If you're craving to know what the world's best supper tastes like, you’d best book yourself a flight to Denmark. Restaurant magazine has announced the World’s Best 50 Restaurants for the year and Copenhagen’s Noma has reclaimed the Number One position. Having topped the list in 2010, 2011 and 2012, it fell to second in 2013. Meanwhile, second place went to El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain and third to Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy. So, how did we fare? The only Australian restaurant to have made the Top 50 is Melbourne’s Attica, which fell from 21 but still came in at 32; also named the Best Restaurant in Australia for the second year in a row. The judges laud head chef Ben Shewry’s "earthly flavours and foraged ingredients", describing the Attica dining experience as "simultaneously sophisticated and deeply grounded". They’re also impressed with Shewry’s commitment to "his principles of sustainability, to his family and to the cooking craft". Meanwhile, Sydney’s Quay, headed by chef Peter Gilmore, slipped from 48 to 60. (Despite the awards being titled ‘World’s Best 50’, the top 100 are named as well). Even though just two of our homegrown restaurants made the list, Aussies chefing abroad have been making an impact. Newcastle’s Brett Graham, who heads The Ledbury, London was pleased to secure tenth place. “It’s a huge surprise,” he said. “We’ve got a great young team, actually half-full of bloody Australians as well, from all over the country.” At the same time, David Thompson’s Bangkok-based Nahm ranked 13th. He expressed that it’s not easy for Aussie restaurants. "One of the difficult things for Australian restaurants is that it’s so distant – or so far away from the circuit of judges," he said. "It’s a matter of luck in the awards ceremony; it really is." Finally, Sydney chef Tetsuya Wakuda came in at 50th with his Singapore-based restaurant Waku Ghin, improving on last year's 68th ranking. Image credit: Ben Hutchison
Waiheke is an island of rolling hills, gorgeous vineyards and white sandy beaches — a glittering jewel in New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf. As it's only a short hop from Auckland's CBD on a ferry and easy to get around, it should definitely be on your list of places to visit when planning that next short break over the pond. Once there, it's not hard to see why Waiheke regularly appears in travel polls as one of the most beautiful islands in the world. It has a great reputation for relaxation and, most importantly, good food and wine. With over 20 vineyards to choose from, in the place locals affectionately call the Island of Wine, we've narrowed down some of the finest. Flights to Auckland from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are super short — around three-and-a-half hours on average — and Air New Zealand offers great everyday fares from all three. That means you could be nestled up by the fire at one of these top spots in no time at all. MAN O' WAR VINEYARDS Located on the far east of the island, Man O' War vineyard definitely delivers the wow factor both for its location and its wine. The vineyards are set on slopes that surround the tasting room and restaurant, which sits at the edge of the water. It's the only beachfront cellar door on Waiheke and has amazing views over to the Coromandel Peninsula. The tasting room is a lovely place to sip and hear about the flagship and single-vineyard drops. Plus, there are platters and sharing plates available to make the most of the experience. From the big robust winter warming Dreadnaught syrah to the softer summer styles of the Pinque rosé and the Exiled pinot gris, there is something for all palates on offer at Man O' War. OBSIDIAN VINEYARD Located in Onetangi and hidden away in an amphitheatre amongst the vines, Obsidian's cellar door is a simple but beautifully relaxed setting. The 30-minute tastings are led by passionate, knowledgeable staff, and the wine is sublime. Obsidian is known for its deep and delicious Bordeaux-style reds, though it also makes a delightful rosé and chardonnay, too. Yields are deliberately kept low to maximise quality and, as a result, only a limited number of cases are produced each year. The vineyard runs a wine club membership and, as an 'Obsidianado', you'll get access to three tasting packages during the year, with each containing at least one bottle of exclusive vintage and variety. BATCH WINERY The Thomas family's vineyard restaurant and cellar door has one of the best views on the island, with stunning views across to the Coromandel and Auckland's Sky Tower. Let the crew know you're coming over and they'll pick you up from Matiatia Ferry to transport you to the beautifully designed Batch Winery. It was built with reverence — both of the relaxed Kiwi way of life and the traditional winemaking process. The restaurant offers a relaxed ambience to dine with friends and family. The menu takes its inspiration from Waiheke favourites, offering fish 'n' chips, locally sourced oysters and a take on the classic Kiwi onion dip served with potato sourdough. It's a wonderful place to while away an afternoon, drinking a glass or two of Fizz rosé and gazing out over Waiheke island. PASSAGE ROCK WINERY Passage Rock is Waiheke's most awarded winery, with over 60 gold medals earned since 2001, including 18 gold for its reserve syrah. As well as producing magnificent wine, it's also in the most picturesque setting, with Orapiu Bay in the background. After your wine tasting, make sure you spend an hour or two in the bistro, which serves delicious platters and woodfired pizzas. PODERI CRISCI Poderi Crisci offers a little slice of Italy on Waiheke with its old world-style restaurant full of Tuscan charm. A great believer in the Italian tradition of eating and drinking, Poderi Crisci has a four-hour Sunday long lunch that's well worth making the time for. But if you only have a few hours to spare, then the degustation or 'trust the chef' menu will suit you well. The wines are definitely European-influenced — highlights include the cheeky white Arneis and the red blended Viburno. These are produced in a beautiful cellar room that also hosts an annual opera night, which alone is well worth making the trip for. CASITA MIRO Situated above Onetangi beach, Casita Miro is a relaxed, vibrant place where you can take your time to enjoy some seriously delicious food and wine. The restaurant specialises in Spanish and Mediterranean sharing plates, with fine Iberian cured meat, cheeses, local oysters and melt-in-your-mouth pork belly. The outdoor area also runs with the Spanish theme, featuring an evolving mosaic inspired by Gaudi's famous Parc Guell, not to mention views out across the Hauraki Gulf. The tasting room sits outside the restaurant in a colourful garden space, and here you can try a flight of five for $15, including the delightful fortified blend, the Madame Rouge. Book your flights to Auckland with Air New Zealand and start planning your next long weekend away. Plus, Vinomofo has released a case of wine featuring six delicious wines representing the diverse and unique sub-regions of Waiheke, Kumeu and Matakana. Every case has a one in 50 chance of winning return flights to Auckland (from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). T&Cs apply.
Before 'indie' meant more than 'independently signed', Neutral Milk Hotel fit the term by all accounts. Reaching cult status only after their 1999 breakup, the American outfit have since inspired Tumblr posts the world over with angst-soaked lyrics such as "How strange it is to be anything at all." As part of their reunion tour, Neutral Milk Hotel were set to headline the dust-biting Harvest Festival, but made sure to remember their generation-spanning fans here in Aus. Yep, for their first Aussie shows ever, the full lineup from everyone's favourite record — 1998's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea — will be brought to The Forum Theatre on November 15 and 16. The once-in-a-lifetime shows will see NMH joined by M. Ward and Superchunk. So c'mon fanboys and girls, grab the last of the tickets that went on sale Friday October 11. One show has already sold out!
When it comes to costumes, there are a few simple rules. Have fun. Be creative. Don't act like a twit. Unfortunately, some people still have trouble with that last one, with Native American headdresses and other culturally inappropriate garments still an all too common sight at festivals and dress-up parties alike. Thankfully, the team at Sydney's Secret Garden is here to clear up the confusion. Ahead of next weekend's festivities, they've released a short, helpful video about their costume policy, which you can check out below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ9Bhv1iJAk "Our happy place is in some elaborate costume, with a face full of glitter," festival director Clare Downes told Concrete Playground. "There are a ridiculous amount of costume ideas out there. We just want to make sure everyone feels welcome." Secret Garden takes place February 24-25, but bad luck if you don't have tickets because they're sold out.
Folks can't stop talking about Christy Tania. Not only is the renowned dessert chef set to bend minds with her 'Floating Ice Cream' creation on tonight's episode of MasterChef, she's also preparing to launch her own permanent dessert shop, Glacé, in Melbourne's Windsor this August. And, as a teaser for the sweetness to come, Tania's treating both Sydney and Melbourne to a sneak peek, hosting dessert pop-ups in each city, from May 25–28. Across four days, sweet tooths will be able to get their hands on two variations of that magical Floating Ice Cream number — one vanilla and cherry cognac, the other chocolate and cherry cognac — when Tania takes over the Omega and Neil Perry Kitchen at the Prahran Market. The chef first popped up in 2013, after famously steering Melbourne dessert bar Om Nom into its first chef's hat within just two months of heading up the kitchen. Since then, her inspired sweet treats have continued to dazzle and astound, both out of the Om Nom kitchen and during a host of MasterChef guest judge appearances, making jealous messes of audiences across the country. As Tania's first permanent solo venture, Glacé promises to be every bit as impressive as the rest of her artisan treats, the contemporary space set to offer a hefty range of frozen desserts and innovative ice cream flavours, crafted with local ingredients. Make a date with Tania's trademark ice cream push pops, with their layers of cake sponge and ice cream. Find Christy Tania's Glacé pop-up from May 25 until May 28, at the Omega & Neil Perry Kitchen, within The Prahran Market, 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra. The Floating Ice Cream will be available each day, from 11am until sold out. Sydney details are yet to be confirmed.
Once, heading to Nambour was all about gawking at over-sized tropical fruit. Actually, that's still the case. Back in 2013, however, the giant pineapple-owning powers that be added another reason to head to the Sunshine Coast's biggest tourist attraction: an annual music festival with an ace lineup. Well, it's usually annual. The 2020 event has understandably changed its dates a few time in this COVID-19-afflicted year, and now it's moving the whole shebang to 2021. So, you can once again expect some top-notch entertainment across four stages, plus a ferris wheel, food stalls aplenty, arts, crafts and other activities, and camping, all when The Big Pineapple Music Festival returns on Saturday, May 22, 2021. It's enough to make you block out a weekend and start planning a few days spent in the shadow of one of the country's favourite big things. The 2021 lineup hasn't been announced yet, because it isn't as logistically simple as just sticking with 2020's bill — so watch this space regarding who you'll be dancing to. And, ticket-wise, all 2020 purchases are still valid. If you can't attend the new date, you can request a refund between September 9–October 12. If you don't have a ticket yet, fingers crossed that you'll be able to pick one up once the event has processed any returned tickets. [caption id="attachment_760926" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Charlie Hardy[/caption] The Big Pineapple Music Festival will take place on Saturday, May 22, 2021. For further details about the date change, ticketing and refunds, visit the event's website. Images: Charlie Hardie / Claudia Ciapocaa.
