I, along with many of my fellow Gen-Yers, am at a unique crossroads when it comes to the creation of deliberately grainy photography. I am just slightly too young to have had the childhood pleasure of making pinhole cameras (damn you disposable cameras, damn you), yet I am just old enough to watch on with dismay as every teenager with a smart phone claims the faux artistry afforded to them by Instagram. Designer Kelly Angood's new project the Pop-Up Pinhole Camera is not only a nostalgic throwback to the good ol' days of the DIY camera that Instagrammers can only emulate but still a source of basic wonder as pictures emerge from little more than a cardboard box. While making your own pinhole camera was often nothing short of a total nightmare, Angood has come up with a way of recapturing that old-timey, do-it-yourself feel but without the stress and strain of countless failed attempts: IKEA-style flat-pack kits. Yes, it's just like one of those build-your-own desk sets, except at the end you are left with a beautiful camera, named the Videre (definitely not a Hasselblad), that can take amazingly high-quality pinhole photographs. Best of all, Angood has already managed to raise over 20,000 pounds online to fund the project, and as such has promised her legions of fans that their very own pop-up pinhole camera should arrive on their doorstep by November. But don't let this stop you from donating: Head to her website if you fancy making a donation or picking up your own camera for photographic playtimes more surprising than anything on the end of an app.
Since mid-October 2020, New Zealanders have been able to visit some Australian states as part of a one-way travel bubble. The arrangement has been paused a few times due to COVID-19 case numbers in NZ, but it has remained broadly in place. In the coming months, Australians might also be able to hop across the Tasman as well — something that has been floated and discussed plenty of times over the past year, but now looks like it could soon come to fruition. Speaking with the media separately today, Thursday, March 18, both New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and NZ Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson advised that the NZ Government is progressing towards a trans-Tasman bubble. On Radio New Zealand, Robertson said that the country had been "working towards a joint framework, a joint set of protocols" with Australia, which didn't come into effect. Now, though, he doesn't think things are "too far off being able to create the New Zealand version to match up with the Australian version". "There's a few issues still to talk through there, including what we do in the event there is an outbreak — how we manage people who aren't in their home country at that time. But I'm very optimistic that we'll sort that out in reasonable short order, and we can move towards having our unilateral bubble alongside the Australian unilateral bubble," he advised. Speaking at a press conference to launch NZ's involvement in Expo 2020 (which is taking place in the United Arab Emirates from October 2021, after being postponed from 2020), NZ Prime Minister Ardern also discussed the potential travel bubble. "I haven't put firm dates because I don't want there to be moving goalposts. I want to present people with some definitive dates they can plan around — but we have said we'd like to see it soon," Ardern said. "Our goal, though, is that once we open, to be able to do it safely — to do it in a way that people understand the basis on which we may see short term closures, and to enable us to have a bubble that essentially sticks," she continued. At present, New Zealand travellers are allowed to visit all Australian states and territories, apart from Western Australia, without quarantining on arrival — but, because the bubble is only one way at present, they must enter 14 days of managed isolation on return to NZ and pay for it. New Zealand does currently have a travel bubble in place with the Cook Islands, but only one-way as well — from the Cook Islands to NZ. While the details of the quarantine-free arrangements for Australians travelling to NZ are yet to be finalised, it is great news for those who've been dreaming of overseas holidays since the pandemic began. And, it could possibly be in place while Australia's international border still remains shut to most global travel — and before a similar travel bubble could be put in place with Singapore. You can start slowly planning your NZ jaunt, too — we've rounded up some of our favourite glamping sites, wineries, sights and restaurants in NZ over here. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
What do board shorts, obnoxiously colourful Hawaiian shirts, Reg Mombassa (of Mental As Anything fame) and surrealist art all have in common? They have all participated in the evolution of Mambo, one of Australia's iconic clothing brands. Famed for injecting humour and artistic expression into a surfing apparel industry more preoccupied with the branding of products than creating memorable designs. This year marks the 30th year of the Australian surf brand, which was dreamt up by Dare Jennings by the pool of a Redfern motel, over a slab of beer and some Jatz crackers. Not limited to clothing, Mambo has slapped their designs onto surfboards, posters and ads. Over the years the brand has churned out some pretty iconic designs. From the contentious Aussie Jesus at the football, to the oddly enduring farting dog – the designs have continued to shock and delight Aussie audiences throughout time. Dancing on the line between political incorrectness and social awareness, Mambo frequently used their designs to grapple with issues such as religious intolerance, racism and commercialism. In 1995, they protested French nuclear weapon testing in the Pacific with the 'Chirac' t-shirt, donating $40,000 of the profits to Greenpeace. In 1998, they released the 'redneck' design, to protest the racist tenets of the One Nation Party — with proceeds going to National Aboriginal and Islander State Development Association, an organisation that would have been threatened by a victorious One Nation Party. Proudly Australia, the brand has harnessed local talent during its tumultuous 30-year trajectory. From designing the Australian Olympic uniforms in 2000 to financial insecurity in 2008, the brand still stands strong today as a pioneer of Australian design. Celebrating this, The National Gallery of Victoria will be showcasing the Mambo: 30 years of shelf-indulgence exhibition. Curated by T-shirt devotee, Eddie Zammit, original art director Wayne Golding and the current owner of the brand, Angus Kingsmill, the exhibition will feature the largest collection of Mambo works to date, incorporating all the unique Australianisms that defines the brand. Mambo: 30 years of shelf-indulgence will be on display at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square in the NGV Studio from December 6, 2014 until February 22, 2015. Entry is free.
Pizza. Pasta. Salumi. Gelato. And don't even get us started on the booze. The Italians have gifted the world with some pretty spectacular food and drink — and the good news is you'll find all that and more at the Italian Wine + Food Festival. Taking over the Royal Exhibition Building on Sunday, May 27, this all-day gastronomic bonanza will welcome the proprietors and chefs from some of the most beloved Italian eateries in town. We're talking 400 Gradi and Massi, to name but a few. There'll be cooking demonstrations and wine-tasting workshops. Those looking to put what they learn into practice can swing by the festival food market and find all the ingredients they need to cook an Italian feast at home — or stop by the free bruschetta station for some sustenance. And once you're done shopping you can kick back with a glass of vino, or perhaps a cocktail from the Aperitivi Bar.
In great news for cat-loving cinephiles, 2019 is shaping up to be a huge year for felines on film. Photorealistic big cats prowled around the remake of The Lion King, and they'll soon be joined by a bunch of singing, scurrying street mousers in the silver-screen adaptation of stage musical Cats. For nearly four decades, Andrew Lloyd Webber's acclaimed production has pranced across stages everywhere, turning a tale inspired by poems from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats into an award-winning theatre hit. But, while plenty of other popular musicals have made the leap to cinemas, this one hasn't until now. The trailers for the new flick might just explain why. The first trailer dropped back in July and inspired much talk about its strange CGI decision to combine cats with human faces. Terrifying? Maybe. Entertaining? Definitely. If you've recovered from the first 2.23 mins of Cats madness, you'll be happy to know a second, equally bizarre, trailer has just dropped. [caption id="attachment_751620" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Judi Dench as a cat[/caption] Ever wanted to see Taylor Swift pouring cat nip on a crowd of cats from a suspended gold moon? Keen to soothe your disappointment over the fact that Idris Elba isn't James Bond by spotting him with whiskers, fur and a tail? Perhaps you've always dreamed of watching accomplished actors such as Judi Dench and Ian McKellen channel their inner feline? Have you ever hoped for all of the above, and for the actors to all play cat-sized cats? That's what's on offer in the just-dropped second trailer, as well as a heap of dancing and singing. In terms of story, Cats zaps Swift, Elba and company down to feline height to spin a narrative about the Jellicle cat tribe, who spend a night deciding just which four-legged moggy will get to leave their group, ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. The movie comes with a significant pedigree, with Les Miserables' Tom Hooper in the director's chair, Webber on music duties, Hamilton's Andy Blankenbuehler doing the choreography, and the cast also spanning James Cordon, Jennifer Hudson, Jason Derulo, Ray Winstone and Rebel Wilson. And yet, it all looks a little odd. But we'll let you decide for yourself. You check out the second Cats trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNTDoOmc1OQ Cats opens in Australian cinemas on December 26.
