There's nothing particularly noteworthy about British actors playing Americans, since by now they've pretty much all done it. But it is a little weird when (a) every single one of a film's American characters are played by Brits, and (b) none of them actually need to be American for the story to make sense. In fact, in Bastille Day, the fact that all but one of the Americans also work for the CIA only adds to the mystery, given the film is set entirely in Paris, has nothing to do with America and any other spy agency would have made as much sense, if not more. Still, Americans they all play and – to be fair – they do a fine job playing them. Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) plays Michael Mason, a gifted American pickpocket who steals and then discards a bag from an anarchist bomber's naive girlfriend Zoe (the delightful Charlotte Le Bon), unaware that it contains a powerful explosive. When the bomb goes off killing several French citizens, Mason is presumed to be a terrorist, and – for no particular reason – the CIA decides they want to nab him before the French do. Sent in to retrieve him is the gruff, burly and comically maverick agent Sean Briar (Idris Elba), whose 'to hell with protocol' attitude is so inexplicably extreme it borders on parody. When Briar realises Mason is innocent, the pair teams up to track down the real bombers before they can carry out their final objective: setting Paris ablaze with race riots to provide cover for a daring robbery. Filmed on what appears to be a shoestring budget, director James Watkins (also British) manages to keep the pace snappy and the action altogether interesting, enough to gloss over most of the threadbare plot. The film's rooftop chase sequence would feel comfortably at home in any Bourne movie, while a close-quarters fist-fight inside a minivan provides Bastille Day's most inventive and engaging scene. Everything has a real Luc Besson feel about it, but not always in the good way. Secondary characters are just caricatures, the violence is hyper-stylised and rarely believable, and what little dialogue there is tends towards corny cliches. Bastille Day also contains perhaps the greatest line of instantly-dated dioalogue ever recorded, with one of the villains saying (without a single shred of irony) "the hashtags will tip them over. Release the final hashtag." Much has been made recently of Elba's potential selection as the next Bond, and this film certainly does nothing to harm his action man credentials. Elba is a giant, unstoppable juggernaut whose impressive physicality imposes itself in every scene. When asked early on why he ran from Briar, Mason's reply of "because you were chasing me. Have you seen yourself!?" is as amusing as it is fair. Still, it seems a waste to squander all this acting talent on a film that asks so little of its players and gives so little in return. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5R0bI8EJCQ
Step into one of Australia's most iconic modern horror stories. To mark the launch of their new six-part Wolf Creek miniseries, streaming service Stan is opening a pair of roadhouse pop-up bars in Sydney and Melbourne. Sounds... fun? Maybe our April Fools' joke about that Making a Murderer bar wasn't as ridiculous as it seemed at the time. Opening in Federation Square from May 5-8 and Martin Place from May 11-14, the pop-ups were designed with the aid of the show's set designers, and promise to deliver a "fully immersive" experience. That last part may read as a little unsettling to anyone who has seen the original movie — or, y'know, knows anything about the actual murders that inspired it. But we guess you have to give them credit for really committing to the theme. The bars will serve limited edition beers by Two Birds Brewing, Mick's Bitter and Eve-ning Ale, along with non-alcoholic drinks and an outback-inspired menu. Those who attend on opening night will also get the chance to meet with the stars of the show, including John Jarratt, aka Mick Taylor — if you're game. Visit the Wolf Creek Roadhouse Bar in Federation Square, Melbourne from May 5-8 and Martin Place, Sydney from May 11-14. All six episodes of Wolf Creek will premiere on Stan on May 12.
A standout on the program at this year's Next Wave Festival, Under My Skin is the latest work from The Delta Project, a Melbourne-based dance company comprised of both deaf and hearing dancers. Choreographed by Jo Dunbar and Lina Limosani, the show will combine movement, new media and sound as dancers Anna Seymour, Elvin Lam, Amanda Lever and Luigi Vescio explore what it means to listen and be heard. With just six performances set for the first weekend of the festival, tickets are already going fast.
Tasmanian composer Dylan Sheridan returns to this year's Next Wave Festival with his latest otherworldly concerto. Using a mix of cello, violin, saxophone and electronics, this immersive musical work takes listeners 1500 light years through space to the edge of the Horsehead Nebula. Described in the festival program as "a sonic exploration of galactic patterns", The Horse takes over Arts House for eight shows starting Thursday, May 12 and is one of the must-see (and hear) events at Next Wave this year.
They say you should never ask how the sausage is made, but the folks at Meatsmith and Clare Valley Brewing are doing exactly that for Good Beer Week. Over complimentary beers and canapés aplenty, Meatsmith co-owner Troy Wheeler will provide ticketholders with an in-depth ale sausage making demonstration, along with instructions on how to replicate the process at home. And you won't leave empty-handed either — each participant will receive a sausage kit containing pork, sausage skins, butcher ties and a mincer, along with a six-pack of craft beer. Just remember, the booze is part of the recipe, so don't go drinking it all before you get started.
Enjoy the finer things in life at this sophisticated Good Beer Week event beneath the stained glass windows of Richmond's St Stephen's Church. Ticketholders will get the chance to sample six exclusive beers from Belgium's Rodenbach Brewery, each of which has been carefully paired with a selection of cheeses by Yarra Valley Dairy's head cheesemaker Jack Holman. And, just in case you had any doubts about just how fancy this thing will get, the night will also include a performance by some of the best opera singers in the country. It's a far cry from frothies at the footy, that's for sure.
Eating, drinking and being merry is what heading to the Yarra Valley is all about; however, come April 2017, nosh and booze-loving visitors will have even more reason to be happy. That's when the region is holding their first wine and food festival showcasing everything it has to offer. It really is about time. The Yarra Valley Wine & Food Festival will take over Rochford Winery on April 1 and 2, 2017, marking the first time that the area's big and small wineries have come together to showcase their tipples. Names such as DeBortoli Wines, Hanrahan Vineyard, Balgownie Estate, Oakridge Wines, Squitchy Lane and Sutherland Estate will feature among more than 50 producers of plonk. And if you're keen on specific varietals rather than individual winemakers, you'll be able to explore your favourite kinds of drop at the event's dedicated laneways. Fancy a wander down Pinot Noir Lane or Sparkling Lane, anyone? Beer and cider lovers will also be catered for with their own laneways, too, as will many a hungry stomach. In total, over 100 food and drink artisans are slated to take part — including some of the best food trucks from both Melbourne and the Yarra Valley region. The two-day event will also boast a masterclass program that'll teach aficionados the tricks of the trade and let eager drinkers taste rare drops that can no longer be purchased, a wine barrel art competition showcasing the talents of local creatives, live music and entertainment, and segway rides. Plus, every attendee will receive a free commemorative wine glass with their ticket, in case you need any help remembering the occasion.