Melbourne may not have Mardi Gras, but we do know a thing or two about festivals. Since 1988, Midsumma has been the go-to destination for LGBTIQ festivities, and this year is no exception. Over 85 different venues across the city, there are hundreds of events on offer including art, theatre, music, and parties that include all three. Whether you're after Eurythmics nostalgia, puppets, drag shows, serious contemplation, or Kylie Minogue-themed cocktails — this is the festival that celebrates all types. Get amongst the madness from January 12. Confetti People don't dance enough these days. It's a problem. To go out on the town increasingly involves people mashing their bodies together with a total lack of synchronicity while splashing waves of vodka raspberry on your white shoes. Melbourne nightlife needs a revamp, and this — the official dance party of the festival — may be just the thing to do it. On January 12, the regal Palace Theatre will be fitted out in true technicolour Midsumma style to house some amazing dance music. The Presets head the top of the bill alongside New York act Cakes Da Killa and Melbourne's own World's End Press. These bands will then be joined by no less than nine DJ acts marking all the trappings of an epic night out. There could be no better way to kick off this fresh and exciting festival. Tickets are on sale here, or if you prefer your technicolour fun in daylight hours, check out the Carnival on the same day. Palace Theatre; January 12; $86 - 96. It's That Sometimes You Move Too Loud This exhibition at Edmund Pearce Gallery embraces its defiance to categorisation. Curator Sharon Flynn wrangles some disparate responses to the themes of rupture and identity by seven artists whose work operates across a vast spectrum of forms – from lens-based media to live art. It is also the first time this gallery has allowed the use of live bodies and performance within the space. Edmund Pearce Gallery; January 15 – February 1; Free. Thank You For Being A Friend The idea behind this stage show is pretty straight forward — it's The Golden Girls, but with puppets. Like a zanier, later-life version of Sesame Street, these ladies have been slaying audiences in sold-out shows in Sydney and are now making their way south for crowds at Midsumma. Since airing in 1985, The Golden Girls always had a bizarrely devoted following with gay men; Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanche seemed to strike accord with many gay fans, either a result of the excellent life lessons or stinging one liners that they delivered regularly. One can only think that the comedic pleasures of the whole thing will be doubled by the presence of a creepy Betty White puppet, but time will tell. Tickets for Thank You For Being a Friend are available via Theatre Works. Theatre Works; January 7 - 18; $40 - 47. Sweet Dreams: the Songs of Annie Lennox One of the musical highlights of this year's festival, Sweet Dreams is a one-man vehicle for the prodigious talents of Michael Griffiths — one of the stars of smash-hit Jersey Boys — that’s played to raptured audiences all over the world. The show, written and directed by Dean Bryant, reinterprets the work of Eurythmics songstress Annie Lennox into a modern-day cabaret performance with improvised dialogue. So much of the show is about Griffiths though, and in a testament to his abilities (and stamina!) the show is even double-billed with his own (In Vogue: Songs of Madonna). fortyfivedownstairs; January 15 - 26; $30 - 39. Miss Gay and Miss Transexual Australia 2014 Beauty pageants can be a tired business. More and more, the women end up looking eerily similar, everyone seems to be an expert at baton twirling, and then eventually someone mentions world peace and the audience's eyes roll out of their heads with boredom. Miss Gay and Miss Transexual Australia is exactly the alternative we might need. Now in its fourth year, this show is providing a fresh take on the medium featuring the most beautiful and stylish gay men, cross-dressers, drag queens and transexuals from across Australia. This year's theme, 'Dreams and Fantasy', may sound familiar, but with this new take the average show may be in for a much-needed shot of diversity. Yarraville Club; February 1; $30 - 75. Tell Me A Story Spoken word events are few and far between these days. Haunted by a sometimes cringeworthy past of beat poetry and undergrad creative writing workshops, storytelling is close to becoming another lost art form. But with Tell Me A Story recently selling out shows in Sydney, this new oral phenomena is a welcome addition the Midsumma program. For one night only, under the theme of 'GLBTI Family', comedians, experienced storytellers, and tenacious beginners will share personal experiences over ten minute blocks with a relaxed audience at Gasworks Arts Park. The event on January 17 will be hosted by Kathryn Bendall and will feature Adam Richard, Em Rusciano and Joel Creasey among others. For more information check out the website. Gasworks Arts Park; January 17; $25 - 28. From the Ilk Hello Sunshine is a collective of three Melbourne creatives — Erika de Vos, Jessie Ford and Stacey Bennett — whose illustrations interrogate notions of love, beauty, and queer culture. Like previous work, their exhibition From the Ilk is designed as a provocation to the viewer; one that asks questions about the boundaries that govern our behaviour. Norm Warehouse; January 17 – February 7; Free. No One Likes Me The creator of No One Likes Me, Darren Vizer, is best known for his extensive experience as a choreographer for companies like Sydney Dance Company and Opera Australia. But this play at the iconic La Mama Theatre — where it emerged from its Explorations Season last year — sees Vizer flex his theatrical muscles, creating a tightly interwoven piece that explores the interconnected impact of bullying upon our identity. La Mama Theatre; January 23 – February 2; $15 - 25. Battle on the Bent Track One of several sporting events on offer throughout Midsumma, Battle on the Bent Track sees teams from Queensland, Victoria, NSW, ACT, SA, WA and New Zealand duke it out in Australia’s only queer roller derby tournament. The Battle’s an offshoot of the Vagine Regime Australia, an international queer league founded in 2008. As well as enjoying a sport that’s high-stakes and fiendishly difficult you’ll be supporting the Regime’s work with LGBTI charities, with an afterparty to boot! Puckhandlers Roller Sport Stadium; February 1; $22.50 - 33.50. Bar Kylie This may just be the most exciting part of the entire festival. It's pretty distant from the art or the theatre or the important discussion-type events but it is an entire bar devoted to all things Kylie Minogue. It's going to be glitzy and kitsch and fabulous. Open for just four days in the middle of January this special bar, housed in The 86 on Smith Street, has a jam-packed lineup prepared for Kylie-lovers young and old. Wednesday, January 15 will kick off the festivities with free Gelato Messina from 6pm, special $10 Kylie Kocktails and a top secret act yet to be announced (everyone surely has their fingers crossed for the diva herself!); Thursday will bring with it a lip-synching competition; Friday night will host an entire ball devoted to Ms Minogue, and Saturday will be 'Kylie Nation' — an elaborate dance party featuring Brendan Maclean, Millie Minogue and a stage full of drag superstars. Already, it's being hailed as a place for "screaming queens, queers, butch bears, bis, femmes and confused straights," or in other words, the average Kylie fan. The 86, 185 Smith Street; January 15 - 18; Free Wednesday - Friday, $20 on Saturday. Written by Eric Gardiner and Meg Watson.
Any good 'twist movie' carries with it two inescapable truths: joy to behold, bitch to review. The best to which a critic can aspire is circumspection bordering on indifference, tempered like a card shark sitting on an unbeatable hand. That task becomes even more formidable when the twist itself provides the basis for the entire plot. In those cases, as it is with Steven Soderbergh's latest (and supposedly last) film Side Effects, even just stating what the film's about in the broadest possible terms discloses more than can ever be justified. Ultimately, there's little more that can be said beyond "This film is great and you really ought to see it." And yet, sufficient as that review might be, in this instance Side Effects' name and tagline — "One pill can change your life" — helpfully offer at least a permissible insight into the movie's umbrella theme: prescription drugs. Its main character Emily (Rooney Mara) flits back and forth from one antidepressant to the next like they were competing brands of cereal, forever in search of that consequence-free panacea to her daily "poisonous fog bank rolling in". Her well-intentioned psychiatrist (Jude Law) dutifully doles out each prescription, just as eager to cure her melancholy yet also candidly advocating certain medications over others in exchange for those companies' generous consultancy fees. However, just as Side Effects appears to be establishing itself as the fictionalised version of similarly themed documentaries like Generation RX and Prescription for Disaster, it takes such a sudden and monumental shift that the audience audibly gasped in our screening. From that moment on, Soderbergh (who also filmed and edited the movie under pseudonyms) has you questioning and requestioning everything you see and hear, grasping for clarity, and staving off paranoia like the very characters before you. If indeed this is to be his swan song, then we can take solace in knowing he's left us with another gripping, intelligent, and complex psychological thriller befitting both his status as an auteur and his extraordinary back catalogue of films.
When politicians start talking about public transport again, it's safe to say a state election is in the works. And, while the usual spiel is about the benefits of Myki (lol) and the inherent evilness of fare evaders, this morning's announcement is actually something to get excited about. Premier Denis Napthine today announced that if re-elected in November, his government will make trams in the CBD free of charge, and all zone 2 tickets will be capped at zone 1 prices. Better yet, Opposition leader Daniel Andrews backed the move, stating that if Labor takes office, the proposed changes will go ahead as planned. In conclusion, no matter who you vote for, this is actually happening. The changes are especially welcome news for commuters in the outer suburbs whose ticket prices will be dropping by $4.96 a day, equating to savings of around $1,200 per year. This will undoubtedly make a big difference to those struggling to keep up with Melbourne's rising cost of living — we are now ranked as the sixth most expensive city in the world. The news of free trams is even more explosive. No longer do you need to watch your back while hitching a ride from the State Library to Fed Square (seriously, I once got a $212 fine for this three-block trip); trams in both the CBD grid and Docklands will be unpoliced and free to ride from January 1. The free area will include everything between Flinders Street, La Trobe Street, and Spring Street with the added inclusion of Queen Victoria Markets. However, once you pass these zones you will have to touch on (and I'm sure the likeable folks of Public Transport Victoria will be waiting with open arms). Though the move will cost the state government upwards of $100 million, it's a win for a number of reasons. Firstly, it will ease congestion and speed up CBD travel with no one incessantly tapping their Mykis on and off, and the tourism industry will also flourish as visitors will no longer need to purchase non-refundable Myki tickets or forlornly wait for the slow and ineffective City Circle tram. However, concerns have been raised about the repercussions of such changes. Tony Morton, President of the Public Transport Users Association told The Age, ‘‘We absolutely believe that what this will do is increase fares overall." "When zone 3 tickets were abolished, any saving that there was from that was more than clawed back with increases to zone 1 and 2 fares,’’ he said. For the moment, we're remaining cautiously optimistic. Any changes that endorse and strengthen our public transport system are obviously a step in the right direction towards long-term sustainability. But at the same time, we've been burnt in the past. Via The Age. Image credit: Michael Aulia.
Returning to the Great Ocean Road for another bout of end-of-year scullduggery, Falls is back with the likes of Foals and Disclosure at the top of the bill (both with shiny new albums to boot). Expect those beloved Brits Bloc Party on the bill as well, alongside a killer collection of international gems — we're talking Gary Clark Jr, Mac DeMarco, Kurt Vile and The Violaters, Toro Y Moi, Django Django, Young Fathers and The Maccabees to start with. Even Weird Al' Yankovic will headline the opening Boogie Nights party. Random. Australia's contingent deserves two thumbs way up, from international goakicker Courtney Barnett to dancefloor dominators RUFUS and the likes of the legendary Paul Kelly (with his Merri Soul Sessions), Hilltop Hoods, Meg Mac, Gang of Youths, Hiatus Kaiyote, Little May, Alpine, Birds of Tokyo, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Seth Sentry, Halsey, BØRNS and more. Enough chatskies, here's that lineup you're after: FALLS FESTIVAL 2015 LINEUP: Alpine The Avener Birds of Tokyo Bloc Party BØRNS Courtney Barnett Disclosure Django Django Foals Gang of Youths Gary Clark Jr Halsey Hiatus Kaiyote Hilltop Hoods King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Kurt Vile & The Violators Little May The Maccabees Mac DeMarco Meg Mac Oh Wonder Paul Kelly & Merri Soul Sessions feat. Clairy Browne, Dan Sultan, Kira Puru, Vika & Linda Bull RÜFÜS Seth Sentry Toro Y Moi Young Fathers and more BOOGIE NIGHTS LINEUP Art vs Science El Vez Fleetmac Wood 'Weird Al' Yankovic and more UPDATE: Falls Festival Lorne has been relocated due to bushfires in the area. The festival will now be held at Mount Duneed Estate, just outside of Geelong. They've also just announced a one-day NYE ticket, with proceeds going to the Surf Coast Shire communities directly affected by the fires. You can find more information here. Image: Falls Festival.
