Electronica megastar Omar Souleyman is on his way to engulf you in Arabic techno beats with a national tour this January. Souleyman has reached cult status internationally for his patented sound of insanely fast synths adapted to Syrian folk music and his "epitome-of-cool" persona, with Bjork herself labelling him as one of her favourites. Never seen without a pair of aviators and his red and white kaffiyeh, Souleyman has long been famous in his homeland of Syria, with, believe it or not, a rumoured 500 separate bootleg cassette releases recorded straight from his many performances at weddings around the country. His 2013 album, Wenu Wenu, was his first recorded outside Syria, and its blending of Western electronica beats and traditional dabke music (an Arabic form of folk dancing) promises live performances filled with electric sax solos, super high-tempo synths and vocals given alternatively in the tone of commanding pronouncements and trance-inducing chants. Supported by Fabulous Diamonds.
When most people think of Father Christmas, a very particular image comes to mind. We're talking about a jolly, roly poly man with a red and white suit and a twinkle in his eye. He's got a whole fleet of reindeer, a workshop full of elves, and brings joy and yuletide spirit to children around the world. He's been described as a lot of things, but chic has never been one of them. That is, until now. Presenting Fashion Santa: Dayummmm. We suddenly know what we want for Christmas. Setting up shop in Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Fashion Santa is part of the mall's annual holiday campaign. Decked out in only the finest of menswear, this stylish Saint Nick, played by model Paul Mason, has been hanging at the centre snapping selfies with shoppers, offering beard primping tips and generally looking fabulous. The best thing about Fashion Santa, aside from his steely blue eyes, perfectly manicured whiskers and strong, strong arms... ...sorry, lost our train of thought there for a moment. Let's try that again. The best thing about Fashion Santa is that he's out raising money for sick kids. For every selfie with Fashion Santa posted online using the hashtag #YorkdaleFashionSanta, the shopping centre will donate $1 to Canada's Sick Kids Foundation. It's a pretty awesome initiative, one that more countries should get on board with. And we're not just saying that because we want to sit on Santa's lap. Via QZ.
Summer is here, Christmas is coming and everyone's looking for a ticket out of the city — for a few days, when the holidays roll around; or for a longer stay, should an extended getaway be in your future. If enjoying scenic nature sights in comfort sounds like your idea of bliss, Flash Camp has just announced they'll be hosting another pop-up glamping site within Shoalhaven's Coolendel private reserve. It's Flash Camp's second stint on the site, after first enjoying the location's charms earlier in 2017. This time, they're sticking around not only through the Christmas and New Year period, but until May 30, 2018. If you can't make the 2.5-hour drive down the South Coast from Sydney (or thirty minutes from Nowra) this year, start planning next year's Easter vacation or sneaky weekender. The remote location is an easy trip to achieve a true bush experience — well, kind of. As to be expected, the tents look quite luxe. The bell-shaped, premium 'Flash Tents' come with a king-sized mattress, covered in plush bedding and perched on timber pallets. The tents also feature solar lighting, table and chairs, Biology toiletries and a hand-woven Armadillo & Co rug. For groups looking for a slightly (very slightly) more traditional camping experience, Flash Camp also offer their regular bell tents with air beds. Guests also have access to the existing Coolendel amenities, including hot showers and barbecue facilities, as well as a communal Flash Camp tent with seating, fairy lights and a campfire. The glamping site is located within Coolendel's 52 hectares of bushland along the Shoalhaven River. Nature lovers will be keen on this secluded grassy park, which is an ideal location for spotting wombats, goannas, wallabies and native birds. Apart from nature watching and bushwalking, guests can also try a spot of canoeing, biking and fishing. Rates vary from $130 to $240 per night, depending on day of the week and holidays. Food is not provided, though, so campers should make sure to pack the esky full for the duration of the trip. Flash Camp Glamping will pop up at Coolendel from through until May 30. To book, visit the Flash Camp website. For more glamping options, check out our list for the ten best glamping spots near Sydney. By Marissa Ciampi and Sarah Ward.
It's finally happened. London's latest and greatest pop-up bar lets you literally inhale alcohol, a project that could only be the work of wildly ambitious, gastronomic artists Bompas and Parr. Built on the site of an ancient monastery in Borough and opened on July 30, the wonderfully-named Alcohol Architecture bar lets you walk into an actual cloud of cocktail. Sam Bompas and Harry Parr have used big ol' humidifiers to saturate the air with a cocktail of spirits and mixer, so you can simply breathe in the drink and let that sweet, sweet alcohol make its way to your bloodstream via lungs and eyes. Of course, visitors to the pop-up are advised to "breathe responsibly" — and the hour session of inhalation isn't quite enough to get you drunk, apparently. You're given a robe to protect your clothes from reeking of cocktail afterwards, and you'll be surrounded by atmospheric sounds to intensify the inhaling experience. #breatheresponsibly at @alcoholicarchitecture regram from @soniashahx A photo posted by Bompas & Parr (@bompasandparr) on Aug 6, 2015 at 8:59am PDT "Inside, the sound is modulated, so that it is like you are right inside the glass," Parr told Bloomberg. "It's a dense atmosphere that builds into a thunderstorm with lightning. It's a new way of experiencing drink, and it's social because it's an immersive shared environment. You all have the same flavor sensation. "It's like going to the seaside and finding that fish and chips taste better. Part of that is that in a human environment, your ability to perceive taste is heightened. It's the opposite of being in an aeroplane. Alcohol tastes better, with more nuances: You can detect more subtle flavors when it is humidified." We're on! Launch night of the bar tonight! A photo posted by Alcoholic Architecture (@alcoholicarchitecture) on Jul 29, 2015 at 12:37pm PDT This isn't the first jaw-dropping foodie installation Bompas and Parr have dazzled us with in recent memory. After opening a pop-up which tailored cocktails to your DNA, hosting anatomical whisky tastings allowing you to taste different aged whiskies from their same-aged human body, and creating lava-powered barbecues, the pair brought one hell of a banquet to this year's Dark Mofo festival in Tasmania — which involved much nudity and the eating of an actually beating pig's heart. If you're headed for London anytime soon, Alcoholic Architecture will be open until early 2016 at One Cathedral Street, Borough Market, London. Tickets and more info over here. We chatted to Sam Bompas recently, head over here to delve into pagan feasts, Vegemite chocolate and Australian food trends. Via Bloomberg.
