Since 2008, it's been oh so quiet in Australia. Since the Big Day Out that year, Icelandic icon Björk hasn't toured the country to perform full shows, only coming to Sydney to do DJ sets at Vivid in 2016. But that'll change in 2023, all thanks to the singer's Cornucopia tour; however, if you're keen to check it out — which you should be — then you'll need to make sure you're in Perth. Perth residents, congrats — you're in for a treat, as every Björk show always is. Everyone else, heading to Western Australia should be on your must-do list on March 3, 6, 9 or 12, the dates that the star will take to the stage at Langley Park during 2023's Perth Festival. [caption id="attachment_875283" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton-Jones[/caption] These will be Björk's only Aussie gigs, and take place in a purpose-built, 100 metre by 55 metre pavilion at the venue — which is being badged "a cybersonic Garden of Eden where nature and technology come together in perfect harmony" — that can host almost 5000 people per evening. Expect colours, futuristic screens, a whole lot of nature imagery, stunning costumes, Björk's tunes (obviously) and a multi-sensory experience all round. The musician's 2017 album Utopia is the focus of the Cornucopia tour and the production that goes with it, which debuted back in 2019 in Manhattan. Still, Björk has been playing a few songs from the rest of her career as part of the setlist, including 1993's 'Venus As a Boy', 1995's 'Isobel', and 2001's 'Hidden Place' and 'Pagan Poetry'. [caption id="attachment_875280" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Santiago Felipe[/caption] Fans of tunes like 'Army of Me', 'Hyperballad', 'It's Oh So Quiet', 'Violently Happy' and 'Big Time Sensuality' mightn't hear their favourite track, sorry — but the dazzling spectacle of the Cornucopia gigs, which is co-directed by acclaimed Argentinian filmmaker Lucrecia Martel (Zama) promises to be a sight to behold. The tour comes to Perth after previous other stops in Mexico City, Brussels, Luxembourg, London, Glasgow, Dublin, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Los Angeles and San Francisco — and before two Tokyo gigs. Tickets go on sale from 12pm AWST on Thursday, October 27 (for pre-sales) and 12pm AWST on Thursday, November 2 (for general sales). As for the rest of the Perth Festival lineup — if you're looking for other things to do around Björk's shows, whether you're a local or plan to be a visitor — it's announced on Thursday, October 27. Bjork will play Perth Festival 2023, at Langley Park, 103 Birdiya Drive, Perth, on March 3, 6, 9 and 12, 2023. Ticket pre-sales start at 12pm AWST on Thursday, October 27, with general sales from 12pm AWST on Thursday, November 2. For more information, or to sign up for pre-sale access, head to the Perth Festival website. Top images: William Murray via Wikimedia Commons / Santiago Felipe.
Ngaiire, Mojo Juju and Ali Barter will headline a diverse lineup of artists at next year's Gaytimes music festival. Set to take place over three days and two nights at the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort an hour and a half outside of Melbourne (where Paradise is held), the LGBTQI-friendly event will feature more than 35 local and international music acts, as well as art shows, film screenings, speed dating and more. As the organisers put it: it's the camping festival "of your big gay dreams." The 18+ festival runs from February 17 to 19. Other standout acts who'll take the stage include New York DJ JD Samson, Unearthed High winner Gretta Ray, Berlin House act Fritz Helder and psych pop group Broadway Sounds. In addition to the tunes, the festival will feature an array of additional action, from performance and visual art to yoga. The festival is BYO but will also boast an on-site cocktail bar, while food and coffee will also be on sale. In keeping with their inclusive approach, Gaytimes will offer gender neutral bathrooms, and will enforce a no tolerance policy for anti-social, homophobic, transphobic or racist behaviour. Don't be a jerk, and you should be A-OK First release tickets and VIP glamping packages went on sale today. The festival is limited to 1000 entries, so snap them up quick. For more information and tickets visit Gaytimes' website.
UPDATE, July 29, 2020: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Sharing his name with six live-action films in 16 years, Spider-Man is no stranger to the big screen. Since 2002, he's saved New York from disaster again and again, kissed his sweetheart while hanging upside down, and turned evil and danced down the sidewalk. The friendly neighbourhood web-slinger has ripped off his mask to reveal the faces of Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland, gotten cosy with Kirsten Dunst, Emma Stone and Zendaya, and eventually joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And yet, the best Spider-Man movie doesn't involve most of the above. It's not just about Spider-Man, but spider-men. It also features a spider-woman, spider-robot and spider-pig, as well as Nicolas Cage as a 30s-era spider-vigilante. In other words, it's the animated delight that is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Returning Spidey to his cartoon roots — his first screen appearance came via the animated 60s TV series with that catchy theme tune — this addition to the fold isn't your regular take on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's iconic character. Rather, it recognises that a wealth of different spider-figures have swung through the comic book realm, because Spider-Man really could be anyone. Radioactive arachnids don't discriminate. They just sink their fangs into whoever's in their path. In Into the Spider-Verse, it's Brooklyn high-schooler Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) who's on the receiving end of a tiny but monumental bite. When he's not feeling like he's disappointing his cop dad (Brian Tyree Henry) and wishing he could spend more time with his outcast uncle (Mahershala Ali), Miles is also a rather big fan of the established Spider-Man, Peter Parker (Chris Pine). Two people donning the famous red and blue costume? With nefarious crime kingpin Wilson Fisk (Liev Schreiber) tearing a hole through multiple universes using a supercollider, two are just the beginning. The uncertain Miles is soon buddying up with Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), who's more than a little over being Spider-Man — consider him an on-screen avatar for spider-fatigued audiences. Like filtering all things Spidey through an episode of Rick and Morty, they're joined by other web-slingers, including Peter Porker (John Mulaney), Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), Spider-Man Noir (Cage), and Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn) and her mechanical offsider SP//dr. The fate of several worlds is at stake, and the futures of several spider-people (and spider-animals) too. Arriving at a time when superhero movies (let alone Spider-Man flicks) are no longer a special event, Into the Spider-Verse offers what so few caped crusaders can muster these days: an endless array of surprises. It also serves up jokes about whether Spidey could or should wear a cape, although it's the film's ability to astonish that sticks firmer than Spider-Man's web. Who knew that a character who's been seen on screen over and over again for decades — and one who sports a 56-year history on the page as well — could seem so vibrant, thrilling and fresh? That's not a knock on the various live-action iterations, which have each boasted their own appeal, even if some fare better than others. But in embracing the entire big, bustling and diverse spider-world, Into the Spider-Verse genuinely feels new. In recent years, only Black Panther has bounced through cinemas with the same kind of vibe, feeding viewers' eagerness to finally watch something different. Into the Spider-Verse ramps that idea up a few notches, not only showcasing the first Afro-Lantino Spider-Man alongside a number of other interpretations, but playing with superhero and storytelling conventions. While good-versus-evil plots and coming-of-age themes are engrained in Spidey lore, neither notion bows to formula in the hands of filmmakers Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey (Rise of the Guardians) and Rodney Rothman. Instead, this adventure spins tales upon tales at a mile-a-minute pace — with a healthy dash of irreverence and amusement, ample nods to past comics and flicks, plus a warm-hearted willingness to make fun of the whole spider-shebang. That Rothman co-wrote the script with The Lego Movie's Phil Lord, and that Lord produced the picture with his usual directing partner Christopher Miller, partly explains Into the Spider-Verse's immense charms. Led by the soulful Moore as Morales, and peppered with hilarious work by Cage and Mulaney, the excellent voice cast also plays a part in making this the new high point for Spider-Man films. That said, Into the Spider-Verse could've dispensed with dialogue altogether and it'd still mesmerise. We mean that literally, because the standard and style of animation on display, and the action scenes and sight gags that go with it, resembles nothing else that's been beamed into cinemas before. Fast, bright, imaginative and often even abstract, it blends a hand-drawn feel with the most inventive visuals that computer-generated imagery can deliver. In this vivid, kaleidoscopic world, Spider-Ham's Looney Tunes aesthetic, Peni Parker and SP//dr's anime look, and Spider-Man Noir's dark approach all fit in perfectly. So too does a new plucky school kid who embodies the most important spider-fact of all: that everyone can do whatever a spider can. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfIIGRfRJg
A new book by London based journalist and photographer, William Parry, explores the relationship between art and politics in Palestine. A series of poignant photos capture the essence of a quiet, stoic rebellion — the graffiti that adorns Israel's wall. The spirit of resistance portrayed in Parry's book, Against The Wall, is compelling, and haunting in its very existence, exposing an open wound that seems unlikely to heal any time soon. With photographed work by iconic artists including Banksy and Ron English alongside work by Palestinian artists and activists, Against The Wall is an exercise in documenting solidarity and rebellion, acts that have become somewhat of a rarity in the modern day. The artworks adorning the wall highlight the suffering in Palestine; the lives torn apart by relentless fighting, and appeal to a hope for a brighter day, to the end of darkness. Alongside the images of street art are moving portraits and powerful prose that further accentuate the spirit of the people, and their constant struggle against a myriad of injustices. Against The Wall
We all have one: a friend who immediately makes a beeline to any cat they see, tries to become its best friend and can't focus on anything else while it's in the vicinity. Plenty of us don't just have pals like that, but fall into the same category ourselves. And, sadly, not everyone can share their home with their own furry feline. Have a mate who absolutely adores meowing mousers? Can't think of what to get said friend for Christmas? The Cat Protection Society of Victoria has the answer. Giving someone else an animal is a big move — a pet is lifelong commitment, and pet ownership shouldn't be undertaken lightly — so, instead, you can gift them a 30-minute cat cuddling session. Your pussy-loving pal will get a gift voucher for a Cat Cuddling VIP Session, which covers two adults and two kids, one adult and three kids, or just two adults if you don't have children in tow. Whoever goes along, you'll spend half an hour at the Society's adoption shelter in Greensborough, first getting a tour of the place, and then meeting and greeting — and cuddling and snuggling — some of the kittens and cats awaiting adoption. Yes, if you'd like to treat yo'self to this gift rather than give it to someone else, that's perfectly understandable. The voucher also includes a coffee or hot chocolate at the Society's Purrfect Paw Cafe, but obviously that isn't the main attraction. The cat cuddling vouchers cost $25, so they're a super-affordable gift as well as being super cute — and that money goes to helping the Society look after and rehome the cats in its care. For more information about the Cat Protection Society of Victoria's cat cuddling sessions and gift vouchers, head to its website.
