Lost Paradise is back for the fourth year in a row, after selling out its past three incarnations. Returning to Glenworth Valley from December 28 to January 1, the event will host 76 local and international artists, including local electronic goalkickers RÜFÜS, Sweden's Little Dragon, Aussie folk favourites Matt Corby and Meg Mac, Sydney lads DMAs, dynamic Melburnian duo Client Liaison and more. There'll be two new stages this year, My Mum's Disco, where, in between retro beats and '80s kitsch, you'll be playing bingo and banging out karaoke, and K-Sub Beach Club, to be run by Kraken, a collective dedicated to all things Victorian. Main stage Arcadia will host what's been designated as 'indie', while techno and dance will settle into the Lost Disco stage. Meanwhile, the Paradise Club will take care of late night shape-throwers with DJs and surprise guests. If you've blissed your way through previous New Year's Eves at Lost Paradise's Shambala Fields, you'll be glad to know they're making a return, with their cornucopia of yoga classes, dance workshops and meditations. Teachers on the schedule include Ana Forrest, Jose Calarco, Mark Whitwell, Simon Borg Olivier, Nicole Walsh and Mark Breadner. In between dancing and getting mindful, you can fuel up in Lost Village, where a herd of food trucks will be dishing out all sorts of tasty morsels. Look out for Eat Art Truck's hot smoked pulled pork buns, Agape's organic goodies, The Dosa Deli's handmade samosas, Maverick Wings' crispy chicken and kimchi coleslaw, Harvest Life as Tsuru's poke bowls and Cuba Cantina's street food from Havana. Here's what you're in for this year: LOST PARADISE 2017 LINEUP: RÜFÜS Little Dragon Matt Corby Meg Mac DMA's Client Liason Cut Copy San Cisco Tourist Stephen Bodzin Cigarettes After Sex Patrick Topping Jon Hopkins (DJ Set) Jackmaster FKJ Middle Kids Âme (Live) Skeggs Palms Trax Apparat Nadia Rose Sampa The Great Koi Child Mall Grab Dean Lewis B.Traits Roland Tings My Nu Leng Cut Snake Human Movement Billy Davis & The Good Lords CC:Disco GL Tiny Little Houses Alex The Astronaut Nyxen Sloan Peterson Mammals The Ruminators Motorik Vibe Council Robongia Krankbrother Thunderfox Gypsys of Pangea Uncle Ru Ariane Ben Nott Brohn Dibby Dibby Soundsystem DJ Gonz Elijah Something Foreigndub Inner West Reggae Disco Machine Kali and more... Lost Paradise returns to Glenworth Valley from December 28 to January 1. Tickets are on sale now from the festival website. Image: Dave Anderson and Boaz Nothham.
It has been three short months since Banksy pulled what might be the artist's greatest prank yet — ripping one of his own paintings to shreds the very moment it was sold at auction. If you've watched the artist's extended behind-the-scenes video and still just can't get enough of the stunt, that's understandable. Soon, you'll also be able to see the torn piece with your own eyes, with the artwork going on display to the public for the first time. Originally titled Girl with Balloon and now known as Love is in the Bin, the painting will be exhibited at Museum Frieder Burda in Baden-Baden, Germany, from Tuesday, February 5 to Monday, March 3. Anyone that finds themselves in the European town, which is located in the Germany's Black Forest right near the country's border with France, will be able to cast their eyes over the piece for free. Given Banksy's focus on making art available to everyone, the museum's approach aligns those of the art trickster. It's "designed to allow as many visitors as possible to see the picture," the exhibition website notes. Museum Frieder Burda will also host a symposium about Banksy to put his work and creative strategies into context. It's the latest chapter for a stunt that has sparked plenty of chatter both in the art world and in general since October, when the artwork self-destructed as the hammer fell on the winning bid at London's Sotheby's auction house. As the painting was disintegrating, the collector behind the successful bid was buying it for £860,000 (AU$1.6 million). If Banksy's prank had gone according to plan, only torn strips of the painting would remain — and that's all that'd be able to be placed on show. In the nearly three-minute clip Shred the Love: The Director's Cut, which was posted on artist's website, Banksy reveals that the entire painting was supposed to be cut to pieces. "In rehearsals it worked every time," the video notes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxkwRNIZgdY In the immediate aftermath of the October 5 prank, Banksy also released a video — showing a shredder being secretly built into the artwork, with an explanation that this was done a few years ago "in case it was ever put up for auction". Sotheby's has repeatedly advised that it had no knowledge of the prank before it happened. "It appears we just got Banksy-ed," Alex Branczik, head of contemporary art for Europe, told The Art Newspaper. Love is in the Bin will be on display at Museum Frieder Burda in Baden-Baden, Germany, from Tuesday, February 5 to Monday, March 3. Images: Olga Rozenbajgier, The Art of Banksy / Banksy.
For the past three years, Elisabeth Moss has been doing her best to smash and subvert an oppressive patriarchal society, all thanks to The Handmaid's Tale. For seven seasons before that, she had a somewhat similar task in Mad Men, just within the world of 1960s advertising. So if someone has to go face-to-face with an unseen foe in The Invisible Man — an imperceptible figure that happens to be her controlling ex-boyfriend, and that no one else believes exists — then she's a great candidate. As the just-dropped first trailer for this monster movie remake shows, the classic Invisible Man premise has had a thoroughly 21st-century update. Moss plays Cecilia, who's had to flee an abusive relationship with her scientist ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, The Haunting of Hill House), but can't escape him that easily. He turns up dead and leaves her a fortune; however strange things then start happening around her. Celia is convinced her violent former lover is behind it — and not only that, but that he's still around, but invisible. Of course, everyone else just thinks she's crazy. Yes, it's HG Wells' sci-fi novel filtered through the concept of gaslighting, in a movie that looks set to stand out from its predecessors — such as the famous 1933 horror version and its many sequels, and 2000's Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon. The Invisible Man marks Universal's latest attempt to revive its iconic monster pictures from the 1920s–50s, after trying to create a Dark Universe series with Dracula Untold and the Tom Cruise-starring version of The Mummy. In fact, a different take on The Invisible Man was initially announced a few years back that'd tie into both of the aforementioned films, with Johnny Depp slated to turn see-through. But then The Mummy crashed at the box office and the studio changed its plans, with Universal now focusing on standalone remakes of its famous horror characters rather than an interconnected on-screen universe. Alongside Moss and Jackson-Cohen, this iteration of the out-of-sight figure also features Australian actress Harriet Dyer (Killing Ground), Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton) and Storm Reid (A Wrinkle in Time). Prolific producer Jason Blum is pulling the strings, and, fresh from the action thrills of Upgrade, Aussie filmmaker Leigh Whannell sits in the director's chair. Also, if any of the movie's surroundings look familiar, that's because it was shot in Sydney. Check out the trailer below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLAJyugYEiY&feature=youtu.be The Invisible Man releases in Australian cinemas on February 27, 2020.
A Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard falls for the superstar singer he's been hired to protect. It's pegged as one of cinema's most iconic love stories, with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner first tugging at our heartstrings back in 1992. And now, The Bodyguard is set to come alive for the Australian stage, with producers David Ian, Michael Harrison and John Frost today announcing they'll be bringing their award-winning musical show Down Under next year. Set to kick off in Sydney in April 2017, this local production of The Bodyguard — which follows the just-as-awesome news that Moulin Rouge! will finally be made into a stage show — comes off the back of a wildly successful and star-studded run in London theatres, and record-breaking UK tour, which commenced in February this year. Based on the eponymous Warner Bros. film and adapted for the stage by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris, The Bodyguard musical features all those epic Houston tracks that audiences fell in love with the first time around. According to co-producer Frost, the emotionally-charged storyline, along with those "soaring ballads" — like 'Queen of The Night', 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' and the legendary 'I Will Always Love You' (you know the ones) — were simply destined for the stage. The album is still the biggest selling movie soundtrack of all time. Yep. Still. The Bodyguard The Musical will come to Australia in 2017, and will start its national tour in Sydney. More details, including tour dates and additional cities, will be released soon. If you're a keen bean, a waitlist for priority tickets is now open at thebodyguardmusical.com.au.
2023 has already gifted Melbourne with a slew of new hotel openings, from boutique inner-city stays to coastal retreats full of sunny charm. And now it has also spawned a reimagining of an old favourite, as Little Bourke Street hotel Laneways by Ovolo reopens following an extensive makeover. First launched in 2013 as Ovolo's first Australian property, the CBD stay is now sporting an entirely new look, with its latest incarnation driven by acclaimed designers Luchetti Krelle and inspired by the bold 80s aesthetic of Memphis Group. Striking patterns, graphic elements and heady pops of colour abound. Kitted out in a vibrant nod to Melbourne's famed laneway culture, the 42-room hotel welcomes guests via a playful new-look lobby complete with reception pods, and an honour-system bar stocked with snacks, wine and bottled cocktails The rooms pack just as much of a visual punch, with retro-inspired furnishings and colourful accents aplenty. Ovolo will shout your first round of goodies from the in-room mini bar, brekkie is available to go and there's even a self-service laundry option. Then, there's Room 303 — an exclusive suite featuring the stylings of design guru Neale Whitaker. He's transformed his favourite room with a curation of furniture, knick-knacks and original artwork, including an abstract piece by Melbourne-based artist Nunzio Miano. Book this suite and you'll also enjoy a Spotify playlist filled with Whitaker's personal favourites. When it's time for a tipple or a feed, you'll find yourself a haven in onsite bar and restaurant Amphlett House. With an offering steered by renowned chef Ian Curley (co-owner of French Saloon and Kirk's Wine Bar), the 120-seater is dishing up share-friendly snacks and a refreshed take on pub fare. Expect plates like grilled asparagus with egg 'confetti', pangrattato and hollandaise; smoked bone marrow on toast; aioli mussels; steak paired with kampot peppercorn sauce; and seared beef heart served with lentils and creamed spinach. Match it with something from the natives-heavy cocktail list, including the likes of a wattleseed negroni and a eucalyptus-smoked margarita. Find the new-look Laneways by Ovolo Melbourne and Amphlett House at 19 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
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 to Bali's legendary beachfront resort Desa Potato Head. And right now, we have an unmissable deal for you to take advantage of, which includes daily cocktails and a bunch of other complimentary offers on three-, five- and seven-night stays. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? Whether Bali is yet to be ticked off your bucket list or you're a seasoned visitor, you probably already know Seminyak is where all the action is — think top restaurants, luxurious day spas and pumping party spots. Of the many hot spots that populate Seminyak, Potato Head Beach Club is an institution. But, Desa Potato Head's offering extends well beyond the famed beach club with its sweeping archipelago views and infinity pool. Billing itself as a self-contained 'village', Desa Potato Head has several restaurants, a range of accommodation options, art installations and a co-working space. And then there is the next-level wellness program. We're talking a 24-hour gym, personal training, outdoor fitness sessions, yoga and guided meditation sessions, IV treatments and the Sanctuary — a space offering ice baths, sound healing and other alternative wellness practices. The resort also has a steadfast commitment to sustainability — it was the first company in Asia to go carbon neutral and is making strides to be a zero-waste operation. THE ROOMS Desa Potato Head has two distinct accommodation offerings. The first is Potato Head Suites (formerly known as Katamama). Each of these 58 suites effortlessly blends ancient Indonesian craftsmanship with modern touches, including floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Indian Ocean, private gardens, spacious living areas, and jacuzzis or pools. Your other option is Potato Head Studios, the more traditional hotel offering. Across the 168 rooms, expect luxury amenities, stylish decor and stunning views over the ocean, bamboo garden or resort. All rooms have thoughtful personal touches, like build-your-own-cocktail kits, refillable products (including sunscreen and insect repellent) and zero-waste kits that you can take home with you. FOOD AND DRINK Beach Club is, of course, the most famous of Desa Potato Head's hospitality offerings, so spending a few hours here (at the very least) is a given. Snag one of the daybeds by the infinity pool to enjoy signature cocktails — prepared with local fruits and spices — and a few snacks from the kitchen, including charcuterie boards, pizza and platters of oysters. The Beach Club has two more formal options, too. The first is Ijen, which focuses on fresh local seafood served raw or grilled. The other is Kaum, which showcases traditional recipes, methods of cooking and ingredients from some of Indonesia's lesser-known regions. Elsewhere in the resort, you'll find semi-subterranean plant-based diner Tanaman, casual eatery Katamama and rooftop bar Sunset Park. THE LOCAL AREA When you're ready to explore beyond the boundaries of Potato Head, Seminyak has plenty on offer to keep you busy. Get your caffeine fix from one of the Aussie-style cafes (Revolver Espresso is our pick) and take a wander down Jalan Kayu Aya (otherwise known as Eat Street) to find tasty local food and boutique shops. Want to visit other beach clubs? KU DE TA, Finns and Mrs Sippy are all worth a look-in. Then, of course, there are all the nature-laden day trips and outdoor adventures you can take. Check out this Ubud day tour, which includes visits to Tegenungan Waterfall and the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, or this full-day of water sports fun — think scuba diving, jet skiing and more. THE EXTRAS A stay at Desa Potato Head guarantees plenty of luxuries. We've already mentioned a few, including the in-room cocktail bar and daily wellness activities, but you can also expect welcome cocktails, daily breakfast, free daily laundry and airport transfers. Plus, if you book a three-, five- or seven-night stay through Concrete Playground Trips, we're throwing in even more to sweeten the already-sweet deal. Specifically: free cocktails daily, a free massage, spa credit of IDR500,000, dinner at Tanaman and priority daybeds at the Beach Club. Get moving on this offer — it's only available until June 13. 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.