It's time to party like it's 1999. The iconic children's breakfast show, that once brought you Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, SpongeBob SquarePants and Digimon while you ate your Coco Pops is back and all grown up. For one night only hosts Jade and Ryan from Cheez TV will be serving up nostalgia in the form of "letters from the mailbag", retro console gaming and '90s party tunes. Costumes are highly encouraged and there are door prizes for the best-dressed and best letter to the mailbag. Who knows — maybe you'll find your own Nurse Joy or Sailor Moon, a Hermione Granger to your Ron Weasley or at least someone to battle you on Mario Kart 64. Cheez TV at Beta Bar will also be one of the few places (only place?) you'll have a chance of making out with Princess Peach at midnight.
Prepare to drool all over yourself Homer Simpson-style, because the Yaks Ale Melbourne Barbecue Festival is back. Now in its third year, this weekend-long celebration of all things smoked and slow-cooked will bring together some of the biggest names in local barbecue, along with celebrity pitmasters from Memphis to LA. Held on February 4 and 5 at Flemington Racecourse, the festival will feature live music acts, cooking demos and a four-way "butcher battle" between Troy Wheeler of Meatsmith, Gary McBean of Gary's Quality Meats, Tom Bouchier of Peter Bouchier Butchers, and Glenn Dumbrell of Char Char Char. But let's not beat around the bush here: you want to know about the food. Chances are, you won't be disappointed. Bluebonnet, Burn City Smokers, Fancy Hank's, Southside Smokers and Henrietta's Chicken Shop are but a few of the meat masters who'll be in attendance. Our advice? Start fasting now. Image: Southside Smokers.
The Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival is back for another year, showcasing an eclectic mix of big screen gems just in time for Chinese New Year. Held in Melbourne from February 8–10, this year's festival features a number of intriguing titles across a wide array of genres. Based on a novel by award-winning Chinese-American author Ha Jin, The Song of Cotton tells the story of a female caretaker hired to take care of a former boxer suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The film won big at the recent Shanghai International Film Festival, winning Best Film, Best Actress and Best New Director. Also scoring plaudits on the festival circuit was Dog, an experimental film that screened at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and follows a stray dog as it journeys across the streets of Guangzhou. Other standout titles include dark crime comedy Roberry, and bittersweet queer rom-com Front Cover. For the full Golden Koala program, go here.
The people who've brought you nearly 400 concerts over the past 15 years with A Day on the Green have launched a new venture — a weekend of concerts in Melbourne's picturesque Royal Botanic Gardens. A Weekend in the Gardens will run over the March 2017 Labour Day long weekend, with three days of all-Aussie music acts for punters of both the old and new. On Friday, March 10, you'll be able to relive the best bits about living in Australia in the '80s: John Farnham and Daryl Braithwaite. Yes, both of them, together, on the same bill. They'll be joined by Ross Wilson of Daddy Cool and legendary tune 'Eagle Rock'. And you'll be able to celebrate 40 years of Icehouse on Sunday, March 12. The hugely influential band will be joined by James Reyne and Clare Bowditch. Get your mum a chair, will you? If you're looking for something more contemporary, head to the gardens on Saturday, March 11 for Boy & Bear and San Cisco. Boy & Bear are just finishing up a second Australian tour for their 2015 album Limit of Love, while San Cisco just dropped the single 'SloMo' from their third album, which is set to be released in its entirety early next year. They're both joined by Amy Shark, an up-and-coming Gold Coast artist who recently featured on triple j Unearthed. While the other two nights are BYO deck chairs and picnic rugs, it seems like the organisers don't expect the audience to be sitting down for this one. A Weekend in the Gardens looks set to emphasise garden picnic vibes with the music as well. They'll be setting up The Eatery, an adjacent area featuring food from Melbourne Italian Ladro, smoked food experts Burn City Smokers, Brighton burger experts The Royale Brothers and a sweet setup from Pommery Champagne & Oyster Bar. And if you're willing to add more than $100 to your ticket, you can also snack on three hours of Vietnamese canapés and a cocktail from restaurant Jardin Tan in an exclusive VIP area.
Trolls brings its tiny, brightly coiffed creatures to the screen with plenty of baggage. You might have played with the toys that the film is based on. You probably don't have particularly fond memories of many other toy-based franchises – think Transformers, G.I. Joe and Battleship. At the very least, you've almost certainly had Justin Timberlake's inescapable 'Can't Stop the Feeling', which features in the flick, stuck in your head for months. Here's the good news: as directed by SpongeBob SquarePants veterans Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn, Trolls is far from the eye-roll-worthy effort it might seem like on paper. On a scale ranging from The Smurfs to The LEGO Movie, it falls firmly in the middle — even if it does little more than swap blue critters for their brightly coloured counterparts, with elements of Cinderella thrown in as well. Here, trolls are "the happiest creatures the world has ever known," and don't they like to sing, dance and hug about it. The scrapbook-loving, party-throwing Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick) often leads the charge, and she has plenty to celebrate. Twenty years earlier, the pocket-sized folk were frequently scooped up and eaten by huge, hungry beings called Bergens, but quick thinking on the part of King Peppy (Jeffrey Tambor) saw them escape and live joyously ever after. But their idyllic existance is suddenly shattered when an evil chef (Christine Baranski) stumbles upon their habitat. Soon, a handful of trolls are destined for the plate of Bergen Prince Gristle (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), leaving Poppy with the task of saving them, and cranky survivalist Branch (Timberlake) begrudgingly lending his assistance. There's a reason that the Bergens are so keen on catching and munching on the rainbow-hued critters: when they do, they experience a burst of ecstatic contentment that's probably on par with humans eating Nutella-slathered doughnuts. That sensation, of course, ties into the lesson at the heart of the film. As Trolls works towards the song we all know is coming — and throws up various other pop covers along the way — it serves up a heavy-handed moral about finding happiness from internal sources rather than external ones. Still, somehow the movie manages to find a balance between loud, shiny and sickly sweet, and entertaining enough. Kendrick's enthusiastic voice work helps, as do the handmade-looking visuals, which make the film's CGI appear as though it's fashioned out of felt and other crafting products. On the joke front, just as many light-hearted gags and pop culture references land as languish, which is a better strike rate than many other family films. A word of warning though: it might be dressed up in fuzzy packaging in more ways than one, but Trolls also remains the kind of flick that features glitter fart clouds and cupcakes poop. Consider yourself warned.
Veg out this weekend with the best cruelty free food in town at the first annual Brew & Food Fest presented by Melbourne Vegan Eats. Taking place on Michael Street in Brunswick (of course), this meatless street meet will feature food from some of the city's favourite vegan eateries because, contrary to conventional wisdom, you can make friends with salad. Kicking off at 11am on Saturday, November 5, the festival lineup includes grub from the likes of vegan bakery Baking Bad, Middle Eastern restaurant Tahina, iconic vegan pub The Cornish Arms, and quintessential vegan fast food joint Lord of the Fries. As for liquid refreshment, you can wash down your food with tasty bevs from Young Henrys, KAIJU, Golden Axe Cider and more. Image: The Cornish Arms.
