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
Dropping in from the UK to play Groovin' the Moo, Brit singer-songwriter Charli XCX will be 'Boom Clap'ping her way through sideshows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In her own words, Ms XCX (AKA Charlotte Emma Aitchison) wants to give you "an hour of sweating and totally losing your mind, no matter what's going on that day or what you're worried about." Aitchison first attracted international attention in 2012, when she co-composed and performed on Icona Pop's hit 'I Love It', which played on Lena Dunham's Girls. In 2013, she released her own debut EP, True Romance, before joining forces with Iggy Azalea in 2014 on 'Fancy'. She and Azalea have since performed together all over the planet. Then, of course, along came 'Boom Clap', of The Fault in our Stars soundtrack, and the bratty 'Break The Rules'; confirming Charli XCX as a popstar in her own right. At the Corner, she'll be supported by Adelaide's rising rapper Tkay Maidza, another bright spark changing the rules of pop. Image: Mike Massaro.
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.
More than 30 feature films will screen at ACMI this May as part of the eighth annual Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. Beginning Thursday May 7, this socially-conscious film and arts forum will once again shine a light on a wide range of ethical issues, ranging from sexuality to censorship to the perils of globalisation. The festival begins with opening night documentary I Will Not Be Silenced, which recounts the harrowing story of Australian Charlotte Campbell Stephen and her seven-year fight for justice after being gang-raped in Kenya. Other noteworthy titles include the award-winning documentary Marmato, about villagers in Columbia struggling to save their home from miners, as well as Pervert Park, a challenging film about a halfway home in Florida for recently released sex offenders. In addition to the film program, HRAFF will present a number of art installations, including a pair of works from Kurdish artist Rushdi Anwar and a pop-up photography exhibition held inside St. Paul’s Cathedral. Festival organisers will also host a series of mid-morning discussion forums, on topics such as women's rights, climate change and domestic violence. For the full HRAFF program, visit their website. Image: Marmato
Casual face-melter Courtney Barnett is finally about to have a debut album under her already trophy-laden belt. So naturally, the Melbourne-based shredder has announced her Australian debut album tour for May 2015. This one's going to sell fast. Marking the release of her first ever LP, Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit (out Friday, March 20 via Barnett's own Milk! Records and Remote Control), this tour follows Barnett's epic performances at Laneway festival around the country over the last few weeks. Having already proved herself one of Australia's brightest sparks over the last few years with her 2013 EP release The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas, Barnett's spins one hell of a live show — having nailed sets at Lollapalooza, South by Southwest and New York City's CMJ. Barnett will cruise from Adelaide's The Gov on Friday, May 1 to Perth's Bakery on Saturday, May 2. Then it's over to Sydney's The Metro on Friday, May 8 and Brisbane's Hi-Fi on Saturday, May 9. In classic Australian artist form, Barnett will wrap things up in her hometown of Melbourne on Friday, May 15 at The Forum.
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.
Summer is usually the time when we let go of our culinary pretension. Dirty fish and chips on the beach? Why not. Eat nothing but overripe mangoes all day? Sounds good. But this year, you won't have to sacrifice any of that trademark Melburnian foodie love. The guys behind Huxtable and Huxtaburger have teamed up for a mouth-watering new venture on Smith Street, and they'll be serving up cheap lobster rolls all summer long. That's right — not flake, not prawns, but lobster. Running next to the group's ever-popular Collingwood burger joint, Mr Claws will be slingin' rolls stuffed with pieces of lobster meat and dripping with your choice of three sauces: miso and wasabi, Sriracha spiced mayonnaise or buttermilk ranch. A single roll will set you back just $12, or $15 if you feel like adding straw potato chips and pickles. While the organisers say it's an idea they got while in London, we've seen a bunch of places take an interest in these small kinds of luxuries. It's no longer unusual for lobster to pop up on your local pub menu occasionally and restaurants in Sydney are all over it. It's definitely a trend we can get behind. Just like Huxtaburger there will be limited seating available in store, but if you do find the space they'll be serving a bunch of tasty drinks to wash down all that decadent goodness. We're talking craft beers, Pimms and Gordon's Elderflower Spritz. Proper lush stuff. Mr Claws was first tested out at Taste of Melbourne earlier this month and punters predictably loved it. In a press release this week they've stated the Smith Street store will be open "indefinitely", but "updates on the duration of the pop up can be found on the Mr Claws Facebook page". They're also scouting out permanent sites for 2015. But all that's besides the point — the sun is out and the smell of cheap lobster and Sriracha is in the air. Get down to Smith Street ASAP. Mr Claws is located at 104 Smith Street. It's currently open Monday-Friday 12pm-3pm and 5pm-9pm.
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.
Atlanta born musician Raury has just turned 18 and is brimming with what seems to be an obscene amount of charisma for a teenager. Having earned enough attention to see him collaborating with SBTRKT, opening for OutKast and getting flown to recording studios by Kanye West (before he had released a single album), the youthful champion of hippie swagger will be touring Australia for Laneway Festival and doing sideshows across the country. His debut album Indigo Child is full of impassioned and erratic messages and crosses haphazardly between folk, rap, soul and indie rock earning him comparisons to Lorde — not only for his age, but for his seamless ability to take on different genres. While his sound is hard to pin down, his fresh energy, earnestness on stage and the real feverish soar he can bring to songs like 'God's Whisper' (the ultimate bang-your-drum, revolution round the campfire song) make him an artist you should catch from the beginning.
Riding on the back of his last success, Tremors, multitalented Vienna-based singer and producer, SOHN (aka Christopher Taylor) is returning to Australian shores. You've probably heard his raw electronic renditions of traditional R&B before, influenced by the moody vocals of James Blake and How to Dress Well. Recorded entirely at night, Tremors is an immaculately crafted album; drawing together tales of Taylor's relationship-induced emotional melancholy. A London expat now living in Vienna, his music is enamoured with his newfound geographies — with hit tracks like 'Artifice' and 'Lessons' embracing a kind of laidback European pastoralism. If you missed out on last year's sell-out shows, hopefully you'll catch some better luck this time. Grab 'em quick.
Aunty's done it again; inviting the whole country round for a cup o' chai and a grand ol' hootenanny — the 2015 Meredith Music Festival is finally here. Returning to beloved Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, near Golden Plains over December 11-13, Meredith's more eclectic than ever — it's the Silver Jubilee 25th anniversary after all. Following the recent major announcement of Ex-Fleet Foxes minstrel Father John Misty as this year's top headliner, Aunty's added the likes of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ratatat, The Thurston Moore Band, Tkay Maidza, Neon Indian, Big Daddy Kane, Shellac, Fatback Band, Jessica Pratt, Briggs, and many more to the bill. As always, Meredith's a BYO paradise, and of course, the 'No Dickhead Policy' stands stronger than ever. Like every year, tickets are already sold out — so we hope you thought ahead and got in early on that one.
