Last year, Sisters Grimm’s smash hit Calpurnia Descending was created to take advantage of Paul Capsis considerable talents. Now, the star is getting treated to his own solo show crafted by Patrick White Award-winning playwright Nicki Bloom. Little Bird is a gender-bending tale of transformation made especially for the iconic performer, and with accompanying original music composed by Cameron Goodall from The Audreys and Quentin Grant it's looking like one of the year's first must-sees. Capsis possesses a staggering, searing voice — look no further than his take on Leo Sayer’s ‘Giving It All Away’ in The Boy Castaways — that’s matched only by his complete vulnerability on stage. At a time of year when substantial theatre offerings are thin on the ground Little Bird stands out as a likely hit of the summer.
Sure as water is wet and the earth revolves around the sun, Melbourne has been named the world's most liveable city yet again. I think I speak for all Victorians when I say "suck on that, Sydney!" The Economist Intelligence Unit's Liveability Index ranks 140 cities on stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, culture and environment. This marks Melbourne's seventh consecutive year at the top of the charts, and the state government could barely contain its glee. "Melbourne pipped Vienna for the top ranking, and finished well above Sydney, which did not make the top ten," read the incredibly smug press release issued by Premier Daniel Andrews' office earlier today. "Victoria has the best of everything and the Andrews Labor Government will continue investing in the things that matter to keep it that way." "This is a win for all Victorians, who contribute so much to making Melbourne the best place to live in the world," said Andrews. "Every Melburnian knows that they're living in the world's greatest city – and this proves it yet again," added Tourism and Major Events Minister John Eren. Rounding out the top five were Vienna, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary, which tied with Adelaide in fifth place. Sydney, for what it's worth, came in at number 11. Cute.
Since 1990, every child has wished for one thing: to get stranded home alone so they could relive the ultimate 90s Christmas movie. No one really wants to spend the festive season without their family — especially when their mum is Schitt's Creek legend Catherine O'Hara — but we've all wanted to follow in Macaulay Culkin's footsteps. Admit it, we've all yelled "keep the change, ya filthy animal!" in hope, too. Expect that line — and the entire seasonal cinematic treat that is Home Alone — to echo through Hamer Hall this festive season. Here's one way to relive the movie: watching it play in the hefty venue with a live soundtrack. As it did back in 2019, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is bringing the film back to the big screen in the best possible way, aka in concert, and welcoming the merriest time of the year in the most appropriate fashion. Home Alone made a star out of Culkin and, yes, made every 90s kid (and 00s and 10s kid as well) hope their family went on holidays without them. It truly is the best movie there is about an eight-year-old who outsmarts two burglars while living it up without his parents and siblings — and while it charts Kevin McCallister's antics, it also boasts a rousing Oscar-nominated score by iconic composer John Williams. That's what the MSO will bust out at 7.30pm on Wednesday, December 14–Thursday, December 15 — and there's your essential end-of-year viewing taken care of. Home Alone isn't just any old Christmas flick. It's one of the highest-grossing Christmas films of all time. And, it's spawned sequels great (Home Alone 2: Lost in New York) and forgettable (all the other ones, including 2021's Home Sweet Home Alone). If your response to the above news is to hold your hands to your cheeks and exclaim, then you'll want to nab a seat. There's no need to set traps or play pranks to grab a ticket, though — they go on sale at 10am on Thursday, October 13. Home Alone in Concert will take place on Wednesday, December 14–Thursday, December 15 at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, with tickets on sale from 10am on Thursday, October 13. Head to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra website for further details.
The world is undeniably sick. But why? The Sydney Film Festival introduces Green Screen, a suite of four films tackling today's environmental issues with different and undeniably fresh perspectives. Cool It, follows Bjorn Lomborg, leading but controversial environmentalist, as he explores the world's response to climate change. Windfall analyses the complex issues behind clean energy and it's effect on communities. Letters from the Big Man, by director Christopher Munch, tracks a young woman's infatuation with Big Foot as she searches the great green wild of southwestern Oregon. Finally, If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front chronicles a radical environmental group that has been dubbed by the FBI as 'domestic terrorists'. How To Enter If you wish to learn more about the challenges the environment is facing, looking for fresh perspectives on climate change or just want to watch an interesting film, Concrete Playground has a double pass to each of the 4 films. To go in the running, simply subscribe to our newsletter and tell us which one of the four films you'd like to see by email at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Entries close on Wednesday, June 1 at 5pm. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qRGYc2_4s3U
When it comes to movies, we sometimes use 'Hollywood' as a pejorative. We might employ it to mean schmaltzy, unrealistic, vapid and other similar unpleasantries. But when I say The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is the ultimate Hollywood movie, I mean it's the good side of Hollywood, all packaged and wrapped up in time for Christmas. Funny, optimistic, life-affirming and full of pretty pictures and massive special effects, the film is something of a passion project for Ben Stiller, who directed, produced and stars in it. It's adapted from a 1939 short story by Jamie Thurber that's been reshaped entirely beyond its basic premise. The film follows a quiet Life magazine staffer as he learns to seize the day. As the head of the negative assets department, Walter is responsible for selecting and processing the works of their world-roving star photographers, chief among them the shamanistic Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn). But Walter has never experienced this wide world for himself, after the blows of life turned him timid. Instead, he imagines epic adventures for himself — diving into exploding buildings to save a dog, hiking the Arctic and, in a high point of the film, living a backwards Benjamin Button-like life with the woman he loves. That he 'zones out' while engaged in these daydreams does not help his social standing in cutthroat New York. Life doesn't exist any more, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is set in the dying days of the monthly magazine. Ted Hendricks (a disconcertingly bearded Adam Scott) is brought in to oversee the move from print to online and the accompanying rafts of redundancies, and Walter is firmly in his sights. Unfortunately, Walter can't find Sean's 'negative 25', which the photographer has described as capturing the "quintessence of life" and which is wanted for the final cover. Given new courage by love — in the form of colleague Cheryl (Kristen Wigg) — he sets off to track down Sean and the missing negative, using the few clues he has. Iceland is his starting point for a very big adventure that sees his latent resourcefulness and cool coming to the surface. For a mainstream, very feelgood film, it's the weird quirks that make The Secret Life of Walter Mitty loveable. Aside from the interjecting daydream worlds, Walter is shadowed by an over-caring eHarmony customer service representative, Todd (Patton Oswalt), who's determined to help him succeed in love. Their phone chats, coming at inevitably odd times throughout the film, are always funny and welcome. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is really ideal New Year's rather than Boxing Day fodder, egging you into living fully and booking that adventure holiday you've been putting off. There's so much focus on travel as a means to self-realisation, in fact, that it's ultimately to the film's detriment. It's simplistic; skateboarding down the valley of an active volcano might make you a more open person, or it could make you a twat. All outcomes are possible for the intrepid traveller. But that shouldn't ruin the journey of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It's a charmer with a good heart and a healthy dose of unrealism. https://youtube.com/watch?v=7ve8mc6UNSk
However you identify, we hope your feed is filled with rainbows and eco glitter this week as we gear up to celebrate Mardi Gras on Saturday, March 6. Whether you're going to events in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane — or staying home to watch the parade on SBS — you can share the love and pride with the LGBTQIA+ community on TikTok. We've teamed up with the social media platform to bring you these six pride-filled videos to help get you pumped for the parade. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@itsbybrandon/video/6921305046323842306[/embed] Epic transformations are par for the course on TikTok, so how do you stand out from the crowd? @itsbybrandon does it time and time again with their colourful, creative and often unexpected makeup transitions. And, they lip sync like a pro. Take inspiration from this rainbow effect eyeshadow for your Mardi Gras celebrations this weekend. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@dom.skii/video/6930381557991542017[/embed] Proving that exceptional makeup talent isn't in short supply, @dom.skii brings us a second inspirational transformation clip full of pride. As Lady Gaga puts it, "Don't be a drag, just be a queen." [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/foryou?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v2#/@emmahorn/video/6929595838914186497[/embed] Emma Horn jumped on the Domino Lovers TikTok Challenge with her girlfriend, and how can you not beam with pride watching them dance together? Emma's TikTok is full of hilarious reaction videos and relatable content, so if you're in need of a pick-me-up, check out her channel. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@the_dancing_farmer/video/6928677043387272450[/embed] Bretty G, aka @the_dancing_farmer, says they're here to spread love and positivity. Here they do it with an enviable pair of pins and a fabulous strut in the countryside dirt. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@tomi.queen/video/6930570843546209538[/embed] In one of our favourite videos in the 'I'm So Pretty' makeup transition trend, Sydney drag queen Tomi shows us how it's done. If Reyanna Maria isn't on your Mardi Gras playlist for this weekend, rectify that now. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@kevininthecity/video/6931856237550193921[/embed] Sydney's Glitter King, @kevininthecity, isn't afraid to shine like a mirror ball. Here, they give us a masterclass in standing out from the crowd in one bold block of colour. Look out for Kevin in the City at this year's Mardi Gras Parade, as their face will be part of TikTok's official float alongside singer-songwriter G Flip. Download TikTok to watch more, and use the hashtag #JoinOurFloat to be part of TikTok's Mardi Gras float. Top image: Jeffrey Feng; Destination NSW
All the best superheroes can zap enemies with laser eyes. Wouldn't it be cool if us ordinary folk also had the power to control the objects in our sights? OK, so the technology empowering our eyes to pulverise hasn't been invented yet... and that's probably a good thing...but today saw the release of the next best thing to it. One of the world's largest computer companies, Lenovo, has partnered with eye-tracking technology experts Tobii to produce prototypes for the first ever eye-controlled computer, and the public has the chance to test it out at digital tradeshow CeBIT in Hannover, Germany. Barbara Barclay, general manager of Tobii North America says “We anticipate that people will be extremely excited to be able to control their computer with their eyes.” Using an infrared light source and a camera that observers a user's eyes, the technology combines software that works out where the eyes are positioned in space in front of the computer, and where they're looking. Computer commands powered by the user's eyes, such as as selecting an icon or scrolling through text, will complement existing functions of the mouse and keyboard. [Via Fast Company]
Since launching in 2013, Four Pillars has given Australian gin lovers plenty to drink, including its famed Bloody Shiraz Gin, an annual Christmas-themed tipple, olive leaf gins and even a boozy ode to Melbourne landmark The Espy. Next time you pour yourself a sip of one of the above juniper spirits, you'll actually be pouring yourself a drop from the world's best gin producer, with the Yarra Valley-based distillery earning that title for the second consecutive year at 2020's International Wine and Spirits Competition. Four Pillars nabbed what's considered the industry's top gin gong, receiving the prize in a virtual ceremony on Thursday, November 18 at 6pm UK time. And if you're wondering about the size and scale of the IWSC, it's the globe's largest international competition for spirits, receiving more than 4000 entries worldwide. Winning for its impressive range of gins — which also includes its Rare Dry Gin, Spiced Negroni Gin and Navy Strength Gin — Four Pillars made history by becoming the first Australian distillery to win the award in 2019. It's the latest exciting chapter in the company's short but substantial run so far, with the gin outfit founded by Cameron Mackenzie, Stuart Gregor and Matt Jones seven years ago, earning plenty of acclaim and awards since, and selling a 50-percent stake to beer giant Lion earlier in 2019. [caption id="attachment_774866" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Four Pillars Laboratory in Surry Hills by Anson Smart[/caption] In anointing Four Pillars this year's IWSC International Gin Producer of the Year, the organisation also recognised the company's role in the gin industry, its commitment to collaboration and creativity — and its full lineup of tipples. This year certainly hasn't been a normal year for the company, however, with the distillery pivoting to produce hand sanitiser overnight when the pandemic hit — and then launching its first Sydney bar and distillery just a couple of months later. "This is a triumph for strength over adversity, for professionalism and passion in the face of what sometimes in 2020 seemed insurmountable odds," said Mackenzie in a statement. "This is a victory for every single person in the Four Pillars world but most particularly for everyone at Healesville who has faced so much uncertainty and difficulty this year but has never stopped putting in the hard yards." To peruse the full list of International Wine and Spirits Competition 2020 winners, visit the organisation's website.