Just when you thought this year's Melbourne Music Week program was looking very juicy indeed, along comes the final lineup announcement, bringing with it even more musical goodness to add to your calendar. To complement the array of gigs and parties organised for this year's festival hub at St Paul's Cathedral, a series of al fresco events is also set to grace the historic building's carpark. Following opening night performances by award-winning Indigenous artist Kutcha Edwards and hip hop rising star Miss Blanks, this unique outdoor space will play host to a diverse program of shows. The makeshift venue will feature acts like Kirin J Callinan, The Cat Empire's Harry James Angus, singer and saxophonist Masego, Albrecht La'Brooy, Sydney pop outfit I Know Leopard and Melbourne singer-songwriter Eilish Gilligan. This year's festival also marks the return of long-running punk celebration Live Music Safari, which will see ten of the city's most iconic live music venues open their doors for a program of free gigs on Thursday, November 23. Also back for another year is free all-ages party Live At The Steps, set to take over the steps of Parliament House on November 17 with performances by Mallrat, Skegss, Tired Lion and Baker Boy (who was one of our top picks from BIGSOUND this year). Meanwhile, the Fed Square Live showcase will celebrate the strength and diversity of local female artists, with performances by Ali Barter, Alice Skye and Hey Mammoth complemented by imagery from the Her Sound, Her Story project. Punters will once again have the chance to enjoy live music on their public transport commute as part of the ever-popular Tram Sessions, while MMW's Self-Made series will see audiences rocking out to unique music experiences at unconventional venues like North Melbourne's Meat Market and the newly launched MPavilion. These follow last month's slew of MMW lineup announcements, which includes a new all-ages event at Melbourne Town Hall, a performance by Ariel Pink and Ferdydurke and Section 8's ZOO street party. Melbourne Music Week 2017 will take place across the city from Friday, November 17 to Saturday, November 25. To buy tickets and view the whole program, visit mmw.melbourne.vic.gov.au.
Whatever you're doing between 4pm and 5pm this afternoon, we suggest you cancel it. You now have more pressing concerns. Two words: free doughnuts. Rest assured, we would never joke about something this delicious. For one hour only, the legends at Doughnut Time really will be handing out their mouthwatering morsels, free of charge, at their Topshop pop-up stores. And we thought we couldn't love the folks that brought us burger-doughnut hybrids, vegan doughnuts and doughnut delivery any more than we already do. Those with a hankering for doughy goodness — which includes you, let's be honest — just need to head on down to Topshop in the Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane CBD once the clock strikes four. We recommend arriving early, because if there's one thing everyone loves, it's devouring sweet treats without having to pay for the privilege. Students keen on doing some shopping can also nab 10 percent off their Topshop purchases, in case you needed any more incentive to rush along. Basically, Monday just got a whole lot brighter and tastier. Free doughnuts will do that. For more information, visit the Doughnut Time Facebook page.
Smith's Street Gasometer Hotel is teaming up with its neighbours to open a casual, Japanese-style izakaya. The recently reinvigorated pub and live music venue has invited the chefs from nearby Japanese bar and eatery Northern Light to collaborate on the new venture, which is set to take over the Gaso from August 27. Gas-Light Izakaya is the latest concept from Gasometer owners Clint Fisher (of Retreat Hotel in Brunswick) and Shannon Vanderwert (The Post Office Hotel in Coburg), who took over the venue early last year. Northern Light's sous chef Joel Baylon will oversee the kitchen, which features a pair of newly-installed binchotan white charcoal grills. As for the menu, expect popular Japanese bar snacks such as oysters, yakitori food skewers, deep-fried crumbed meat and vegetables and the universal favourite that is fried cheese. The food should all go quite nicely with their selection of local and Japanese beers on tap, including Okinawa import Orion. Of course, if you really want the full izakaya experience, you should be ordering the sake. The Gas-Light kitchens will be open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday and all day Friday through Sunday. And despite the pub's change in flavour, regulars can still expect a rock solid live music lineup in the Gasometer's 350-capacity bandroom. Gas-Light Izakaya starts cooking on August 27 at The Gasometer Hotel, 484 Smith St, Collingwood. Via Gourmet Traveller and Good Food. Image: Northern Light.
Entries have now closed. Fair is foul and foul is fair, and both descriptors very much apply to the harrowing new adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Foul in that Australian director Justin Kurzel, who burst onto the scene with the unforgettable Snowtown, evokes the bleakness and epic sense of tragedy in the Bard's play. And fair in that Kurzel's hypnotic style, along with the incredible work of his cast, make this one of the single most compelling movies of the year. Michael Fassbender gives a thunderous performance as the eponymous Scottish thane, a good man brought low by his own overleaping ambition. Alongside him, Marion Cotillard has likewise rarely been better, disappearing into the role of Lady Macbeth. A supporting cast of UK heavyweights including David Thewlis, Paddy Considine and Sean Harris is nothing to turn your nose up at, either. But Kurzel doesn't rest on the laurels of his cast or the pedigree of the material. His visceral direction, including some absolutely mesmerising uses of colour and slow motion, makes Macbeth one of 2015's must-sees. Macbeth is in cinemas on October 1. To celebrate the film's impending release, we've teamed up with Transmission Films to host an exclusive preview on Tuesday, September 29, 6.30pm, at Cinema Nova, Carlton. To score tickets, click here.
The team behind quintessential Melbourne cafes Top Paddock and The Kettle Black are moving ever closer to cutting the ribbon on their long-awaited new venue. Located at the Southern Cross end of Little Bourke Street, Higher Ground has been in the works for well over a year, and was originally meant to open back in October. Now it seems the gears are finally moving in earnest, with the owners setting their eyes on June. As reported by Good Food last year, Higher Ground will be a 160-seat venue, nestled in a former warehouse on the corner of Little Bourke and Spencer Street. Interior features will include exposed brick and green marble as well as a mezzanine level and open kitchen. Just look at this: First glimpse of our new space coming soon to the CBD... A photo posted by Higher Ground Melbourne (@highergroundmelbourne) on Apr 3, 2015 at 12:33am PDT As for food, the Higher Ground team have enlisted chef Nate Wilkins. We don't have a full menu as of yet, but they did tease the following dish on Instagram: Menu development for HG continues. The black waffle with peanut butter parfait honeycomb, raspberries and figs is looking good. Nice one chef @natewilkins ! A photo posted by Higher Ground Melbourne (@highergroundmelbourne) on Feb 23, 2016 at 6:49pm PST We think we speak for hungry Melburnians everywhere when we say that June can't come quickly enough. Higher Ground is set to open in June at 650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. The website lists their opening hours as 7am – 4pm Monday through Wednesday, 7am – 11pm Thursday through Friday 8am – 11pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am – 4pm. For more information keep your eyes glued to www.highergroundmelbourne.com.au. Image: The Kettle Black/Eat Drink Design Awards.
Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison and director Peter Sellars offer a radical new take on Shakespeare's Othello. Making its Australian premiere as part of the Melbourne Festival, Desdemona tells the story of the titular wife of Othello, and in particular her relationship with Barbary, the African maid who raised her (played by award winning Malawi singer-songwriter Rokia Traore). The result is a production that challenges the notoriously antiquated depictions of race and gender found in the original play, and promises to leave Shakespeare buffs – and audiences in general – with plenty of food for thought. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Festival. Check out the other nine.
