Daniel von Sturmer's latest Electric Light exhibition is a dynamic presentation of luminance, colour, shape and space. Taking a behind-the-scenes perspective on photographic production, Electric Light utilises lighting setups, backdrops, stands and other equipment to create an extensive room-sized work. Illuminated by a range of shifting lights, the work considers photomedia's role in reflecting what is 'real' and how truth can be constructed. Electric Light is hosted by Ten Cubed, a private art collection that's open to the public. An evolving art project in itself, Ten Cubed has handpicked ten diverse artists to collect extensively from over a period of ten years — demonstrating their creative growth within one space. Daniel von Sturmer: Electric Light is on now at Ten Cubed until Saturday, December 16.
Things are getting frostier in Melbourne, so the team at Welcome To Thornbury is bringing back one of their most intuitive event ideas to help warm your weekend — a mini festival dedicated to mulled wine and hot cheese. Following a successful first couple of runs in 2017, the party returns to the High Street food truck park from noon, Saturday, May 26 through until close, Sunday, May 27, pulling together a selection of hot, gooey creations from some of the city's favourite cheese-slinging vendors. This is where all your cheesiest dreams come true, chowing down on lush cheese fondue from Frencheese, plus cheese toasties and cheese pizzas, and other treats from the likes of Dip'd, Mr Burger, Belles Hot Chicken, Sparrow's Philly Cheesesteaks, Maker & Monger, Happy Camper Pizza and Pasta Face. Previous events have served up mulled wine doughnuts and raclette burgers, so expect more than a few creative dishes. Of course, you won't find a better drink match to all that rich, melty dairy than some hot, spiced booze, so the bar will be rounding out its usual offerings with mulled wine aplenty. Six different flavours will be available — yes, six – served up all day long.
Beloved Austin rock band Spoon, who are playing headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne this month, have announced an addition to the schedule: intimate gigs at two of Australia's favourite record shops. Hitting Sydney's Red Eye Records on Wednesday, March 22 and Melbourne's Polyester on Friday, March 24, the band will appear in duo mode. Lead singer and guitarist Britt Daniel will be bringing you stripped-back takes on songs from Spoon's newest album, Hot Thoughts, alongside keyboardist and guitarist Alex Fischel. As you can imagine, spots at both gigs will be limited. To get your name on the guest list at Polyester, you need to pre-order Hot Thoughts — in person or online. Red Eye is a different story. Turn up as early as you can and hope for the best. It's an all-ages event, and it's first in, best dressed. Spoon's visit to Australia is a bit special — after all, the band started making the new album in a rented house in Collingwood. "I took a bunch of unfinished songs with me," Daniel said. "When I got down there, I was more excited about coming up with all new stuff. I'm not sure if it's just the AC/DC connection or what. Australia just seems like this other world. It's like this weird combination of Texas and England."
Sleater-Kinney recorded their first album in Australia. The year was 1994, and the fledgling band from Olympia, Washington knocked out their debut effort in a single day. They've been back several times since, but their latest visit feels extra special. Given that the indie-punk trio went on an indefinite hiatus in 2007, it very well might never have happened. Thankfully, Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein — yes, Portlandia's Carrie Brownstein — are back for another round of blistering rock tracks infused with the spirit of the riot grrrl movement. Reunions might happen all the time, but this is no ordinary group or return. If you've listened to any of Sleater-Kinney's albums from their Aussie-made 22-minute, self-titled initial outing to their latest release, 2015's No Cities to Love, then no doubt you agree. And if you haven't, don't just take our word for it. TIME called them “America’s best rock band”, and Rolling Stone hailed them as “America’s best punk band ever", after all.
From medieval guilds all the way forward to Wikipedia, sharing knowledge has always been a boon for humanity. We thrive on it. And Melbourne's new hospitality symposium GROW is built around the idea that information is better served up than hoarded. GROW Assembly is a slick new consortium of hospo professionals who've come together to collectively season the new generation of chefs, sommeliers, bakers, cocktail artisans, food journos and FOH firecrackers with the juice squeezed from their collective experience. The first event they're rolling out is a full day seminar on Sunday, May 1 in Melbourne with 12 industry speakers spitting knowledge left, right and centre. The lineup reads like a Wiki entry of Melbourne food royalty and includes Dan Hunter (owner chef of Brae), Angie Giannakodakis (restauranteur, Epocha and Elyros), Nolan Hirte (owner of Proud Mary Coffee Roasters), Kevin Donovan (industry long-tooth and owner of Donovans restaurant) and Sebastian Crowther (master sommelier at Rockpool 1989) among others. Also on the bill is Alquimie's Josh Elias, Gourmet Traveller's wine editor Max Allen and Sarah Lemke of Belgium's De Superette bakery. Phew. The team who are putting the whole shebang together — Michael Bascetta, Banjo Harris Plane, Meira Harel, Vicky Symington and Manu Potoi — also have an impressive joint resume; together they count stints at Attica, The Town Mouse, Rockwell and Sons, Lot 3, Proud Mary and Bar Liberty in their experience. It's a long list, but you get the jist — these are the people you want to be the hospitality Yoda to your Skywalker. If you're looking to bring that novelty hybrid food idea into fruition or give us your spin on fried chicken this event is the perfect way to get a foot in the door.
Los Angeles-based foursome Warpaint are set to return to Australia — the homeland of their drummer, Stella Mozgawa — in late February. The group's summer tour follows the release of their third studio album, Heads Up, in September last year. The new album's tone more closely emulates the style of their live performances — energetic and dance-oriented — than their previous albums, which have been more subdued and reflective. This isn't the first Australian tour for Warpaint, having previously performed at the likes of Laneway Festival in 2014 and Splendour in the Grass in 2011. But this time, they're playing a different kind of venue, hitting up Melbourne Zoo on February 24 as part of the Zoo Twilights lineup. They'll be stopping by other major capital cities including Perth (as part of the Perth International Arts Festival) on Sunday, February 19, Brisbane on Wednesday, February 22 and Sydney on Saturday, February 25. Image: Robin Laananen.
In a time before Netflix, Stan and The Pirate Bay, there was only one way to binge watch TV: huddled in front of Saturday Disney, elbowing your siblings out of the way and fantasising that one day you would win that batshit insane weekly prize and all would be phenomenal. For one night only you can relive the glory days of cartoons and diabetes-inducing cereal binges at the Astor Theatre. Aptly named the Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party, the event is a smorgasbord of cartoons from the '40s through to the '80s (interspersed with vintage advertisements) curated by film critic and writer Kier-La Janisse. It's a format pretty much directly taken from Williamsburg's Nighthawk Cinema, but we're not complaining. While resplendent in your jimjams, you'll be able to max-out on as much nostalgic, sugary cereal you can inhale, and rub shoulders with kidults who never had the luxury of ad-skipping.