When the long-awaited sequel to Black Panther hits cinemas, one thing will obviously be different, with star Chadwick Boseman sadly passing away in 2020. Just what that means for the series is yet to be announced — but Disney, the company behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has revealed that it'll be returning to Wakanda more than once in the near future. It's very likely that Black Panther II will be another enormous hit, and that more movies will follow. But the Mouse House's latest announcement actually involves broadening the Black Panther world, rather than just continuing it. That's slated to happen via a just-announced new spinoff series for Disney+, which'll be based in the Kingdom of Wakanda. What it'll be about, which characters will feature and who will star in the show all haven't been revealed. Neither has a name for the series, in fact. Still, the new program will hail from writer/director/producer Ryan Coogler, who wrote and directed the original Black Panther film — and will do the same on the upcoming follow-up flick. All three of Coogler's movies to-date — Fruitvale Station, Creed and Black Panther — have featured Michael B Jordan, so you have reason enough to start dreaming about his involvement in the new Wakanda series. Of course, the events of Black Panther might seem to preclude that, but the MCU has been known to get playful when it wants to bring its star talent back (see also: WandaVision). Interestingly, Jordan told People magazine in late January that he'd be open to returning to the franchise if he was asked. Coogler's company, Proximity Media, has signed a deal with Disney to develop multiple new television series, so you can look forward to more than one new project with his involvement — although only one linked to Black Panther has been announced. Whenever it joins your streaming queue, the Wakanda show will join a growing list of new TV series set within the MCU. The aforementioned WandaVision is streaming now, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier launches in March, Loki is set to follow in May, and others about Hawkeye, Ms Marvel, She-Hulk and more are also on Disney+'s upcoming slate. For now, while you're awaiting your return trip to Wakanda, you can check out the trailer for the original Black Panther film below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjDjIWPwcPU Disney+'s new series set in Wakanda doesn't yet have a release date — or a title. We'll update you when further details are announced. Via Marvel. Images: Marvel Studios.
In the ballad of the Barden Bellas, it's time for another verse. That gang of college pals is back — aspiring record producer Becca (Anna Kendrick), group stalwart Chloe (Brittany Snow) and outspoken Australian Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) included — and they're trying to sing their way to supremacy once more. Is their second outing a toe-tapping rehash of their catchy debut tune, or does it drag on past the natural fade-out point? The answer is both. Pitch Perfect 2 alternates between the cinematic equivalent of the catchy melody you don't mind having stuck in your head, and the earworm you quickly grow tired of. Just three short years ago, an a cappella comedy was considered a gamble, but now we don't just have a repeat effort — we have a ready-made formula to follow as well. With mashups of songs old and new, rivalries getting heated, against-the-odds challenges to overcome, and one-liners a plenty, there's not much that's different, save for a new character setting up for a potential third instalment. That'd be freshman Emily (Hailee Steinfeld), a wannabe Bella since birth thanks to her ex-member mother. Fresh blood aside, everyone is older this time around, given that three years have passed in the film as well. They're also clouded in scandal, after an important show exposes too much of Fat Amy, leaving the Bellas banned from performing as punishment. Chloe finds a loophole that will see them on stage again, but only if they can beat their stereotypically tough-talking German counterparts at the world championships. Becca's focus is elsewhere, though, as she's thinking of life beyond study and competitive singing. It was the jukebox-like playlist of tracks and the loveable cast playing quirky characters that helped Pitch Perfect hit the high notes the first time around, so here, it isn't surprising to see a whole lot of doubling down on both. Expect an eclectic compilation of Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus tunes, as well as '90s hiphop jamz and songs about butts. Expect Kendrick and the group cycling through sing-offs, fall outs, bonding sessions and realisations about what's really important — and copious amounts of harmonising. What you shouldn't expect is anything beyond a more is more approach — more music, actors, complications and reminders that it's all about a singing sisterhood, that is. If it sounds routine, that's because returning screenwriter Kay Cannon, once again taking inspiration from the book Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory, doesn't stretch anything very far. Pushing boundaries is left to Wilson, who steals the show all over again. In a lineup that includes Arrested Development's David Cross, Key and Peele's Keegan Michael-Key, Snoop Lion and the Green Bay Packers (yep, the American footballers), it helps that she's the only one who doesn't seem like she's just going through the motions. Of course, it's always difficult for a sequel to a breakout hit to pave its own way, a problem Pitch Perfect 2 clearly struggles with. Sitting in the director's chair as well as popping up again as sarcastic commentator Gail, Elizabeth Banks bubbles over with enthusiasm, but not with flair. She's pitch-slapping audiences and staying in key; however, her film isn't a fun new must-listen track — it's more like movie karaoke. The verdict (sing it with me): aca-average.
It kicked off more than four decades ago with one of the best horror movies ever made; however, the Halloween franchise has been through quite a few ups and downs over the years. Clocking up ten follow-ups and 11 movies in total so far, the slasher series initially created by the great John Carpenter has delivered excellent and terrible sequels, veered into remake territory, both killed off and brought back its heroine, and completely erased parts of its own past several times. And, like its mask-wearing villain Michael Myers, it always finds a way to go on. Since 2018's Halloween, that's been especially great news — with the Jamie Lee Curtis-starring, Jason Blum-produced 11th flick in the franchise proving a smart, thrilling horror delight, and ranking second only to the movie that started it all. Indeed, the film was such a success that two more sequels are set to come from the same team (aka Blum, writer/director David Gordon Green and co-scribe Danny McBride): Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends. Originally, Halloween Kills was due to hit screens last year, in October — when else? — but, as announced in 2020 by franchise creator John Carpenter, it moved back its release to October this year. That's now fast approaching, with fans soon able to make a return trip to Haddonfield. Yes, that means that Curtis' spirited Laurie Strode will have another altercation with her lifelong nemesis, too — because, when it's at its best, that's what this franchise is all about. Picking up where its immediate predecessor left off, Halloween Kills will also take a few cues from another movie in the series, as its just-dropped first trailer shows. Not one but two sneak peeks last year set the scene for the saga's 12th entry, but this full trailer dives deep into the storyline. Following the events of the last film, Laurie ends up in hospital with life-threatening injuries just as Michael starts stalking through Haddonfield again — which is the same storyline that Halloween II followed exactly 40 years ago. Thankfully, if the last flick is any guide, Halloween Kills shouldn't prove a needless remake. Green and McBride did a stellar job of nodding to the past while finding a new way forward with 2018's Halloween, after all — and leaving horror fans definitely wanting more. This time, too, Laurie and her daughter Karen (Judy Greer, Valley Girl) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak, Son) team up with other survivors of Michael's rampages and decide to hunt down their attacker. Check out the full Halloween Kills trailer below: Halloween Kills will release in Australian cinemas on October 14, 2021. Top image: Ryan Green/Universal Pictures.
If the memory of last weekend's hangover(s) is still fresh in your mind, it's probably safe to say the experience was somewhat brutal. We've all been there — the throbbing skull, the queasy guts, the wild proclamations about never touching another drop of vodka, ever. Well, soon enough, us Southerners will be able to put an end to the horror in 30 minutes, courtesy of hangover.clinic's new Melbourne pop-up. The controversial Sydney-born venture specialises in intravenous hangover cures, whereby patients can hook up to an IV for a dose of vitamins and fluids, helping them to speedily quash the aftermath of last night's partying. Now, due to high demand, the company's set to launch summer pop-up clinics in other states. Seems you'd best start saving your pennies, though – the treatment might do wonders for the old noggin, but with packages starting at $135, there's little hope for your bank account's hangover. This is the same crew that opened Australia's first hangover clinic in Surry Hills, in December last year. Right now, it's also the only one, with sole competitor iv.me forced to shut up shop in February, after one of its clients wound up hospitalised. hangover.clinic has distanced itself from other players, confirming all of its treatments are given by docs that are fully qualified, licensed, insured, and registered on the Register of Medical Practitioners. Appointments will be open soon.
Fee-fi-fo-fum, Hollywood's sure giving our childhood a run. In the last two years alone we've had Mirror Mirror, Snow White & the Huntsman, Oz the Great and Powerful, Alice in Wonderland and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. Now it's Jack and the Beanstalk's turn, with Valkyrie director Bryan Singer giving the beloved English folktale the full-blown 3D treatment in Jack the Giant Slayer (not to be confused with 'Jack the giant SLAYER', telling the story of an aspiring thrash guitarist from the '80s). The plot here is much as you'd remember it: Jack (Nicholas Hoult) is a kind but naive farm boy who sells his horse in exchange for some magic beans. Those beans rapidly pullulate and explode towards the heavens with tremendous force, launching both Jack's house and its precious royal inhabitant high into the sky where the fabled giants reside. A rescue mission ensues under the leadership of the fearless Elmont (Ewan McGregor) during which Jack must conquer his fear of heights and overcome the giants in order to save his earthly kingdom and its beautiful princess (Eleanor Tomlinson). Hoult makes a likeable Jack, and Tomlinson is sufficiently Brave-esque in her portrayal of the rebellious and reluctant royal prone to assertions like "a princess is such a useless thing". Ian McShane makes for an endearing king, whereas Stanley Tucci pales in his performance as the machiavellian Lord Roderick and Bill Nighy is entirely unrecognisable as Fallon, the leader of the giants. The clear standout performance belongs to McGregor, whose valorous royal guardsman is as engaging as he is disappointingly underused. One scene in particular, during which he's trapped inside a giant pastry fold, captures all the magic, drama and tension we've come to expect from an entire Pixar movie but that here merely represents the best of a precious few moments. Overall it's far more "kids movie" than adult or hybrid, although several of the giants' scenes will doubtless leave more than a few children diving for cover behind their hands. It's fun enough throughout to maintain at least some level of interest and the third act certainly provides some excellent action pieces; however, an excessive reliance upon CGI and not enough time spent on the script leaves Jack the Giant Slayer something of a charmless picture. Suffice to say, the book was most certainly better.
If your idea of a perfect evening out of the house involves staying in a hotel, lounging around in comfy robes and tucking into plenty of dessert, then you might want to make a date with QT Sydney's latest addition. For an entire month, the Market Street site is devoting one of its suites to Tim Tams. Yes, it's theming the room after the beloved chocolate biscuits — and, yes, eating them while you're there is definitely on the menu. From Tuesday, February 16–Tuesday, March 16, QT Sydney's Tim Tam suite will welcome in dessert fiends for an indulgent night away from home. Some of the usual amenities will be Tim Tam-themed, so you'll be thinking about bikkies when you pop on your robe, slippers and sleep mask. You might want to pay close attention to the wall art, too, as one piece will emit a chocolate scent. Because you'll obviously be feeling more than a little peckish, you can also order as many Tim Tams from the room service menu as you like — and they're complimentary. Or, bust out your wallet and take your pick from a custom-designed in-room menu filled with Tim Tam-inspired sweet treats, which specifically take their cues from the biscuit brand's current 'Crafted Collection' range. It includes coffee crumpets with coffee ice cream and crumble; mango parfait with macadamia, white chocolate crumble and passionfruit; and another mango dish that combines mango sabayon cheesecake, white chocolate and vanilla bavarois, fresh mango and shards of yoghurt meringue crisp. If you opt for the 'Tim Tam Tira Misu', you'll get layers of coffee Tim Tam, Kahlua-soaked savoiardi sponge, macerated strawberries, mascarpone cream and pieces of couverture chocolate. Head down to the onsite spa, and you can also have a coffee wrap treatment inspired by Tim Tams as well. The suite is available to book for the month, or you can enter a competition to win a night there, as run by Arnott's and QT Hotels. Five folks will score an overnight stay, which also includes travel credits to get to Sydney if you don't live locally, plus $250 to use on dessert and amenities during your hotel visit. You'll need to be available between March 8–12, and you'll need to explain why you want to stay in the suite in 25 words or less as part of your entry (which, let's be honest, really shouldn't be difficult). And if you're wondering why the Tim Tam suite has come about, it's part of a promotion tied in with the aforementioned new Tim Tam range. Also, February 16 is National Tim Tam day, because there really is a day for everything. To book a night in QT Sydney's Tim Tam Suite — which is available between Tuesday, February 16–Tuesday, March 16 — head to the QT Hotels website. To enter the competition to win an overnight stay in the suite, hop over to the Arnott's website.