Say ‘adios’ to humdrum and ‘hello’ to ten hotels that are so fresh and so cool, they’ll have you reaching for the thermostat. Boutique hotel experts Mr & Mrs Smith have the lowdown on where the trendsetters sleep. La Maison Champs Elysees - Paris What: Classic couture, Haussmann heritage Where: 8 rue Jean Goujon In the heart of the Golden Triangle, where fashion and sophistication reign supreme, La Maison Champs Elysées showcases design icon Martin Margiela’s impeccable aesthetic. A canvas of muted hues and eclectic artworks, the soothing colour palette extends into the monochrome restaurant, elegant White Lounge and darkly seductive Cigar Bar – exclusively for guest use, with staff not permitted inside. The Terrace, a lush green haven in the heart of Paris, is the perfect spot for taking breakfast or reinvigorating exploration-weary muscles. Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa - Bora Bora What: Turquoise tryst Where: Motu Tevairoa, BP 169 Vaitape, Bora Bora, French Polynesia A recipe for tropical perfection, Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa is a stunner — luring in loved-up honeymooners and glamorous jetsetters with its white-sand beaches and idyllic lagoon setting. Take in spectacular views from every angle on this island paradise; they're especially beautiful from the Overwater Bungalows, which have direct access to the water, or the Beach Suites with Jacuzzis that are set directly on the sand. If lazing on the beach or dining on lavish buffets suddenly becomes all too much, make a beeline for Manea Spa, whose menu includes Vichy showers or massages with ‘dancing feet’. For a souvenir with serious style — and that will never collect dust — the in-house tattooist Tuhei, from the Tuamotus islands, can help create a permanent reminder of your stay. Sal Salis - Ningaloo Reef What: Seaside safari Where: Yardie Creek Road, Cape Range National Park, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia Snugly nestled in the sandy dunes of the Cape Range National Park, Sal Salis flaunts a decidedly luxurious spin on camping. Leave your swags and camp kitchens at home; there’s no need for bush basics when there are heavenly pillows and organic 500-thread cotton sheets waiting at the end of the day. The lapping Indian Ocean is only metres from your doorstop, so while away hours dreamily swinging in your hammock or mingling with whale sharks, manta rays and shoals of fish. And when it comes time for a feast, bush tucker is banished as Sal Salis serves contemporary Australian cuisine under the star-speckled night sky, watched inquisitively by visiting kangaroos and wallaroos. Claska - Tokyo What: Too cool for school Where: 1-3-18, Chuocho, Meguro, Tokyo Sleek and fresh in its contemporary architecture, Claska is at the apex of Tokyo’s cultural hotspot, and in the hub of what is considered to be the coolest suburb in the city. Beautiful in its elegant simplicity, Claska retains the hallmarks of traditional Japanese hospitality. We love the Tatami Rooms, designed by c, with pretty paper lanterns and contemporary furniture. The gallery and boutique, Do, offers innovative designs, creative products and bespoke souvenirs that reflect Claska’s innovative design philosophy. Commandeer one of Claska’s free ‘tokyobikes’ to enjoy a pleasant 10-minute pedal to the attractions featured on the hotel’s ‘Tokyo by Tokyo’ iPhone app. King & Grove - Williamsburg What: Urban jungle retreat Where: 160 North 12th Street, Brooklyn, New York City In the city that never sleeps, King & Grove Williamsburg offers a welcome change of pace – without sacrificing on style and street cred – by seducing guests to venture into Brooklyn. A creative hub, Williamsburg’s collection of eateries, bars and indie boutiques is ripe for exploration (on the hotel’s hipster-approved red bicycles, of course). The open-air rooftop lounge of the Upper Elm overlooks McCarren Park and has snacks, cocktails, music and a view of the city skyline that takes some trumping. Leisure-lovers should snag a prime position in a day-bed by the backyard-style saltwater pool – one of the largest in the city – or spend an afternoon unwinding over a drink with fellow guests. Taveuni Palms - Fiji Islands What: Private paradise Where: Matei, Taveuni Island, Fiji Islands Ever dreamed of retreating to the seclusion of a private island? With only three exclusive-hire villas, understated luxury is the name of the game at Taveuni Palms. Flanked by its own private plunge pool, day-beds and panoramic Pacific views, each villa comes with seven staff including a manager, two chefs, barman, housemaid and nanny. If you can tear yourself away from your villa, Taveuni Palms offers guided snorkelling and kayaking trips, cooking lessons and local excursions. The hardest thing you will have to do is leaving – a burden made lighter by instantly booking your return visit. Das Stue - Berlin What: Animal magnetism Where: 1 Drakestrasse, Berlin, Germany Withdraw from playing tourist into a place so hip, so cutting edge and so darned cool, it could only be in Berlin. Housed in the former lodgings of the Royal Danish Embassy, Das Stue is a heritage heavyweight with a serious dose of style. Everything from the impressive entrance, marble staircase and scattered artworks is impeccable – and enough to make even the most blase of hipsters twiddle their moustache with excitement. Backing onto Berlin Zoo, Das Stue guarantees a room with a view – feathery, furry or otherwise. Catalan chef Paco Pérez is at the helm of the restaurant, Cinco, and with four Michelin stars up the sleeves of his chef’s whites, he delivers outstanding gastronomic creations inspired by the rich produce of his native Spain. Kahanda Kanda - Galle What: Serene Sri Lanka Where: Angulugaha, Galle, Southern Province Monkeys, mongooses and bright-feathered birds are your neighbours at Kahanda Kanda. Surrounded by a 12-acre tea estate, each of the eight villas has been impeccably styled by the villa’s British owner and has its own distinct feel; Peacock, Tamarind and Mango each have a private balcony overlooking the garden, and the only room with a TV, the Dubu Suite, is set into the hillside with large, private lawn and pool — just be prepared to share paradise with any tree-swinging visitors. Classic Sri Lankan curries and contemporary fusion dishes are crafted using fruits, vegetables and herbs exclusively grown on the estate. Cooking classes with Kahanda Kanda’s resident chefs are available for those wishing to learn the secrets of Sri Lankan or Thai cuisine. Kurá - Costa Rica What: Sustainably stylish Where: Uvita de Osa, Calle Bejuco, Osa/Bahia Ballena, Puntarenas, Costa Rica Six teakwood villas blend harmoniously into the lush backdrop at Kurá. Reflecting the hotelier’s passion and vision for eco-friendly accommodation that doesn’t skimp on luxury, the bungalows are minimalist in style but lavish in feel. Each contemporary, open-plan villa includes a floating bed, open-air showers and a balcony that ushers in views of the jungle and Pacific Ocean. Dive into the rectangular, saltwater infinity pool that offers bird’s-eye ocean views, calming underwater music and sun loungers tailor-made for spending an afternoon getting lost in a book or enjoying a cocktail. The Sky Lounge, which has 360-degree vistas of the Costa Rican jungle and ocean, is the prime position to whale-watch and specialises in tamarind margaritas, fruit coladas and inventive mojitos. Soneva Fushi - Maldives What: Desert-island indulgence Where: Kunfunadhoo Island, Baa Atoll Shed your shoes and worries the moment you step onto this private island and into Soneva Fushi. Only missing Fabio riding a white stallion, Soneva Fushi has all the makings of a Harlequin romance: white sand, blue seas, an observatory, a wicked chocolate room and ice-cream parlour, a wine cellar and a private butler service. Bordered by imposing walls of untouched jungle and slices of too-turquoise ocean, the island is a playground of hot stone massages and Japanese watsu treatments, liquid thrills and fresher than fresh beachside feasts. As the day dwindles and sun descends, popcorn and tropical cocktails are served in the open-air cinema beneath a twinkling night sky. Ready to leave? We thought so. Scoot over to Mr & Mrs Smith to book your own stylish stay or call the expert Travel Team on 1300 896 627.
Mörk has been kicking around since 2012, showing Melburnians just how good a hot chocolate can taste. Taking their cues from Melbourne's coffee culture, owners Josefin Zernell and Kiril Shaginov have grown this drinking chocolate brand to include three stores and a chocolate foundry — Mörk's own chocolate factory out in North Melbourne. You'll also see its drinking chocolate powders and pastries stocked at some of Melbourne's best cafes. But the owners aren't stopping there. They've spent the past two years creating the Mörk Looking Glass concept store on Centre Place — one of the graffiti-clad laneways near Degraves Street. Here, you'll find Mörk's classic drinking chocolate blends, cinnamon and cardamom buns, chocolate spreads and morsels, pre-mixed cocktails, and its famous Campfire Hot Chocolate — served with smoke, charcoal salt and a freshly toasted marshmallow (that's also made in-house). Coffee from Patricia is also available for those needing a caffeine fix instead of chocolate. Zernell and Shaginov have even dreamt up a new drink for Mörk Looking Glass: The Layered Chocolate. For this, a dark hot chocolate base is topped with caramelised banana, saffron custard and freshly grated lime zest. This team is using this site to showcase just how fun and experimental the humble hot chocolate can be. And while some of these new and experimental creations will make their way into the main storefront, most of them will only be available upstairs in the tasting room. Experimental chocolate bars, elaborate drinking chocolates that never made it onto the menu, chocolate cocktail pairings and creative desserts will all be on show during themed tastings in this space. Mörk Looking Glass will also be hosting collaborations at the new CBD store, which will be announced later. If you consider yourself a chocoholic, this new spot best be on your hit list. You'll find Mörk Looking Glass at 13 Centre Place, Melbourne, open 7.30am–5pm on Monday–Friday, and 8am–5pm on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit the venue's website. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
On small screens all around the world, The Last of Us is currently showing everyone how video game-to-TV adaptations can and should be done. Can the new Dungeons & Dragons movie do the same for tabletop role-playing games? Cinemagoers are about to find out, when Honour Among Thieves rolls out its campaign on the silver screen with Chris Pine, Regé-Jean Page, Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant among the cast. As seen in both Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves initial sneak peek back in 2022 and its new just-dropped full trailer, the film focuses on a motley crew of characters rolling the dice. "We're thieves," Pine (Don't Worry Darling) explains in both, if the title wasn't already obvious enough. This crew, which spans Page (The Gray Man), Rodriguez (Fast & Furious 9), Justice Smith (Jurassic World Dominion) and Sophie Lillis (IT and IT: Chapter Two), too, "helped the wrong person steal the wrong thing". Cue the greatest evil the world has ever known, unleashed unwittingly, which this band of pilferers now endeavours to stop. In the two sneak peeks so far, dragons pop up, of course. So do dungeons, to the astonishment of no one. Other fantastical animals, fights, flaming swords, fireballs, an army of the undead and quips: they're all included as well, as are Grant (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre), fellow cast members Chloe Coleman (Avatar: The Way of Water) and Daisy Head (Wrong Turn), and Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love'. Behind the camera, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Game Night) are in the directors' chairs, and co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Gilio. The mood they're going for: lighthearted, comic, but also an action-adventure epic. And, like all movies these days, they're seemingly trying to start a new franchise as well. Another Dungeons & Dragons movie has long sat on the list of things that were bound to happen after the success of Stranger Things. The role-playing game has already sparked three movies, with the first dating back to 2000 — but none of them starred this bunch (or were well-received, whether they hit theatres or went straight to home entertainment). Actually, another D&D film has been in the works in some shape or form since before the world saw a bunch of kids in Hawkins, Indiana play the game. Thanks to the success of Game of Thrones, fantasy epics have become a huge Hollywood cash cow (see also: the return of The Lord of the Rings as a streaming series). And yes, films based on Hasbro properties don't have the best record — the Transformers series, the GI Joe flicks, Battleship, Power Rangers — but if you're a D&D devotee, you'll be hoping this one changes that. Check out the new Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves trailer below: Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves opens in cinemas Down Under on March 30.
The much anticipated Graphic Festival at the Sydney Opera House is nearly upon us. A whole weekend dedicated to anime and animation, live performances, innovative visuals, inspiring talks and, no doubt a substantial dose of fun. And Silent Comics, a mini festival within the festival, is set to be one of its highlights. Silent Comics aims to celebrate the illustrated works in their purest form, where the narrative of the comic is entirely visually driven — no captions, no text, no words. And to add to your sensory pleasure, they have asked some seriously talented local and international musicians to come to the party too. Comics by artists such as Robert Crumb (Fritz the Cat), Jim Woodring (Frank), Peter Kuper (Spy vs Spy) and Nathan Jurevisius (Scarygirl), will be accompanied by ten minute sets of brand new music by Gotye, Plaid, Seekae, FourPlay, Captain Matchbox and Darth Vegas, in what is sure to be Sunday afternoon of visual and auditory goodness. For a chance to win one of five double passes to Silent Comic, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
With its pristine rivers, wild surf and lush valleys, Tassie's east coast produces some of the freshest, tastiest food and wine in Australia — if not the whole darn world. We're talking oysters that melt in your mouth, unbelievably decadent cheeses and Pinot Noirs that James Halliday can't get enough of. Plus, all you have to do to sample them in one fell swoop is drive onto Spirit of Tasmania at Port Melbourne, which will sail you across Bass Strait to Devonport and make your journey to Australia's southernmost state one to remember. Here, you can get a jump on your foodie road trip before you've even hit land. Partake in Tasmanian oysters in the ship's restaurant, indulge with ice cream from The Pantry shop, and enjoy the brews and sea views in the ship's bars. May to October there's even a Flavours of Tassie showcase, where you can sample everything from local cheeses and chocolates to wines and spirits. Once off the ship, head east until you hit the Great Eastern Drive, which travels for 176 blissful kilometres from St Helens in the north to Orford in the south. Here's your guide to eating, drinking and sleeping along the way. [caption id="attachment_665949" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Flow Mountain Bike[/caption] PYENGANA DAIRY Make your first destination Pyengana Dairy, which lies between Devonport and St Helens. Here, the Healey family has spent more than a century perfecting the art of cheese production. It's now in the hands of the fourth generation, Jon Healey and his wife, Lyndall, and you get to reap the rewards. Sample a range of cheddars — from four-week-old mild to an intense one-year-old dubbed Devilish – and stock up on non-homogenised milk. If you're hungry, slip into the Holy Cow Cafe for brekkie or lunch overlooking the farm's fertile pastures. You can also watch the cheese-making process in action. Pyengana Dairy is at St Columba Falls Road, Pyengana GALA ESTATE VINEYARD Your next stop is Gala Estate Vineyard in Cranbrook, a pretty area about 100 kilometres south of St Helens. The cellar door is a cute weatherboard building that once served as the local post office and general store, where you can now try an award-winning Pinot Noir or two. If the tasting couch happens to be free, then make sure you claim it and take your time. Once you're done, grab a bottle or two of your favourite drop and a gourmet hamper packed with local produce, then set off for a picnic – either in Gala's idyllic vineyards, at a nearby beach or further afield. For spectacular wilderness, head to Freycinet National Park. Gala Estate Vineyard is at 14891 Tasman Highway, Cranbrook SPRING VALE WINES From Gala Estate, it's just five minutes' drive south to Spring Vale Wines. This fifth-generation vineyard, founded in 1826, is all about producing wines that express the local area (technically referred to as terroir). Taste their latest creations at the cellar door, which is a heritage-listed stable built by convicts in 1842, or settle in for a long lunch at the seafood restaurant, which pops up among the vines. Loosen your belt: you can expect to be overwhelmed by a cornucopia of crayfish, scallops, oysters, octopus and woodfired lamb, with an array of matching wines. Spring Vale Wines is at 130 Springvale Road, Cranbrook MILTON VINEYARD Right nearby is Milton Vineyard, which began as a sheep farm back in 1826, but, like Spring Vale, is now dedicated to interesting small-batch drops. In fact, its 13 hectares inhabit a microclimate, where pinot noir, pinot gris, riesling and gewurztraminer grow. Handpicked in April, they're the only grapes that go into Milton's bottles. If you've time for lunch, book at Sophie's Restaurant, where you'll be feasting on the creations of head chef Sophie Bermudes, who turns premium local produce into French-inspired fare. Milton Vineyard is at 14635 Tasman Highway, Swansea MELSHELL OYSTERS Next up, oysters. We don't mean just any old ordinary bivalves, but some of the best on the planet, served up at a humble shack, a stone's throw from Coles Bay. Melshell Oysters spend their entire lives in superbly clean water, starting out in the Swan River before transferring to Great Oyster Bay, where they enjoy views of the Hazard Mountain Range. You'll get to sample them in the simplest, freshest way possible, shucked to order and accompanied by a slice of lemon. Most of the time, you'll catch the oyster farmers at work. Melshell Oysters is at 9 Yellow Sandbanks Road, Dolphin Sands [caption id="attachment_666231" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Eugene Hyland[/caption] SLEEPING Freycinet Lodge has been around since the 1990s, but its brand new Coastal Pavilions take things to the next level. Surrounded by national park and fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows, they look out over either forested wilderness or sparkling Coles Bay. Either way, you can count on a king-sized bed, an outdoor bath, a spacious deck and plenty of native timbers. Yep, it's pretty much luxe designer hotel meets glamping, immersed in world-famous scenery. THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS HOW TO GET THERE: The most adventurous way to travel to Tassie from the mainland is on Spirit of Tasmania, which journeys between Port Melbourne and Devonport. Take your car with you and drive right off the ship. Added bonus: no weight restrictions means that for the journey back, you can load up your car with food, wine and souvenirs to your heart's content. WHEN TO GO: The Great Eastern Drive is beautiful at any time of year. WHAT DOES IT COST: This varies, depending on how many award-winning pinot noirs you plan on buying. Expect to spend anywhere between $50 and $200 a day (plus accommodation). To book your Tasmanian adventure today, head to the Spirit of Tasmania website.