If you're a fan of rooftop bars or barbecue (or, better yet, both), prepare to have your day made. After opening a new dedicated, two-storey barbecue joint on Bourke Street, the Fancy Hank's BBQ crew are now serving icy cold drinks at Good Heavens, the aptly named rooftop bar that sits above the smoked meat haven. It's a slice of Palm Springs in the Melbourne CBD, with the brand new casual rooftop bar completely unlike anything the Fancy Hank's guys have done before. Think brightly-coloured '80s-inspired cocktails, including twists on period-appropriate favourites like the Harvey Danger and Good Mai Tai. Think trusty classics given a new lease of life — such as the Poco Loco (aka Good Heavens' take on the Pina Colada) and Big Pharma (which you might usually call an espresso martini) — as well. Of course, it wouldn't be a Fancy Hank's venture without barbecue snacks, with the bar menu designed by venue partner and executive chef Mike Patrick. Mixing up Australian and American fare, as well as offering a more casual take on the meals served downstairs, the menu features the Hank's cheeseburger and nachos with brisket mole and queso, plus fried cauliflower with vegan ranch dressing and artichoke dip for non-carnivorous patrons. Throw in ten local and international beers on tap and DJs playing every weekend, and you might've found your new summer hangout. A word of warning: Good Heavens' many heavenly pleasures are limited to 200 people at a time, as per their liquor license, so you might want to get in early. Good Heavens is now open at 1/79 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information. By Imogen Baker, Lauren Vadnjal and Sarah Ward.
If you're partial to a healthy dose of Mother Nature, here's yet another excuse to get out there and enjoy it. Victoria is on track to score a huge infusion of green space, with the State Government announcing that $154 million of the Victorian Budget 2019/20 will go towards creating a swag of new parkland across the inner city and outer suburbs. In fact, over 6500 hectares worth of new parks, walking tracks and bike trails are planned, equating to a space over 170 times the size of Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. This hefty nature boost will see extra parkland created in growing suburban areas including Officer, Clyde, Craigieburn, South Morang and Carrum, while 16 existing green spaces and off-leash dog parks will score upgrades. That means your local patch could soon be in for improved playgrounds, toilets and picnic facilities. The much anticipated 355 hectares of green space between Moorabbin and Dingley Village, known as the Sandbelt Parklands, will also finally be delivered. In addition to this, 25 new pocket parks will be created in the more built-up inner city suburbs. Prahran, Richmond, Albert Park and Bentleigh are set to get two parks each, while Footscray, Brunswick, Northcote, Williamstown, Essendon, Oakleigh, Caulfield, and Ivanhoe will score one a piece. This map below shows which areas will score more green space. There's good news for local camping fans, too, with another $107.2 million in funding going towards building new campgrounds, upgrading facilities and improving walking tracks. And, while the Victorian Government's already scrapped camping fees at over 70 campgrounds across the state, it's now promised to go one better and halve all remaining fees in our state and national parks. That camping trip you've been plotting is looking more attractive than ever. The Budget is currently up for debate in the upper house, but is likely to be passed. The Andrews Government will then set about actioning the items in the budget. With all this new green space, it will be hoping to claw back its title as the most liveable city in the world. Image: Visit Victoria.
Each year we anticipate the arrival of December 25. Because of the day off, the promise of an afternoon spent dozing in a hammock — and the arrival of Messina's annual Christmas cake. And while the gelato chain last year went for a festive response to Sydney's lockout laws in the form of Santa trying to fit down a chimney, it's decided to take on a quintessential Australian dessert for 2017: the trifle. Enter The Christmas Coma. This epic ice cream creation will feature layer upon layer of everything that is good about Christmas — but instead of being soggy and slightly regrettable, this one will have you licking the glass bowl. So what's in it? The trifle will be layered with — here we go — vanilla custard gelato, whipped cream, peach jellies, raspberry marsala jelly, raspberry meringue, sherry-soaked jam rolls and bloody peach sorbet. Plus, it'll be garnished with white chocolate and cherry truffles and come with Messina brandy custard and chocolate-coated nuts to douse all over the mess. The trifle, which serves 18–20 (or less if you really commit), costs $120 and can be ordered for pickup between December 22 and Christmas Eve. In Sydney you can pick one up from Rosebery, Darlinghurst, Bondi, Miranda, Penrith, Tramsheds and Parramatta. If you're in Melbourne, you can get one from the Fitzroy or Windsor outposts — and the South Brisbane store will be making them too. Hopefully nan won't take it personally. The Christmas Coma is available to order at gelatomessina.com from 9am on Tuesday, December 5.
You’ve seen him on Would I Lie To You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Stewart Lee’s Alternative Comedy Experience, and now you can see him in person. Paul Foot is so left field, he’s unlike any other comedian to grace the Brisbane Comedy Festival stage — and yes, that’s a good thing. If the unusual title of his show doesn’t let you know that you’re in for something special, perhaps his many awards — including Best International Act at both the Sydney and Perth Comedy Festivals in 2014 — will. And if you’re not familiar with his stream-of-consciousness collection of random thoughts, that might even be for the best. You can only discover him for the first time once, after all.
2020 might've temporarily taken away our ability to head overseas, hit up big events and, for portions of the year, leave our houses; however, it hasn't robbed us of our collective fascination with Christmas lights. Luminous festive decorations really shouldn't cause such a fuss. They pop up everywhere every year, after all, and we're all well and truly aware of how electricity works. But those twinkling bulbs are just so hard to resist when it's the merriest portion of the calendar — especially after a 12-month period with a noticeable downturn in joy otherwise. Perhaps you're a casual Christmas lights fan, and you're completely fine just checking out whichever blazing displays you happen to pass in your travels? Maybe you have a few tried-and-tested favourite spots, and you return to them every year? Or, you could want to scope out the best and brightest seasonal-themed houses and yards? Whichever category you fall into, an Australian website called Christmas Lights Search is likely to pique your interest. It's as nifty and handy as its name suggests, and it covers festive displays all around the country. To locate all the spots that you should head to, it's as easy as popping in your postcode or suburb — or those of places nearby — and letting the site deliver the relevant options. Christmas Lights Search also rates the lights displays, if you want to either go big or stay home. And it's constantly being updated, so, like the best combos of glowing trees, sparkling bulbs and oversized Santas, you might want to check it out more than once. When you pick an individual address listed on the site, you'll be greeted with some key information, too. The level of detail varies per listing, but expect to peruse photos, the ideal hours to swing by, a date range, a description of what's on offer and even COVID-19-safe info. All that's left is to get searching, plot out where you'll be heading every night between now and Christmas Eve, and get ready to see oh-so-many reindeer, candy canes and snowmen. Check out the Christmas Lights Search online now.
If a mid-year holiday is on your upcoming agenda, you might want to make a date with one of the regions of Australia that usually depend heavily on overseas tourists. To encourage Aussies to enjoy a getaway at home, and to support areas of the country that have taken a huge tourism hit while the nation's international border is closed, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has today, Thursday, March 11, announced that the Federal Government is halving the cost of 800,000 flights to 13 spots over the next few months as part of a $1.2 billion package. Australians will be able to nab discounted fares to a range of scenic places. In Queensland, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, the Whitsundays and Cairns are all on the list; in the Northern Territory, the package focuses on the Lasseter region which includes Uluru, and Alice Springs; and in Tasmania, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie all feature. You can also head off to Broome in Western Australia, Avalon in Victoria, Merimbula in southern New South Wales and Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Exactly which routes will be included is still being decided, as is the number of tickets on each, but they'll be available from Thursday, April 1 through until July. It's expected that around 46,000 half-price flights will be on offer each week during that period, and that you'll be travelling with Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar. The tickets will go on sale via the respective airline websites and, if the demand is there, the Federal Government may add to the scheme later in the year — in terms of locations and routes. "I think we'll see more opportunities for this program," said the Prime Minister in today's press conference, when asked about future plans. As well as helping support the tourism industry in regions that usually rely upon international visitors — not just by getting folks there at a discounted price, but by leaving them more money in their budgets to spend on tours, attractions, venues, places to stay and hospitality, too — the plan will also provide an incentivised excuse for Aussies to take a local getaway while international travel is still off the cards. The cut in price will be delivered via a subsidy to the participating airlines, which'll receive government funds to cover the difference in fare. That's just one part of the overall package, with funding to keep 8600 of Qantas and Virgin's international flight employees in their jobs, extended financial support for zoos and aquariums, and loans for small- and medium-sized businesses also included. The 800,000 half-price flights will be available in weekly batches from Thursday, April 1. For further details, keep an eye on the Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar websites.