The Smith Street Band have an incredibly endearing habit of looking out for the underdog. Following their November release of their third album, Throw Me in the River, the Melbourne four-piece found themselves in the news as a result of their sold-out EP titled Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face, which features a portrait of Tony Abbott and protests the Australian government's current treatment of refugees. Throw in a fundraising gig for refugee advocacy groups in Melbourne on Australia Day and you've got one seriously outspoken Aussie band. On their upcoming tour around Australia they're keeping up their determination not to forget anyone, with the aptly titled 'Get High, See Everyone Tour', featuring an impressive 24 dates across Australia, including regional stops like Bendigo and Maroochydore and a whole heap of all-ages gigs for younger fans. The pairing of desperate energy and youthful, emotional frenzy with surprisingly thoughtful and touching lyrics have earned The Smith Street Band a loyal fan base. And, bless them, the band is going to do their best to see every one of you.
The first thing you notice about the 14-year-old Amy Winehouse is her smile. Captured on her best friend’s home movie, it's enormous, almost all-consuming, a porthole to an as yet undiscovered virtuosity. With jagged and uneven teeth, the smile — like her accent — is imperfect and unrefined, as though everything had been hastily thrown together at the last minute. But it's also unmistakably real and a permanent fixture on the young girl's face. Over the next 90 minutes of Asif Kapadia's remarkable documentary Amy, what most stands out is not the prodigious talent, nor the substance abuse and self-destruction, but simply the steady fade of that perfect imperfect smile. Just like Kapadia’s previous documentary, Senna, Amy is an extraordinarily moving tribute to a prodigious talent whose life seemed somehow unavoidably foredoomed. With its remarkable catalogue of personal videos, voicemails and recording sessions, Kapadia lets Winehouse and her closest friends narrate her own tragic spiral in real time, taking us from the "gobby north London Jewish girl with a lot of attitude" to the death of a full-blown celebrity in 2011. It’s a masterful device, insulating the film from the inevitable accusations of bias and blame apportionment made by the very individuals who constantly comment and appear throughout. To be clear: Amy isn’t a whodunnit. Winehouse drank herself to death despite countless warning from doctors, friends and colleagues. Instead, the film reveals the extent to which almost everybody in her life failed to convert their concern into real action so long as the money continued to flow their way. "They tried to make me go to rehab,” she sang, and it’s true, but they didn’t try nearly hard enough. What’s abundantly clear from the archival footage is how well Winehouse understood her own predicament and disposition. “I’ve depression,” she explains at one point, “but so do a lot of other people. I’m just lucky because not many people can pick up a guitar for an hour or two and make themselves feel better.” True to the adage, Winehouse really was all about the music, and had she been left alone to sing jazz in small clubs, things may have played out very differently. The only person who seemed to fully grasp that was her idol, Tony Bennett, with whom she recorded a duets album shortly before her death. “True jazz performers don’t like crowds of 50,000 in front of them,” he explains, before adding in a heart-wrenching postscript, “If she were still here, I’d say ‘slow down … you’re too important’”. It’s moments like this that make Amy an overwhelmingly tragic and absorbing portrait piece, steeped in disquiet because, just as it was with Senna, you know it ends in a crash. There is, in fact, one last glimpse of a smile, right before the film ends. During her infamous concert disaster in Belgrade just weeks prior to her death, Winehouse sits down on stage, drunk and disoriented, amidst a chorus of boos from the crowd. While the band tries to get her to sing, an almost imperceptible grin flashes across her face, as though she’d suddenly heard the punchline to a joke nobody else could hear.
Both the heartbroken and the heartbreakers should take a lesson from Sharon Van Etten, heading to Australia for her 2015 Are We There tour. Renowned for embracing life's emotionally crippling moments, Van Etten has been putting her heart on a platter since her first offering 'Because I Was In Love' in 2009 — released after TV On the Radio's Kyp Malone gave her a nudge in the right direction. The Brooklyn-based, New Jersey and Tennessee-raised singer/songwriter hasn't stopped since, with four gripping albums under her belt including 2012's Tramp. Headlining Secret Garden (February 27-28) with Parquet Courts and Golden Plains (March 7-9), Van Etten is also playing sideshows for those who missed out on tickets. Supported by Tiny Ruins (NZ) + Jack Ladder + Heather Woods Broderick (USA).
If movies are your religion, then the Shadow Electric Outdoor Cinema is the closest thing you'll find to a church. Screening a savvy mix of classics and recent essentials, their giant pop-up screen in the grounds of the Abbotsford Convent is the perfect place to catch a movie under the balmy summer sky. Things kick into gear just after New Year's, with Stop Making Sense on Friday January 2. The Talking Heads concert film is one of several musically-themed films on the program, including A Hard Day's Night, Bjork: Biophilia Live and the recent, heart-thumping jazz thriller, Whiplash. Other 2014 titles include Dan Gilroy's creepifying media satire Nightcrawler, the hilariously uncomfortable Swedish marital drama Force Majeure and the indie film phenomenon Boyhood. Also screening is Christopher Nolan's space epic Interstellar, a film that more than any other deserves to be seen beneath the stars. A couple of this year's best Australian films also made the cut, namely the slickly made time-travel thriller Predestination and the genre-transcending skateboarding doco All This Mayhem. New Zealand cinema is also represented via Jemaine Clement's gut-busting vampire movie What We Do in the Shadows and the yet-to-be-released horror comedy, Housebound. Speaking of the horrific, while it's disappointing to see that last year's regular Monday night cult film has been scrapped, the few B-movies they have managed to squeeze into the line-up look pretty bloody fantastic (emphasis on bloody). Sion Sono's Why Don't We Play in Hell? is like a Fellini film in a slaughterhouse, and really, who wouldn't want to see a movie called Kung Fu Cannibals? But it's in the retro department that this year's program really delivers. Boogie Nights, Fight Club, The Big Lebowski and Do the Right Thing are just a few of the classics that everyone should see with an audience. Wes Craven's Scream is a great fit for Friday the 13th in February, while When Harry Met Sally is a near-perfect date movie for Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day notwithstanding, most Saturdays will see the Shadow Electric take a night off from the movies for a series of live music gigs. That program is yet to be announced, but keep your eyes glued to the website for more info.