After an epic debut last year — when over 7000 people rocked up to the party — Ding Dong and Po' Boy Quarter are channelling the spirit of New Orleans with an evening of rich food, live music and pleeeeennnnty of booze for Fat Tuesday 2016. Kicking off in Carlton's Argyle Square at 4pm on Tuesday, February 9, the Fat Tuesday New Orleans Festival is your chance to live the NOLA lifestyle – at least until you wake up the next morning. This year they're ticketing the event, meaning that you'll be able to get amongst it without being swallowed up by the crowds. MC'd by RocKwiz host Brian Nankervis, the event will feature performances from local musicians such as Jazz Party, Horns of Leroy and Adam Rudegeair's Bayou Tapestry. There'll also be a brass band parade, a fortune teller's booth, and a costume competition to find Melbourne's King and Queen of Mardis Gras. With multiple bar areas and catering by Po' Boy Quarter, Girl with the Gris Gris, Taco Truck and Bluebonnet Barbecue, it's safe to assume that no one will leave feeling hungry — or walking in an entirely straight line. Tickets are $22 via the web, or $28 on the door.
The ripe, soft and sweet festival that encourages you to embrace your inner Italian is back to fill your pantries with homemade pasta sauces. Summer-grown tomatoes will be bursting with flavour and on show at the 2016 Melbourne Tomato Festival. An array of local farmers will be selling their produce, and a variety of speakers, cooking demonstrations, workshops and agriculturists will also feature on the day. The traditional, feet-squelching process of passata making is the highlight of the event. Although tomatoes are not strictly native to Italy, their rich, chunky texture is famously embraced in Italian culture and cuisine. So it makes sense that this festival falls on Italian National Day and is supported by the Melbourne Italian community Melbournese. For the competitive green thumb, you might consider entering Melbourne’s Best Tomato competition, which will be judged on smell, texture and taste. As well as bragging rights, you could win dinner for six at Grossi Florentino Upstairs.
The quest to discover the best barbecue in Melbourne continues this week at St Kilda’s Newmarket Hotel. After previous head-to-heads against the chefs from San Telmo, Kong and Fancy Hanks, the latest edition of the BBQ Throwdown will see the hosts challenge Hellenic Republic, in what can only be described as a chargrilled championship bout. Taking place this Sunday, July 5, the BBQ Throwdown lasts for three rounds, with the ultimate victor chosen by the diners. First up, Newmarket’s house smoked honey bug will take on Hellenic’s hot smoked ocean trout. Second comes the battle of the bones, with the home team’s St Louis pork rib against beef short rib from the visitors. Lastly Newmarket will serve up spit-roasted spiced lamb with charred eggplant and burnt end taquito; whether it can bring down Hellenic’s pork souva with fermented cabbage and apple slaw still remains to be seen. Tickets to the BBQ Throwdown cost $85 and can be booked online. The lunch sitting is already sold out, but you can still grab a spot for dinner.
The clever clogs at STEP have put on an enlightening collection of music industry-related forums since they began, and their latest instalment is looking to be equally as topically informative. This month the focus is on women in music, whether they are performers, music journalists, studio owners and venue bookers. This month’s panel will explore the challenges women face in Australia’s music industry, and how we can ensure a new generation of female leaders in the field. Moderated by the glorious Claire Bowditch, the panel will include Pikelet band member and LISTEN co-founder Evelyn Morris, musician and booker for The Toff Emily Ulman, Bakehouse Studio co-owner and co-founder of SLAM Helen Marcou, music journalist and YA novelist Jenny Valentish, and Brodie Lancaster of Rookie Magazine, Pitchfork and The Good Copy. On top of this impressive lineup of speakers, Whiskey Houston will be performing a DJ set before the panel discussion, and Totally Mild will close the night with a special set.
After years of gigging and tireless campaigning from the likes of FBi Radio, Sydney-based foursome Gang of Youths are nationally-appreciated hot stuff right now. They’ve played sold-out shows alongside Vampire Weekend, Frightened Rabbit and Foster the People, done the Aussie festival circuit, toured the States, and been compared to Arcade Fire and Bruce Springsteen — and that was all before their debut album The Position was released. After they sold-out multiple venues just a few months ago, they’re setting off on another national tour, and the GOY-hungry public can’t seem to get enough of them; lapping up tickets faster than the band can announce new shows. GOY play rock that’s big on catharsis. Frontman David Leaupepe’s inspiration for the band’s raw, guitar-heavy debut was the emotional rollercoaster of his four-year long-distance relationship with a girl who had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. It makes for a sound that seems bound to fill stadiums one day — so consider yourself lucky if you manage to bag a ticket to one of these more intimate gigs. Gang of Youths will play Richmond's Corner Hotel on August 26 and Geelong Workers Club on August 29.
It's hard to believe that it's only been six months since George Maple (aka Jessica Higgs) released her debut single. At the time, Higgs had been living in London for eighteen months, so the slinky 'Talk Talk', from her Vacant Space EP, first hit airwaves on Annie Mac's show on BBC Radio 1. Meanwhile, the New York Times had dibs on unveiling the video clip. Since then, Higgs, who's from Sydney originally, has played CMJ, SXSW, Annie Mac's AMP Collected in London and a couple of headline shows in Australia, including the Museum of Contemporary Art and Future Classic’s Christmas Weekend. So she's in prime position for taking on her first proper national tour. Three gigs are already sold out — Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on April 24 and 30, and Melbourne's The Howler on 25 April. There's still time, however, to grab tickets to the Black Bear Lodge in Brisbane on April 23, The Bakery in Perth on May 1 and The Rocket Bar in Adelaide on May 2. Meanwhile, Higgs's new tune, 'Where You End And I Begin', recorded with Philadelphian rapper Grande Marshall, is starting to rack up hits. Where You End And I Begin feat. Grande Marshall by George Maple, Grande Marshall
If there's one thing that can get a Sydneysiding burger fiend all jittery, it's a Mary's burger. Opened in an old Newtown warehouse in 2013, this humble burger joint has developed a cult-like following in Sydney over the last couple of years — they've even opened a second chapter in the CBD and made our ten best burgers in Sydney list. But now it's time for Melburnians to take a bite of the Mary's hype, putting aside our Huxtaburgers for a day and heading down to a one-day-only pop-up at fellow Americana lovers, Belle's Hot Chicken. On Sunday, May 24, Mary's will be making 200 burgers (that's right, 200 only) at BHC in Fitzroy, kicking off at around 4pm. We're guessing all focus will be on their famous Mary's burger, renowned for its mouth-wateringly tender med-rare beef patty slathered in liquefied cheese — whether the top notch veggie burger makes it down remains to be seen. But you're going to want to get there early; you can't pre-book a spot and these are seriously sought-after burgs. This marks the second Sydney/Melbourne swapsie for Belle's Hot Chicken, who took a pop-up to Bondi Icebergs earlier this year. Via Good Food.