Australia is home to tens of thousands of species of wildflowers — many of which are grown exclusively in Australia — making it one of the biggest and most diverse collections in the world. While some bloom in seemingly endless fields of brilliant colour, others grow in hard-to-see spots, among trees and grasses. Most get started in early spring, but, in cool environments, like the Snowy Mountains, the real action doesn't kick off until summer. Here's your guide to some of the best places for wildflowers in Australia — from the alpine meadows of Kosciuszko National Park to the wattle-filled picnic areas of Warrandyte State Park, just outside Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_740494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elinor Sheargold[/caption] NSW: KOSCIUSZKO NATIONAL PARK Once the snow has melted, Kosciuszko National Park transforms into a wonderland of wildflowers. Hundreds of species grow here, including 21 that are unique to the area. One of the nicest ways to see them — while conquering Australia's highest mountain — is along the Kosciuszko Walk, which travels for 13 kilometres from Thredbo to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko. If you're looking for an even more epic adventure, go for the Main Range Walk: a 22-kilometre loop that takes in several glacial lakes. Either way, you'll meet bright yellow billy buttons, pink everlasting daisies, yellow and purple eyebrights and alpine mint bush, among other delights. When to visit: December–January. [caption id="attachment_631474" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pam Goldie[/caption] NSW: MUOGAMARRA NATURE RESERVE Need a wildflower fix, but don't want to travel too far from the city? Make tracks to Muogamarra Nature Reserve, which lies an hour's drive north of Sydney, near the Hawkesbury River. More than 900 native species live here, from brilliant red waratahs and angophoras to pink boronias and native orchids. Plenty of animals enjoy the sights, too, so don't be surprised to come across echidnas, wedge-tailed eagles and lyrebirds. To deepen your knowledge, join a guided walk, be it the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, the Muogamarra Highlights Walk or the six-hour Peats Bight Walk. There's only one catch — Muogamarra is open just six weekends each year in August and September. When to visit: August–September. [caption id="attachment_740505" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Spencer[/caption] NSW: TOORALE NATIONAL PARK If you're up for a road trip, make Toorale National Park your destination. You'll find it at the back of Bourke, around 11 hours' drive northwest of Sydney. Perched on the banks of Darling River, the park is made up of enormous floodplains and waterways, which create ideal conditions for flowers to bloom. See the most spectacular scenery on the Darling River Drive, a 41-kilometre loop that, in spring, passes through fields of teeny-tiny sunray daisies. After rainfall, you'll be surrounded by bluebells, native peas and pigweed. It's also an excellent route for stargazers and birdwatchers, especially those who like baby emus. You can camp by the water, too, at Yapara Paaka Thuru (Darling River Campground). When to visit: September–October. VIC: GREATER BENDIGO NATIONAL PARK Bendigo isn't only an excellent escape for culture vultures, it's also perfect for wildflower watchers. That's because the city is more or less encircled by national park. Begin your escapades at One Tree Hill Regional Park, with a three-kilometre hike to the summit. It's steep, but worth the visual rewards — expect to be immersed, not only in golden carpets of wattle, delicate wax flowers and an array of native orchids, but also by panoramic regional views. Another flowery spot nearby is Solomon Gully Nature Conservation Reserve, which is a 10-minute drive south of town. When to visit: September–December. [caption id="attachment_740501" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julian Kingma for Visit Victoria[/caption] VIC: GRAMPIANS NATIONAL PARK A whopping one third of Victoria's wildflowers are in Grampians National Park. In fact, it was once described as the 'garden of Victoria' and, given that Victoria was once known as 'The Garden State', that's saying something. If you're visiting in early spring, head for Heatherlie Quarry, Mount Zero and Mount Stapylton — all in the Grampians' northern section. Also impressive is Wartook Valley, where acacia blooms from late August. Come spring, the best views are around Halls Gap, where the last weekend of September is dedicated to the Grampians Wildflower Show. When to visit: August–December. [caption id="attachment_703439" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick Carson via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] VIC: WARRANDYTE STATE PARK Want wildflowers without any driving? You're in luck. Melbourne has its very own stash of blossoms in Warrandyte State Park, on the banks of the Yarra, 45 minutes' drive northeast of the CBD. It's the closest state park to the city. There's a diverse and colourful variety of flora to spot, from chocolate lilies (which are purple, not brown) and milkmaids to blue pincushions and pale sundews. Most bloom between September and December, though some, like ivy-leaf violets and common heath, last longer. In between looking down for flowers, look up for koalas. When to visit: September–December. [caption id="attachment_726968" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben Nott for Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] QLD: GIRRAWEEN NATIONAL PARK The name's a giveaway. Girraween means 'place of flowers'. And they look even more dramatic here than in other spots — thanks to the massive granite boulders and outcrops, which create stunning backdrops. The show starts early, in late July, when thousands of wattle trees turn gold. But it's in spring that things really get going, with pea flowers bringing showers of red and purple, followed by native sarsaparilla, native bluebells and stacks of daisies, in a spectrum of colours. The cornucopia of blossoms is a magnet for flower-loving wildlife, including butterflies, crimson rosellas, wedge-tailed eagles and lyrebirds. Girraween National Park is three hours' drive southwest of Brisbane. When to visit: July–January. QLD: GURULMUNDI Not many people live in Gurulmundi, a locality in the Western Downs located five hours' drive northwest of Brisbane. So you won't be bumping elbows while photographing wildflowers. To help you make the most of the many blooms that grow here, there's a dedicated wildflower trail. Made for driving, this 100-kilometre loop officially begins in the nearby town of Miles and takes you off the beaten track, onto unsealed roads and into out-of-the-way places. Along the way, you'll cross the 5000-kilometre-long Dingo Barrier Fence: the longest fence in the world. Follow the wildflower signs for the most beautiful vistas. When to visit: September. QLD: BIRDSVILLE Birdsville might be best known for its legendary pub and spring races, but there are wildflowers, too. Lots and lots and lots of them. That's because the town is in the Diamantina River floodplains, which means fertile soil. The best time to visit is after spring rain, because it drives the seeds to sprout. And, given the terrain is so flat, the results aren't hard to see. Keep your eyes peeled on the road into Birdsville and, if you're exploring further, into Betoota and Bedourie, as well. Just some of the exotic flowers you're likely to see include poached egg daisies, the hairy darling pea, wild stock and desert nightshade. When to visit: After it rains. Top image: Wildflowers in the Grampians by Christine O'Connell; Barrington River by John Spencer; and Muogamarra by John Spencer.
Put together in only nine days and watched by more than 1.4 million Australians, 2020's Music From the Home Front was the nationally televised music event created by late Australian music industry icon Michael Gudinski. Last year, the ANZAC Day home concert came about to bring live music into viewers' homes during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown. Now, with Australians once again able to converge on concert venues together to watch music in-person, Music From the Home Front is not only returning to screens, but will also be happening live. Going down on Saturday, April 24, the live event will take place at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl and be broadcast via Channel 9 and YouTube. Folks that physically head along will be treated to performances from some of the country's biggest talents including Amy Shark, Vance Joy, Tash Sultana and Lime Cordiale, plus Bliss n Eso performing with Kasey Chambers. All these performances will be broadcast live across the country, with home viewers also being treated to additional pre-recorded streamed performances from the likes of Tina Arena, You Am I, Gordi, The Kid Laroi, and both Jimmy and Mahalia Barnes. Gudinski had been planning the live concert until his tragic passing on Tuesday, March 2. Newly appointed Mushroom Music Group Chief Executive Officer Matt Gudinski — who is also Michael Gudinski's son — said his father was working on the event right up until his last day. "That we can bring to life a broadcast concert version from his hometown of Melbourne, supporting the industry he loved, in a city he long promoted as the leading music capital of Australia, resonates deeply with all of us at Mushroom." Tickets for the Sidney Myer Music Bowl concert start at $69 and will go on sale from Friday, April 16, with pre-sales from Wednesday, April 14. More acts are set to be announced, but you can find the full lineup for both the live and streamed events at present — as well as ticket details — on the event's website. [caption id="attachment_806979" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lime Cordiale[/caption] MUSIC FROM THE HOME FRONT LINEUP Performing live at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl: Amy Shark Bliss n Eso with Kasey Chambers Budjerah Jerome Farah Lime Cordiale Mia Wray Tash Sultana Royal Melbourne Hospital Scrub Choir The Rubens Vance Joy Streamed performances: Ben Lee Dean Lewis Gordi Hayley Mary Jess Hitchcock Jimmy Barnes Mahalia Barnes Sam Fischer The Kid Laroi Tina Arena You Am I Music From The Home Front 2021 will take place at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, and will be broadcast on Channel 9 and YouTube on Saturday, April 24. For further details and ticket information — and to buy tickets from Friday, April 16, with pre-sales from Wednesday, April 14 — head to the event's website. Top image: Wade Malligan.
Calling all French film fans: for the whopping 34th year, Australia's Alliance Française French Film Festival is screening a feast of flicks from the other side of the world. Hitting Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, The Astor Theatre, The Kino and Pentridge Cinema in Melbourne from Wednesday, March 8–Wednesday, April 5, this year's cinematic celebration will screen 39 movies throughout March and April — and the full program is something special. AFFFF's 2023 opening-night pick: Masquerade, spinning a tale of glitz, glamour and the Côte d'Azur's far-less-glossy underbelly under La Belle Époque's director Nicolas Bedos' guidance — and with Pierre Niney (Yves Saint Laurent) and Isabelle Adjani (The World Is Yours) among his stars. As a bookend on closing night, it's joined by Freestyle, which takes to the road with Benjamin Voisin (Lost Illusions) and Marina Foïs (Stella in Love), and promises to end the fest as memorably as it begins. In-between, must-sees include Saint Omer, with documentarian Alice Diop drawing from true events to craft a drama about a young Parisian journalist and novelist attending murder trial, then wading through the complexities it surfaces within her own family history; One Fine Morning, the latest film by Bergman Island's Mia Hansen-Løve, this time a family drama starring Léa Seydoux (Crimes of the Future); and The Innocent, as written by, directed by and starring Louis Garrel (A Faithful Man), based on his own experiences, and also featuring Noémie Merlant (Tár). There's also Final Cut, a French remake of Japanese cult hit One Cut of the Dead from The Artist director Michel Hazanavicius, starring Romain Duris (Eiffel); Winter Boy, the new film from Sorry Angel's Christophe Honoré, an autobiographical drama focusing on 17-year-old Lucas (newcomer Paul Kircher); Brother and Sister, with Marion Cotillard (Annette) playing a stage actor and sibling to Melvil Poupaud (Summer of 85); and Other People's Children, a Virginie Efira (Benedetta)-led effort about being a stepmother that's also inspired by director Rebecca Zlotowski's (Planetarium) own life. Two Quentin Dupieux films sit on the program, too, with the director of Rubber and Deerskin adding both Incredible but True and Smoking Causes Coughing to the lineup — and a sense of humour that only he possesses. Plus, there's award-winner Playground, which focuses on a seven-year-old girl; On the Wandering Paths, which brings Sylvain Tesson's novel to the screen so swiftly after The Velvet Queen also turned his work into cinema (including at AFFFF 2022); and The Origin of Evil, an account of a dysfunctional family that's one of three AFFFF 2023 movies to star Full Time's Laure Calamy. This year's focus is firmly on the new over the classic, but when it comes to looking backwards, 1988 French box-office smash The Big Blue does the honours. The full list of 2023 AFFFF titles goes on, as cinephiles have come to not just expect but thoroughly enjoy from a fest that's the largest celebration of French film outside of France.
True to form, classy cocktails are high on the agenda at Eau de Vie for NYE. A cheeky $100 ticket gives you entry into the main bar, the always-appreciated glass of bubbles, three of EDV's celebrated signature cocktails and canapes to boot. If you're looking to kick it up a notch, the team are also offering a degustation dinner with matching cocktails for $175, including a five-course meal paired with those raveworthy concoctions made by Eau de Vie's award-winning bartenders. Doors open at 6pm, and booking as far in advance as possible is highly recommended.
Take advantage of the Sunday sunshine and gather your mates for an afternoon of bowls at the Fitzroy Victoria Bowls Club. Whether you're an aficionado or barely understand the rules of the game, you'll love this iconic spot that's the self-proclaimed unofficial home of barefoot bowls. This Melbourne institution offers lawn and ball hire in two-hour blocks for $20 per person, and has space aplenty for between-game picnicking and relaxation. If this century-old sport isn't really your thing, though, no worries. Just grab a bevy and some classic pub fare from the bar and watch your mates battle it out.
As Melbourne's hospitality scene starts to reboot and doors reopen across the city, another groundbreaking player has entered the food scene. In fact, it's Australia's first zero-carbon street food kitchen and it's made its home in Federation Square. Named Atiyah and run by Therese Helou and her son-in-law Ben Armstrong, the Lebanese kiosk made its debut on Monday, November 2. Not only does the minimalist venue serve up a menu of top-notch Lebanese eats, but it's doing so without a carbon footprint. Atiyah's 100-percent renewables-run kitchen is the first of its kind in this country, with an on-site rainwater filtration system, solar panels, a Tesla battery and a generator powered by waste cooking oil. Sustainability has been the focus for every element, from the ingredients through to what the final product is served in. Carbon-neutral, compostable packaging is used and all of Atiyah's food waste is transformed into nutrient-rich soil for local community gardens. Flying from the kitchen, expect to see a range of traditional dips and manakish (handmade flatbreads) grilled to order with various sweet and savoury toppings. Pick from the likes of za'atar with salad, akkawi (an Israeli cheese) and sesame, and a gluten free and vegan choc-hazelnut dessert number. There'll be served alongside the likes of Two Boys Brew kombucha poured from a keg. When you take a peek at the menu, you'll also notice numbers showing the carbon emissions being saved with each dish and drink. Not only is this food doing good things for the planet, but you can actually calculate the difference being made with each bite. Find Atiyah at Federation Square, corner of Swanston and Flinders streets. It's open from 11am–9pm daily.