The pandemic has changed much about travel over the past year and a half, including the way that Australians approach roaming throughout our own country. Booking a ticket to another state or territory is no longer something we all just do whenever we feel like without checking the rules, restrictions and requirements first — because closed domestic borders will do that. But with New South Wales and Victoria both progressing through their roadmaps for reopening following both states' respective (and lengthy) lockdowns, venturing a bit further around the country might soon become a little easier. Exactly what domestic border limits will remain in place, and where, hasn't yet been revealed; however, Qantas and Jetstar have announced that they'll start ramping up their flights around the country anyway. Firstly, the two airlines will increase flights regionally within NSW, starting from Monday, October 25. That's around when the state is expected to hit the 80-percent double-dose vaccination mark, which is when travel throughout NSW will be permitted again. Next, Qantas and Jetstar have brought forward the start date for trips between NSW and Victoria. Instead of recommencing in December, these flights will now resume on Friday, November 5. [caption id="attachment_823330" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brent Winstone[/caption] So, if you're a Sydneysider eager to escape the city — either within NSW or to Victoria, you're about to have options. For Melburnians, heading north will be possible as well. Obviously, this all depends on the rules both states put in place regarding travel between them, because that's the world we now live in. The airlines haven't changed their flights between Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and South Australia just yet, though, with trips to WA still remaining sparse for the foreseeable future due to its strict border arrangements all throughout the pandemic. The two carriers won't restart legs from WA to Victoria and NSW (and vice versa) until at least February 1, 2022 for that reason, other than the five return flights it's doing from Perth to both Sydney and Melbourne at the moment for folks with permits — but it's hoping to increase flights between Queensland and WA in the coming weeks. No matter where you live, expect to see a few incentives popping up trying to tempt you to holiday in certain parts of the country. The Northern Territory is doing discounts of up to $1000 for fully vaxxed folks who head to the NT from spots that aren't deemed hotspots, for instance, and there's also $250 tour vouchers up for grabs in Queensland's tropical north. For more information about Qantas and Jetstar's increased domestic flights as NSW and Victoria reopen, head to the Qantas and Jetstar websites.
Maybe you lived through the 90s rave scene. Perhaps you spent every weekend enjoying club life in the 00s. Or, you might just wish you were old enough to have ticked both boxes. Ministry of Sound was around to see both, and now it's revisiting the experience — bringing back its massive Testament parties for another year, this time touring them around Australia over two weekends. If cutting loose like you've travelled back in time is your ideal way to mark absolutely anything, then you'll want to make a date with Testament when it hits up six Australian cities. For two nights each in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, plus one-day-only stops in Adelaide and the Gold Coast, the event will have you making shapes to 90s and 00s bangers. [caption id="attachment_799510" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben Jones[/caption] More than 90 DJs will be hitting the decks between Friday, August 4–Sunday, August 13 across the tour. It's a choose-your-own-adventure type of affair, so fans of old-school tunes can hit up the session dedicated to 90s house, rave, trance and garage tracks, and lovers of 00s electro and breaks get their own shindig. Leading the bill at the 90s parties are Barbara Tucker, Inner City, Phil Hartnoll and Tall Paul, while The Bloody Beetroots, Digitalism, Freq Nasty and Stanton Warriors are their 00s counterparts. The roster of local DJs varies per show and per city, too, including everyone from Alan Thompson, Jason Digby, Barking Boy, Mark Dynamix and Jen E on the 90s bill, plus Groove Terminator, Goodwill, Kid Kenobi, Bang Gang Deejays and Andee Van Damage on the 00s lineup. MINISTRY OF SOUND: TESTAMENT 2023 DATES: Saturday, August 5 — 90s session at Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney Sunday, August 6 — 00s session at Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney Saturday, August 12 — 00s session at The Timber Yard, Melbourne Sunday, August 13 — 90s session at The Timber Yard, Melbourne Friday, August 4 — 00s session at Warner Laneway, Brisbane Saturday, August 12 — 90s session at Warner Laneway, Brisbane Saturday, August 5 — 00s session at Metro City, Perth Sunday, August 6 — 90s session at Metro City, Perth Friday, August 4 — 00s session at Unibar Adelaide, Adelaide Sunday, August 13 — 00s session at Miami Marketta, Gold Coast MINISTRY OF SOUND: TESTAMENT 2023 LINEUP: Barbara Tucker Inner City Phil Hartnoll [Orbital] Tall Paul The Bloody Beetroots Digitalism FreQ Nasty Stanton Warriors + 85 local DJs around the country Ministry of Sound: Testament 2023 will tour Australia in August. For further details, and to buy tickets — with pre-sale registrations until midnight on Monday, May 29, pre-sales from 8am on Tuesday, May 30 and general sales from 8am on Wednesday, May 31 — head to the event's website.
Whether you're an architecture and design nerd, or just super nosey, Open House Bendigo will be right up your alley. More than 20 public projects, buildings and spaces within the historic city of Bendigo will open their doors to the public for one weekend. From October 22–23, locals and tourists (who can make the easy two-hour drive from Melbourne) will get to explore some of Bendigo's finest historical and contemporary buildings, some of which are often closed off to the public. A boom town during the gold rush period, Bendigo is home to a rich architectural heritage that has been met with rapid development in recent years. The Open House weekend is a chance for guests to engage with their city and discuss Bendigo's design future. Highlights include Emporium Creative Hub, a coworking and events space for local creatives; former Eaglehawk Town Hall (now operating as the Star Cinema Boutique); and La Trobe University Library Bendigo which was redesigned during Covid-19 lockdowns. As part of the special program, tours of the Garden of the Future will also run at Bendigo Botanic Gardens. Alongside the lineup of open spaces will be a series of talks, films screenings and a public workshop. Each will touch on a particular aspect of design and architecture that's important for the Bendigo community — from sustainability to social housing. For more information or to pre-book tours, head to the Open House Bendigo website. [caption id="attachment_873911" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Garden of the Future, Bendigo Botanic Gardens.[/caption] Top Image: Bendigo Town Hall.
Since the first Fast & Furious film back in 2001, cars that can cover a quarter mile in a mere ten seconds have been Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special) and his crew's holy grail. Well, that and Coronas — and family. So of course the just-dropped first trailer for Fast X, the tenth instalment in the Point Break-inspired saga, starts with Toretto's chosen brood sitting around a table drinking the series' favourite beer and listening to Dom's grandmother (Rita Moreno, West Side Story) talk about the franchise's most-beloved F-word. It takes a mere 11 seconds for the Toretto matriarch to say "family", in fact — and it isn't the last time it gets a mention in the near four-minute debut sneak peek. As the series has done since film one, Fast X's plot revolves around Dom, his relatives and the friends that he's welcomed into his family, with new nemesis Dante (Jason Momoa, Dune) going after them to avenge his own blood. Something else that all things F&F loves: new ride-or-die chaos that disrupts the Toretto crew's idyll, can only be solved by high-action stunts and ties back to past movies in this pedal-to-the-metal saga. As the Fast X trailer explains, Momoa's Dante is on a quest for revenge because he's the son of Fast Five's drug kingpin Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida, Warrior Nun). Also, as the whole Shaw-family antics have shown — aka the crusade for vengeance involving Jason Statham's (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre) Deckard Shaw — threatening the F&F's main family as payback for slights against other families is also a series go-to. Accordingly, Dom faces off against Dante — but no one actually swaps faces Face/Off-style, at least in the trailer, although F&F should definitely work that in at a later date — and Statham does indeed make an appearance, as he's done since Fast & Furious 6 and in spinoff Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. Also featured are a whole heap of franchise regulars, such as Michelle Rodriguez (Crisis), Jordana Brewster (Who Invited Charlie?), Ludacris (End of the Road), Tyrese Gibson (Morbius) and Sung Kang (Obi-Wan Kenobi) as Dom's wife Lottie, sister Mia, and pals Tej, Roman and Han. And, Nathalie Emmanuel (The Invitation) returns as Ramsey, Scott Eastwood (I Want You Back) as government operative Little Nobody, John Cena (Peacemaker) as Dom's brother Jakob (see: Fast and Furious 9), Helen Mirren (1923) as Deckard's mother Queenie and Charlize Theron (The School for Good and Evil) as criminal mastermind Cypher. Every F&F flick also throws new famous folks onto its road — and while Nicolas Cage hasn't popped up yet to really help nudge the saga in Face/Off's direction, or Keanu Reeves to cement the Point Break ties, or Channing Tatum in a Magic Mike/F&F mashup that'd be a ridiculous dream, Fast X adds Momoa, Moreno and Brie Larson (Just Mercy). And, while not a household name by any means, Leo Abelo Perry (Cheaper by the Dozen) joins the series as Brian Marcos, Dom's young son. You'd better believe that the Fast X trailer also finds room for footage from past flicks featuring the late Paul Walker as the OG Brian, too. As for how it'll all turn out when Fast X hits cinemas in mid-May — in what's meant to be the first film in a two-part finale for the franchise, and what feels like it'll have to be a five-hour movie itself just to fit the entire cast in — the preview is filled with OTT chases and aerial feats, all those mentions of family, twist reveals and glorious F&F vehicular mayhem in general. Now You See Me and Grimsby filmmaker Louis Leterrier directs, fresh from helping make TV series Lupin such a hit, and also reteaming with Statham after The Transporter and The Transporter 2 back in the 00s. Yes, we'll count that as another F&F instance of family ties. Check out the first Fast X trailer below: Fast X releases in cinemas Down Under on May 18, 2023.
