion across his career, to ask about his name as well. Yes, you can expect to hear singles such as 'What's My Name?', 'Gin and Juice', 'Drop It Like It's Hot' and 'Snoop's Upside Ya Head', as well as tracks from his latest album — which shares its moniker with the tour. His 17th record, I Wanna Thank Me came out in 2019. So did a documentary with the same title, which you can watch in parts on Snoop's offical YouTube channel if you need something to tide you over while you wait for his new live shows. After a lack of big international tours coming our way for the past two years due to the pandemic, Snoop joins a growing list of musicians that are planning to head to Australia in 2022. So, you might need to slot his shows into your diary alongside gigs by Tyler, The Creator, Alanis Morissette, Lorde and My Chemical Romance. SNOOP DOGG 'I WANNA THANK ME' 2022 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES Perth — Wednesday, October 22, RAC Arena Sydney — Friday, October 28, Qudos Bank Arena Melbourne — Saturday, October 29, Rod Laver Arena Brisbane — Tuesday, November 1, Brisbane Entertainment Centre Telstra pre-sale tickets for Snoop Dogg's 'I Wanna Thank Me' tour go on sale at 12pm local time on Friday, September 10. Then, general public tickets on sale at 4pm local time on Monday, September 13. Visit the tour website for further details.
How are you planning to spend gravy day in 2023? If you'll be listening to Paul Kelly sing about making gravy when it's the 21st of December, that's understandable. How are you planning to spend gravy day in 2024? Here's our suggestion: watching the movie How to Make Gravy, which is indeed adapted from Kelly's Christmas classic tune 'How to Make Gravy'. News that the flick was coming first dropped in 2022, with musician Meg Washington and writer/director Nick Waterman announcing that they'd locked in the rights to make the song into a film. Now, Australian streaming platform Binge has revealed that it's behind the movie, which will mark its first-ever original feature. Production has also started head of a planned 2024 release. Set to star: The Royal Hotel co-stars Daniel Henshall and Hugo Weaving, as well as Brenton Thwaites (Titans), Damon Herriman (now that he's no longer playing Charles Manson in both Mindhunter and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Kate Mulvany (The Clearing) among the homegrown talents. Joining them is French actor Agathe Rousselle from Titane, who'll be making her first English-language film. Will Kelly feature? More cast members are still to be revealed, but cameos by Adam Briggs and Dallas Woods have been announced so far. Filming is currently underway on the Gold Coast. The exact story that the movie will tell hasn't been unveiled as yet; however, as anyone who knows the words to 'How to Make Gravy' by heart and is currently singing them right now while they're reading this is well aware, Kelly's tune tells a tale itself, starting with a prisoner called Joe who writes to his brother Dan. Presumably, Stella, Frank and Dolly will all also feature, and Rita, Roger, Mary and her new boyfriend. Junior Murvin will have to pop up on the soundtrack, of course. Also, the words "and give my love to Angus" better get uttered — or would it really be a How to Make Gravy movie? Although Binge hasn't advised exactly when in 2024 the film will release, either, you could probably put money on it hitting screens on or around December 21 to start a new gravy day tradition. (And, given the character of Joe also pops up in other Kelly songs such as 'To Her Door' and 'Love Never Runs On Time', cross your fingers that we're about to get a PKCU — Paul Kelly cinematic universe — too.) "It's a dream to be working with such an incredible cast and crew on our debut feature film. It's testament to Paul's songwriting that the world and characters within the song are so vivid, and we are proud to have the honour of bringing it to life," said Waterman and Washington. "It's a uniquely Australian story, made for film lovers and music fans alike. We can't wait to share our adaptation of 'How to Make Gravy' with the world." There's no trailer for the movie yet, of course, but here's the music video for the song. How to Make Gravy, the movie, doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when further details are announced. Via Variety.