When it comes to fashion, staying ahead of the pack can be a mighty tough feat. But if you’re keen to kick monochromic minimalism to the curb, while giving a little back to your global community, we’ve found just the bold West African label to help you do it. YEVU, which means 'foreigner' in the local Ewe language, is a socially responsible clothing line bringing the wild traditional wax prints of Ghana to Aussie shores. Linking local African tailors with style-conscious global customers, founder Anna Robertson is creating serious change for Ghanaian seamstresses living on the poverty line. After launching their sell-out debut range in October 2013, YEVU returns this month with a fresh selection of awesome new threads (we actually can't get enough of these prints). From late November, Sydney and Melbourne will both house YEVU’s latest pop-up stores. Stocked with everything from daring jumpsuits to bold bomber jackets for both ladies and gents, these vibrant designs won’t go unnoticed in your wardrobe. Give back, shop ethically and nab a new look with some of the sweetest prints you’ll see all season. Head along to the launch of YEVU's pop up locations in Sydney (636 Crown Street, Surry Hills) on November 26 and Melbourne (27-29 Johnston Street, Collingwood) on December 3 from 6 to 9pm. YEVU POP-UP OPENING HOURS Sydney — November 27 to January 24 (10am to 7pm daily) Melbourne — December 4 to January 31 (10am to 7pm Daily) Both stores closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Image: YEVU.
It's common for restaurants and bars to offer discounts to their own staff, but it's even better when they extend deals to anyone working in hospitality. Owners of such joints know how hard it can be to enjoy luxe nights out when working on these wages, so it's great when they can make their spaces more accessible to those who actually work in the industry. The latest spot to do this is Purple Pit, home to one of the city's best martinis. Seriously, anytime we have a hankering for a dirty gin martini, this is where we head. And now, the team offers a generous 20% discount to service industry workers every Wednesday night. This includes hospo staff, as well as anyone working in healthcare, social services and education industries. It's a huge win. Either treat yourself to a few classic Euro-centric cocktails and call it a night, or go all out by ordering caviar bumps, aperitivo-style dishes and a heap of martinis. Aussie hospo mainstay Maurice Terzini (Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, RE and Jackson on George) and Joe Jones are the minds behind this outstanding basement bar. And this Wednesday night deal is the perfect excuse for service workers to visit. Images: Parker Blain.
Winter dining deals are popping up all over Melbourne right now, as restaurants work hard to coax us out of our homes during these colder months. And one of our favourites is Lagoon Dining's special noodle-centric dinners — running on Tuesday, June 18, Tuesday, July 30 and Tuesday, August 20. For these three nights only, diners can order a $50 set menu that includes four warming noodle dishes. But don't expect to find the classics here. Lagoon Dining is known for being super playful with its flavour combos, serving up clever and inventive riffs on Chinese cuisine. The menu is likely to change a little each month, but the first Chow Down Tuesday dinner will include scissor-cut noodles with spring onions and jalapeño oil; jap chae with sweet potato noodles, soy marinated beef, red peppers and toasted sesame; mee goreng topped with squid, turmeric chicken, bean shoots and tofu puffs; and a crispy egg noodle chow mein with scallops, prawns, spring onions and red chilli. Getting all this for just $50 is a definite bargain. But if you can't make it down on any of these days, Lagoon Dining still serves up one of Melbourne's best-value set menus every day of the week. The $78 dinner includes six to seven dishes that showcase some of the Lygon Street restaurant's greatest hits. It's an excellent intro to Lagoon Dining — our pick of one of the best restaurants in Melbourne. Images: Nikki To
If your 2021 New Year's resolution is to make up for last year's lack of live music, then you've probably already started off strong. But now, that gig calendar's about to get even fuller, thanks to this brand-new two-week music festival taking over St Kilda. April Sun is here to brighten up your autumn in a big way, dishing up a swag of live tunes from G-Flip, Touch Sensitive, Hiatus Kaiyote, You Am I and more. Gracing the St Kilda Triangle (beside the Palais Theatre) from Friday, April 16–Sunday, May 2, the new outing is delivering a diverse program of day parties, headline shows, mini-festivals and family-friendly fun, assembled by some of the country's best-loved curators and tastemakers. It's a COVID-safe, outdoor affair, with tickets available for four different audience zones, ranging from grand stand seats,to an open lawn area smack bang in front of the stage. Indie label Future Classic kicks off the fun on Friday, April 16, with a lush evening soundtracked by internationally-acclaimed multi-instrumentalist G-Flip, self-confessed synth-freak Touch Sensitive, Brisbane favourite Sycco and rising indie-pop star Thomas Headon. Elsewhere in the program, settle in for a sweet serve of neo-soul headlined by jazz-funk heroes Hiatus Kaiyote, funk synthesist Harvey Sutherland and Perth five-piece Grievous Bodily Calm. There'll be a rock-heavy night of sounds from You Am I, Geelong's Magic Dirt and Dallas Crane and some anthemic indie-rock ballads courtesy of The Church and Bob Evans Throw in a big dose of house and techno curated by Thick As Thieves, and a couple of shows from Sydney grime-rap hero Chillinit, and those ears of yours are in for a very busy autumn.
UPDATE, August 19, 2021: After Bluesfest was originally cancelled just days out from its usual Easter slot, and then later postponed to October, the long-running fest has now announced that it's abandoning plans to go ahead this year — and will return for Easter 2022 instead. For more information head to the Bluesfest website. Mid last year, after its 2020 event was cancelled due to the pandemic, Bluesfest announced the first 50 acts for its 2021 festival. That lineup has changed in the months since, with an all-Aussie roster now set to hit the fest's stages — headlined by Aussie icon and the human scream Jimmy Barnes, Tash Sultana, Ocean Alley, Ziggy Alberts and The Teskey Brothers. Also on the bill: John Butler, Xavier Rudd, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers, The Church, The Waifs, Jon Stevens and John Williamson, plus Ian Moss, The Angels, The Living End and Tex Perkins. The list goes on, and includes new additions Pete Murray, Kate Ceberano, Electrik Lemonade and Palm Valley. In good news after a year lacking in large-scale music festivals, the event has been given a provisional green light, with organisers announcing that they've received NSW Government approval to run the festival at 50 percent capacity this April — as long as no outbreaks occur beforehand. The festival is set to return to Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm — just outside Byron Bay — for its usual Easter time slot, from Thursday, April 1 to Monday, April 5. When the festival was cancelled last year, it was the first time in 30 years it had not run, but the second year in a row it had come under threat. In 2019, the Festival Director threatened to move the festival to a spot outside of NSW because of the State Government's strict music festival licensing regime. Here's hoping that it does go ahead as planned in 2021 — with tickets on sale now. BLUESFEST 2021 LINEUP Pete Murray Mark Seymour and The Undertow Kate Ceberano Fiona Boyes and The Fortune Tellers Lambros The Regime Round Mountain Girls Electrik Lemonade Palm Valley Ocean Alley John Williamson Tex Perkins The Man in Black Jon Stevens Ash Grunwald and Josh Teskey Vika and Linda Garrett Kato Mia Dyson The Church Kate Miller-Heidke The Living End The Angels Ross Wilson and The Peaceniks Blue King Brown Jeff Lang Kara Grainger Tash Sultana Ziggy Alberts Kev Carmody Ian Moss Hiatus Kaiyote Russell Morris Briggs Kim Churchill Mama Kin Spender All Our Exes Live In Texas Jimmy Barnes The Teskey Brothers John Butler Xavier Rudd The Cat Empire Kasey Chambers The Waifs Troy Cassar-Daley The Black Sorrows Melbourne Ska Orchestra Chain Backsliders Harts Plays Hendrix Ash Grunwald The Bamboos Mick Thomas' Roving Commission Dami Im Pierce Brothers Emily Wurramara Roshani Ray Beadle Henry Wagons Hussy Hicks Pacey, King and Doley Daniel Champagne Nathan Cavaleri Little Georgia Bluesfest Busking Competition and Winners The Australian Americana Music Honours Bluesfest 2021 will run Thursday, April 1–Monday, April 5 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay. Tickets are on sale now via Moshtix. Image: Joseph Mayers.