2023 ain't nuthing ta f' wit: it's the year that Wu-Tang Clan are returning Down Under, after all. After the hip hop legends kicked off their NY State of Mind tour with Nas in 2022, they're bringing the 2023 leg to Melbourne — and it's still a joint affair. Two of the biggest names in the business since the 90s — with Wu-Tang Clan first making a splash with their 1993 debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and Nas doing the same with 1994's Illmatic — will play one show at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, May 14. These Aussie dates are the first gigs in the 2023 tour, too, after its 2022 leg hit up more than 25 cities. This year's run is just as epic — after its stint Down Under, it heads through Europe and then back to the US. Along the way, fans can enjoy Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck and Cappadonna taking to the stage three decades after they first came to fame — and Nas sharing the mic as well. Over that time, Wu-Tang Clan have dropped seven further albums from a fill discography that, including solo records by its members, notches up more than 85 full-length releases. Their tours pull from the whole lot, as set against that ever-present Wu-Tang 'W' — and honours the deceased Ol' Dirty Bastard as well.
If you're in or around Collingwood from now until mid-December, you are in prime position to completely submerge into a world of theatrical delight. On Johnston Street, The Austral sets the stage for Love Lust Lost, the latest production from the convention-shattering creative collective Broad Encounters (A Midnight Visit and Maho Magic Bar). Courtesy of the team's sky-high production limits (and creative prowess), you will explore more than 40 spaces across three floors and 1900 square metres during your visit — so you might want to come more than once to discover every nook. You'll set sail into a tumultuous ocean of heartbreak and desire, bravery and passion, led by your captain Hans Christian Andersen. The fairytale great's story is imagined alongside those of Jules Verne and Joseph Conrad, with their intimate worlds brought to life with soundscapes, spoken word, ballet, dance, circus, aerial acrobatics, improv comedy and taste. The true joys of your literary-fuelled adventure exists in the delightfully unknown aspects. Let your curiosity take over as you follow your captain into the storm, chasing each clue and yearning as the mystery unfurls. Now extended thanks to popular demand, you've got until Saturday, December 16 to dive in — and, because immersive theatre is never the same twice, every attendee gets a different experience. Images: Graham Denholm / Jeff Busby.
Australia's film and television industry can't help falling in love with the year's biggest homegrown movie, the director behind it, and the actors bringing to life one of the 20th century's music icons and his wife. At the 2022 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic said "thank you, thank you very much" to a swag of gongs, winning 11 from 15 nominations. Yes, Elvis was truly in the building, and revelling in a hunk, a hunk of burning love. Back in October when the list of contenders was announced, Elvis was instantly the frontrunner, with the film maintaining Luhrmann's history of making flicks that earn AACTA's affection. Indeed, Australia's biggest movie and TV awards have also given Best Film to Strictly Ballroom and The Great Gatsby in the past, and showered all of the director's features with nominations. It comes as zero astonishment, then, that his take on the king of rock 'n' roll has come out on top this year. As well as Best Film, Elvis earned the Best Actor gong for Austin Butler for playing the man himself, the Best Supporting Actress prize for Olivia DeJonge for her role as Priscilla Presley and Best Director for Luhrmann. Also among its trophies: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Visual Effects or Animation, and Best Sound. Elvis wasn't the only Aussie hit of the past year to win big, however, with Mystery Road: Origin collecting seven awards from 15 nominations in the television fields: for Best Drama Series, Best Lead Actor in a Drama (for Mark Coles Smith), Best Lead Actress in a Drama (Tuuli Narkle), Best Cinematography in Television, Best Direction in Drama or Comedy, Best Editing in Television and Best Sound in Television. In an impressive night for Australia's Indigenous actors, Coles Smith and Narkle were joined by Leah Purcell, who picked up Best Actress in the film fields for The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, plus Heartbreak High's Thomas Weatherall, the recipient of the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama gong back in the TV categories. Elsewhere among the contenders, River won best documentary; The Stranger's Sean Harris won Best Supporting Actor and writer/director Thomas M Wright nabbed Best Screenplay; A Stitch In Time won Best Indie Film; and Brooke Satchwell won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for The Twelve. Across both film and TV, a heap of international names graced the acting nominations — a common AACTAs trend over the years — including Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton for Three Thousand Years of Longing, both Butler and Tom Hanks for Elvis, Harris for The Stranger, Jackie van Beek and Jemaine Clement for Nude Tuesday, Joanna Lumley for Falling for Figaro and Jamie Dornan for The Tourist — but only Butler and Harris emerged victorious. Elvis' domination in the film categories isn't a surprise for another reason: AACTA history. When the Aussie academy loves something, it goes all in, with Nitram 2021's big winner, Babyteeth picking up seven awards in 2020, The Nightingale receiving six the year before, Sweet Country doing the same the year before that and Lion nabbing 12 in 2017. (Thanks to the likes of Hacksaw Ridge, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Dressmaker, The Great Gatsby and The Sapphires before that, the trend goes on.) Here's a rundown of 2022's major AACTA nominations — and you can check out the full list on AACTA's website: AACTA WINNERS AND NOMINEES 2022: FILM AWARDS: BEST FILM Elvis — WINNER Here Out West Sissy The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson The Stranger Three Thousand Years of Longing BEST INDIE FILM A Stitch In Time — WINNER Akoni Darklands Lonesome Pieces Smoke Between Trees BEST DIRECTION Baz Luhrmann, Elvis — WINNER Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes, Sissy Leah Purcell, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson Thomas M Wright, The Stranger George Miller, Three Thousand Years of Longing BEST LEAD ACTOR Austin Butler, Elvis — WINNER Rob Collins, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson Joel Edgerton, The Stranger Idris Elba, Three Thousand Years of Longing Damon Herriman, Nude Tuesday BEST LEAD ACTRESS Aisha Dee, Sissy Leah Purcell, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson — WINNER Julia Savage, Blaze Tilda Swinton, Three Thousand Years of Longing Jackie van Beek, Nude Tuesday BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Simon Baker, Blaze Jemaine Clement, Nude Tuesday Malachi Dower-Roberts, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson Tom Hanks, Elvis Sean Harris, The Stranger — WINNER BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Jada Alberts, The Stranger Jessica De Gouw, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson Olivia DeJonge, Elvis — WINNER Joanna Lumley, Falling For Figaro Yael Stone, Blaze BEST SCREENPLAY Baz Luhrmann, Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce and Jeremy Doner, Elvis Jackie van Beek, Nude Tuesday Leah Purcell, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson Thomas M Wright, The Stranger — WINNER George Miller and Augusta Gore, Three Thousand Years of Longing BEST DOCUMENTARY Ablaze Clean Everybody's Oma Franklin Ithaka River — WINNER TELEVISION AWARDS: BEST DRAMA SERIES Bump Heartbreak High Love Me Mystery Road: Origin — WINNER The Tourist Wolf Like Me BEST TELEFEATURE OR MINISERIES Barons Savage River The Twelve — WINNER True Colours Underbelly: Vanishing Act BEST COMEDY PROGRAM Aftertaste Five Bedrooms Hard Quiz Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell — WINNER Spicks and Specks Summer Love BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Mark Coles Smith, Mystery Road: Origin — WINNER Jamie Dornan, The Tourist James Majoos, Heartbreak High Sam Neill, The Twelve Hugo Weaving, Love Me BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Isla Fisher, Wolf Like Me Claudia Karvan, Bump Kate Mulvany, The Twelve Tuuli Narkle, Mystery Road: Origin — WINNER Bojana Novakovic, Love Me BEST COMEDY PERFORMER Wayne Blair, Aftertaste Patrick Brammall, Summer Love Harriet Dyer, Summer Love Tom Gleeson, Hard Quiz — WINNER Charlie Pickering, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering Doris Younane, Five Bedrooms BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Hayley McElhinney, Mystery Road: Origin Jacqueline McKenzie, Savage River Heather Mitchell, Love Me Brooke Satchwell, The Twelve — WINNER Magda Szubanski, After the Verdict BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Steve Bisley, Mystery Road: Origin Brendan Cowell, The Twelve Daniel Henshall, Mystery Road: Origin Damon Herriman, The Tourist Thomas Weatherall, Heartbreak High — WINNER
At some point or another, we’ve all been guilty of wasting food and thinking "it's not that much, it'll be ok" — but did you know that up to 40 percent of the average household bin is comprised of edible items? To highlight this issue, OzHarvest and the UN have teamed up to present Think.Eat.Save, a series of national events that will aid you in doing your bit to combat food waste. Think.Eat.Save is part of a global campaign to increase awareness about food sustainability, so head along, pledge your commitment to #thinkeatsave and opt to reduce your 'foodprint'. You'll also be able to enjoy a free, delicious and hot meal made from rescued produce, and get tips on how to help our food system become more sustainable. Australia's top chefs, politicians and celebrities will unite to address the alarming amount of food wasted in Australia each year. Waste is a huge problem but it doesn't have to be. Image: Untitled via photopin (license).