Step into the light with Tasmania’s leading modern dance company, in a one night only production at Monash University. Presented by Tasdance along with the Monash University Academy of Performing Arts, Luminous Flux will see the group explore two very different takes on the concept of light; as interpreted by two of Australia’s most celebrated contemporary choreographers. The first section of the show pays tribute to late German choreographer Tanja Liedtke, whose life was tragically cut short in 2007 at the age of just 29 — just after she'd been appointed artistic director of the Sydney Dance Company, succeeding founder Graeme Murphy. First debuted by Tasdance in 2004, the critically acclaimed Enter Twilight is one of Liedtke’s earliest works, touching on the delicate balance between good and evil as represented through darkness and light. As a counterpoint to Liedtke’s piece, Melbourne-based choreographer Byron Perry explores light in the abstract, in his fittingly named Light Entertainment. The work highlights the playfulness and physicality of the Tasdance ensemble, and like Enter Twilight has received no shortage of critical success. Image: Jen Brown
If March's Fashion Week left you in a dizzy headspin of colours and fabrics and prints and jackets cut so perfectly your body simply aches for them — or if, y’know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you might have already heard that the annual Big Fashion Sale is coming up pretty soon. The name pretty much says it all. This thing is big. You’ll find lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from over 30 cult Australian brands, both well-known and emerging, such as Karla Spetic, Watson X Watson, Elke Jewellery, Gary Bigeni, Emma Mulholland, Benah, A Part of Me, Friend of Mine and Pageant. And, with discounts of up to 80% off, this is one way of upping your street cred with designer threads that’ll leave your bank balance sitting pretty too. Prices this low tend to inspire a certain level of ruthlessness in all of us, though, so practise that grabbing reflex in advance. This is every man and lady for themselves. Opening hours are: Thursday 30 April – 9am – 6pm Friday 1 May – 10am – 7pm Saturday 2 May – 10am – 6pm Sunday 3 May – 10am – 5pm
Masters of late night snack fuel Ben & Jerry's have been dishing out pop culture-riffing flavours like Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yoghurt, Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream and, of course, Schweddy Balls for years. Then the masters of frozen confection go and create something called 'Free Cone Day', an annual event which defies haters. You can score an ice cream on the house, as part of the company's yearly, worldwide tradition thanking its fanbase for all the gluttonous support. On Tuesday, April 14, Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops around Australia are hosting the sixth annual Free Cone Day; scooping out free ice-cream from 1pm until 9pm. This year, Free Cone Day also marks the kick off of Ben & Jerry’s global 'climate justice' campaign, 'Save our Swirled', in Australia. WWF Australia will be hanging out on on Free Cone Day, collecting signatures to help bring attention to the need for Australia to lower carbon pollution. Suss out your nearest Scoop Shop purveyor of frozen dairy heaven here, and rock up on April 14 to claim your cone. Check out Ben & Jerry's Facebook page for updates.
Sydney sculptor Jamie North is reaching towards the sky, with his new work Rock Melt at the NGV. Erected in Federation Court and inspired by the space’s history as an outdoor sculpture garden, the work consists of six imposing columns standing up to five metres high. Constructed from concrete and slag (the latter being a byproduct of smelting iron ore), the columns are ruptured by fauna, including native Wonga Wonga wines that will slowly creep their way up delicate iron bars — with flowers expected to blossom over the life of the installation. The commission is the latest in North’s body of work that explores the nexus between architecture and nature. He’s previously displayed work at the Monash University Museum of Art and the Sarah Cottier Gallery in Sydney. With free entry to the general public, Rock Melt will be on display until July 12. Image: Brooke Holm.
An all-day event devoted to female writers and freelancers on a SWEATSHOP panel are among the headliners of the just-announced 2015 Emerging Writers' Festival program, taking place in Melbourne between May 26 and June 5. One of this year's key EWF events, titled #writingwhilefemale, is a female-focused extravaganza made up of panel discussions, live performances and workshops. The all-day event will open with a discussion dubbed ‘Writing While Feminist’, exploring the challenges of expressing feminist opinions in cyberspace, where the proliferation of platforms allows more and more women to speak out, but also enables online sexual harassment and abuse. It's an extremely topical start, riding the buzz surrounding Anita Sarkeesian's recent Australian visit. Other topics to be visited on the day include ‘Schooling Self-Confidence’, ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’ and ‘Writing Women’. #writingwhilefemale, to be held on Friday 5 June at The Wheeler Centre (176 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne), is just one of numerous festival events concerned with women in writing. In fact, more than half of the artists scheduled to appear are female. Meanwhile, SWEATSHOP’s panel will take an in-depth look at the lives of freelancers. Are all freelance writers free to work in their pyjamas and indulge in ultra-long coffee dates? Or are they too busy counting their pennies and chasing work? Four experienced freelancers — Sam Cooney, Gillian Terzis, Ellena Savage and Connor Tomas O’Brien — will spill the beans on how they spend their days. The discussion is just one part of the National Writers’ Conference, to happen over the May 30-31 weekend at the Melbourne Town Hall. All six of the festival’s official ambassadors — Oslo Davis, Kylie Ladd, William McInnes, Sulari Gentill and Anna Poletti — will make appearances. Beyond the chats, there’ll be stacks of live performances, including Translation Nation, which will involve five emerging translators telling parts of a story in Mandarin, Indonesian, Spanish, Italian and Japanese; Travel Slide Night, where stunning photos will be supported with compelling stories (not your average somnolent slide session); and #Selfies, during which eight writers will talk about what their selfies reveal about their inner selves. Festival junkies can also look forward to the return of Amazing Babes and Mixtape Memoirs (a collaboration with the Lifted Brow). Emerging Writers' Festival runs May 26 to June 5. Check out the rest of the program for yourself right here.
Slow food? What's slow food? Nope, it's not the eating of snails. The philosophy of slow food (for those who may need a cheeky reminder) essentially boils down to produce that is good, clean and fair. If those principles resonate with you and your preferred eating habits, this farmers market is for you. Going strong since 2006, and in partnership with Melbourne Farmers Market, this smorgasbord of delectable produce calls the Abbotsford Convent home on the fourth Saturday of each month. The market features 60 of Melbourne's most hardworking local growers and food producers. These farmers' unwavering dedication to the quality of their produce and the integrity of their production methods ensures buyers that their dollars are going directly towards maintaining this high standard. It’s a $2 donation on entry, and we should also let you know that it is a plastic bag-free zone, so please BYO calico. If you have a well behaved pooch (or kitty) they are also welcome to attend, just keep them on a lead and you're golden.