You may have already heard, indeed the internet has been speaking of nothing else, but Stereosonic will not be returning in 2016. They announced on Facebook that the festival will be back and bigger than ever in 2017 which, tbh, just sounds like a gentle breakup. Why would a beloved festival, a cornerstone event in the calendars of both gym bros and dinger slingers alike, clock out for a whole year? Organisers Totem Onelove say it's because they're committed to bringing fans the best festival experience possible. It may also be attributed to the tragic deaths of two patrons in 2015, or that the American company who own Totem Onelove, SFX, recently filed for bankruptcy. All hypotheticals, all 'could be's. It could be that the Year of the Monkey is just not their year. It could just be a sign of the times. Future Music was cancelled in early 2015 because it doesn't make "financial sense"; Soundwave soon followed due to poor ticket sales (although to be fair, their version of poor ticket sales was around 20k at $170 a pop – about $3.4 million revenue. And now Stereosonic has folded and the big three festival that defined the Aussie festival scene are done and dusted. The real shame here is without a big festival, and the big budgets they bring, there's one less drawcard to get the big acts out to Australia and put on sideshows. It's pretty good news for people who would rather bathe in urine than step foot into a gym-bro festival because at the same time, as you've probably noticed, boutique festivals are going boom — it's been a killer few years for the likes of Sugar Mountain, Secret Garden Festival, Strawberry Fields, Let Them Eat Cake, Inner Varnika, OfftheGrid, Dark Mofo and Meredith to name only a handful. In the place of the massive one-size-fits-all festival giants come hundreds of smaller, niche events. The democratisation of festival culture can only be a good thing right? See ya Stereo. You'll be missed, like the lost revenue from many, many Australian gym memberships this year. Image: Stereosonic.
If you're a fan of Chinese Australian artist Zhong Chen, here's some good news. You can sleep with his works. The Art Series Hotel Group's latest venture is a five-storey, 100-room number dedicated to him. Named The Chen, the hotel is in Box Hill, 14 kilometres east of Melbourne, within Whitehorse Towers, which, at 36 storeys, is the tallest development outside of the Victorian capital's CBD. Architects Peddle Thorp have taken care of the design, inspired by Chen's King Fu series and, as you'd expect, fun, bold, bright colours rule. There's a bunch of digital archival fine art editions of Chen's works, as well as a stack of originals, including Rooster, fitting because Chen was born in the Year of the Rooster (1969) and the hotel will open in the Year of the Rooster (that's this year). There's a yum cha restaurant, as well as a gym, events space and rooftop pool (which is, unfortunately, only for guest use). You can also count on the Art Series' usual arty facilities and activities, including tours, libraries, television channels and documentaries, as well as Art Series-branded smart cars and Lekker bicycles available for guests. Image: Lucas Allen
As other festivals fall by the wayside, St. Jerome's Laneway Festival just keeps on keeping on. Just a couple of weeks ago Laneway debuted in Detroit, bringing that Melbourne laneways vibe to the Motor City, and now we are thrilled to announce the 2014 lineup for Australia. As we've come to expect from Laneway, it's an intriguing mix of established names, up-and-comers and best-kept secrets, as well as a number of crowd favourites from previous Laneways making a return appearance. The organisers have also forecast a bunch of tweaks to all the venues so that you can get from the mosh to a gozleme in record time, and grab a cider on the way back from the toilets without missing half the festival. Laneway has gone from strength to strength over its 11 years, adding dates in New Zealand and Singapore as well as Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth from its humble beginnings in the back of a bar in Melbourne. It's a festival that knows exactly what it is trying to do, and who its audience wants to see, and I reckon this lineup is going to blow a few minds. In alphabetical order: Adalita Autre Ne Veut Cashmere Cat Cass McCombs Chvrches Cloud Control (no sideshows) Danny Brown Daughter Dick Diver Drenge Earl Sweatshirt Four Tet Frightened Rabbit Haim (no sideshows) Jagwar Ma Jamie XX King Krule Kirin J Callinan Kurt Vile Lorde (no sideshows) Mount Kimbie MT Warning Parquet Courts Run The Jewels (EL-P & Killer Mike) Savages Scenic The Growl The Jezabels (no sideshows) Unknown Mortal Orchestra (no sideshows) Vance Joy Warpaint XXYYXX Youth Lagoon TICKETS PRESALE: Laneway Festival fans with Visa Credit, Debit or Prepaid cards can get tickets first through Visa Entertainment. Visa Entertainment presale starts noon on Monday, 30 September, through to noon on Tuesday, 1 October (local time), or until tickets sell out at www.visaentertainment.com.au. Visa presale: Noon, Monday, 30 September – Noon, Tuesday 1 October (local time) GP on sale: Thursday, 3 October, 9am (local time) Saturday 25 January 2014 SINGAPORE The Meadow, Gardens By The Bay Monday 27 January 2014 AUCKLAND Silo Park Friday 31 January 2014 BRISBANE RNA, Fortitude Valley Saturday 1 February MELBOURNE Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCAC) and the River’s Edge Sunday 2 February SYDNEY Sydney College of the Arts (SCA), Rozelle Friday 7 February ADELAIDE Harts Mill, Port Adelaide Saturday 8 February FREMANTLE Esplanade Park and West End
Everyone remain calm. There are robots at the NGV. Real life robots. Robots that look disutrbingly like Daleks in dresses. A well-known purveyor of the absurd, Dr. Wade Marynowsky is an Australian artist and researcher who specialises in experimental and emerging art forms. As a researcher, Marynowsky's topics of interest include contemporary art, media and technology in art, and experimental performance work. So really, it's unsurprising that his work reflects his research. His recent projects have included There Goes the Neighbourhood where Marynowsky mixed computer games and urban spaces with a dead kangaroo, and The Acconci Robot which featured a shipping crate robot which followed you every time you turned away from it. Much like robots themselves, his work is unnerving, funny, self-aware and occasionally very confronting. Marynowsky has made a name for himself as a leading artist in the field of experimental digital art and has been exhibited all across Australia. In this latest show at the NGV, he's letting his dolled up Daleks (note: not actual Daleks) loose in the NGV foyer while treating us to audiovisual installations, performances and sound sculptures. If there's one robot-themed contemporary art exhibition you go to this year, make it this one.
One scrap of detail sums up much about the new Superman reboot, Man of Steel: He doesn't wear underpants. The 75-year-old character's red underwear, worn on the outside, is among the silliest ensembles ever dreamed up, but it's also iconic. To take on the role of Superman is sometimes called 'donning the red underpants' for that reason. The modern Superman interpreter can go one of two ways with this: 1. Keep the red undies, finding a self-aware spin on old anachronisms (we'll call this the 'Marvel way'), or 2. Ignore the undies, because contemporary superheroing is serious business (aka the Dark Knight way). So when you see Henry Cavill on the promo posters, looking pretty and pumped and decidedly sans contrast knickers, you should have a fair idea of what kind of Superman you're in for. And sure enough, it's Dark Knight's Christopher Nolan and David S Goyer who are behind this story, along with director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Watchmen). The costume is not the only beloved bit of camp that's gone: this Clark Kent is not yet trying to keep up his dorky cover as a Daily Planet reporter, and this Lois Lane (Amy Adams) won't be unable to recognise him just because he puts on some specs (that last change, at least, is way overdue). Of the sprawling Superman mythos, Man of Steel tries to fit in the origin story and the bit immediately after. It opens on Krypton, as the planet is being torn apart following the over-mining of its natural resources (relevance!). General Zod (Michael Shannon) has also chosen this time for a military coup. Baby Kal-El's father, Jor-El (Russell Crowe), and mother, Lara (Ayelet Zurer), save him — and, with him, they hope, Kryptoniankind — by putting him on a shuttle bound for Earth. We next see Kal-El as a young man, drifting around the globe trying to find clues as to his real identity. In a spaceship buried in the Arctic, he finds the answers, recounted to him in detail by a hologram of his father. It's all ready-made, including his suit, and the film quickly moves on to its bulkier second part: The hero working out whether his place is with the human or the alien. And General Zod is on his way back from the Phantom Zone to help with that quandary, by invading Earth. Ahead of the screening, I thought there was no way the Dark Knight approach could work for Superman. Or any approach, nearly; he's a hard character to make interesting. He's not conflicted, he doesn't have a dark side and he's not funny. He's never going to have a battle 'with himself' or one that's morally ambiguous. His powers are perfect. He has no hubris. Like Captain America, he's just kinda lame. As it happens, the team does surprisingly well with portions of the material. They find an involving moral question without descending into darkness, and their 'scientific' explanations of a lot of the mythology work well. Cavill is super-handsome but also reasonably charismatic, which is the more important draw. In many ways, this is the strongest Superman reboot for a long time. Unfortunately, the story manages to be both rushed and overlong — because Clark finds the tell-all hologram in 30 minutes, there is no sense that he's struggled. The pace, afterwards, is flat. But Man of Steel has a bigger problem: director Snyder has no taste. Again and again, he's come up with some amazing visual styling and action sequences, but he doesn't know when to say stop. When to pull back. The fight scenes between super-strong characters, who destroy rows of buildings with a single punch, are repeated to the point of exhaustion. The final battle should have been two battles earlier. Lois isn't a 'strong female character'; she's superhuman herself. Exposition is heavy. It's all very loud. So there you go: a Superman with both strengths and weaknesses. It's rumoured an Avengers-style team-up of dour DC heroes will follow, which isn't hugely thrilling. But with his own sequel, this Man of Steel could yet firm up. https://youtube.com/watch?v=T6DJcgm3wNY
Bartenders are the new rockstars — if their touring habits are anything to go by, anyway. In the past few years, more and more cocktail bars and their helmsmen have joined musicians for fly-in, fly-out visits to Australia — but instead of touring records, they're touring killer drinks lists. Last year saw Asia's best bar 28 Hongkong Street and hidden New York City jaunt Attaboy both do a quick stops in Melbourne and Sydney, while Mace popped up at Sydney's PS40 just the other week and PDT was in town a little while back too. And now another NYC bar is making its way to our shores for a cheeky cocktail pop-up. The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog will come to Australia for three nights only, spreading its shaking skills across the east coast with one night at Melbourne's Black Pearl, one night at Sydney's Baxter Inn and one night at The Gresham in Brisbane. Dead Rabbit will be sending their finest drink makers to work in collaboration with the host bars to create a one-night-only menu that will showcase their skills and signature drinks and food items (like their Scotch egg). Their cocktail menu is pretty extensive, but we're hoping they bring their Hong Kong Phooey with them — it blends rum with Aquavit, grapefruit, pistachio and avocado. Although we've had a few bars pass through our major cities by now, this one's pretty special as Dead Rabbit, which is permanently located in lower Manhattan, took out the top spot on last year's World's 50 Best Bars list. So if you can't get to the Lower East Side anytime soon, this is your next best option. Tickets to the pop-up have already sold out in Melbourne for April 18, but are still available in Brisbane on April 19 and Sydney on April 23. Tickets are a little pricey at $40 (plus booking fee) — that includes a cocktail on arrival and one of Dead Rabbit's signature Scotch eggs. You'll then be able to purchase extra drinks on top of that.