World Whisky Day is approaching and Starward Whisky is preparing for it in good form. The distillery is set to open its doors on Saturday, May 19 for a day of tastings, mini masterclasses and paired foods to match the whisky they'll have on offer. Nine various tasting stations will be hosted at Starward's base in Port Melbourne, celebrating some of the distillery's favourite drops and pairing them with food. Tropical pork tacos, pineapple whisky cocktails and a whisky-poached pear crème brûlée are all on the agenda, so you can be assured you'll be eating well — the team's even throwing in a sausage from Wvrst with your ticket so your stomach will be sufficiently primed for the whisky feast. Also included in the ticket price is a tour of parts of the distillery normally off-limits to the public, cocktail demos and a live DJ. Plus, you get to learn about how exactly the golden goodness is brewed and distilled, and how Starward manage to work a veritable buffet of flavours into their offerings — tropical fruit, cereal, caramel and vanilla are among them.
Winter's almost done with its chilly bullshit, but before you can pack away your woolies just yet, Melbourne's cooking up some serious comfort food that's much better enjoyed in the crisp, colder weather. There's a handful of deliciously food-focused events happening this week, so we thought we'd put them all on one table for you. Pick one course, or make a degustation of them all. Or you could just go and inhale some popcorn watching Sausage Party. Your choice. By the Concrete Playground team.
Next time you pour yourself a gin and tonic or start sipping a martini, you can say cheers to one of Australia's best-known architectural wonders in the process. With its latest release, Archie Rose Distilling Co is paying tribute to a building that's become an international symbol not only for its city, but for the whole country: the Sydney Opera House. There's plenty to celebrate when it comes to the Jørn Utzon-designed structure, so Archie Rose has whipped up two gins — or, in terms that suit its inspiration, two acts. Outside Gin nods to the Sydney Opera House's design, coastal location and the contrast of its man-made elements with nature, while Inside Gin is an ode to the acts and all-round creativity that've graced the venue's stages since 1973. Launching this month to mark the building's 46th birthday, the two tipples hero distinctive flavours. If you're keen on a heavy juniper taste with a mix of salty, sweet and citrus notes (aided by lemon-scented gum, South Australian yuzu, finger limes, white grapefruit, seablite and native seaweed), then you'll find it in the Outside Gin. For those who like their drinks fruity and summery — and with botanicals such as native thyme, Australian apricot, raspberry and strawberry gum — Inside Gin has you covered. Both are on sale now, individually for $99 each or as a gift-boxed pair for $179. And while their names don't mention the Sydney Opera House, their labels certainly do, with a stylised representation of the structure featuring on each 700ml bottle — against a sea-toned background for the Outside Gin, and contrasting against a dark mix of purple, red and black with the Inside Gin. Naturally, you'll also be able to sip the two spirits at the Sydney Opera House, with the venue's Opera Kitchen, Portside Sydney and theatre bars all slinging curated seasonal cocktails using both gins. Bennelong Restaurant is also stocking the duo, as are a selection of other bars and restaurants around Circular Quay. Archie Rose x Sydney Opera House Outside and Inside Gins are currently on sale.
The NSW Government announced that 'affirmative consent' will be a legal requirement, as part of a number of changes for the state's sexual assault laws. Announced yesterday, Tuesday, May 25, the amendments enact recommendations initially made in November last year in a review by the NSW Law Reform Commission — and will legislate that affirmative consent needs to be actively communicated, and can't be presumed. As part of the proposed changes, a person will need to say or do something to communicate in the affirmative in order to give consent. And, if a partner doesn't do something to ascertain that consent — verbally or via an action — it will not be reasonable for them to assume that consent has been given. The changes to the Crimes Act 1900 are designed to both simplify and strengthen existing sexual assault laws in order to better protect and deliver justice for victims and survivors. Consent will still need to be given freely and voluntarily, a requirement that the amendments are also designed to strengthen. Announcing the planned reforms, Attorney General Mark Speakman explained that "this means we will have an affirmative model of consent, which will address issues that have arisen in sexual offence trials about whether an accused's belief that consent existed was actually reasonable." He continued: "no one should assume someone is saying 'yes' just because they don't say 'no' or don't resist physically. Steps should be taken to make sure all parties are consenting." The LRC's November report recommended 44 changes, all of which are supported by the NSW Government — by either adopting them in full or in principle. A bill covering the reforms will be introduced to NSW Parliament later in 2021. https://twitter.com/SaxonAdair/status/1397013547809316864 Responding to the news, Rape & Sexual Assault Research & Advocacy Director and survivor advocate Saxon Mullins called the reforms a big leap forward for the state. "After so many years fighting for this, it's almost hard to believe we'll actually have affirmative consent laws in NSW. I know there's so much more to do in this space, but this is a huge win for survivors, and I'm so grateful for all the survivors and academics who've paved the way for this to happen." A sexual assault survivor herself, Mullins has been advocating for changes to the state's consent laws since her own case was dismissed in 2017, with the LRC's review initially sparked by media coverage of her story. For more information about NSW's planned changes to the state's sexual consent laws, head to the Department of Communities and Justice website.
Taking its cue from period dramas Downton Abbey and Gosford Park, Cheerful Weather for the Wedding plunges us into the eccentricities and delusions of upper-class Britain between the wars. Adapted from a 1932 novella by Julia Strachey, the film is director Donald Rice's debut feature. On her wedding day, Dolly Thatcham (Felicity Jones) is preparing to walk down the aisle with the bland but reliable Owen Bigham (James Norton) when the sudden appearance of her former lover, Joseph Patten (Luke Treadaway), throws her into a fit of confusion. Holing herself up in her room, Dolly gets stuck into a bottle of rum, trying to mitigate the now torturous process of final preparation. Meanwhile, her matriarchal, widowed mother (Elizabeth McGovern) strides about the manor, patronising any relative within arm's length and sending particularly scathing barbs in the direction of the troubled and seemingly regretful Joseph. The other members of the wedding party — a parade of oddball yet likeable Brits — dart in and out of the narrative, provoking an array of subplots. Dolly's sister Kitty (Ellie Kendrick) spends her time protesting about the lack of eligible bachelors on her radar, eventually making a comical effort to pursue the chauffeur. Cynical, sharp-tongued bridesmaid, Evelyn (Zoe Tapper), becomes the inappropriate target of Uncle Bob's (Julian Wadham) affections. Mackenzie Crook and Fenella Woolgar team up as Helen and David Dakin, a distanced married couple struggling to control a naughty son with a penchant for blowing up firecrackers. Cheerful Weather for the Wedding aims to satirise the upper class's sacrifice of emotional impulses for social control and the hypocrisy of obsession with appearances. However, while these intentions are clear, the script does not explore them with much depth, being neither gut-achingly witty nor gut-wrenchingly penetrating. Sure, moments of situational and verbal humour inspire laughs, and the storyline rolls along at a jolly pace, but the overall impact is entertaining and amusing rather than overwhelming. Flashbacks employed to depict Dolly and Joseph's love affair tend to come across as a little contrived and predictable. That said, the set is lush and the costumes have everyone looking their dapper-est best. McGovern and Treadaway offer particularly strong performances — McGovern for her charismatic, commanding interpretation of the ruler of the roost, and Treadaway for his vulnerable, multi-shaded take on the uncertain ex-lover. Cheerful Weather for the Wedding might make for some gentle Sunday afternoon escapism, but the Thatcham household is a long walk from Downton Abbey.