Have you ever been half way through the work week and fantasised about living the simple life? Perhaps you've been dreaming about waking up in a timber cottage with nothing but rolling hills as far as the eye can see? Well, luckily for you, there's a small collection of quaint cottages on vineyards and rustic cabins set amongst idyllic gardens in Victoria — perfect for your next serene weekend venture. To help you live out your dungaree-wearing, straw chewing, horse riding dreams, here's a list of the most charming farm stays across Victoria you can book right now. UNDER A PEPPERCORN TREE, CASTLEMAINE A beautifully renovated self contained studio perched under an ancient peppercorn tree. Just four minutes from Castlemaine, a charming country town with a bounty of restaurants, pubs and small shops. From $216 a night, sleeps two. DOG-FRIENDLY HOLLOW LOG ESTATE, MUSK VALE With weatherboard interiors, a stylish yet quaint kitchen and stain glassed windows, this stone cottage looks like its straight out of a fairytale. Bring your pup for a weekend on the 23 acre property featuring gardens, open paddocks and dams. From $225 a night, sleeps two. HALCYON COTTAGE RETREAT, STRZELECKI This stylish cottage is perfect for a group of friends searching for an idyllic weekend away spent cooking and drinking wine in front of jaw-dropping views of the Strzelecki Ranges. There's a veggie garden and an outdoor bath, too. From $290 a night, sleeps six. MOORAKYLE RETREAT AT EASTERN HILL ORGANIC FARM, BLAMPIED This cottage is set on a 300 acre property that is a registered farm animal rescue and grows wildflowers. Perch yourself on its deep verandah that overlooks grows overlooks native forests, a creek, and Mt Kooroocheang. From $255 a night, sleeps two. BUSH HAVEN CHAPEL NEAR CASTLEMAINE, FRYERSTOWN If you want to mix things up for your next country stay, consider booking a weekend at this chapel (originally built in 1861), which has been lovingly restored and styled. Swim nearby at the mineral spring reservoir if you stay during summer. From $210 a night, sleeps two. ORTO TWO STRAW ECO COTTAGE, BLAMPIED Set on a regenerative permaculture farm, and nestled between even more farms with delightful offerings (free-range pork, home cooked sweets, organic wine and berries), this straw eco cottage also has cooking lessons for two to ten people. From $230 a night, sleeps two. A VIEW TO A HILL, BULLAROO Bullaroo has two spacious bedrooms, each of which can be rented separately or all at once if you're with a group. There's a high-end kitchen and a top floor terrace with a barbecue and bar with sweeping views across acres of farmland. From $690 a night, sleeps five. THE JUNE, BIRCHCREEK This two bedroom cottage is tucked into the foot of the Mornington Peninsula Hinterland, close to beaches and nearby towns. Wander the grounds of the working farm you'll be staying on — you'll see goats, cattle, alpacas and beehives. From $275 a night, sleeps four. RED HILL BARN IN IDYLLIC RURAL SETTING, RED HILL A picturesque barn-style house stands amongst vines and olive groves. The timber wrap-around deck is ideal for afternoon drinks, and there's a dam for swimming on those balmy summer days. From $390 a night, sleeps six. RURAL RETREAT, SELF-CONTAINED STUDIO, WOODFORD If you want alpacas, sheep, pigs and chickens as your neighbours for a weekend, this newly built studio set on five acres of farmland is right up your alley. The farm also supplies fresh free range eggs and has a walking track nearby. From $140 a night, sleeps two. ON A PEACEFUL VINEYARD IN THE YARRA VALLEY REGION, ARTHURS CREEK This B&B is on the first floor of a vineyard farmhouse 45 minutes from Melbourne with world renowned Yarra Valley wineries only a 15 minute drive. If you want to stay in, there's a clawfoot bath for soaking, plus a deck overlooking a private garden. From $246 a night, sleeps two. THE ROCKS, PYALONG This off-grid studio is truly unique — it's surrounded by massive granite boulders and just as many sheep. Bask in views across the Great Dividing Range from the deck, or by the fire through floor to ceiling windows. From $210 a night, sleeps two. MACEDON RANGES FELLCROFT FARMSTAY, COBAW Built by the Crozier family who have been farming in the Macedon Ranges since 1862, every detail in this house has been thoughtfully planned for an authentic and relaxing stay away from the hustle and bustle of city life. From $255 a night, sleeps two. HALFMOON CREEK — MOONDANCE COTTAGE, WANDILIGONG If you've been needing to finish that book with a glass of wine, unreachable by your boss, Moondance Cottage has cozy, rustic decor, no television, no phone reception and gets all of its water and power from the nearby creek. From $255 a night, sleeps two. BABENOREK STUDIO, DEANS MARSH Charmingly styled, with a small but dreamy country-style kitchen and handmade furniture, this solar powered studio was hand-built from lime-rendered straw bales twenty years ago by the family that owns the farm. From $175 a night, sleeps four. TORQUAY FARMSTAY BLUE STUDIO TRUCK, FRESHWATER CREEK Close to Great Ocean Road beaches and national parks, this tiny house has been built on a truck using a recycled timber, windows, doors and stain glass. Don't be fooled by the exteriors — three lofts and a fully functioning kitchen await you inside. From $155 a night, sleeps four. COUNTRY PARADISE IN THE GULLY, SMITHS GULLY The twisted staircase leading to a wooden mezzanine along with stain glass windows and a pitched roof give this farm house a magical feel. Enjoy panoramic views of vineyards, nearby farms and the Kinglake Ranges. From $195 a night, sleeps four. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
A near-silent depiction of a nightmare boarding school for girls, a stage adaptation of a 1950s pornographic novel, a drag odyssey through Australian history — this is hardly the usual fare for the MTC crowd. Yet it's all on the program at NEON, the Melbourne Theatre Company's festival of independent theatre. It's packed with the kind of edgy theatre-making you'd more expect to find in shoebox venues around Fringe season, rather than in a mainstream house like Southbank Theatre. It is, says artistic director Brett Sheehy, one of the company's most significant initiatives to date. "With NEON, we celebrate Melbourne's unique and thriving independent theatre landscape and its astonishing artists," Sheehy says. "Part of our mission is to literally throw open our doors to all of Melbourne and to make Southbank Theatre a place of connection, accessibility and welcome, no matter what form of theatre Melbourne desires." For the festival, which runs from May to July, 2013, Sheehy approached five of Melbourne's most innovative little theatre companies — The Hayloft Project, THE RABBLE, Daniel Schlusser Ensemble, Fraught Outfit and Sisters Grimm — and offered them free access to MTC's stage and technical resources, as well as free creative rein. Benedict Hardie of The Hayloft Project, whose By Their Own Hands looks to be a confronting and stripped-back take on Greek tragedy, says that while creative freedom comes with the territory of independent theatre, practitioners need to work hard for that freedom and it is rare to get the kind of support MTC has offered. Having that support, Hardie says, has enabled the artists involved to push themselves further creatively. "It's an opportunity to dream a bit bigger," he says. The shows on the lineup promise to be confronting, intense, bizarre or even — as with THE RABBLE's adaptation of Story of O, a French novel that was the 50 Shades of Grey of its day — erotic. THE RABBLE's co-artistic director Emma Valente sees the festival as a turning point for the companies involved, not just because of the resources and the greater audience potential provided by MTC but because of what the very existence of the festival says about changing attitudes toward the independent theatre scene. "What it means for independent theatre at large is exciting," says Valente. "In fifteen years doing independent theatre, playing in a mainstream house is something I never would have thought possible." The festival opened on May 16 with Menagerie, Daniel Schlusser's homage to Tennessee Williams and will also feature a program of forums and free workshops featuring a topnotch lineup of playwrights, producers, performers and critics. So whether you are an audience member avid for the avant garde or an underrated artist working on a society-shaking script of your own, Southbank Theatre is, perhaps surprisingly, about to become the place to be. To see the full program of events, head to the MTC website. Tickets to each show are $25, or you can see all five for $100. Top image: The Hayloft Project by Patrick Boland. Second image: Daniel Schlusser Ensemble by Sarah Walker.
St Kilda's vibrant live music scene might soon have a new addition in the form of a 5000-standing capacity venue, under a bold new proposal set to be considered by Port Phillip Council. The news follows St Kilda's recent classification as Victoria's first Live Music Precinct, which aims to provide support for live music venues, including streamlining noise complaints. The proposal is set to be discussed during the next Port Phillip Council meeting on Wednesday, September 6. The site is situated in a prime position on St Kilda's foreshore, in proximity to both the Palais Theatre and Luna Park. Mayor of the City of Port Phillip Heather Cunsolo said the site is, "ideally situated to fill the big gap in Melbourne for a purpose-built indoor live music/performance venue for up to 5000 patrons". [caption id="attachment_885347" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Mackenzie Sweetnam[/caption] "We've spoken to music industry experts from venues and promoters to performers to gauge the feasibility of this creative concept and they say it would help address a critical shortage of medium-large live music spaces. We now need to hear what our community thinks," Cunsolo says. "This concept is also about providing beautiful, well-designed outdoor space for locals and visitors." An indicative site plan has teased a flexible design layout, which may allow the venue space to be adjusted for smaller events, as well as bigger music festivals. State-of-the-art acoustics, a series of elevated terraces and balconies, green space, and weather-proof features are also promised in the draft plan. The emphasis on standing capacity will hopefully allow patrons to dance within a purpose-built venue until the early hours of the morning. [caption id="attachment_884064" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Nathan Doran[/caption] The next steps include community consultation following the Port Phillip Council meeting, if a decision is made. Community consultation will run from Thursday, September 7 to Thursday, October 19 and will form a report to go back to Council. To keep up-to-date with the project head to the Port Phillip Council page. Community consultation will be undertaken throughout the project. Top image: Render.
UPDATE: Thursday May 6, 2021 — New COVID-19 restrictions have been announced. We'll keep you updated on this event as the situation changes. For the latest information, visit NSW Health. More than ever, we're looking for opportunities to immerse ourselves in another universe for a few hours. Luckily, that's exactly what you can do this summer when the hit Frozen the Musical premieres in Sydney. The stage production, based on the legendary 2013 Disney animated film, opened on Broadway in 2018 and proceeded to break box office records. After a US tour in 2019, the production is expanding to international markets with Sydney as its first stop this summer. Why was our city the lucky chosen destination? Perhaps the producers took the advice of everyone's favourite snowman Olaf when he sang "the hot and the cold are both so intense. Put 'em together, it just makes sense." If the cultural phenomenon has somehow passed you by until now, Frozen was inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Snow Queen, and it tells the story of Princesses Anna and Elsa. At the latter's coronation to become Queen, she accidentally reveals her magical powers to control and create ice and snow and inflicts an eternal winter on her kingdom, Arendelle. She flees to the North Mountain and, while singing the iconic ballad 'Let it Go', builds herself an ice castle in which to hide. Anna sets out to find her sister, proving the bonds of sisterhood can overcome all obstacles. The musical adaptation brings the beloved story to life before your eyes with opulent costumes, stunning sets and awe-inspiring special effects. All of your favourite tunes from the film will be performed — including 'For the First Time in Forever' and 'Love Is an Open Door' — plus 12 new songs as the stage production expands upon the film's narrative. The Sydney production has an all-Australian cast, led by Jemma Rix (Wicked) as Elsa, Courtney Monsma (Aladdin, Six) as Anna and Matt Lee (Mary Poppins) as the lovable Olaf. As we live in uncertain times, there are flexible ticket options available, which might suit those planning to travel to Sydney especially for the show. The Capitol Theatre also has a COVID-19 safety plan in place, in accordance with NSW Health. Frozen the Musical is running from Tuesday, December 1, 2020 to Sunday, May 23, 2021. Tickets start at $49.50 and can be purchased via Ticketmaster. Images: Frozen the Musical, Original Broadway Cast, Deen van Meer, courtesy of Destination NSW.
They can't all be great. They can't all be good. They can't all even be watchable. Every year, cinemas and streaming queues fill up with new movies — and every year, that includes a whole heap of excellent films. But, as the annual Golden Raspberry Awards also recognise, it also spans awful flicks as well. While the Oscars and Golden Globes shower love on the best and brightest movies of the past year each time that they roll around, the Razzies do the opposite, handing nominations and gongs to the films it considers the worst of the annual bunch. 2023's accolades mark the awards' 43rd and they're aiming big, with high-profile titles such as Blonde, Morbius, Elvis and Disney's live-action Pinocchio among the contenders. Of course, just as naming ace flicks is subjective, so is shaming terrible ones. Expect Elvis to notch up Academy Award nods, too, for instance. But the Razzies has given Baz Luhrmann's film two nominations, and both for Tom Hanks: for Worst Supporting Actor and Worst Screen Couple with his latex makeup. Hanks isn't just one of the world's favourite actors, but one of the Razzies' this year, also picking up a Worst Actor nomination for playing Gepetto in Disney's Pinocchio. That film received six nods in total, coming third to Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde with eight and Machine Gun Kelly's stoner comedy Good Mourning with seven. Also among the nominees: Pete Davidson twice, for Marmaduke and Good Mourning; the Firestarter remake's Ryan Kiera Armstrong for Worst Actress; filmmaker Judd Apatow for the pandemic-set supposed comedy The Bubble; and the two 365 Days sequels. And yes, it's morbin' time at the Razzies, with the Jared Leto-starring supervillain flick ranking fourth nominations-wise with five: for Leto for Worst Actor, Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actress (for Adria Arjona), Worst Director (Daniel Espinosa) and Worst Screenplay. The 43rd Annual Razzie Award winners will be announced on Sunday, March 12, Australian and New Zealand time. Check out the full list of nominees below: GOLDEN RASPBERRY NOMINEES 2022: WORST PICTURE Blonde 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 Sylvester Stallone, Samaritan WORST ACTRESS Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Firestarter 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 Xavier Samuel, Blonde Mod Sun, Good Mourning Evan Williams, Blonde WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Adria Arjona, Morbius 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 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 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 Firestarter Jurassic World Dominion WORST SCREENPLAY Blonde Disney's Pinocchio Good Mourning Jurassic World Dominion Morbius
When it comes to street art exhibitions, it really doesn't get any bigger than this. A retrospective of Banksy's work is making its way to Australia, featuring more than 80 of the artist's off-street masterpieces. From October 7 to January 31, The Paddock in Melbourne's Federation Square will play host to The Art of Banksy, a massive collection of pieces by the art world's chief enigma — including the darkly satirical, overtly political work that has turned the stencil-loving artist into such an infamous icon. Endeavouring to take audiences on a journey through Banksy's output and mindset, the exhibition will include the well-known Girl with Balloon, Flag Wall and Laugh Now pieces, as well as three efforts that have never before been displayed to the public. If it sounds epic, that's because it is. The art featured has been sourced from over 40 different private collectors around the world, and comprises the largest showcase of Banksy pieces to ever make its way to our shores. As curated by the artist's former manager Steve Lazarides, the exhibition is also a little controversial. While every piece is original, unique and authentic, The Art of Banksy proudly boasts that the entire show is 100% unauthorised. No, Banksy hasn't signed off on the event. As well as displaying Banksy's work in a custom-built enclosure, The Art of Banksy will also shine a light on a range of pieces by well-known and emerging local street artists. Expect to find them on the surrounding external surfaces and the inside walls of the exhibition's own Circle Bar, which will serve craft beers and cocktails. Outside, the Welcome to Thornbury team will corral a heap of food trucks into an area called 'The Railyard'. Plus, on Friday nights and Saturday arvos, DJs will also provide appropriate tunes to suit the occasion. Of course, Melburnians will know that this isn't the mysterious figure's first dalliance with the city. The artist's stencils have popped up around the city previously courtesy of a visit in 2003, though many have been destroyed and damaged in the years since.