If you're guilty of assuming the so-called 'rock star lifestyle' is one of grandeur, dolla dolla bills and Nyan Cat-emblazoned Purraris, or have ever accused a band of 'selling out' for working alongside a commercial brand, you might want to see this. The Truth About Money in Music is a brand new mini-doco featuring the likes of Remi, James from Violent Soho, Hey Geronimo, Millions, KLP, The Cairos and many other Australian artists who are doing tremendous work on minimal budgets. Brisbane-based film director, Dan Graetz, is at the helm of this operation. The idea came to life after Graetz pitched the idea to Jack Daniels, who were looking to support creative music projects. "I pitched this documentary around musicians, brands and honesty," says Graetz. "It was great they liked it and even better that they gave me the freedom to stay true to the concept. This is the result." https://youtube.com/watch?v=XR-RA-vpm8s Graetz knows the musician's financial struggle all too well, not only through working closely with artists on music videos but also through his own creative pursuits. "In creating music videos over the past four years, my team and I have made fireworks, gutted cars, cloned humans and more — usually on a shoestring — to help new talent stand out against cute kittens, dancing babies and big budgets," Graetz says. The film interestingly sees artists like Kate Miller-Heidke talk about her move from a major label and the restrictions that came from it, in comparison to working with brands who facilitate collaboration and creative possibilities. The overarching message seems to be that if a company wants to back you because they like what you're about as you are, then why the hell not let them give you a hand. Obviously, no one was born yesterday and a JD-shaped product is being plugged here, but it's hardly 'selling out' when the bigwigs don't want you to change a thing. This is just the first chapter for the Jack Daniels Future Legends project. Expect to see the likes of Bloc Party's Kele Okereke, Sable, Motorik, The Griswolds, and The Cairos feature in instalments further down the track. JD is encouraging trailblazers and creative to get in touch if they have a bold and independent music idea that needs support. Pitch your project in 300 words or less to jackdaniels.au@gmail.com. For now, watch The Truth About Money in Music right here and hold off on those rants: https://youtube.com/watch?v=MgZJFu3SHVs
There's the naturalism you know, and then there's the immersive, mythic, sensorial and heady naturalism of Abdellatif Kechiche's Blue Is the Warmest Colour (known in its native France as Adele: Chapters 1 & 2). The director boldly sticks his camera in the face of actor Adele Exarchopoulos and lets it linger there for three hours, watching intensely as the ingenue lives and loses her first love, while several years roll by. It's an extreme viewing experience that garnered high praise in Europe and won the most prestigious independent film award on the planet, the Palme d'Or. Yet as much as a Cannes-adored French coming-of-age movie (based on a graphic novel, by author Julia Maroh) appeals to my personal proclivities, I found Blue Is the Warmest Colour to be more of an interesting film than a great one. By far its biggest charm lies in the understated yet giving and uninhibited performances of its leads, Exarchopoulos as Adele and Lea Seydoux as her worldlier girlfriend, Emma. We see Adele as a whole person discovering the world, not just her sexuality. She waxes lyrical about her favourite classic novel, joins in song at a political demonstration, fools around with a sweet boy who only makes her depressed, and eats spag bol with her mouth open at an incommunicative family dinner table. She's from a plain, working-class household, and her world opens up when she meets art student Emma, who floors her from across the street with her blue-streaked hair and white-hot insouciance. Their love is explosive, total and immensely physical. But first loves don't often last, and that's probably a good thing. Captured in extreme close-up, Blue Is the Warmest Colour lets you feel the beauty and the pain of it, really feel it, for a few blessed minutes. However, not all of the three hours' worth of scenes deserve to be there, and Kechiche's execution seems haphazard and uncompromising. Since Cannes, there's been growing criticism of the hetero director's imaginings of a lesbian romance, and the camera's gaze does seem to cross a line from luscious into lascivious at times. Eschewing the usual press tour conventions, Exarchopoulos and Seydoux have been pretty frank in interviews about what it was like to work with the director — "horrible", uncomfortable, possibly exploitative and endlessly drawn out past schedule. It especially matters as the movie includes a hardcore seven-minute sex scene that took apparently ten days to shoot. The actors say they're happy with the results, but it doesn't seem like a methodology we should accept. Fortunately, Blue Is the Warmest Colour's Palme d'Or, for the first time in history, was jointly awarded to the director and the film's two stars. Their idiosyncratic performances are very worth seeing. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y2OLRrocn3s
Three seriously dramatic acts are joining forces for French Baroque, a show that promises to turn your preconceived notions of circus and baroque music inside-out, upside-down and back-to-front. The first is acclaimed acrobatic troupe Circa, who have been travelling the world with their take on circus as stunning, mobile contemporary art. The second is French soprano Claire Lefilliâtre, who has been starring on stages all over Europe. And the third is the five-time ARIA Award-winning Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, home to some of our nation’s best interpreters of 16th- and 17th-century music. With the music of French composers Rameau, Lully and Marais as inspiration, Circa’s artistic director, Yaron Lifschitz, describes the pasticcio of selected music as combining “the longing of the night with the playful side of French baroque”. He's choreographed a performance to meet this mood. “I have responded by creating a river of moonlight that divides the stage, reflecting singer and acrobat, musician and vocalist,” he says. “In the interplay between delight and desire, between pleasure and abandonment, we see a world created where bodies seamlessly meld into song, where lives and loves intermingle and where the simple magic of singing speaks clearly to the heart.”
The beloved Cameo Cinema will once again showcase some of the summer's most talked-about films on its magnificent outdoor movie screen under the stars. From Friday, November 2 right through summer, audiences will get the chance to relax in deckchairs and beanbags, with craft beer, homemade choc-tops and freshly popped popcorn in hand. If that's not worth the drive out to Belgrave, then we just don't know what is. Featured on the big screen will be a selection of new flicks and concert films, as well as a 30th-anniversary edition of Goodfellas and a dog-friendly session of Lassie Come Home as part of the Children's International Film Festival (but kidults are definitely welcome, too). David Fincher's new black-and-white flick Mank and the new Russell Crowe film Unhinged are also on the lineup. Those itching to head back to a live gig can relive some of the best with Stop Making Sense, a 1984 film of a live Talking Heads performance and Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace, the new concert film from the acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter produced during lockdown. It doesn't hurt that the Cameo concessions are a cut above what you'll find at your local shopping centre multiplex. It has craft beer and boutique wines — and dogs are welcome here, too. In line with current COVID-19 restrictions, masks are mandatory and capacities are limited. Films starts at 9pm.
Lonely Hunter is the monthly market that's beautified Sydney's inner west with needlepoint and ultra-funky tights in recent times. But in the grand tradition of the Melbourne vs. Sydney cool-shit-to-do comp, Melbournites won't have their shopping bags left empty. Yep, Sydney's fave indie-design market – that showcases the best in local handmade fashion, accessories, art, homewares and jewellery – is making its Melbourne debut. Lonely Hunter creators Claire and Courtney will be launching the Melbourne markets on Saturday December 14 at The Cape Lounge on Johnston Street in Fitzroy. From then, the markets will be returning to the Cape every second Saturday of the month from noon till 5pm. Just imagine a real-time Etsy with your fave beverages (dangerous). On top of being a go-to destination for all your prezzies (just in time for Christmas, too!) and introducing punters to up-and-coming talent, Lonely Hunter is bringing DIY workshops from Lost In The Craft along. So head to the Cape on December 14, and if you're a known crafty — apply for a stall ASAP.
C3's recently opened Exhibition 55 sees the gallery's six spaces play host to six independent exhibitions — Alison Kennedy's Paintings Without Heads, Emma Langridge, Bruce Rowe and Nicholas Ryrie's Process/Ritual, Malcolm Lloyd's Phink Fish, Mariana Jandova and Tony Cran's The Messenger, Margaret McIntosh's Dog House and Penelope Trotter's Looking For Charlie. The diverse artworks are tied together by an overarching interest in the repetitive art making process and the apparent disconnect between what people seek and what they find. The dog house, a grandmother's long lost love, tattle tales and a fated voyage to outer space might be just around the corner, but in the spirit of the exhibition, leave your preconceived notions at the door. Image Malcolm Lloyd, Phink Fish.