After beginning the year with a devastating bushfire season, then following it up with a global pandemic that rid the area of tourism, the Blue Mountains, it's fair to say, has has a tough 12 months. In response, Mount Tomah's Blue Mountains Botanic Garden has turned to an unlikely partner on its road towards bushfire recovery: gin. In collaboration with Sydney-based gin brand Grown Spirits, the Botanic Garden has released the Blue Mountains Grown Gin in a limited run of just 1000 bottles. All profits from the gin go to supporting the garden's horticultural and scientific staff in their efforts to restore hundreds of specimens and areas of the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden destroyed in the bushfires earlier this year. The Blue Mountains Grown Gin was created by Grown Spirits and Master Distiller Philip Moore at Distillery Botanica in Erina. It combines local eucalypt plant the silver-leaved mountain gum with juniper, valencia orange and liquorice root for a textural gin with a hint of spice. "In creating a gin homage to the Blue Mountains and the Garden, there was one botanical I was immediately drawn to, eucalyptus pulverulenta, or "Baby Blue" as some people call it," Moore said in a statement. "It brings fresh, cooling qualities to the gin much like the mountains themselves." The team recommends serving it in a G&T or a martini with a lime zest. You can also try it at Dead Ringer in Surry Hills, shaken into a cocktail called Evergreen. If you're looking for ethical holiday gifts this time of year, the Blue Mountains Grown Gin fits snuggly into a Christmas stocking. Not a gin enthusiast, but still keen to support the area? You can take a trip to the Blue Mountains — and the Garden — and spend liberally on local businesses. To start planning your adventure, check out our guide to the upper Blue Mountains and these enchanting local stays. The Blue Mountains Grown Gin is now available now for $129 at the Garden Grown Gin website or at select bottle shops across Australia.
Two of our city's most dynamic arts organisations — Carriageworks and Sydney Dance Company — are joining forces again to give up-and-coming choreographers a platform to showcase their work. Running every year since 2014, New Breed is an initiative supported by philanthropic organisation The Balnaves Foundation and is an ongoing collaborative commitment to nurturing Australia's next generation of performers and artists. Now in its sixth year, it boasts a successful track record of recipients going on to do national and global tours, picking up many awards along the way. So, this is your chance to catch the new wave of talent before the rest of the world. This year's program features a powerhouse lineup of independent choreographers: Josh Mu (Melbourne), Lauren Langlois (Melbourne), Arielle Casu (Sydney) and Davide Di Giovanni (Sydney). These four dancers, who have decades of training and dozens of accolades between them already, were selected to create original works and were also given the opportunity to work at Sydney Dance Company's studios with some of Australia's best contemporary dancers to bring these creative pieces to life. And now, you get to enjoy the fruits of their labour with an evening of stunning and wildly diverse performances. New Breed 2019 will run nightly at Carriageworks from Thursday, November 28 to Saturday, December 7. Tickets cost $35 per person and can be purchased here. Images: Pedro Greig.
Speaking prior to the screening of his movie in Sydney, director Christopher Miller explained: "Our one, enduring rule for this film was that it had to be story focused. It could never be permitted to descend into a 90 minute toy commercial". For he and co-director Phil Lord, then, The LEGO Movie is mission accomplished. Set entirely within a world of those clickable bricks and yellow-faced characters, LEGO tells the story of Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt), an eternally optimistic construction worker whose pep is matched only by his extraordinary genericism. Emmet is the epitome of commercial dronery: a franchise-coffee-drinking, pop-music-listening nobody who always follows the instructions. That all changes, however, when he stumbles upon the 'Piece of Resistance' and becomes entangled in a power struggle between the ruthless President Business (Will Ferrell), his enforcer 'Bad Cop/Good Cop' (Liam Neeson) and the resistance agent 'WyldStyle' (Elizabeth Banks). It's...a little hard to describe the sensation of watching this film. Yes, it's computer generated, but what those computers generated were lego pieces. So, if there's an explosion, that explosion is made up of thousands of tiny red, yellow and white lego circles — not CGI fire. The effect is mesmerising. The digital design team (Australia's Animal Logic), wholly adopted the 'rules and grammar' of Lego, meaning characters could only bend at the waist and all vehicles moved as they would if being controlled by a human hand. That device alone lends itself to dozens of jokes, and in terms of laughs, The LEGO Movie delivers in spades. This is, after all, the team behind both 22 Jump Street and the sublime Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs — two films that wield pop-culture references and drop cameos like nobody's business. Where other movies in this genre can often lapse into brand promotion or smulch, The LEGO Movie retains an acute self-awareness that never permits itself to take anything too seriously. As such, the in-jokes are amongst the strongest and nostalgia is used almost exclusively as a source of comedy rather than to pull on the heart strings. That's not to say the film is without a point. Its jabs at corporatisation land more heavily than one might expect for a 'kids movie', and its determination to encourage imagination and exploration 'beyond the instructions' is at times so concerted it borders on pro-anarchism. In the end, this is a family-friendly movie in every sense, yet the truth is, adults will derive more pleasure from the viewing than their children. LEGO is a wry, playful and intelligent piece of filmmaking that, like Toy Story before it, rises far above its station and offers up a truly enjoyable experience. https://youtube.com/watch?v=fZ_JOBCLF-I
Each year we anticipate the arrival of December 25. Because of the day off, the promise of an afternoon spent dozing in a hammock — and the arrival of Gelato Messina's annual Christmas cake. This year, the gelato chain is bringing back its version of the quintessential Australian dessert: the trifle. Yes, we're talking Christmas desserts already. The Christmas Coma will return for its third year running — and this time it's more fruity than overly decadent. The epic ice cream creation will feature layer upon layer of everything that is good about Christmas — but instead of being soggy and slightly regrettable, this one will have you licking the glass bowl. So what's in it? Well, Messina has switched out the vanilla gelato for a mango sorbet, and will be slathering it with its house-made passionfruit mousse. Then it will be layered with — here we go — whipped guava jelly, coconut cream, sponge soaked in mango and macadamia crunch. Oh, and garnished with a chocolate coconut. Plus, it'll come with some Messina rum custard to douse all over the mess and a box of Christmas crackers for the table. The trifle, which serves 20–30 (or less if you really commit), costs $170 and can be pre-ordered from October 28. You can pick up your Christmas Coma between midday on Friday, December 20 and 6pm on Christmas Eve, from all Gelato Messina stores across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane except The Star, Surry Hills, Richmond and Coolangatta. It comes in a Messina cooler bag and, if you keep it in there sealed, can survive for up to two hours. Last year, the trifle sold out super fast, too, so we suggest you don't wait on this one. The Christmas Coma available to order from Tuesday, October 29. Updated October 29, 2019.
It's possible to wish that I'll Be Gone in the Dark told its story in another way, and to still find yourself captivated by every single thing the six-part series serves up. In fact, there's no way to watch this immensely personal true-crime docuseries and not wish that author Michelle McNamara was a part of it in a very different way. She's the reason the show exists, and her obsessive work investigating the Californian murderer known as the Golden State Killer helped keep the case alive. She even wrote a book that shares this program's name, but she died from an accidental overdose in 2016, before it was published. I'll Be Gone in the Dark charts McNamara's quest to expose the man who committed at least 13 murders and 50 rapes between 1973–86, but it also intertwines McNamara's own story — including interviews with her husband Patton Oswalt. If you think you've seen every spin on the true-crime genre there is, you'll change your mind when you watch this highly detailed and also intimately personal series.