From roaming food trucks to a secret In-And-Out pop-up, Melbourne’s love affair with the humble hamburger is showing no sign of cooling off. And no one’s happier than the folks at Brother Burger and the Marvellous Brew. After a couple of years exclusive to Fitzroy, the much-loved burger joint has opened a second store in South Yarra, with room for up to 200 hungry customers to chow down. The new Chapel Street location will stick to the same basic menu as they do on the Northside, albeit with a couple of tweaks. Expect old favourites like The Royal Blue (wagyu beef, bacon, onion jam, blue cheese, pickles and ketchup) and the vegetarian-friendly Magic Mushie (crumbed field mushroom, peppers, spinach, goats cheese, onion jam and mustard mayo), as well as pulled pork buns, a 'South Yarra-style' Reuben sandwich and even their own take on fish and chips. Living up to the second half of their name, the restaurant will also have a selection of 15 beers and ciders on tap — all of which are sourced from independently owned local breweries and cider houses. Permanent fixtures include Hawkers Beer Pilsner and Napoleone & Co. Pear Cider, while others specialty options will rotate through. Located at 560 Chapel Street, South Yarra (the former location of Cafe Greco), Brother Burger and the Marvellous Brew South Yarra boasts a small courtyard out front, and an interior decorated with an eclectic mix of pre-loved items including more than 800 antique meat grinders. Everyone's got their niche. For more info about Brother Burger and the Marvellous Brew South Yarra, including operating hours, visit their website.
It goes without saying, Melbourne's characteristically buzzing cultural ecosystem has thrived this year, with the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents taking bold risks in their field. More inventive, forward-thinking and experimental than ever, Melbourne's newest bars and pubs have been upping the city's already renowned libation reputation. Our new (or renewed) pubs that have the biggest hurdle to face — history. Pub renovations in 2016 remained strong, moving into more contemporary, fine dining-focused territory with some of the city's best design teams at hand. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Melbourne to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new(ish) pubs, opened or revamped in 2016, have been nominated for Best New Pub in Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Vote for your favourite.
The Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular returns to Melbourne for its sixth year in 2016. After humble beginnings, it's now expanded to cover three cities; it's going to Sydney for the second time this year, and is making its first appearance in Auckland. Melbourne continues to distinguish itself, though. This year, the Australian Beer Co. and Yenda have joined forces with do-gooders Brewmanity to construct a giant Ferris wheel, with proceeds going to motor neurone disease research. This mouthful of a festival — which is now considered one of the best beer festivals in the world — doesn't just bring you the best in craft beer anymore, either. Creators Steve Jeffares and Guy Greenstone (The Local Taphouse, Stomping Ground Brewing Co.) are now representing cider and food at this behemoth as well. GABS is best known for its 120 'festival beers': specialty brews created just for the event. It gives attendees the rare chance to try brand spanking new beers while meeting the teams behind them. Really loving one brew or brewer? The People's Choice Awards allow you to have a say. In previous years, this segment has been known to launch some of the best and brightest into the craft beer scene.
From the same minds behind The B.East, Globe Alley is an inclusive dive bar with a rock 'n' roll edge, free live music, good times till late and a solid spread of vegan eats across its menu. And, suitably, it's celebrating its first birthday with a lot of all three. After 365 days in the Chinatown space, the venue is throwing a huge free party on Friday, February 28. Expect tunes from the likes of Byron Bay's Dicklord, trio Bitch Diesel, pop glamers Smooth and heavy metal band Atomic Riot. There'll be DJ sets from Joegia Maq and DJ Ruari, too. If you get there early, and we suggest you do, you'll find $2 sliders and $5 Jack Daniel's and cokes, frozen margaritas and pots from 4–6pm. Oh, and free burgers, too. Yep, 100 free vegan and meat burgers will be available from 4pm — so, rock up early if you want one. Updated February 28, 2020
Longtime gaming and beering aficionado, America has a booming barcade scene. From Portland's Ground Kontrol to New York City's Barcade and Two-Bit's Retro Arcade, dive bars are popping up left right and centre; brimming with retro arcade games, pinball machines and Daytona set-ups. Melbourne's been getting in on the arcade action with the likes of Forgotten Worlds and Beta Bar, but now even more so with the opening of Pixel Alley — from the crew behind Mr Wow's Emporium. After an eye-opening trip through America's flourishing barcade landscape, the Mr Wow's crew decided to level up their Fitzroy location. Setting up shop on Smith Street right next to Mr Wow's, Pixel Alley will be an '80s-style retro arcade meant for grown ups. The crew have landed their hands on the likes of Donkey Kong, Street Fighter II, Pac-Man, Daytona and Tapper for a start; all housed amongst original pixelated art by Sketchet Illustration artist Justine McAllister. With lego shot glasses, pixelated Link decorations and Mario-style hearts on the beer glasses, this newbie overall looks a lot like a bar version on Footscray's Eat8bit burger joint. Of course, we're going to need some liquid courage to really tap into our expert Street Fighter skills. Adorably themed cocktails like the Konkey Dong (a barrel-aged rum banana milkshake) and the Pac-Man Bubble Tea should get your head in the right space, and the bar will be stocked with local and American tinnies. Plus, we hear Little Smith Brewing will be providing Bastard Son Pale Ale on tap (with a free game token every time). Just look at this adorable menu: Pixel Alley is set to open in late May at 95 Smith Street, Fitzroy, right next door to Mr Wow's Emporium. Here's the Facebook page for more info.
The toastie has really come into its own in the last few years — it's increasingly becoming the star and namesake of countless pop-ups, permanent venues and even drive-throughs. What can we say? Ain't nothin' wrong with bread, cheese and meat. So we're happy to announce that The Bridge Hotel agrees with the toastie life too. So much so that they're launching their own toasted sandwich pop-up that'll serve fat stacks of toasties to satisfy your midday cheese cravings. From Monday, February 27, the Richmond pub will set up Toast'd. The menu will consist of four types of toasties: sticky chicken (with red onion and American cheese), pulled beef (with American cheese), three cheese (the cheese lineup includes parmesan, brie and mozzarella) and veggie patch (in-season veggie mix with goats' cheese). So hope you like cheese. Either way, they'll be served with a side of pickles to cut through the cheese if it's too much for you. The toasties will be available for ten bucks a pop between noon and 3pm, five days a week from the pub's internal laneway. Toast'd will pop-up from February 27 at The Bridge Hotel, 642 Bridge Road, Richmond.