For the first time, a generation (or, at least, a privileged segment of it), can work from anywhere, anytime, anyhow. Which means that joyous feeling of holiday mode can be as long as you have imagination enough to keep it going. No more confinement to white cubicles. No more bosses breathing down your neck. No more debating triple j's playlists while languishing in peak hour traffic. And, most gloriously, no more having to get dressed. Yep, with a laptop under your arm, an ability to make the best of an awful to-do list and a few handy tips from us, you can turn your life into a permanent holiday. Here are five ways to make your working days equal parts business and Bahamas (just go with it). GET A DECENT DONGLE AND HIT THE BEACH With a good dongle or smartphone hot spot, connected to a quality service provider, you can consider any beach your office. Just don't forget to fully charge your devices before you get going. Pack a picnic blanket or, for even more flexibility, buy a light, portable laptop stand. That'll let you set up anywhere without wrecking your back and neck — and sand is a punish on laptops, so be wary. If you're in for a long day, a sun shelter can be handy too. Not keen to carry so much gear? Scope out beaches with picnic tables. Whatever you do, throw your swimmers into your bag — you'll need breaks in between typing and posting and emailing. And most obviously, don't leave your laptop on the beach while you're paddling. FIND A BAR WITH FREE WIFI Another advantage of escaping the office is that you can spend time in your favourite bar and be productive (i.e. make those dollars) at the same time. Nothing quite says boss like ticking off things from your to-do list and screening calls in-between cocktails — especially if you can make that happen on a lounge in a cosy bar. So, do some Googling or wandering, until you find a drinking hole with wifi, and you'll be channelling your inner tortured writer in no time. Of course, now's not the time to let things get out of hand. Be smart. There are deadlines to meet, after all. [caption id="attachment_564835" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bench Accounting via Unsplash[/caption] GO CAFE HOPPING IN A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD Turn your work day into a travel adventure — in your own city. Even if you've lived in said city all your life, chances are there are neighbourhoods you haven't yet visited — or don't know so well. So, choose one that's unfamiliar and map out a bunch of interesting-looking cafes (oh hai, Concrete Playground can help you there) within walking distance of one another. Spend an hour or two working in each, before heading to the next one. To maximise your productivity, set clear, achievable goals for every session. Not only do you get to discover new places, you also fit in some walking, which, according to this report, might reduce your mortality risk by up to 46 percent. [caption id="attachment_563818" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dave Meier[/caption] TAKE YOUR LAPTOP ON A DAY TRIP Choose a place just out of town that you've always wanted to visit — but not quite got around to checking out — and take your laptop day tripping. If you can, opt for a destination that's reachable by train, so you can work while you're travelling. This option lets you roll the first three hacks into one — with some planning, you can organise time in cafes, bars, beaches and parks. Also, think about how you'll spend break times — getting outdoors for a dose of swimming, paddling, cycling or hiking can clear your head and help you concentrate better when you're back at your computer. [caption id="attachment_563817" align="alignnone" width="5184"] Henry McIntosh[/caption] PUT ASIDE SOME DOSH AND CHECK INTO A HOTEL One of the challenges of self-employment can be keeping focused while working from home. Some people opt for offices or co-working spaces, but, every now and again, it can be fun to go for a total change of scene. So, treat yourself and check into a hotel or resort for a night — or several. This is an excellent option if you're working on a particular project or collaborating with others. Try to find a place with a pretty pool — there's nothing quite as refreshing as jumping into the water in between work sessions, brainstorms or meetings. An onsite cocktail bar can come in handy, too.
Gather a gaggle of your best mates and get ready to hit the town. White Night, Melbourne's massive all-night arts bash, is back for another year, with a jam-packed program of music, film, performance, light shows and interactive art. Starting at 7pm on Saturday, February 20 and running until 7am the next morning, this really is an event you'll have to stay up late for. And if you do? Well, perhaps you'll see a school of jellyfish floating down Flinders Lane, or pay a visit to the NGV's Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei exhibition. Alternatively, you could spend the whole night skateboarding or dancing up a storm. The only thing that's for certain is, with so much on offer, you'd better know ahead of time what you really want to see and do. Check out our top ten things to see and do on the night, or head to their website for the full program.
If you've lived in Melbourne long enough, you'll no doubt be familiar with the rivalry between north and south. But there comes a time when petty differences must be forgotten — particularly when there's free live music and cheap pizza on the line. For the seventh straight year, sister venues Bimbo Deluxe in Fitzroy and Lucky Coq in Windsor are teaming up for the Best of Both Sides Festival, featuring four days and nights of epic tunes, food and booze on both sides of the river. This year's festival includes more than 40 live music acts — although, to be honest, we're just as excited about what's going on in the kitchen. We're talking green prawns, popcorn chicken, pulled beef sliders and their insanely good value $4 pizzas.
Australian politicians, you'd better go incognito for the next few months. British-born, American-based comedian John Oliver is heading to Australia for a string of stand-up shows this August. The Emmy and Writer’s Guild Award-winning writer, comedic actor and politically-outspoken satirist is taking a short break from his Peabody-winning HBO show, Last Week Tonight, to jump on a plane and scatter truth nuggets around our shores. Heading back to his political stand-up roots, it's Oliver's first stand-up tour in Australia. Of course, this isn't his first time fiercely focusing on our great southern land; dropping plenty of not-so-flattering Australian takedowns on his own show and while guest hosting on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. This is Oliver's first ever Australian stand-up tour, so expect these tickets to go quicker than Australia's political credibility on late night American television. Expect uncomfortable Australian realities aplenty, with deep burns like this Tony Abbott roast:
Daniel von Sturmer's latest Electric Light exhibition is a dynamic presentation of luminance, colour, shape and space. Taking a behind-the-scenes perspective on photographic production, Electric Light utilises lighting setups, backdrops, stands and other equipment to create an extensive room-sized work. Illuminated by a range of shifting lights, the work considers photomedia's role in reflecting what is 'real' and how truth can be constructed. Electric Light is hosted by Ten Cubed, a private art collection that's open to the public. An evolving art project in itself, Ten Cubed has handpicked ten diverse artists to collect extensively from over a period of ten years — demonstrating their creative growth within one space. Daniel von Sturmer: Electric Light is on now at Ten Cubed until Saturday, December 16.
Things are getting frostier in Melbourne, so the team at Welcome To Thornbury is bringing back one of their most intuitive event ideas to help warm your weekend — a mini festival dedicated to mulled wine and hot cheese. Following a successful first couple of runs in 2017, the party returns to the High Street food truck park from noon, Saturday, May 26 through until close, Sunday, May 27, pulling together a selection of hot, gooey creations from some of the city's favourite cheese-slinging vendors. This is where all your cheesiest dreams come true, chowing down on lush cheese fondue from Frencheese, plus cheese toasties and cheese pizzas, and other treats from the likes of Dip'd, Mr Burger, Belles Hot Chicken, Sparrow's Philly Cheesesteaks, Maker & Monger, Happy Camper Pizza and Pasta Face. Previous events have served up mulled wine doughnuts and raclette burgers, so expect more than a few creative dishes. Of course, you won't find a better drink match to all that rich, melty dairy than some hot, spiced booze, so the bar will be rounding out its usual offerings with mulled wine aplenty. Six different flavours will be available — yes, six – served up all day long.
Beloved Austin rock band Spoon, who are playing headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne this month, have announced an addition to the schedule: intimate gigs at two of Australia's favourite record shops. Hitting Sydney's Red Eye Records on Wednesday, March 22 and Melbourne's Polyester on Friday, March 24, the band will appear in duo mode. Lead singer and guitarist Britt Daniel will be bringing you stripped-back takes on songs from Spoon's newest album, Hot Thoughts, alongside keyboardist and guitarist Alex Fischel. As you can imagine, spots at both gigs will be limited. To get your name on the guest list at Polyester, you need to pre-order Hot Thoughts — in person or online. Red Eye is a different story. Turn up as early as you can and hope for the best. It's an all-ages event, and it's first in, best dressed. Spoon's visit to Australia is a bit special — after all, the band started making the new album in a rented house in Collingwood. "I took a bunch of unfinished songs with me," Daniel said. "When I got down there, I was more excited about coming up with all new stuff. I'm not sure if it's just the AC/DC connection or what. Australia just seems like this other world. It's like this weird combination of Texas and England."