It's December, so summer has been steaming up Australia for a week now. It's also predicted to be a particularly warm and wet season. So, you might think that snow is off the agenda for a few months. That's a reasonable view to hold. It's sensible, in fact. But it seems that the weather has other ideas, with New South Wales and Victoria's alpine regions getting more than a little frosty this week. Yes, it has been snowing in places such as Perisher and Mount Hotham. The former got down to -0.8 degrees overnight last night (as Monday, December 7 became Tuesday, December 8), as recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology. It's also forecast to hit a -1-degree minimum on Wednesday, December 9. At the latter, the mercury is only tipped to hit 7 degrees maximum on Tuesday, December 8, while Weatherzone reports that it got down to -1.4 degrees overnight. Numbers are all well and good, but if you want on-the-ground details — and images — a number of places in both areas have you covered. Perisher Resort and Hotham Alpine Resort have each posted videos to their social media showing the conditions. If you haven't seen snow in summer before, well, consider that a new 2020 achievement. https://twitter.com/PerisherResort/status/1336068906327318528 https://twitter.com/_hotham/status/1336079287091269632 As the Bureau of Meteorology in both NSW and Victoria have reported, wintry conditions are indeed on the cards in both state's alpine regions this week. Perisher is expected to have minimums between -1–3 degrees until Monday, with maximums between 9–17. At Mount Hotham, the corresponding ranges span -1–7 in terms of lows and 7–17 degrees in top temps. https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1335690118133321729 https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1335766642475880456 As for Sydney and Melbourne, it won't be anywhere near that frosty, unsurprisingly. But Sydney's maximums are due to stay mild, between 22–25, for most of the week. In Melbourne, the city isn't predicted to top 18 degrees either today or Wednesday — although temps will rise over the weekend, leading to a 32-degree maximum on Monday, December 14. Top image: Mount Hotham, Rob Blackburn.
The nicest thing about A Minor Place is its location off the main drag. Sitting unassumingly on Albion Street, in what seems like just another cute Brunswick weatherboard house, the cafe is quiet in its surroundings but busy inside — filled with coffee and brunch seekers. Behind the espresso machine, you'll find baristas whipping up flat whites with coffee from Fitzroy-based roastery Industry Beans, while the drinks menu also covers kombucha, organic juices, smoothies, "thicc" shakes and the "fun stuff" — think espresso martinis and bloody marys. As well as the best fried haloumi you're likely to find on the northside, A Minor Place is responsible for a pretty bumper smashed avo ($16.5, plus $3 to add some of that haloumi), a sunny outside deck, and a comfy indoors that's just like being in your own house. As a bonus, with free wifi, plenty of power points and caffeine at your fingertips, this cafe is a pretty good spot for students and freelancers to take their laptops for a productive day of getting things done. Image: Visit Victoria.
If you've been kicking yourself because you can't make Billy Bragg's rare solo showcase in Sydney this weekend, you can now give your legs a rest. The maverick song writer has just announced that he'll be back in March 2014. For a national tour. With his entire band. That's right, every State and one of the Territories (sorry, NT) will be treated to a show, and he'll also be popping over to New Zealand for a couple of appearances. In Sydney, he'll be playing the Opera House for the first time ever. The tour is largely about bringing Bragg's new LP, Tooth and Nail, to Antipodean audiences. Bragg's first album since 2008, it was recorded in California last year. He was invited to the basement studio of Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry, where he holed up with some of the world's most in-demand session musicians — Greg Leisz (Bon Iver), Patrick Warren (Lana Del Rey), Jay Bellrose (Regina Spektor) and David Piltch (Ramblin' Jack Eliott) — and was urged to sing live. Bragg has described the album as "the follow-up to Mermaid Avenue I never made". Influenced by soul, folk and country, Tooth and Nail is more personal than some of his previous offerings. "Most people, when they hear my name, think of polemical anthems born in struggle," Bragg says. "I often find myself having to remind people that I am also the Sherpa of Heartbreak, writing songs about the struggle to maintain our relationships with those we love the most." Tickets are on sale on Tuesday, 16 September, at 9am. The full tour dates are: Sunday 8 March – Perth Concert Hall – Perth www.ticketek.com.au Monday 10 March – Womad Festival – Adelaide www.womadelaide.com.au Wednesday 12 March – Federation Hall – Hobart www.tso.com.au Tuesday 13 March – Palais Theatre – Melbourne www.ticketmaster.com.au Sunday 16 March – Sydney Opera House – Sydney www.sydneyoperahouse.com Wednesday 19 October – Canberra Theatre – Canberra www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au Thursday 20 March – Tivoli – Brisbane www.ticketmaster.com.au
The Espy has a reputation for rounding up an excellent bunch of musos for New Year's Eve festivities, and this year is no different. This time around the Espy will play host to the ever-partystarting Architecture in Helsinki alongside Kingswood, DZ Deathrays, Adalita, The Griswolds, Bad//Dreems, Money For Rope, Mighty Duke and The Lords, EMPRA, Maids, Magic Bones and many others who'll be gracing the stage from 7pm. Tickets are $72.95 for this genuinely awesome lineup, so if you're keen to rock out while seeing in the new year, look no further. NYE AT THE ESPY 2014 LINEUP: Architecture in Helsinki Kingswood DZ Deathrays Adalita The Griswolds Bad//Dreems Money For Rope Mighty Duke And The Lords EMPRA Maids Magic Bones + more
In the densely packed area of Southbank, Blondie Bar provides casual dining with a bit of class for patrons looking for something better than a chain store pre or post theatre. You can choose to sit at the bar for a quick snack and drink or the main dining hall. The menu is an original mix of Asian and French inspired dishes. Some of the favourites include miso eggplant with smoked tofu, bean sprouts radish and herbs ($16), and the pork and potato croquettes with pineapple chutney aioli ($8). Providing a breather from Southbank's standard thoroughfare, there's nothing to complain about Blondie Bar.
At this point, it's natural to be apprehensive about any show which examines frustrations with the digital age. Though modern crises of identity are fair ground for artistic exploration, the topic so often comes off as trite or contrived. Something about its enormity or self-evidence attracts navel-gazing from young philosophers and eye-rolling from everyone else. I'm just as guilty as anyone; it was the subject of my major work for Year 12 Visual Arts. But, despite this initial skepticism, Complexity of Belonging delivers an engaging and thought-provoking take on this completely groan-worthy topic. A co-production between MTC, Chunky Move and German director Falk Richter, this half-dance, half-theatre, live-art inspired show delivers surprisingly earnest insight and above all, entertaining performances from its cast. Performing upon a surreal desert backdrop of what appears to be rural Australia, five dancers and four actors appear on stage through vignettes, monologues, and outright confessionals. Partially connected by the storyline of a French artist completing a "human installation" (Eloise Mignon) these characters are united by their shared frustrations and sense of restlessness. Throughout the course of the show we see a businessman snap under pressure, a young couple separated by failing Skype calls, and a gay couple who traverse the barriers of distance to create a life for themselves. All the while, the entrancing almost hypnotic choreography of Anouk van Dijk simmers on stage, setting the ominous tone and adding a sense of camaraderie aside each character's frequent moments of vulnerability. Of course, there are still elements of pretension. The same navel-gazing I was guilty of in my VCE are still there in Mignon's character of the artist. If you weren't already cringing at the term "human installation" you will be by the time she reels off huge slabs of philosophical texts or tarnishes a somewhat affecting final scene by emblazoning an awkward heavy-handed moral on a large screen above the stage. It's no fault of the actor, but in lieu of a primary narrative, these sweeping theories and thoughts are a necessary evil to tie meaning to each small element of the work. Though these moments of heavy intellectualism threaten to bog down they work, they are perfectly offset with humour. Most characters we meet are relatable, witty and downright charming. Karen Sibbing interrogates Aussie colloquialisms with a heavy European accent and Joel Bray and Josh Price offset each other perfectly as respectively upbeat and neurotic partners. But it's actually one of the primary dancers who steals the show. Lauren Langlois' rambling monologue about "the perfect man" is exquisite comedy, perfectly written and bravely performed. Combining rapid-fire delivery with beautiful expressive dance, this moment was so good it elicited rapturous applause from an otherwise stiff opening night crowd. Scattered with small moments like this, it may not be conventional or easy watching, but in many ways Complexity of Belonging is the quintessential Melbourne Festival show. It's ambitious, collaborative, and jam-packed with big industry names. And, whether you view it as theatre, dance, art or some combination of all three, it's certainly beautiful to watch. This event was chosen as one of our top ten things to see at the Melbourne Festival 2014. See the full list here.
At this point, it's not really a surprise when Uber announces some strange, attention grabbing promotion. Sometimes they bring you ice cream. Other times, it's puppies. And this Australia Day/Invasion Day/January 26, they're delivering the most important (and oft-forgotten) addition to any barbecue: bags of ice. Now, there's a heap of things to do for tomorrow's public holiday — we've put together a handy list for Sydneysiders, Melburnians and Brisbanites. You can attend one of the rallies happening around the country, head to a Survival Day festival, take the opportunity to learn up on Australian history or simply go to see an Australian film (Lion just got a heap of Oscar noms), but if you're attending a barbecue, this delivery service might come in handy — especially when you run out of ice and all your mates are already four beers in. Starting from 11am on January 26, UberEATS users in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide will be able to log onto the app and, by typing 'backyard hero', see all the locations selling bags of ice and order one. If you've never used Uber before, use the code 'backyard hero' for free ice — otherwise it'll cost you $10. By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal.
Each of Australia's capital cities has a different shtick. Melbourne's just happens to be a 24-hour culture — or, at least, the closest Australia has to it. It's got all-night public transport on weekends, late-night opening hours for the National Gallery of Victoria's new Triennial and the city's White Night festival will return for its annual all-nighter in 2018. If you haven't been down to White Night before, here's how it works. From 7pm, much of Melbourne's CBD is closed to cars. From then on, the streets give way to pedestrians, who are free to wander between temporary installations, live music and on-street projections — as well as in and out of galleries and cultural institutions — up until the sun comes up at 7am the next day. It's the Australian version of Nuit Blanche, which was founded in France in the 80s. Next year's festival — which will shut down the city for 12 hours on the evening of Saturday, February 17 — features work from a tonne of both local and international artists. Expect to see neon pups, two Burning Man installations and one laneway covered in snow. There are far too many works to list, but here are a few highlights you'll want to look out for. A giant shimming silver net that will hover above Federation Square for White Night (and two weeks afterwards). Drag queens singing from balconies above Collins Street. A laneway filled with virtual neon 'dogs' and another filled with falling 'snow'. A tree that lets you write temporary messages on it with the light from your phone Two installations straight from Burning Man: a fire-breathing serpent outside Melbourne Museum and a giant mechanical insect that doubles at a DJ booth. Mini gigs performed from multiple balconies above Swanston Street. A 360-degree dome in Alexandra Gardens that will feature mesmerising projections. Stories from Australian detention centres projected onto the NGV's façade. White Night will also head out to Victoria's regional centres. It will return to Ballarat on March 17 for a second year, and will take to the streets of Bendigo and Geelong for the first time later in 2018. White Night 2018 will take over Melbourne from 7pm on Saturday, February 17 until 7am on the morning on Sunday, February 18. For more information, visit whitenight.com.au/melbourne.