Glamping has been embraced by wineries, yogis and landscaped gardens all over Australia, and now making its way into national parks. In early October, two Victorian parks will host bell tent pop-ups as part of Parks Victoria's first glamping trial. You'll find the first at Lake Catani, in Mount Buffalo National Park, around four hours' drive northeast of Melbourne. Here, Under Sky – which takes glamping to festivals and various events – will be erecting ten bell tents filled with premium linen and comfy furnishings. When you're not marvelling at Lake Catani's tranquil waters and snow gum woodlands, you'll be able to get out and about exploring Mount Buffalo's 90 kilometres of walking tracks, waterfalls, wildflowers and native creatures. Meanwhile, at Devil Cove in Lake Eildon National Park, the operators of much-loved country retreat Yea Peppercorn Hotel will be delivering, not just luxury bell tents, but Glamping With Nature — a full glamping experience. When you're not kicking back in your private canvas kingdom, you'll be able to try out cooking workshops, group fitness classes, kayaking adventures and health-and-wellness sessions. At both Lake Catani and Devil Cove, food and drinks packages, filled with local goodies and concoctions, will be available, too. Parks Victoria's glamping experiment are due to start in October and run until December. Prices begin at $130 per night per couple. Online bookings are available for Lake Catani over here and at Devil Cove here.
Now before you say anything, this isn’t another fold-up bike. Let’s be honest, fold-up bikes can often be kind of awkward — even if they're as small as your umbrella. Indian company Lucid Design have created a conceptual 'Bike in a Bag' that would quickly disassemble into separate parts so you could fit it into your bag. The Kit Bike would be made up of 21 parts and assembled by twisting joints together using a rotating mechanism and secured with an Allen key. The diamond-shaped frame would be made up of hollow aluminium tubes and powder-coated white for a minimal, classic look. The bike would even come with its own circular leather bag designed specifically to carry the parts — wheels go on the sides and the extras in the middle compartment. "Conventional bikes are awkward in every way except when you ride them," says creative director of Lucid Design, Amit Mirchandani. "The Kit Bike was designed to make problems of shipping, traveling with and commuting with a bike, a thing of the past." Yes, there would be some challenges if you left home without your Allen key, and we have to admit we’d be a little worried about a detachable bike coming undone on our way to work, but there’s also great benefits to consider if you're travelling and you want to take in the sights on your own two wheels. Think about it. Just to clarify, this bike is not yet in production. It did receive a Red Dot 2014 Design Award earlier this year for the concept, but the comments left on the original Dezeen post show not everyone's as impressed: "Nice looking but I don't see it being sturdy enough." "It's awful, any design student can make a CAD model of a bike. No thought has gone into this design at all. Look how flimsy it is — does the designer even know what a bike is? Do they understand stress and material properties?" "Just look at that ridiculous gear ratio. Good luck pedalling over 10 mph on this thing... although I probably wouldn't feel safe riding it much faster." "People complain if they have to assemble an Ikea chair made of six pieces. Have fun assembling and disassembling your 20 piece bike every day, when commuting to work." "Never seen such bullsh*t." Watch this space, maybe Lucid Design can prove the haters wrong. Via Dezeen.
As state and international borders have been closed for much of the year, many of us are taking the opportunity to explore our own backyards. We were all spoilt for choice when the borders were open and often forgot to appreciate what was in our own cities or states. Now, Ovolo Hotels is helping you level up your staycation with its new range of activity add-ons that'll have you enjoying your city from atop the Harbour Bridge, in a boat or from the comfort of a massage table. Ovolo has two hotels in Sydney (Woolloomooloo and Darling Harbour) and Brisbane (Inchcolm and The Valley), one in Melbourne (Laneways) and one in Canberra (Nishi), with each one offering different staycay option. In Sydney, you can choose between a Tesla hire with a chauffeur, a Harbour Bridgeclimb, boat and walking tours, eight-course degustations and in-room massages. Canberra is offering electric scooters and picnic hampers, Brisbanites can experience a wine blending workshop and, as restrictions lift, Melburnians will be able to go on a tour of the cities secret bars (with cocktails included). [caption id="attachment_787765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bridge Climb[/caption] You can build the staycay packages as you like, picking the room — Ovolo Nishi's Meandering Atrium with a giant bathtub, perhaps, or a Rockstar Suite at the Ovolo The Valley with a cocktail bar and king-sized bed — and adding on the activities that interest you most. Ovolo hotels are also pet friendly, so you can bring your fur-baby with you on your staycation. After all, your dog could use a break just as much as you — they live a busy life. Each hotel also comes with complimentary breakfast, sundowner drinks, in-room mini bar and 24-hour gym access. Ovolo Hotels is now offering Staycay Your Way packages at all its Australian hotels. A two-night minimum stay is requires and you can book over here. Top image: Ovolo Nishi