Peanut butter and blueberry jam. Vanilla creme and chocolate ganache. Lime curd with toasted meringue. These are just a few of the diabetes-inducing flavours that have earned Doughboys a reputation as one of the best doughnut outfits in town. For the past couple of years, Will McKenzie and his team of dough-fiends have popped-up in shared spaces, coffee shops and markets around Melbourne, spreading joy and tooth decay wherever they go. Now, in a piece of news that has us drooling over our keyboard, they've finally cut the ribbon on their first official store. Located towards the Southern Cross end of Bourke Street in the CBD, Doughboys HQ has been a long time in the making, with McKenzie teasing plans for a permanent storefront all the way back in May. Still, we have a suspicion that it'll all be worth the wait. Following a successful trial run on Christmas Eve, they'll be open for realsies on January 4. We might start camping out now though, to make sure we're first through the door. Designed by Studio Esteta, the store boasts tiled floors, high ceilings and ample display cases, so sugar-obsessed doughnut-lovers can press their noses against the glass. Small Batch Roasting Co. will be providing the coffee, and hopefully they'll keep up their partnership with Gelato Messina as well. Because if there's one thing better than a doughnut, it's a doughnut stuffed with chocolate fudge brownie ice cream. Doughboys Donuts is located at 535 Bourke Street, Melbourne and will be open for business from Monday January 4. For more information visit them on Facebook or at their website. Via Good Food.
Move over, Dark Mofo. Victoria's Apollo Bay is getting an after dark arts festival of its very own. Creeping into the coastal shire on the eastern side of Cape Otway, WinterWild will take place on select Saturday nights in July and early August. Each evening will begin with a ceremonial bonfire on the beach, before branching out to the Mechanics Hall and beyond. Standout events on the program include a performance of Tosca by local opera company Cut Opera, a screening of the '90s cult surf film Litmus, sets by Sand Pebbles and Dirty Three's Mick Turner, and talks by Michael Leunig, Clementine Ford and Arnold Zable. Local cafes and restaurants will also get involved with the festival. Steve Earl's acclaimed La Bimba will devise a special festival menu, and provide a place for revellers to recover as the sun rises on Sunday morning. "This festival won't be for the faint-hearted," said festival director Roderick Poole. "It is very much aimed at adventurous spirits ready to take on a challenge; to embrace the harsh environment and celebrate the beauty of the elements at their extremes. WINTERWILD 2017 DATES: Water (July 1-2): Mick Turner (Dirty Three), Sand Pebbles, screening of Litmus with soundtrack performance by director Andrew Kidman. Earth (July 15-16): Butoh performer Yumi Umiumare, Tek Tek Ensemble, Tosca by Cut Opera. Air (July 29-30): Programmed by the Apollo Bay Writer's Festival, including Michael Leunig, Clementine Ford, Arnold Zable and Emilie Zoey Baker. Fire (Aug 12-13): Massed choir of 100 singers, ritual burning of festival sculpture, live music.
In the latest addition to the ever-growing trend toward themed wine festivals, Oinofilia will hit Melbourne's Meat Market on June 24 as Australia's newest event entirely focused on Greek wine. The festival is brought to you by Bottle Shop Concepts, the crew behind wine events Pinot Palooza and Game of Rhones, and will celebrate all things Greek wine, food and culture. The name appropriately comes from the Greek term for "a love of wine". As the oldest wine-producing region in Europe, the festival will showcase 80 wines from 20 of the country's best producers, with wines made everywhere from the Aegean and Ionian Islands to Crete. To accompany the drinks, sister restaurants Elyros and Epocha will join forces with Prahran Market's Sweet Greek and Collingwood's Meatsmith to curate an authentic feast of spit-roasted meats, grilled seafood, pickles, breads, cheese and pastries, among other Greek delicacies. The location is ideal as Melbourne has the largest Greek population outside of Greece. Bottle Shop Concepts' wine festival empire will also continue to expand, with the company recently announcing a new Barossa Valley event, launching this July.
Songwriting legend Paul Kelly's Making Gravy tour is becoming a bit of an Aussie Christmas tradition. Back for a third year, the outdoor concert is kind of the perfect opener to the festive season — time to start thinking about getting the tinsel and ugly jumpers out of storage. As in 2018, you can expect to hear a stack of songs from Kelly's four-decade long career. Listen out for all the hits, from 'Dumb Things', from the album Live, May 1992, to 'Love Never Runs On Time' from Wanted Man (1994). Of course, the Christmas classic 'How To Make Gravy', first released in 1996 on an eponymous EP, is on the menu, too. The tour will coincide with the release of Kelly's new greatest hits album Songs From The South (1985–2019), his collaborative avian-inspired album 13 Ways To Look At Birds and a book of poetry he's curated, called Love Is Strong As Death. Kelly won't be hitting the road alone, either — he's inviting a bunch of special guests. He'll be joined by ARIA Award-winning rocker Courtney Barnett, Aussie Eurovison finalist Kate Miller-Heidke and NZ singer Marlon Williams. Image: Cybele Malinowski.