They're taking the hobbits to Amazon — and, in just over a year, fans of Lord of the Rings will be able to see the end result. Mark Friday, September 2, 2022 in your diary, as that's when you'll be trekking back to Middle-earth via Amazon Prime Video's new LOTR show. It's called The Lord of the Rings, too, but it isn't just serving up a rehash. The series' existence shouldn't be new news, given that the streaming platform first announced it back in 2017, and then gave it the official go-ahead in mid-2018. Since then, the LOTR show has sat at the top of fans' most-anticipated list, obviously. Over the years, we've also heard that it wouldn't just remake Peter Jackson's movies, and learned a few concrete details regarding what it's about as well. Now, however, there's a specific date to look forward to — albeit a year later than when it was originally expected to drop, with sometime in 2021 initially floated. That was before the pandemic, though, and we all now know how much havoc COVID-19 has played on, well, everything, Amazon Prime Video announced the 2022 premiere date to mark the end of filming the show's initial batch of episodes. If you're wondering how it'll look — and how New Zealand's scenic landscape will be used this time around — the streaming service also dropped a first image from the series. Greenery abounds, naturally, as does a towering city surrounded by mountains, as well as a glowing sky. Also wondering what the series will cover if it's not retelling the events of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books? The show will spend time in Middle-earth's Second Age — and bring that era from the LOTR realm to the screen for the very first time. According to the official synopsis, it'll follow "the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history," with the action set thousands of years before the novels and movies we've all read and watched. The series will also "take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien's pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness." https://twitter.com/LOTRonPrime/status/1349519737655611392 If you're a little rusty on your LOTR lore, the Second Age lasted for 3441 years, and saw the initial rise and fall of Sauron, as well as a spate of wars over the coveted rings. Elves feature prominently, and there's plenty to cover, even if Tolkien's works didn't spend that much time on the period — largely outlining the main events in an appendix to the popular trilogy. Naturally, you can expect Sauron to feature in the new show, and to give its main figures some trouble. "Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth," the official synopsis continues. "From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone," it also advises. In terms of stars, LOTR will feature an unsurprisingly large cast — and some impressive talent behind the scenes. Among the actors traversing Middle-earth are Tom Budge (Judy & Punch), Morfydd Clark (Saint Maud), Ismael Cruz Córdova (The Undoing), Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (The Accountant), Maxim Baldry (Years and Years), Peter Mullan (Westworld), Benjamin Walker (The Underground Railroad) and comedian Lenny Henry. And, the series is being overseen by showrunners and executive producers JD Payne and Patrick McKay, while filmmaker JA Bayona (A Monster Calls, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) directs the first two episodes. Amazon's new Lord of the Rings series will premiere on Friday, September 2, 2022.
From its awe-inspiring scenery to its hefty brew tours and the 200 sprawling wineries that call it home, the Margaret River region has become one of Australia's top destinations for those looking to escape the city in style. Situated about three hours from Perth, this bustling coastal setting offers surf beaches, lush forests and ancient underground cave systems all in one spot — which is especially exciting if you're looking for a bit of variety on a weekend trip this winter. With a landscape as diverse as this, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Margaret River is also home to incredible outdoor experiences that are ready and waiting for you to enjoy. There's a lot to choose from, but who doesn't love being spoilt for choice? To help, we've put our heads together with Virgin Australia to come up with the very best activities to make your getaway unforgettable. There'll be wine. There'll be beaches. And, of course, there'll be adventures. [caption id="attachment_719648" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Phil Whitehouse via Flickr[/caption] EXPLORE THE LIMESTONE CAVES OF LEEUWIN NATURALISTE RIDGE When you're viewing it from ground level, the Margaret River region is rather spectacular — but heading underground also reveals incredible sights. Formed around a million years ago, there are over 100 limestone caves throughout Margaret River. They're considered some of the most extraordinary in Australia. The Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge is where you'll find many of them, with this expansive system featuring alluring crystal formations aplenty. Across a variety of guided and self-led tours, you can follow staircases and boardwalks that'll take you right into the depths of the earth. And if you only have time to visit a select few caves, don't miss your chance to see Lake Cave's imposing entrance or Jewel Cave, with its collection of stalactites that are over five metres tall. ABSEIL DOWN THE SEASIDE CLIFFS WITH MARGARET RIVER CLIMBING CO Rising 40 metres above the Indian Ocean, the Wilyabrup Sea Cliffs are among the most picturesque in the Margaret River region, stretching along the rugged coastline for a half-kilometre. If you enjoy a bit of death-defying action to go with your holiday, hook yourself into these towering red granite cliffs with the Margaret River Climbing Co — and step off the edge as you abseil your way down the sheer rock face. There's no need to worry if it's your first time. There are plenty of sections that are suitable for beginners, while experienced abseilers will still find a difficult challenge. Hanging from the cliff face presents you with pretty unbeatable ocean views, naturally. Our tip: keep an eye out for the pods of whales and dolphins that are often seen swimming amid these coastal currents. TREK THE CAPE NATURALISTE TO SUGARLOAF ROCK WALK The Cape to Cape Track is one of the most impressive treks you can complete in the Margaret River region. While you'll likely be a little busy indulging in the local food and wine to make the entire 140-kilometre journey, the Cape Naturaliste to Sugarloaf Rock section offers a pleasant introduction to the outstanding landscape. Setting off from the popular Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, this relaxing three-and-a-half-kilometre stretch will have you stepping along a mix of gentle walking paths and timber boardwalks as you soak up the peaceful coastal views. To get the ideal experience, aim to reach Sugarloaf Rock just as the sun begins to set. Sitting just off the coastline in the Indian Ocean, this majestic rock formation is lit up daily by quite the striking colours as the sun dips below the horizon. TAKE A SUNSET CANOE RIDE ALONG THE MARGARET RIVER Sticking with the sunset theme, the Sunset Canoe Tour is your chance to float down Margaret River in complete serenity as the day draws to a close. You'll drift upstream flanked by wildflowers and forest — and it won't be long before you spy soaring limestone cliffs. Next, you'll watch as the late afternoon light sets the rock faces alight with a radiant glow, before continuing onwards in search of a secluded beachfront. Once you hit the sand, listen out for the chorus created by the local wildlife. It'll provide the perfect soundtrack as you rest on the beach with a glass of wine, a delicious canapé and a view of the last light as it disappears over the Indian Ocean. SEE THE REGION FROM ABOVE DURING A SCENIC HELICOPTER FLIGHT Make the most of your time by getting high above the Margaret River with a scenic helicopter ride. This part of the world provides a wealth of amazing natural wonders, so why not encounter the vast ocean and coastal landscape from the air? From farmland to forests to golden brown cliffs, you'll also hover above the boutique wineries and their seemingly endless rows of grapes — the ones that have helped put Margaret River on the map. Among the highlights, you'll also get to see Rivermouth, Surfer's Point, the Ellenbrook House and Cape Mentelle Vineyards, one of the oldest and most attractive wineries in all of Margaret River. If you're now eagerly planning a visit to Margaret River, check out Virgin Australia's holiday packages — which offer everything from chilled-out cottages to massive resorts.
A time-capsule within touching distance of Melbourne CBD, Como House is an elegant example of the aristocratic lifestyle of the 1850s. Immaculately preserved following the National Trust of Australia's acquisition of the property in 1959, nowadays Como House and its stunning gardens is one of the best places to enjoy a relaxing Sunday picnic in the sun. Located high above the Yarra River in the backstreets of South Yarra, don't forget to take a break in the shade and explore the opulent interior of the house. The Armytage family owned the property for 95 years and much of their personal furniture remains on display around the house. Taking a stroll through Como House and around the extensive gardens provides a rare insight into the lives of the wealthy elite throughout the 19th century – a stylish backdrop to any bone-idle Sunday layabout. Image: Letícia Almeida.
What sits at the heart of European storytelling? That's a question that one of Australia's must-attend film festivals has been pondering for three years. It was back in 2022 that Europa! Europa initially started showcasing the breadth of cinema from across Europe — surveying as many countries as it can fit into each annual program, and swinging from the latest to the greatest pictures from across the continent. 2025's event kicks off in February to explore that idea again. Attending Europa! Europa's opening night this year means discovering what makes a French box-office hit, for starters. A Little Something Extra, directed by comedian and actor Artus, was its nation's highest-grossing homegrown movie of 2024. When it kicks off this Australian film fest in Sydney and Melbourne on Wednesday, February 12, it'll start the celebration of cinema with a tale about jewel thief and his son at a summer camp for young adults with disability. Returning to Ritz Cinemas Randwick in Sydney, plus both Classic Cinemas Elsternwick and Lido Cinemas Hawthorn in Melbourne — both for a month, running until Wednesday, March 12 — Europa! Europa has compiled a roster of 44 movies from 26 countries. Accordingly, its latest program lets viewers dig into what drives filmmaking from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark and Estonia, and also Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine. Titles from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Georgia, Montenegro, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom are on the list, too. Unsurprisingly, the largest contingent comes from France. Indeed, Gallic cinema provides Europa! Europa with its centrepiece film as well — and it's an Australian premiere, with Once Upon My Mother stepping back to the 60s. The festival's headliners bring big-name talents, as well as touching documentaries to Sydney and Melbourne. In Another End from The Wait director Piero Messina, Gael García Bernal (La Máquina) plays a mourning widower exploring tech-enhanced ways of facing grief, with Renate Reinsve (Presumed Innocent) and Bérénice Bejo (Under Paris) co-starring. The Dardenne brothers (Tori and Lokita) co-produce the Belgian tennis academy-set Julie Keeps Quiet, while Sweden's 2025 Oscar submission The Last Journey hails from Swedish journalists and TV hosts Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson, and focuses on a trip to France with the former's father. Still on familiar faces, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Academy Award-nominee Maria Bakalova (The Apprentice) leads the satirical Triumph, French standouts Daniel Auteuil (An Ordinary Case) and Sandrine Kiberlain (November) get farcical in Love Boat, and Mélanie Laurent (Freedom) and Guillaume Canet (All-Time High) portray Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI in their final days in The Flood. Other highlights from the fest's slate of new titles include Spain's I Am Nevenka, about an IRL MeToo case; U Are the Universe, a Ukranian sci-fil film made during the current war; the Sundance-premiering Sebastian, about a writer who is also a sex worker; Anywhere, Anytime, a modernisation of Italian masterpiece Bicycle Thieves; and Loveable, from the producer of The Worst Person in the World — and the list goes on. Europa! Europa's annual retrospectives keep proving a drawcard, too. After shining the spotlight on Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness director Yorgos Lanthimos in 2024, the festival is jumping back into French film history by heroing the iconic François Truffaut. Four of the French New Wave filmmaker's movies are on the lineup, all showing as new 4K restorations: Shoot the Piano Player, The Soft Skin, Two English Girls and Finally, Sunday!. Europa! Europa Film Festival 2025 Dates Wednesday, February 12–Wednesday, March 12 — Ritz Cinemas Randwick, Sydney Wednesday, February 12–Wednesday, March 12 — Classic Cinemas Elsternwick and Lido Cinemas Hawthorn, Melbourne Europa! Europa will screen in Sydney and Melbourne from Wednesday, February 12–Wednesday, March 12, 2025. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the festival's website.
Just when you thought you couldn't fit any more markets into your calendar, along comes Cat Stuff. Really, the concept sells itself: all things cat in one place, by some of Australia's most adorably intended artists, for you to spend every last dime on. What are you even pretending to wait for? Hosted by Tinning Street, Cat Stuff features works by many local artists, including Melbourne card making darlings Able and Game, adorable fluffy things from Cat-Rabbit and presumably amazing cat-centric items from all of your favourite crafties. Embrace your inner Dolores Umbridge and furnish your entire house in cat things before the week is out. Check out the Cat Stuff artist lineup on the Facebook page and head down to Brunswick ASAP. Image: Cat-Rabbit.