Nine days after coming out of the state's last lockdown, Victoria will be placed back under stay-at-home conditions from 8pm today, Thursday, August 5. This new lockdown — Melbourne's sixth — was announced this afternoon by Premier Daniel Andrews in response to a growing number of locally acquired COVID-19 cases. At this stage, the stay-at-home restrictions will run for seven days, which means that the target end date is 8pm on Thursday, August 12. In the press conference revealing the news, the Premier said: "I want to make it very clear — we only get one chance to act fast, only one chance to make difficult decisions that are the right decisions. I would prefer to wait two or three days, I would prefer we didn't have to make this decision now. But my fear is if we were to wait a few days — and the advice to me from the experts if we were to wait even just a few days — there is every chance that instead of being locked down for a week, this gets away from us, we are potentially locked down until we all get vaccinated. That's months away." He continued: "others are living that at the moment, others are having to deal with that at the moment. We wish them well and we support them, but we do not want that here. I am determined to do everything popular or otherwise to avoid that happening to us." https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1423167618723188737 Not that anyone needed any reminding, especially Melburnians, but the new lockdown demonstrates just how quickly things can change during the pandemic. Just yesterday, on Wednesday, August 4, Victoria celebrated its first doughnut day since early July, recording zero new COVID-19 cases in the state. Now, a mere day later, there's eight new cases — six reported in this morning's official case numbers, and two more announced at a press conference earlier today — and Victoria is going back into lockdown. By now, everyone is definitely familiar with the rules and restrictions from past lockdowns. Just like last week, you'll only be able to leave your home for five reasons: shopping for what you need, when you need it; caregiving and compassionate reasons; essential work or permitted eduction that can't be done from home; exercise; and getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Exercise must be limited to two hours a day with your household members, your intimate partner or one other person who is not from your household or your partner. Once again, though, Victorians must stay within five kilometres of their homes, unless you're leaving for permitted work or you're shopping for essentials if there are no shops in your radius. Masks remain mandatory everywhere outside of your home — and private gatherings are banned, as are public gatherings. But, while you can't have any visitors enter your home in general, there will be single bubbles, and intimate partner visits are allowed. So, if you live alone, you can form a bubble with another person or see your other half. Weddings are not permitted, unless on compassionate grounds, while funerals are limited to ten. Hairdressing and beauty services, indoor physical recreation and sport venues, swimming pools, community facilities including libraries, entertainment venues and non-essential retail venues will all close again during the seven-day period — and hospitality venues will once again revert back to takeaway-only. Supermarkets, bottle shops and pharmacies will remain open — and professional sports can proceed, but without crowds. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1423055629774589955 Last time that Victoria went into lockdown — yes, just nine days ago — the stay-at-home period lasted for just under two weeks across all of the state. Since then, Victoria has been living under COVID-19 restrictions regarding gatherings and venues, as always happens after a lockdown. Victoria currently has 66 exposure sites, with a large number of new venues added today. As always, the usual advice regarding COVID-19 applies. So, requests regarding social distancing if you do leave the house for an essential purpose, and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms in general, remain in effect as they have since March 2020. All of Victoria will go back into lockdown from 8pm on Thursday, August 5 until the same time on Thursday, August 12. For more information about the rules, head to the Victorian Department of Health website.
Brilliantly unique Australian artists Emma Davis and Brian Campeau having been working together for years, ever since Brian agreed to produce Emma's first album. This November, the pair is set to light up the east coast on their Best of Friends Tour. London-born Emma was described by triple J as one of "the quiet achievers of the Sydney scene" and has been quietly achieving national radio and television time since 2011. In September, she headed into the studio with Mark Myers (The Middle East) to record another offering of her soulful, honest tunes. Brian Campeau has done pretty much everything — performing, composing, producing — and he's been critically acclaimed for all of them. Known for his originally individual arrangement and instrumentation, he's been a success both on his own and with his band, The Green Mohair Suits. Both Davis and Campeau have singles out this month, and so set off to entertain the country as colleagues and the very best of friends. https://youtube.com/watch?v=CjlE9bhwhsE
2015's Creed was the best kind of surprise. What seemed destined to be a sad resurrection of a franchise already long past its prime turned out to be a benchmark moment for sports movies, combining heart-pumping pugilism with the same kind of tender romance that underscored and grounded the original Rocky. As Adonis 'Donnie' Creed, Michael B. Jordan delivered a fearless performance laden with vulnerability and irresistible charisma, while Sylvester Stallone's reserved turn reminded audiences that beneath his tough guy exterior remains a fine and gifted actor possessed of a deep emotional range. Those same qualities and performances are again present in Creed II, although the story itself unfortunately fails to match the power and drive of its predecessor. The setup is certainly juicy enough. Viktor Drago, son of Ivan – the man who killed Creed's father Apollo in the ring during Rocky IV – arrives in Philadelphia with his father and challenges the newly-crowned heavyweight champion of the world to a fight. It's a chance to "rewrite history" as Donnie tells his mother. But Rocky's heart is filled with dread, with his sense of guilt over Apollo's death a constant companion. Refusing to train Donnie, he and his protege part ways until a tragedy of sorts brings them back together and it's time for another classic training montage. Outside of the ring, Tessa Thompson gives Creed II some much-needed personal drama as Donnie's girlfriend Bianca, delivering another passionate performance imbued with a great deal of heart despite being disappointingly relegated to a more secondary role this time around. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. taking over from Black Panther's Ryan Coogler, Creed II is clearly at its strongest in the ring, where its glorious combination of POV camerawork and sumptuous sound design contributes to an almost uncomfortably visceral, bone-crunching experience. Slow-motion is used more sparingly than is usual in boxing films, reserved here for the truly devastating body blows and upper-cuts. You really feel the hits in this movie, especially those delivered to the ribs where the accompanying snap will have you hugging yourself tightly for comfort. The writing, however, is notably weaker, due perhaps to Coogler's absence (save for an executive producer credit). The screenplay, co-written by Stallone, still has its moments, but lacks the nuance and restraint that helped make Creed into something special. There are too many lines that sound like they were ripped straight from fortune cookies ("It may not seem like it now, but this is more than just a fight"), while the periodic narration from the TV and ringside commentators that added so much authenticity to the original is downright abysmal in the sequel. Countering this, thankfully, are the fine repeat performances from Stallone, Jordan and Thompson, whose chemistry and closeness continue to sizzle on screen. The joy of seeing Dolph Lundgren return as Drago, too, is a highlight, but one that's sadly short lived as he's given little more to do than scowl and grizzle from his first scene to his last. Similarly, the most interesting character in Creed II is also its least explored. Viktor Drago is an irresistible combination of brute physical force and deep-seeded emotional turmoil, neatly packaged inside the 6-foot-4 mountain of muscle that is Romanian boxer and fitness model Florian Munteanu. Abandoned by his mother, weaponised by his father and ignored by his country until a string of victories bring him into the light, Viktor's most compelling fight is the one that's unseen. As he and his father are welcomed back into Russian high society, the young Drago finds no satisfaction in his celebrity, acutely aware of the fair-weather nature of the fans and disgusted by his father's seemingly instant compliance with those who rejected him (including Viktor's mother). Yet Munteanu finds himself forced to play a caricature – although he manages to sneak in moments of emotional subtlety where he can. Indeed, why they fight is at the heart of both fighters' story in Creed II. Driven by reasons that at first seem clear, both Viktor and Donnie soon find ambiguity and doubt needling their way into their respective psyches. By the time the big finale arrives, they remind you of soldiers on a battlefield, bloodied and beaten, yet ultimately more like brothers than enemies – men sent to destroy one another at the behest of those safe behind the lines. As much a father/son story as it is a boxing one, Creed II's tale of family and redemption ultimately doesn't match the quality of the original. Even so, it's a compelling sequel, and worthy of your time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-eB1AwpCXI
Father's Day is upon us. We're sure your dad, like ours, has received enough slippers and ties to last him a lifetime. This year, premium homewares brand Ecosa wants to help you give dad something he'll really enjoy — a good night's sleep. All items on the Ecosa website are now 20 percent off until Sunday, September 6 (aka Father's Day). For all the dads complaining of a crook neck, maybe send them off to the physio and get them a fancy new memory foam pillow. The ergonomic pillow boasts an adjustable height, a curved shape that suits side and back sleepers and a compressible foam that supports the natural shape of your head. Plus, two compression bags so dad can pack it up and take it with him everywhere. Yep, it's one helluva pillow and your dad is sure to love it. If that's not enough, Ecosa also offers free shipping and returns Australia-wide, plus a 100-day free trial period. And, with everything on sale, why not shop for yourself while you're at it. Ecosa's luxe bamboo sheets, silk pillowcases, wooden bed base, memory foam mattress and brand new weighted blanket are all available at the discounted price, too. There's no reason why you can't treat dad and yourself at the same time, right? FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Forget simply watching a TV show, scoring yourself a new favourite, then perhaps buying some merchandise to show your love. For fans of ace new Australian rom-com sitcom Colin From Accounts, you can stream the series about two strangers who meet over a dog in the street, then get your own pet pooch a few beers. Cracking open a cold one with your canine companion is now on your summer agenda, with Binge teaming up with Melbourne-based brewery Hop Nation to release a brew solely for your four-legged friend. Called Colin's Pale Ale, the beer is actually a bone broth drop made from beef bones — and it's firmly for dogs, not for humans. That means that you'll need to grab your own tipple to sink with your pupper; however, if you get in quick enough, your pooch's tinnies won't cost you a thing. From 9am AEDT on Monday, December 12, Binge and Hop Nation are giving away free brews, which includes free delivery as well. If you and your dog are keen to get your paws on a four-pack, you'll need to head to the Hop Nation website. Understandably, getting in quicker than a canine can chase a tennis ball is recommended, because the Colin's Pale Ale freebies are only available while stocks last. You can thank Binge and Hop Nation for helping you solve a frequent dilemma experienced by every dog owner — because everything you can do, your canine always thinks it can as well. While humans know that's not always the case, it now will be when it comes to drinking brews during Australia's sultry summer. Clearly, Binge hopes that you and your pupper will enjoy a beverage while watching Colin From Accounts, which follows medical student Ashley (Harriet Dyer, The Invisible Man) and microbrewery owner Gordon (Patrick Brammall, Evil). After the latter gets distracted by the former one otherwise ordinary Sydney morning, he accidentally hits a stray dog with his car. As the pair get the pooch veterinary treatment, then commit to look after him — and, yes, name him Colin From Accounts — their already-chaotic lives start to intertwine. Check out the trailer for Colin From Accounts below: Binge and Hop Nation are giving away free four-packs of Colin's Pale Ale, a beer for dogs, from 9am AEDT on Monday, December 12 via the Hop Nation website. Colin From Accounts streams via Binge. Read our full review.