It's been a great 12 months for queer-themed cinema. Moonlight won last year's best picture Oscar, Call Me By Your Name had everyone swooning and transgender drama A Fantastic Woman not only wowed festival crowds, but also picked up this year's best foreign-language Academy Award. They're just the big players, however. There's plenty of other top LGBTIQ+ cinema where they came from. And, in even better news, much of it is heading to Melbourne for the 2018 Melbourne Queer Film Festival. Running through the numbers, it's shaping up to be another impressive fest when MQFF hits up ACMI, Kino Cinemas and Cinema Nova from March 15 to 26. Across its 12 days and 85 sessions, film buffs can expect 38 features, 14 documentaries and 72 shorts. That includes two world premieres, 12 Australian premieres and 21 Melbourne premieres — and, from all of that, we've selected our five best picks of the bunch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIqwrEtTw-A IDEAL HOME What happens when a couple suddenly meets the grandson they never knew they had? Plenty — and when that hard-partying pair is played by Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd, expect plenty more to occur as well. It's not the first time they've starred together, nor the first time they've shared the screen and pondered the meaning of family, with 2011's Our Idiot Brother also featuring on their respective resumes. Here, however, expect a warm queer comedy about the the connections of kin (be it of blood or of choice) of all shapes and sizes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h6Zwdi86Nw THE CAKEMAKER A sensitive, involving and exceptionally acted German drama that'll tempt your tastebuds and touch your heart, The Cakemaker explores the aftermath of a chance meeting, a passionate affair and a tragic accident — all while acknowledging the many complexities that exist when it comes to love. Berlin-based pastry chef Tomas (Tim Kalkhof) not only falls head-over-heels for Israel businessman Oren (Roy Miller), but is driven to act when their romance is cut short. Tracking down Oren's widow Anat (Sarah Adler) in Jerusalem, Tomas finds a new bond forming over unspoken grief and appetising baked goods. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBGLipbSi_M MANSFIELD 66/67 Never far from the headlines in both life and death, '50s and '60s star Jayne Mansfield was an actress, Golden Globe winner and Playboy playmate. She was also accused of being a Satanist, and became the subject of a persistent myth that she was decapitated in the car accident that claimed her life. Focusing on her final years, Mansfield 66/67 touches on all of the above — and includes interpretative dance sequences in its camp compilation, because why not? John Waters, Kenneth Anger, Peaches Christ and Tippi Hedren rank among the interviewees in a documentary that definitely isn't your standard behind-the-scenes effort. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuIpb6Z6Tuo TORREY PINES From its style of stop-motion animation to its heartfelt true coming-of-age tale, every inch of Torrey Pines should feel hand- and homemade. That's because it is. An autobiographical effort from trans animator Clyde Petersen, the film dives into his '90s upbringing as a Star Trek fan with a schizophrenic mother, takes viewers on their road trip across the US, and explores everything that arises when you're with grappling with identity and sexuality. It's also stuffed full of pop culture references, including pop to Australia's own Crocodile Dundee. SO LONG Enjoying its world premiere at MQFF, So Long has a stronger Aussie connection — made in Melbourne by filmmakers Caitlin Farrugia and Michael Jones, it adds lesbian mumblecore to the country's cinematic output. You might recognise the general story of two just-single twentysomethings navigating life and love might, and there's no doubting that we've all seen that scenario many times before. Familiarity doesn't always breed contempt, however, particularly when it's both realistic and relatable. Keen on more MQFF highlights? Check out Freak Show, A Moment in the Reeds, Signature Move and Sensitivity Training from our 2018 Mardi Gras Film Festival picks, and Desert Hearts, Love, Simon, The Feels and After Louie from our 2018 Brisbane Queer Film Festival selections. There's also I Dream in Another Language from our 2017 Sundance Film Festival list, and BPM (Beats Per Minute) from our Alliance Francaise Film Festival rundown. Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2018 runs from March 15 to 26 at ACMI, Kino Cinemas and Cinema Nova . For more information, visit the festival website.
Aussie documentary Punks For West Papua has no intentions of turning the noise down. Following April's craft beer screening at Sydney's Wayward Brewing Co., this must-see doco has been gaining volume over the last few weeks and will begin a tour of screenings (and paired live gigs) across Australia's bars this month. Never heard of Punks For West Papua? No sweat, we'll clue you in. PFWP is an Australia-wide movement organised by Jody Bartolo and his band Diggers with Attitude. Released earlier this year, the movement's documentary follows the Australian punk scene's fight for people in West Papua, who've experienced genocide at the hands of the Indonesian government since the 1960s. "Punks are used to raising their voice against the government, so this is a natural cause for them," says the doco's Australian director Ash Brennan. The documentary uncovers some shocking truths, including the seemingly deliberate blind eye-turning by the US, UK and Australian governments, who co-own the world's largest gold mine in West Papua (that casually makes a profit in the billions each year). The West Papuan peace protests against the devastation of their land and natural resources have been repeatedly met with massacre by their Indonesian occupiers, who have been systematically stripping the West Papuan identity for over 50 years. This tragic story has been kept quiet by the ban on journalists and foreign aid in the region, so the film aims to raise money and awareness for the Free West Papua cause. "It's happening right next to us and people know nothing about it, but once they do we find they really want to take action," says Brennan. The doco, which has already won the 2016 Documentary Feature Award of Merit at the IndieFest Film Festival in San Diego, features an interview with two time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and long time WP political prisoner Benny Wenda. The Nelson Mandela of the WP cause, Wenda will introduce each screening, most of which are followed by a live punk gig. This punk cause won't stop there, with an annual, global concert planned for the end of June. "The point was to raise real awareness, and seeing the cause go international is a victory, says Brennan. "The film has done its purpose," he adds. What started as one gig back in 2015 is now spanning five countries, including US, UK, Australia, South Africa, Spain and Japan. That's going to be one loud roar for injustice. PUNKS FOR WEST PAPUA SCREENING TOUR DATES: May 4: The Rosemount Hotel, Perth May 11: The Elephant and Wheelbarrow, Melbourne May 24: Law Faculty at University of Sydney May 25: Crowbar, Brisbane May 26: Italo Club, Lismore May 27: Pighouse Flicks, Byron Bay (presented by five-time AFI winner and two-time Academy Award nominee David Bradbury) Can't make the screenings? You can rent or buy the film here, which includes the complete Benny Wenda interview. Proceeds from the rental of P4WP go to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
It's no secret that we Melburnians love our good food, so you can only imagine the culinary delights in store for us throughout November, as The Age plates up its annual Good Food Month. From wallet-friendly eats and drinks to illuminating degustation dinners, here's our festival hit list.
When it's so cold your fingers are stiff, you can't feel your nose and going outside seems as much of a challenge as running Tough Mudder, we're all inclined to reach for the radiator. Which is fine. But here are a few more creative, money- and planet-saving winter warmers to try first. DIY TEA LIGHT HEATER The suitably named Dylan Winter — journo, YouTuber and boat lover — has come up with an ingenious way of getting more than you'd ever imagine possible from your average tea light. He's able to keep his house warm for eight hours or so using just four candles, a bread tin and two flower pots. We have convection heat transfer to thank. Check out his instructional video to find out how you can DIY (and score a quick science lesson while you're at it). GET BUSY ON ETSY Etsy's creative types don't want to see you suffering any more than we do and quite a few of them have come up with the products to show it. First up, if the tiny cracks and crevices in your house are sending icy draughts your way, get your hands on a lovingly handcrafted snake, or equivalent. Those who aren't into handmade reptiles can opt for pretty much whatever they are into — be that cats, snowmen, crocodiles, tiger prints, abstract patterns or plain colours. Second up, keep your hot water bottle warm with a super-cosy, hand-knitted cover. SPICE UP YOUR LIFE For some reason, winter never seems quite so unbearable when you're holding a warm, mulled beverage in your hand. Hot toddies, mulled cider, mulled wine; these are your go-to buds over the next three months. There are plenty of top notch recipes online, all featuring glorious combinations of whiskey, rum or red wine with lemon juice, honey, cinnamon sticks, cloves, aniseed, vanilla, even chilli — seriously, give it a go if you're feeling both cold and brave. [caption id="attachment_231862" align="alignnone" width="636"] Yumi Sakugawa.[/caption] RECYCLE YOUR SOCKS - ON YOUR TOILET SEAT We really don't need to go into detail regarding the ins and outs of mid-winter toilet-going, but before you toss those holey, good-for-nothing socks in the trash, think again. If your toilet seat doesn't quite cut a full oval, you can slide a sock on each 'arm' and thus bid a warm and cheerful farewell to unpleasant experiences. For circular seats, try an old T-shirt or jumper. GET CREATIVE WITH CARDBOARD Cardboard is one of the most effective (not to mention cheapest) insulators around. So next time you head to a winter festival or sports match or just want to perch on your front lawn, arm yourself with a box or two. Lay the card out on the grass, throw a blanket on top and there you have an enviably toasty picnic blanket. Add a tarp underneath if the ground is wet. REWARD YOUR DOG WITH A SLEEPING BAG Earlier this year, Seattle-based designer Andy Storms successfully crowdfunded the BarkerBag. It's a tear-drop shaped sleeping bag designed especially for your dog. By zipping it to yours and strapping your friend in via a cinchable collar, you're in the position to take advantage of some serious doggy body heat throughout the long, dark night. Whether your best mate's a chihuahua or a German shepherd, there's a BarkerBag for him/her. It's available in small, medium and large sizes. GET OFF YOUR COUCH Once the cold's set in, it's ridiculously tempting to let yourself transform into a sloth — just ask black bears, ground squirrels, hedgehogs, wood frogs and box turtles. But the bad news is, despite extensive Googling, we couldn't find you on a hibernating creatures list — anywhere — so we'd think you'd best keep moving. An enthusiastic leap off the couch, five minutes of intense cardio or yoga and you'll be warm in no time. [caption id="attachment_231922" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Flickr.[/caption] FIX YOUR FAN Sure, you might usually associate your ceiling fan with warm summer days (*sigh*), but did you know that it can work in your favour in winter, too? All you have to do is set it to low and ask it to spin in reverse (i.e. clockwise). Warm air that's trapped close to the ceiling will be recirculated and sent downwards — where it should be.