For a while there, it seemed like every hip hop tour to Australia was doomed to fail. Poor ticket sales, high-profile artists that don't show up, lazy and greedy managers and a general lack of any business savvy whatsoever have conspired to kill off a handful of festivals and some major tours in just the last year or two. But in the midst of all that, Rap City has not only gone ahead, it has thrived. Since its inception in 2010 the single-stage mini-festival has brought out some of the all-time greats of the game, from Ghostface Killah and DOOM to The Beatnuts and Masta Ace. This time around, Rap City will be headlined by none other than Talib Kweli, one of the most thoughtful, socially aware and lyrically gifted MCs around. His 1998 collaboration album with Mos Def — Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star — remains a masterpiece of politically and socially conscious hip hop, but over 15 years and half-a-dozen albums Kweli has proved time and again that he is one of the most gifted lyricists of his generation. With a new album, Prisoner of Conscious, recently released featuring Miguel, Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius and Busta Rhymes, Kweli is sure to be at his energetic, eloquent best. Joining Kweli will be Homeboy Sandman, the rapidly rising star signed to Stones Throw Records (home to the likes of DOOM, Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, Australia's own Jonti and the late, great J Dilla). His praises as a lyricist and intellect have been sung by XXL, The Source, NPR, Rolling Stone and everyone in between, but his beats have a groove so good you almost don't notice that Homeboy's lyrics challenge almost every thought you have ever had. And if that weren't enough, these twin lyrical titans are being joined by Trademark 'Da Skydiver', the next big thing from the Jet Life Crew label — home to the likes of Curren$y, Smoke DZA and Sir Michael Rocks (formerly of The Cool Kids). With a handful of rapturously received mixtapes under his belt, Trademark is currently putting his finishing touches on his highly anticipated album Flamingo Barnes 2, which is due on the eve of his Australian Rap City tour. If anyone ever told you hip hop was dead, make sure you drag them along to Rap City and shut them up. MELBOURNE – Thursday October 3 @ The Hi-Fi PERTH – Friday October 4 @ Villa BRISBANE – Saturday October 5th @ The Hi-Fi SYDNEY – Sunday (Long Weekend) October 6 @ The Hi-Fi Tickets go on sale on Monday, 12 August, via Moshtix and OZTIX.
James Batchelor — the recipient of Chunky Move's 2017 Next Wave Commission — has created a new dance piece that explores the unknown. Redshift will premiere on November 23 and incorporates ideas of human treatment of the unknown, why we chase it, and how we recognise and capture it. Time and space are stretched; elements of surrealism and humour make their way in. The ambitious project comes from a creator whose recent experiences have ventured into the unknown too — Batchelor joined a team of scientists, students, artists and crew in 2016 on an expedition to the sub-Antarctic Heard and McDonald Islands. His experiences there led him to the creation of Redshift. Resulting from a continued collaboration with visual artist Annalise Rees and sound designer Morgan Hickinbotham, the work aims to explore these encounters of the body with the universe, and how we go about mapping them and the greater unknown.
Bummed you didn't get a Splendour ticket? Angry you bought dozens of Splendour tickets so you could scalp them, and now find yourself holding hundreds of dollars' worth of paper after organisers shut down the re-sale facility over the weekend? Decided not to go this year, thinking you could totally see all the bands you wanted to see when they did their sideshows? Well whoever you are, it's time to whip out those diaries and start making plans — we found the mother of all emails in our inboxes this morning, bursting with sideshow goodness. Listed below are all the details you need for nine bands — electronica wunderkind James Blake, old Splendour favourites Cold War Kids, so-hot-right-now sister act HAIM, MS MR (described to me as "Florence + the Machine, plus Lana Del Rey, with some Kavinsky thrown in"), the R&B-ish indie of Mancunians Everything Everything, Next Big Thing Jake Bugg, LA noise merchants FIDLAR, fast-rising Poms Palma Violets and kings of Florida chill Surfer Blood. And those are just nine of the eleventy-billion bands (we counted!) announced on the full Splendour lineup just a couple of weeks ago. More shows will be announced for the other bands as we get closer to the date. (Though sadly not for The National, Mumford & Sons or TV on the Radio, who are playing their only Australian shows at the festival.) Full ticketing information is on the Secret Sounds website. JAMES BLAKE Fri 26 July – Astor Theatre, Perth Tues 30 July – Sydney Opera House, Sydney Wed 31 July – Palais Theatre, Melbourne Fri 2 Aug – Town Hall, Auckland www.jamesblakemusic.com COLD WAR KIDS Monday 29 July – Metro Theatre, Sydney Tuesday 30 July – The HiFi, Melbourne Thursday 1 August – The Gov, Adelaide Friday 2 August – Capitol, Perth www.coldwarkids.com HAIM Wed 24 July – The Hi-Fi, Sydney Thu 25 July – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne www.HAIMtheband.com MS MR Fri 26 July – The Metro, Sydney Mon 29 July – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne www.msmrsounds.com EVERYTHING EVERYTHING Fri 26 July – The Corner, Melbourne Sat 27 July – The Metro, Sydney www.everything-everything.co.uk JAKE BUGG Thurs 25 July – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney Sun 28 July – The Corner, Melbourne www.jakebugg.com FIDLAR Mon 29 July – The Corner, Melbourne Wed 31 July – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney Fri 2 August – Spinoff Festival, Adelaide Sat 3 August – The Bakery, Perth www.fidlarmusic.com PALMA VIOLETS Mon 29 July – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne Tues 30 July – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney www.palmaviolets.co.uk SURFER BLOOD Wed 24 July – The Corner, Melbourne Fri 26 July – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney www.surferblood.com
Join the salami army at the 2018 edition of this gastronomic gathering at Welcome to Thornbury. Now in its sixth year, think of the Melbourne Salami Festa as Woodstock or ComicCon — but for salami. So way better, is basically what we're saying. Running from 10am–10pm on Saturday, October 13 and 11dam–6pm the next day, the event — a bona fide cured meat carnival — will include workshops, demonstrations, DJs and bands, as well as a Grand Salumi Garage featuring dozens of producers from far and wide. Wander between the stalls and sample what's on offer, before returning on the Sunday to cast your vote in the highly coveted People's Choice Awards. Among other gongs, the event will also be giving out a Best Homemade Salami prize. Last time the festa was held back in 2016, more than 6,000 people went along — consuming a whopping 30,000 pieces of salami over the two days. If that sounds like your idea of heaven, we suggest arriving early and hungry. Image: Melbourne Salami Festa.
Coffee is a complicated game. You need to source the right beans, grind them correctly, filter them for the specified time, perhaps froth the milk to that just-right temp and you need some pure-ass water. That's because coffee is 98 percent H2O, so some average water will mean your coffee will taste average — which is a damn shame if you've shelled out for some luxe Panama Geisha beans. Specialty coffee cafes are all over this and filter their water extensively, but baby home baristas aren't so diligent. So, to ensure they don't waste those beans on sub-par water, some genius has created a type of purified water specifically for making coffee. It's called Aquiem, and it's labelled its product as 'enhanced water'. While that sounds like total wank, it's essentially water that's been distilled to take all the extra stuff out of it. Then, a blend of good minerals that are supposedly meant to enhance the flavour of coffee are added back in. Then they're packaged and sold for a couple of dollars a pop. "What you definitely do not want is to have things like zinc and lead, fluoride, chlorine and large amounts of calcium in the water. All of that effects the taste of the coffee," co-founder Rob Vidacovich told Daily Coffee News. "What does have a favourable effect on coffee are things like magnesium, potassium, and a certain right blend of calcium." The whole idea is to allow non-pro baristas to make the most of their beans and drink a damn good cup of coffee every time. The Louisiana-based company has been working on the product for six years, but officially launched at the start of this year. Aquiem is currently sold in retailers in the state, but can be ordered online. Via Daily Coffee News.
You might be locked up at home (again), but at least you don't have to settle for boring breakfast eats. Beloved Brunswick East burger joint The B.East has brought back its Brettfast Club lockdown series, paying homage to everyone's favourite Brett — Victorian CHO, Professor Brett Sutton, of course — with a lineup of daily specials worth getting out of bed for. Swing by from 12–2pm each day to nab yourself a $13 breakfast burger, loaded with egg, maple bacon and jalapeno. There's a vegan alternative, or if a caffeine hit is on your radar, skip the latte and bring along your reusable cup for a serve of the bar's Espresso Quarantini for $9. Lockdown got you feeling hungry and thirsty? The B.East's got it covered with a wallet-friendly combo deal, which includes both offerings for an easy $20. And you'll also find all of the above Brettfast Club goodies available from Fitzroy sibling venue The B.East of Brunswick Street.
If anyone wanted a big case of déjà vu for Christmas, it's arrived, with COVID-19 cases rising again across Victoria. And, in response, the Victorian Government is changed the state's mask rules to bring back mandatory face coverings indoors. As announced today, Thursday, December 23, wearing masks in inside spaces will become compulsory again at 11.59pm tonight — so, effectively from Friday, December 24. Victorians, that means covering up your smile is now part of your Christmas plans. Face masks will be mandatory inside for all Victorians over the age of eight, in all indoor settings other than homes. Also, they'll become compulsory when you're moving around major events with more than 30,000 people — as cricket fans know, the Boxing Day Test at the MCG is almost upon us — but not when you're seated outdoors. No other restrictions are being introduced at present; however, Victorians are being encouraged to work from home if they need to work over the festive season. Also, if you're keen to be as COVID-safe as possible, the government is also advising sticking to seated service while inside hospitality venues rather than moving around crowded venues, and only hitting up dance floors in in well-ventilated outdoor areas. Victoria currently has 14,801 active cases, including 2005 new cases reported today, Thursday, December 23. For those looking to get tested, you can find a list of testing sites including regularly updated waiting times also on the Department of Health website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival proper doesn’t kick off until June, but after the success of last year they’ve announced a six-night series of intimate, one-off gigs in late January at iconic inner-city venue Bennetts Lane Jazz Club. The Summer Series showcases the talents of some of our finest jazz pianists, such as virtuouso Australian player and composer Paul Grabowsky and Hue Blanes, who’s returning home after two years studying and performing in Miami. While Grabowsky is practically a national institution after founding and leading the Australian Art Orchestra, Blanes is perhaps best known for his work with bands like The Bamboos and The Melodics. There’s also a retrospective that will delight real jazz aficionados; a recreation and celebration of John Coltrane’s seminal album A Love Supreme to mark 50 years since its release. Image by Geoffrey Ketels.
If we were to play the world association game with Instagram hashtags and I said "South Wharf Promenade", it would be normal for one to respond with: #flossy, #theglamorouslife, #cocktailswiththegirls or #richkidsofinstagram. What might not immediately present is #artinaction, or rather, #melbourneartiststakeovercargosheds. On Sunday that all changed, as some of Melbourne's finest emerging artists began what will be a just-shy-of-a-month-long residency in a group of vacant window boxes on the Yarra River and Duke's Walk, for the eyeballing pleasure of the public. Between them, the whipper snippers have produced work for ROOKIE magazine and Kimbra, modelled for Kinki Gerlinki, and exhibited everywhere from the Melbourne Art Fair to Chapter House Lane. Renee Cosgrave, Minna Gilligan, Andrzej Nowicki, Nick Ryrie, Raphael Rizzo and Rhys Mitchell are their names, making South Wharf better one cargo container at a time is their game (I'm trying ok).
At age 30, Michelle Ryan, one of Australia's most celebrated dancers, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Intimacy is a reflection, of sorts, on Ryan's life since diagnosis. It offers a fictional stage for her experiences and delves into her most private thoughts and feelings. The show is a collaborative work between Torque Show, Michelle Ryan herself and Lavender Vs Rose, who play their original score live. Performers Michelle Ryan, Vincent Crowley, Emma Bathgate and Simon Eszeky explore real-life experiences with a sense of humour, dignity and sensitivity. Fans of Ryan's work as a choreographer, dancer, artistic director and advocate should definitely check this intimate dance piece out, and newcomers should prepare to get intimately acquainted. Intimacy plays as part of the Helium season of independent works, risk-taking stuff that is given a stage and resources through Malthouse. You can also catch the YouTube Comment Orchestra, Applespiel Make a Band and Take on the Recording Industry and META, a multisensory nightmare riffing on Kafka's Metamorphosis.