Is there anything that Bill Hader can't do? While watching Barry's third season, that question just won't subside. The deservedly award-winning HBO hitman comedy has been phenomenal since 2018, when it first premiered. When it nabbed Hader an Emmy for his on-screen efforts in 2019, it had already proven one of the best showcases of the ex-Saturday Night Live performer's talents so far, too — yes, even beyond SNL. But season three of Barry three slides into another stratosphere: it's that blisteringly clever, deeply layered, piercingly moving and terrifically acted. It's also that exceptionally well-balanced as a crime comedy and an antihero drama, that scorchingly staged during its tense and thrilling action scenes, and that willing to question everything that the show and its eponymous character are. Hader has always lit up whichever screen he's graced, big or small — be it during his eight-year SNL stint, including as New York City correspondent Stefon, or in early supporting movie parts in Hot Rod and Adventureland. In 2014's The Skeleton Twins, opposite fellow ex-SNL cast member Kristen Wiig, he'd never been better to that point. But Barry is a tour de force both in front of and behind the lens, and a show expertly steeped in the kind of deep-seated melancholy that Hader can so effortlessly exude even when he's overtly playing for laughs. He doesn't just star, but writes and frequently directs. He co-created the series with Alec Berg (Silicon Valley), and he'll also helm every episode of its in-the-works fourth season. And, every choice he makes with Barry — every choice the show has made, in fact — is astounding. Freshly wrapped up on Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand — and so now available to stream in full — Barry's third season is propulsive. It knows its premise: a contract killer does a job in Los Angeles, catches the acting bug and decides to change his life. It also knows that it has to keep unpacking that concept. And, it's well-aware that there are repercussions for everything we do in life, especially for someone who has spent their days murdering others for money, even if they're extremely relatable and likeable. There has long been an air of The Sopranos to Barry, and of Mad Men as well, both of which seep through season three. It's both a portrait of someone who does despicable things, and a dive behind the gloss of an industry that sells a dream: an ex-soldier turned assassin-for-hire rather than a mob boss, and entertainment instead of advertising. Three seasons in, Barry Berkman (Bill Hader, Noelle) still wants to be an actor — and to also no longer kill people for a living — when this new batch of episodes begins. That's what he's yearned for across the bulk of the show so far; however, segueing from being a hitman to treading the boards or standing in front of the camera has been unsurprisingly complicated. Making matters thornier are the many ways that his past actions, as an assassin and just as Barry himself, have caused inescapable ripples. Season three focuses on history biting back again and again, including the investigation into murdered police detective Janice Moss (Paula Newsome, Spider-Man: No Way Home), the fallout with Barry's beloved acting teacher Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, The French Dispatch), his relationship with fellow actor Sally Reed (Sarah Goldberg, The Night House) after she gets her own show — plus the dramas that causes for Sally — and the vengeance sought by his ex-handler Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root, The Tragedy of Macbeth). Chaos ensues, emotional and physical alike, because Barry has always been determined to weather all the mess, darkness, rough edges and heart-wrenching consequences of its central figure's actions. That's true of his deeds not only in the past, but in the show's present, and it's one of the series' smartest and most probing elements. Hader and Berg know that viewers like Barry. You're meant to. That's what the first season so deftly established, and the second so cannily built upon. But that doesn't mean ignoring that he's a hitman, or that his time murdering people — and his military career before that — has ramifications, including for those around him. Indeed, season three also spies the reverberations for Gene, Sally and Fuches not just due to Barry, but thanks to their own shortcomings and questionable decisions as they keep mounting. It's no wonder that Barry is one of the most complex comedies currently airing, and that its third season is as intricate, thorny, textured and hilarious as the first two to begin with — and even more so as each new episode gives way to the next. That's no small feat, but it's an even bigger achievement given that it's ridiculously easy to see how cartoonish Barry would be in far lesser hands. (Or, how it might've leaned into a lazy odd-couple setup with Hader as the titular figure and Bill & Ted Face the Music's delightful Anthony Carrigan as Chechen gangster Noho Hank). But Barry keeps digging into what makes its namesake tick, why, and the effects he causes. It sinks in so deeply that this, not chasing an acting dream, is what the relentlessly gripping show is truly about. And, it follows the same course across its entire main quintet. In reality, perfect and flawed aren't binary options for any single person, and this sublime piece of TV art mirrors life devastatingly well. With visual precision on par with Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, two of the most stylishly and savvily-shot shows ever made — two series where every single frame tells a tale without saying a word, and no aesthetic choice makes the expected move — Barry's third season is also spectacular to look at. It ends with an image that as simple as it is truly haunting, after a climactic finale episode that also features an intense showdown set against a purposefully stark backdrop, plus an action scene handled with more finesse and flair than most big-screen releases. As a dramatic motorcycle chase and vivid raid earlier in the season also illustrate, Barry is as devoted to staging dynamite action scenes as it is at plunging deep into its characters. And, as every intelligently penned and outstandingly performed episode just keeps proving, too, this masterful show is downright stellar at that. Barry's third season also remains immensely funny, and also savagely unsettling. Yes, it and Hader can do it all. The third season of Barry — and the first and second seasons as well — is streaming in full via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Images: Merrick Morton/ HBO.
Since the untimely passing of legend David Bowie in January, mourning fans have been creating respectful and fitting ways to remember him. They've held tributes all across the country (and the world) in the form of concerts, karaoke, screenings and dance parties. But fans looking to get closer to the life of the prolific artist now have another avenue to consider: a stay in Bowie's former holiday house in the Caribbean. The house, which is on the luxury Caribbean island of Mustique, has just gone up for rent — albeit for a whopping $52,000 AUD (or $78,000 AUD in high season) per week. That's cool, right? I mean, what you're paying for is priceless. Bowie had the villa built himself back in 1989, and a lot of the original design and fixtures still stand. Everywhere you stand, it's likely you'll be standing in the exact same spot that Bowie once stood (we're not sure how long it will take for that game to get old, but we're guessing a substantial amount of time). Of course, the house — named the Mandalay — comes with a lot of non-priceless things too, like an infinity pool, personal waterfalls, an epic outdoor dining pavilion, views of the Atlantic Ocean and a staff of 10 (including your own personal chef). It has five bedrooms (each with their own private verandah), sits on 6.2 acres and comes with neighbours like Kate Moss, Hugh Grant and royals Will and Kate. It's important to note that the home doesn't come straight from Bowie's hands — he sold the property back in the '90s to publisher Felix Dennis. Following Dennis' death, it was bought by English entrepreneur Simon Dolan, who has now put the house up for rent for the first time. But if you've got $50k to spare on a lavish Caribbean trip, you may as well go all out and holiday like Ziggy Stardust. Via Travel + Leisure.
With Geelong and Brisbane set to battle it out in Saturdays AFL Grand Final, the MCG is once again the centre of the Australian sporting world — and now talk has turned to how the stadium might evolve in the years ahead. As reported by the Herald Sun, Premier Jacinta Allan has launched a new business case to explore redevelopment options for the' G, aiming to ensure it continues to lure global events well beyond footy season. Ideas on the table include expanding the Shane Warne Stand to squeeze in another 5,000 fans. One more obvious option, however, might be more costly than expected — a roof. MCC chief executive Stuart Fox revealed that covering the venue could carry a staggering price tag of up to $6 billion. "We're here to make sure this asset doesn't become old and redundant, and if we sit on our hands and do nothing people will grab more events from us," he said. The comments come off the back of the stadium's latest Social and Economic Value Study, which found more than four million people came through the gates last year across 69 events. Those visitors delivered $720 million to Victoria's economy — with Taylor Swift's three sold-out shows alone contributing a quarter of that figure. Sports and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos compared the impact to "12 Taylor Swift concerts," underscoring just how valuable the stadium is to the state. While the roof may be out of reach, the conversation is another reminder of the MCG's status as both the heart of the AFL and one of the most important event spaces in the country. And as the Cats and Lions run out this weekend, more than 100,000 fans will get a taste of why the' G remains one of the world's great sporting stages — roof or no roof. Read the original reportage via The Herald Sun. Images: iStock
It's only been three short years since the world first discovered Paul Mescal courtesy of early-pandemic obsession Normal People, and what a three years they've been. Focusing solely on the Irish actor's on-screen work and related achievements, he's also popped up in The Lost Daughter, been nominated for an Oscar for Aftersun and famously spent time making a movie in Australia — and that flick, Carmen, has just dropped its first trailer. Remember all those Mescal sightings Down Under in early 2021? The whole the country does, and this film is why they happened. The movie turns the classic opera of the same name into a screen musical, and features the internet's boyfriend as Aidan, a marine with PTSD, opposite In the Heights and Scream star Melissa Barrera in the titular role. This clearly isn't a standard adaptation of the opera by Georges Bizet that first hit stages back in 1875, as based on the 1845 novella by Prosper Mérimée that's also called Carmen. Here, in what's been dubbed "a gritty modern-day tale", Carmen flees her home in the Mexican desert after her mother is murdered, then makes an illegal border crossing into America. Once in the US, she's troubled by more killings courtesy of a ruthless border guard — which doesn't go down well with his patrol partner, the aforementioned Aiden. So starts Carmen and Aiden's journey together, also escaping to look for her mother's best friend (iconic Spanish actor Rossy De Palma, Parallel Mothers). This take on Carmen also features standoffs, a nightclub as a sanctuary, a police hunt and finding solace in romance, with Benjamin Millepied making his directorial debut behind the lens. Best known as a dancer and choreographer, he was behind the ballet scenes in Black Swan — and also popped up on-screen as David. Millepied's first stint as a helmer will hit US cinemas in April, with a release date in Australia and New Zealand yet to be revealed. Seeing it turn up on the midyear film festival circuit, hitting the Sydney Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and New Zealand International Film Festival, wouldn't be surprising. Adding to the project's big names is Nicholas Britell, who is responsible for Carmen's original score and songs, after also composing Succession's earworm of a theme. Check out the trailer for Carmen below: Carmen doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
The phrase "stand and deliver" gets stuck in your head quickly while watching The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, thanks to both its theme tune and its dialogue. That's to be expected with a show about a real-life highwayman — albeit a highly fictionalised version, and a series that's definitely a comedy. Those pivotal three words also apply to Apple TV+'s approach to the program's future. After the initial season tickled funny bones with The Mighty Boosh's Noel Fielding in the titular role, the streaming platform has announced that it's standing up and delivering a second season. Take a historical figure, but someone from several centuries back who isn't a worldwide household name. Use them as the basis for a comedy series that doesn't promise to stick to the facts for a second. And, enlist famous hilarity-inspiring folks to tell the tale. The above description summed up Our Flag Means Death, which has sadly departed the streaming seas after being cancelled following a two-season run. Now, since March 2024, it also fits The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin. Where Our Flag Means Death's Stede Bonnet was an 18th-century pirate, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin's namesake stuck to land in the same era as a highwayman. You can look up how his story turned out, or you can enjoy how the series gives it the absurdist comic treatment as it follows Turpin and his gang of fellow rogues — across its already-available first season and, although no release date has been revealed so far, soon also in its second. Working in plenty of dick jokes — well, it is the show's main character's moniker — is high on The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin's agenda. So is Fielding in his usual comic mode, as seen on The Great British Bake Off and Never Mind the Buzzcocks as well. Turpin's quest: to evade the corrupt Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey: A New Era), who fancies himself as a thief-taker, and just generally stay alive. And if you're wondering what kind of antics that inspires, Fielding is also one of the series' writers, so anything and everything can and does happen. Wild costume changes were always going to be a given. So was Fielding playing charming but chaotic. "I know what you're thinking: who is this guy with the incredible cheek bones? Where does he get his hair done? One day, I'll be the most-famous highway man in all of England," Turpin tells a crowd to start of the show's season-one trailer — only for it to be revealed that he's standing on a gallows, about to be hanged. Joining Fielding in the cast: Ellie White (Wonka), Marc Wootton (High & Dry), Duayne Boachie (You Don't Know Me), Tamsin Greig (Sexy Beast), Asim Chaudhry (Barbie), Dolly Wells (The Outlaws) and Joe Wilkinson (Sex Education) — and also Noel's brother Michael (also The Mighty Boosh) and his Never Mind the Buzzcocks host Greg Davies (The Cleaner). There's obviously no trailer for season two of The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin yet, but check out the trailer for season one below: The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin streams via Apple TV+ We'll update you with a release date for season two when one is announced. Read our review of season one.
Pairing movies with music is no longer new news, but the latest returning event that's serving up that combo is hoping for two things. Firstly, it's betting on a whole lot of love for Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey dancing up a storm in a classic 1987 romantic drama. Secondly, when it comes to getting excited about seeing that now 36-year-old flick on a big screen with its soundtrack performed live, it's hoping that you've never felt like this before (or, not since 2022's shows). Obviously, Dirty Dancing in Concert wants to give you the time of your life as well — and to not only let you celebrate one of Swayze's biggest and most charming film roles, but to immerse you in the movie from the moment you take your seat. No one will be carrying watermelons or checking into Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills, but the digitally remastered feature will grace the big screen, and a live band and singers will perform its iconic songs as it plays. Just as swoon-worthy: the fact that those musicians will stick around afterwards to headline a party that'll naturally have you singing and dancing. If you're feeling adventurous and inspired by the movie, you might even want to try to recreate the famous lift. Here, nobody will put you or Francis 'Baby' Houseman in a corner — and you'd be just a fool to believe otherwise. Your hungry eyes will soak in Baby's first taste of dirty dancing, her eager rehearsals and her growing infatuation with Johnny Castle, as well as her parents' bitter unhappiness about the entire situation. This blast-from-the-past affair is touring Australia and New Zealand across September and October, with dates locked in for Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, the Gold Coast, Auckland and Christchurch. And yes, because Dirty Dancing in Concert is certain to be popular, it's bringing its 80s-themed fun to sizeable venues, so you'll be having the time of your Dirty Dancing-loving life with plenty of people. DIRTY DANCING IN CONCERT 2023 AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR: Friday, September 1 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne Saturday, September 2 — Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney Friday, September 22 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Saturday, September 23 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena, Adelaide Sunday, September 24 — Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth Thursday, September 28 — The Star Gold Coast, Gold Coast Saturday, September 30 — Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland Sunday, October 1 — Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch Dirty Dancing in Concert will tour Australia and NZ in September and October 2023 — head to the show's website for tickets and further details.
Consider yourself reminded – Valentine's Day is just around the corner. But don't fear if you've forgotten to organise a fancy table for you and your SO, bestie or group of pals – with A Table to End Hunger you can secure that last minute booking, while also supporting an important cause. A Table to End Hunger has already made reservations at 140 of Australia's best restaurants, which come inclusive with a dinner and drinks package to ensure your night goes off without a hitch. All you have to do is place the winning bid on any one of the many high-flying restaurants, and you'll get the spot. Plus, your winning bid will also help end world hunger by 2030, as 100% of the proceeds go straight to The Hunger Project. And going one step further, if the winning bid is paid with an eligible American Express Card, Amex will donate an additional 15% of the bid value. No matter what part of the country you live in, there are loads of participating restaurants in your state. Feel like some Spanish tapas overlooking Melbourne CBD? Place a bid on Bomba. Or, if stylish Italian is more your game, stake your claim on Double Bay's Matteo. If you're in Brisbane, snag a table at newcomer Little Big House. There's pretty much every type of atmosphere, cuisine and location you could need, so head over to the A Table to End Hunger auction page and spread the love this Valentine's Day. Online bidding is happening right now and will close on Sunday February 11, 2018 at 9pm AEDT. Terms and conditions apply. Image: Nikki To.