Step out into the dark with artist Jessica Watson Miller and her gravity-defying human canvas. Using blacklight body paint, Miller will transform a team of circus performers into pillars of light, shining through the darkness like creatures from another world (or characters from Tron). A kaleidoscope of colour and movement, this is living, breathing art, and promises to be one of the most mesmerising shows at this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Check out the other nine here.
Fourteen of Melbourne's best live music venues throw open their doors for a night of free gigs and wild parties. No matter where you are in the city, there'll be a venue near you that will be getting in on the action for Melbourne Music Week, including establishments such as Loop Bar, Boney, Shebeen, Cherry Bar and Ding Dong Lounge. While we're extremely confident you could stumble into any of these venues and be exceptionally happy, we're going to recommend the St Jerome's Laneway Festival curated lineup of forward-thinking artists Fractures, Totally Mild, and Crepes at Thousand Pound Bend. If you are feeling a little more rambunctious, we'd definitely point you in the direction of The Public Bar for Mesa Cosa, The Mighty Boys, and Lazertits.
Making her Australian debut at Laneway Festival 2015, FKA twigs' sideshow is one of the most sought-after tickets this summer. Otherwise known as Tahliah Debrett Barnett, the Gloucestershire trip hop artist has had a colossal year. After the release of her debut album LP1, twigs is all anyone could talk about toward the end of 2014. Her most recent single, the intoxicating, self-directed video 'Pendulum', is out now on Young Turks/Remote Control. Featuring a Bambi-like vulnerability, the artist is seen tied up in Japanese style bondage (shibari) for the most part of the clip. "Using my own hair represents me at one time being suspended and held back by my own fears," Barnett explains. With her concert selling out in a matter of hours, FKA twigs tickets are a hot commodity. And if her hugely successful debut album is anything to go by, you'll understand why. Set to be an all immersive, visceral experience, FKA twigs' show is sure to create an otherworldly, social media-happy experience for the lucky few.
Atlanta born musician Raury has just turned 18 and is brimming with what seems to be an obscene amount of charisma for a teenager. Having earned enough attention to see him collaborating with SBTRKT, opening for OutKast and getting flown to recording studios by Kanye West (before he had released a single album), the youthful champion of hippie swagger will be touring Australia for Laneway Festival and doing sideshows across the country. His debut album Indigo Child is full of impassioned and erratic messages and crosses haphazardly between folk, rap, soul and indie rock earning him comparisons to Lorde — not only for his age, but for his seamless ability to take on different genres. While his sound is hard to pin down, his fresh energy, earnestness on stage and the real feverish soar he can bring to songs like 'God's Whisper' (the ultimate bang-your-drum, revolution round the campfire song) make him an artist you should catch from the beginning.
If your 2021 New Year's resolution is to make up for last year's lack of live music, then you've probably already started off strong. But now, that gig calendar's about to get even fuller, thanks to this brand-new two-week music festival taking over St Kilda. April Sun is here to brighten up your autumn in a big way, dishing up a swag of live tunes from G-Flip, Touch Sensitive, Hiatus Kaiyote, You Am I and more. Gracing the St Kilda Triangle (beside the Palais Theatre) from Friday, April 16–Sunday, May 2, the new outing is delivering a diverse program of day parties, headline shows, mini-festivals and family-friendly fun, assembled by some of the country's best-loved curators and tastemakers. It's a COVID-safe, outdoor affair, with tickets available for four different audience zones, ranging from grand stand seats,to an open lawn area smack bang in front of the stage. Indie label Future Classic kicks off the fun on Friday, April 16, with a lush evening soundtracked by internationally-acclaimed multi-instrumentalist G-Flip, self-confessed synth-freak Touch Sensitive, Brisbane favourite Sycco and rising indie-pop star Thomas Headon. Elsewhere in the program, settle in for a sweet serve of neo-soul headlined by jazz-funk heroes Hiatus Kaiyote, funk synthesist Harvey Sutherland and Perth five-piece Grievous Bodily Calm. There'll be a rock-heavy night of sounds from You Am I, Geelong's Magic Dirt and Dallas Crane and some anthemic indie-rock ballads courtesy of The Church and Bob Evans Throw in a big dose of house and techno curated by Thick As Thieves, and a couple of shows from Sydney grime-rap hero Chillinit, and those ears of yours are in for a very busy autumn.
From roaming food trucks to a secret In-And-Out pop-up, Melbourne’s love affair with the humble hamburger is showing no sign of cooling off. And no one’s happier than the folks at Brother Burger and the Marvellous Brew. After a couple of years exclusive to Fitzroy, the much-loved burger joint has opened a second store in South Yarra, with room for up to 200 hungry customers to chow down. The new Chapel Street location will stick to the same basic menu as they do on the Northside, albeit with a couple of tweaks. Expect old favourites like The Royal Blue (wagyu beef, bacon, onion jam, blue cheese, pickles and ketchup) and the vegetarian-friendly Magic Mushie (crumbed field mushroom, peppers, spinach, goats cheese, onion jam and mustard mayo), as well as pulled pork buns, a 'South Yarra-style' Reuben sandwich and even their own take on fish and chips. Living up to the second half of their name, the restaurant will also have a selection of 15 beers and ciders on tap — all of which are sourced from independently owned local breweries and cider houses. Permanent fixtures include Hawkers Beer Pilsner and Napoleone & Co. Pear Cider, while others specialty options will rotate through. Located at 560 Chapel Street, South Yarra (the former location of Cafe Greco), Brother Burger and the Marvellous Brew South Yarra boasts a small courtyard out front, and an interior decorated with an eclectic mix of pre-loved items including more than 800 antique meat grinders. Everyone's got their niche. For more info about Brother Burger and the Marvellous Brew South Yarra, including operating hours, visit their website.
Move over, Dark Mofo. Victoria's Apollo Bay is getting an after dark arts festival of its very own. Creeping into the coastal shire on the eastern side of Cape Otway, WinterWild will take place on select Saturday nights in July and early August. Each evening will begin with a ceremonial bonfire on the beach, before branching out to the Mechanics Hall and beyond. Standout events on the program include a performance of Tosca by local opera company Cut Opera, a screening of the '90s cult surf film Litmus, sets by Sand Pebbles and Dirty Three's Mick Turner, and talks by Michael Leunig, Clementine Ford and Arnold Zable. Local cafes and restaurants will also get involved with the festival. Steve Earl's acclaimed La Bimba will devise a special festival menu, and provide a place for revellers to recover as the sun rises on Sunday morning. "This festival won't be for the faint-hearted," said festival director Roderick Poole. "It is very much aimed at adventurous spirits ready to take on a challenge; to embrace the harsh environment and celebrate the beauty of the elements at their extremes. WINTERWILD 2017 DATES: Water (July 1-2): Mick Turner (Dirty Three), Sand Pebbles, screening of Litmus with soundtrack performance by director Andrew Kidman. Earth (July 15-16): Butoh performer Yumi Umiumare, Tek Tek Ensemble, Tosca by Cut Opera. Air (July 29-30): Programmed by the Apollo Bay Writer's Festival, including Michael Leunig, Clementine Ford, Arnold Zable and Emilie Zoey Baker. Fire (Aug 12-13): Massed choir of 100 singers, ritual burning of festival sculpture, live music.