It's impossible to watch a movie directed by Wong Kar-Wai and mistake it for the work of another filmmaker. As he has kept proving over his 32-year career to-date, his work is just that distinctive. And while the opposite isn't true, either — no one will ever confuse a movie helmed by someone else for one of Wong's efforts — his influence on cinema and his peers is evident in every neon-hued tale of yearning, every mesmerising and aching love story that says as much through its imagery as it does with dialogue, and plenty of martial arts fare as well. Wong makes films to luxuriate in — to truly feast your eyes upon — and, unsurprisingly, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and Sydney Film Festival want to celebrate that fact, and his work. Accordingly, they're teaming up to present touring program Love & Neon: The Cinema of Wong Kar-Wai. It showcases 11 of the filmmaker's titles, surveying his entire career, and will screen in Melbourne from Thursday, February 11–Saturday, February 27. And, it'll mark ACMI's big reopening as the first physical film season at the revamped Federation Square venue. In the Mood for Love is on the bill, of course, but it isn't the only movie worth checking out on the silver screen. You can also see his debut feature As Tears Go By; Chungking Express, which is inspired by a Haruki Murakami short story; and the touching Happy Together — plus the rebellious Days of Being Wild, the gorgeous 2046, and Wong's first English-language film My Blueberry Nights. Or, there's also his two martial arts epics: Ashes of Time: Redux and The Grandmaster. You'll be watching restored versions of most of the above, too, including glorious 4K restorations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfbLJh7-hQY
It's supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but Christmas sure does require everyone to make a whole heap of decisions. You need to select which gifts to buy your nearest and dearest, all the ways you're going to celebrate with your loved ones and where to spend any time you get off over festive break, for starters. You also have to pick how many seasonal-themed events to attend across December, and which dishes to make and/or eat. And, you need to choose something to drink — on several occasions over the whole period. Need something to pour into your next festive-themed cocktail, or to sip with pudding on the big day itself? Bass and Flinders has just released a limited-edition spiced Christmas brandy that's designed for both — or just to drink neat over ice when you're saying a jovial cheers to your friends and family if you prefer. The idea: to basically make a brandy that tastes like Christmas pudding in a bottle (because why just eat dessert when you can drink it, too?). Head distiller Holly Klintworth took inspiration from her family's own Christmas pudding recipe, in fact, which has been passed down through four generations. If you're wondering what you'll be knocking back, Bass and Flinders' spiced Christmas brandy uses chardonnay grapes from a Victorian vineyard, which have been distilled and matured to into an Aussie-made spirit. Then, the distillery steeped it with Christmas fruits and spices for ten days — with dried currants, cranberries and apricots; spices such as nutmeg, clove and cardamom; and also citrus rind, frankincense and myrrh. Golden amber in hue, and smelling like all of the aforementioned ingredients, the tipple is now available to purchase for $125 for a 700-millilitre bottle. And if you're after a few cocktail ideas, Bass and Flinders has also come up with a spiced brandy eggnog recipe on its website. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bass & Flinders Distillery (@bassandflinders) Bass and Flinders' spiced Christmas brandy is available to purchase now — for more information, head to the brand's website.
Maybe viewing old episodes of Aerobics Oz Style helped you stay active during 2020's first long lockdown. Perhaps you've been obsessed with the now-iconic Key & Peele aerobics meltdown sketch for years, as everyone should be. Or, you might've watched the excellent Kirsten Dunst-starring On Becoming a God in Central Florida and got bitten by the water aerobics bug. Whichever fits — or even if none of the above applies to you — leotards, exercise and all things 80s haven't been far from our screens in recent years. And, they'll feature again in a big way in Apple TV+'s new ten-part dark comedy series Physical. Set in the decade that's always going to be synonymous with leg warmers, Physical sees Rose Byrne make the leap from hanging out with talking CGI rabbits in terrible book-to-screen adaptations to getting hooked on aerobics. She plays Sheila Rubin, a San Diego housewife with a husband that's running for California's state assembly. While playing her dutiful part as expected, she struggles with her self-image. Then, the only form of exercise that TV shows and movies seem to think that anyone did back in the 80s suddenly enters her life. Cue a journey that brings Sheila success, and turns her into a lifestyle guru. Obviously, she won't be posting about her daily life on social media — but this show is set in the peak VHS era, so expect videotapes to play a part in the story. Physical is set to start streaming on Friday, June 18, and will drop its first three episodes in one hit before releasing the rest weekly afterwards. Naturally, big hair and spandex abound in the just-dropped, supremely 80s trailer for the series. Alongside Byrne, the show stars Rory Scovel (I Feel Pretty), Dierdre Friel (Second Act), Della Saba (Ralph Breaks the Internet), Lou Taylor Pucci (American Horror Story), Paul Sparks (The Lovebirds) and Ashley Liao (Fuller House). Desperate Housewives and Suburgatory's Annie Weisman created, wrote and executive produced Physical, and serves as its showrunner, while I, Tonya's Craig Gillespie, Dead to Me's Liza Johnson and Love Life's Stephanie Laing all enjoy stints in the director's chair. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQaHAy7r660 Physical starts streaming via Apple TV+ on Friday, June 18.
You can never have too many occasions to eat cheese, but this Melbourne cheese festival isn't just keen to shower cheese fiends with creamy goodness. A collaboration between Bruny Island Cheese Co. cheesemaker Nick Haddow and the organisers of Pinot Palooza, Mould wants dairy lovers to explore and devour the mild, hard and soft bites that Australia's best cheese wizards have to offer. Returning for a third year, the festival will paint North Melbourne's Meat Market yellow on Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17. Alongside unlimited tastings of Australia's best cheeses — there will be over 50 types, with the lineup still be to announced — it'll feature flavoursome fare from other food vendors. Think of it as a cheese tasting trip around Australia without leaving Blackwood Street. Of course, snacking on samples and purchasing slices and slabs to take home with you are just two ways to enjoy cheese. The fest will have cooking demonstrations, masterclasses and talks so you can stretch your cheese knowledge as well as your cheese stomach. And it wouldn't be a cheese festival without beverages to wash it all down with, so expect a bar serving Aussie wines, whisky, beer and sake — all of which match nicely to a bit of cheese. There will be an evening session on Friday from 4–8pm and two sessions (from 11am–3pm and 4–8pm) on Saturday. Tickets cost $40–45 + booking fee, which includes tastings.
Director Sam Raimi is no stranger to reboots. His 1981 horror flick The Evil Dead just received the reboot treatment this year, and last year's reboot of the Spiderman franchise (The Amazing Spiderman) marked a mere decade since Raimi's own version of story came out. It's no surprise, then, that Raimi was the one tapped to direct Oz the Great and Powerful — a prequel to 1939's beloved Wizard of Oz. Nor is it a shock that he's now supposedly attached to direct a remake of 1982's Poltergeist. Basically if you want something done right, again, then Sam's your man. And he'd need to be, since tackling The Wizard of Oz — a film often ranked in the 10 best of all time — has traditionally been a fool's errand fraught with difficulties. Just consider 1978's The Wiz, an African American version starring Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow (...if he only had a nose...). Then came Disney's terrifying attempt at a sequel, Return to Oz, in 1985. The opening scenes alone, depicting a frenzied Dorothy, strapped to a gurney and receiving electroshock therapy in a crumbling mental asylum, somehow failed to charm the hearts and minds of families in quite the same way as its predecessor — a task not helped by later scenes featuring masked murderous gangs with wheels for hands or a queen who froze people and wore their heads. You know, a children's movie. Finally in 2003, the Tony- and Grammy-winning musical Wicked opened on Broadway and has since become the 12th longest-running show in its history. Of all the reinterpretations, it's Wicked that fits most comfortably with the original, and so its story (the explanation of why the wicked witch became wicked) was the logical choice for Raimi's prequel, along with the 'how and why' of the Wizard becoming their great but mysterious leader. That man, Oscar Diggs (or 'Oz'), is played by James Franco, and his story begins as a lying, cheating carnival con man in Kansas. In a delightful homage to the 1939 version, Raimi also begins his film in black and white, and just like the original, that device makes Oscar's subsequent arrival into the fantastically colourful world of Oz all the more spectacular. Once there, he meets three beguiling but feuding witches named Theodora (Mila Kunis), Glinda (Michelle Williams), and Evanora (Rachel Weisz). Each claims the other is the 'wicked one' and begs him to save the land and its people by killing their rival. Oz the Great and Powerful isn't a film whose enjoyment is predicated upon knowledge of the original; however, its frequent tips of the hat definitely add an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience. And just like the original, Oz's journey along the yellow brick road leads to several chance encounters with some wonderfully creative, tender and amusing companions, including a small china doll and a wisecracking flying monkey (voiced by Zach Braff). Being Disney, it's obviously very much a children's movie, but one whose respectful treatment of the original still offers adults a chance to enhance, rather than replace, one cherished Wizard of Oz story with another. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yyywumlnhdw
A carbon neutral city in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, is emerging. Masdar City is a leading sustainable development project designed by Foster & Partners. Buildings take inspiration from traditional Arab architecture and feature undulating curves. Alternative energies power the city, like solar roof panels which capture the noonday sun. Last week 8,000 visitors flocked to get a first glimpse of the city as part of the Organic Market launch event. “The event aimed at creating awareness among the UAE community, highlighting the benefits of sustainable living at one of the world’s most environment-friendly urban developments,” said Ahmed Baghoum, Director of City Zone, Masdar City. [Via PSFK]
This year hasn't been easy for anyone, but it has been extra tough for folks in Melbourne. The city's residents went into lockdown earlier in 2020, when the rest of the country shut down — and, when cases in the state started to increase again mid-year, they endured new Melbourne-specific stay-at-home restrictions that have only been easing since mid-September. From tonight — at 11.59pm on Tuesday, October 27, to be specific — Melburnians will be allowed to drink brews at bars, pubs and restaurants again. Understandably, the city's residents and venues are rather excited about that development. But if you're located in the rest of Australia and you'd like to help make this development as cheery as possible, you can help out by shouting a Victorian a drink. If you're located in Victorian or even Melbourne and you want to spread the love to everyone else who just navigated the past few months, that's on the cards too. If you'd like to send this link to your interstate friends to nudge them in the right direction, that's obviously an option as well. When it comes to donating, anyone can take part in the #ShoutAVicADrink campaign started by The Otter's Promise in Armadale. It's really as simple as it sounds. Via the craft beer bar and bottle shop's website, you can pledge $10, which'll be used to to buy a random Victorian a drink at the bar. You can choose to donate more than $10, of course, which'll be used for multiple drinks. And it will be random, based on whoever is in the bar — and no, you can't specify who your shout goes to. If you're a Melburnian who lives within 25 kilometres of The Otter's Promise, obviously that's as good a reason as any to stop by when it reopens from midday on Thursday, October 29. The venue is hoping that other Melbourne joints will join the campaign, too, turning #ShoutAVicADrink into a city-wide campaign. To shout a Victorian a drink, head to The Otter's Promise's website. To visit The Otter's Promise, head to 1219 High Street, Armadale from midday on Thursday, October 29.
Usually when September rolls around, the AFL finals take over Melbourne. And, to celebrate the pinnacle of the annual footy season, the city scores a public holiday on the Friday before the grand final. But 2020 isn't a normal year, as we all well and truly know by now. Melbourne is currently under stage-four stay-at-home restrictions, its second lockdowns this year. After postponing the AFL season for two months, then restarting in June, the code's year has been thrown into disarray as well. All of Victoria's AFL teams have temporarily relocated interstate, the bulk of the season has been played in Queensland and the grand final is actually expected to take place towards the end of October. Due to all of the above, hosting the grand final at the MCG is looking increasingly unlikely. Instead of being played in Melbourne, the game may be held in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth or Adelaide. But, as Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed in his daily press conference on Saturday, August 15, that doesn't mean that Victorians won't still get a day off work — with the grand final public holiday still going ahead regardless of where the match takes place. https://www.facebook.com/DanielAndrewsMP/videos/970273380139683/?__xts__[0]=68.ARALQCzk5sSXw5uBUJoNy2T9wL0VfeeaTcEtVn9KHHizfWicQswNtJ3UkmaZRbd8JV75KFtjJqmJRjNeRieUQEhWRwscuPcn_QZTFNavJD3yV0Ho5Or91thqxOl4wqTkfBFXVjhi3HIPoaQKy4YXOYebDIbgzTfnafblXJYEvphWX6wa87YAbkJnUi-9hGFUiD6IxY8ZsJO1gxhO4HD8_dRFDdWfz09KesXf_KDkIiBp5Rcm-_QmWkKl7gyr13IXvZjOh9EIxiTmH5GMsQujvoZ4mZQlsQABg7zrLdeE5CKaLhHZ1lF1l6ZQH49R7HFtSr2qsCZQg9B51P0LhSarccgJOJQ8ijVjAQTqbw&__tn__=-R "I reckon Victorians may well have earned that," said Premier Andrews about the public holiday, stating that it will go ahead. And, it'll still fall on the Friday before the grand final; however just when that'll be still needs to be confirmed by the AFL, with October 17 and October 24 firming as the likely dates for the match. That means that Melbourne footy fanatics can still spend the day before the big day celebrating the sport they love, although you'd reasonably expect that all of the usual pre-grand final fanfare won't be happening due to social-distancing requirements even if the city was to host the game. And, if you're not into AFL, you can still look forward to an upcoming long weekend. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria and how to protect yourself, head to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website.