A round of drinks is the best way to kick off your night. Even better? Not paying for it. That's why the team behind coffee liqueur Kahlúa is taking its espresso martini game to the next level — with an espresso martini cocktail van slinging a round of complimentary drinks for you and all your mates. The Espresso Martini Express will be popping up around Melbourne at surprise locations throughout spring. Behind the wheel will be Kahlúa brand ambassador Ben Parton, who'll be posting clues to his whereabouts throughout the night on Instagram. If you're the first to figure out where Ben (and his truckload of caffeinated cocktails) is, you'll win a free round of drinks for you and your whole crew. Once the truck finishes its rounds, you can still find Kahlúa espresso martinis on tap across the country — meaning no more standing around while the bartender painstakingly shakes. To find out where you can get a caffeinated martini (quickly), head here. In the meantime, get ready to decipher those clues, grab your mates and prepare for a night out on the town, with a free espresso martini in hand.
For proof that Australia's cocktail game is world-class, look no further than the calibre of the international mixology stars lining up to play on our turf. In 2015, it was New York's famous speakeasy Please Don't Tell, taking over the bar at Fitzroy's acclaimed cocktail haunt The Black Pearl. Then Sydney Bar Week 2016 saw The Everleigh in Melbourne and Sydney's Henrietta Supper Club each play host to pop-ups by Asia's best bar, 28 Hongkong Street. Now it's time for one of the world's most famous hotel bars to make its way Down Under. The American Bar, which is located at London's Savoy Hotel, will take over The Black Pearl on October 15–16 and Darlinghurst's own cocktail gem Eau de Vie from October 18–19. As England's longest surviving cocktail bar, The American Bar has quite the pedigree — in the last year alone, it's scooped the title of Best Bar in Europe at the World's 50 Best Bars awards and seen its team voted Best International Bar Team by Tales of the Cocktail. Backed by the creators of local coffee liqueur Mr Black (who are behind the Espresso Martini Festival in Sydney and Melbourne), this Aussie adventure gives The American Bar the opportunity to showcase some of its own caffeinated mixology magic. At the helm will be senior bartender and World Coffee In Good Spirits champion Martin Hudak, as he treats local audiences to American Bar signatures like the Green Park, the Black Diamond and the Hanky Panky. It's not a ticketed event, so you'll have to be there when the doors open at 6pm each night for the best chance of scoring a seat. The American Bar takes over The Black Pearl, at 304 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, from 6pm on Sunday, October 15 and Monday, October 16. Then, it'll land at Eau de Vie, 229 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, on Wednesday, October 18 and Thursday, October 19.
Just a few short months ago, no one could've predicted that the Queensland border would become one of 2020's most debated topics. It's a subject that has inspired plenty of comments, especially among interstate and federal politicians calling for Queensland to open back up — with the state closing its border to help stem the spread of COVID-19, then keeping it shut while other restrictions have been easing. Come mid-July, all that chatter could finally stop, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirming Friday, July 10 as Queensland's target date for reopening to interstate visitors. As initially outlined in Queensland's COVID-19 roadmap, that's the date that the state's third stage of loosened coronavirus limits is due to come into effect. Included at that step: allowing interstate travel, which means opening up the border. While this isn't new news, just whether Queensland would forge ahead with — or consider — reopening the border in its next phase of eased restrictions has been far from certain over the past month. Premier Palaszczuk even suggested that the border could remain closed until September. After the last national cabinet meeting on Friday, June 12, however, Queensland officials have been quoting July 10 as the date the state is aiming for. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, June 15, Premier Palaszczuk said that "our roadmap clearly says July 10". She confirmed that the state government "will review at the end of the month, but it is our clear intention that July 10 would be the date for consideration". [caption id="attachment_743610" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] A day earlier, at a press conference on Sunday, June 14, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young also stated July 10 as the target date, as dependent upon a review at the end of June. "At the end of this month, we will review all of that epidemiology — not only us here in Queensland, but across the country — to make those decisions about our border," she said. Young explained that just when Queensland opens back up depends on a number of factors, including the ongoing levels of community transmission in southern states, while advising that the target date would only change if "something was very different either way". Expanding upon that further, Young noted that "if something were to happen interstate, I'm sure everyone would expect that we then push that date out". In good news, she also advised that "if things were a lot better, then of course we could bring that date forward, as did happen for this month's stage two." Initially, Queensland's second stage of eased COVID-19 restrictions was due to kick off on June 12, but was then brought forward to June 1. At the same Sunday press conference, Deputy Premier Steven Miles also said that opening up to New South Wales but not Victoria is a possibility — depending on community transmission levels — and that some work had been done in exploring the logistics, although it's not a favoured option. "Our preference would be to lift the borders all at once, hopefully on the 10th of July," he noted. If you're a Queenslander hoping to hop over the border for a mid-year holiday — and come back home without any hassle — the confirmation of July 10 as the target border reopening date will be a welcome development. If you're a resident of the rest of the country eager to soak in the Sunshine State's splendours during winter, it will be as well. At the federal level, the Australian government has also been aiming for July as the date the country's internal borders are lifted, as noted in the national three-step roadmap out of COVID-19 lockdown announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in May. But, like all coronavirus restrictions — whether being implemented or eased — each step has to be put in place by every state individually. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Tourism and Events Queensland
For the second year in a row, North Byron Bay Parkland won't be welcoming in bands and music lovers this July, with Splendour in the Grass' 2021 festival already rescheduled to November. But if enjoying a jam-packed lineup of tunes is a cherished part of your winter routine, that's still on the cards, with the fest's organisers announcing that a new virtual Splendour event will take place in its usual midyear times slot. Called Splendour XR, the mud-free two-stage event will pop up across the weekend of Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25 — but you'll be watching along from home. Or, from wherever you choose to tune in via your mobile, tablet, browser, desktop or VR headset, all to watch more than 50 acts take to the virtual stage over two days. Leading the charge are headliners Khalid and The Killers. The former will do the honours on Saturday, while the latter will take over on Sunday. They'll be joined by a hefty list of talent, including Chvrches, Denzel Curry, Duke Dumont, Tash Sultana, Violent Soho, Phoebe Bridgers and Band of Horses on the first day, plus Charlie XCX, Vance Joy, The Avalanches, Of Monsters and Men, The Jungle Giants and Ocean Alley on the second. If you're wondering how Splendour XR will work, that's understandable — and no, you won't just be watching old gig footage or clips from past Splendours. Instead, the fest will feature new, never-before-seen live sets that have been created especially for the virtual event. And, while they'll be available to watch worldwide, the fest will operate on Australian time — running from 12pm–2am AEST each day, with tunes starting from 2pm. You'll also be able to view the performances for seven days afterwards. Splendour organisers are also aiming to take as much of the IRL festival experience with them into the virtual realm, too, with attendees set to access "an imaginatively embellished but faithful recreation of Splendour's Byron Bay venue", according to the festival announcement. You'll also create your own schedule so that you can hop between stages to see whoever you like, and you'll be able to virtually meet up with your mates in the process as well. Also part of the fest: raising funds for live music industry workers, mental health and wellbeing, and sustainability. There'll also be an online medical centre designed to help anyone that's struggling with their mental health after the chaos of the past 15 months or so. Obviously, attending Splendour XR will be much, much kinder to your bank balance than going to the real thing. Tickets start at $17.49 for one day for existing Splendour IRL ticketholders during early bird sales, which are open now — and max out at $49.99 for both days when it gets down to final release tickets (just a couple of days out from the event). SPLENDOUR XR LINEUP: DAY 1 Khalid Chvrches Denzel Curry Duke Dumont Tash Sultana Masked Wolf Russ Millions Band Of Horses Little Simz Violent Soho Aurora Phoebe Bridgers Vera Blue Pink Sweat$ Client Liaison Griff Pond Tayla Parx Dune Rats Methyl Ethel The Chats Triple One Cat & Calmell King Stingray The Southern River Band DAY 2 The Killers Charli XCX Vance Joy Grimes Metaverse (Super Beta) The Avalanches Of Monsters and Men Kaytranada Black Pumas Hot Dub Time Machine Millennium Parade The Jungle Giants Ocean Alley Jungle What So Not King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Sinéad Harnett Holly Humberstone Spacey Jane Crooked Colours Amyl and The Sniffers Wafia Aviva The Snuts Band-Maid Ziggy Ramo Gretta Ray Splendour XR will take place on Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25. For further details or to buy tickets, head to the festival website. Top image: Mitch Lowe.