Plan a trip to South Australia, and spending time surrounded by grapes is probably on your agenda. In 2022, you can pair all those winery visits with plenty of pumpkins, too, because Yayoi Kusama's pumpkin-focused infinity room The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens will display at the Art Gallery of South Australia from Friday, April 1. Australia just keeps going dotty for Kusama. Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art's hosted a kaleidoscopic exhibition dedicated to the Japanese artist back in 2017, her Obliteration Room has proven a hit in the Sunshine State several times and, going one better, Canberra's National Gallery of Australia acquired The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens back in 2018. While the latter is a permanent addition to the NGA's collection, it's also going on the road on — which is why Adelaide is your next place to see oh-so-many dots. The piece was first exhibited in 2015. Comprised of a mirrored cube filled with yellow, dot-covered pumpkins, it's a quintessential Kusama work. Whether you're a devoted fan who considers visiting the artist's own Tokyo museum a bucket-list moment, or someone who has simply placed stickers around one of her obliteration rooms, you would've noticed that dots and the concept of infinity are crucial to her art — "our earth is only one polka dot among a million stars in the cosmos," she says. Inside the cube, the bulbous vegetables appear to create an endless field thanks to the shiny surface. On the outside of the cube, the structure's mirrored exterior reflects the yellow-and-black walls in the surrounding installation room — again, making it appear as though the pattern stretches on forever. The NGA's acquisition was made possible via a gift from Andrew and Hiroko Gwinnett, which is also supporting the infinity room's tour. AGSA hasn't revealed how long it'll be on display, but entry will be free — and it's obviously a must-visit addition to any Adelaide itinerary. The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens forms part of the gallery's just-announced 2022 program, which also includes the 2022 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art from March, a showcase of Japanese sculptural ceramics from May, and Robert Wilson: Moving portraits from July — with the latter displaying video portraits of international stars such as Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt, Isabella Rossellini, Robert Downey Jr and Winona Ryder, as created by the New York artist, designer and director. Find The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens 2017 at the Art Gallery of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, from Friday, April 1, 2022. Images: Installation view, THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS by Yayoi Kusama, 2017, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. © Yayoi Kusama, courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore/Shanghai.
It’s called Dracula Untold — a curious title in light of the fact that an IMDB search shows it’s already been told over 200 times. But perhaps there’s something new here? Nope. Did you know Dracula was originally Vlad the Impaler? Yep. Did you know his dastardly turn to darkness was a result of the death of his beloved Mina? Yep. Did you know he ‘vonts to sarrrrk your blaaaard’? Of course you did. Here’s the critical thing: a guy whose nickname includes the words “the Impaler” is not a nice guy. He’s an impaler. He impales people. Yet Dracula Untold sets out with the task of humanising a monster for the purposes of... what, exactly? There isn’t an ‘evil bias’ that needs to be redressed for the sake of balance. Nobody's crying out for Pol Pot to get a heartwarming movie of the week to ensure ‘his side of the story’ is told. Some people are simply savage wretches and wretches they will remain. In short: let villains be villains. Here, the villain isn’t Dracula, but instead the Turkish sultan ‘Mehmed', determined to claim 1000 young Transylvanian boys for his army. Sultan ‘Meh’ would be far more appropriate. He, like the rest of the film, is bland and unthreatening, afforded only a smattering of flavourless lines to occasionally remind us he’s a cold and unfeeling dictator. In response, Vlad opts to become a cold and unfeeling vampire to stop him and save Transylvania’s people. He’s a 19th-century Batman in that he’s a night-time vigilante capable of literally morphing into bats when he needs to get anywhere. The special effects are good, but who cares? This is a film that — lame pun absolutely intended — sucks.