At the risk of sounding a little anti-social, I can admit to remembering a time when I was sitting at a pub with a bunch of friends who were all busily tapping away at their iPhones (myself included). It's a sight that at first seems inappropriate for the pub but, in the age of the smartphone, probably one that won't disappear anytime soon. Untappd is an app that will have you doing more of the above. Released last week, the app is a social network for lovers of beer. And unlike checking your Facebook, using Untappd at the pub is a little more socially acceptable because you actually have to be at the pub drinking beer to use it. The app combines all the familiar social networking features such as check-ins, friending and rating. So if you're familiar with those things (via Fourquare, Facebook and Yelp) you'll understand the concept behind this beer-drinking app. It allows you to share what you're drinking and where you're drinking it, as well as your rating to earn some creds for drink choices. And for those who wish they could track 'life stats' like this guy, it does that too. If you ask me, it's probably a good way to keep busy during those awkward standing-alone-while-friend-goes-to-the-bathroom moments at the pub.
When Re opened in Sydney's growing South Eveleigh precinct back in April with hospitality stars Matt Whiley (Scout) and Maurice Terzini (Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, Ciccia Bella) at the helm, it did so with a bold and important mission. It's aim: to create less waste, have less of an impact on the environment and forge a blueprint for other venues to follow. It's Australia's first no-waste bar, in fact, and its menu reflects that ethos. Here, Sydneysiders can sip drinks made with excess, salvaged and foraged ingredients — but still with plenty of flavour. Fast favourites include melon and wasabi negronis, yuzu and matcha margaritas, and cherry ripe old fashioneds — and, even though Sydney is currently in lockdown, they're still on offer. Adjusting to the current situation, Re has launched the Re Up Bottle Shop for takeaway and delivery orders. And, if you're not located in the Harbour City, it's also delivering these pre-bottled cocktails nationally. Ten different types of tipples are available in both 100-millilitre ($18) and 500-millilitre ($85) sizes. If you'd fancy more than one, you can opt for a four-pack ($65 for the smaller bottles / $320 for the larger serves). And if you're wondering what other kinds of cocktails are on the menu, other highlights include the 50 Shades of Gruyere, which is made with mushroom cognac, sweet vermouth, gruyere and bloody shiraz — and an old fashioned that goes heavy on seeds and grains, including toasted pumpkin seeds, red rice and fermented black barley. A small selection of wine, beer and spirits is also available to purchase, as is Re and Mr Black's recycled coffee liqueur collaboration — which uses recycled coffee grounds to give you a boozy and caffeinated hit. The Re Up Bottle Shop is open every day except Sunday for pick ups, and delivers in Sydney from Thursday–Saturday (yes, just in time for the weekend). For interstate folks now feeling mighty thirsty, it does next-day delivery outside of Sydney as well. Sydneysiders can find the Re Up Bottle Shop at 2 Locomotive Street, Eveleigh — open 12–5pm Monday–Tuesday and 12–8pm Wednesday–Saturday for pick ups. For online orders anywhere in Australia, head to the bar's website.
There was a time in my life when I worked at a department store beauty counter. It was a dark period, where the only solace was lamenting the shared pain of the woeful vocation with co-workers. When we weren’t being forced to manically spritz perfume on unassuming passersby, we would often swap tips for DIY beauty remedies to find some sense of sanity and camaraderie in those trying times. Find below the best of those homemade recipes. COCONUT PULLING What you’ll need: -Organic coconut oil -15-20 minutes of silent time Recently, coconut oil has come to be revered as the holy grail of natural beauty health remedies. While I would advocate many different uses for this oil fit for the gods, coconut pulling is at the top of my list for best uses. An ancient Ayurvedic treatment, this technique has been used for thousands of years to improved dental hygiene. The oil acts as an agent to ‘pull’ bacteria and infection from the mouth and throat, and is even said to reduce the effects of migraines, inflammation, insomnia, sinus congestion and allergy symptoms. Personally, I find it does wonders for naturally whitening teeth and preventing bad breath. The technique is relatively simple — so much so that I tend to do most of my oil pulling while I’m slightly intoxicated and don’t want to wake up in the morning with last night’s mistakes on my breath. Put 2-3 teaspoons of solid coconut oil in your mouth, and hold underneath your tongue until it starts to melt. When it has softened into a liquid, the idea is to ‘pull’ it back and forth through your teeth, swishing around the mouth and back of throat for 15-20 minutes. After enduring this for as long as humanly possible, spit into the bin (the oil hardens when expelled and can clog your drain if you use the sink!) and revel in a ‘just got my braces off’ level of freshness. Do NOT -under any circumstances - swallow the oil. It’s a swirling cesspool full of the bacterial crap that was just extracted from your mouth and throat. COLD SPOON FOR PUFFY EYES What you’ll need: -Spoon -Freezer This one is a total lifesaver if, like me, people often mistake your puffy morning eyes for puffy mourning eyes. For those times when it’s obvious you were watching Game of Thrones until 3am, keep a couple of metal spoons in the freezer. Gently apply the back of the frosty spoon to your under-eye area, applying light pressure for about 30 seconds. I understand that making you hold a freezing cold metal object to your face at this delicate hour might seem a little sadistic, but the time comes in every person’s life where they must face such adversities to gain what is rightfully theirs (in this case, un-puffy eyes). Remove spoons to find the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed morning person that was always within you. EGG YOLK HAIR TREATMENT What you’ll need: -1 egg -1 cup natural Greek yoghurt To be honest, I can rarely muster the strength to run a brush through my hair, let alone use actual food I could be eating to make a treatment for it. For those rare occasions when I would like to look like a chic and glamorous adult woman, I use a DIY treatment passed on to me by a co-worker who had the soft, silky unicorn hair of my dreams. While it does not transform my hair into her waist-length, thick, dark hair, it does take my hair game from, ‘Tired Mum at the Bus Stop’ marginally closer to 'Mount Olympus Demi-Goddess'. I also like this one because, unlike many homemade hair masks, it does not ask me to sacrifice one of my precious avocados to mush into my scalp. Start by separating the egg yolk from the white. For this treatment, you’ll only be using the yolk, so perhaps put the whites aside to make some meringues, or the face mask below (Or don’t. It’s your life). Combine the egg yolk with one cup of natural Greek yoghurt and mix well. Massage the mixture from the roots to the ends of your hair; ensuring every strand is coated. Pop on a shower cap, and do what you will for 20-30 minutes (might I suggest a spot of coconut pulling?) Rinse the mixture out of your hair using cold water. I don’t know if this is a thing, but the thought of hot, eggy yoghurt running down my body is unacceptable to me. Do a quick shampoo to ensure you wash the entire mask out, then either let your hair dry naturally or blow-dry on a low heat. Admire your new, shiny princess hair. EGG WHITE FACE MASK What you’ll need: - 1-2 egg whites -A couple squeezes of lemon -1 teaspoon of honey Full disclosure: I actually picked up this trick from my boyfriend, who has the taut yet supple skin I have only imagined in Proactiv dreams. The protein in the egg whites smooths skin and helps to preserve moisture, while a combination of the antibacterial properties in honey and powerful acne fighting astringent found in lemons make this mask great for clearing problem skin. First off, prep skin by soaking a clean towel in warm water and pressing against the face for about a minute to encourage pores to open. Combine the egg whites and lemon and whisk together, then add the honey and stir well. Smooth the mixture over the entire face, and leave on for 15 minutes. I would highly recommend lying back with a towel underneath your head to avoid looking like your face is melting off. Carefully use the cloth to wash off the mixture thoroughly. Don’t be surprised if people want to lick your face.
Back in 2021, news arrived that Round the Twist was joining The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Muriel's Wedding, Strictly Ballroom, Starstruck and Moulin Rouge! in making the leap from Australia's screens to its theatres as a stage musical. If you've ever, ever felt like you needed to see the classic 90s and early 00s Aussie children's TV series with singing and dancing, the end result finally has a debut date. Your destination if you want to catch it first: Brisbane, with Round the Twist The Musical making its world premiere as part of Queensland Theatre's 2024 season. The homegrown gem is going the screen-to-stage route in a production that hasn't yet unveiled its cast, but already has the entire country well-acquainted with its characters. It'll hit QPAC's Playhouse from Tuesday, November 12–Sunday, December 1, closing out Queensland Theatre's 2024 run. We bet you're now more excited right now than a Twist family member in a lighthouse. Airing for two seasons between 1990–93, then another two from 2000–01, Round the Twist adapted Paul Jennings' popular books into an offbeat fantasy series. If you were the right age, it was must-see TV — and now it's your next must-see musical. Here's hoping that the new stage production not only does justice to the show that absolutely every Aussie kid watched in the 90s and 00s, and more than once, but that it taps into its balance of humour, strangeness and scares. There's definitely a big lighthouse involved, because of course there is. Obviously, we all know which song absolutely has to be included — and multiple times, ideally. Yes, it's the theme tune by Andrew Duffield that you've now got stuck in your head and will keep singing to yourself for the rest of the week. (And no, we're not sorry for putting it there.) Writer/composer Paul Hodge and director Simon Phillips (Muriel's Wedding: The Musical, Ladies in Black) are guiding the show, which will focus on single father Tony Twist; his children Pete, Linda and Bronson; and their efforts to save their home from the Gribble family while also attempting to solve a 200-year-old mystery. Expect haunted spaces, ghosts, smelly feet and a crystal ball as well, and songs. "Round The Twist The Musical is iconically Australian and it is our absolute pleasure to bring these characters, these stories and these songs to the stage for the first time ever," said Queensland Theatre Artistic Director Lee Lewis, announcing the 2024 program. "This has been a giddy labour of love for all of us here at Queensland Theatre for years now, and we're beyond excited to finally see this production come to life." Where Round The Twist The Musical will play after its Brisbane debut hasn't yet been announced, if you're hoping to see the production elsewhere around the country. Back in the Queensland capital, Queensland Theatre will also stage versions of Gaslight and Medea in 2024, the latter by Kate Mulvany and Anne-Louise Sarks. Football drama 37 will enjoy its world premiere, while Pulitzer Prize-winner Cost of Living and the Veep-style POTUS, Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive will make their Australian debuts. If you need something Round the Twist-related to watch until November 2024 hits, all four seasons of the show are streaming on Netflix. You can also check out the trailer for Round the Twist's first season below: Round the Twist The Musical will premiere at the QPAC Playhouse, South Bank, Brisbane from Tuesday, November 12–Sunday, December 1, 2024 as part of Queensland Theatre's 2024 season — head to Queensland Theatre's website for further details. Top image: Round the Twist filming location Split Point lighthouse, Natalie Maguire via Wikimedia Commons.