It has been a long, hard year and you may be looking at your screen right now daydreaming of a holiday on a secluded beach or exploring deep inside a rainforest. SurfStitch is looking to make that dream a reality by offering one of its customers a $5000 Luxury Escapes voucher to use towards a holiday. All you have to do is add a new addition to your wardrobe by making a purchase at SurfStitch. You can shop for a new swimsuit from brands like All About Eve, Calvin Klein and Peony. Maybe you've had your eyes on those low cut Doc Martins all the cool kids seem to be wearing these days or a Misfit button-up to complete your summer look. These are all available through SurfStitch — and if you pick one up you'll go into the draw. Treat yourself and you might be treated to a luxury holiday. Even better, pick up a new outfit for someone special this holiday season and then nab the holiday for yourself. Yes, Christmas is a time of selflessness ,but how good would $5000 be to make up for the lost time and cancelled holidays of 2020. The voucher can be spent on a range of accommodation options around Australia and overseas as well as some unforgettable travel packages and experiences. You could explore Australia's Top End on an eight-day tour from Darwin to Uluru, spend a week beachside at a luxury villa in the Maldives or take a ten-day tour of Japan including a stay at Mount Fuji. The gift card is valid for three years, so fingers firmly crossed international travel is back to normal by then. All you have to do is use Klarna when you check out. Klarna is an app that offers buy now, pay later and loyalty rewards programs. Find out how to sign up for Klara, browse SurfStitch's online store and learn more about the competition through SurfStitch's website. Go into the draw to win a $5000 Luxury Escapes gift card by making a purchase from SurfStitch and using Klarna at the checkout between Tuesday, December 1 and Thursday, December 31. The winner will be drawn on Tuesday, January 5. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
For over a decade, Blackbird has been a go-to spot in Brisbane for a top-quality steak, stylish cocktail and excellent river views. Now, the family-owned Ghanem Group is bringing this award-winning concept to Melbourne, with an attention-grabbing three-level site in the heart of the CBD. Coming soon to the Collins Place precinct, this second Blackbird location will maintain the essence of the original while adopting a distinctive Melburnian edge. It'll be the hospo group's third venue in Melbourne — it already counts Collingwood's American barbecue spot Le Bon Ton and the sleek riverside Lebanese venue Byblos as part of its southern stable. "We believe this is the right time and place for our Melbourne expansion," says Ghanem Group CEO, Vianna Joseph. "Blackbird Brisbane has just celebrated its tenth anniversary and has more than proved its credentials, gaining loyal corporate and leisure clientele, including many Victorian visitors. Bringing Blackbird to their own city makes perfect sense." With a June opening on the cards, a full-scale renovation of the space is being led by Gold Coast-based Space Cubed Design Studio, which has also designed a number of Ghanem Group's stylish Queensland venues including Donna Chang and Boom Boom Room. Encompassing a sophisticated restaurant, bar and event space, the refined offer is expected to slot effortlessly into the 'Paris end' of Collins Street. Blackbird Melbourne will feature an interior aesthetic rich in dark, moody tones and contrasting textures set against murals contemporary artwork. At street level, an intimate cocktail bar invites guests to find a comfy spot on a sunken lounge, plush banquette or an upholstered armchair, creating an intimate escape from the bustling Flinders Lane. Rising through the levels via a central staircase, you'll find eye-catching chandeliers, mirrored ceilings and an expansive, split-level dining space awash with tonal charcoal hues. This striking setting is the perfect backdrop for executive chef Jake Nicolson's menu. A Victorian native, Nicolson — whose impressive resume includes stints at Daylesford's Lake House and the now-closed St Kilda fine-diner Circa — will highlight premium ingredients such as Josper-grilled and dry-aged meats, fresh seafood, and seasonal vegetables, showcasing the best of Victorian produce. Plus, select ingredients sourced from Queensland will pay homage to the restaurant's origins. "I am very much looking forward to rekindling and building upon the great relationships with growers and producers I had formed during my early years in Victoria," says Nicolson (pictured below). "Showcasing the best of each season's bounty, and combining the very best produce from Victoria and Queensland for all to celebrate through the menus at Blackbird Melbourne is very exciting." Blackbird Melbourne is scheduled for a June opening at Collins Place, 66 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Check back for updates or head to the venue's website for more information. Images: Markus Ravik.
Tasmanian composer Dylan Sheridan returns to this year's Next Wave Festival with his latest otherworldly concerto. Using a mix of cello, violin, saxophone and electronics, this immersive musical work takes listeners 1500 light years through space to the edge of the Horsehead Nebula. Described in the festival program as "a sonic exploration of galactic patterns", The Horse takes over Arts House for eight shows starting Thursday, May 12 and is one of the must-see (and hear) events at Next Wave this year.
Could 2011 be the year of the infographic? They're all over the internet: eye-popping visuals which make sense of complex data sets through bright colours and great typography choices. In a world where information bombardment is enough to make your head spin, infographics are bringing order to the chaos of endless facts and figures. Perhaps the logic of the infographic could be applied to the design of nutrition labels, another daily dose of confusing percentages, milligrams, serving sizes and calorie counters. US magazine Good has teamed up with the University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism's News21 project, inviting designers to rethink food labelling. Their instructions? "Redesign the food label. Incorporate the existing nutrition facts and calorie counts. Or reimagine a label entirely based on food quality, food justice, or lesser-known chemosensory characteristics. Consider a food's carbon footprint or its cultural significance. Above all, make the redesigned label informative, instructive, and memorable." Enter the competition before July 1 and use your design skills to inspire better food and nutrition literacy. [Via Good]
It's the intermission of the funniest play that currently exists on the planet, and the crowd is in shock. Why? Well, I'm not inclined to tell you. Suffice to say, One Man, Two Guvnors might be a hybrid of every classic style of British humour, but that doesn't mean it plays it safe. Based on the commedia dell'arte (read: old Italian panto) play Servant of Two Masters, this production has been adapted for the National Theatre of Great Britain by Mr Bean — that is to say, Richard Bean, prestigious playwright whose The Heretic divided Melbourne last year. One Man, Two Guvnors, set in '60s seaside Brighton, comes to the Arts Centre after stints on Broadway and the West End and several theatre awards. It's gargantuanly, uninhibitedly, divinely funny. A great leveller; you laugh, or you're not alive. It all rests largely in the hands of Owain Arthur, who plays poor fool Francis Henshall, a man who becomes the personal assistant to two seemingly unrelated parties, all because he's dying to buy lunch. Arthur was the understudy to James Corden in the original run of this show, though watching him, it's quite impossible to imagine anyone else in the part. The man goes red in the face every time he opens his mouth to speak. The amount of energy he puts into these two-and-a-half-hours is stunning. Add a pair of high pants and a sweet Welsh accent, and you have a comedic triple threat. He's not let down by the rest of the cast, either, with Edward Bennett in particular proving Arthur's match and counterpoint as toffy Stanley Stubbers, one of the guvnors. Where Arthur has to milk lines like "It tastes good for paper", Bennett fires off quick ripostes such as "I don't do first names; first names are for girls and Norwegians" with a flash of straight teeth and a brush of his blazer. They each stand at one end of the comedy spectrum from the slapsticky to the Wildean, with Amy Booth-Steel. Kellie Shirley, Leon Williams and Rosie Wyatt admirably filling the bits in between. Keeping the good times rolling is a (very handsome) beat combo, who provide live music and step on stage between scenes. It's a fun and refreshing way to add a musical aspect to the show. Indeed, even when the energy of the show starts to flag in the second half (why? Maybe the spell is broken, it's just a bit more predictable or people are nervous about the show's approach to audience participation), these interludes spike the levels right back up again. One Man, Two Guvnors may represent the least stuffy part of our British heritage. Eat it up. This review is based on the Sydney run of this production in April 2013.
When the warm weather rolls around each year, Melburnians usually have multiple reasons to head to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. For those feeling festive, it's where Carols by Candlelight is held. And for anyone keen on catching orchestral shows under the evening sky, it's where the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has held its free summer series for decades. Come 2021, the iconic venue will also play host to a new event: Live at the Bowl. It's a response to this past chaotic year, with holding a COVID-safe summer festival its number-one aim. Well, that and giving the city's residents something fun to add to their calendars after 2020's struggles. The lineup won't be announced until early December; however, Live at the Bowl will run from January–March and feature more than 40 performances. It'll be a socially distanced affair, obviously, which the renders of the event illustrate — including separate platforms that split the audience up into groups, as festivals overseas have already been using. [caption id="attachment_789597" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Render of Live at the Bowl[/caption] Live at the Bowl won't be the only Melbourne event tempting you out of the house this summer, of course. It's one of several to receive funding as part of a newly announced $17.2 million Victorian Government package — to "enable Victorians to reconnect with the cultural experiences they love in new and unique ways, while creating jobs for thousands of Victorians across the creative and event industries", according to a statement from Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson. Accordingly, Melburnians can also look forward to the Melbourne Museum Summer Plaza series, which'll feature open-air experiences performances, movies, food and drinks; dining and music in the NGV Garden to coincide with the free NGV Triennial; and outdoor experiences at State Library Victoria, Melbourne Recital Centre, ACMI and Federation Square. Sixteen individual Victorian arts companies and festivals will also receive funding to present outdoor programs across summer, including the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Midsumma, Shepparton Arts Festival and Creative Clunes. Live at the Bowl will run from January–March 2021 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, with the program releasing in early December — we'll update you with further details when they're announced.
Netflix's algorithm has clearly figured out one of the most obvious facts about humankind: we all really love dogs. With the streaming platform's latest documentary series, it has dedicated six episodes to different canines from around the globe — and the two-legged folks who care for, groom, dress and even fish with them. Of course, the barking balls of fluff are the real drawcards. Called Dogs, the thoroughly feel-good show follows puppers in Syria, Japan, Costa Rica, Italy and the US, each with their own stories to tell. One episode explores life in a dog sanctuary in the Costa Rican rainforest, another relays the tale of a Siberian Husky trapped in Syria after his owner was able to flee to German, and yet another jumps into Japan's love of cute pooches — dog strollers are a common sight on the streets of Tokyo, after all. The show is described by the streamer as "an inspirational journey exploring the remarkable, perhaps even magical qualities that have given these animals such a special place in all of our hearts", and it's clearly designed to tug at your heartstrings — but if you can't get enough when it comes to adorable canines, you won't be complaining. Given that Netflix announced earlier in the year that pets make the best binge partners, all based on a study that it commissioned, the show is hardly a surprising addition to its lineup. All-too-easy to watch in one sitting (yes, Netflix, we are still watching), Dogs also boasts an impressive pedigree, with Academy Award-nominated documentarian Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil) both executive producing the series and directing two of its episodes. Other filmmakers involved include Life Animated's Roger Ross Williams, The Jinx's Richard Hankin, and Undefeated's T.J. Martin and Daniel Lindsay. Before diving into the full series, go barking mad for the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pLCmLgjiJ8 Dogs is now available on Netflix. Images: Netflix.