UPDATE, August 30, 2020: Mary Shelley is available to stream via SBS On Demand, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. It has been exactly 200 years since Frankenstein's monster first shuffled through the pages of Mary Shelley's now-classic story, completely reshaping the gothic horror landscape in the process. At the time, no one anticipated the impact that the novel or the woman behind it would have. No one realised that Mary was responsible for the greatest horror novel ever written, either, a title it still holds today. In fact, only 500 copies of Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus were initially printed back in 1818. It was also published anonymously, with Mary's poet husband Percy Bysshe Shelley penning the introduction and originally thought by many to be the text's author. Today, the beast conceived by the teenage Mary has carved a path not only through the literary world, but across cinema screens for more than a century — but, as the movie's title suggests, Mary Shelley doesn't replay Frankenstein's familiar narrative. Instead, Haifaa Al-Mansour's follow-up to 2012's Wadjda subscribes to a different filmmaking trend. Like everything from James Whale's iconic 1930s adaptations, to Tim Burton's gorgeous Frankenweenie, Mary Shelley obviously owes its existence to Frankenstein. But this origin story is more concerned with the early life of its author than with an obsessed young scientist and his resurrected creature. It's not the first time that Mary has earned the biopic treatment, with 1980s flicks Gothic, Haunted Summer and Rowing with the Wind all exploring the woman behind the classic tale. Still, where that trio honed in on the Lake Geneva getaway that sparked Frankenstein into being (the novel originated from a holiday wager among friends to see who could write the scariest ghost story), this movie focuses on Mary's tumultuous adolescence, her relationship with Percy, and the influence of both upon her famous work. Before images even reach the screen, the sound of writing echoes from Mary Shelley. Before Mary (Elle Fanning) has even dreamed of Frankenstein, the film deploys her lyrical prose to set a distinctive mood and tone. Stylistically, that's Al-Mansour's vivid and evocative approach, infusing every moment of the movie with the same passion and poetry that drives its heroine. A willowy yet strong-willed teen, from the outset Mary is either spinning her own tales or reading others in her father's (Stephen Dillane) bookshop. In-between, she fights with her stepmother (Joanne Froggatt) and finds solace with her stepsister Claire (Bel Powley) — until Percy (Douglas Booth) comes along. Although Mary is just 16, and despite the fact that Percy already has a wife and child, the couple is determined to be together. In her debut feature-length script, Australian screenwriter Emma Jensen endeavours to examine a side of Mary's tale that hasn't previously received as much on-screen attention, championing her protagonist's achievements as well as the considerable obstacles that she faced. Neither can be downplayed and nor are they. That said, sometimes the scandalous love story that accompanies them is given a little too much prominence. Indeed, parts of the film feel like a stock-standard period romance that just happens to involve one of the most influential writers who ever lived. When Mary Shelley connects the dots between Mary's experiences and the book she'll forever be associated with, it's a much more satisfying, moving and involving picture. Likewise, when it delves into Mary's tussles with sexist, dismissive men who can't even conceive of a woman writing such dark, smart and terrifying things, the film comes much closer to doing justice to its subject, her struggles and her continuing importance. Thanks to Fanning's lively and spirited portrayal, there's no doubting the fire that burned inside Mary, even when the film does favour her amorous affairs. Whether surrounded by towers of tomes, scribbling by her mother's grave, or swooning over Percy, Fanning's take on the real-life figure always stands out — from the movie's sumptuous backdrops, which constantly catch the eye, as well as from the romantic plot. It's a performance worthy of the woman it depicts, and it leaves audiences wanting more. The same is true of Mary Shelley, although in a different way. You'll want to keep watching Fanning as she brings the fiercely independent and thoroughly fascinating Mary to life. But you'll also want the movie to flesh out the aspects of Mary's trailblazing existence that it sometimes rushes over. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zFFs6BHsS0
Melbourne temporarily lost a legendary party spot and uni student haunt when the Hawthorn Hotel closed its doors last year. But now, the long-running boozer has been reincarnated by hospitality giant Australian Venue Co (Fargo & Co, The Smith, State of Grace) — and it's reopening on Tuesday, June 22. The Burwood Road pub is sporting a brand-new look after its recent refurb, so expect a slightly different vibe to what you might remember from those second-year uni nights out. The space has been fitted out with a healthy dose of indoor foliage and exposed brick walls, as well as new TV screens — to show sports — and a revamped all-weather beer garden. Dishing up affordable eats, regular specials and a friendly, neighbourhood feel, the Hawthorn's newest incarnation is set to tempt students and regular pub-goers alike. Even its famous Tightarse Tuesdays are making a comeback, offering a budget-friendly serve of late-night entertainment and happy hour drinks each week — although they won't return until Melbourne's current COVID-19 restrictions ease. From the kitchen comes a strong lineup of pub classics — think: fish 'n' chips, a parma, and a beef pie with mushy peas and gravy — along with newer creations like a lamb and cos salad, pan-roasted salmon, and a whole fried chicken served with both piri piri and gravy. There's a handful of burgers — hello, double beef and bacon burger — while snackers will be chuffed by the likes of barbecue chicken nachos, house-made sausage rolls, and a garlic and mozzarella cob loaf. The usual suspects grace the tap-list and the Aussie wine selection, though you might find it hard to pass up the lineup of $15 cocktails. It features sips ranging from a classic negroni and old fashioned to the signature sour cherry gin smash. Kicking off from Monday, June 28, expect a regular program of weekly specials, live tunes, Sunday roasts, daily happy hours and more, too. Find The Hawthorn Hotel at 481 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, from Tuesday, June 22. It's open 12pm–12am Monday, 12pm–1am Tuesday, 12pm–12am Wednesday and Thursday, 12pm–1am Friday and Saturday, and 12–11pm Sunday.