If molecular fine dining is your thing, add this one to the diary. Spice-based legends AANYA from The Hotel Windsor are running a very exclusive pop-up series at Ray Capaldi's Chef's Table at Wonder Pies. Tickets will set you back $285 per person, which is on the pricey side, but AANYA chefs Nishant Arora and Janos Roman aren't serving up ordinary food. The AANYA kitchen specialises in spice-based, experimental molecular gastronomy and their meticulously crafted dishes resemble abstract works of art. The meal also includes matched cocktails curated by Lynden Barnes of Little Lon Distilling Co. If you've been looking for a special occasion meal, this might be the ticket. It's certainly unlike anything you'll find elsewhere in the city. There are only three seatings with a strict cap of 12 diners per event: Friday July 28, Saturday July 29, and a special lunch event on Sunday July 30. That's it. Once it's gone, it's gone for good. Book your spot here or follow AANYA's socials for more information. Images: Supplied
The freaking fabulous lot at Hessian Magazine not only produce a fine publication, but the ladies know how to throw down an excellent party. The purpose of the shindig is to raise funds for their second issue, and as you can see from the first, they are doing some pretty great work. As if you wouldn't want to get down with these conscientious folk, especially when it’s all happening at The Shadow Electric. Musical stylings for the night is a brilliant mix of Melbourne artists, including The Harpoons (DJ set), HABITS, HTML Flowers and Young Hysteria. To sweeten the deal further, there's going to be plenty of excellent giveaways — largely in the form of movie passes — for those who snag a ticket early. Tickets are only $8 for presale, or nab a ticket and copy of Hessian's first issue for $15. Learn five lessons in sustainable fashion with Hessian Magazine over here.
On September 23 and November 4, The Astor Theatre will become the most magical place in Melbourne, as all nine films grace the St Kilda cinema's screens for 20 hours of wizarding wonder. BYO time-turner if you don't think you'll be able to stay awake. Nine films, you say? Yep, this really is a celebration of every Potter-related flick there is, which means the eight movie versions of J.K. Rowling's original seven books, plus the film adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as well. Watch Harry, Hermione, Ron and co. spend their first day at Hogwarts, play quidditch, search for the deathly hallows and battle He Who Must Not Be Named. And, then jump back several decades earlier to explore the exploits behind one of their textbooks — as presented in glorious 70mm, too. With no new Potter-related films due until the Fantastic Beasts sequel next year, this will help you get your big screen spellbinding fix — and, let's face it, you've already watched your DVDs hundreds of times. Kicking off at 11am and screening through until the following morning, Potterfest — A Harry Potter Marathon will also include plenty of other Potter fun, with dressing up in costume as highly recommended as a pint of butterbeer.
More than 20 spectacular productions — including 12 world premieres — will make up the program at Dance Massive 2017, the fifth edition of Melbourne's explosive festival of contemporary dance. Co-presented by Arts House, Dancehouse and Malthouse Theatre in association with Ausdance Victoria, Dance Massive V will run from March 14 to 26 at the above venues, and feature brand new works from acclaimed companies and choreographers, including Chunky Move, Lucy Guerin, James Batchelor and Nicola Gunn. In addition to the shows themselves, the festival will play host to a series of workshops, panel discussions and supplemental events, including a writing workshop for professional writers and dancers, and a wide-ranging conversation series that will explore questions of financing, criticism and collaboration as it relates to the medium of dance today. For more information about Dance Massive V including the full program visit www.dancemassive.com.au. Image: Between Tiny Cities, shot by Thoeun Veassna.
Need an escape from the the winter weather? Then escape from the chill to a warm, dark cinema, where you can watch movies from places even colder than here. Returning to Palace Cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart, the Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival will once again showcase the best of Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Icelandic cinema, from award-winning dramas to esoteric comedies and the very best of Nordic Noir. While the 2017 program is yet to be announced, to give you an idea of what to expect, one of the big highlights from last year's program was the Golden Globe-nominated The Fencer, a Finnish-German-Estonian co-production — dubbed by Finland Today as "the best Finnish film in a decade" — about a fencing instructor hiding from Soviet forces in Estonia in the years after the war. This played alongside oddball Icelandic rom-com The Together Project which took home a screenplay prize at Cannes, and the excruciatingly tense Danish drama Land of Mine.
If you've caught Tkay Maidza's singles 'Switch Lanes', 'U-Huh' or 'M.O.B.' (that's 'Money Over Bitches') on radio of late, you'll know that the 19-year-old is all about putting in the hard yards. The Adelaidean youngster's touring schedule is evidence that she means what she sings. Maidza spent last summer rapping her way from one festival to another, appearing at Falls, Southbound, Beat the Drum and St. Jeromes Laneway. And now she's kicking off a national tour, which has almost sold out, and includes gigs at Mountain Sounds and Groovin' the Moo, as well as supports for Charli XCX. Since Maidza released her huge breakthrough hit 'Brontosaurus' in 2014, Australian music fans can't stop jibbering about the young artist. International booking company The Agency Group were immediately smitten and signed the teenager before launching her on an epic tour through the UK and the US. Maidza will be supported at every gig by two fellow bright young things from Brisbane — 19-year-old producer UV boi, and 17-year-old classically trained multi-instrumentalist JOY.
If you're planning on spending this gig mildly toe-tapping, you might want to wait in the car. Sydney's long-labouring beatsmiths Hermitude are back with a brand new album already sitting pretty on winter playlists Australia-wide — and a national tour ready to bust a few hard-dancing ligaments. Start stretching y'all. Hermitude's new album Dark Night Sweet Light takes the lads' unmistakeable blend of heartfelt hip hop, majestic build-ups and big bass drops to a new level; standing firm on a #1 ARIA chart spot and one hell of a rapidly expanding fan base. Luke Dubber (Luke Dubs) and Angus Stuart (El Gusto) have plenty to celebrate on this national tour. After nabbing the Australian Music Prize in 2012 for their straight-up killer album HyperParadise, they're riding a sweet wave of toastworthy accolades surrounding their new album Dark Night Sweet Light. The LP debuted at #1 on the ARIA chart (a first for Hermitude's label Elefant Traks) and has been featured as album of the week on FBi and triple j, alongside serious airplay for lead single 'The Buzz'. So it goes without saying, you're going to have to get in quick for a ticket to this show. The lads have come a long way from their early days of performing entire shows dressed as neanderthals with their decks covered in vines (actual thing), but the bombastic energy and unpredictable live instrumentation of Hermitude's live shows remains an unmissable combination for longtime fans and newcomers like. Do yourself a favour and don't read the tweets the next day, get to this show. Supported by Basenji + Jayteehazard.