Forget Christmas carols — when the end of the year hits, one song stands above the rest in Australia. Maybe you just find yourself singing it as December 21 approaches. Perhaps you make an annual pilgrimage to see Paul Kelly play it, given he usually tours at that time of year for good reason. Or, you could celebrate gravy day by, well, making gravy. The recipe's right there, after all. The song we're talking about: Kelly's Christmas classic 'How to Make Gravy', which was first released in 1996 on an EP of the same name. More than a quarter-century on, it's as intertwined with the festive season Down Under as prawns and street cricket — and it's being turned into a movie. As first reported by Variety, How to Make Gravy will hit screens thanks to Warner Bros. Australia and Speech and Drama Pictures — the latter of which is run by musician Megan Washington and writer/director Nick Waterman — who've locked in the rights to make the song into a film. As anyone who knows the words by heart and is currently singing them right now while they're reading this is well aware, Kelly's tune tells a story, 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? It's far too early for announcements regarding casts and release dates, but you could probably put money on it hitting screens — big or small, whichever it heads to — on December 21. Whether that'll be this year or next also hasn't been revealed, but you're about to get a new gravy day tradition either way. (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.) How to Make Gravy, the movie, doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when further details are announced. Via Variety.
An unassuming Brunswick silo has become a towering new mural showing New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern embracing a Muslim woman. But the large-scale artwork has also rustled up plenty of controversy, with backlash over the depiction of a foreign leader, rather than a local. The original photo of an emotional, hijab-clad Ms Ardern was taken as she comforted members of Christchurch's Muslim community, following the March 15 terror attacks on two of the city's mosques. Captured by New Zealand-based photographer Hagen Hopkins, it's since become an iconic image, reproduced in various large-scale iterations across the world. Locally, a GoFundMe page drummed up $11,000 — in a single day — to fly renowned street artist Loretta Lizzio to Melbourne, so she could capture the image in paint, on the side of the 25-metre-tall Tinning Street silo. Any extra money has gone to supporting the attack victims' families, through the Christchurch Shooting Victims' Fund. Having lived and worked in Melbourne previously, Lizzio is a renowned artist and muralist whose work has appeared everywhere from Vancouver and New York, to London. She donated nine days of her time to creating the project, which was completed last Sunday. While the silo is privately owned and the project had full the support of its owner, it still managed to cop a bit of backlash. Some locals aren't on board with the idea of using the large-scale work to reference an attack that happened overseas, instead of something more locally focused. One Change.Org petition had 14,696 signees calling for the mural to be stopped, citing its so-called irrelevance to the Melbourne community. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxeo-irAmLN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link On her latest Instagram post for the mural, the artist shared her own views on the matter, in response to one of the critics. "Appreciate the feedback, though this has everything to do with Aus, as anywhere in the world," she writes. "Hate crimes are a global issue... This particular project is about love and acceptance of all that call Aus home no matter your background." Loretta Lizzio's mural of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is located at 20-24 Tinning Street, Brunswick.
Back to the Future Part II promised us many things. Hoverboards, video calls, instant pizza, the Chicago Cubs winning the world series, Jaws 19 — the list goes on, but only some of these have actually come true to date. While the rest of us have been wishing we could jump in flying cars, however, one researcher has taken inspiration from Marty McFly's self-lacing shoes. In the spirit of tech-infused wearables, Associate Professor Jayan Thomas from the University of Central Florida has developed solar-powered textiles that can be turned into clothing. "If you can develop self-charging clothes or textiles, you can realize those cinematic fantasies – that's the cool thing," said Thomas. That's not the only impressive part of his research, though. Not only can the copper ribbon filaments at the centre of his breakthrough capable of harvesting and storing energy from the sun, but they might then be able to be used to power other electronic devices, such as mobile phones. Imagine never having to worry about your smartphone's battery levels while you're out of the house, no matter how much time you spend snapping photos and posting them to Instagram. Imagine being able to charge your laptop, tablet or e-reader just by sticking it in your bag. Imagine being free from portable chargers, cables and taunting on-screen power indicators. We're not quite at that stage yet, but that's one of the uses Thomas envisages for his new technology, alongside electric cars. It's enough to make you exclaim "great Scott!" several times over. Via Tech Times.
Let's call it 'under the Sicilian sun': the plan that Airbnb has to send one lucky person to Italy for an entire year, that is. If that sounds like how you'd love to spend 12 months from June 30, 2022, the house-share platform is calling for applications. And yes, you'll get to bunker down in one of its rentals without paying a cent to stay there. Whoever wins Airbnb's latest promotion won't just be living in any old property, either. The townhouse up for grabs for a year has been dubbed '1 Euro House' — and it's been given a huge makeover by Airbnb and Italian architectural firm Studio Didea. Located in the rural village of Sambuca in Sicily, population around 6000, it's a three-storey, two-bedroom home that you'll get to both live and work remotely in. You will also need to play host, however, with the second bedroom set to be listed on the platform. You'll get your pick of your sleeping space, though — so you can opt for either the ground floor, which has a master bedroom with king-size bed and en-suite bathroom, plus a small living room; or the first floor, where the bedroom also boasts a king-size bed, and where the living room, kitchen, working space, bathroom and mezzanine also sit. The upper floor will remain accessible to both the competition winner and their Airbnb guests, and features an extra living space with a queen-size sofa bed. The whole promo is rather similar to its giveaway in 2021, when it offered 12 people and their pals free accommodation to hop between Airbnb properties for 12 months — and to work remotely while you're there, too. Unsurprisingly, more than 300,000 people applied. And yes, being able to do your job from this sweet Sicilian spot is still a focus of the new deal, as long as you can still meet your hosting duties and Airbnb's other requirements. The setup is open to applicants in a number of countries, including Australia and New Zealand — and having "a passion for the rural Italian culture and lifestyle" has been listed by Airbnb as a big plus. Also, this isn't just a win for you alone. You can bring a friend, your partner or family, up to a maximum of two adults and two kids. Your accommodation will be rent-free, and you have to commit to staying for at least three months. You'll also take an Italian language course for a month, plus four cooking classes hosted by a local mentor as part of your stay. Airbnb will pay for your flight to Sambuca as well, although you will have to cover the costs of both living at 1 Euro House and renting it on Airbnb — such as personnel, consumables, cleaning services and utility contracts, plus property maintenance. Keen? There's also the possibility that the arrangement could be extended until 2024, if you're looking for a heftier stint away from home. To apply, you'll need to head to the Airbnb website before Friday, February 18. For more information about Airbnb's 1 Euro House promotion — and to apply — head to the Airbnb website. Images: Claudia Zalla. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Australians, it's time to pack away your gumboots for the year and completely forget about dancing in a field this spring — because music lovers won't be descending upon North Byron Bay Parkland in November. For the second year in a row, Splendour in the Grass has been forced to change its plans due to the pandemic. Like fellow Byron Bay festival Bluesfest, the event will now sit out 2021 completely due to the COVID-19 situation in New South Wales, and will instead reclaim its usual winter slot in 2022. The dates to mark in your diary: Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24, 2022, as that's when the fest will now celebrate its 20th-anniversary event. And, in a welcome development, festival organisers have confirmed that already-announced headliners Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator will all still play next year. "With vaccine rollout progressing more slowly than anticipated, we have made the decision to move the 20th-anniversary edition of the festival to July 2022," said Splendour in the Grass co-founders Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco in a statement. "We are confident that moving the festival to July 2022 will finally see us enjoying Splendour in the Grass in all its glory. More of the population will be vaccinated, international talent will have the ability to enter the country more freely and we'll be able to deliver the Splendour in the Grass that you know and love." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) The news is hardly unexpected; Bluesfest made the same announcement just two days ago, on Wednesday, August 18. Also, Splendour had already ditched its usual July 2021 plans in favour of a move to November, and also scrapped a planned pop-up event in Sydney in July as well. One Splendour-related event has gone off without a hitch this year, though: Splendour XR, the event's online-only fest. Who else will join Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator onstage hasn't yet been revealed, but the festival now has plenty of time to finalise its lineup given that Splendour's new dates are 11 months away. If you have already purchased a ticket for SITG 2020 or 2021, you'll be happy to know that they're still valid for the 2022 edition. And if you don't have a ticket yet, you can head to the festival's website to nab a pre-loved ticket now. Splendour in the Grass has been postponed again and will now take over North Byron Bay Parkland from Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24, 2022. All 2020 and 2021 tickets are valid for the new dates, with pre-loved tickets currently available via splendourinthegrass.com. Top image: Charlie Hardy.
The first sip of an oat flat white from your local cafe tells you everything you need to know. On a good day, it's smooth, balanced and creamy — on a bad day, it's flat, split or watery. So what makes the difference between a great (or not so great) dairy-free coffee? According to Anthony Douglas, World Barista Champion, long-time team member at Melbourne's Axil Coffee Roasters, and MILKLAB Global Brand Ambassador, it all comes down to the milk. Anthony knows a thing or two about making great coffee. And he's spent more hours than most perfecting the relationship between espresso and milk. "When I first touched a coffee machine I had no idea there were even competitions let alone that I would be up there myself on stage," he tells Concrete Playground, when asked how he became one of the world's best baristas. "About five years into my career, that was my first exposure to competition. I decided to give it a go, and realised how much I could learn and grow through competition. That's what kept me going until I finally won." Now, his approach is all about the fundamentals. In fact, he believes a great cup of coffee should be simple. "I've always found the best results by keeping the process simple, focusing on the basics and executing them well," he says. For Anthony, a good coffee using plant-based MILKLAB comes down to three things: temperature, texture and integration. "[It's about] being really present as you're steaming the milk and breaking down those bubbles. [Also] being conscious of how you're integrating the milk with the espresso so you preserve the flavour, while still ensuring it's integrated properly from top to bottom," he says. It's something most people have tried at home, but it seems easier said than done. That is, until you've got a few of Anthony's go-to techniques up your sleeve to help achieve the perfect jug of silky milk. "I think it's important to achieve an even whirlpool and really maximise the power of the steam wand," he recommends. "Tilting the wand to the side enough so it spins, but not too close to the side, and ensuring it's angled low enough to really break down any bubbles on top." If you really want to level up your milk game, he suggests introducing the air quickly so you have more time to texturise the bubbles into that delicious, creamy microfoam. And his final tip is temperature. "Too hot and the quality of the milk degrades, is more dilute (due to the extra time spent introducing steam). Too cool and the milk can overpower the flavour of the coffee due to the lack of dilution." "Drinking temperature also has a massive impact on the types of flavours we experience and is one of the first things most customers notice when drinking a milk-based coffee." [caption id="attachment_1014856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anthony Douglas, World Barista Champion[/caption] When it comes to plant-based options, Anthony has a clear favourite — but rates them all. "Each milk does have its own unique flavour and texture based on the ingredient it's centred around," he says. "I think my favourite would be MILKLAB Oat as it is the most versatile and works well to showcase any coffee it's paired with. MILKLAB Almond has a beautiful natural sweetness from the almond and is quite easy drinking. MILKLAB Soy I find has a great rich sweetness and body. MILKLAB Macadamia has this beautiful lush texture. And MILKLAB coconut once again has an amazing texture and tropical flavour that really works well with coffee." It turns out, not every milk behaves the same way with every coffee and there's quite a bit of science behind making sure things go smoothly. "The key is understanding how they interact with different coffee. Coffee that is highly acidic, very fresh, or roasted darker often doesn't integrate as smoothly and can cause separation or curdling," he says. If you're running into this issue, Anthony has one simple trick. "[You can] add a small splash of cold plant-based milk to the espresso before steaming and pouring. Cold milk has a higher tolerance for acidity and heat, and this step can help neutralise the compounds in the coffee that might otherwise cause a negative reaction." So, there you have it. To get a plant-based coffee worthy of a world champion, go back to basics, perfect your steam wand technique and don't forget the power of temperature. With a little intention and the right milk, you can get cafe-level results at home. Discover the full barista-approved MILKLAB range on the website.
They've made bespoke cocktails catered to each drinker's DNA, hosted anatomical whisky tastings where spirits were sipped from actual people, and served a beating pig's heart as a starter. Yes, it's safe to say that Sam Bompas and Harry Parr know how to liven up a meal. Calling the duo food artists might be a bit of an understatement, however, particularly given that they're not just experimenting with what we consume in a creative, unexpected and delicious way. At the heart of everything from their edible fireworks to their molten lava barbecue to their 200-course dinner party sits an interrogation of our eating and drinking habits, including the one thing carnivorous folks easily overlook: the food chain. Indeed, London diners heading along Bompas & Parr's next event won't be able to forget where their lunch came from. In the kitchen at Sea Containers restaurant, they'll see just what path their meal takes to their plate, and play quite the considerable part in it. At Kill It, Eat It, attendees will devour a crustacean-heavy feast — after, as the name gives away, they kill the crabs destined for their stomach. We'll give you a moment to think about this next-level eating experience because it's quite the confronting concept. Of course, it's supposed to be. It's one thing to know but not really engage with the idea that you're munching on something that was once alive. It's another to have an active hand in it. The 16 people per session that are willing to face their food in the most visceral and primal way possible, as well as their role in eating living creatures, will journey through a number of steps: looking closely at crabs and the role they play in the ocean, learning about the ways they're sourced and caught, and discovering the the 'biologically most efficient and humane method' of ending their lives. They'll then receive their own live crustacean, prepare it, kill it in a RSPCA-approved manner, cook it and de-shell it. Afterwards, participant's crab will be dressed by the restaurant's chefs and served as part of the group meal alongside sea-inspired cocktails. An expert in fisheries and seafood cultivation will be on hand during the event, and attendees will receive a guide to help them replicate the process at home. Chatting with Concrete Playground in advance of their 2015 Wild at Heart event at Dark Mofo — which involved roadkill jerky, drinks served from actual skull cups, roasting just-hunted wild deer and the aforementioned blood-gushing pig's heart — Bompas explained that "when you start feeding people, you become quite aware of just how thin that line of civility is that divides us from the animal kingdom." It's clearly something that, with his culinary partner-in-crime Parr, he's still exploring. Bompas & Parr's crustacean-focused classes will take place on April 23 and 30, and they're just the first toe into the water of a planned Kill It, Eat It series. We'll let your mind ponder just what might come next. As Parr explains, the workshops are designed to provoke the ultimate question at the heart of every carnivorous diet: "if you want to eat animals, shouldn't you be prepared to kill them yourself?"