How about an evening of weird and wonderful liquid treats, to balance out all that eating and chewing you'll be doing during Good Food Month? Smith Street's Noble Experiment will be living up to its name and channelling a science lab for this one-off event, with bartenders delivering a lineup of creepy cocktails and creative canapés, the likes of which are sure to blow a few minds. Indulge your inner science nerd, or simply add a bit of mystery and excitement to your usual Thursday night cocktail session. The $75 per ticket includes three cocktails and seven snacks.
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.
Did you wear out many VHS tapes re-watching your favourite movies as a kid? Don't worry, you're not alone. There's a type of fanatical viewing that comes with childhood, as we immerse ourselves again and again in the stories that we love most. For Owen Suskind, however, this rite-of-passage ran even deeper. Diagnosed with autism at the age of three, Owen threw himself into Disney flicks. For him, they weren't just entertainment. They were a way of learning how to process the world. That's the real world narrative that Life, Animated explores — and the heart-warming details are worthy of an animated musical. When the documentary begins, Owen is 23 and getting ready to leave home, an achievement that family members credit to his singular obsession. As he grew up, titles such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Peter Pan helped him understand those around him, giving him the tools he needed to forge a life of his own. Taking his cues from the best-selling book by Owen's father Ron, Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams (short documentary Music by Prudence) recounts this moving story, combining home video with new footage in order to chronicle both Owen's childhood and his big move into his own assisted-living apartment. As the film unfolds, Ron and his wife Cornelia step through their two-decade journey, while Owen offers his own thoughts on his favourite films and the role they played in his coming-of-age. Unfortunately, while there's plenty of emotion to be felt here, Williams doesn't trust the audience to feel it on their own. His filmmaking tactics are as heavy-handed as they are steeped in easy emotion, and as repetitive as Owen's own viewing habits. Not only that, but by including countless moments from the movies that Owen loves, Williams trades far too heavily on viewer nostalgia, rather than actually focusing on the true tale he's meant to be telling. As a result, Life, Animated also struggles with tone, wavering between compassionate and self-congratulatory. Interestingly, the documentary's most effective sections aren't the interviews or Disney clips, but animated recreations of the Suskinds' lives provided by artist Mac Guff. These moments convey the underlying sentiment with much more subtlety than you'll find elsewhere. A cautious comment by Owen's older brother Walter, worried about someday having to take responsibility for his sibling's care, also stands out. As magical as Mickey Mouse's output may be, reality still leaves a stronger impression.
Did you hear that? We think someone just said free dumplings and beer. Prepare to get all a-quiver because someone actually, absolutely did just say free dumplings and beer. In honour of the foodstuff that fuels drunken nights out across the country, 206 Bourke Street is hosting the first Melbourne Dumpling Festival, complete with a huge (free!) sit-down dumpling tasting event. Dump dump wizards Tim Ho Wan, China Red, China Chilli and Dragon Boat are working with Brooklyn Brewery to bring you a night of dumpling indulgence. From 5-10pm on Friday, October 21, groups of 30 will be seated for 30 minutes to enjoy a gratis dumpling and beer pairing, including three serves of dumplings and three beer samples. Seems weird that it's totally free, but we won't question it. It goes without saying though that you can only sign up to one booking. Tim Ho Wan will also be premiering their lava bomb dumpling, free to the first 200 people who rock up to the pop-up. The lava bomb, just FYI, is exactly what it sounds like - an explosive dumpling, filled with sweet gooey custard. Aside from the dumpling pairing, the one-night festival will also hold a host of dumpling-making demos, calligraphy workshops and live music. You'll also be able to get dumps to eat in or take away. The event is being held at 206 Bourke Street, which is the retail precinct Tim Ho Wan is located in and connects Bourke Street with Chinatown.
Six Catholic schoolgirls travel to Edinburgh for a choral competition. What could possibly go wrong? In Melbourne for the very first time, the National Theatre of Scotland presents Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, a raucous production about "singing, sex and Sambuca". Adapted from Alan Warner's novel The Sopranos, with music by everyone from ELO to Bach, the show was a smash with critics and audiences in the UK, and is one of the obvious highlights in the theatre section of this year's Melbourne Festival program.
This year's Melbourne Festival will start with a bang, thanks to Basque street theatre company Deabru Beltzak. For two decades, the company has performed the traditional Correfoc (or, fire run) in cities around the world. Now, for three nights only, they're bringing their pyrotechnic display to Federation Square. Pounding drums, elaborate costumes and breathtaking fireworks combine in this after-dark parade, beginning at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets before snaking its way through the city. Don't stand too close though — you don't want to get burnt. Image: Raphael Helle.
An intricate, criss-crossing lattice of shimmering red lines, The Home Within stands out as one of the most striking installations at this year's Melbourne Festival. Created by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota, who is visiting Australia for the very first time, the towering structure is described in the program as combining "the weight of architecture and the ephemerality of organic life". You can find it at various locations around town between October 6-23 — first at Deakin Edge in Federation Square, then at Meat Market in North Melbourne, before finishing up at Melbourne Town Hall. Image: Yurrtas Tumer.
Female musicians, artists and activists will make themselves heard, at the 2016 Listen Conference at Bella Union. Running from October 14-16, this year's gathering of likeminded ladies has been subtitled Feminist Futures, with an eye to furthering feminist perspectives in the music industry moving forward. Keynote speakers at the three-day conference include trans musician Alok Vaid-Menon of the performance art duo DARKMATTER, Kiwi writer and emcee Coco Solid, and local feminist legend Clementine Ford. Joining them on the bill are dozens of other speakers, who'll run workshops and take part in panels on everything from sexism in the music industry to grant writing. In addition to all the talking, each night will showcase a mix of live music and performance, featuring the likes of Ouch My Faces, Hi-Tec Emotions, Brooke Powers and many more.
Melbourne-based Harry Potter fans have clearly been muttering "accio films!" en masse. How else do you explain IMAX Melbourne's next special event? It's the very definition of movie magic. Not one, or a few, but all eight Harry Potter flicks are returning to the massive 32 metre wide, 23 metre high big screen for 11 days of Pottermania. And it's a choose-your-own-viewing-experience kind of deal, too. Maybe you're as eager as Hermione to cram all the movies into four double features over two weekends — or perhaps taking it a bit easier and seeing one per weeknight, HP and Ron Weasley-style, is more your thing. Either way, it's Pottertime — as well as the perfect lead up to the next cinematic excursion into JK Rowling's wizarding world, aka the forthcoming big screen adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The eight flicks will screen in IMAX 2D, so the only glasses you need are your own HP-like specs. Tickets are now on sale, and cost $20 per weeknight film, $30 per weekend double, or $100 for the entire lot.