Okay, Melbourne. Slidestreet gave you a trial run, now you're ready for the big time. This local startup, Slide Melbourne, is promising you the biggest street slide in the entire world. Just like its predecessor, this blissful creation will be lining Lansdowne Street alongside Fitzroy Gardens. Unlike its predecessor, it measures up at a whopping 400-metres in length. Though there were initial concerns about the group obtaining a permit from Melbourne City Council, with less than a week to go, it looks like all systems are now go. The three-lane slide is due to be christened on Sunday, February 15 with a second session already scheduled for Monday, March 9. For $40 you can guarantee yourself a two-hour session of fun from either 10am, 12pm, 2pm or 4pm. Even better, Sunday's weather is forecast as a slide-worthy 32 degrees. If you've missed out on tickets for this one, get ready for a road trip; Slide Melbourne will be taking on Ballarat on March 1 and tickets have only just gone on sale.
The team behind South Yarra's A25 pizzeria in South Yarra has made their way to the centre of town, opening a new offshoot in the middle of the CBD. Set to start service at 7.30am on Thursday, May 12 on the corner of Lonsdale Street and Hardware Lane, A25 City will focus on Italian coffee and on-the-go breakfasts as well as their lauded pizzas, with owner Remo Nicolini promising "some interesting surprises." Obviously, you can expect quite the Italian focus at their newbie. Working with chef Raymond Capaldi, the veteran restaurateur described the A25 spinoff as "an all-day Italian eatery" that will bring "a bigger focus towards healthy, easy-to-digest pizza dough and authentic homemade pasta". They won't just be sticking to the tried-and-tested methods either — the duo plan to experiment with different flours each week to create a range of pizza bases. "I feel at home in the CBD," said Nicolini of the new location, which will reportedly seat 50 people indoors with room for another 50 outside. "It is amazing to have acquired such a prominent site on Hardware Lane." The A25 menu will have some of the South Yarra faves, like the Bim Bum Bam pizza — which is epically topped with prawns, pancetta, truffle porcini, broccolini, truffle aioli and parmesan 'snow' (that is, grated parmesan) — as well as new ones like a Black Forest dessert pizza. They'll also have a cake cabinet packed with Italian pastries and custard bombolonis (yes!) and something that looks very much like a rocky road ice cream panini. A photo posted by A25PIZZA (@a25pizza) on May 4, 2016 at 7:27pm PDT In addition to A25's two locations, Nicolini's resume includes +39 Pizzeria on Little Bourke Street, Espressino on King Street and Non Solo Pasta in the Docklands. His brother Tony, meanwhile, runs the show over at Carlton's D.O.C. Point is, when it comes to Italian dining, this guy is no slouch. A25 City will open on Thursday, May 12 at 399 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. It will be open 7.30am till 10pm Monday to Friday and 8am till 10pm on Saturdays. For more info, visit a25.com.au. By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal.
Melbourne Music Week will take over the city from Friday, November 15, to Saturday, November 23 — and, this year's retrospective program is paying tribute to some of the highlights of its first decade. The festival is known for transforming unlikely spaces across the city into rollicking live music venues and, in the ultimate throwback move, MMW will bring back its immersive pop-up venue Kubik as the festival hub. After first appearing at the 2011 festival, it will this time make its home at Alexandra Gardens, delivering a nightly program of local and international sounds. Designed by Germany's Balestra Berlin, the outdoor structure offers up a feast for the senses, featuring technology that allows it to light up in time with the music. Headline acts including Melbourne dance legend CC:Disco!, German electronic act Monolake, and French natives Kittin and Raphaël Top-Secret promise to give Kubik a serious workout this year. Image: Kubik 2011.
You know summer's just around the corner when your social calendar and budget spreadsheet start filling up with must-attend festival lineups and your FOMO rages out of control. There are so many new and returning festivals coming up, we are truly spoilt for choice. But how do you decide which horse to bet on? Happy Wanderer is an off-the-beaten-track festival option, running October 31 to November 2 on an organic farm in Benalla, Victoria. They announced their headliners today and it’s a cornucopia of delight for fans of more laidback tunes and old-school Americana, with Jess Ribeiro, The Eastern, Sal Kimber and the Rollin’ Wheel, Archer, The Eighty 88s, James Kenyon, That Gold Street Sound, Nigel Wearne, Harry Jakamarra, Emilee South and Jane Sea. But the Happy Wanderer crew earn extra brownie points for letting you try before you buy, with an ongoing residency at The Gasometer Hotel that showcases what the festival will offer. The final instalment of the preview is on this Thursday, September 27, and features Melbourne reggae band El Moth, supported by The Electric I and Emi. Like many festival these days, the Happy Wanderer is a lifestyle choice as well as a sweet lineup. The HW ethos revolves around volunteerism — in fact, the festival began as a working bee on an organic farm. In its third year now, the festival has grown in scope to include three stages, a Discovery Dome for workshops, bars, food tents and trucks, coffee stations, camping and most importantly a rubber duck race on Broken River. Though it continues to expand, HW still holds onto their original purpose: a gathering of kin on a beautiful farm (and rubber duck racing, always). Happy Wanderer is happening at Yin Barun, Benalla, from October 31 to November 2. Tickets $160pp (camping and three-day admission included), available here.
There's something so romantic about cooking food on a campfire. Something dreamy and primal about watching marshmallows blacken, and then walking away smelling like smoke for days. If smoky food and fire-starting is your jam, this class, part of the High Country Harvest program, is a must-do. You'll learn to cook campfires basics (sorry 'mallows — you don't cut it anymore) and some more exotic dishes. Expect wine and local produce a-plenty and, also, to be crowned king of the campsite every camping trip for the rest of your life. Once the learning is over, sit back and chow down on a hearty campfire lunch.
This July sees the return of another packed program from Open House Melbourne. If you're not familiar with the annual two-day event, it opens up some of the cities most iconic buildings, new structures and urban environments for the public to explore and appreciate. And with 200 buildings included in this year's program — and 73 of these appearing on the program on the first time — you're set to be busy on the weekend of July 27–28. A highlight of the weekend will be the chance to check out the long-awaited refurbishment of RMIT's Capitol Theatre. After closing in 2014 for much needed renovations, the much-loved building now showcases its recently renovated Lounge, Salon, Foyer and Theatre. Throughout the weekend, it will be open for both guided and self-guided tours between 10am and 4pm. After that, you can hop over to the new Ian Potter Southbank Centre, which is the new home of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music — don't miss seeing the six-metre-wide oculus designed by John Wardel Architects. Or you can take a tour of Melbourne's only CBD gin distillery Little Lon, take a proper look at the revamped Espy or walk through Fitzroy's Cairo Flats. If you're invested in infrastructure, step behind the construction fence with tours of the West Gate Tunnel Project or the new Parkville Station that's being built as part of the Melbourne Metro Tunnel. Plus, with the City of Hobsons Bay joining in this year, the program will take design enthusiasts over to Williamstown, Spotswood, Newport and Altona. A new keynote program on Urban Tactility will include a public installation in the Immigration Museum courtyard, challenging participants to experience how we create more accommodating cities for the blind and visually impaired. While most of the buildings will be open for free self-guided tours, some of the more popular spots will require you to buy a tickets for five bucks in advance. These will go on sale at 8.30am on Friday, July 12. Image: Tatjana Pitt.