Meatlovers, keep it together. Richmond’s carnivore-frequented restaurant, Meatmother, will open their second offering in the CBD: Meatmaiden. Creators Neil Hamblen and Nick Johnston have teamed up with Melbourne chef Justin Wise for their latest meat-focused dining project; Wise has already made a name for himself with his handiwork at The Point Albert Park and Press Club. Opening on August 27, Meatmaiden will unveil its new digs in the basement of the Georges Building at 195 Little Collins St, all decked out den-style by Urchin Associates. Prepare to sink your teeth into 12-hour F1 Tajima wagyu brisket smothered in a native Tasmanian pepper berry rub, or a 10-hour pasture-fed beef short-rib from Gippsland, both pulled from a custom-made Silver Creek smoker. Meatmaiden also boats some great sharing morsels if a mountain of meat is a little daunting; we’re keen to check out the southern fried chicken ribs with jalapeno mayo. While this is a particularly carnivorous affair, vegetarians have not been forgotten — give the smoked eggplant a try, or if you're pescetarian there's a sumptuous-looking lobster mac and cheese. As for the drinks, there'll be a six-tap system constantly rotating a mix of local and American craft beer. If you’re after something a little punchier, the sharp cocktail menu is generous on the bourbon and best enjoyed paired with Meatmaiden’s bar snacks. The wine list is concise and champions local winemakers, as well as stocking some exceptional international bottles. The house of meaty shenanigans can accommodate 120 in its den of iniquity, with sprawling communal tables made larger groups. Prepare to feast on some juicy, fall-apart-in your-mouth meaty goodness, Meatmaiden is on her way. Meatmaiden opens Wednesday, August 27 for lunch and dinner, Tuesday to Saturday. Find her at 195 Little Collins St, Melbourne CBD and www.meatmaiden.com.au.
Today, Public Transport Victoria released its twice-yearly fare compliance figures, stating that 95 percent of travellers on metropolitan services have been touching on and off. But what about the other five percent — namely, those that have no choice but to fare evade to get to where they need to go? In an attempt to help out on this front, the Victorian Government has today launched a trial 'emergency relief' ticket system for those that need it. This will allow homeless and disadvantaged Victorians to access free weekly and monthly travel passes so that they can get to appointments and access basic services. Approved schools and community organisations (like the Red Cross and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, for example) will purchase the passes at a "heavily discounted" rate, and then pass the onto the people they support for no cost. The passes are valid in zones one and two, and on regional buses . The decision comes after a review found that those that can't afford to buy a ticket are often forced to fare evade — and, in turn, get fined and stuck in the legal system — to get access the services and care they need. This trial will attempt to avoid this. Previously, disadvantaged Victorians could access free day passes, but these longer passes will allow for more flexibility and changing circumstances. "This is the next step in our ongoing work to make our public transport ticketing system simpler and fairer for passengers across Victoria," said Minister for Housing Martin Foley today in a statement. The trial will run for 12 months — if it's deemed successful, it's likely that it will continue indefinitely. And, hopefully, be introduced in other states.