Sleater-Kinney recorded their first album in Australia. The year was 1994, and the fledgling band from Olympia, Washington knocked out their debut effort in a single day. They've been back several times since, but their latest visit feels extra special. Given that the indie-punk trio went on an indefinite hiatus in 2007, it very well might never have happened. Thankfully, Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein — yes, Portlandia's Carrie Brownstein — are back for another round of blistering rock tracks infused with the spirit of the riot grrrl movement. Reunions might happen all the time, but this is no ordinary group or return. If you've listened to any of Sleater-Kinney's albums from their Aussie-made 22-minute, self-titled initial outing to their latest release, 2015's No Cities to Love, then no doubt you agree. And if you haven't, don't just take our word for it. TIME called them “America’s best rock band”, and Rolling Stone hailed them as “America’s best punk band ever", after all.
From medieval guilds all the way forward to Wikipedia, sharing knowledge has always been a boon for humanity. We thrive on it. And Melbourne's new hospitality symposium GROW is built around the idea that information is better served up than hoarded. GROW Assembly is a slick new consortium of hospo professionals who've come together to collectively season the new generation of chefs, sommeliers, bakers, cocktail artisans, food journos and FOH firecrackers with the juice squeezed from their collective experience. The first event they're rolling out is a full day seminar on Sunday, May 1 in Melbourne with 12 industry speakers spitting knowledge left, right and centre. The lineup reads like a Wiki entry of Melbourne food royalty and includes Dan Hunter (owner chef of Brae), Angie Giannakodakis (restauranteur, Epocha and Elyros), Nolan Hirte (owner of Proud Mary Coffee Roasters), Kevin Donovan (industry long-tooth and owner of Donovans restaurant) and Sebastian Crowther (master sommelier at Rockpool 1989) among others. Also on the bill is Alquimie's Josh Elias, Gourmet Traveller's wine editor Max Allen and Sarah Lemke of Belgium's De Superette bakery. Phew. The team who are putting the whole shebang together — Michael Bascetta, Banjo Harris Plane, Meira Harel, Vicky Symington and Manu Potoi — also have an impressive joint resume; together they count stints at Attica, The Town Mouse, Rockwell and Sons, Lot 3, Proud Mary and Bar Liberty in their experience. It's a long list, but you get the jist — these are the people you want to be the hospitality Yoda to your Skywalker. If you're looking to bring that novelty hybrid food idea into fruition or give us your spin on fried chicken this event is the perfect way to get a foot in the door.
Los Angeles-based foursome Warpaint are set to return to Australia — the homeland of their drummer, Stella Mozgawa — in late February. The group's summer tour follows the release of their third studio album, Heads Up, in September last year. The new album's tone more closely emulates the style of their live performances — energetic and dance-oriented — than their previous albums, which have been more subdued and reflective. This isn't the first Australian tour for Warpaint, having previously performed at the likes of Laneway Festival in 2014 and Splendour in the Grass in 2011. But this time, they're playing a different kind of venue, hitting up Melbourne Zoo on February 24 as part of the Zoo Twilights lineup. They'll be stopping by other major capital cities including Perth (as part of the Perth International Arts Festival) on Sunday, February 19, Brisbane on Wednesday, February 22 and Sydney on Saturday, February 25. Image: Robin Laananen.
Wannabe wordsmiths, listen up. If you're tired of scribbling away stories to no avail, this festival could be just the thing to nurture your unrealised potential. Across 11 days, the Emerging Writers' Festival brings over 2000 members of Australia's literary community to Melbourne to celebrate and the explore the magic of the written word. Posing the question 'how do you be a writer in the world?', this event promises to deliver practical, no-nonsense nuggets of wisdom to those both entering and established in the literary field. Across the program there's plenty to keep to busy. Kicking things off is the Opening Night Storytelling Slam, which sees four writers share their best and worst pieces of advice to eager ears (along with the announcement of the winners of the Monash Undergraduate Prize for Creative Writing plus the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript). Graphic Translations offers a fascinating snapshot into Japanese zine culture using the work of artist Okan Do Zine, while the festival's YouTube Party sees ACMI's big screen come alight with what's described as 'the natural evolution of any drunken dinner party', hosted by Emily Naismith. Head along to the National Writer's Conference for two days of industry-focused talks, masterclasses and information sessions hosted by some of Australia's brightest talents, based out of the State Library of Victoria. Find out how to write a captivating profile or host the perfect podcast at the Writer's Night School, or hear how get cold hard cash for your creative endeavours at the Industry Insiders: Money, Money, Money event. Wrapping up with the Closing Night Party, hosted by Plaything Magazine, the EWF is a must-see for anyone wanting a closer glimpse into the world of writing.
My yoga studio has a basketball court below it. During a calming session of yoga, it is not uncommon to hear the piercing screech of a whistle, frequent cheering and the intermittent shrieks of "Great shot Mike!". One time, I kid you not, there was a marching band procession going down, and the instructor had to calmly try and talk over the incessant drumming. Quite un-zen. Flow After Dark Silent Disco Yoga seeks to give yoga enthusiasts the exact opposite experience. How exactly does one silent disco yoga? Quite easily with the introduction of wireless headphones. These bad boys give participants a one-on-one with their instructor, while simultaneously pumping out beats from Sydney DJ James Mack. Also, they're neon. This one-off, 90-minute Vinyasa yoga session will be held at Melbourne Town Hall and is probably your best (possibly only) chance to show off your best warrior pose while simultaneously jiving to some seriously smooth music. Silently. Plus, IsoWhey Wholefoods and Pressed Juices will be providing smoothies and snacks post practice.
In a time before Netflix, Stan and The Pirate Bay, there was only one way to binge watch TV: huddled in front of Saturday Disney, elbowing your siblings out of the way and fantasising that one day you would win that batshit insane weekly prize and all would be phenomenal. For one night only you can relive the glory days of cartoons and diabetes-inducing cereal binges at the Astor Theatre. Aptly named the Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party, the event is a smorgasbord of cartoons from the '40s through to the '80s (interspersed with vintage advertisements) curated by film critic and writer Kier-La Janisse. It's a format pretty much directly taken from Williamsburg's Nighthawk Cinema, but we're not complaining. While resplendent in your jimjams, you'll be able to max-out on as much nostalgic, sugary cereal you can inhale, and rub shoulders with kidults who never had the luxury of ad-skipping.