Want to see a burlesque show that tells it like it is? Or circus cabaret that contemplates race relations in contemporary Australia? How about singing and striptease while smashing stereotypes? Or a performance that packs a punch of hip hop politics? All that makes up Hot Brown Honey, as well as dance, poetry, drama and a reflection of everyday problems. Fresh from acclaimed seasons in Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festival as well Sydney and Brisbane, these bold performers aren't just trying to entertain. They're also working through issues of colour and culture — and courting controversy — in a show that's certain to get people talking. The story jumps from the simmering shores of Polynesia to the bogan streets of Australia, peering through the eyes of an Indigenous drag queen and stepping through the life of a single mother who just happens to be a DJ. Hailing from Polytoxic Dance Theatre, Circus OZ and Briefs, the Luscious Lisa Fa'alafi, the Curvaceous Candy B and the Bodacious Busty Beatz package their tale and topics in spicy humour and simmering honesty. Some like it hot, indeed.
More than 30 female acrobats, aerialists, actors, musicians and singers will take the stage in the Women's Circus' production of The Penelopiad. Adapted from the novella of the same name by Margaret Atwood, the show will reimagine Homer's Odyssey from the perspective of Penelope. In doing so, it will shine a spotlight on the prevalence of violence against women in our culture, while giving a voice to those people who are so often rendered silent. Running from November 22 to 27, the performance will also commemorate the 25 year anniversary of the Women's Circus, celebrating a quarter century of empowering, socially engaging productions for and by women across Melbourne. A standard ticket will cost you $30, except on opening night. At $120, those are a little pricier. However, they do include dinner and drinks courtesy of Afrofeast Food Truck and Two Birds Brewing, plus pre-show entertainment from the women of Chaos Magnet and a post-show Q&A with the cast and crew.
"Would you rather wear a hat made of spiders, or have penises for fingers?" It's not just an intriguing question. It's also one of the most memorable lines in modern Australian literature, as anyone who has read Jasper Jones will no doubt agree. Now, thanks to the film adaptation of the best-selling Aussie novel, it's one of the most interesting pieces of dialogue uttered on screen too. That said, pondering such an obviously important topic isn't the only highlight of the beloved book or its new big screen version. For the record though, author Craig Silvey — who wrote the shooting script for movie as well — would choose the first option. Contemplating arachnophobia versus added appendages is one of the lighter moments in a film that starts with a dead teenager, follows the efforts of an outsider to clear his name, and dives into the murky waters of discrimination in a small rural town. At the same time, the seemingly silly question provides an excellent example of exactly the kind of movie that Jasper Jones is. When you're 14 years old, life is filled with mysteries and surprises, both humorous and scary. One moment you're having a laugh with your friend. In the next, you're coming to terms with tragedy, prejudices and the fraught nature of race relations in Australia. After the eponymous Jasper Jones (Aaron McGrath) comes knocking on his bedroom window one summer evening, Charlie Bucktin (Levi Miller) experiences both. By day, he pals around with his best friend (Kevin Long) talking about superheroes and exaggerated dilemmas. By night, he helps Jasper cope with the suspicious death of his girlfriend, for which Jasper fears he will be blamed. That Charlie has a crush on the dearly departed girl's sister (Angourie Rice) complicates matters. That the mixed-race Jasper is viewed with suspicion by most folks in the fictional Western Australian town of Corrigan does too. Australian filmmakers have been keen on coming-of-age tales lately, with Paper Planes and Red Dog: True Blue (which also starred Miller) both gracing cinema screens over the past few years. Still, there's always room for a smart, thoughtful and engaging take on a well-worn premise, and Bran Nue Day director Rachel Perkins delivers just that. The book has earned comparisons to To Kill A Mockingbird, while Perkins has cited Stand By Me as an influence — and blending the two together perfectly sums up Jasper Jones' charms. Of course, a great text and a fine director are only part of the equation. Jasper Jones wins big on both fronts, but it also benefits from a stellar cast. There's a reason that Miller keeps getting work, and if the gifted Rice seems familiar, that's because she stole the show opposite Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in last year's The Nice Guys. The pair, along with the soulful McGrath and the amusing Long, offer an impressive snapshot into the future of Australian acting talent, which is no easy feat given some of the veterans they're playing against. Toni Collette pops up as Charlie's unhappy mum, and it just wouldn't be a local film without Hugo Weaving doing wearied and grizzled like only he can.
Crack open a beer and catch a movie under the stars at Geelong's new openair theatre. Popping up at the Little Creatures Brewery over summer (where they also brew Furphy), the Furphy Outdoor Cinema will screen a selection of iconic Australian comedies while serving up top-notch grub and ice cold bevs. Fancy a trip down the Princes Highway? Lighting up the night on alternate Wednesday evenings, the season begins on January 25 with Crackerjack. That'll be followed by The Dish on February 8 and Kenny on February 22, before the season comes to a close on March 8 with Rob Sitch's comic masterpiece The Castle. Doors at the Furphy Outdoor Cinema open at 7.30pm for an approximately 8.30pm start. Entry is via the brewery canteen, which will be serving up food (and pints of Furphy) throughout the film.
Art meets environmentalism as part of a brand new initiative between La Trobe University and the National Gallery of Victoria. The latest interactive addition to the NGV Friday Nights program, Living Landscapes will let visitors create their own virtual tree on an iPad, and then 'plant' it in a digital scale replica of La Trobe's 30-hectare wildlife sanctuary in Bundoora. For every virtual tree, the university will plant a real one. "Participants are not only creating their own unique piece of digital art, they are also making a lasting contribution to a sustainable future," said Sanctuary Senior Coordinator Andrew Stocker of the project, which was inspired by the NGV's current David Hockney exhibition. "Living Landscapes embodies David Hockney's unique style by blending technology with old-style painting of beautiful flora and fauna."