It's that time of year where you should probably start getting your New Year's Eve plans in order. To help you out, Beyond the Valley has just announced the lineup for their celebrated four-day festival in Lardner, Victoria and it's pretty.bloody.good. Just two years old, the Victorian festival is fresh on the New Year's circuit, starting out in 2014. Despite this, they've managed to secure a rather colossal lineup featuring Hudson Mohawke, Phantogram and ZHU among plenty of others. The lineup has some solid Australian flavours, including festival favourites Sticky Fingers, Safia, Dune Rats and Alex Lahey, who absolutely killed it when she opened up Splendour in the Grass last month. We think DZ Deathrays summed it up nicely with this post: Enough chat, here's what you're after. BEYOND THE VALLEY 2016 LINEUP: Alex Lahey Bag Raiders Bakermat Chance The Rapper Dena Amy DUNE RATS DZ Deathrays Eats Everything Emma Louise Giraffage GoldLink Harts Hermitude Highasakite Hot Chip Hudson Mohawke Japanese Wallpaper Jarryd James Jme Kllo Kölsch Ladyhawke Lastlings LUNICE Montaigne Motez MSTRKRFT Oliver Huntemann Paces Pachanga Boys Hippie Dance Phantogram Running Touch Ryan Hemsworth Safia Skream Slumberjack Sonny Fodera Sticky Fingers Thundamentals TOKiMONSTA Total Giovanni Vera Blue Wafia What So Not ZHU Tickets go on sale Thursday, August 11 at 9am from beyondthevalley.com. Images: Beyond the Valley.
Debauched banquets from Bompas and Parr, giant industrial fire organs and all the demon purging and ceremonial death dances you could want in a festival. Now in its third year, Dark Mofo continues to evolve to be darker, weirder and wilder than before. Aligned with the winter solstice and run from June 12-22, MONA’s annual June festival celebrated the Neolithic tradition over ten hedonistic days of eclectic and unpredictable art, performance, music and happenings around Hobart, concluding with the annual nude solstice swim at dawn after the longest night in Australia— yep, people actually swim nude in the bloody freezing Derwent River. Programming for Dark Mofo seems to be a deliberate descent from free-spirited, easily digestible art to uncontrolled, freakish insanity — from loveable Sydney fivesome The Preatures to Japanese eight-laptop conductor EYE. This year's citywide festival had thousands huddled ritualistically around fire bins in the waterfront arts precinct Dark Park, roasting giant marshmallows, chowing down on Pacha Mama wallaby burritos, Quiet Deeds Lamington Ale and Bruny Island oyster-garnished Bloody Marys at the Winter Feast and absorbing all the doom sludge metal, splintered electronic feedback ambience and Marina Abramovic performance art they could guzzle. We put our hands into mystery boxes at Hendrick's Gin's pop-up Parlour of Curiosities (which was wonderfully Sleep No More meets The Blair Witch Project), we made forcefields out of Anthony McCall's stunning Solid Light Works, avoided bodily injury by skipping Byron J Scullin and Supple Fox's Bass Bath and inhaled Aesop's olfactory soap-mist room — all while artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's beam of light towered over the city, pulsing with punter heartbeats. And then there's the event with a safe word (it was 'bananas'). Creative team Supple Fox created the mysterious, epic Blacklist party, a heaving, nightly end-of-the-world art rave taking over Hobart Town Hall until the wee hours. While most might want to abide by the rule 'what happens at Blacklist stays at Blacklist', we can divulge that there was more revolving pink Christmas trees made out of plastic bodies, silent drag shows, star sign-based floor huddles, melancholy poetry readings, Retrosweat-style dance demonstrations, silver balloon drops and car engine bonfires than we've seen at other, less apocalyptic parties. But the best bit about Dark Mofo? For an incredibly niche, dark and avant-garde festival that should be overwhelmingly pretentious, it's probably the most accessible and widely-attended (demographically) festival we've seen in many a day. Toddlers, nannas, teenagers, twenty-somethings, older humans; they all show up and have a grand ol' time. Maybe it's a Hobartian thing. Or maybe there's something about the end of the world that makes us lose our inhibitions and just run with it. Images: Andy Fraser. Words: Shannon Connellan.