Swedish fashion blogger and international face of Rekorderlig Cider, Caroline Blomst, had a very busy schedule while visiting Australia for the first time this month. Attending shows at L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, shooting street style for her blog in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a Sydney exhibition of her work at the Somedays Gallery in Surry Hills were just a few of the things on her to-do list. Blomst and her boyfriend Daniel Troyse launched their blog, Stockholm Street Style, in 2005, and in 2007 the pair added Caroline’s Mode. According to Blomst, “People have a hard time understanding that it’s a job and not a hobby.” With her Stockholm-meets-Paris style, she adds “I try and keep it simple, minimalistic and comfortable but still I want to add some pieces to make it chic which is the Paris part”. We caught up with the fashion forward model-turned-blogger to ask her thoughts on blogging, designers and Australian fashion. What have you learnt since you started blogging? In the beginning hardly anyone knew what a blog was, it was only the hardcore bloggers that knew. I think in the last 2 years maybe people are starting to learn what a blog is. I’ve been doing this fulltime - 6 months into blogging, so since late 2005. The hard thing is to make people realise that it’s a job and that we do it seriously. It’s not a personal blog, it’s more like a fashion magazine in the blog forum but from my sense of style. It’s still something new to people but for me it's like I’ve been doing it forever. Do you have any advice to give to fellow bloggers? I think if you want to start a blog today it is very important that you find a niche, that you do something that not everyone is doing. For example, if you want to do street style you might want to focus on bloggers or you might want to focus on models or men? Something that makes you unlike everyone else and also consistency - keep updating frequently. We do five posts a day for street style I know that’s quite a lot but I think for blogs its hard because on the internet you need to keep going all the time. Make your own content so that you’re not constantly re-posting other peoples' stuff. Who are some of your favourite designers? My favourite designers are Isabel Marant (surprise surprise!). I also love Chanel, Celine, and Balenciaga. Swedish designers? I’d say Carin Wester - she does both menswear and womenswear - and it’s really nice stuff. Also in Australia, which is totally new to me, I have discovered Bec & Bridge (which I love!), Scanlan and Theodore and Maurie & Eve. What is it about the designer that makes you love them? I think for Isabel Marant they have a very French chic but kind of minimalistic style, which is very much me. Carin Wester, I mean she makes very casual pieces that are wearable for everyday; the casual kind of approach but you feel well dressed. Balenciaga and Celine for their great accessories like bags and shoes, and also Chanel for their bags. What are your thoughts on Australian fashion? I think it looks kind of similar to the fashion in Europe. Actually people were telling me when I came, 'oh they are so behind' but I think that is not true at all. I think you have a lot of interesting designers that I had never heard of before. It’s been very interesting getting to know what they do. What did you get up to at L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival? We went to some shows - the opening show, the Harper’s Bazaar show and maybe 4 other shows and we tried to stay outside shooting some street style. We also promoted Rekorderlig Cider that sponsored some of the shows. So which city in the world is your favourite fashion city? I would have to say Paris. I mean shooting street style in Paris is amazing because of the light and they’re are so many people to pick fromm and the shopping - they have everything. I would choose Paris for fashion definitely.
The season remains in full swing, but it won't be long until the Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final takes over Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, August 2. While scoring any seat in the stands will give you a top-notch view of the action, the league has organised a pair of unique encounters for super fans looking to level up their experience. For the first time ever, fans are invited to board a special two-hour Grand Final cruise along the Yarra River. Departing from Federation Wharf, tempting nibbles, drinks and live music will flow for two hours before you dock on the doorstep of Melbourne Olympic Park, ready to head inside and soak up the big game. Meanwhile, the Mixed Social Club is also making its debut, with this pre-match party offering the ideal warm-up to the main event. Featuring canapés, a fully stocked bar and energising beats from DJ Kitty Kat, this is your chance to mingle with some of the SSN's most significant past and present stars on the rooftop of Rod Laver Arena. "The 2025 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final isn't just about crowning our champion — it's about delivering unforgettable moments for our fans," says Netball Australia CEO Stacey West. "Whether you're joining us for the game, the events, or the entire week, this is going to be the biggest and most immersive Grand Final experience in netball history." Finally, the Grand Final Lunch is returning in 2025. Hosted at Centrepiece, just a short stroll from Rod Laver Arena, guests will relish a gourmet two-course dining and drinks experience as netball royalty shares fascinating insights on the sport and what it takes to secure its biggest prize. Best of all, you're invited to tailor your entire Grand Final day. The River Cruise can be purchased individually or added alongside the Mixed Social Club package, helping sports fans of all stripes take their experience to the greatest heights. The Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final is happening Saturday, August 2, at Rod Laver Arena. Head to the website for tickets, premium packages and more information.
Who knew so many people around the world over the age of five (and their parents) would be singing along to a tune sampling “Baa Baa Black Sheep?” Even if you happened to be living under a rock during the when "Somebody That I Used to Know" first surfaced, you would still most likely know the song, which seems to have been playing through some kind of tree root radio system. Now that it’s safely embedded in our brains, you can see ol’ Wally live. Although it’s unclear whether or not Kimbra and Wally will be getting their birthday suits painted on stage or having five people with grim expressions to strum his guitar, what is clear is that Bertie Blackman and PVT will be the supporting acts. This will be his first and (apparently) only Aussie tour since Gotye hit it big time. He seems pretty excited to be playing for local audiences again, saying "the band is sounding hot and I'm so into some of the new visuals that have been made, it's exciting!" Yes, it’s time to get excited people.
In response to Melbourne's latest COVID-19 cases, the Victorian Government has changed the state's mask rules to bring back mandatory face coverings inside. As announced last night, on Wednesday, July 14, wearing masks indoors became compulsory again at 11.59am — so, Victorians, you've just woken up to the new requirement. Accordingly, face masks are now compulsory inside for all Victorians — not just residents of Melbourne — over the age of 12. The rule applies in all indoor settings that aren't your own home, including all workplaces. Also, if you're outside, you need to wear a mask if you cannot maintain a 1.5-metre distance from folks who aren't from your own household. These requirements are all very familiar, given that the mask rules only started loosening again over the past month — following Melbourne's two-week lockdown in late May and early June. In fact, people have only been able to go maskless in indoor workplaces that don't face a public-facing component for the last week, and have only been able to ditch face coverings outdoors if you can social distance since mid-June. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1415287538676158467 At present, new cases linked to Sydney's current cluster and lockdown have popped up in Melbourne, which is why the mask mandate has come back into effect. Yes, that means that the city's exposure sites list is growing again, too. As always, Melburnians can keep an eye on the local list of exposure sites at the Department of Health website — it will keep being updated if and when more sites are identified. 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. And, has remained the case throughout the pandemic, Melburnians should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste, symptoms-wise. Plus, if you're wondering where to grab a fitted mask, we've put together a rundown of local companies making and selling them. 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 Festival program has been released, and as you can imagine, it is jam-packed with world class music, dance, theatre, film, visual art and forums. It is Melbourne’s flagship cultural event, and with good reason. Some of the artists featured are on the rise and pushing boundaries, where others are well-renowned, established organisations that are bringing their award winning pieces to this great city. One thing Melbourne Festival loves to do is to collaborate, collide and blur the lines between art forms. This year we will see legendary Detroit techno producer and DJ Jeff Mills work with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for Light from the Outside World. Framed Movements, curated by Hannah Mathews, examines the shifting boundaries between art and dance, and Complexity of Belonging — a collaboration between Anouk van Dijk from Chunky Move and Berlin director Falk Richter — uses dance and acting to explore identity in the age of social media. A strong point of difference for Melbourne Festival when comparing it to the plethora of arts events this city holds is it’s strong acknowledgement of the role of circus in Melbourne’s art scene. Opus from France and Cirkopolis from Canada both look spectacular and provide a rare opportunity for an Australian audience to see the tricks of pioneers in their field, while The Nanjing Project is a collaborative work between Australian and Chinese circus performers. If it’s music you’re after from this year’s program, we imagine you will be spending a fair amount of time at the Foxtel Festival Hub. We are particularly excited about Since I Left You, where musicians Jonti and Rainbow Chan will rearrange and reinterpret the Avalanches seminal record — and its 3,500 vinyl samples — via live performance. Or you may be drawn to Pop Crimes, a celebration of Roland S. Howard’s songs, with many musical guests performing on what would have been his 55th birthday. If you’re more interested in shaking your groove thing, head to The Bamboos' performance during the middle weekend. If you haven’t had your film fix from Melbourne International Film Festival this year, ex-MIFF director Richard Moore will be curating films for Art Politics and Protest. While we’re on the subject of film, Clint Mansell — renowned for his eerie and expansive soundscapes in Darren Aronofsky films — will be performing a retrospective of his film scores with a nine-piece band (and accompanied by haunting visuals, of course). Theatre is going to be high on the agenda this year as well. Revered master of stagecraft Heiner Goebbels will bring 40 Slovenian teenagers to town for his lauded 2012 work, When the Mountain Changed Its Clothing, while Hipbone Sticking Out and Hello, Goodbye & Happy Birthday are two Australian productions to consider. For dance, we can’t go past Trisha Brown Dance Company from the USA performing 18 of her brilliant postmodern dances. Our art pick for the festival at this stage is Carsten Höller’s Golden Mirror Carousel, partially because it looks awesome, and partly because you can ride it. Like last year, the festival will begin with Tanderrum: a powerful event of story, song and dace, where elders from the five clans of the Kulin nation invite the people of Melbourne to celebrate the ancestors who were here long before our time. The Ilbijerri Theatre Company will facilitate the event, and it is a proud symbol of the resilience of Melbourne’s Koori culture, and statement of optimism for the future. We could easily go on, but we’ll stop there for now. Melbourne Festival is on from October 10-26. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, July 29. Head to the festival website for all the details.