Usually a retrospective signifies the tail-end of an artist's career. Generally, it's commissioned by a prominent gallery, and carefully curated to highlight their successes and triumphs and most iconic works. But not if you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E. If you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E, you know you don't have to play by the rules and conventions of art and fashion — and if you want to hold your own retrospective, you bloody well do it. That's the idea behind their new show, anyway. The Melbourne-based cult pop punk fashion brand (who's pieces have been worn by everyone from Beyoncé to Kylie Jenner to Madonna) have just announced their It's-too-soon-for-a-retrospective Retrospective Exhibition, which, like their self-described 'anti-fashion', basically subverts the very idea of the retrospective. For one, designers Nadia Napreychikov and Cami James only established the brand six years ago. They're also organising the exhibition themselves, rather than being invited to do so. "In general, as a brand, we purposely go against the grain of what is done in the arena we work in," says Napreychikov. We do this to challenge the system. To prove there are other ways of working. To show our supporters and other young people in our field that it is possible to pave your own path without having all of the resources. To create your own resources." They also won't be presenting a heavily curated selection of their works — they'll be displaying everything. And when we say everything, we mean everything. The exhibition — which will take place in their Collingwood studio gallery space — will include an excess of over 65 mannequins and 500 garments from the pair's personal archives and private collections, their showrooms, as well as garments borrowed back from the famous people who've worn them. This includes the epic Birthday Suit as worn by Katy Perry, the Pray t-shirt Miley Cyrus wore in her Terry Richardson photoshoot (before she ripped them off), and their signature studded biker jackets as worn by both Madonna and Beyoncé. The retrospective is reflective of how DI$COUNT UNIVER$E have used the Internet to gain rapid international success, despite having leapfrogged certain channels traditionally traversed by up-and-coming Aussie designers, such as presenting at Australian Fashion Week and being picked up by one of the big two department stores. The exhibition will run from November 29 until December 9 at their studio space in Collingwood. Open Monday to Saturday from noon until 6pm, entry will be ten bucks, and DI$COUNT will have some limited edition pieces on sale, including badges, patches, t-shirts, wallets, magnets, socks, sequin dresses and caps ranging from a couple of dollars to $400. Image: Daniel Good John.
Throw on a sweatband and work out your thumbs, at a vintage video game tournament hosted at ACMI. Emceed by comedians Andy Matthews and Al Tremblay Birchall, and timed to coincide with the leadup to the Rio Olympics, the Retrolympiad will feature an array of 8-bit sporting and Olympic-themed console and arcade games, from Olympic Gold to Konami's Track and Field. The games begin at 8pm on Saturday July 23. In addition to all the button-pushing action, ticketholders will be able to enjoy a bite and grab something to drink, before hitting the dance floor to a DJ set by none other than Midnight Juggernauts loaded with 80s-inspired beats. The gamers who put up the best showing will be awarded at the end of the night as part of a special medal ceremony. Let's face it: that's about as close to Olympic glory as most of us will ever get.
If video game cutscenes ever made the leap to cinema, Warcraft: The Beginning would be the end result. Fashioning a film from the interactive fantasy franchise, the long-awaited movie version functions in much the same way: advancing a narrative, fleshing out characters, and delving into material that can't always be gleaned during gameplay. That's the good news. The bad news is that it also looks and feels the part. That's not an indictment of the movie's impressive special effects, but a reflection of the unfulfilling way the feature seems like it was pieced together from standard in-game sequences rather than specifically made for the cinema. Directed by Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code), and co-written by the filmmaker with Charles Leavitt (In the Heart of the Sea), Warcraft: The Beginning takes viewers to the realms of Draenor and Azeroth. The former, the home of the orcs, is dying, with warlock Gul'dan (Daniel Wu) using a magical force called the fel to transport his people to the latter. Durotan (Toby Kebbell), the leader of one of the orc clans, is wary of this plan, but also has his pregnant mate Draka (Anna Galvin) to worry about. Upon their arrival, they're hardly greeted with a warm welcome by Azeroth's suspicious human inhabitants — including King Llane Wrynn (Dominic Cooper), knight Anduin Lothar (Travis Fimmel), mystic Medivh (Ben Foster) and aspiring magi Khadgar (Ben Schnetzer) — although the orcs' penchant for warmongering doesn't help things either. A clash between orc and mans ensues, and at this point, audiences could be forgiven for wishing that the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films didn't exist, or that their enormous popularity hadn't cemented the template for the action-fantasy genre. Charged with the difficult task of bringing a multi-player game to the big screen, Warcraft: The Beginning takes far too many cues from Middle Earth. The film might gather its details from the game series that dates back to 1994 in various forms, but in turning them into a feature, it's content to dwell in generic territory. Simply put, you've seen this stuff before. A derivative game-to-film adaptation isn't the same as a bad one, though it does struggle to maintain interest. The need to set up potential sequels is made clear in the movie's title; however as the battles stop seeming distinctive, and the characters chart familiar paths, it makes much of the feature feel like filler. Jones knows how to handle action and exposition, and convey a strong sense of grandeur as well, but remains trapped by his world-building mission and the need to stick to the formula. Try as they might in both live-action and motion-captured performances, the cast are placed in a similar predicament, particularly Paula Patton as half-orc, half-human outcast Garona, who is literally caught in the middle. When the best a movie based on a computer game can offer is CGI wizardry, something has obviously gone awry. Once fans have had their fill of clocking knowing references, even they'll likely wish they were just playing the game instead. And for everyone else — don't expected to be recruited to the horde just yet.
Think fairytales are just for children? Think again. Most romance movies mightn't actually focus on a handsome prince or a downtrodden young woman with an evil stepmother, but they still take adult viewers into the realm of pure fantasy. In fact, in charting the blossoming bond between a rich former adrenaline junkie and a small town gal, Me Before You sticks closer to the storybook formula than most. Pumpkins don't turn into carriages here, but if they did, it wouldn't feel out of place. Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke) is spirited away, metaphorically speaking, when she starts working as a carer for the wealthy Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), who was injured in a traffic accident two years prior and isn't coping with his quadriplegic state. A clash of classes and temperaments ensues, with the solemn Will happy to hide out in his parent's castle, and the cheerful Louisa sticking around purely to help support her family. It's only when he starts to open up, and she discovers just how miserable he is, that the pair start to form a connection. Whether you've already read Jojo Moyes' best-selling novel, or are coming into the story with no prior knowledge, where the film adaptation is headed is obvious from the get go. As scripted by the author herself and directed by first-time filmmaker Thea Sharrock, the big-screen version is as predictable as it sounds — with one complications. Here, it's not just Will's physical condition that adds difficulties, but his desire to end his own life. Unfortunately, combining fairy tale wish fulfilment with such a serious subject proves more than a little unsettling, and isn't helped by the movie's determination to approach everything in as simplistic a manner as possible. With the visuals given a soft, warm glow and the soundtrack littered with Ed Sheeran and Imagine Dragons, Me Before You takes the safe, easy option whenever it can. Touching upon a weighty issue might be designed to add a dose of reality to the otherwise fanciful narrative, but in practice it never feels like anything more than an excuse to ramp up the melodrama. That leaves the likeable Clarke and the less convincing Clafin with a tricky task, and one that they can't quite achieve. Though they boast enough chemistry as a couple, and the bubbly Clarke remains a delight to watch, their characters are about as believable as Cinderella and Prince Charming. In support, it's actually Janet McTeer and Charles Dance as Will's parents that fare best, and bring some much-needed nuance to the drama. Thanks to the latter's involvement, the highlight of the film is seeing Clarke share a few scenes with her former Game of Thrones co-star — which says a lot about the sub par tear-jerker in which they find themselves.