After an epic debut last year — when over 7000 people rocked up to the party — Ding Dong and Po' Boy Quarter are channelling the spirit of New Orleans with an evening of rich food, live music and pleeeeennnnty of booze for Fat Tuesday 2016. Kicking off in Carlton's Argyle Square at 4pm on Tuesday, February 9, the Fat Tuesday New Orleans Festival is your chance to live the NOLA lifestyle – at least until you wake up the next morning. This year they're ticketing the event, meaning that you'll be able to get amongst it without being swallowed up by the crowds. MC'd by RocKwiz host Brian Nankervis, the event will feature performances from local musicians such as Jazz Party, Horns of Leroy and Adam Rudegeair's Bayou Tapestry. There'll also be a brass band parade, a fortune teller's booth, and a costume competition to find Melbourne's King and Queen of Mardis Gras. With multiple bar areas and catering by Po' Boy Quarter, Girl with the Gris Gris, Taco Truck and Bluebonnet Barbecue, it's safe to assume that no one will leave feeling hungry — or walking in an entirely straight line. Tickets are $22 via the web, or $28 on the door.
The ripe, soft and sweet festival that encourages you to embrace your inner Italian is back to fill your pantries with homemade pasta sauces. Summer-grown tomatoes will be bursting with flavour and on show at the 2016 Melbourne Tomato Festival. An array of local farmers will be selling their produce, and a variety of speakers, cooking demonstrations, workshops and agriculturists will also feature on the day. The traditional, feet-squelching process of passata making is the highlight of the event. Although tomatoes are not strictly native to Italy, their rich, chunky texture is famously embraced in Italian culture and cuisine. So it makes sense that this festival falls on Italian National Day and is supported by the Melbourne Italian community Melbournese. For the competitive green thumb, you might consider entering Melbourne’s Best Tomato competition, which will be judged on smell, texture and taste. As well as bragging rights, you could win dinner for six at Grossi Florentino Upstairs.
We love a bit of rivalry when it comes to our mates across the pond, just as much as we enjoy having a beer with them when our sporting clashes are all said and done. So it makes total sense that we should have a craft beer-off with New Zealand, and who better to host it then the aficionados at Foresters Beer Hall. On August 29, a total of 34 beers are stepping up to the plate to be sampled by willing participants (aka you guys), where they will be rated from 1-5 on taste alone. While you’re welcome to drop in any time of the afternoon, those looking to get involved in the tasting must complete their ‘duties’ by 4.30/5ish. Post-tasting, keg beer will be available at a discounted rate and as per usual, their kitchen will be going full force if you need some delicious pizza to accompany your bevs. Get down to Foresters and source some new brews to fill up your Esky/Chilly Bin for the summer ahead.
Melbourne-based literary and art mag The Lifted Brow is ready to launch its 26th issue at Howler. It's not just any ol' quiet literary launch; there'll be live music curated by Bedroom Suck, featuring Free Time, Totally Mild, Empat Lima and Simona Kapitolina, alongside Lost Animal and Terrible Truths cranking DJ sets in the beer garden. Issue 26 is the second incarnation of The Lifted Brow's new format. It includes work from international contributors Wayne Koestenbaum and Hoa Nguyen, as well as a stack of home-grown talents, such as Briohny Doyle, Upulie Divisekera, Helen Addison-Smith, Samuel Wagan Watson, Michael Farrell, Jessica Yu, Sam George-Allen, Rebecca Harkins-Cross, Dion Kagan, Jana Perkovic, Nicky Minus, TextaQueen, Mary Leunig, HTMLflowers and Michael Hawkins. Since being founded in 2007, The Lifted Brow, a "quarterly attack journal", has become one of Australia's most respected literary publications. Numerous big names have featured, Christos Tsiolkas, Helen Garner, David Foster Wallace and Neil Gaiman among them.
The quest to discover the best barbecue in Melbourne continues this week at St Kilda’s Newmarket Hotel. After previous head-to-heads against the chefs from San Telmo, Kong and Fancy Hanks, the latest edition of the BBQ Throwdown will see the hosts challenge Hellenic Republic, in what can only be described as a chargrilled championship bout. Taking place this Sunday, July 5, the BBQ Throwdown lasts for three rounds, with the ultimate victor chosen by the diners. First up, Newmarket’s house smoked honey bug will take on Hellenic’s hot smoked ocean trout. Second comes the battle of the bones, with the home team’s St Louis pork rib against beef short rib from the visitors. Lastly Newmarket will serve up spit-roasted spiced lamb with charred eggplant and burnt end taquito; whether it can bring down Hellenic’s pork souva with fermented cabbage and apple slaw still remains to be seen. Tickets to the BBQ Throwdown cost $85 and can be booked online. The lunch sitting is already sold out, but you can still grab a spot for dinner.
The clever clogs at STEP have put on an enlightening collection of music industry-related forums since they began, and their latest instalment is looking to be equally as topically informative. This month the focus is on women in music, whether they are performers, music journalists, studio owners and venue bookers. This month’s panel will explore the challenges women face in Australia’s music industry, and how we can ensure a new generation of female leaders in the field. Moderated by the glorious Claire Bowditch, the panel will include Pikelet band member and LISTEN co-founder Evelyn Morris, musician and booker for The Toff Emily Ulman, Bakehouse Studio co-owner and co-founder of SLAM Helen Marcou, music journalist and YA novelist Jenny Valentish, and Brodie Lancaster of Rookie Magazine, Pitchfork and The Good Copy. On top of this impressive lineup of speakers, Whiskey Houston will be performing a DJ set before the panel discussion, and Totally Mild will close the night with a special set.
After years of gigging and tireless campaigning from the likes of FBi Radio, Sydney-based foursome Gang of Youths are nationally-appreciated hot stuff right now. They’ve played sold-out shows alongside Vampire Weekend, Frightened Rabbit and Foster the People, done the Aussie festival circuit, toured the States, and been compared to Arcade Fire and Bruce Springsteen — and that was all before their debut album The Position was released. After they sold-out multiple venues just a few months ago, they’re setting off on another national tour, and the GOY-hungry public can’t seem to get enough of them; lapping up tickets faster than the band can announce new shows. GOY play rock that’s big on catharsis. Frontman David Leaupepe’s inspiration for the band’s raw, guitar-heavy debut was the emotional rollercoaster of his four-year long-distance relationship with a girl who had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. It makes for a sound that seems bound to fill stadiums one day — so consider yourself lucky if you manage to bag a ticket to one of these more intimate gigs. Gang of Youths will play Richmond's Corner Hotel on August 26 and Geelong Workers Club on August 29.