Shaken. Stirred. Mixed or on the rocks. To Melburnians, a Bombay Sapphire cocktail is classier than even James Bond. At least the overwhelming success of last year’s Project Botanicals would suggest. If you didn’t get in before tickets sold out, fear not — Bombay’s gincentric pop-up is reopening for a second series from June 24 to July 11. Masterchef’s Gary Mehigan is back, curating ten delicate and delectable pairings to cocktails by the best ‘ginstronomers’ in the city. Here are five of the best dishes to consider for your two-course experience. JAMON SERRANO WITH BRUSCHETTA OF CONFIT RED PEPPER Prosciutto-like and thinly sliced, the delicate meat is balanced by the warm flavour of confit red pepper, saffron and onions. Sat atop light toast and finished with smoked mayo, this dish is an Australian outback of auburn colours and flamed flavours. The vibrantly red Almond Blossom Martini adds to this colour scheme: Bombay, a vermouth combo of Noilly Prat and Antica Formula, almond-flavoured liqueur and Crawley’s Orgeat Syrup, served with a fresh orange twist. CRISP TOSTADITAS WITH GIN CURED KINGFISH For seafood lovers, this lighter, Latin-inspired dish combines perfectly cured kingfish with flame-roasted pablanos, sour cream and charred corn salsa. Forget the margarita; the paired Lemon Collins is the perfect refresher for the slightly spicy capsicum. A mixture of Bombay, fresh lemon juice, 1883 Sugar Syrup and Fever-Tree soda water, garnished with a dehydrated orange wedge. Who needs tequila when you have gin? CHARGRILLED OCTOPUS WITH CAULIFLOWER SKORDALIA Delicately charred with cauliflower puree, candied beetroot and fennel, this bright dish will lovingly remind you of summer while you block out the winter chill. The Cubeb Berry Lola pairing, a creation of Union Electric, is a cocktail of Bombay, Grand Marnier, fresh lime juice, coconut cream, and ginger syrup. Their unique twist is the edible viola flower and pineapple leaf garnish, both fun and functional. DUCK PASTILLA A Moroccan-style pie, this winter warmer is topped with duck pastrami and labneh (yoghurt cheese). The Black Pearl envisioned the Liquorice Pontefract accompaniment, the Willy Wonka of gin cocktails: a combination of Bombay, toasted fennel seed syrup, fresh lemon juice, Pastis Henri Bardouin, orange bitters, egg whites and Fever-Tree soda water, garnished with liquorice allsort, this one’s a doozy. WARM HAZELNUT AND BROWN BUTTER FRIAND For those with a sweet tooth, the warmed friand is moist, aromatic and just good for the soul. Topped with Olorosso ice cream, raisins and black sherry syrup, this is a decadent end to an indulgent evening. The Gin Palace matched this blissful dish with the equally heavenly Eve’s Cheat Day in Paradise: a warmed cocktail of Bombay, vermouth and ginger syrup, served with chocolate butter. Go ahead, treat yourself. Project Botanicals will be open every Wednesday – Saturday evening from 6pm – 1am at 64 Sutton Street, North Melbourne. For $45 per person, you’ll be treated to two cocktails and two paired tapas style dishes. Book your tickets at Eventbrite.
In 2012, journalist Clem Bastow moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming a screenwriter. Unfortunately, so did tens of thousands of other people. Now she’s back in Melbourne with a cautionary tale about a place where the sun never stops shining. Joined by her very own Hollywood mix-master, the gas mask-wearing DJ Slig, Bastow weaves an elaborate, self-effacing story about her time in the City of Angels, from existential crisis to an encounter with Steven Spielberg. Escape From LA is at Bar Open from March 25 to April 7 and the Imperial Hotel from April 11-19.
When some of Australia's biggest events were forced to change their 2020 plans due to the pandemic, it was hoped that'd be a one-time deal. But more than halfway into 2021, COVID-19 and Australia's response to it keeps causing havoc with the music and events industries. The latest casualty, following Bluesfest and Vivid Sydney: this year's BIGSOUND. If your spring routine usually involves bar-hopping around Brisbane — and around Fortitude Valley in particular — while listening to up-and-coming musicians, then you're in for bad news. The music-fuelled celebration normally takes over the Queensland capital every September or October, and did so virtually in 2020. Plans had already been announced for the event's physical return this year; however, given the current lockdowns in both Sydney and Melbourne, organisers have now scrapped the 2021 conference and festival altogether. "Without our music mates in New South Wales and Victoria and no certain timeline as to when domestic borders will remain open, BIGSOUND 2021 wouldn't be able to deliver on its promise to reunite the music community for three extraordinary days of connection, conversation, and music discovery," said QMusic CEO Kris Stewart in a statement announcing the cancellation. BIGSOUND's 2021 event was due to run from Tuesday, September 7–Thursday, September 9, with the three-day program slated to feature conferences, live festival showcases, secret shows and official parties. Around 150 musicians were expected to take to the stage, with past events showcasing everyone from Gang of Youths, Flume, Tash Sultana and Courtney Barnett to San Cisco, Violent Soho, Methyl Ethel and The Jungle Giants. Instead of trying to move around this year's fest or adjust to lockdowns and restrictions, the BIGSOUND team will now work towards staging the next event in September 2022. That said, 100-percent First Nations youth-led music conference Little BLAKSOUND will still go ahead this September, as presented by Digi Youth Arts. And, with 2021 marking BIGSOUND's 20th anniversary, work is underway to find a way to celebrate that milestone in some shape or form this year, too. BIGSOUND 2021 will no longer place between Tuesday, September 7–Thursday, September 9 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Current ticket holders will receive refunds, as will artists who've paid application fees. For further details, visit bigsound.org.au. Top image: Kymie at BIGSOUND 2019 by Lachlan Douglas.
The internet has made everything a lot easier. The technology and anonymity of the internet has eased a lot of things: shopping, communicating, dating (supposedly). It was only a matter of time before criminals took advantage of the virtual world. The Silk Road is a website selling real drugs virtually. Anonymously connecting buyers with sellers of heroin, LSD and cannabis, the website has had to enlarge its servers to handle the increase in traffic since being exposed by mainstream media. The website is infuriating for Australian law enforcement for two reasons: first, with its base of operations overseas Australian Federal Police have no jurisdiction over it, and secondly, the use of a virtual currency, called Bitcoins, means there is no paper trail which would usually lead to suspects. The best case scenario for the good guys is to increase monitoring of incoming online shopping mail. However with online shopping a $30 billion industry in Australia, it seems, at least in the short term, these new drug trafficking methods might prove too difficult to stop. The downfall of the site could be the very thing that has made Ebay such a success – feedback. With customers exchanging money for goods they want guarantees, something that these online drug dealers can’t reliably provide. And of course there will always be the traditionalists who prefer the personal touch of buying from their local flesh-and-blood dealer. [Via SMH]
Bluesfest experts already know that Iron & Wine will be folkify-ing Byron Bay come Easter 2014. But what they don't know (or haven't, until today, at least) is that the Texan singer-songwriter formally known as Sam Beam will be making headline appearances in Sydney and Melbourne. Since his last Australia tour, Iron & Wine has released two albums: the slick and poppy Kiss Each Other Clean (2011), which entered the US Billboard Chart at Number 2, and now, Ghost on Ghost. Representing yet another extension of Beam's creative repertoire, it combines '60s soul influences with dashes of '70s rock. Beam's idiosyncratic voice meets a punchy horn section, string flourishes and retro-style female harmonies. "As an artist, I think you should be exploring all the time," he told American Songwriter recently. "It's a transition in the way you think about your work. If your work is more about the process of working, then you are still in pursuit of good results, but the result is not where you get your satisfaction. It's the process — the process of exploring and doing." Iron & Wine will play the Sydney Opera House on April 22 and Melbourne's Forum Theatre on April 23. Tickets are available via Handsome Tours' website. Photo by Craig Kief.
Halloween: love it or hate it, there's no doubt it's growing in popularity here Down Under. And after two years spent on our couches, we'll be damned if we don't use any holiday as an excuse for a celebration. When you're at uni, throwing on a half-assed costume and heading to some sticky beer-soaked party seems like the height of a good time. But if you're reading this you're probably in the over-25 set and would way rather relax on your couch solo than freeze your tail off at a random party in some Reject Shop number — or even worse, watch your friends' kids run around on a sugar high. So we're here to help. We've teamed up with the devilish minds at Devil's Vine to pen a guide to getting into the spirit of things this Halloween — think delicious dining options, movie marathons and costumes guaranteed to impress. [caption id="attachment_873494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Chester Newling.[/caption] HOST A SPOOKY (YET SOPHISTICATED) HALLOWEEN SOIREE Sipping beer out of plastic cups is out — sipping a juicy red at a dinner party with friends is in. Luckily we've got just the ticket: a Devil's Vine wine-soaked Halloween dinner party. We've taken care of the menu, decorations and entertainment options, so head on over to our Halloween guide to get the skinny. HOLD THE ULTIMATE HORROR MOVIE MARATHON Remember those days of staying up all night watching horror flicks with your friends at sleepovers? To get into the Halloween spirit this year, you're going to be holding a version of that with an adult twist. (No, not like that — get your minds out of the gutter). It's all about providing the ultimate in comfort, snacks and wines. One easy way to get your guests into the spirit is to give each of them the task of bringing a Halloween-themed platter. Some of our go-tos are a charcuterie board with 'mouldy' cheese, a platter of pumpkin-spiced treats, or one with only trick-or-treat-worthy lollies and sweets. Drinks-wise, it's all about the vino, and lots of it. Our pick is a Devil's Vine red — it's juicy but not overly sweet, so extremely easy to drink. Pour your cab sauv, merlot, shiraz or red blend into goblet-sized glasses and kick back to watch your flick. [caption id="attachment_859412" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Disney's live-action HOCUS POCUS 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] For your movie option, we'd recommend opting for something camp and scarily hilarious — this is about bringing the Halloween spirit, not scaring yourselves so silly that your friends are unable to go home alone. Some of our faves include What We Do in the Shadows, Beetlejuice, Shaun of the Dead, The Addams Family and Addams Family Values, The Cabin in the Woods , the OG Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, Ready or Not, Tucker & Dale Versus Evil, The Lost Boys and Hocus Pocus (which you can also follow up with the just-released and long-awaited sequel). Being in your comfy 'fits and stuffing yourselves silly also presents the perfect opportunity to tell some "scary" stories of your own over your glass of red — less of the ghost persuasion, though, and more about your mate's recent Tinder nightmare or horrifying mother-in-law tales. And hey, if someone brings out the ouija board, we're not responsible. GOING TO A PARTY? CHOOSE YOUR COSTUME WISELY So your mate convinced you to attend that Halloween party. Maybe the person they're keen to date will be there, or they heard from a friend of a friend it's going to "go off". Hey, we get it — we're pushing thirty but we're not dead yet. But if you're going to do Halloween at our age, you're going to do it right. The days of just throwing on a $5 pair of cat ears are over — you are an adult and will spend money on your costume accordingly. Just like any party, the best part is getting ready, so invite your friends over, pour yourself a glass of Devil's Vine wine and get to work. We've put together some of our favourite costume options to spark some inspo: Barbiecore Be inspired by Tash's incredible dance outfit in the last season of Love Island UK, or Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on skates in Malibu. Think bright pink lycra, big hair, bold lips and chunky dad sneakers. Bridgerton-inspired Regency 'fits Thanks to shows like Bridgerton and The Great, costume shops are absolutely heaving with Regency-inspired pieces these days. Perfect for solo costumes and couples 'fits alike, these ones make it look like you've made a lot of effort while you've actually got it together with minimal fuss. Marilyn Monroe One of the most notable actresses of recent generations is really going through another present-day moment, thanks to Kim Kardashian's Met Gala look and that questionable Netflix movie Blonde. She had so many iconic looks over her time that it's hard to nail one down — but we think if you're looking to give the sequinned treatment, get a nude tight slip like this one and cover it in glitter. Or, opt for a white dress like this one and find the nearest grate. Clueless suits Thanks to Gen Z's ongoing fascination with all things 90s (or what those of a certain age refer to as our childhood), thrift shops are bursting with oversized blazers and mini skirts these days. And if you're attending a Halloween party with a gal pal, you could do much worse than a costume inspired by one of the 90s most enduring duos by donning matching Clueless-inspired 'fits. Find a good checked number in a pale shade and die it yellow — or opt for a navy number if you're more a Dionne than a Cher. Beetlejuice and Lydia Thrift an old black suit, paint some white stripes down it and give your hair a temporary (and very important) spray of white hair paint — job done. For Lydia, either hunt down a red ball gown — or find acres of tulle and get to work with scissors and thread. This Halloween, make a date with Devil's Vine. Available for RRP$11.99 per bottle at Dan Murphy's and RRP$14.99 at per bottle at BWS, head online or in-store to check it out.