So, you've binged on The Jinx and Making a Murderer, and now you need another outlet for your factual film and television fix. Announced back in February, the brand new Australian offshoot of Hot Docs promises to take care of your need to consume compelling real-life stories. Packing quite the punch in their first year, Hot Docs at Palace Cinemas will bring 24 films from 15 countries to Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como and Palace Westgarth in June and July. If exploring the story of James Foley, the journalist murdered by ISIS in 2014, piques your interest, or if finding out how the humble VHS helped defeat Romanian communism takes your fancy, then the likes of Jim: The James Foley Story and Chuck Norris Versus Communism well and truly have you covered. Elsewhere on the lineup, League of Exotic Dancers pays tribute to burlesque, What Tomorrow Brings explores the fight to educate young girls in Afghanistan, and Raving Iran looks at a couple of DJs working the country's underground techno music scene. Plus, two Aussie-made films will receive their world premieres: Charlie Hill Smith's Motorkite Dreaming, which focuses on a microlight aircraft adventure, and Helen Kapalos' A Life Of Its Own, which delves into the topic of medical marijuana. If that doesn't get you excited, perhaps a bit of background info about the original Hot Docs will. Also known as the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, it isn't just a small-scale event. Screening more than 200 films, it's actually North America's largest doco-focused showcase, and has been running for 23 years. Until now, it had limited its factual film smorgasbord to the nation in its name; however, with this Australian leg, that's no longer be the case. Hosted by Palace Cinemas and curated by Aussie artistic director Richard Moore, the local run really is everything documentary fans have dreamed of (as long as they dream about spending a week or so holed up in a cinema, that is).
Karlis Zaid, Mark Jones and Aurora Kurth star in the latest version of their dark satirical musical about the war on terror in our own backyard. Described by one of its creators as a "macabrial" (macabre musical), Australian Horror Story sounds seriously twisted. Where else are you going to hear a song about a lonely flasher, or hear lyrics that instruct you to "cup the balls of consternation"? There are plenty of family friendly shows at the Melbourne Cabaret Festival this year, but this definitely isn't one of them.
Playwright Kate Mulvany has adapted Craig Silvey's 2009 Indie Book of the Year, Jasper Jones, for the stage — and scored a 2015 Nick Enright Prize nomination in the process. It's Western Australia in the 1960s. Charlie Bucktin is a clever 14-year-old whose ambition is writing The Great Australian Novel. But he's faced with a moral dilemma when Jasper Jones, an Indigenous boy who serves as the town's scapegoat, turns up at the window asking for help. Jasper has unwittingly come across a crime scene. But he's too scared to tell anyone, because he knows he'll cop the blame, without question or fair trial. So he asks Charlie for help in solving the mystery. In the suspenseful story that develops, Jasper Jones explores race relations, the Vietnam War and small-town Australian culture, alongside teenage friendships, word play and the complexities of growing up. Mulvany deftly adapts Silvey's words for the stage, keeping the right balance of tension and humour. Coming from a successful season at Belvoir, the Melbourne Theatre Company's production is directed by Sam Strong, with Guy Simon playing Jasper Jones and Nicholas Denton in the role of Charles Bucktin.
Are you serious about your rum? Or just know you love the stuff? Either way, there's a rummy adventure happening in Melbourne throughout August and you can get involved. Fine purveyors and makers of rum for over 265 years, Appleton Estate will bring back The Appleton Trail, a month-long celebration of Jamaica's long-loved spirit. Throughout August Melburnians can pull up a pew at rum-lovin' bar The Penny Black in Brunswick and taste the gems of the Appleton range and get into the summery Jamaican spirit. The venue will be serving up special Appleton cocktails every night in August with live music on Friday, August 5 and Sunday, August 12 as well as some super tasty jerk chicken from their pop-up bar — which is a total no brainer. Yep, it's time to switch to rum for winter — it's one of the best ways to keep warm, after all.
Set in 1980, Everbody Wants Some!! follows a university baseball team as they prepare to commence the next semester, and feels in a lot of ways like the movie Richard Linklater was destined to make. As the film ambles through the antics of teens and twenty-somethings embarking upon the next chapter of their lives (read: drinking and chasing girls), it shouldn't come as a surprise that it's a spiritual sequel to the writer-director's 1993 effort Dazed and Confused. In painting a portrait of young men becoming adults in the most routine of ways, it also acts as a very apt follow-up to the filmmaker's last effort, Boyhood. Rather than charting the final day of high school, or capturing the process of growing up over the course of 12 years, Linklater's latest chronicles the weekend before the start of college classes. When Jake (Blake Jenner) parks his car outside of the team lodgings he's about to call home, he's clearly excited, and just as obviously trying to make sure he appears cool, calm and collected. That careful attitude colours his interactions with his new housemates, whether they're welcoming him with open arms or pronouncing their strong dislike of pitchers. By day, they mostly sit or drive around. By night, they try their luck with the opposite sex at bars and parties. Cue a film with plenty of talk and testosterone, not as much action as any of the characters would like, but plenty of the kind of carefree moments that everyone has experienced at some point in their lives. As Jake's fellow baseballers flit through the narrative, some make a bigger impression than others – including ladies man McReynolds (Tyler Hoechlin), bearded stoner Willoughby (Wyatt Russell), and confident veteran Finnegan (Glen Powell). However, as they sling insults at each other, trade in exaggerated stories and natter on about whatever comes into their heads, they all play their part in this freewheeling slice of life. Accordingly, Everybody Wants Some!! is the ultimate hangout flick, about a bunch of guys just shooting the shit when they're not expected to do anything else. There's no missing the nostalgia driving Linklater's warmly amusing movie, with his images tinted with the glow of happy memories, his camera placed to make the viewer think they're part of the gang, and his soundtrack overflowing with '80s hits like 'My Sharona' and 'Rapper's Delight'. That said, there's also no mistaking the way that the filmmaker simply presents rather than probes, such as when it comes to Jake's romance with fellow freshman Beverly (Zoey Deutch). He's not making a statement — he's just happy to linger in the group's company. Don't confuse the film's laidback vibe with a lack of smarts or precision though. As Linklater proved with his charming romantic trio Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight, it takes careful planning and pitch-perfect performances to make something look and feel so easy and effortless. Like their director, the ensemble cast rarely hit a bad note, with Jenner and Russell certain stars in the making. The film's title might stem from a Van Halen song, but as this group whiles away several days, Everybody Wants Some!! earns its exclamation marks.