It's hard to believe that it's only been six months since George Maple (aka Jessica Higgs) released her debut single. At the time, Higgs had been living in London for eighteen months, so the slinky 'Talk Talk', from her Vacant Space EP, first hit airwaves on Annie Mac's show on BBC Radio 1. Meanwhile, the New York Times had dibs on unveiling the video clip. Since then, Higgs, who's from Sydney originally, has played CMJ, SXSW, Annie Mac's AMP Collected in London and a couple of headline shows in Australia, including the Museum of Contemporary Art and Future Classic’s Christmas Weekend. So she's in prime position for taking on her first proper national tour. Three gigs are already sold out — Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on April 24 and 30, and Melbourne's The Howler on 25 April. There's still time, however, to grab tickets to the Black Bear Lodge in Brisbane on April 23, The Bakery in Perth on May 1 and The Rocket Bar in Adelaide on May 2. Meanwhile, Higgs's new tune, 'Where You End And I Begin', recorded with Philadelphian rapper Grande Marshall, is starting to rack up hits. Where You End And I Begin feat. Grande Marshall by George Maple, Grande Marshall
If there's one thing that can get a Sydneysiding burger fiend all jittery, it's a Mary's burger. Opened in an old Newtown warehouse in 2013, this humble burger joint has developed a cult-like following in Sydney over the last couple of years — they've even opened a second chapter in the CBD and made our ten best burgers in Sydney list. But now it's time for Melburnians to take a bite of the Mary's hype, putting aside our Huxtaburgers for a day and heading down to a one-day-only pop-up at fellow Americana lovers, Belle's Hot Chicken. On Sunday, May 24, Mary's will be making 200 burgers (that's right, 200 only) at BHC in Fitzroy, kicking off at around 4pm. We're guessing all focus will be on their famous Mary's burger, renowned for its mouth-wateringly tender med-rare beef patty slathered in liquefied cheese — whether the top notch veggie burger makes it down remains to be seen. But you're going to want to get there early; you can't pre-book a spot and these are seriously sought-after burgs. This marks the second Sydney/Melbourne swapsie for Belle's Hot Chicken, who took a pop-up to Bondi Icebergs earlier this year. Via Good Food.
Step into the light with Tasmania’s leading modern dance company, in a one night only production at Monash University. Presented by Tasdance along with the Monash University Academy of Performing Arts, Luminous Flux will see the group explore two very different takes on the concept of light; as interpreted by two of Australia’s most celebrated contemporary choreographers. The first section of the show pays tribute to late German choreographer Tanja Liedtke, whose life was tragically cut short in 2007 at the age of just 29 — just after she'd been appointed artistic director of the Sydney Dance Company, succeeding founder Graeme Murphy. First debuted by Tasdance in 2004, the critically acclaimed Enter Twilight is one of Liedtke’s earliest works, touching on the delicate balance between good and evil as represented through darkness and light. As a counterpoint to Liedtke’s piece, Melbourne-based choreographer Byron Perry explores light in the abstract, in his fittingly named Light Entertainment. The work highlights the playfulness and physicality of the Tasdance ensemble, and like Enter Twilight has received no shortage of critical success. Image: Jen Brown
If March's Fashion Week left you in a dizzy headspin of colours and fabrics and prints and jackets cut so perfectly your body simply aches for them — or if, y’know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you might have already heard that the annual Big Fashion Sale is coming up pretty soon. The name pretty much says it all. This thing is big. You’ll find lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from over 30 cult Australian brands, both well-known and emerging, such as Karla Spetic, Watson X Watson, Elke Jewellery, Gary Bigeni, Emma Mulholland, Benah, A Part of Me, Friend of Mine and Pageant. And, with discounts of up to 80% off, this is one way of upping your street cred with designer threads that’ll leave your bank balance sitting pretty too. Prices this low tend to inspire a certain level of ruthlessness in all of us, though, so practise that grabbing reflex in advance. This is every man and lady for themselves. Opening hours are: Thursday 30 April – 9am – 6pm Friday 1 May – 10am – 7pm Saturday 2 May – 10am – 6pm Sunday 3 May – 10am – 5pm
Masters of late night snack fuel Ben & Jerry's have been dishing out pop culture-riffing flavours like Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yoghurt, Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream and, of course, Schweddy Balls for years. Then the masters of frozen confection go and create something called 'Free Cone Day', an annual event which defies haters. You can score an ice cream on the house, as part of the company's yearly, worldwide tradition thanking its fanbase for all the gluttonous support. On Tuesday, April 14, Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops around Australia are hosting the sixth annual Free Cone Day; scooping out free ice-cream from 1pm until 9pm. This year, Free Cone Day also marks the kick off of Ben & Jerry’s global 'climate justice' campaign, 'Save our Swirled', in Australia. WWF Australia will be hanging out on on Free Cone Day, collecting signatures to help bring attention to the need for Australia to lower carbon pollution. Suss out your nearest Scoop Shop purveyor of frozen dairy heaven here, and rock up on April 14 to claim your cone. Check out Ben & Jerry's Facebook page for updates.
Sydney sculptor Jamie North is reaching towards the sky, with his new work Rock Melt at the NGV. Erected in Federation Court and inspired by the space’s history as an outdoor sculpture garden, the work consists of six imposing columns standing up to five metres high. Constructed from concrete and slag (the latter being a byproduct of smelting iron ore), the columns are ruptured by fauna, including native Wonga Wonga wines that will slowly creep their way up delicate iron bars — with flowers expected to blossom over the life of the installation. The commission is the latest in North’s body of work that explores the nexus between architecture and nature. He’s previously displayed work at the Monash University Museum of Art and the Sarah Cottier Gallery in Sydney. With free entry to the general public, Rock Melt will be on display until July 12. Image: Brooke Holm.
An all-day event devoted to female writers and freelancers on a SWEATSHOP panel are among the headliners of the just-announced 2015 Emerging Writers' Festival program, taking place in Melbourne between May 26 and June 5. One of this year's key EWF events, titled #writingwhilefemale, is a female-focused extravaganza made up of panel discussions, live performances and workshops. The all-day event will open with a discussion dubbed ‘Writing While Feminist’, exploring the challenges of expressing feminist opinions in cyberspace, where the proliferation of platforms allows more and more women to speak out, but also enables online sexual harassment and abuse. It's an extremely topical start, riding the buzz surrounding Anita Sarkeesian's recent Australian visit. Other topics to be visited on the day include ‘Schooling Self-Confidence’, ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’ and ‘Writing Women’. #writingwhilefemale, to be held on Friday 5 June at The Wheeler Centre (176 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne), is just one of numerous festival events concerned with women in writing. In fact, more than half of the artists scheduled to appear are female. Meanwhile, SWEATSHOP’s panel will take an in-depth look at the lives of freelancers. Are all freelance writers free to work in their pyjamas and indulge in ultra-long coffee dates? Or are they too busy counting their pennies and chasing work? Four experienced freelancers — Sam Cooney, Gillian Terzis, Ellena Savage and Connor Tomas O’Brien — will spill the beans on how they spend their days. The discussion is just one part of the National Writers’ Conference, to happen over the May 30-31 weekend at the Melbourne Town Hall. All six of the festival’s official ambassadors — Oslo Davis, Kylie Ladd, William McInnes, Sulari Gentill and Anna Poletti — will make appearances. Beyond the chats, there’ll be stacks of live performances, including Translation Nation, which will involve five emerging translators telling parts of a story in Mandarin, Indonesian, Spanish, Italian and Japanese; Travel Slide Night, where stunning photos will be supported with compelling stories (not your average somnolent slide session); and #Selfies, during which eight writers will talk about what their selfies reveal about their inner selves. Festival junkies can also look forward to the return of Amazing Babes and Mixtape Memoirs (a collaboration with the Lifted Brow). Emerging Writers' Festival runs May 26 to June 5. Check out the rest of the program for yourself right here.