Fans of the great American writer Ernest Hemingway know full well that he was a man who liked a drink. When living in Cuba in the 1930s, one of his favourite places for a daiquiri was El Floridita in Havana. But while he was certainly a lover of alcohol, he didn't have much of a sweet tooth, and so the bartender made some changes – lime juice, no sugar and twice the amount of Bacardi Carta Blanca rum. Over time grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur was also added to break up the tartness of the original concoction, which became known as the Hemingway daiquiri. To celebrate the great author’s birthday this Tuesday, some of Melbourne’s best cocktail spots will be making their own versions of the author's favourite beverage. Whether you bring along a copy of The Old Man And The Sea is up to you. MADAME BRUSSELS Tennis whites, AstroTurf, and large jugs full of saucily-named cocktails is what’s on the agenda at Madame Brussels, and it never fails to be utterly delightful. They’re sticking close to tradition here with their Hemingway daiquiri, with Bacardi Carta Blanca, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and Maraschino liqueur. There is also touch of sugar syrup to make the cocktail that little bit more inviting – and even if Hemingway may have disapproved we don’t think he’d want us to play by the rules all the time anyway. Garnished with a lime twist and ready to transport you to Havana. Level 3, 59 Bourke Street, Melbourne LILY BLACKS Melbourne is known for its hidden laneway bars, but Lily Blacks in Meyers Place is the one we like wandering down to the best – especially when it’s time for a cocktail. They have a tower of spirits, hand cut ice, an impressive collection of bitters and – the main attraction – the Breakfast at Hemmingway’s cocktail. In a massive shirking of convention, they use Bacardi 8 as opposed to Bacardi Carta Blanca, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Throw in two bar spoons Rose's breakfast marmalade, lime juice, shake and double strain. Then it’s time to make the foam, with yellow grapefruit juice, J Cartron pink grapefruit liqueur, egg white, electric maraschino juice and a small pinch of xanthan gum. The whole thing is then garnished with grated cinnamon for a soft touch of spice. 12 Meyers Place, Melbourne THE RUM DIARY BAR As the name may suggest, there is enough rum here to sink a pirate ship, with 170 varieties and counting. They specialise in rum-based cocktails and provide an environment to sip on them that is both relaxing and inviting, with staff who are knowledgeable without being pretentious. These guys love their daiquiris so much they dedicated last Sunday (National Daiquiri Day) to host masterclasses and a speed making competition. Hemming’s Wow Daiquiri is what you should be consuming this Tuesday, made from Bacardi Carta Blanca, pomegranate juice, grapefruit juice, Maraschino liqueur and cardamom syrup. Here’s cheers to the great man and the rum he loved so dear. 334 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Top image: Cocktailmarler - Wikimedia Commons.
Tender, smoky, rich meaty goodness — this is Meatmother in a nutshell. Swan Street's Slip sleek and minimalist space in Richmond has been long-celebrated for its shudderingly delicious pulled pork, so praised that punters waltz past the Richmond digs just to get a mere whiff of the smoky aroma. But nothing pairs with lip-smackingly good American-style BBQ than crisp, cold beer — and Richmond's Mountain Goat Brewery is just the ticket. The Melbourne-born brewery is inviting the glorious carnivores from Meatmother to set up their epic Silver Creek Smoker inside the Mountain Goat beer hall, serving up that meaty, meaty goodness ever Friday night for the next three weeks. Think Brisket Buns filled with 12-hour oak smoked Wagyu brisket, as well as pulled pork and chipotle slaw buns. We're already showing signs of the meat sweats. Mountain Goat have also invited their mates from California's North Coast Brewing to pour three rarely seen tap beers at the beer hall's mini bar. But the brewery's got a few tricks up their own sleeve; Mountain Goat will be debuting their new Nitro-Hightail Ale over the three Fridays. If you're wanting to work off a few of those brisket buns afterwards, you can jump on a tour of the brewery. Find the Meatmother pop-up at Mountain Goat Brewery, Cnr North & Clark Streets, Richmond. Fridays 5-11pm from December 5-19. More info over here. Image: Nice Bike.