"If you're going to tell a story, come with some attitude, man," says Miles Davis (Don Cheadle) during a recorded interview with journalist Dave Brill (Ewan McGregor). It's a statement that provides a clear picture of the way Davis looks at the world, as well as the distinctive perspective that floats through his music. Uttered at the beginning of biopic Miles Ahead, it's also a statement of Cheadle's intentions for the film. The actor doesn't just star as the jazz legend, but also directs, co-writes, produces and provides additional compositions too. In doing so, he attempts to make a feature that captures the spirit, rather than the exact details, of Davis' remarkable story. His is a movie of mood and essence, made-up of events that spring from Davis' energy, rather than a traditional fact-driven biography. It's a character study of a real-life figure that tries to convey just what made him tick by intertwining glimpses of two career-defining periods. In fact, another line of dialogue sums up the tale the movie doesn't tell. "I was born. Moved to New York. Met some cats, made some music, did some dope, made some more music. And then you came to my door," Davis quips to Brill when they first meet at the end of the 1970s. Brill shows up claiming to be chasing a big comeback story for Rolling Stone magazine, with Davis' five-year hiatus not just disappointing his fans, but angering his record label. Stubborn and boasting plenty of swagger, Davis has his reasons: drug addiction, a desire to keep a tape of his latest playing session away from a particular producer (Michael Stuhlbarg), and the heartbreak of a failed marriage to his first wife, dancer Frances Taylor (Emayatzy Corinealdi). Cue a portrait of Davis' tumultuous escapades with Brill, in an odd-couple pairing laced with chases, arguments, parties and shootouts, plus flashbacks to both happier and darker times. In combining the two, Cheadle fashions his film in the same manner as Davis' tunes, complete with poetic interludes and tangents, instances of symmetry and mirroring, and a freewheeling pace and style. And yet, as determined as he is to ensure Miles Ahead looks and feels just right, the feature almost comes to resemble a caricature of a jazz movie. Sometimes it's effortlessly engaging as it flits from one incident to another. At other times, it's a little too erratic and indulgent. Instead, it's actually the actor-turned-director's performance that achieves his true aim. From the changes in his stance to the rasping emotion in his voice, Cheadle's interpretation of Davis is as compelling a presence as the artist's music. He's at his best when he's bouncing off of one of his co-stars, including Short Term 12's Keith Stanfield as an up-and-coming trumpeter clearly meant to represent Davis' youth. And though McGregor seems to be blending his performances in Velvet Goldmine and The Ghost Writer, the duo's shared dynamic still ranks among the film's biggest strengths.
Commencing countdown, engines on, and prepare to blast off into the great unknown at Melbourne's first ever space festival. Organised by the University of Melbourne Space Program, the Final Frontier Festival will feature five days of talks, exhibits and hands-on workshops. It's like space camp — but for grown-ups. The festival is set to run from Wednesday, June 29 until Sunday, July 3 at the University of Melbourne campus in Parkville. The first two days are aimed at families and high school students, but you can still get in on the action from Friday. There'll be free talks on topics ranging from NASA's Jupiter missions to DIY space satellites to the science of Aboriginal star knowledge. The festival will also provide the backdrop to the 24-hour Melbourne Space Hack, in which teams of coders, designers, developers and entrepreneurs compete to solve space-related challenges. Think you've got what it takes? You can still sign up via the festival website for just $10 per person. Go on, embrace your inner (or outer) nerd.
If you want to test out your Beyonce moves but aren't so keen on doing so out in the open, then a dark nightclub may be just the space you've been looking for. The Toff in Town is hosting a dance class led by kween Amrita Hepi. She'll be teaching the moves to Yonce's newest slam dunk of a single 'Formation' in a shame-free dance zone. Beginners are welcome, no experience needed, hot sauce in bag optional. There will be seven sessions (starting at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm) over three nights (March 14-16) Tickets cost $20 online or $25 on the door. Get in quick though as they're selling like hot cakes.
Want to experience a slice of Jamaica in Melbourne? There's a rum-inspired adventure happening in the city this April that you should lock into your diary. Fine purveyors and makers of rum for over 265 years, Appleton Estate are launching The Appleton Trail in Melbourne — three delicious pop-up stops brimming with rum-tasting, storytelling and celebration of Jamaica's long-loved spirit. The Appleton Trail is taking over three Melbourne bars over three weekends from April 7, kicking off at Loop Roof in Melbourne's CBD from April 7-10, moving to Rochester Hotel on April 14 and 15, and concluding at Nieuw Amsterdam in the CBD on April 22 and 23. Expect a Jamaican-themed pop-up hideaway with specially-created rum cocktails, paired with bespoke Jamaican food menus, and hosted by a Jamaican dancer — all to make you feel like you're finally on that well-deserved island holiday. There'll even be a Jamaican music DJ accompanied by a steel drum player. You'll be able to try the Appleton Estate Signature Blend – the original Appleton Estate rum — alongside the Reserve Blend and Rare Blend 12 Year Old. Plus, Appleton have taken it upon themselves to create four signature cocktails for the event.
Spend your Saturday arvo in a lovely golden haze at the first ever Yarra Valley Beer & Cider Festival. Close to two dozen local and interstate brewers will descend upon the Lilydale Showgrounds, where they'll be serving up samples of their finest liquid refreshment. Mountain Goat, Angry Cock, Watts River, Cheeky Rascal, Three Troupers, Exit Brewing and Yarra Valley Cider are just the tip of a very boozy iceberg. Entry into the event costs $10, plus $2 per tasting token. Each token entitles you to an 80mL drink, ensuring you're able to try plenty of what's on offer while still being able to walk in a straight line. There'll also be ample food to soak up the alcohol, with the folks from Babaji's Kitchen, Flamin' Lamb Spit, Boomtown Barbecue and Boss Burger and Shakes among a mouth-watering lineup of vendors. Image: Dollar Photo Club
Bundle your art-loving mates into the back of your car for this immersive audio piece from theatremaker Sam Routledge and sound artist Dylan Sheridan for the Festival of Live Art. Held at a secret carwash location that will be revealed when you book your tickets, Crush takes place inside your vehicle as it is being cleaned. Engulfed by this enormous machine, with Sheridan's rhythmic score filtering through your car radio, you'll be forced to ponder your relationship with technology, and where humanity may be headed. Not to mention, you also get a clean car out of the deal. Image: Lucy Parakhina.
This year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival New Order stream features young comedic talent from the UK and Europe. This four-person bill will feature Adam Hess, Larry Dean and Lou Sanders, but it's Danish stand-up, blogger and podcaster Sofie Hagen that we're most interested in. She's been rising rapidly up the comedic ranks — and for damn good reason. Tackling taboo topics with understated wit and charm, her act covers everything from body issues, mental health and feminism, to her own fanatical obsession with Irish boy band Westlife.