When Thomas Weatherall was in high school, that he'd eventually spend his days pretending to be back there wasn't his plan. Until his final year, neither was acting. Dancing was the dream, and he had no awareness of Heartbreak High, which aired its seven 90s seasons before he was born. Now, he's one of the stars of Netflix's revival of the show. For his performance as Malakai Mitchell in the 2020s take on Australia's most-beloved teen series — which itself has become a huge hit that's rocketed up the streaming platform's viewership charts with both its first and second seasons, and has a third and final season locked in — he's now an AACTA- and Logie-winner. Weatherall's acting career started with ABC miniseries Deadlock back in 2018, when he was finishing high school. So, it didn't kick off with Heartbreak High. Next came short film Shed, short-form comedy series All My Friends Are Racist, the detective-driven Troppo and RFDS, which was also follows on from a past series — The Flying Doctors — that aired in the 90s. Onstage, his playwriting debut Blue premiered in Sydney, and now heads to Brisbane, with Weatherall also starring. But Heartbreak High and Malakai have been life-changing by his own account ("it feels cliched to say," he tells Concrete Playground about how that description rings true). Next up: two very different TV series, with Exposure a thriller led by Alice Englert (Bad Behaviour) that's bowing at the 2024 Sydney Film Festival and The Narrow Road to the Deep North a page-to-screen drama with Jacob Elordi (another on-screen high schooler in Euphoria). Weatherall knew that Malakai, the sporty Bundjalung student who is new to Hartley High in season one, was a standout role from the get-go. "I just hadn't seen a character like this," Weatherall tells us. The depth of the writing in fleshing him out on the page, the fact that he was an Indigenous teen pushed to the fore and never a token inclusion, that his culture wasn't what defined him: they all left an impression. After getting cast, so did the script for season one's fourth episode — the unforgettable instalment that sees Malakai experience police brutality — which he read in one sitting in his car. He was then willing to do whatever it took for the part. Again, his performance earned him Australia's top TV accolades. That episode had a title that means something in Heartbreak High history: 'Rack Off'. Utter the phrase to anyone familiar with the 90s iteration and they'll instantly think of Hartley High's first run on-screen. Weatherall didn't go back to watch the OG show when he got the gig, but there's no escaping the legend of those two words, and that they were as strong as a free-to-air series could get in its language. "It is funny, I forget — I read the script sometimes and the things that we're allowed to say, I just imagine if we had that same network TV censorship, you're probably cutting about 80-percent of the show. So we're probably lucky in that regard," he advises. In season two, as Hartley's students keep expressing themselves in not-safe-for-90s-Aussie-television terms — and also getting caught up in an ideological battle about toxic masculinity, and terrorised by a mystery figure they dub Bird Psycho — Malakai's journey takes him from stairwell hookups with Amerie (Ayesha Madon, Love Me) to connecting with the latest newcomer in Dubbo export Rowan (Sam Rechner, The Fabelmans). A love triangle, exploring both his sexuality and his identity, and yearning to connect all follow. It's another complicated path for the character, as for each of Heartbreak High's main figures. Crucially, it also satisfies one of Weatherall's aims as an actor. "It can feel like quite a selfish career a lot of the time, because you're often on your own, and you have to put a lot of time and effort into breaking down characters, and spending time on your own and things like that — but for me, I never want to just be playing the one character. That's the beauty of Malakai, it feels like you're playing several different characters and notes in one person," he says. From how the response to the first season felt through to the way its second season ended for Malakai, we chatted with Weatherall about all things Heartbreak High — choosing not to check out the original, what excited him about stepping into Malakai's shoes in the first place, how he sees the character's story across the two seasons so far and making the leap to acting from dancing all included. On the Massive Success of Heartbreak High's First Season "Very surreal. Very unexpected. It's a funny thing, I think you never know how a show's going to come out while you're making it — and while we were making it, and once we wrapped, you knew that we had something special. It felt really good. I think that was pretty unanimous across the board. There wasn't any real stress. Sometimes, I think you can also finish a job and know if it's a dud. But for it to then get picked up the way that it did, and for people to care about it in the way they did, was pretty shocking. And it's very flattering and humbling to be in that position. I was having dinner with Bryn [Chapman Parish, Mr Inbetween], who plays Spider, and we were chatting about that. Because it's your job, it's a great job to have, but you do get used to it and it becomes a normal part of the career. You forget that it means as much as it does to some audiences — and I think that's the special thing. It's lovely that it had a big reach and that it was successful, but when you get to actually talk to an audience member who really identifies with Malakai, or one particular storyline, or the show as