Electronic festival Let Them Eat Cake managed an eight-year run of tune-filled New Year's Day parties before COVID-19 hit pause on its 2021 edition. But, you can bet it's making up for that skipped beat, announcing today that the festival will return for a huge comeback outing on Saturday, January 1, 2022. The much-loved music and arts celebration returns to its Werribee Mansion home in just over six month's time. It is Australia's first New Year's Day festival that has been announced since the pandemic hit. Organisers, Novel — the same minds behind Pitch Music & Arts and Smalltown — are yet to reveal full details about the event's music lineup, though they're aiming high, with festival director Daniel Teuma saying, "We want to ensure this is our best one yet." Teuma also hinted that the musical offering will be largely local, saying "with the uncertainty around international borders re-opening, we decided to take a more sensible approach to the lineup. We can't say too much, but we are confident our 2022 edition will have something for everyone." The crew at Full Throttle Entertainment will be making the music side of things extra memorable, installing what's set to be the biggest sound system in town on New Year's Day. There'll also be a diverse lineup of food vendors, curated specifically to complement the tunes, artworks and visuals under the organisers' new, more cohesive approach. Delivering a finely tuned COVID-Safe festival has been top of the planning agenda — Let them Eat Cake 2022 will activate the sprawling Werribee Mansion grounds in a whole new way, with improved traffic flow and more opportunities for exploration beyond the main stage set-up. Under current public health guidelines, the new-look event would be allowed to safely host up to 7500 attendees. Let Them Eat Cake will descend on Werribee Mansion on Saturday, January 1, 2022. Pre-registration for tickets opens from 4.30pm Tuesday, June 22, with pre-sale tickets up for grabs on July 6 and general tickets available from July 7. The full program will be announced in September — hit the website for details and to buy tickets. Top Image: Duncographic
Ah, gin, how we love thee. Pretty bottles, lesser hangovers and the smell of botanicals in every sip. Bombay Sapphire are giving you the opportunity to embrace gin at its fullest by matching it to food at their annual pop-up event, Project Botanicals, happening September 8-18. There are ten different botanicals in Bombay Sapphire gin, much more than just juniper. The dishes to be served at Project Botanicals have been tailored to bring out each of the botanicals – whether it's lemon peel, coriander, orris root or almond. Because Melburnians love their gin, tickets sold out quicker than you could say G&T. But, don't worry — you can still head along to the pop-up bar for your gin fix (no ticket needed) or try making a simplified version of it at home. This here is a simple version of the Orris Spice Trader – a blend of turmeric, lime and ginger beer with gin in a cocktail best paired with a coconut curry. ORRIS SPICE TRADER Botanical: Orris root INGREDIENTS 60ml x Bombay Sapphire gin 1 tsp x caster sugar 20ml x lime juice 120ml x ginger beer ¼ pinch x grated turmeric METHOD 1. Take a highball glass and add 20ml lime juice and 1 teaspoon of caster sugar. 2. Add ¼ pinch of grated turmeric. 3. Pour in 60ml Bombay and 120ml ginger beer and 4. Stir with ice. 5. Step up the botany further with the garnish – fresh mint. Images: Steven Woodburn. Project Botanicals will take place at Taxi Riverside from September 8-18. Unfortunately all tickets have sold out, but you can still drop by the pop-up bar from Thursday to Sunday. Get all the details here.
If you haven't heard the news, South by South West is officially coming to Sydney for its first festival outside of Texas later this year, and details of its massive gaming-focused arm of the conference, officially titled the SXSW Sydney Gaming Festival, have now been revealed. Running for the length of the festival, the gaming program will feature a Sydney edition of a global esports tournament, an indie game showcase, a tabletop game expo, hands-on demonstrations for AR and VR creations, panels, performances, a social hub and an investment summit for pitch sessions and general industry hobnobbing. The headline event will be the Intel Extreme Masters, which will arrive at the Aware Super Theatre from Friday, October 20-Sunday, October 22 following massive iterations in Katowice, Rio de Janeiro, Dallas, and Sydney back in 2019 when the event sold out Qudos Bank Arena. The longest-running pro gaming tour in the world, Intel Extreme Masters is the gaming world's equivalent of the World Cup or the Olympics and will bring some of the world's leading esports pros to Australia. The Indie Games Showcase will place the spotlight on 150 independent games from Australia, New Zealand and the globe, with sessions diving into the world of the indie open to both industry and general audiences. You can catch sneak peeks of a new animated word game called Gubbins, a highly stylised adventure puzzle game called Birth and a restaurant-set time management game called The Chef's Shift among the 150 titles. If you prefer your games more tangible, there will be a dedicated tabletop festival within the conference with exhibitors, demos, seminars, stage sessions and a freeplay area all dedicated to IRL card, roleplay and board games. [caption id="attachment_906082" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gubbins[/caption] This is just the start of the gaming section of the SXSW Sydney program with more to be announced closer to the date. Beyond gaming, the world-renowned fest is bringing together innovators and venue-fillers from across a heap of industries between Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22. There's been an initial announcement of keynote speakers and musicians, plus a heap of local artists and a pair of parties so far, with more to come. On the previously announced section of the program, you'll find speakers like Chris Lee (also known as Lee Sung-Su), the Chief A&R Officer and former CEO of K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment; The Genesis Machine author and Future Today Institute founder Amy Webb; and Saudi women's rights activist Manal al-Sharif — plus a heap of musicians like Redveil, Connie Constance, Otoboke Beaver, Wallice, Chameleon Lime Whoopiepie, Teenage Joans, Phoebe Go, MALI JO$E, Ashli. [caption id="attachment_906083" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Birth[/caption] The festival will take place within a walkable precinct within the Sydney CBD, Haymarket, Darling Harbour, Ultimo, Chippendale and more. Think of the fest's footprint as a huge hub, with festivals within the bigger fest, exhibitions, talks, networking opportunities and streetside activations popping up everywhere. So far, venues named include Powerhouse Museum, ICC Sydney, UTS, Central Park Mall, the Goods Line Walk, The Abercrombie and Lansdowne Hotel. SXSW Sydney will run from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues — head to the festival's website for further details. If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TG-Mxzl88Q LOCKED DOWN Sparked by the pandemic, lockdown films aren't just an exercise in adapting to stay-at-home conditions — or a way to keep actors, directors and other industry professionals busy and working at a challenging time. The genre also provides a window into how the creatives behind its flicks view everyday life and ordinary people. Arising from a global event that's placed many of the planet's inhabitants in similar circumstances, these features tell us which stories filmmakers deem worth telling, which visions of normality they choose to focus on and who they think is living an average life. With Malcolm & Marie, a hotshot young director and an ex-addict were the only options offered. In Language Lessons, which premiered at this year's virtual Berlin Film Festival, a wealthy widower and a Spanish teacher were the movie's two choices. Now Locked Down directs its attention towards a CEO and a courier, the latter of which stresses that he's only in the gig because his criminal record has robbed him of other opportunities. Yes, these films and their characters speak volumes about how Hollywood perceives its paying customers. That's not the only thing that Locked Down says. Directed by Doug Liman (Chaos Walking) and scripted by Steven Knight (Locke), this romantic comedy-meets-heist flick is verbose to a farcical degree — awkwardly rather than purposefully. The repetitive and grating misfire is primarily comprised of monologues, Zoom calls and bickering between its central couple. Well-off Londoners Linda (Anne Hathaway, The Witches) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor, The Old Guard) are weeks into 2020's first lockdown, and their ten-year relationship has become a casualty. Whether chatting to each other or virtually with others, both commit a torrent of words to the subject. Linda has decided they're done, which Paxton has trouble accepting. She's also unhappy with her high-flying job, especially after she's forced to fire an entire team online, but gets scolded by her boss (Ben Stiller, Brad's Status) for not telling her now-sacked colleagues they're still like family. Tired of driving a van, Paxton is willing to do whatever his employer (Ben Kingsley, Life) needs to climb his way up the ladder. That said, he's still tied to the road, with the ex-rebel's decision to sell his beloved motorbike — a symbol of his wilder youth, and its fun, freedom and risks — hitting hard. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GC--RZ3jOo THE PERFECT CANDIDATE With 2012's Wadjda, Haifaa al-Mansour became the first female filmmaker from Saudi Arabia to make a full-length movie. Fittingly, she achieved the feat via a powerful tale about a girl breaking boundaries — by fighting to ride a bicycle in the street, an activity that's by no means routine in the Middle Eastern country. A hopeful yet truthful film that depicts the present-day reality for Saudi women, while also remaining committed to dreaming of a different future, al-Mansour's directorial debut marked the first-ever feature shot entirely in her homeland, too. Accordingly, she smashed barriers in multiple ways, including both on- and off-screen. Nine years later, she demonstrates the same spirit again with The Perfect Candidate. After exploring another female trailblazer in 2017 biopic Mary Shelley, then pondering the beauty standards imposed upon women in 2018 rom-com Nappily Ever After, al-Mansour delivers the ideal companion piece to her applauded first picture — this time focusing on a young Saudi doctor who tackles her town's misogynistic and patronising attitudes by running for local council. No matter the day or situation, the ambitious Maryam (debutant Mila al-Zahrani) is repeatedly reminded that women aren't considered equal in her community. In one of The Perfect Candidate's early scenes, an elderly male patient writhes in agony, but is more upset about the fact that she'll be treating him — until Maryam's condescending boss proclaims that male nurses can easily step in and do the job for her. When her recently widowed musician father Abdulaziz (Khalid Abdulraheem) goes away on tour, she attempts to fly to Dubai for a medical conference and subsequent job interview that would see her move to Riyadh. Alas, she's stopped from departing because her dad hasn't updated her travel permit, and she can't leave unless he rectifies the paperwork. A male cousin (Ahmad Alsulaimy) in a role of authority within the government might be able to assist, but even the bonds of blood aren't enough to get her through the door to his office. He's interviewing and approving candidates for the municipal election, so Maryam puts her name forward just to progress past his secretary. That still doesn't help her make her flight, but it does send her in a different direction. While already struggling to convince her employers to pave the road to the town's emergency medical clinic, she decides to run to fix that specific problem — and the more backlash she receives for putting herself in contention, the more determined she is to campaign for change. The Perfect Candidate is currently screening at Sydney's Randwick Ritz cinema, and will play at ACMI in Melbourne from May 13–25. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv72JDeSaXY DE GAULLE Paris' international airport is named after him, so even if you know nothing else about Charles de Gaulle, you know that his chapter in French history turns out well enough to be immortalised in one of the country's most pivotal sites. The new biopic that also shares his name endeavours to help explain why by focusing on a specific period during the Second World War — the few weeks in June 1940 when France's powers-that-be were contemplating kowtowing to Germany rather than continuing to lose men in their battles against the Nazis. As Prime Minister Paul Reynaud (Olivier Gourmet, The Midwife) attempts to decide how to proceed, de Gaulle (Lambert Wilson, The Translators) ranks among the government's key voices. But support for capitulating to their enemy keeps growing stronger, including via Philippe Pétain (Philippe Laudenbach, Ad Vitam), who would become the Chief of State of Vichy France shortly afterwards. Trying to thwart his nation's submission to and collaboration with the Germans, the movie's eponymous figure heads to London to meet with Winston Churchill (Tim Hudson, A Very English Scandal). Swiftly, and while causing ire at home, he becomes a driving force behind the Free France movement — which would lead the resistance against occupation during the remainder of the war. De Gaulle's audience doesn't need to have an intimate awareness of France's involvement in WWII before they start watching this sombre drama, with writer/director Gabriel Le Bomin (Our Patriots) and his co-scribe Valérie Ranson-Enguiale (who also co-wrote his 2008 short film L'occupant) routinely demonstrating their fondness for using dialogue to deliver exposition. Indeed, much of the feature is dedicated to talk describing the situation — as intertwined with glimpses of de Gaulle's home life, and of the efforts of his wife Yvonne (Isabelle Carré, Moving On), elder children Elisabeth (Lucie Rouxel, Rascal) and Philippe (Félix Back, Black Tide), and younger daughter Anne (debutant Clémence Hitten), who has Down Syndrome, to flee France as the Nazis invade. The end result, while never short on intrigue, always seems more interested in explaining history than depicting it. The ceaselessly worshipping tone doesn't help flesh out the movie's subject as a person, either; again, viewers already know that he's worthy of celebration going in. And, while De Gaulle's urgent efforts to save his country and his family's quest to escape should be tense and suspenseful, much of the feature feels like a by-the-numbers mashup of Second World War film tropes. Wilson's performance is solid, and the period detail catches the eye, but De Gaulle is never more than standard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXn0ryXxfak JUNE AGAIN The third film about dementia to reach Australian cinemas in little over a month, June Again starts as The Father did: with its elderly protagonist losing time, and her sense of her place within it, as moments, days and life in general all seem to rush by. The titular June (Noni Hazlehurst, Long Story Short) barely greets her daughter Ginny (Claudia Karvan, Bump) or grandson Piers (Otis Dhanji, Aquaman) when they visit the aged care centre she has lived in for five years, rarely passes her doctor's (Wayne Blair, Rams) cognitive tests and constantly feels disoriented due to vascular dementia that's been caused by a series of strokes. But, one otherwise ordinary morning, she wakes up lucid, annoyed, and wondering where she is and why. So, as Supernova did, this Aussie feature then follows June's quest to make the most of the time she has left as herself. Here, however, that involves trying to set right the many wrong choices she thinks her adult children have made, and also attempting to snatch a last grasp at happiness. Dramas ensue, with Ginny thrilled to have her mum back as she once was, but frustrated with her meddling — and her sibling Devon (Stephen Curry, Mr Love) mainly falling into the latter category. But June's window of clarity doesn't simply allow her to be herself again; it lets her address her mistakes, follow paths not taken, and try to become the woman that life and raising a family never her let her be. For 23 years on Play School, Hazlehurst helped guide young minds and teach pre-schoolers about the world that they were only just beginning to explore. Accordingly, there's a feeling of synergy about her role in June Again. Playing a woman slipping out of a world that she's navigated for a lifetime, she tackles a condition unlikely to have been directly experienced by many of the viewers who grew up peering through square, diamond, round and arched windows with her — and looking at rocket and flower clocks, too — but might now be touching those that watched with them. And, alongside fellow familiar faces Karvan and Curry, Hazlehurst is one of the best things about June Again. First-time feature writer/director JJ Winlove keeps things comfortable and predictable in his warm-hearted narrative and warm-hued stylistic choices, but every scene, emotional moment, and insight into life, love, loss, ageing, forgetting and farewelling those dearest to us is improved by his all-star cast. That's never more accurate than when Hazlehurst is cherishing June's renewed lease on life, reminding viewers how delightful she always is on-screen, and selling the film's sentimental but heartfelt message about the importance of chasing what you love in the time you're given. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=civOp5c5GM0 FATALE Only 14 women have ever won more than one Academy Award for Best Actress, and Hilary Swank is one of them. When she earned the Oscars double for 1999's Boys Don't Cry and 2004's Million Dollar Baby, she beat both Meryl Streep and now three-time recipient Frances McDormand to the feat — but her career hasn't brought the coveted accolade her way again since. Fatale isn't going to change that recent trend. It hasn't earned Swank a Razzie either, but she could've easily been in the running. Playing a Los Angeles cop who has a one-night stand in Las Vegas with an ex-college basketball star turned high-profile player manager, then starts stalking her way through his life while also trying to intimidate her politician ex-husband into giving her back access to her young daughter, she has one mode here: stern-faced yet unbalanced. Even when her character, Detective Valerie Quinlan, is first seen flirting, Swank plays her as if something isn't quite right. That's accurate, plot-wise, but it robs Fatale of any semblance of tension it might've possessed. The film is meant to be an adultery-focused thriller in the Fatal Attraction mould — with even its title blatantly nodding that way — but it just ends up recycling tired, simplistic, overused cliches about unhinged women into a monotonous and unnecessarily convoluted package. Valerie and Derrick (Michael Ealy, Westworld) hit it off at a Vegas bar, then get physical; however, the next morning, he heads home to his wife Tracie (Damaris Lewis, BlacKkKlansman), who he actually suspects of being unfaithful herself. Before Derrick can meaningfully process either his infidelity or his fears about his crumbling marriage, his swanky home is broken into one night — and, because director Deon Taylor (Black and Blue) and screenwriter David Loughery (The Intruder) are content to hit every expected beat there is (and because they've seen every 80s and 90s erotic thriller ever made, too), Valerie is the investigating officer. Despite being woefully predictable from the outset, Fatale doesn't dare have fun with its cookie-cutter narrative. It doesn't evoke thrills, bring anything more than surface style or prove particularly sexy, and it never gets its audience invested in its obvious twists, one-note characters or rote dialogue. And, although having its badge-toting stalker use excessive force and exploit her power to target a person of colour could've been a choice that said something about America's current reckoning with law enforcement, race and police brutality, Fatale doesn't even contemplate anything other than clunky formula. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World, High Ground, Earwig and the Witch, The Nest, Assassins, Synchronic, Another Round, Minari, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, The Truffle Hunters, The Little Things, Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective, Voyagers, Gunda, Supernova, The Dissident, The United States vs Billie Holiday, First Cow and Wrath of Man.