UPDATE, January 15, 2021: Ride Your Wave is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. In the type of scene familiar from many a film, 19-year-old Hinako (voiced by Rina Kawaei) frolics around a seaside spot with her boyfriend Minato (Ryota Katayose). In the scenic Japanese city of Chiba, the pair chat, laugh, stroll and sightsee, as plenty of couples have in similar situations. Actually, this duo does so twice. The first time plays out exactly as everyone expects but, occurring well into Ride Your Wave, the lovestruck duo's repeat romantic rendezvous comes with a twist. In the kind of image that can only really be brought to the screen via animation, Hinako isn't spending time with Minato in the flesh the second time around — instead, she's dragging around an inflatable porpoise filled with water that, when she hums the pair's favourite song, manifests her boyfriend's spirit from beyond the grave. Basically, Hinako is now dating a ghost in the guise of a blow-up aquatic mammal — a spectre that can appear in anything else that's wet, such as a glass of water and even a toilet bowl, too. It's a heartfelt yet clearly strange sight, and it's an image that filmmaker Masaaki Yuasa builds his whole sweet, sensitive and charming movie around. Already known for offbeat and distinctive animated efforts such as Night Is Short, Walk on Girl and Lu Over the Wall, the Japanese director blends his fondness for weirdness with a perceptive exploration of love and loss that belongs in the same company as huge recent global hits Your Name and Weathering with You. As brought to life, vocally, by former Japanese pop idol Kawaei and fellow local pop star Katayose (whose boy band, Generations from Exile Tribe, provides the film's pivotal — and extremely catchy — tune), Hinako and Minato's story begins much earlier. Initially, she's a surf-obsessed newcomer arriving in town to study oceanography, while he's a dutiful local firefighter. They cross paths on several occasions — she frequently hits the waves near his fire station, as he just-as-frequently notices — but they don't properly connect until Minato comes to Hinako's rescue when her apartment building is set ablaze. And, if tragedy didn't strike, perhaps they would've simply lived happily ever after. As Ride Your Wave astutely realises, though, those kinds of blissful, uncomplicated tales aren't the norm for everyone. Japan's plethora of big-screen animated gems have always received ample praise for their visual prowess; given how gorgeous and glorious everything from Studio Ghibli's greats to Yuasa's own filmic back catalogue looks, that's understandable. But movies such as Ride Your Wave don't surf their way into viewers' hearts based solely on eye-popping imagery alone. At their best, these films ripple with emotional depth and resonance — and while there's much about Ride Your Wave that threatens to veer into cheesiness at times, it remains an insightful, moving and charming example of the genre. On the surface, it might appear to be just another supernatural teen romance; however from the moment that Hinako is forced to face her future alone, this is a thoughtful, delicate and observant portrait of a woman struggling with one of the worst things that can happen. As whimsical as it might sometimes seem — and as it definitely sounds on paper — there's a rich vein of melancholy in Hinako's escapades with Minato's spirit. As she continues to hold onto him in any way she can, Yuasa and screenwriter Reiko Yoshida (A Silent Voice, Okko's Inn) show a raw and profound understanding of grief, its all-encompassing impact and the reality that, to those in mourning, absolutely everything reminds them of the person they're missing. Everyone who has lost someone has returned to places they once visited together and seen memories of happier times linger at every corner. Everyone in the same position has felt their heart skip a beat when a significant song plays, too. As well as being cute and quirky, the literal inflatable porpoise in Ride Your Wave's frames gives these common and relatable experiences a physical dimension. Don't go expecting this film to receive a live-action remake any time soon, of course, not that any animated movie ever needs one. Disney might currently be obsessed with turning its cartoon hits into flesh and blood (or photorealistic approximations), but Japan's animators are well aware that their chosen medium is far more expressive — especially when it comes to matters of the heart. There's a rhythm, flow and glow to Ride Your Wave that perfectly captures its protagonist's complicated situation, and that simply wouldn't translate to any other format. There's also the feeling that, through its seemingly fanciful narrative gimmick, Ride Your Wave tackles tough emotional terrain with unflinching, heart-swelling honesty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMB7SpEvxOI Image: ©Ride Your Wave Film Partners.
2025 marks 20 years since Oasis last toured Australia, but that's where the lengthy gap between the band's Down Under shows is ending. There's comeback tours and then there's Britain's most-famous feuding siblings reuniting to bring one of the country's iconic groups back together for a massive world tour — and when Liam and Noel Gallagher start taking to the stage together again, they'll do so at gigs in Sydney and Melbourne. Oasis' reunion tour has been huge news since mid-2024, when Liam and Noel announced that they would reform Oasis — and bury the hatchet — for a run of shows in the UK and Ireland. Since then, they've been expanding their tour dates, also locking in visits to Canada and the US. From London, Manchester and Dublin to Toronto, Los Angeles and Mexico City, the entire tour so far is sold out. That's the story, morning glory. The Manchester-born band is kicking off their Aussie visit on Halloween 2025 — Friday, October 31 — at Marvel Stadium in the Victorian capital, and also playing there the next night on Saturday, November 1, then again on Tuesday, November 4. [caption id="attachment_975206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oasis Knebworth 1996, Jill Furmanovsky[/caption] Oasis broke up in 2009, four years after their last Australian tour, and following seven albums from 1994's Definitely Maybe through to 2008's Dig Your Soul — and after drawing massive crowds to their live gigs along the way (see: documentary Oasis Knebworth 1996). If you're feeling supersonic about the group's reunion, you can likely expect to hear that track, plus everything from 'Live Forever', 'Cigarettes & Alcohol', 'Morning Glory' and 'Some Might Say' through to 'Wonderwall', 'Don't Look Back in Anger' and 'Champagne Supernova' when they hit Australia. [caption id="attachment_975205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oasis Knebworth 1996, Photo by Roberta Parkin/Redferns[/caption] Top image: Simon Emmett. Updated Friday, October 11, 2024.
A romantic candlelit dinner? Boring. A late-night movie and an ice cream cone for two? Nah. A stroll through the park, hand-in-hand while being serenaded by buskers? Um, gross. Classic dates are about as cliche as Emily Cooper's collection of berets (if you know, you know). So we've taken the liberty to piece together an adventure-packed date itinerary if you and your partner aren't big on the ick-factor. The folks at Adrenaline were nice enough to offer some suggestions, too. [caption id="attachment_711645" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josie Withers, Visit Victoria[/caption] START YOUR DAY WITH A WALK OR CYCLE ALONG A WATERSIDE TRAIL If you're into adventure, we'll take a gamble and say you're also into exercise. If that's the case, may we suggest starting the day nice and early with a walk, run or bike ride along The Bay Trail? This track takes in the very best views of the bay and Melbourne CBD, plus you can perve at the beautiful mansions dotted along the coastline and discuss which one you and your partner would buy if money were no object. If you aren't into exercise (we feel you), then a coffee by one of the many beautiful beaches also makes for a relaxing start to an action-packed day with your boo. TREAT YOURSELF TO A BAKED GOOD BREKKIE This itinerary heads from the southside to the north, so we suggest making your way across Melbourne via Falco Bakery on Smith Street, Collingwood. Opening every day at 8am, it makes for the perfect pit stop for coffee and baked goods — and, believe us, you'll need a full stomach for the rest of your adventure-filled day. Right now, Falco Bakery is getting into the Christmas spirit with fruit mince pies. But if you're after something more classic may we suggest a mince pie of the meat variety or a flaky croissant? Whatever you grab, it will be freshly baked and perfect for sharing with a special friend. [caption id="attachment_750758" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Gibson[/caption] CATCH SOME WAVES AT MELBOURNE'S FIRST SURF PARK Now for the main event of your adventure-packed date itinerary: Australia's first high performance, world-class surf park, Urbnsurf. If you and your SO have never surfed before, try out a beginner lesson with Adrenaline where you're almost guaranteed to stand up thanks to the highly controlled environment, perfectly sized waves and freedom not worrying about sea creatures with sharp teeth. If you consider yourself a bit of a Mick Fanning in the making, level up to their cruiser, intermediate, advanced or expert sessions where the sets are always pumping and there's no need to fight over waves. There are plenty of opportunities to lounge around, sunbake, or grab a bite to eat at the recently opened and highly coveted Three Blue Ducks restaurant, too. This is sure to be one of the most unique and fun dates you and your partner will ever experience. KEEP THE WATER-BASED ACTIVITIES GOING WITH A DIP IN A SWIMMING HOLE Crowned by Concrete Playground as one of the most unusual swimming holes to try around Melbourne, Laughing Waters will keep the water-based fun going once your surfing experience is over. Located just a 40-minute drive from Melbourne's CBD, this section of the Yarra River is perfect for lilo-drifting and cooling off in summer. Hidden by native bushland, Laughing Waters offers small rapids and rock pools that are well worth exploring. Add it to your date if you like the idea of a peaceful setting and a unique experience that's sure to impress your fellow adventurer. REFUEL WITH LUNCH AT THIS WEST MELBOURNE CAFE If you aren't big on romantic dinners, you probably aren't big on romantic lunches, either. That's OK, because Operator 25 is currently offering delicious picnic lunches to enjoy at the neighbouring Flagstaff Gardens for those of you who can't stand the idea of being stuck inside and staring deep into each other's eyes. Instead, grab a Picnic Box complete with mixed grain salad, chicken sandwiches, seasonal fresh fruit and coconut yoghurt, scones, and the cafe's much-loved ube waffle soldiers, and head to the park. Oh, and if you're into 'gramming your lunch, this one is sure to get you a lot of likes with its vibrant aesthetics. Extra points for a selfie with your main squeeze. TAKE IN THE SUNSET OVER A BEVERAGE After you've worn off that lunch with a sneaky nap at the park, make your way to Marquis of Lorne for a well-deserved sunset tipple. A true adventurer prefers their sunset bevvies on a rooftop (we don't make the rules) and Marquis of Lorne has one of the best rooftops in Melbourne for an intimate date experience. Treat yourself to a hard yuzu lemonade or a local craft beer and, if you're feeling peckish, try fresh oysters or some classic pub grub — not exactly adventurous, but always delicious. [caption id="attachment_791887" align="alignnone" width="1920"] William Hamilton[/caption] END THE DAY IN A MULTI-SENSORY PLAYGROUND Finish your action-packed day with a multi-sensory experience at Imaginaria. Part game, part gallery, part journey, Imaginaria offers an hour-long walk-through experience where imagination and technology collide in an audiovisual experience for the senses. Immerse yourself in shimmering light sculptures and inflatables, weave through the multi-dimensional light maze, or step inside a giant infinity bubble. It's perfect for all ages but offers a unique end to a huge day of adventures for you and your cutie. Check it out before January 31. To explore all of the Adrenaline experiences available in Melbourne and beyond, head over here. Top image: Urbnsurf by Adam Gibson
One of the most intriguing cabaret shows at this year's Melbourne Fringe comes courtesy of acclaimed performer Selina Jenkins. Best known as the creator of Beau Heartbreaker, Jenkins has a pair of Green Room Awards to her name as well as Best Show gongs from Melbourne and Adelaide Fringes gone by. This time around, she's concocted a dark comedy based on the true story of two women who were driven from their home in rural Victoria during the recent postal vote on marriage equality. Thy Neighbour will premiere at the Hare Hole before crossing over to the Fringe Festival Hub.