a whole, that's — I've been very lucky that I've got to do quite a few shows now and all I'm very proud of, but none have landed in that way and built that connection with an audience. And for it to kick off in the awards and things like that, it really, it feels cliched to say, but it is pretty life-changing once that conversation starts and you find yourself in that world professionally and artistically. It opens you to a lot more professional opportunities. It then does make the second season a bit more terrifying, because there's something to, I guess, try to live up to and match. But it's a very lucky position to be in at the same time." On Starting the Show as a Heartbreak High Newcomer Off-Screen — and Not Going Back to Watch the Original "I was at drama school at the time when I got cast, and the only reason I knew about the show was the head teacher at my drama school played one of the teachers in Heartbreak High. And so it was this whole thing always that she'd mention Heartbreak High — and all of us, it was a bit of an eye roll. We were like 'okay, we get it'. But it wasn't something that I had seen before. It was before my time, and I didn't even, with my older siblings, I didn't really have any gauge on it. When I got cast, initially I was going to go back and watch the show. That felt like the right thing to do, and it would be helpful. But once the scripts came through, it felt as if it was going to be quite different, and much more obviously rooted in today's climate and what's going on for young people now — it became too scary and intimidating to go back and watch it. Because you also don't want to try to recreate something. That show was great and did everything that it did, but it is a product of that time. I think there's still similarities between the two versions. We're speaking to a lot of the same truths. But for me, I didn't want to confuse those contexts, and try to not have any anticipation or idea of trying to replicate anything — and just stay true to what we're trying to say in this show." On What Excited Weatherall About Playing Malakai When He Was First Cast "I'm still quite early on in my career, but it was very early on back then. I'd been up for a few things and I'd done a little bit of work. I was getting good auditions, but I just hadn't seen a character like this. I had never been sent a role like this, obviously, for a show with this scale or anything like that. But to see — he was just a really well-written character, and that was it for the self-taped scenes before the audition, and that was exciting to be seen for that. It wasn't till when I got offered the role and was sent the scripts, they sent me episode four of season one, which is a very significant episode for Malakai. And I finished that episode and just called my agent straight away and went 'I'll do anything to play that'. I think back to when I was 16 and the sort of the shows that were being made. There were some for young people that I felt were doing a pretty decent job and honestly depicting what it's like to be a teenager, but it always felt like they were holding the punches a little bit. And this show was just not afraid to do that at all. And then to have that lens of this young Indigenous character not just being a side plot point but being one of the lead characters — and being one of the main lead romance arcs as well, and then having a very dramatic storyline. A lot of the scripts that I'd seen and read, or a lot of the shows that I had watched growing up and even lately, often those characters, they're one little subplot. They're one little mention. They serve one capacity or another. And suddenly you had this young Indigenous kid, one of the leads of the show and getting to do a bit of everything, and that was really refreshing. He's part of the massive ensemble, but I hadn't read anything like that. He wasn't ashamed of his culture, but it also wasn't the most-important thing in his life, and he was going through the same experience as every other kid from every other culture and every other gender and every other experience. And for me, that was a really refreshing take, rather than trying to tokenise it in any way. Then, as I said, pretty much I'm in credit to the writing team. The moment episode four landed in my emails, I read it in one sitting on my phone. I didn't even get out of my car. I just read the whole thing and went 'yep, okay, anything for that'." On Stepping Back Into Malakai's Shoes for Season Two — and What Changes, and What Gets Easier and Harder "I was shooting the second season of this other show I do called RFDS, and I had four days off between wrapping that and starting the second season of this. I flew in from Broken Hill, where we shoot the other show, and it was just four days of existential crisis because I was going 'do I still remember how to play this character? How does he sound like? What does he look like?', you know, and trying to tap into that again. I think it's a credit to the writing on this that all of the characters are fully formed. Really, the writing does all the work for you. You don't have to bring much to them and they kind of jump off the page. But I also noticed the difference, as we get to know the writing team and the producers, I think they tend to tweak little things to match you and your sensibilities as well, which is nice. The moment you shave and you go into makeup, and they do that Malaki haircut, and they put the colourful jumpers on me. Music's a big thing for this character, back to those playlists — it really was muscle memory and just kicked in, which was nice to still feel that that