Back in 2023, word arrived that two nostalgic favourite flicks from decades back were getting sequels: Beetlejuice and Freaky Friday. If there's a way for Hollywood to revive a beloved hit, it always will — whether or not Tinseltown executives have had a disagreement with their past, received a fortune cookie predicting the future, felt an earthquake shudder and then woke up years earlier. So, in 2024, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will hit cinemas. Then, in 2025, so will the as-yet-unnamed follow-up to 2003's mother-daughter body-swapping comedy. Just like the second Beetlejuice, the new Freaky Friday will feature familiar faces — and yes, that means reuniting Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis with Lindsay Lohan (Irish Wish) two decades later. Production has just begun, with the pair back as Tess and Anna Coleman. Also returning: Mark Harmon (NCIS), Chad Michael Murray (Sullivan's Crossing), Christina Vidal Mitchell (The Terminal List), Haley Hudson (Queen Gorya), Lucille Soong (Raya and the Last Dragon), Stephen Tobolowsky (Hacks) and Rosalind Chao (3 Body Problem). Drinking, dancing, getting angry that your mum won't let you go to your band's big audition, eating those enchanted cookies — perhaps that'll all get worked in again, too. This time, Anna has a daughter herself and is about to gain a stepdaughter, with Disney teasing "a multigenerational twist". Will there be multiple swaps? Will kids be trading places with their grandmother? Other than the fact that two families merging will be at the heart of the tale and that more hijinks are in store, nothing else plot-wise has been revealed. On-screen, the returning gang will have Julia Butters (The Fabelmans), Sophia Hammons (The Absence of Eden), Manny Jacinto (The Acolyte) and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever) for company. Behind the lens, Nisha Ganatra (The High Note, Late Night) is directing, with Curtis and Lohan among the executive producers. @disneystudiosThe band's back together and coming to theaters in 2025 🤘. The sequel to Freaky Friday is now in production!♬ original sound - Disney Studios The first Curtis and Lohan team-up didn't start the Freaky Friday franchise. Instead, it began with the 1972 book by Mary Rodgers, then the 1976 Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country)-starring first movie adaptation, and also a 1995 remake with Gaby Hoffman (Eric). After 2003's beloved Curtis- and Lohan-led take, horror flick Freaky gave the idea a spin in 2020. There's no footage yet from the Freaky Friday sequel, but check out the trailers for the 70s and 00s iterations below: The Freaky Friday sequel doesn't yet have an exact release date, but will hit cinemas in 2025 — we'll keep you updated when more details are announced. Top image: photo by Andrew Eccles. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Samsara provides a great counterpoint to the usual summer blockbusters at cinemas. For those who are overfed on the sugar and fat of blockbusters, prepare to cleanse your mind and heart with another kind of richness. This latest film by director Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson (previously partnered in 1992's Baraka) is a non-verbal meditation on our planet and the billions who share it with us, and while only 99 minutes long, Samsara stares you in the eye for longer than most find comfortable. Casually moonlighting as the name of an exotic scent or clothing range, samsara is Sanskrit for "the ever-turning wheel of life", and it is this motif that led Fricke and Magidson through a five-year shoot in twenty-five countries on five continents. Samsara is the wheel of life, death and rebirth, but it is also the grinding wheels of commercial labour, of fickle trends, and of the literal vehicles that the production crew commandeered in their often gruelling efforts to obtain 70mm footage for a few seconds of screen time. This herculean dedication to cinematography has certainly returned great wonders. Samsara flows from one luscious image to the next, carried by intuitive editing rather than plot, and is supported by an original score. Concrete Playground has five in-season double passes to give away to Samsara. To be in the running, make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. You can read our full review of the film here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qp967YAAdNk
A piece of history is making history in Australia. Until October 2024, Melbourne Museum has a must-see sight on display for everyone interested in dinosaurs — so, everyone — courtesy of its Victoria the T. rex exhibition. The titular fossil isn't any old Tyrannosaurus rex, not that such a description ever fits the first kind of dino that always comes to mind when anyone thinks about dinos. This one happens to be one of the world's largest and most-complete T. rex skeletons, and also the biggest and most-complete specimen ever to display Down Under. Showing until Sunday, October 20, 2024, Victoria's fossil has made Aussie debut in the state with the absolute best name for the occasion. In the process, it also marks the first time that a real T. rex has ever been on display in Victoria. And it isn't small: found in South Dakota in 2013 but dating back 66 million years, Victoria is comprised of 199 bones, including a skull that weighs 139 kilograms. The fossil reaches 12 metres in length and 3.6 metres in height. And, because the skull is so heavy, it has to be displayed separately as it can't be mounted upon Victoria's body. The Victoria the T. rex exhibition also features interactive elements, such as multi-sensory installations that let you experience how the Tyrannosaurus rex saw and smelled, plus dioramas and a section where you can make your own customised 3D T. rex. Welcome to... the cretaceous period, then. The informative side of the showcase steps through recent palaeontological findings, so that you can get an idea of what Victoria's life was like all that time ago — and also find out what brought about her end. If that's not enough dino action to make you feel like David Attenborough — or his brother Richard in Jurassic Park and The Lost World — Victoria the T. rex is displaying alongside Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs, which has been open at Melbourne Museum since 2022. The latter permanently features Horridus, the world's most complete Triceratops fossil, and entry to both exhibitions is included in one ticket. At IMAX Melbourne, 45-minute documentary T.REX 3D is also be showing, complete with footage of Horridus. "Victoria the T. rex is a monumental addition to our world-class exhibition lineup. Melbourne Museum is the home of dinosaurs in Australia, and currently the only place on earth where visitors can see two of the finest examples of a real T. rex and a real Triceratops under one roof." said CEO and Director of Museums Victoria Lynley Crosswell. As Museums Victoria Research Institute senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology Dr Thomas Rich explains, there's another highlight, too. "Not only can visitors to Melbourne Museum see one of the world's finest examples of a T. rex; they can also see a related and extremely rare fossil cared for in the State Collection: Timimus hermani, one of the state of Victoria's most unique dinosaurs and possibly a great-great-great grandfather of T. rex. This 105-million-year-old fossil is an example of the only undoubted tyrannosauroid from the southern hemisphere and is on public display in the exhibition 600 Million Years." Victoria the T. rex is on display from Friday, June 28–Sunday, October 20, 2024 at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton. Head to the museum's website for tickets and further information. Images: Eugene Hyland.
Established in 1853, the Golden Gate Hotel in South Melbourne combines a traditional, friendly pub atmosphere with a contemporary menu offering classic grub with items you'd never expect to find on a pub menu. You'll find many locals here on a Friday night, and with $5 drinks for happy hour every day we're not surprised. The hotel is also a crowd favourite for its $10 steaks all day, every day, which is possibly the best steak deal going around in the area. Lunch and dinner is served in a stylishly renovated dining room, perfect for intimate occasions or groups. If you're in the mood for a typical hearty pub meal, grab a chicken parma ($24), pie of the day ($23) or the Great Golden burger ($26). If you're looking for something different, try one of the braised lamb pizzas with a green harissa base ($20), its vegan soba noodle salad with roasted pumpkin, broccolini and edamame beans ($18) or the linguini ($20). It also has some delicious starters like popcorn pork balls dipped in sweet and sour sauce or duck bao buns. We're also a fan of its $40 bottomless prosecco and pizza deal every Saturday, allowing two blissful hours of unlimited pizza and all the bubbles you can drink, or its vegan roast on Sundays. It's a traditional pub with a modern, south Melbourne twist that keeps the people coming back for more.
Believe it or not, it won't be long until Christmas spirit reaches fever pitch. And to build anticipation before the big day, Brunetti Classico is bringing back its Build & Sip gingerbread event — a sold-out success in 2024. Running from Monday, November 24–Sunday, December 21, at the Carlton pasticceria, Brunetti Classico has doubled the number of sessions for this year's event, catering to massive demand and ensuring everyone looking to create their own Christmas magic can get involved. Designed as an indulgent evening, these 1.5-hour sessions see guests arrive to aperitivo-style drinks and snacks. Then, Brunetti Classico's esteemed pastry team is on hand to guide visitors on constructing and decorating their own unique gingerbread house to take home, making for a fun-loving encounter overflowing with Christmas cheer. "It's a unique way to celebrate with family, friends, or colleagues — something festive, creative, and totally different," says Fabio Angele, owner of Brunetti Classico. "You don't need to be a pastry chef to join in. Our team will be there to guide the night — you bring the style."
The largest-ever showcase of living Australian artists will casually drop by Ballarat this spring, with the inaugural Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA) in town from September 21 until November 6. It's big news for the small city, with the six-week event set to be a major drawcard for Ballarat and the surrounding region. There'll be 150 artists coming from all reaches of Australia, making up 65 solo exhibitions, as the Biennale aims to have equal representation of artists from every state and territory. Taking place in over 14 different venues across Ballarat, its art points will certainly be amped up several notches by the array of visual arts and live music set to take over the town. BOAA will reflect on what it means to be Australian and tell stories of our country's past, present and future. It's also a celebration of Australia's multiculturalism, with the event boasting a strong focus on Indigenous talent, art from the Numina sisters, Abdul Abdullah, Kim Anderson, David Jensz and Peggy Griffiths will be on display, among work from over a hundred others. Music-wise, the BOAA Band Wagon will be doing the rounds: a specially built music truck that'll provide the sound staging for the event's outdoor gigs at Lake Wendouree and St Andrews Grounds, as well as concerts held at Ballarat's other music venues. In special events, there'll be a living sculpture fashion parade, an evening program called BOAA Dark — the Victorian version of Dark Mofo with bright lights and quirky performance art — and a lake sculpture walk that will see Lake Wendouree transform into an outdoor gallery featuring 26 sculptures. Free mini buses, bikes and rickshaws will transport attendees around the art path, pausing at pit stops providing food — from internationally acclaimed chef Gavin Draper, no less — as well as local beers and wines for your hungry, thirsty and very well-arted selves. With the Biennale expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors, Ballarat looks set to be a pretty busy little place over the six weeks. Two-day or six-week (festival) passes are available at $25 and $100 respectively, so start planning your road trips. Images: Asher Bilu, Heavens (2006-7); Louise Paramor, Palace of the Republic; Gerwyn Davies, Subtropics. For more spring places, spaces and events to discover in regional Victoria visit Your Happy Space.
This article is sponsored by our partner, Toshiba. Acclaimed around the world for its delicate complexity, Japanese cuisine has an attention to detail that is exquisite. No wonder it’s seen as an art form to many. Consequently, the dining scene is equally as impressive, in every sense of the word. Yes, they have 32 Michelin-starred restaurants in the country, but it's not all fancy, elegant and expensive. Think complete opposite to fine dining. Think of cafes where you can pat owls, restaurants where you throw your rod out of the boat and fish for your dinner, and cafes where French maids serve you chicken katsu and write ‘love’ on it. These places will literally change your notion of what is possible in the culinary showground. For a seriously Japanese experience that's a little closer to home, check out Toshiba's Pop-Up Zushi Roller-Coaster, a totally free and fantastic dining set-up on for a limited time only. Dine with a furry friend Created by a Finnish artist back in 1945, the Moomins are a fairytale family of white, roundish hippopotamus-like creatures that live in Moominvalley. We all know that Japan has paved the way for these kinds of things, with Hello Kitty cafes left, right and centre, so it’s only natural that a Moomin cafe exists in Tokyo. And Moomin fans will hit the roof. From the cutlery right through to your food, everything is in the shape of Moomin, and if you're a solo patron, you can even dine with a giant stuffed Moominpapa as your companion. It’s Moomin madness. Don’t be surprised if you end up talking like Thingumy and Bob. "Hmmmm….this yushi is really summy", etc. Dine with a feathered friend Cat cafes are so 2013. The quirky hangout craze in Japan now is places where you can drink your coffee with some friends — of the feathered sort. Owl cafes have become quite the hoot (excuse the pun) since Fukuro no Mise in Tokyo gained popularity in 2012. And we’re talking real owls here. Here you can eat your owl-inspired food while patting a barn owl. Understandably, this is not normal interaction for owls and humans, so there are strict guidelines to follow once you’re inside, such as washing of hands, not talking too loudly and having a staff member present should you want to hold one. The queues can get lengthy due to number restrictions, so make sure you don’t get too excited once you're in; it could send them into a flutter. Fish for your Food Like the idea of fishing for tea, but not hanging out in a dinghy for hours in the hopes of catching a feed? Zauo restaurants in Tokyo are taking fresh seafood to the next level. Ushered to a seat in the boat-shaped area, you can then request a fishing rod and some bait and commence fishing for your dinner from the moat beneath, swarming with various kinds of fish. The rule is that once you’ve caught it, you’ve bought it. So be careful should you be the adept trawler — you better hope that ¥16,000 ($170) lobster you snagged is tasty. There is fun in this though; the whole restaurant cheers you on if you’ve had success. Furthermore, the chef can prepare it however you like. Alternatively, if your patience is wearing thin and you feel like a floundering angler, simply order direct from the menu and beat the others to it. Dine on a cute, fake train Railway enthusiasts, unite! Little TGV is one of Tokyo’s distinctively themed cafes, with train-themed decor and booth seating similar to that of a railway carriage. A model railway chugs around the eatery, and as well as train-shaped food, the menu is inspired from railroads and trains all over the country. A cross between an izakaya and a maid-cafe, this place runs along the same lines, with waitresses dressed in train conductor uniforms. This, however, doesn’t mean it’s solely male clientele; Little TGV is popular with both local and foreign patrons wishing to soak up some of the cutesy/randomness of Japanese culture. High-speed sushi No longer do you have to wait five minutes till that California roll glides past you again. The high-tech sushi train at Uobei is all about delivering dishes via a high-speed chute. Customers place their order from the computer touch screen from their bench and within 60 seconds the high-speed rail sends the sushi careening down the chute, stopping right in front of you. After you’ve taken the plates (maximum three on one rail at a time), a simple press of a button sends the dishes flying back to the kitchen. Not quite sure how your green tea could fare at this speed, but that is what we call fast food.