If you've never participated in a classic Italian sugo-making day (and always wanted to) or your family stopped the tradition because it was just too much of an effort, this sauce party shouldn't be missed. With a second session just announced for Wednesday, March 19 due to an overnight sell-out, Kew's Mister Bianco is hosting a three-course Festa del Pomodoro (Tomato Day) dinner, during which owner Joe Vargetto will share some of his sugo-making secrets. You won't be making the sauce yourself, but you'll go home inspired to make a batch of your own after seeing his cooking demonstration and tasting it in a series of Italian dishes. For $135 per person, guests will share a selection of entrees like focaccia with whipped lemon ricotta, then tuck into an array of shared mains that hero the humble tomato. On the menu are gnocchi with sugo, saffron cavatelli with mussels, roasted eggplant with zesty salmoriglio, and chargrilled zucchini with a fresh tomato salad. Before you head out the door, a sweet and crunchy cannoli will have you smiling. Keen? Don't wait to book – there are only 20 seats for each session, with one already sold out. If you're quick enough to score a place, you'll be happy to know this feast also sees guests head home with a bottle of sugo made by Vargetto and his team. This might just be the perfect excuse to start your own sugo-making festivities at home – after all, tomato-growing season isn't too far away. [caption id="attachment_943017" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption]
The road back to music festivals in a post-COVID world has been long and bumpy. Many festivals attempted to be among the first to return, announcing dates and lineups before being forced to postpone. One event that has managed to succeed, despite restrictions on mass gatherings, is the new Summer Sounds Festival. Back in November, it was revealed that Splendour in the Grass organisers Secret Sounds — with the help of the Australian government — were working on a new music festival. An announcement for the Adelaide edition of Summer Sounds Festival followed shortly, with the SA leg of the fest taking place across January with a lineup full of local Australian talent, including Ball Park Music, Bernard Fanning, Mallrat and Ruel. Now, as the debut edition of the festival wraps up this weekend, Summer Sounds has announced that it's coming to Melbourne. It'll set up shop in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl as part of the summer-long Live at the Bowl event series. Taking place over four nights, the Melbourne lineup features Ball Park Music, Bernard Fanning, Something for Kate and Spacey Jane — all returning after sets at the Adelaide edition. They'll be joined by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Thelma Plum, Tropical F Storm and Rat!hammock. The current lineup of gigs runs from Thursday, February 24–Thursday March 4, with more shows to be announced. In order to comply with COVID-safe protocols, attendees can book tickets at the private decks, stall tables and balcony seats for groups of two, four or six. This means you're saved the pain of rubbing up against sweaty strangers in the crowd, plus you'll be able to have a dance with your closest friends. Image: Bernard Fanning by Saige Prime SUMMER SOUNDS FESTIVAL, MELBOURNE Thursday, February 25 — Ball Park Music and Thelma Plum Friday, February 26 — King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Tropical F Storm Saturday, February 27 — Bernard Fanning and Something for Kate Thursday, March 4 — Spacey Jane and Rat!hammock Summer Sounds Festival Melbourne will take place at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl as part of Live at the Bowl from Thursday, February 25–Thursday, March 5. Registration for the presale is now open, with presale tickets available from 12pm AEDT on Friday, January 29 — and general ticket sales opening at 9am AEDT on Monday, March 1. Top image: Summer Sounds Festival Adelaide by Morgan Sette
Over the past decade, Marvel has trained superhero-loving cinema-goers well. Now 23 films into its enormous cinematic universe and showing zero signs of stopping, the comic book company has basically taken over the big screen, with three of its huge movies ranking among Australia's top five box office hits of the year in 2019 alone — Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel and Sony-Disney collaboration Spider-Man: Far From Home. More flicks are coming in 2020, of course. So are a heap of TV shows, all headed to Disney's new streaming platform. But, if you'd love to see your favourite spandex-clad crime-fighters try to save the world in person, you'll be happy to know that's coming next year as well. Marvel Universe Live! is exactly what it sounds like, with the production taking more than 25 characters such as Spider-Man, The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, teaming them up on stage and letting audiences marvel (pun intended) at their exploits. Featuring everyone from Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther and the Hulk to Captain America, Doctor Strange, Black Widow and the Wasp, it tasks the beloved superheroes with facing off against some of Marvel's infamous villains, including Nebula, Loki and Green Goblin. And, it packages their antics with video projections, special effects, and both aerial and motorcycle stunts. The performance is aimed at all ages and, in news that's about as unsurprising as most wisecracks that Tony Stark ever uttered, the show has proven a massive success in the United States, Latin America and Europe. As a result, it was only a matter of time until it hit Australia, which it'll do across March and April next year. Obviously, attendees won't be watching Robert Downey, Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson or Tom Hiddleston — or any of the many, many other high-profile stars who feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But, if you're happy to get your Marvel fix however you can, then you can do just that in arenas and stadiums around the country in 2020. Thanks to recent news — namely the revelation that, due to negotiation breakdowns between Disney and Sony, Spider-Man may no longer be part of the MCU — it might also be your last chance to see the web-slinger join forces with other Marvel heroes, other than on the page. Of course, Disney and Sony might also come to mutually agreeable terms and the MCU could continue on as it is, so heading to Marvel Universe Live! would just be a bonus. MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE! 2020 DATES Adelaide — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, March 26–29 Melbourne — Rod Laver Arena, April 2–6 Brisbane — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, April 11–13 Sydney — Qudos Bank Arena, April 16–19 Perth — RAC Arena, April 25–27 Marvel Universe Live! pre-sale tickets are available from 9am on Monday, August 26 with general sale starting at 9am on Wednesday, September 11 via Ticketek.
Another week, another film, another hero clad in spandex. For the past decade and a half, Hollywood has churned out an unrelenting stream of superhero movies. Some, like Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight or Joss Whedon's first Avengers film, manage to rise above the pack. Others, like the laughably self-important Man of Steel or the disastrous new Fantastic Four, scrape the bottom of the barrel. The rest, for the most part, are merely okay. More to the point, almost all of them stick to the same predictable playbook in which everything is taken way, way too seriously. That's where Deadpool promises to be different. This long awaited film about the popular Marvel antihero arrives in cinemas on the back of an absolutely ingenious marketing campaign, one that stresses to punters unfamiliar with the character that he is anything but your typical superhero. Decked out in red, wielding katanas and a big ass gun, Deadpool swears, cracks jokes and murders his enemies with glee. Not only that, but he knows he's in a movie, and frequently delivers his X-rated quips directly to the camera. Most importantly, he's entertaining. He doesn't mope about his dead parents, or whinge about how great power means great responsibility. In an era of increasingly reluctant and angst-riddled crusaders, he makes being a superhero look fun. That's not to say that director Tim Miller has reinvented the wheel. The same familiar narrative formula is still very much at play here, even if the specifics are different. Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is a low-level mercenary whose life with his prostitute girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) seems doomed after he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. A lifeline comes in the form of an offer from a shady organisation, who promise to make Wilson indestructible. Unfortunately, the process also leaves him horribly disfigured, looking roughly akin to – in his own words – "a testicle with teeth." And when the people behind his transformation inevitably betray him, he's left with no choice but to become the one thing he never thought he'd be: a hero. So yeah, Deadpool isn't exactly the second coming of the genre. Luckily, it's also so relentlessly enjoyable that its flaws are easy to forgive. The script, by Zombieland co-writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, is absolutely brimming with knowing, foul-mouthed humour – indeed, this is much more a rude, crude, fourth-wall breaking comedy than it is a standard action film. There are dick jokes and pop-culture gags aplenty, but the biggest laughs come from references to Deadpool's fellow superheroes. When a couple of ancillary X-Men try and convince Deadpool to meet with Professor X, he asks whether they mean James McAvoy or Patrick Stewart. The writers also lay mercilessly into the recent Green Lantern movie, which of course starred none other than their own film's leading man. Frankly, it's hard to fathom that Reynolds ever wore another costume, since it feels like Deadpool is the role he was born to play. His performance is the other big reason the movie works as well as it does, his irreverent, snark-laden line delivery helping keep us on side with a protagonist whose behaviour is totally reprehensible. Not that you'd want him any other way. Hell, we'll take this nutcase over that bland boy scout Superman any day of the week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIM1HydF9UA
With the FIFA Women's World Cup literally kicking off on July 20, Federation Square is being transformed into the ultimate fan hub, dubbed the FIFA Fan Festival. Set to become Melbourne's HQ for anything World Cup-related, all the matches will be shown on the big screen (pro tip: BYO folding chair). Plus, there's a stacked program of live music, panel discussions, DJs, food and family-friendly activities. A few highlights include Indigenous singer Sycco, singer-songwriter Samantha Jade and a panel featuring former, capped and future Matildas. There's plenty for the kids to do too, with craft workshops, interactive games and food trucks galore. Speaking of food, the organisers have really gone all out this year. The FIFA Fan Festival will feature food from all 32 competing nations. The FIFA Women's World Cup runs from July 20 to August 20, and the Fan Festival zone will be open most days. It will be open Thursday, July 20—Thursday, August 3; Saturday, August 5–Sunday, August 8; Friday, August 11–Saturday, August 12; Tuesday, August 15–Wednesday, August 16; Saturday, August 19–Sunday, August 20. You can check out the full program here. Images: supplied.
So your local music store is basically out of business, the chain stores are full of crappy pop on overpriced CDs, and op shops are clueing to the fact they can charge a lot more than $1 for that quality Ziggy Stardust LP — where are we supposed to snag our vinyl these days? The answer will surprise and sadden you (of course we don't yet have this store in Australia). Buzzfeed has today named Urban Outfitters as the biggest seller of vinyl in the world. A hip stockist of quirky homewares, ironic t-shirts and boyfriend jeans, Urban Outfitters is like a more affordable version of every designer concept store you window shop in. But music definitely doesn't seem like its beat. This is because, instead of stocking shelves with dusty records and turning into a modern-day Championshop Vinyl, they offer most of their catalogue online. For around US$20 you can order any of the latest indie releases and old classics, and delivery is free for orders over $50 (because who just buys one album at a time?). Unlike CDs and iTunes downloads — may they rest in peace — vinyl is experiencing a huge resurgence at the moment. Sales have increased by more than 40 per cent in the last year alone and are hitting the highest numbers seen since the early '90s. As online streaming options increase in the same way, our new listening practices are becoming more and more apparent. We want to listen to everything for free on Spotify and Pandora then treasure the albums we really like on vinyl. And why wouldn't we? With the rest of our kit from Urban Outfitters, these records make our lives just that little bit closer to a Wes Anderson film. Via Buzzfeed and Stereogum.