was there. So the actual transforming and getting back into the character was quite easy and swift, which was a relief, frankly. But that first few weeks of filming, it was that voice in the back of your head going 'you've got to make sure that you're staying to that same level as last season'. I'm very grateful for the recognition it got and the success that I received from the show, and that the show was a whole received, but it definitely did put that pressure on trying to go 'well if you don't get nominated for an AACTA again, did you do your job?' sort of thing. It was lovely that audiences responded well to Malakai, but you want to make sure that you sustain that throughout the second season. But the more days on shoot and the more I get to spend time with this cast — we have a lot of group scenes that we tend to load at the top of the show as well, and once that dynamic creates — all that concern sort of falls away and you can just get the job done." On Weatherall's Take on Malakai's Journey in Season Two "Once I read the whole show and knew the entire arc, it was really bittersweet. I don't mean it in a rude way, but I don't tend to get too attached to the characters. I sort of go 'whatever services the story, that's the job'. But I really felt for him, and I don't know if it was just a reflection of where I was in my life. I often think back to myself at 16 and there's a few similarities between us, but we are very different. But really at the heart of it, he's just searching for contentment and he's trying to find his people in a romantic sense, but in just a friendship and community sense as well. I think he's this charming and charismatic guy, but underneath all of that, there's this real search for belonging, which I can definitely relate to at 16. I mean, I can relate to it at 23. I noticed that. It was hard, because he's charming and he knows how to have fun, and there's all the romance and things like that — that was a big thing that stuck with me this entire season, that journey and never quite getting it right, or the times where he thinks he is and something changes, and the indecision of being 16 and not knowing what the right choice is but also desperately attempting to make that decision. When you're 16, everything feels like the most important thing in your life, and then you leave high school and you go 'yeah, life goes on'. I definitely I felt for him a lot this season. I think he's crammed a lot of a self-discovery journey into a term of high school. I don't know how I would have held up if I was 16 doing that." On Balancing Malakai's Charm and Outgoing Nature with His Interiority, Uncertainty and Being Caught in a Love Triangle "That's kind of the best — it's a blessing as an actor, is that you've always got that in the back of it. So it's the question of when he is being that charming, charismatic, loud, funny, whatever it is, that he's using the persona that he's putting on, how much of that is a facade to cover up either that insecurity or that questioning or discomfort? Again, Malakai and I are quite different, but I remember at 16, that's exactly how I coped with those questions or with whatever was happening in my life — that facade that you can put on. As I said, for an actor, it's wonderful that you get to play both sides of that. And in this show particularly, you have one scene where you're on the top of the world and it's this beautiful romantic moment, and it's all about love and the joys of being a 16-year-old, and being ignorant and free. And then the next scene, you're crying on an airplane, because you know you also have very little control over a lot of the things that happen to you at that age. Because you're still a minor. You're still figuring things out. And you're at the mercy of your peers in school and your parents, and all of those bigger concepts. As an actor, that's the best thing to do, rather than just having to be the funny guy or be the heart of the show or the introspective one. He fluctuates between all of them." On the Acting Dream When Weatherall First Made the Leap From Dancing "There wasn't one, to be honest. I'm still just holding on for dear life and seeing where it goes. I was certain to be a dancer. That was the be-all and end-all of my life. And I got interested in acting through writing. I was really interested in writing and filmmaking towards the end of high school, and got cast in this ABC series in year 12 and that was just it. My first day on set, I just went 'this is it. I want to do this'. I remember telling my mum after 11 years of 40-hours-plus dance training a week, I was like 'I'm going to be an actor, no more dancing' — and just quit on the spot and made that decision. And to her credit, she completely supported that. I think I've always been interested in creativity in a larger sense, with writing, and the thought of maybe directing or producing one day and creating work. And I think acting is a part of that, and it's a part that I love and I hope I can do for as long as people keep giving me jobs. I like to think of it in a bigger sense in creating a bit more work. If you had told 17-year-old Tom who's getting his first audition that he'd be on a Netflix show or doing some of the other work I've been doing recently, I wouldn't have believed a word of it. I've been very lucky, again, to be on a show like this and have the reach it has. I've been able to work with actors I really admire, and creatives that I've sort of genuinely dreamt of working with. So yeah, it's been very surreal." Heartbreak High streams via Netflix. Read our reviews of season one and season two. Images: Netflix.