Having earned cult status (and Tik Tok stardom) among the seafood-lovers of the USA, Cajun-style restaurant The Boiling Crab finally landed Down Under in early 2021, opening its flagship Aussie venue in Glen Waverley. Now, 16 months on, the brand has got its pincers on a second Melbourne outpost, bringing its famed signature crab boil offering to the CBD. Launching today, Thursday, June 23, The Boiling Crab's newest iteration has made its home on Tattersalls Lane. Just like its siblings, the restaurant invites you to don a bib and gloves, turf your inhibitions and get messy digging into saucy piles of seafood and accompaniments. The menu delivers a sumptuous choose-your-own-adventure scenario. First, select your hero seafood — perhaps some Aussie lobster, Moreton Bay bug, king crab legs, clams or scampi — which is priced by weight, then steamed or boiled in your choice of seasonings, sauces and spices. The latter ranges from 'non-spicy' up to 'XXX (I Can't Feel My Mouth!), and you can round it all out with extras like pork sausage, corn on the cob, whole baby potatoes and cajun-spiced fries. It's delivered to you in the bag, ready to be spilled onto your paper-topped table and devoured with abandon. Fans of the fried stuff can supplement their feast with a hefty lineup of crispy things served by the basket. You'll find hot wings in a variety of coatings, soft shell crab served atop a pile of chips, fried calamari and the crunchy Shabang Bang Shrimp, available in three levels of heat. You'll be washing down the spice with a crisp imported brew, margarita or michelada, or you BYO drinks for $3 per person. Find The Boiling Crab CBD at 4 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne. It's open 12–9.30pm daily.
Earlier this year, Australia's caffeinated booze expert Mr Black gave fans of alcohol and coffee the premixed beverage they definitely wanted, with the company's bottled coffee negroni marking its first-ever pre-batched cocktail. Now, it's adding another tipple to the range, and it's another big hitter: the cold brew old fashioned, or cold fashioned. Yes, there's a time for coffee and there's a time for cocktails — but, sometimes, there's a time in the day when you want both and you don't want to do any of the mixing yourself. The cold fashioned is made with Mr Black coffee liqueur, rye whiskey and bitters, and you can expect both coffee and chocolate flavours to come through, as well as a bit of spice. Each bottle is going for $49 and can be used to make five cocktails (yes, that's a very reasonably $9.80 a drink). To make said cocktail, you just need to pour 100 millilitres of the sweet stuff into a glass over ice and garnish with a citrus twist — if you want to get a little fancy. It's the third new product that the Mr Black team has released during lockdown, with the company also launching a hand sanitiser in late March. As well as selling thousands (and thousands) of bottles to the public, the team donated hundreds to front-line medical workers, not-for-profits, testing clinics and medical centres. To get your hands on a bottle of cold fashioned, which, knowing Mr Black's track record, will sell out fast, head over to the Mr Black website. It's currently offering free shopping on all orders over $80. Mr Black's cold fashioned is on sale now for $49. Top image: Guy Davies.
Victoria's alpine region is only a few hours' drive from Melbourne, making it ideal for a quick getaway. Its craggy mountains, sprawling vineyards and countless bushwalking trails offer stunning scenery to take in year-round. But it's not all about the natural landscape. From Bright and Beechworth to Mansfield and Mount Buller, the mountainous region boasts phenomenal wineries, pubs, cafes and farm-to-table fine diners. So, if you consider yourself a foodie, it's time to start planning your next food-fuelled adventure. Don't know where to start? To help point you in the right direction, we've partnered with Victoria's High Country to bring you eight road-trip worthy dining and drinking spots. [caption id="attachment_805160" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria / Roberto Seba[/caption] PROVENANCE Set in a former Bank of Australasia building, Provenance Restaurant is a cult favourite for both Beechworth locals and visitors to the old gold rush town. Here, foraged and locally grown produce is used to create an 18-dish, four-course set menu of Japanese-influenced fare, priced at $150 per person. So, you'll want to come hungry. While the menu often changes, you can expect dishes like oysters with cherry blossom dressing, asparagus tempura with fish eggs, grilled beef with smoked miso butter and a candied grapefruit and green tea mousse dessert. To drink, pick from co-owner Jeanette Henderson's fine sake and wine list. You can also drop by the Provenance Grocer to pick up house-made sauces, jams, pickled vegetables and jerky. [caption id="attachment_805171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria / Rob Blackburn[/caption] TOMAHAWKS At Bright's much-loved Tomahawks, the ambience is as vibrant and punchy as the menu, which features flavour-bombs like sticky lamb ribs served with gochujang caramel; prawn and ginger dumplings; cauliflower and mozzarella fritters; and selection of burgers. End your meal on a sugar high and order the decadent white chocolate blondie with salted caramel and ice cream, too. If you're just stopping in for a tipple you won't be disappointed on that front either. The drinks list is a love letter to local breweries and wineries, and the bar always has a few surprises on rotation, so things don't get boring for the regular bar flies. The Tomahawks team has just opened up a pizza shop in town, too, if you were in search of cheesy slices. [caption id="attachment_805174" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria / Georgie James Photography[/caption] TERRACE RESTAURANT One thing you'll notice in Victoria's High Country is that there's no shortage of fine diners. With that said, the award-winning Terrace Restaurant, just outside Rutherglen, is one of the spots we can't pass up when talking about the region's finer food offerings. Located on the All Saints Estate in a 19th century castle-like building overlooking vineyards and stately gardens, the restaurant certainly impresses. Food-wise, expect European-inspired indulgence from Chef Simon Arkless's menu, jam-packed with seasonal produce. The menu changes weekly, but you can always expect lamb, pork and fresh eggs sourced from the on-site farm. It's open for lunch every Wednesday to Sunday, with a feed starting from $65 per head for a two-course meal. MANSFIELD COFFEE MERCHANT Melbourne's coffee culture has spread to the North East with go-to cafe Mansfield Coffee Merchant. Owner Mat Picone took his bean roasting skills from the city to the country around six years ago and has been caffeinating locals ever since. Try one of the in-house roasted single origins or blends for a cup of joe or, if you're more of a tea person, the cafe also offers a selection of brews from local company Mad Hatter Tea Co. Breakfast here is also a good shout, with classics like pancakes with mixed berries; chorizo and feta omelettes; and porchetta eggs hitting the spot on a cold autumn morning. [caption id="attachment_807305" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beechworth Photographers[/caption] PROJECT FORTY NINE Project Forty Nine, located in historic Beechworth, is a boutique grocer and cafe that champions goods from the region's small-scale producers and farmers. So, like many High Country foodie havens, seasonal produce is the hero here. Over at the deli counter, you'll find top-quality charcuterie, stinky cheeses and many tasty-looking baked goods. Plus, it also stocks oils, pastas, preserves and other pantry staples. But, really, you're here for its impressive wine selection of local drops. If you don't have time to pop by, you can also have one of Project Forty Nine's platters — which showcase some of the store's favourite items — delivered straight to your doorstep. [caption id="attachment_805161" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria / Rob Blackburn[/caption] DAL ZOTTO Nothing can prepare you for the positive energy that comes with a visit to the prosecco pioneers of King Valley. Established in 1987 by Otto and Elena Dal Zotto, Dal Zotto Wines is a full-on family affair that has a penchant for the simple things in life. Start at the cellar door to sip glasses of prosecco. Then, kick back in the sun in the dog-friendly garden complete with picnic tables and wooden wine barrels substituting high tables. And be sure to check out Elena's veggie garden. You'll want to book a table in at the winery's trattoria, too, which serves up everything from antipasto boards to fresh homemade pasta and pizzas. [caption id="attachment_805167" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria / Rob Blackburn[/caption] SIXPENCE COFFEE Sixpence Coffee is the small giant of the High Country's bean scene. Located in the alpine foothills of Bright, the family-owned and -run venue shares Reed & Co Distillery's airy warehouse-style space. So, on a rainy day, you could easily spend a few hours at the coffee bar before moving on to something stronger. Make sure to try Sixpence's popular 3741 blend, which is roasted in small batches on site and has a reputation that precedes itself not only in Bright but also much further afield. TEMPLAR LODGE Surrounded by cattle farms and overlooking Victoria's highest peak, Mount Bogong, Templar Lodge is an unexpected gem in Tawonga. Chef-Owner Emma Handley has transformed the former 1950s Masonic Hall into an intimate paddock-to-plate restaurant. The contemporary Australian menu makes use of top-notch local produce — including fruits and veggies grown on Handley's farm — and changes with the seasons. To give an idea of what you'll be tucking in to, though, expect warming dishes like smoked eel rillette, house-made gnocchi, grilled ribeye and tonkotsu ramen. If it's not too chilly, nab a spot on the wide verandah for epic alpine views. Discover more and plan your next food-fuelled adventure at Victoria's High Country. Top image: Sixpence Coffee, Visit Victoria / Rob Blackburn
It is often with trepidation that I go to see a play by Anton Chekhov. His signature tragicomedic tone can be tricky to get right and I get fearful a production will play it too straight and drown the comedy in an excess of melodrama. This is apparently what Stanislavski did to Chekhov's chagrin when directing the very first production of The Cherry Orchard in 1904, but I'm pleased to report that MTC's current production has hit the tone pitch perfectly. The story of a Russian aristocratic family unable to abandon their profligate ways in the face of financial ruin offers plentiful opportunities for both humour and drama as Lady Andreyevna Ranevsky (Pamela Rabe) returns to her family's country estate after years of living the high life in Paris. Too crippled by nostalgia to take action to save the estate from its impending ruin and too proud to accept help, Andreyevna and her eccentric family, along with their motley remaining staff of servants, live out the last days of their doomed aristocratic lifestyle like students pretending the summer holidays won’t end. This production isn't a straight rendition of the play but rather an adaptation by director Simon Stone. Stone, founding artistic director of The Hayloft Project and recent director in residence at Sydney's Belvoir, is about as exciting a young gun in theatre as could set sights on an old master like Chekhov. This is appropriate perhaps for a play in which the clash of old and new is such a dominant theme. In addition to modernising the social context, Stone's script playfully elaborates on the original text, keeping true to the essential content and emotional tone while ramping up the impact for contemporary audiences. Andreyevna's Parisian lifestyle, for instance, is updated from 1900s definitions of outrageous to more contemporary standards — orgies rather than hot air balloon rides. Minor characters may be expanded upon, such as the family's clerk Yepihodov (Gareth Davies), whose tendency to being accident prone is exploited to at times clownish extent. There's also a lot more swearing and innuendo. At times this feels a little overdone and not always necessary but for the most part the adaptation is true to Chekhov's spirit. Rabe's magnificently frazzled Andreyevna is a powerful centrepoint in a suite of strong performances. The production also really shines in its visual design. The set is towering and stark. Though the characters constantly try to fill the space below the looming white walls with objects and activity, the starkness is overpowering — symbolic of their efforts to find cheer in the face of inevitable loss. The weight of nostalgia is cunningly evoked through retro stylings in props and costume and a soundtrack that may well stir memories of your last Blue Light Disco. While purists might get nostalgic for more traditional takes on Chekhov, this is one case where the coming of the new may be given a warm welcome. This Cherry Orchard is irresistibly stylish, frequently funny and, when it comes to the punch, powerfully emotionally affecting. Image by Jeff Busby.