Slow food? What's slow food? Nope, it's not the eating of snails. The philosophy of slow food (for those who may need a cheeky reminder) essentially boils down to produce that is good, clean and fair. If those principles resonate with you and your preferred eating habits, this farmers market is for you. Going strong since 2006, and in partnership with Melbourne Farmers Market, this smorgasbord of delectable produce calls the Abbotsford Convent home on the fourth Saturday of each month. The market features 60 of Melbourne's most hardworking local growers and food producers. These farmers' unwavering dedication to the quality of their produce and the integrity of their production methods ensures buyers that their dollars are going directly towards maintaining this high standard. It’s a $2 donation on entry, and we should also let you know that it is a plastic bag-free zone, so please BYO calico. If you have a well behaved pooch (or kitty) they are also welcome to attend, just keep them on a lead and you're golden.
Step out into the dark with artist Jessica Watson Miller and her gravity-defying human canvas. Using blacklight body paint, Miller will transform a team of circus performers into pillars of light, shining through the darkness like creatures from another world (or characters from Tron). A kaleidoscope of colour and movement, this is living, breathing art, and promises to be one of the most mesmerising shows at this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Check out the other nine here.
It's that time of year again. Art works are literally spilling out of our city's theatres and galleries into the surrounding streets, laneways and bars. This year, Melbourne Fringe is densely packed with 400 events across 174 venues. From September 16 to October 4, don't expect a call back from any of your creative friends. They are deep in the land of Fringe. Unlike the upcoming Melbourne Festival, Fringe isn't the place to head out for a single show and make your way home again — it's a world unto itself. Catch a few works at a time, have a drink at the Fringe Club, or just drift through the night at the various satellite hubs. Whether it's mesmerisingly body-painted acrobats, Campbell Newman in Ancient Rome, the quietest poetry slam or truly out-of-the-ordinary parties, anything you stumble upon is sure to lead to some interesting stories to tell the next day. Want more Fringe? Check out a list of our ten best things to see.
Fourteen of Melbourne's best live music venues throw open their doors for a night of free gigs and wild parties. No matter where you are in the city, there'll be a venue near you that will be getting in on the action for Melbourne Music Week, including establishments such as Loop Bar, Boney, Shebeen, Cherry Bar and Ding Dong Lounge. While we're extremely confident you could stumble into any of these venues and be exceptionally happy, we're going to recommend the St Jerome's Laneway Festival curated lineup of forward-thinking artists Fractures, Totally Mild, and Crepes at Thousand Pound Bend. If you are feeling a little more rambunctious, we'd definitely point you in the direction of The Public Bar for Mesa Cosa, The Mighty Boys, and Lazertits.
Since their inception in late 2012, Seattle-based electronic duo Odesza have stunning the been consistently pumping out smooth-listening, R&B infused melodies. They've mastered the art of shimmery, emotion-laden beats, with loveable vocal riffs that are just easy to dance to as they are to kick back and laze a day away with. They're the power couple of the electro-synth world, and they're about to hit Australian shores to trance our capital cities with their addictive sounds. In the two years they've been together, Odesza racked up two full length albums, an EP and a few remixes under their belts. Their first album Summer's Gone stood out in a crowd of competing electro albums for showing off not just beats, but startlingly dreamy songs. From the album, songs 'How Did I Get Here' and 'iPlayYouListen' instantly leapt to #1 on the Hype Machine Chart, and with their success came a flock of pilgrims ready to pay homage to new greats on the international electronic music scene. Their brand new album In Return reaps a number of catchy, soulful tunes, namely 'Say My Name' and 'Bloom', which have been flacked with positive reviews from avid listeners and reviewers alike. To celebrate a new album, and the ever-growing attention swamping these electro-savants, Odesza will be making their way around the country for a series of beats-heavy gigs. Supported by Charles Murdoch.
Making her Australian debut at Laneway Festival 2015, FKA twigs' sideshow is one of the most sought-after tickets this summer. Otherwise known as Tahliah Debrett Barnett, the Gloucestershire trip hop artist has had a colossal year. After the release of her debut album LP1, twigs is all anyone could talk about toward the end of 2014. Her most recent single, the intoxicating, self-directed video 'Pendulum', is out now on Young Turks/Remote Control. Featuring a Bambi-like vulnerability, the artist is seen tied up in Japanese style bondage (shibari) for the most part of the clip. "Using my own hair represents me at one time being suspended and held back by my own fears," Barnett explains. With her concert selling out in a matter of hours, FKA twigs tickets are a hot commodity. And if her hugely successful debut album is anything to go by, you'll understand why. Set to be an all immersive, visceral experience, FKA twigs' show is sure to create an otherworldly, social media-happy experience for the lucky few.
Just when you thought Melbourne's festival calendar couldn't get any more packed, Summersalt springs into town. From January 23 -February 21 next year this monumental outdoor arts festival will be bringing you giant inflatable whales, artsy bouncy castles, roving street theatre, artworks exclusively for dogs and more. With all events taking place around Southbank and most being completely free, it's safe to say, your summer is looking just that little bit more sunny. Summersalt is the baby of all our best cultural institutions. MTC, Malthouse, ACCA, Melbourne Recital Centre, Arts Centre, VCA, Chunky Move, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Australian Ballet and the NGV will all be involved and it's the first kind of Melbourne event that has such high levels of collaboration. The recently announced Sugar Mountain Festival will be run in collaboration with the festival as will next year's White Night. Though the full lineup is yet to be released, what we've seen so far is definitely exciting. If you didn't catch Architects of Air's much-loved EXXOPOLIS at the Glow Winter Arts Festival, it will be back in town after its run at MONA FOMA, or you can opt to get cosy in the belly of a whale or check out the biggest human puppet in the world if you're up for something new (and slightly terrifying). This interest in large-scale, outdoor works is no coincidence — the whole aim of the festival is to draw in new audiences. Come for the giant inflatable whale, stay for the art. Some theatrical favourites from the past year will also be making a welcome return in the form of Malthouse's Blak Cabaret and MTC's Cybec Electric series of cheap play readings. The highly-acclaimed, intimate Cherry Cherry (A Dining Room Tale) will also be back in action as Neda Rahmani invites you over for a BBQ. This theatrical program is looking much stronger than the musical offerings; aside from the glorious Sugar Mountain Festival, not much has been released aside from the always beautiful MSO sessions at Sidney Myer Music Bowl. There are also a couple of odd, miscellaneous works which really stand out from this first round of events. Asking audiences to sleuth through the city and hunt down clues, Sour Times is a wholly interactive work that leads you along secret trails with the help of a special smartphone app. Or, if you'd rather bring along a furry friend, Anastasica Klose will be setting up the Farnsworth Republic for Dogs in the ACCA Forecourt. An off-leash play area of activities and luxury dog beds, the site will complement Menagerie, her new exhibition inside exploring the connection between humans and dogs. Get your calendar out now and start counting down the days. Not only is the start of the year going to be beautiful and sunny, it's going to be full of roving dogs and giant puppets. Bring it on. Summersalt Outdoor Arts Festival will run from January 23 - February 21. Read more at their website.