It's 3pm. All you want right now is another a coffee. Or maybe a cronut. Or a freakshake, dammit. Or maybe, like, ten Arnott’s biscuits. Nope, can’t do that. Already had five. Is that the post-3pm slump blues whispering – nay, bellowing – in your ear? Really, by now, you should be kicking back at some secret swimming spot or under a waterfall. Especially in this hectic summer weather. We know. We know! But capitalism dictates you’ve another two hours to go before your boss is going to lay down that whip. So, you have to find a way to keep going. All that sweet, sugary, deliciousness might be looking like your only job-quitting-preventative-measure right now, but it’s a bad, bad idea. So, we’re riding to your rescue with five jack-jumping, healthy, healthy snacks. And it’s not all gustatory doom and gloom. We’ve picked these babies for their tastiness, not just their nutrition information panels. BANANA AND TAHINI This God-sent duo has all the creaminess and sweetness of ice cream but none of the refined sugar or saturated fat. Spread it across a piece of toast, throw it in the blender to make a smoothie or just eat it straight, dipping the banana in the jar. Tahini's got more goodness than Mother Teresa (go with it) — from calcium, magnesium, lecithin, potassium, protein and iron to Vitamins E, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B15. If you've had a big night out, it'll help you liver to cope better, thanks to the detoxifying powers of methionine. And everyone knows bananas make you happy. PROTEIN BALLS Available in stacks of different flavours, the mighty protein ball can give any conventional, packeted treat a run for its money, taste-wise. And it also comes with a big ol' dose of protein, which does heaps of good stuff. Like building and repairing muscles, making enzymes, producing hormones and making sure your hair and nails grow (in fact, they're nearly all protein). YouFoodz makes an especially lip-smacking version, a salted caramel version that's actually good for you. It's packed with apricot, sultanas, dates and dark chocolate and coated in crispy bits of waffle wafer. FROZEN FRUIT Regular, room temperature fruit is an excellent substitute for lollies and biscuits. But, with a freezer, you can take things to a whole new, more satisfying, longer-lasting level. That said, you have to make sure you're freezing the right kinds. Grapes are a winner — they become firmer on the outside, yet stay relatively soft in the middle (depending on the temperature of your freezer). So, eating one's a bit like biting into a soft-centred jube or toffee. Bananas, oranges and mangoes are crackers, too. Apples and strawberries don't go so well, as they to get too hard, all the way through. Raspberries can work if left to thaw for a while. DIY TRAIL MIX Plenty of peanut-heavy, packeted trail mixes aren't too appetising — even if they are salutary. Others are peppered with sugary bits and bobs, like choc buds. So, go ahead and make your own. That way, you can tailor it to suit you and, at the same time, make sure there's nothing in there undoing your healthy intentions. Don't forget to add some seeds — sunflower ones give you Vitamin E, B1 and B6, copper, selenium and manganese, while in teeny-tiny sesame seeds, there's CoQ10, which helps keep your heart working and your energy levels booming. No time to DIY? Have a stash of pre-made bars ready to go — Youfoodz does a pretty top notch Supa Food Bar. KALE CHIPS Potato chips one of your go-to snacks? Break that salty, fatty habit with kale chips. You can even make them yourself, without too much hassle: toss a bunch of kale in a minimal amount of olive oil and pop it in the oven till it's crispy. Unless you've been under the Rock of Gibraltar, you'll know this superfood's many benefits by now. There's bucket loads of beta-carotene to help your eyesight, Vitamin C to fight bugs, Vitamin K to make sure your blood clots and Vitamin E, an antioxidant. Images: YouFoodz and Dollar Photo Club.
The Flaming Lips are the very definition of a band that has too much creativity to quit. Their unique psychedelic rock has been around since 1983, but they're not the type of band who'd sign, seal and deliver the same hits over and over. Having said that, you (or someone in close proximity) probably have their greatest tunes perpetually on high rotation, from ‘Do You Realise??’, ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song’, to ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Part 1’ and ‘She Don’t Use Jelly’. Listening to these psychedelic ditties is a joyous trip of an experience in itself, but seeing them live is something else entirely. The Flaming Lips' undeniably brilliant album, Clouds Taste Metallic, is currently enjoying its 20th anniversary and to celebrate, The Flaming Lips are off on tour yet again. Ahead of their Sydney Festival and Palais Theatre shows, we managed to catch up with the very chatty Wayne Coyne and asked him about giving new life to a 20-year-old record, his next-level live shows, and of course, his work with Miley. [caption id="attachment_554895" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: George Salisbury.[/caption] WHERE CLOUDS TASTE METALLIC AND HEADY NUGGS ROAM The Flaming Lips have released a whopping 16 studio albums since 1983, with the beloved seventh album Clouds Taste Metallic hitting shelves in 1995. Over a decade later, how does Coyne feel about the album now? "Some of those songs are just really great, dynamic, freaky songs to play. It’s one of those records that is never that far away from us.” The reissued vinyl, titled Heady Nuggs: Clouds Taste Metallic 20 Years Later, comes with quite a few extra goodies, including a live Seattle set from 1996. “We’re a very lucky group that virtually everything that we’ve ever recorded, we really do have absolute say over what we can reissue.” At first, the live vinyl was not going to cut it. “We never liked the quality. Even though we liked the show, it never sounded very good.” After a little playing around with plug-ins, the band was able to recreate the “crazy, freaky, exciting show" they knew they had on their hands. “I think when people listen to that they get a sense of that very amped-up punk-rock meets psychedelic rock, meets prog-rock weirdo group that we were," says Coyne. With track names such as ‘Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles’, it's hard not to ask for the story behind the album title Clouds Taste Metallic. Turns out Sydney had a hand in it. About 20-odd years ago The Flaming Lips were hanging out with Tool in Sydney. Tool’s then bassist, Paul D’Amour was taking a ride in a four-seater airplane (as you do) and asked the pilot to fly through a cloud (because Paul D'Amour). “He opened his mouth because he thought, 'How often do you get to go through a cloud?' I asked him, what did it taste like? And he said, 'You know, it tasted kind of metallic.' That’s an absolutely true story." ON FINDING A KINDRED SPIRIT IN MILEY The Flaming Lips are no strangers to collaboration; just check out their 15th studio album With a Little Help From My Fwends; a star-studded cover album of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. One creative partnership stands out amongst them: Coyne and Miley Cyrus. “The way that we live our lives is very similar,” Coyne explains, “She’s so on it. She has so much shit to say and songs to sing. I think that’s why we like each other. I’m always going and she’s always going, and so we meet up and we’ve got 20 things we want to do.” According to Coyne, the writing and recording process is more impulsive and natural rather than scheduled and labored. Coyne may start working on something at his studio in Oklahoma, then brings it to Cyrus, where sometimes all they’ll need is one take. “Usually even though we would say we’d start recording at noon, we usually wouldn’t start until 2am,” says Coyne, “She always has a lot of stuff going on. She can be in her house with 50 people and there can be a crazy party going on, and I’ll go in and say ‘Let’s go out and we’ll do some stuff for 20 minutes’. There’s five to six tracks we did together where it’s literally one take and I went into the house, got her, she came out, sang, and that will be the song.” [caption id="attachment_545696" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: Todd Spoth.[/caption] LIVE SHOWS AND THE VIEW FROM INSIDE A HUMAN-SIZED BUBBLE There's a good reason why The Flaming Lips have been declared by Q Magazine as one of the 'Top 50 Bands to See Before You Die'. If you're fortunate enough to have witnessed them live already you’ll be familiar with confetti guns, crazy light shows, costumes, and of course, Wayne Coyne rolling over the crowd in a human-sized bubble. So what’s it like to literally walk on your audience? “I’ve done it so much now that it’s not an utter freak-out surprise,” he says. “I have a certain control over where it’s going to go, I can get a sense of how freaky and exciting it is for the audience. It’s one of those cool moments that we embrace, we’re glad we get to do something like that, and that the audience gets to play along with it.” The only thing that Coyne worries about in the bubble is potentially breaking a nose or a pair of glasses. Bless. For Coyne, the live show experience is a chance to bring everybody into their colourful world. “The things that we do with the lights and the volume, it includes everybody. Even if they don’t know the songs, it brings everybody together. That’s why we want it to be so dynamic. You want everyone to get the most out of it.” The Flaming Lips are most at home in a festival atmosphere, as Coyne explains, “I think it works well with our type of optimistic message. The things we really love to sing, those really do communicate at festivals pretty well.” Coyne believes there could be a new Flaming Lips record ready by April or May this year, but depending on their future work with Cyrus, no plans have been set in stone. “But that’s the great thing about always creating, sometimes by shear accident you stumble across this great song that you didn’t even know that you were going to do. That’s what we want to happen, that’s the reason to always be doing stuff. Some special moment may accidentally happen.” See The Flaming Lips perform live at Melbourne's Palais Theatre on Friday, January 8 and at Sydney Festival on Saturday, January 9 for free in the Domain. More details on The Flaming Lips' website. Top image: George Salisbury (WB).