Having a green thumb is all the rage these days. And in a city like Melbourne — where the size of apartments keep shrinking and all viable back gardens are being converted into duplexes — nailing the art of the indoor garden is a great tool to keep your sanity, and connect with nature beyond getting boozy at the park. To help you get started, PLANT by Packwood is hosting a massive plant sale and swap this weekend at their divine little Brunswick studio. Their current range of green babies are mostly terrariums, but you can expect a range of cheap studio leftovers including air plants, bromeliads, orchids, small sub-tropicals, succulents and rarities from both them and other Melbourne-based plant sellers. And if you want to swap out your current plant children for whatever reason (not thriving in your home, sassing you on the school run, etc.), feel free to get in touch and negotiate a swap. There’s planty to go around (sorry not sorry).
The work of three world class choreographers from disparate corners of the world will come together in Melbourne for an electric triple bill. With just a dozen engagements at the ornate State Theatre, The Australian Ballet presents Vitesse, a stirring celebration of movement and sound. The performance begins with Christopher Wheeldon’s DGVc: Danse à Grande Vitesse, a lightning-fast work set to music by Michael Nyman, which was composed for the inauguration of the TGV bullet train in France. Second up is Jiri Kylian's Forgotten Land, a fluid number that the Arts Centre program describes as "like an Edvard Munch painting come to life". The show will conclude with William Forsythe's In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, a groundbreaking work widely celebrated for pushing the limits of ballet technique.
Collingwood's favourite late-night pizzeria and wine bar is turning five this week. And to celebrate, Lazerpig is hosting a big ol' birthday bash on Friday, April 12. It'll be filled with all of the things the venue does well — tunes, booze and pizza pies — and everyone is invited. A lineup of local heavy-hitters will take the stage throughout the night, including Memphis LK, C.FRIM, BBY.B and Jadaboii — with no cover whatsoever. To mark the occasion, South Australian winemaker Alpha Box & Dice has also donated a few cases of its Zaptung Prosecco to give away from 6pm. And there'll be a few pizza giveaways early in the evening, too. The party kicks off at 6pm and will go into the wee hours of the morning — but, if you want to get in on those freebies, best to get in early.
On the top floor of a CBD pub a magical wizarding rooftop awaits. Located atop Bourke Street's Imperial, it's filled with alcoholic potions, wintry booths, an owlery and a supernatural sweet store. And while it's open daily, and it isn't new, it's now serving up boozy brunches once a week. The rooftop was originally called Vertic Alley — aka the CBD watering hole's equivalent of Diagon Alley — and originally popped in February. Then, just last month, it suddenly disappeared. While the pub declined to comment on why it vanished, the Age reported that Warner Bros had ordered the themed rooftop's removal, because it used Harry Potter intellectual property. Now, thankfully, it's back. The pub has also declined to comment on whether it has struck a deal with Warner Bros, but it's confident that the wizarding wonderland will stick around for winter, hence the combination of magical books and fashion, wands, a mid-morning feast and many boozy concoctions. At the Imperial's Wizards Brunch, you'll get comfy in sheltered booths (newly installed for winter), practice saying "accio cocktail!" and enjoy an all-round boozy celebration of the Boy Who Lived. Running from 10am–12pm on Saturdays from July 20 to August 31, the brunch will set eager attendees back $60 per person, with reservations required. The cost covers one edible item from the menu, plus two hours of potions, wine and beer. To eat, you can choose between smashed avocado on sourdough with peas, pickled onion and poached eggs; a breakfast salad of kale, squash, heirloom carrots, broccolini, soft boiled eggs, pumpkin and chia seed; or ricotta hotcakes with vanilla mascarpone, puffed rice and berry. Potions-wise, you an't go past a Wizard's Cauldron (aka mulled wine), Tod's Twisted Teapot of Fortunes (a hot toddy) or a Bewitching Fizz (yes, it's a mimosa).
The minds behind Barossa Grape & Wine Association and vinous event organisers Revel have another specialised wine exploration to add to your calendar, this time devoted to the famed South Australian wine region of the Barossa Valley. On Saturday, July 20, Barossa. Be Consumed returns to North Melbourne's Meat Market this winter, following the event's Sydney stop on July 13. Expect a one-day celebration of the Barossa's finest, showcasing over 220 wines from more than 45 of the region's wineries. The lineup features Cirillo Estate, Peter Lehmann and First Drop Wines, alongside award-winners like Yelland and Papps, home to 2018 Young Gun of Wine finalist Michael Papps, and Turkey Flat Vineyards, winner of the 2017 Jimmy Watson Trophy. You'll have the chance to meet producers while you sample their best creations, and then have bottles of your favourite wines shipped straight to your door. Seppeltsfield Road Distillers rounds out the liquid offerings with its small-batch gin, too. There'll be live music playing as you sample various drops and wander through the fair. Plus, regional food and produce will also be available to taste (and line your stomach). Meanwhile, four Meet the Maker sessions will run for those wanting to sink their teeth in deeper and will be hosted by leading wine personalities Samantha Payne and Clare Burder. Ranging from a sommelier's view on dining with Barossa vino to an in-depth look at Barossa grenache, these sessions are available for an additional cost ($35–50).
Get ready for your Instagram feed to explode with cherry blossoms because these highly photogenic trees are nearly in bloom once again. If you're looking for the best of the bunch, head to the Yarra Valley for the annual Blossom Festival at CherryHill Orchards. The festival will run from September 26 through October 6, 9am–5pm daily. Apart from the blossoms — which you'll most likely spend the entire day taking selfies with — there'll be live music and giant lawn games to keep you entertained. If you forgot to pack a picnic (or were too lazy to do so), there'll be plenty of food options from the visiting food trucks, which'll be serving up everything from tacos to dumplings and burgers. And you can expect plenty of cherry-flavoured goods, too — think ice cream, pie, cider and spritzers. Yarra Valley's Four Pillars Gin will also be on hand, stirring cherry-spiked cocktails. Tickets will cost a tenner (and include a complimentary cherry spritzer), and you can bring the kids along for five bucks each, but sadly your fur baby will have to stay behind as this is not a dog-friendly festival. CherryHill Blossom Festival is open from 9am–5pm daily. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, July 18.
Breakups are hard. But, they also makes for some pretty great stories. And you'll unearth plenty of those heartbreaking tales when the Museum of Broken Relationships rocks into town. The internationally acclaimed, Croatian-born exhibition will make its Aussie debut next month, as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival's love-themed 2019 program. It's set to hit the CBD's No Vacancy Gallery from September 1–29, showcasing a thought-provoking collection of real-life relationship relics. For the museum's Melbourne pop-up, curators (and exes) Olinka Vistica and Drazen Grubisic are pulling together an assortment of local stories and pieces, as well as objects from the exhibition's permanent collections in Zagreb and Los Angeles. Expect to find symbols of heartbreak, nostalgia and ended relationships — and the captivating stories behind them. And if you've got your own object of long lost love lying around, it can be part of the show, too. Vistica and Grubisic are collecting Melbourne contributions to add a bit of local heartbreak to the pop-up, which might then go on the road and become part of the Museum's permanent collection. To donate your item, fill in a contribution form by August 7.