Hating on everything in your seasonally inept wardrobe? Feeling like dropping a sizeable chunk of your paycheck on some new threads? You're in luck. Incu are set to host their second showroom sale in Fitzroy, from May 29 to 31. Best bit? The reductions are going up to 80 percent. Yep. EGADS. You'll find the Incu wholesale showroom sale at 83 Kerr Street, Fitzroy. Snap up Incu one-offs, samples and previous season stock for relative peanuts. There'll also be grabworthy stock from the brands represented at the Incu Showroom — including Incu’s own label Weathered (both for dudes and ladies), cult label Saturdays Surf NYC, basics go-to Richer Poorer and New York-based label The Hill-Side. Something to remember before you go hassling poor Incu staff, this is a showroom sale, so it won't include every single brand stocked in the Incu retail stores. But with everything reduced like crazy, you'll have plenty to pick from here. Cash, EFTPOS and credit cards will be accepted, so maybe skip a few coffees this week. INCU SHOWROOM SALE OPENING HOURS: Friday May 29: 10am - 6pm Saturday May 30: 10am - 6pm Sunday May 31: 11am - 2pm
More than 30 feature films will screen at ACMI this May as part of the eighth annual Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. Beginning Thursday May 7, this socially-conscious film and arts forum will once again shine a light on a wide range of ethical issues, ranging from sexuality to censorship to the perils of globalisation. The festival begins with opening night documentary I Will Not Be Silenced, which recounts the harrowing story of Australian Charlotte Campbell Stephen and her seven-year fight for justice after being gang-raped in Kenya. Other noteworthy titles include the award-winning documentary Marmato, about villagers in Columbia struggling to save their home from miners, as well as Pervert Park, a challenging film about a halfway home in Florida for recently released sex offenders. In addition to the film program, HRAFF will present a number of art installations, including a pair of works from Kurdish artist Rushdi Anwar and a pop-up photography exhibition held inside St. Paul’s Cathedral. Festival organisers will also host a series of mid-morning discussion forums, on topics such as women's rights, climate change and domestic violence. For the full HRAFF program, visit their website. Image: Marmato
Handpicking some of the globe's best new artists for yet another glorious year (their seventh, to be exact), Sugar Mountain has one heck of a lineup this year, with UK rapper Joey Bada$$, experimental Berlin-based producer Laurel Halo and Australia's Cut Copy headlining. Returning to Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts on Saturday, January 20, Sugar Mountain has again balanced international drawcards with local talent this year, from Melbourne's all-female five-piece Beaches to UK producer Actress. Other Aussies converging on Mebourne for the fest include Body Type, Stella Donnelly and Indigenous collective Kardajala Kirridarra. As always though, music isn't the only thing on the menu for Sugar Mountain. There'll also be a load artists on the bill, including a collaboration between American artist and dancer Khalif Diouf and Bangarra Dance Theatre's dancer and choreographer Waangenga Blanco and work by Amrita Hepi and Japanese artists Hiroyasu Tsuri and Jun Inoue. The nosh is yet to be announced, but here's hoping Sugar Mountain's immersive on-site restaurant Sensory will be back. Enough chatskies, here's that lineup you're after. SUGAR MOUNTAIN 2018 LINEUP Actress (UK) Ara Koufax Beaches Body Type Cut Copy Dan Shake (UK) Eclair Fifi (UK) Fantastic Man Gerd Janson (GER) Honey Dijon (USA) J Hus (UK) Jamila Woods (USA) Joey Bada$$ (USA) Kardajala Kirridarra Laurel Halo (USA) Love Deluxe Project Pablo (CAN) Sevdaliza (NED) Shanti Celeste (UK) Stella Donnelly ARTISTS VIA ALICE featuring Waangenga Blanco x Khalif Diouf (USA) Amrita Hepi x Pasefika Victoria Choir Justin Shoulder x CORIN x Tristan Jalleh Hiroyasu Tsuri (JPN) x Jun Inoue (JPN) Marcus Whale x Athena Thebus
Aunty's done it again; inviting the whole country round for a cup o' chai and a grand ol' hootenanny — the 2015 Meredith Music Festival is finally here. Returning to beloved Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, near Golden Plains over December 11-13, Meredith's more eclectic than ever — it's the Silver Jubilee 25th anniversary after all. Following the recent major announcement of Ex-Fleet Foxes minstrel Father John Misty as this year's top headliner, Aunty's added the likes of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ratatat, The Thurston Moore Band, Tkay Maidza, Neon Indian, Big Daddy Kane, Shellac, Fatback Band, Jessica Pratt, Briggs, and many more to the bill. As always, Meredith's a BYO paradise, and of course, the 'No Dickhead Policy' stands stronger than ever. Like every year, tickets are already sold out — so we hope you thought ahead and got in early on that one.
When Robert De Niro asked his reflection who it was talking to, Joe Pesci questioned whether he was funny, and Leonardo DiCaprio crawled along the ground under the influence of Quaaludes, one man was responsible. Over a career spanning almost six decades, Martin Scorsese has brought tales of taxi drivers, goodfellas and wolf-like stockbrokers to the screen — and now an exhibition dedicated to his work has come to Melbourne. From May 26 to September 18, the Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) will pay tribute to one of America's most iconic directors, exploring everything from his early experimental beginnings to the award-winning films that have shaped many a movie buff. If you're already a fan, you'll be in Scorsese heaven. If you've somehow resisted the charms of (or completely missed) the likes of Raging Bull, The Departed and Hugo — or his concert flicks such as The Last Waltz and Shine a Light, or even Boardwalk Empire and Vinyl on TV — then prepare to have your eyes opened. In its only Australian stop after wowing Berlin, Ghent, Turin and Paris, SCORSESE will present a collection of more than 600 objects spanning the filmmaker's entire cinema resume, as curated by the Deutsche Kinemathek, Berlin's Museum of Film and Television. Expect storyboards, hand-annotated film scripts, unpublished production stills, costumes, film clips and more, all drawn from the private collections of De Niro, Taxi Driver writer Paul Schrader, and Scorsese himself. No ACMI exhibition would be complete without a bustling lineup of screenings, talks and other educational events, so we'd advise blocking out a few days to delve into the influence and impact of the guy who hasn't only mastered movies, but directed the music video for Michael Jackson's 'Bad' too. Top image: Exhibition section "New York". Photo: Deutsche Kinemathek / M. Stefanowski, 2013.
Explore hidden nooks and marvel at grand designs, as doors open all around town for the latest edition of Open House Melbourne. Returning for its ninth consecutive year, this year's event is set for the final weekend of July, and will for the first time extend beyond the CBD and into the surrounding suburbs. In fact, the newly revealed 2016 program features a whopping 140 buildings, stretching all the way from Newport to Bundoora. Highlighting many an architectural marvel, the Open House program covers everything from government buildings including Parliament House and the Supreme Court of Victoria; houses of worship such as St Paul's Cathedral and East Melbourne Synagogue; cultural institutions like the Athenaeum Theatre and the State Library; and sporting venues including AAMI Park and the National Tennis Centre. Pop across the Yarra and you can also pay a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria, or stargaze at the Melbourne Observatory nestled inside the Royal Botanic Gardens. And that's just in the city, mind you. Venture north and you can explore Circus Oz HQ or wander through the Melbourne General Cemetery. Alternatively, head west for a look at Yarraville's Sun Theatre and the Footscray Town Hall. Local history buffs might enjoy a gander at the city's heritage tram fleet, housed in the Hawthorn Tram Depot. And what trip through Melbourne could truly be called complete without paying a visit to Luna Park? Open House Melbourne takes place July 30-31. Certain buildings can only be explored in pre-booked tours at $5 a piece, with bookings opening on July 18. For the full program, visit www.openhousemelbourne.org.
Eeeep. Looks like Spotify playlisters for Splendour in the Grass jumped the gun, and it appears that the 2015 Splendour lineup has been leaked as a result. Set to be announced by Matt and Alex on triple j next Wednesday as usual, the Splendour lineup could possibly have been revealed by a playlist called 'Splendour 2015 Line-up' which appeared earlier today. Noticed by eagle-eyed Geelong Advertiser reporter Paddy Naughtin, the now-deleted playlist contained some huge, we-hope-it's-real names. We're talking Blur, Mark Ronson, Florence + The Machine, Death Cab For Cutie, The Wombats, Tame Impala and Of Monsters And Men, alongside Pond, Royal Blood and the Dandy Warhols. WAHOOLIE. Here's the screengrab posted by Naughtin on Twitter — he also posted on Splendour's Facebook page to confirm and they deleted the post. So there's a little confirmation for you. Yeesh. Probably going to be some stern words between Splendour and triple j. Here's hoping it's the real thing. Via triple j.