Technology just keeps getting smaller and smaller. UK game developer David Braben has created the prototype for a mini computer, so tiny and efficiently manufactured that it could be provided to school kids for free. It's called the Raspberry Pi USB computer, and it functions as a real PC, with USB and HDMI ports meaning you can hook it up to a keyboard and television screen in no time. The Raspberry Pi Foundation exists to promote the study of computer science and related topics, especially at school level, and to put the fun back into learning computing. "We plan to develop, manufacture and distribute an ultra-low-cost computer, for use in teaching computer programming to children. We expect this computer to have many other applications both in the developed and the developing world," reads a description of the Pi project on the foundation Web site. https://youtube.com/watch?v=pQ7N4rycsy4 [Via Mashable]
A George Lambert-style self portrait by Yvette Coppersmith has just nabbed the 97th annual Archibald Prize — her work Self-portrait, after George Lambert was chosen from a talented bunch of 58 finalists. This year's $100,000 prize attracted a whopping 794 entries from across the country and New Zealand, their works depicting homegrown icons ranging from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to actor Guy Pearce. The prestigious portrait competition pulls a compelling lineup of artworks each year, portraying an eclectic mix of artists, musicians, politicians, sports heroes and other notable Aussies. Coppersmith's winning piece pays homage to the stylings of acclaimed fellow artist George Lambert, who himself took out the 1927 Archibald Prize. The win's been a long time coming for Coppersmith, who has been a finalist five times. "Hearing of the win this morning my mind was scrambling to integrate the surreal news about something that's been 20 years in the making," she said. "I'm still trying to fathom it!" She's also only the tenth female artist in history to have taken out the top prize. In more good news, the winners of the Wynne and Sir John Sulman prizes we also revealed today — and both are Indigenous women. Pintupi artist Yukultji Napangati took out the former — which awards the best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figure sculpture — for her depiction of a scene among sandhills west of Kiwirrkura in Western Australia. The Sir John Sulman Prize goes to the best mural, subject or genre painting, and was this year awarded to Kaylene Whiskey's work of Cher and Dolly Parton. Today's announcements follow last week's naming of the 2018 Packing Room Prize, which is selected by the gallery staff who unpack and hang the Archibald Prize entries each year. That title was taken out by Jamie Preisz, for his piece Jimmy (title fight), featuring legendary singer-songwriter Jimmy Barnes. All the winning portraits and finalists will be on display at Sydney's Art Gallery of NSW from tomorrow — Saturday, May 12 — up until September 9. If you do't agree with the judges, you can cast your own vote for People's Choice. Image: Self portrait after George Lambert, Yvette Coppersmith. Photo shot by Jenni Carter courtesy of AGNSW.
The planned construction of anything 'bold, provocative and edgy' seems innately destined for failure — the aforementioned buzzwords, particularly when used in quick succession, conjure up images of middle-aged, fat-cat executives chain smoking cigars around a boardroom table or, worse still, mid-life crisis Mum trying with thinly veiled desperation to shake it with her 20-something-year-old daughters. In short, not an uplifting portrait. It could be argued that SBS2's recent youth-targeted makeover, which saw the digital channel relaunch on April 1 in a bid to ensnare a specific 16-to-39-year-old demographic, is destined to go the way of other 'cool, hip' initiatives that sadly end up being neither of the two. What Even Is Emerging Culture? By attempting to reach 'young people' as an isolated bracket, SBS2 have been criticised for assuming that age is an effective means by which to categorise and target the behaviours of viewers. Admittedly, if shows like Network Ten's Being Lara Bingle and The Shire are indicative of what Gen-Y supposedly wants, it would appear that young people people are in fact the dullest, worst kind of viewer and, more widely, human. What's different about SBS2's approach is the diversity of their programming — already popular offerings like US comedy series Community and gritty drama Skins feature alongside A-League football coverage, Japanese game shows and documentaries on everything from the truth about smoking marijuana to a history of controversial sex in cinema. The breadth of subject matter covered suggests that SBS2 is not targeted at some imagined, specific breed of young person with a narrow, mundane sphere of interest; it's an attempt to engage a younger but no less intelligent consumer in a meaningful way. Facilitating Your Binge A particularly interesting component of the new SBS2 is the Back 2 Back feature, where after the first episode of a series has screened on free to air, viewers can watch the entire season of some shows via SBS On Demand. A response to what Tony Iffland, SBS's director of TV and online content , calls 'binge watching' the feature allows viewers the kind of total control over their viewing habits that most of us have been enjoying since we learnt how to illegally download content (everybody does it but nobody talks about it). While the idea of huddling around the box once a week for a single episode of one's personal brand of entertainment crack might provide great fodder for water-cooler banter the next day at the office, in today's fast-paced media landscape the notion seems as quaint and outmoded as listening to the wireless, yet most traditional TV networks still privilege this lost model, for lack of another way. News for the Attention-Challenged Another of SBS2's responses to changing media consumption habits is the addition of a 15-minute news bulletin with 30-second headlines, which offers a time-poor alternative to the increasingly archaic traditional news bulletin. Although this opens up a contentious debate about the dangers of pandering to rapidly shrinking attention spans, it seems that regardless of such protestations, behavioural and attitudinal changes are inevitable. If this is the case, fast news is still better than none at all, right? SBS Is Your Friend Where, as a 'young person' your natural reaction might be to boldly and feverishly reject any initiative that attempts to examine, categorise and subsequently cater to your complex needs and desires in a collective way, it's important to remember who the one doing the talking is. SBS isn't he dreaded man — they're an independent, underfunded TV channel, committed to providing high-quality, culturally relevant media to all Australians regardless of geography, background, language skills and, indeed, age. Seven billion stories and counting, only now some of those are digital, on demand and ready for your binging pleasure, 'bold, provocative and edgy', or otherwise.
In the latest effort to do the environment a solid by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill, Western Australia has banned takeaway coffee cups that are lined with plastic and therefore can't be composted. Getting your caffeine fix to go in the state now means either sipping out of paperboard or bringing your own reusable cup, with WA leading the nation in scrapping the single-use item. Rules on plastics such as shopping bags, drink containers and straws vary state to state across Australia, with WA the first to completely ditch plastic-lined takeaway coffee cups. All plastic lids are also now banned, with scrapping both coming into effect on Friday, March 1, 2024. The move in Western Australia isn't sudden. It's part of the phase two of the state's Plan for Plastic, and comes into effect after a 12-month transition period, plus widespread consultation. The aim is to save 154-million-plus cups from landfill each year. And the fines for non-compliance are hefty, at up to $5000 for individuals and $25,000 for businesses. Anyone that supplies takeaway cups for hot beverages — be it coffee, tea, hot chocolate or anything else — is covered by the ban. Plastic trays for takeaway foods have also been phased out in the state at the same time, while lids for takeaway food containers, bowls, plates and trays will be ditched from Sunday, September 1, 2024, as will non-compostable plastic produce bags. Finding alternatives to disposable cups, and ways to recycle them, has been a focus across the country for years — as has encouraging folks to bring their own reusable cup. Cafes have trialled 'more recyclable' versions, given out free coffee if you have your own cup and reduced prices. Complete bans at the cafe level have popped up, too, as have reusable coffee cup sharing networks. WA's statewide ban on non-compostable takeaway coffee cups hasn't been implemented before Down Under, however, and here's hoping that other states take note. South Australia is set to do the same from September, while Queensland has announced previously that it's working to identify alternative cups and intends to ban plastic-lined versions, with no date set. The ban on non-compostable takeaway coffee cups and plastic lids in Western Australia came into effect on Friday, March 1, 2024. For more information, head to the WA state government's website.
You might already know that this year marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' last tour of Australia. Maybe you attended the recent exhibition in honour of the event, you might have spun a bit of Sgt. Pepper in an act of solidarity, or perhaps you've been copping an earful from older relatives reliving their days as hapless groupies. Either way, any of your tributes pale in comparison to that of the legends who live in Holbrook, New South Wales. In what's being hailed as the country's largest ever yarn bomb, thousands of eager knitters have this week coated a decommissioned Navy submarine in yellow crocheted wool. Organised by Murray Arts, the project has been six months in the making and features a crazy amount of work by the local community. Outside of Holbrook, contributions for the project came from as far across the globe as Scotland, where family members of those that had served on the submarine kindly offered their efforts too. At a whopping 90 metres in length, this yellow submarine now stands as beautiful tribute to the eponymous Beatles' classic (and also uncannily makes the vessel look like a prop from a Wes Anderson film). The yarn bomb will stay in place until July 12, when the blankets will be cut down and donated to an animal shelter. Good vibes all 'round. Via ABC. All images via the Holbrook Submarine Facebook.
As many a frustrated portrait painter knows, capturing an entire person in a single image is one of art’s toughest challenges. In response, Spanish designer and illustrator Alex Trochut has developed a new technique. He’s invented a way of including two different pictures on the same surface. One can be seen only when the lights are on; the other is visible in the dark. The fruits of Trochut’s work are on show in his new exhibition, Binary Prints, which explores the dual nature of some of the electronic music industry’s most famous faces. Last month, he told the creators’ project, ‘People are always a multifaceted polygon with many sides . . . Working on the duality and covering the two extremes of any spectrum creates a sequence, a change, a short narrative and hidden side that reveals what is not obvious behind the surface.’ So, we see James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) illuminated in drowsy mode, yawning and scruffy-haired; then donning reflective glasses, a collar and tie once the lights are out. John Talabot appears concealing his face with his hands, as though seeking to block out the light, but peeking at us from the cover of darkness. Other DJs who sat for portraits include Caribou, Damian Lazarus, Four Tet, Acid Pauli and Lucy. ‘It was like a dream come true to be able to express myself through the artists that have fuelled my imagination countless times,’ Trochut explains. ‘Some connections were made in clubs, just by passing my cell phone to the DJ booth with a text on the screen saying: "Hi, my name is Alex, I'd like to invite you to a personal project, can I get your email?"’ Binary Prints made its debut at Barcelona’s Sonar Music Festival last month and is set to embark on an ongoing international journey to various galleries, art fairs and festivals. [via the creators' project]
The only resort on Daydream Island in The Whitsundays has finally reopened after being devastated by Cyclone Debbie back in March 2018. And, after a huge $100 million redevelopment, Daydream Island Resort is doing it in serious fashion — with a 200-metre living reef, three restaurants, a poolside bar and an outdoor cinema to boot. The exclusive resort reopened today — Monday, April 15 — with 277 fully refurbished suites that span ocean, garden and pool views. Those aren't any ordinary ocean views, either, with crystal clear turquoise waters surrounding every corner of this tiny oasis. And the massive, newly landscaped pool wraps throughout the resort's tropical gardens and links to its coral beaches, offering views of the Great Barrier Reef beyond. The resort's living reef has also been revitalised — it's a coral lagoon that spans 200 metres and surrounds the central building, with its 1.5 million litres of water housing over 100 species of fish, coral and invertebrates. Guests can learn from local marine biologists while helping to feed baby stingrays and explore the new underwater observatory that lies four metres below sea level. [caption id="attachment_716885" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Looking from from the pool.[/caption] Daydream Island will also boast three distinct restaurants and three bars, all of which feature seasonal and local produce. Fine-dining restaurant Infinity offers panoramic ocean views and a menu of Asian-fusion eats, along with a teppanyaki private dining room. Then there's Inkstone Kitchen and Bar, a modern Australian restaurant using native ingredients. Think crispy skin coral trout sourced from Bowen, served over squid ink linguine, and surrounded by thin slices of smoked crocodile and Australian caviar, too. For cocktails, you'll head over to the gin bar, Tonic. The third dining greenhouse-style option, Graze will open in the coming months, along with two other bars. An outdoor cinema will launch in June, too. While you're in the region, don't miss the chance to do a bit of exploring and check out the nearby Whitehaven Beach, which is listed as one of the best beaches in the world.Those keen to explore the Whitsundays further can book snorkelling, helicopter tours, sailing, jet-skiing and island-hopping experiences through the resort. Of course, all this doesn't come cheap. Rates start at $392 per night — and that's just for a standard room. Start saving now, or just daydream by having a scroll through the photos. Daydream Island Resort is now open. For more to see and do in the region, check out our Outside Guide to the Whitsundays.
Before SXSW Sydney made its debut in 2023, movie lovers in the Harbour City — and those keen to travel there for a getaway spent in darkened rooms — had one major film festival to look forward to each and every year. Now, there's two. While Sydney Film Festival showcases the latest and greatest in cinema from around the globe each winter, SXSW Sydney's Screen Festival does the same in spring. Last year's The Royal Hotel-opened lineup was impressive. Revealing more program details for 2024, with plenty still to drop before the event's Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 dates, 2024's already is as well. SXSW Sydney has been unveiling the films on its roster for a few months, but this is its biggest lineup announcement for 2024 yet, with over 20 new movies added to the bill. Cults, cat-loving animation and Christmas carnage: they're all included. So are a heap of titles that've had festivals around the world buzzing — and an array of homegrown highlights. Azrael sports an Aussie link courtesy of actor Samara Weaving (Scream VI), who stars in a post-apocalyptic tale about a woman's attempt to escape from mute zealots. For feline fanciers and Japanese animation fans alike, Ghost Cat Anzu follows a girl with a phantom mouser for a guardian. And, the Yuletide mayhem comes courtesy of Carnage for Christmas, with a true-crime podcaster in the sights of a psychotic killer. Among the pictures continuing to do the festival rounds, mom-com Babes is led by Ilana Glazer (The Afterparty) and helmed by Pamela Adlon (Better Things); Audrey features Jackie van Beek (Nude Tuesday) as a mother who steals the identity of her teenage daughter, who is in a coma; DiDi unpacks Californian adolescence for the Asian American son of immigrants circa 2008, and won two awards at Sundance; and Grand Theft Hamlet sees out-of-work thespians stage one of Shakespeare's most-famous plays in a video game during lockdown. Or, there's two different stints of incarceration: the maximum-security prison-set Sing Sing boasts Colman Domingo (Drive-Away Dolls) at its centre; and Inside, which stars Guy Pearce (The Clearing), Cosmo Jarvis (Shōgun) and Toby Wallace (The Bikeriders), is directed by Charles Williams, who won the 2018 short film Palme d'Or for All These Creatures. Other standouts span Pavements, which sees filmmaker Alex Ross Perry (Her Smell) focus on the band Pavement via an experimental blend of documentary, narrative, musical and more — and, still on tunes, the 2009-set mockumentary Rap World, about friends trying to make a rap album in one evening. Plus, doco Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird spends time with At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala, while Teaches of Peaches goes on tour with its namesake. In a roster of flicks that has a little bit of everything, Lucy Lawless (My Life Is Murder) moves behind the camera for the first time to direct documentary Never Look Away about CNN camerawoman Margaret Moth, Peter Dinklage (Unfrosted) and Juliette Lewis (Yellowjackets) lead western-thriller The Thicket, dark Australian comedy A Grand Mockery will make its world premiere, The Gesuidouz brings a slice of Japanese horror, and Witches digs into the connection between maternal mental health and society's depiction of witchcraft. Even sports graces the bill, with Aussie documentary Like My Brother charting the journey of four aspiring AFLW players from the Tiwi Islands, and Queens of Concrete following three skateboarders trying to balance being teens with attempting to score an Olympics berth. The above movies — and more — boost a lineup that already features documentary The Most Australian Band Ever! about the Hard-Ons; S/He Is Still Her/e: The Official Genesis P-Orridge, which is executive produced by Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace; Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara, about thrash metal in the Māori language; and, after That Sugar Film and 2040, Australian actor-turned-filmmaker Damon Gameau's Future Council, chronicling a cross-Europe trip with eight young minds to explore climate change solutions. There's also Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts, the latest documentary from Barbecue and We Don't Deserve Dogs' Matthew Salleh and Rose Tucker, who are no strangers to SXSW in Austin — with the Australian-born, Brooklyn-based duo exploring the US today through former Pizza Hut buildings. SXSW Sydney's Screen Festival includes a hefty lineup of speakers as well, which is where attendees can look forward to hearing from Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton (The New Boy), Aussie composer Jed Kurzel (Monkey Man), Barbie executive producer Josey McNamara, Brave co-director Mark Andrews and Academy Award-winning Slumdog Millionaire composer AR Rahman — and Lawless, too. [caption id="attachment_971937" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Focus Features / Talking Fish Pictures, LLC. © 2024 All Rights Reserved.[/caption] SXSW Sydney 2024 runs from Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details.