Giving someone the gift of food or beer can be an easy choice — it's certainly a timesaver, and it's obviously very easy to order if you're in lockdown — but it can also show that you know what they love. And if your dad likes beer and liquorice, he's likely to be more than a little keen on a new limited-edition brew whipped by by Darrell Lea and Nomad Brewing Co. If you're known to have a hankering for both of those things, you might be as well. The beer in question: Darrell Lea Batch 37 dark chocolate liquorice stout. It sounds a bit like chocolate bullets in beer form, and its release has been timed for Father's Day. The confectionery company says that it sells plenty of bullets and liquorice at this time of year, so doing a liquorice brew was a straightforward next step. As a result, if you can never quite decide between getting your dad a few brews or his favourite sweets, you've now got another choice. As the name makes plain, Nomad has infused this stout with Darrell Lea's Batch 37 liquorice, with the Sydney-based brewery also adding natural liquorice flavour to the mix. Flavour-wise, as well as liquorice — which is one of those foods that people tend to either adore or abhor — you can expect to a creamy, rich and also bitter taste. You won't find the brew at Darrell Lea stores, though. Instead, you'll need to head to Nomad's website or to a bottle shop. Darrell Lea Batch 37 dark chocolate liquorice stout is available via Nomad Brewing Co's website for $11 per can or $45 per four-pack, or via select bottle shops.
Take it slow this Tuesday. Make a detour to Readings in Carlton and figure out your summer reading list. The store's bookshelves are lined with recommendations and the staff are consistently well-informed, friendly and passionate about their favourite books. Head down after work and you may find yourself in the presence of an award-winning author — Readings regularly hosts author talks and book launches at its Lygon Street store. Since it opened in 1969, Readings has been an institution for Melbourne's discerning readers, and in August 2016, it was recognised on a global scale and named International Bookstore of the Year at the London Book Fair.
Over the course of one year, Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei travelled to 23 countries to document the plight of refugees around the world. Australia wasn't one of them -- although it easily could have been. Ai will, however, be heading to our shores in March of next year as part of the 21st Biennale of Sydney, coinciding with the release of the film chronicling his travels, Human Flow. A moving documentary that's mammoth yet intimate in both its scope and impact, Human Flow is pieced together from daily experiences in camps in Afghanistan, Germany, Kenya, Turkey and more, chronicling the personal toll for those trying to find a better life, while also conveying the bigger picture. Thanks to striking aerial shots that capture the sights of mass human migration, the latter proves much more literal in a visual sense than you might initially expect. With Ai also appearing on camera intermittently — conducting interviews, swapping passports and even dancing — his strong feelings about the global refugee crisis also shine through. It's a topic the artist has previously addressed in everything from his studio in Lesbos to his current series of New York fences, with Human Flow proving an empathetic, urgent and impassioned addition to his body of work. Ai Weiwei's piece Law of the Journey — a 70-metre suspended inflatable rubber raft with figures — will also be on display at Cockatoo Island during his visit, forming part of the Biennale from 16 March until 11 June 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP5F7-RwVgM Human Flow opens in Australian cinemas on March 15, 2018. The 21st Biennale of Sydney will run from Friday March 16, until Monday June 11, 2018. Image: Director Ai Weiwei in Human Flow, an Amazon Studios release. Photo Courtesy of Amazon Studios.
Kicking off on Valentine's Day, Babylon carries you deep into the Victorian wilderness. You'll find this festival hidden away in Stuart Mill Nature Conservation Reserve, around two and a half hours northwest of Melbourne. It's a magical experience, where you can count on unexpected happenings, immersive installations and alternative realities. Roving performers – armed with musical instruments, decked in fantastical costumes and bearing artworks – are a major element in the program. Meanwhile, an array of stages host a constant stream of Australian and international music acts, playing techno, house, spy-trance, electronica and ambient. Whatever mood you're in, there's a spot for you. Among 2019's artists are techno DJ Amelie Lens (Belgium), dance floor master Bjarki (Iceland), trip-hoppers Earthling (UK) and psychedelic trancer Laughing Buddha (UK), among stacks of others. Take your own tent or van, or book a spot in a luxury bell tent in Babylon's Alpha Camp.
Love art, or just need a hefty tome to decorate your coffee table? Either way, the Melbourne Art Book Fair has you covered. Following on from the considerable success of the last four events, the fifth edition of this literary luau will see more than 200 publishers take over the Great Hall at NGV International, showcasing art books, independent zines, limited edition prints and more. The fair begins on Thursday, March 14 with ticketed event the day-long Graphic Fashion Symposium, featuring a litany of local and international design practitioners. The main event will then kick off the following day with a ticketed Friday evening preview, complete with a "book exchange". What follows will be two straight days of free and ticketed workshops, book clubs, talks and book launches — all up there are over 20 events. For the complete program visit ngv.vic.gov.au. Image: Wayne Taylor.
In preparation for the release of her super-hyped, internet-breaking personal memoir Not That Kind of Girl, your spirit animal Lena Dunham has created a 12-part web series. Taking the whole 'voice of her generation' thing to its logical conclusion, Dunham poses as an agony aunt for people's personal and relationship problems and dishes out some stellar advice. Namely, don't date garbage men and don't yell 'vagina' in inappropriate public places (at home is obviously fine). Though Dunham has worked hard to differentiate herself from her on-air persona Hannah Horvath, it's interesting to note the similarities. For all her faults, the narcissistic Girls character is at least a feminist and a thinker. Here's how the two compare: Takeaway advice: Wear booty shorts and rock on with your bad self. Takeaway advice: Don't bother counting almonds, love your size and rock it in a romper. Takeaway advice: Don't waste time with bad friends. Takeaway advice: Don't fuck garbage people (or something like that). Takeaway advice: The personal is political. Write about whatever you want. Takeaway advice: Ask for help. Mental illness is just as serious as any other disease. Takeaway advice: Bullies are just sad ol' meanies. Takeaway advice: Eating your own stockings doesn't necessarily lead to lots of orgasms. Takeaway advice: Sometimes people just aren't right for each other. Takeaway advice: We're all going to die and Lena Dunham's life is much better than yours. Takeaway advice: We can all be successful, just make a fatty to-do list and hit that shit hard. Takeaway advice: Screaming 'vagina' in a chocolate store is apparently a bad thing. Not That Kind of Girl is released in the US on September 30. Expect overanalysed excerpts on Gawker not long after that.
Each year, the Berlin International Film Festival premieres a treasure trove of flicks that movie buffs will be talking about for months to come, and longer, including when said titles make their way to Australia. It also understandably goes big on new German cinema, which often heads Down Under via the German Film Festival — and that touring event now has the 2023 program to prove it. At Melbourne's Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, Palace Westgarth and The Astor Theatre from Thursday, May 4–Wednesday, May 24, film lovers can look forward to five Berlinale-debuting picks, starting with The Teacher's Lounge with Babylon Berlin's Leonie Benesch, which follows a teacher struggling over a series of thefts at her school; Sisi, the latest take on Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary after Corsage, this time featuring Toni Erdmann's Sandra Hüller as her lady-in-waiting; and Ingeborg Bachmann — Journey into the Desert, as led by Corsage star Vicky Krieps as the titular writer. And, there's also the 1990-set Someday We'll Tell Each Other Everything, which stems from the page — plus crime-thriller Till the End of the Night, which won actor Thea Ehre Berlinale's Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance. The German Film Festival kicks off with A Thousand Lines, hailing from Balloon filmmaker Michael Herbig, and diving into the IRL 2018 fake news scandal involving a journalist disgraced from Der Spiegel. At the other end, it'll close with Over & Out, Germany's addition to the spate of flicks about women reuniting with their old pals years later (see also: Off the Rails). Another hefty highlight: big focuses on the glorious city that is Berlin and also music, both via retrospective picks. So, add Christiane F, which follows the eponymous 14-year-old through 70s-era West Berlin and features David Bowie as himself, to your must-see list on the big screen. Add Wim Wenders' stunning Wings of Desire, about angels observing daily life but unable to interact with it, too. And, B-Movie: List & Sound in West Berlin 1979–1989 belongs in the same category with its archival footage and interviews, complete with Nick Cave, Joy Division and '99 Luftballons' band Nena. Other standouts include In a Land That No Longer Exists, as based on director Aelrun Goette's experiences in the 80s; documentary Merkel, about Germany's first female chancellor; crime comedy The Peacock; and body swapping in sci-fi Skin Deep.
UPDATE, APRIL 4: Due to concerns around the coronavirus, Sony has announced that Ghostbusters: Afterlife will no longer release on its initially scheduled date of Thursday, July 2, 2020, with the film now hitting cinemas on March 25, 2021. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. There's something strange in the town of Summerville and a group of kids are calling upon themselves to bust it. That's the premise of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which swaps New York for Oklahoma and grown men (and women) for children — and jumps firmly on the Stranger Things-led 80s nostalgia bandwagon. Whether siblings Phoebe (Annabelle Comes Home's McKenna Grace) and Trevor (Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard) are seeing things runnin' through their heads or they'll catch an invisible man sleepin' in their beds is yet to be seen, but the film's first trailer does lay out the basics of this threequel's plot. The central duo has moved to the isolated locale with their mother (Widows' Carrie Coon), and into a rundown old house they've inherited from their grandfather. It's filled with ghost traps, containers of spores, mould and fungus, beige jumpsuits emblazoned with the name 'Spengler' and a very familiar car — which might come in handy when the ground starts shaking for no reason and a mysterious green light starts glowing. Paul Rudd also stars as teacher Mr Grooberson, who schools the kids in Ghostbusters lore — because this is a direct sequel to the original 1984 Ghostbusters and its 1989 follow-up Ghostbusters II. In the just-dropped sneak peek, the original characters appear in news footage, and Bill Murray's voice is heard; however, Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts are all set to reprise their roles in the film. (Harold Ramis, aka Spengler, passed away in 2014). Because bustin' makes everyone feel good, the Afterlife trailer is filled with other nods to the first two films, with writer/director Jason Reitman (Tully, The Front Runner) making both obvious and subtle references to the movies originally directed by his dad Ivan Reitman. Still, let's not forget that a great recent Ghostbusters film already exists, thanks to Paul Feig's wrongly maligned all-female version from 2016 — although Afterlife seems to be glossing over that. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZFCF--uRY After being delayed from its original release date of July 2, 2020, Ghostbusters: Afterlife will now open in Australian cinemas on March 25, 2021.