Sometimes, you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Inevitable grumpiness ensues. "Where's my coffee," etc. Amelie and Friends, a sweet restaurant in West Sussex, England, has introduced branding to combat those early morning bad moods. "Wakey, wakey!" chirps the label wrapped around the coffee cup. "I'm all yours!" assures the brown paper packet housing your delicious morning muffin. The packaging was conceptualised by design boutique ilovedust and features feel good messages to complement the feel good pastries made fresh daily by this fine establishment. If only it were just a little closer to home. [Via Trend Hunter]
The title SONG kind of sells local group Ranters Theatre's latest work short. A collaboration between Brazilian visual artist Laura Lima, songwriter and performer James Tyson, production and lighting designer Stephen Hennessy and grand-scale perfumer George Kara, the hour-long piece is an immersive experience which leaves no sense forgotten. The audience are invited into an entirely created version of the natural world, one in which everything from the smell of the ocean to the colour of sunset at day's end is experienced at a heightened level. The experience of the individual is both privileged and forgotten, as one moves between moments of hyper sensory awareness and the joy of being completely lost in the moment throughout the piece. Got a short attention span or prone to mid-show popcorn cravings? The audience is free to come and go as they please and the Astroturf lounge setting means no awkward jostling past raised knees to do so. Image credit Sarah Walker
The first few months of the year now done and dusted can only mean one thing in Melbourne: the footy's back. And this month, with our homegrown code now back home, Melbourne is in for the grittiest, toughest, edge-of-your-seat, double-header period on the calendar: the final round of the thrilling 2022 NAB AFLW season and the return of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season. To mark the occasion, the AFL is throwing a massive Festival of Footy. With 12 matches across ten days — and crowd capacity back up to 100 percent — you can experience the pure adrenaline (both yours and the stellar lineup of players), see hard-hitting tackles (that'd be the players') and plenty of family-friendly activities to keep even the most reluctant of footy fans happy. [caption id="attachment_845691" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Graham Denholm (AFL Photos/Getty Images)[/caption] As well as unmissable matches being played at the MCG, Marvel Stadium and Arden Street Oval, the MCG-adjacent Yarra Park will transform into a Festival of Footy live site – a lively hub of camaraderie and healthy competition fit for your whole gang. Head down to the green for food trucks serving up both classic and adventurous bites, a pop-up barber shop, organised games and live performances. Combined with generous giveaways and free entry, it's the perfect scene for a footy-fuelled day out. Signalling the start of the final round of this year's AFLW home-and-away season, the footy-lovers' playground will officially open at 6pm on Friday, March 11, and hold strong til 9pm. It'll also come alive every game day of the final round of the women's league, and the first round of the men's. For more information about the Festival of Footy, head to the website. Top images: Michael Willson (AFL Photos), Graham Denholm (AFL Photos/Getty Images)
Melburnians, prepare to get hopelessly devoted — again — to Rydell High, summer lovers reuniting at school, leather jackets and Pink Ladies. Because giving Grease a prequel streaming series wasn't enough, the 50s-set musical is returning to its original home, with Australia's brand-new multimillion-dollar theatre production of the five-decade-old show set to be the one that local audiences want from Sunday, December 31, 2023–Sunday, March 10, 2024. Grease is shaping up to be Melbourne's big summer hit, zipping into the Victorian capital's Her Majesty's Theatre like lightening in January. Everyone knows the plot by now, given how popular the 1978 movie adaptation of the musical rom-com still is, especially Down Under. It is about an Aussie transfer student, after all, who falls in love with an American high schooler in California. After Grease sped from the stage to become a silver-screen classic, it spawned a 1982 Michelle Pfeiffer-starring sequel, too, then streaming's Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. Cast-wise, Joseph Spanti (Friends! The Musical Parody, Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical) and Annelise Hall (The Marvellous Elephant Man, Aspects of Love) are slipping into John Travolta (Paradise City) and the late, great Olivia Newton-John's (The Very Excellent Mr Crocodile Dundee) leathers as Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. Also featuring: Patti Newton as Miss Lynch, Jay Laga'aia as Vince Fontaine and Marcia Hines as Teen Angel. The above stars, plus their fellow T-Birds and Pink Ladies, will obviously be belting out all the famous tunes — including the titular 'Grease' and fellow earworms 'Summer Nights', 'Sandy', 'Hopelessly Devoted to You', 'You're The One That I Want', 'Greased Lightnin' and 'Beauty School Dropout'.
This is one of those performances that makes you wonder why you can’t seductively spin that many hula hoops around your body dressed in a sexy lycra glitter suit, or dangle yourself from the ceiling with a single hand without raising a sweat. Or maybe it’s shows like this that make you realise why you can’t and shouldn’t ever attempt to do so. Empire has been produced by Spiegelworld and is all about the Spiegeltent experience with circus-y, burlesque-y goings on inside. Think round seating in velvet booths, tons of mirrors, and a show that’s as intimate as you can get without becoming a part of the performance. If you've been to the Spiegeltent you know what you're in for. There's also a carnival-style bar for those of us who simply cannot go without a glass of wine in our hands during a show, as you watch magicians, singers, extreme rollerskating, banana tricks, performers dangling in balls, slapstick and a few others showing off what their muscles can do.
If you casually visited a swamp at twilight at the full moon, encountered an otherwordly swamp queen who hypnotised you into a state of delirium and tried to coax you into murky waters, she'd probably sing you something like Willow Beats' newest single 'Merewif'. The Sydney duo's latest release features lyrics derived from stories of Hare Krishna folklore which, combined with shore-lapping wave sounds, twisting synth and solid baseline, give the whole thing a disturbed nursery rhyme vibe (in a good way, not a Ring Around the Rosy way). You can get a little closer to this weird futuristic fantasy as the uncle-niece duo set off on a national tour this August. The Aussie dates will be their first live appearances in seven months, long anticipated by the very respectably-sized fanbase the two won with the release of their debut EP Alchemy last year — along with their elemental, naked dancing-inducing sets at Falls and Strawberry Fields. 'Merewif' is the first release from their forthcoming Willow Beats EP (due for release later in the year), which means there's plenty of mystical, lush electronica from this duo to look forward to. For now, catch them at Northcote Social Club on August 16. https://youtube.com/watch?v=PLKF8b_bpSw
One of Melbourne's most highly-regarded cocktail bars is throwing one super shmancy NYE party, so if you want to farewell 2014 in a tasteful (and tasty) manner, The Everleigh may be just the ticket. From 8pm-1am The Everleigh will be entertaining parties of up to six people with celebratory cocktails and canapes. Tickets are $150 and they expect you to 'dress to impress' so don’t shy away from getting gussied up. Chin chin.
If you go down to the NGV this October, you'll get to take a flower home with you. But on two conditions, says Taiwanese-American artist Lee Mingwei: "First, to make a detour from their intended route when leaving the museum for their next destination; second, along this detour, to give the flower to a stranger who they feel would benefit from this unexpected act of generosity." It's part of the artist's new work, The Moving Garden, opening at the National Gallery of Victoria on October 15. Mingwei and NGV have teamed up with Melbourne florist Flowers Vasette, who'll provide 1000 fresh flowers for each day of the exhibition — that's 106 days, totalling 106,000 flowers. One of the world's leading artists in audience participation, Mingwei made headlines this year at the Biennale of Sydney by recreating Picasso's masterpiece Guernica in sand before letting audiences walk all over it. "Lee's artwork inspires contemplation of social themes like trust and self-awareness, by encouraging one-on-one interactions between strangers," says NGV director Tony Ellwood. "The Moving Garden will also challenge the traditional relationship between art and audience, with each flower picked adding the story of the participant to that of the artwork." The Moving Garden is part of Melbourne's major new Asian arts festival, Asia TOPA: Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts, announced just this week. Mingwei will be conducting a free artist talk on Saturday, October 15, with bookings not required.
In the two decades that Gelato Messina has been in dessert business, over 4000 special flavours have made their way through the chain's gelato cabinets around the country. Yes, that's a lot of frosty and creamy scoops. To celebrate some of these oldies but goodies, the chain brings a selection of these flavours back every now and then — and, sometimes, it busts out its entire top 40 greatest hits. That's happening again this winter, so you'd best make room in your freezer. Lucky Sydneysiders, Melburnians and Brisbanites will be able to treat themselves to a treasure trove of limited-edition gelato flavours. While, in the past, the greatest hits specials have been a buy-in-shop-only deal, the chain went with preordered tubs in 2020 — so no one had to worry about long queues and empty cabinets — and it's doing the same thing again this year. Gelato fiends can preorder 473-millilitre tubs of the 40 flavours from Monday, June 27. You'll then need to pick them up from Sydney's Rosebery, Tramsheds, Bondi, Darlinghurst, Norwest and Brighton Le Sands stores; Melbourne's Fitzroy and East Brunswick stores; and Brisbane's South Brisbane store between Friday, July 8–Sunday, July 10. Individual tubs are filled with just one flavour and will set you back $16, or you can get three for $45, six for $85, nine for $125 or — if you have the freezer space — 20 for $260. Wondering which flavours are available? Messina has dropped the full list of faves making a comeback — and it's stacked with deliciousness (just like your freezer will be). Jon Snow (white chocolate gelato with dark chocolate mud cake and almond praline), Fairy Bread (toast and butter gelato with 100s & 1000s) and Robert Brownie Jnr (milk chocolate gelato, chocolate brownie and chocolate fudge sauce) will all return in tub form. So will Hodor (peanut and milk chocolate gelato with caramel brownie and caramel fudge) and You Make Me Unicorny (milk gelato with vanilla poundcake and 100s and 1000s clusters), too. Love Messina's takes on other beloved desserts? Have a Gay Old Time riffs on Golden Gaytimes, the lamington and pavlova flavours recreate the obvious as gelato, and so do the Anzac biscuits and apple pie varieties — and they're all on the list as well. Good luck trying to choose just one, or even a mere few. Gelato Messina's Greatest Hits will be available to preorder on Monday, June 27 with pick up between Friday, July 8–Sunday, July 10 from Sydney's Rosebery, Tramsheds, Bondi, Darlinghurst, Norwest and Brighton Le Sands stores; Melbourne's Fitzroy and East Brunswick stores; and Brisbane's South Brisbane store.