Here at Concrete Playground, we travel a lot. And because we travel a lot, we have a lot of handy little tips that can take going on an aeroplane from a chore to a delightful, exciting experience that you go through before heading off on the holiday of a lifetime. After extensive research, we're proud to say that none of these travel hacks are as simple or obvious as roll your clothes in your suitcase. In partnership with Expedia, here are ten tips to make your travel process easier this summer. We're going on holiday. 1. PICK AN AIRLINE AND STICK WITH IT If you finally find an airline that has comfortable seats, suitable prices and good service — stick with it. Most airlines have their own frequent flyer program, which despite any preconceptions you might have, are actually really easy to join and get rewards from. Flying with the same airline every time makes your flight choice easier, and even when you're booking through online travel agents you can still enter your frequent flyer number. It might cost you a little more to fly Qantas, but the extra money you fork out will end up in your pocket (in the form of business class flights, members only prices and free upgrades). Virgin Australia use Velocity, and Qantas have their own Frequent Flyer program. 2. CLEAR YOUR BROWSER COOKIE HISTORY IF YOU'VE BEEN FLIGHT HUNTING The incognito window is your best friend. Often if you're returning to a website every day to check the price of the same flight, the company knows and can potentially adjust prices accordingly so you hit that 'buy now' button. Maybe you procrastinate on booking and the next day go back to your flight and find it has gone through a significant price rise. At that point you're likely to book before it gets any more expensive. Nice one, corporations. Combat this by opening an incognito window and hiding your cookies. Sometimes cookies can work in your favour (by saving your shopping cart, sending through deals to flights you've searched for), but they can potentially be used for evil too. Best be safe and clear your browser history. 3. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, THINK AHEAD AND AVOID BAGGAGE FEES For reasons unknown to us and the rest of world, most Australian airlines now have a measly 7kg cabin baggage allowance. That's barely enough for a laptop, phone, charger(s), bottle of water and change of clothes. It's true that airlines don't always weigh your carry on before you get on the plane, but they MIGHT. Which means you could be charged $60 for packing that extra pair of shoes you didn't really need. Be smart and pack light. If you know you have more than 7kg, check in a bag. On most airlines it costs about $20, and it will save you the stress of pleading with airline attendants and crying at the terminal. Virgin and Qantas included checked bags in the ticket price, which in peak times is often worth the extra money. Travel with a duffle bag rather than a suitcase — heavy roller bags will do you no favours. 4. SEAT CHOICE TACTICS When choosing your seat on the plane, don't choose the empty row. Instead, choose the row that has one other person in it, because the next person that comes along won't want to squeeze between the two of you, will they? Another tactic is to wait with your seat selection until the very last minute (before check-in closes), then you'll easily be able to see what's been taken and what's still available. For shorter flights, sitting at the front of the plane means you'll likely get off the plane 10-15 minutes earlier. [caption id="attachment_580107" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Levi Morsy.[/caption] 5. BOOK AT THE RIGHT TIME The best time to book an international flight is four to six months before you fly — that's when the airlines have a better idea of how quickly, or slowly, a flight will start to sell out. For domestic tickets, book between one to two months. Travel on off days and seasons, typically Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Red eyes, the New Year period and flights that leave just after work are a no-go. Keep an eye out for sales — the best ones happen around Boxing Day, January and the mid-year period. 6. AND IN THE RIGHT PLACE Everyone hates booking fees. This unexpected surprise is particularly bad when booking direct through airlines — there's often a booking fee of up to $14.95 just for using your credit card. Avoid this by simply using a debit card instead, or booking through an online travel agent (like Expedia) that doesn't charge booking fees. If you're organised enough, book your flights and accommodation at the same time and you'll often get special deals so you can save yourself a bunch of money. 7. ALL THE REWARDS PROGRAMS It seems like every airline and website is trying to make you sign up to their own loyalty program. As annoying as email spam can be, if you're a frequent traveler (or daydreamer) these programs are often worth it. You'll often get members only flights, VIP hotel bookings, double frequent flyer points and the ability to pay with your rewards points. That means potentially free flights and accommodation, and access to the best deals as soon as they become available. The more you use the same website, the more rewards you'll accumulate. So just like we mentioned above about airlines — stick to the same website. 8. THINK BEFORE YOU BOOK Nothing is more disheartening to a holiday than being slammed by unnecessary airline fees. Changing the time, or name on your ticket can attract a fee up $175 per ticket in Australia. Put more thought into that ticket you're about to buy — are you sure this is exactly when you want to fly? If you're unsure about dates but need to book, look into travel insurance. It's the only thing that will save you in this situation. Put a few dollars aside for a good policy that covers you for change fees and you'll be sort of sorted. 9. DO YOUR RESEARCH AND PRICE MATCH Most airlines, booking websites and online travel agents have some form of price matching function which can often be of great benefit to you and your wallet. Do some hunting around for flights, accomodation and packages on different websites, and then do some hunting around for price match policies. Jetstar use Price Beat Guarantee — they'll beat the price of any flight on the same day within the same time frame by ten per cent. Expedia will price match hotels and packages (flights and hotels booked together), and you'll get a $50 voucher for the trouble. 10. CREDIT CARDS CAN ENABLE YOUR TRAVEL HABITS If you've been brave enough to get yourself a credit card, you may as well get one that really helps you out and saves you some money when it comes time to travel. Most credit cards come with benefits, but some come with travel specific benefits — like travel insurance and special deals that practically pay for the annual fee attached to it. The American Express Explorer card partners with Qantas. It's a little pricier ($395 annual fee), but you get $400 travel credit to spend on the American Express travel website, travel insurance and smart phone screen repair insurance included. Virgin Australia have their own credit card and you get a $129 voucher every year, and the 28 Degrees credit card is particularly good for international travel (no fees on overseas purchases). If you're a regular traveller, the annual fee on a travel credit card pays for itself. Become an Expedia+ member and book your summer holiday in the January sale — you'll have access to prices that others don't see.