Those of you already on the health food train (get back winter illness, we brandish a raw juice at thee!) may have already heard of Lola Berry, the nutritionist, author and yoga fanatic who's also pretty good at taking a mean Insta snap. But along with all that, she's also just opened a health food-focused cafe at South Melbourne Market — and it looks to be just as cute as it is raw. Berry has teamed up with Salvatore Malatesta of the hip and happening St ALi to bring us Happy Place, a small cafe that deals in breakfasts, smoothies and snacks of the healthy kind. The crew threw wide the doors on Monday, June 13 to reveal a sleek market stall, with an interior of clean white, stone and a charming Klein blue shopfront, accented with greenery. Happy Place is born of Berry's nutritional philosophy and, as such, features a menu heavy on juices and smoothies (a topic on which Berry has written a book, so we're guessing she might know a thing or two), tea (both kombucha and not), alternative hot drinks (such as beetroot and turmeric lattes, which somehow contain no caffeine, dairy or refined sugar), acai bowls and take away salads. It's a severe swing in the other direction from Melbourne's other food trend of heavy, American-style diner fare and polar opposite of Bibelot just around the corner. And while we're fans of both, we'll admit that a fresh juice may be just what we all need to get through winter fighting fit. Happy Place is open 7am till 5pm seven days a week at the South Melbourne Market. For more info, visit happyplace.com.au.
We've all been there. It's a 40-degree day and you're hanging out for a cold beverage but you're fresh out and the bottle shop feels like miles away. You can venture out in the hot sun, risking heatstroke or you can sit back, unwind and summon your own personal delivery driver to deliver a chilled frothy right to your door. Alcohol delivery service Jimmy Brings is making that second option a reality that won't break the bank, with $2 delivery throughout summer. Jimmy Brings offers delivery on a range of alcohol, including summer standards like Furphy, Corona and Four Pines, an expansive wine list, plus gin, vodka, whisky and Aperol just to name a few. The beverage that's all the rage right now, seltzer, is also available if you find yourself in need of an on-demand White Claw. If you're out of snacks or need a bag of ice for your esky, Jimmy Brings can save you a trip to the servo, too, by delivering Red Rock Deli chips, Lindt chocolate, Red Bull, limes, Berocca and ice to your door. It's a great solution to keep in your back pocket for the inevitable time when you forget to bring ice to a barbecue or are out of Red Bull before a night out. To get cheap delivery, you'll need to download the app and enter the code 'summer' — then your delivery fee will fall to just $2. To check if delivery is available in your area, browse the menu and download the app, head to the Jimmy Brings website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Streaming platforms, superheroes and Star Wars have become modern life's new certainties, with instances of each continuing to pop up all over the place. When Disney launches its own next big venture, they'll all combine, unsurprisingly — and with the company's own streaming service set to arrive in 2019, the mouse house has begun revealing the details. The platform will be known as Disney+, and will be home to not one but two small-screen Star Wars series, as well as at least one Marvel series as well. Given that Disney owns both Lucasfilm and Marvel Entertainment, it's highly likely that the service will boast an entire galaxy of shows related to each huge franchise. In fact, you could probably walk into a cantina somewhere and make a safe bet on it. There have been 10 Star Wars films and 20 Marvel movies in cinemas already, after all. Fans of the George Lucas-created space opera can not only look forward to the previously announced $100 million Star Wars series The Mandalorian from The Jungle Book, Iron Man and Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau (and with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi helming an episode), but also a new spin-off from Rogue One. The latter will be set before the events of the film and will focus on Rebel spy Cassian Andor, with Diego Luna reprising his role from the movie. In the Marvel sphere, while a number of shows have been rumoured for months, Disney have announced that Tom Hiddleston's trickster Loki will definitely be getting his own series. Just what storyline it'll follow, or when it'll be set, is yet to be revealed. That said, it's safe to assume that it might be a prequel series as well. Release dates for both series haven't been unveiled either — and nor has any word on the other Marvel show that has long been rumoured, about Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch. Disney+ is definitely going big when it comes to bringing the company's well-known properties to the new streaming platform, with a High School Musical TV series, another show based on Monsters, Inc. and a live-action Lady and the Tramp movie also on its lineup. Via The Walt Disney Company. Image: Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War. Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Photo: Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2018.
UPDATE: OCTOBER 29, 2019 — Due to external factors, the opening of Mary's Melbourne has been pushed back to the end of January 2020. The below article has been updated to reflect this. By now, Sydneysiders are more than familiar with the American-style burgers, decadent fried chicken and wild child vibes of Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham's Mary's empire. Having launched their original burger restaurant in Newtown in 2013, the boys now have four Mary's venues under their belts, the latest opening in Sydney's CBD just last month. They've even ventured down south for a couple of brief flirtations, hosting a one-day kitchen takeover at Leonard's House of Love and then a two-month kitchen residency at cocktail bar Fancy Free earlier this year. Now, Melbourne's set to score a proper, permanent taste of the Sydney crowd-pleaser, with news we'll have our own bricks-and-mortar Mary's outpost come summer. Smyth and Graham have nabbed a "cavernous" site on Franklin Street in the CBD, where they're slated to unveil their newest project in late January, 2020. "We're here to do what we do," said Graham in a statement. "To give our punters simple, delicious food, backed up with an experience that's fun as hell." [caption id="attachment_684208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's, Sydney.[/caption] They're staying true to their slightly grungy, slightly rock 'n' roll form, so expect an unassuming laneway entrance — marked by only a red light — leading through to a sprawling venue complete with a majestic, custom-made wrought iron chandelier covered in 24,000 hanging dead roses. The flowers are damage stock from Sydney markets, so nothing is going to waste, either. It'll also be the duo's biggest venue yet with 140 seats and, just like the OG Newtown spot, a mezzanine level will overlook the rest of the room. The food offering will showcase tried-and-true Mary's favourites like the Mary's burger, the mushroom burger, fried chicken and gravy-drenched mash, alongside a few Melbourne exclusives. The kitchen will also be dishing up a version of Mary's new vegan menu, which has been going gang-busters since launching at the Circular Quay outpost in May. Mary's fans will know to expect a pretty primo drinks offering to match and, indeed, this one won't disappoint. Award-winning Mary's Group Sommelier and Wine Director Caitlyn Rees has pulled together a lineup of over 100 wines, heroing local Victorian producers. Mary's Melbourne is slated to open at 167 Franklin Street, Melbourne, in late January 2020. You'll be able to book tables for eight or more guests. Top image: Nikki To
Twirling elegantly around the stage as part of a world-class ballet performance is one thing, but just imagine getting to do so kitted out in stunning outfits by Jean Paul Gaultier. Announced today, a dark contemporary retelling of Snow White by France's Ballet Preljocaj is set to hit both Sydney and Melbourne this winter, complete with a wardrobe of captivating costumes by the internationally acclaimed haute couture designer. Gaultier's work will complement what promises to be a multi-sensory masterpiece; the show features choreography from renowned French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, gorgeous set design by celebrated artist Thierry Leproust and a soundtrack of lush Gustav Mahler symphonies. Preljocaj's Snow White adaptation made its Australian debut at QPAC for the 2016 Brisbane Festival, last year scoring the Helpmann Award for Best Ballet. "I was very keen to tell a story, offer something magical and enchanted," explained Preljocaj. "I have followed the version by the Grimm Brothers, with just a few personal variations based on my own analysis of the symbols in the tale". Snow White will only run for five shows at the Sydney Opera House before heading to Melbourne's State Theatre for six performances. Ballet Preljocaj's Snow White will run at the Sydney Opera House from June 6–10 and at the Arts Centre Melbourne from August 1–5, 2018. Tickets to the Melbourne show are currently on sale here, and tickets to Sydney will go on sale at 9am on Monday, March 19 here. Images: Jean-Claude Carbonne. Updated: March 15, 2018.
There's no doubt the early buzz surrounding Australia's new dockless bike sharing services took a pretty quick turn south, as the rogue bikes started clogging up footpaths and waterways across Sydney and Melbourne. But that hasn't stopped the Beijing company behind smartphone-enabled share bike service Ofo from setting its sights on Australia. Ofo launched locally this week, kicking off its Aussie pilot program with a fleet of 50 yellow bikes in Adelaide and plans to roll out in Sydney and Melbourne over the coming months. Billed as the world's first and largest dockless bike sharing platform and available in 180 countries across the globe, Ofo reckons it's ironed out the kinks in this whole share bike game. Firstly, the Ofo app indicates 'preferred parking' zones, to discourage riders from dumping their bikes on any old bit of footpath. Then there's the company's monitoring system, which uses thermodynamic diagrams to monitor the bikes distribution. The company's also got a local team on the ground, checking the bikes twice a day, shifting wayward bikes back to the proper zones and fixing any damages. As with Uber, Ofo also implements a credit rating system — well-behaved riders will earn points, while those who park outside the preferred zones and neglect to move them back will have points deducted. New users will score their first Ofo ride for free, with subsequent trips paid via debit or credit card priced at $1 for every half hour. Ofo has just launched in Adelaide, with a national rollout to follow in the coming months. For more info, visit ofo.com.
Once, dance and classical weren't music genres that you'd usually find swirling around in the same basket, unless you have a particular bent for the orchestral 'Sandstorm' covers found in the depths of YouTube. Since 2019 in Australia, however, Synthony has been here to prove that the disciplines go hand in hand — and it's returning for another tour in 2024. Initially founded in New Zealand, and now an annual highlight on Australia's gig calendar, the event gets a live orchestra joining forces with a selection of DJs and onstage performers to play the biggest dance tracks of the last 30 years. Think: tunes by Swedish House Mafia, Basement Jaxx, Fatboy Slim, Avicii, Fisher, Faithless, Disclosure, Eric Prydz, Flume, Calvin Harris, Wilkinson and the like, and as you've never heard them before. Wherever Synthony pops up, the venues that it temporarily call home take a few cues from the nightclub scene, with lights, lasers and mapped video all featured in the experience. And, as the orchestra busts out a selection of dance floor bangers note for note, vocalists also do their part — because this isn't just about instrumental versions of your favourite club tunes. The 2024 run first has a date with Melbourne on Friday, September 20, playing Margaret Court Arena. On the lineup: the Australian Pops Orchestra conducted by Sarah-Grace Williams, as joined by Ilan Kidron from The Potbelleez, Masha Mnjoyan, Emily Williams, Greg Gould, Matty O, Nate Dousand and Mobin Master — plus Example.