Everyone has different ideas of the perfect holiday - lying on a tropical beach until you're as brown as Giorgio Armani might be your thing, or maybe you dream of walking the El Camino Del Ray. But you would be hard-pressed to find someone that doesn't have a trip to Italy on their bucket list. Who could possibly not love a land of the best pizza and ice cream you will ever eat? Italy is not just about the food though, as the folks at Mr & Mrs Smith know. Their website offers reviews of the most unique and stylish hotels from all over the world, for those who are looking for an alternative to the bland monotony of Holiday Inns. They've now created a beautiful coffee-table-worthy travel guide of Italy, including, of course, 32 of the country's coolest boutique hotels from the grand, baroque kind to the sweet and rustic and hidden coastal retreats. Also included is an insider lowdown of what to do in each destination, including restaurant recommendations, what to pack and tips like which deli sells the best prosciutto or which vineyard to visit for the most romantic day. A perfect Christmas present for someone who's been talking about doing the Italy trip for far too long. To win one of five books by Mr & Mrs Smith, make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au (for Australia) or auckland@concreteplayground.co.nz (for New Zealand) by Wednesday 7 December, 2011 at 5pm. Winners will be notified by email soon after.
If you've ever had a sneaky little go with some small person's Lego blocks once they're all tucked up in bed, Legoland sees you, tips you their hat…and raises you an adults-only night at their Melbourne Discovery Centre. And it's not just any old evening for more mature Lego fans, but a special May 4th edition dedicated to Star Wars. With no children to get in the way (or outdo your creations), you'll be able to go full jedi and check out the 4D cinema and rides, take a tour, and build to your heart's content in the brick pits. Among the mini Melbourne attractions will be galactic activities, including a Star Wars characters and a themed speed-building comp. If you're lucky, you could win a Lego Millennium Falcon (which is amazingly worth of $1k). The party takes place from 7pm on May 4, with tickets costing $32.50. More of Legoland's regular adult nights will be announced soon.
The humble hotel restaurant-and-bar combo is levelling up with each new opening. And Melbourne's latest, housed within the newly launched Next Hotel Melbourne, is an absolute doozy. La Madonna opens its doors on Thursday, April 1, showing off a warmly chic space that spreads across the hotel's entire third floor — and cementing its status as one of the most hyped new additions to the ever-growing 80 Collins Street precinct. At once swanky and understated, the venue is decked out in a mix of old-world and mid-century modern features, with a healthy dose of marble, sumptuous textures and rich leather lounges. You'll spy a soaring glass cabinet brimming with cheese and charcuterie, while a striking ceramics installation crafted by artist Jodie Gray hangs from the ceiling. Heading up the kitchen is the dynamic duo of Daniel Natoli and Adrian Li — two renowned Melbourne chefs who've previously worked together at the likes of Donovan's, Saigon Sally and Tokyo Tina. Here, the pair is joining forces to deliver a creatively charged seasonal offering that pays homage to their respective Sicilian and Hong Kong heritages. For the snackers, there are crafty bites like salt and vinegar zucchini fritto, a smoked eel dip finished with Yarra Valley roe, and grilled ox tongue skewers with a bonito glaze and salsa verde. Pasta options might include pappardelle dressed in a rich ragu of pork, beef and fennel, while larger plates run to the likes of baked John Dory matched with Sichuan flavours and a warm tomato vinaigrette. You might remember hearing that Next Melbourne is the first Australian hotel to barrel age its own spirits. And up here on level three is where the magic happens. At the heart of La Madonna is The Barrel Room — a cosy chamber lined with barrels where Spirits Master Phil Smithers is helming an innovative barrel maturation program, featuring an array of different spirits, cocktails and herbal liquors. You can wrangle one of the eight Barrel Room seats for a close-up tasting experience, or see the program's results at play throughout the rest of La Madonna's offering. The drinks list showcases plenty of these barrel-matured creations, across sips like a rhubarb and tonka bean soda, a gimlet starring river mint cordial, and a daiquiri that blends aged rum with mango and a chamomile grappa. Soon, you'll be able to sit down to a special tasting pairing cheese with variously aged spirits, and you'll likely spy the results of some barrel-aged condiment experimentation hitting the food menu — and sip barrel-aged wine, too. On the vino front, the diverse curation largely heroes sustainable winemakers and small-scale local labels. Find La Madonna on Level 3 of Next Hotel Melbourne, from Thursday, April 1 — open daily from 7am till late. Entry is via 103 Little Collins Street, Melbourne.
The pursuit of the American Dream at any cost has long been a fertile device for screenwriters. Just recently, both American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall Street showcased the extraordinary true stories of money-hungry shysters determined to rise above their humble or inauspicious beginnings, no matter the consequences. Similarly, Margin Call and The Big Short offered portraits of success attained by comparably distasteful (if rather more legitimate) means. In the context of these films, Gold, by writer-director Stephen Gaghan falls somewhere in between. Based on the real life events of the 1990s Bre-X Minerals fiasco, the film chronicles the rise and fall of a simple American prospector turned overnight millionaire named Kenny Wells (Matthew McConaughey). Balding, overweight and down to his last dime, Kenny's a third generation mining prospector staving off foreclosure of his family business, a predicament that renders him more than willing to embrace all that wealth and power can provide once they're suddenly within his grasp. Where the film departs from the norm, at least notionally, is that Kenny always maintains that his drive and determination is grounded in the discovery of gold, not the money that it provides. Gold hence finds itself in the peculiar position of framing the story as one of 'us versus them' in which both the us (simple prospectors) and them (hedge fund managers and mining companies) are ludicrously wealthy. Money itself is not the point of distinction but rather how that money was acquired: 'dirt in the nails grit' versus 'manhattan investment', so to speak. McConaughey delivers a committed and captivating performance; one for which he gained a full 18kgs to ensure his sizeable beer gut required neither special effects nor prosthetics. Gripped by a fever determined to kill him, and grappling with a Hail Mary mining prospect in the jungles of Indonesia that refuses to yield even a hint of gilded hope, McConaughey's performance oozes doggedness and desperation in equal measures. Opposite him, Édgar Ramírez puts in a far more reserved turn as Wells' geologist and business partner Michael Acosta. Together they make a likeable duo, and it's a crying shame how little of the film Ramírez actually occupies. Unfortunately, despite the fine work of the cast, Gold feels like a story unsure of how best to be told, flicking between Scorsese-esque drama and quirky irreverence. None of the characters feel entirely fleshed out, and are instead presented more like passengers on a plot line that prioritises events over individuals. The movie's eventual 'twist', meanwhile, is legitimately surprising to those unfamiliar with the Bre-X story, however its reveal so close to the end renders the remaining few minutes far too rushed to sufficiently deal with its impact and implications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdLXPv5NsA4
In the first season of The Last of Us, Joel (Pedro Pascal, The Wild Robot) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget) didn't always get along, but their best chance for survival was together. In season two, as the just-dropped full trailer for the HBO hit's long-awaited return shows, that may no longer be the case. Amid warnings about monsters — and scenes showing why those cautions are so important — the most-haunting moment of the new sneak peek arrives with two words: "you swore". Ellie flings that phrase at Joel like she's throwing a weapon — and it cuts deep. Exactly why, and also why the pair are in conflict with each other, will start to be revealed from Monday, April 14, 2025. Yes, the wait for this game-to-TV smash's seven-episode second season is almost over. In Australia, watching The Last of Us season two will also mean signing up for a new streaming service, as it'll stream via HBO's own platform Max, which is launching locally on Monday, March 31. How does humanity endure in the aftermath of the Cordyceps virus, and the global devastation caused by it? What does it mean to persist? Also, who do we become in the process? Audiences will find out again in mid-autumn. The new trailer for The Last of Us isn't the first glimpse at the show's second season — others have come as images, in promos for the network's full upcoming slate and via teaser trailers — but it does firmly set the scene for what's to come. Prepare for a time jump. Prepare for a guitar. Prepare for hordes of infected. Prepare for flames. Prepare for an eerie feeling, too. Also, prepare for sirens, flares and a stern warning: "there are just some things everyone agrees are just wrong", one of the teasers advises. In season two, it's been five years since the events of season one. And while there has been peace, it clearly isn't here to stay. The show's main duo also have company from both familiar faces and a heap of newcomers in its second season. Rutina Wesley (Monster High) and Gabriel Luna (Fubar) return as Maria and Tommy, while Kaitlyn Dever (Apple Cider Vinegar), Isabela Merced (Alien: Romulus), Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction), Young Mazino (Beef), Ariela Barer (How to Blow Up a Pipeline), Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope), Spencer Lord (Family Law), Danny Ramirez (Black Mirror) and Catherine O'Hara (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) are the season's additions. The Last of Us made the leap from video games to TV in 2023, and was swiftly renewed after proving a massive smash instantly. The series gave HBO its most-watched debut season of a show ever — and its first episode was also the network's second-largest debut of all time. Locking in a second season was also hardly surprising because the 2013 game inspired a 2014 expansion pack and 2020 sequel. For first-timers to the franchise on consoles and as a TV series, The Last of Us kicked off 20 years after modern civilisation as we know it has been toppled by a parasitic fungal infection that turns the afflicted into shuffling hordes. Pascal plays Joel, who gets saddled with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie (his Game of Thrones co-star Ramsey) out of a strict quarantine zone to help possibly save humanity's last remnants. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version, if that was an easy task, of course — and if the pair didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey. As a television series, The Last of Us hails from co-creator, executive producer, writer and director Craig Mazin, who already brought a hellscape to HBO (and to everyone's must-watch list) thanks to the haunting and horrifying Chernobyl. He teams up here with Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog, who also penned and directed The Last of Us games. Check out the full trailer for The Last of Us season two below: The Last of Us season two will arrive on Monday, April 14, 2025 Down Under, streaming via Max in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of the first season. Images: Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Elizabeth Richter is used to expounding the benefits and tastiness of vegan food, having run her vegan meal delivery service, The Veggie Chef, for quite a few years now. Her next venture builds on what she loves — she has opened a vegan cafe called Ubuntu on Hawthorn's Burwood Road. Richter opened Ubuntu in response to feedback she was getting from her Veggie Chef customers, who would complain that there was no tasty, nutritious vegan fare in their area. The cafe has a compact menu of sweet and savoury dishes, and plenty of gluten-free options. While the menu makes mention of many 'cheeses' and 'meats', Richter promises that everything is strictly vegan and plant-based. Dishes include french toast with berry compote, pistachios and maple syrup; a croque madame with vegan bacon and 'cheese'; loaded sweet potato fries; and a triple cheeseburger with tempeh and 'haloumi' on a charcoal bun. Richter has also done a bit of experimenting when it comes to the 'eggs', too — there's a hyper-realistic vegan egg on the go, which yolks just like a real yolk; an impressive feat. Accompanying the food, and not to be forgotten, is the colourful superfood latte menu. The point of interest here is the butterfly pea flower latte. A teal-coloured coffee alternative that uses monk fruit (a fruit native to southern China and northern Thailand) juice, dates and cinnamon as natural sweeteners, it looks just as pretty on your table as it does on your Instagram feed. Richter says opening the restaurant hasn't been easy — she jokes that she has been sleeping at the cafe at night – but that it will pay off, as she's bringing Hawthorn something a little different (even if the eggs do look just like eggs). Ubuntu Vegan Cafe is open at 460 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, from 7am–4pm Tuesday through Sunday.
Bernie Tierde is a kind-hearted and compassionate assistant funeral director from a small town community. He wouldn't hurt a fly, so how would he be able to murder a woman? Everyone in the town of Carthage, Texas has a very special fondness for Bernie (Jack Black), who spends his days comforting widows, bestowing gifts and singing at services. The townsfolk are shocked, however, when Bernie strikes up an unlikely connection with the richest, meanest old widow in town, Marjorie Nugent (Shirley Maclaine). The two travel the world together, shop, and gossip, until one day Marjorie goes missing and Bernie is the prime suspect for her murder. Based on events which really did occur about 15 years ago, much of the film is presented in documentary style, with interviews of the townsfolk and their comedic takes on the turn of events inserted into the film's narrative. Black gives an authentic performance as the complex character of Bernie, and Maclaine puts in a similarly strong showing as the impatient, overbearing old hag that everyone loves to hate. Concrete Playground has ten double passes to giveaway to see Bernie. To go in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Hamer Hall's doors might be physically closed to the public, but its music vault is very much open. And it's pumping out a cracking lineup of virtual gigs to see you happily through the next few weeks of lockdown. The Vault Sessions are now streaming every Thursday evening, featuring a curation of much-loved local artists teleported right to your living room. Arts Centre Melbourne has assembled a top-notch collection of home-grown talent for this weekly digital concert series, next featuring the blissful sounds of rising star singer-songwriter Alice Skye, on Thursday, July 23. The Wergaia and Wemba Wemba woman has been throwing down the hits since her 2018 debut album Friends With Feelings and is gearing up for the release of her next Jen Cloher-produced album later this year. There'll be more gold to follow, with Sydney hip hop artist Ziggy Ramo taking the stage on Thursday, July 30 and the legendary Cash Savage and The Last Drinks streaming on Thursday, August 6. The virtual gigs are free to watch and will kick around online for two weeks after the initial stream goes live. And best of all, you won't have to battle anyone for a front-row seat. Images: Teresa Noble
If potentially finding your parched self a tall drink of water in the otherwise dry desert of the Melbourne dating scene isn't a good enough reason to head along to a speed dating night, we have another: as well as livening up your dating life, you might just be contributing to ending world hunger. So it will go at CitySwoon Charity Fundraiser event, The Party to End World Hunger. Singletons, unite — open to any age, gender and orientation, the party will incorporate drinks and dating rounds facilitated by your hosts from CitySwoon. The hosts will match you with five or six potentials, and there'll also be a DJ post-rounds if someone takes your fancy and you want to stick around for dance. All proceeds from the night will go to The Hunger Project Australia, supplying food to those in need. The Hunger Project's goal is to end world hunger by 2030 and break the poverty cycle. CitySwoon holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest blind date ever, so you know the team knows what they're doing. Tickets are $49, or $34 for CitySwoon members, so sign up now — good things can happen. The Party to End World Hunger will take place on Saturday, November 17 from 7pm. To purchase a ticket, head to the CitySwoon website.
When a franchise has spent more than a decade intertwining 20-plus films and multiple TV shows, watching along often becomes a game of 'spot the other superheroes'. Yes, we're talking about the never-ending, always-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, which loves popping as many caped crusaders as it can into its flicks and shows — and serving up surprises, too, beyond the usually sizeable list of main spandex-wearing players that any of its movies or series have already announced. The next film set to do just that: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the 28th big-screen chapter in the MCU, the followup to huge 2021 hit Spider-Man: No Way Home and the direct sequel to 2016's Doctor Strange. It first dropped a trailer last December, back when No Way Home arrived. In fact, that trailer was tacked onto the end of the Spidey flick if you sat through it till the very end of the credits. But now Marvel has released a second sneak peek at Doctor Strange's next adventures — Super Bowl day is always a big trailer day in the US, which is why it's dropping now — and it comes with quite the tease. Already, fans knew that The Power of the Dog Oscar-nominee Benedict Cumberbatch is popping his Doctor Strange cloak back on, as he did in No Way Home. We were also already that this new dive into the mystic arts would include a post-WandaVision Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) — plus Benedict Wong (Nine Days) as Wong, Rachel McAdams (Game Night) as Strange's ex Dr Christine Palmer and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Locked Down) as fellow Master of the Mystic Arts Mordo, too. The new trailer seems to add to the film's cast in a huge way, however, which is exceptional news for anyone that's loved movies based on Marvel comics since other superhero teams were doing big things in the early 2000s pre-Iron Man. The surprise is best discovered by watching, could signal the arrival of a whole heap of other familiar characters into the MCU, and arrives in a trailer that sees Doctor Strange forced to face the consequences of breaking the rules for Peter Parker. Indeed, Wanda points out that the repercussions for his actions appear to have been rather different than the fallout for hers post-WandaVision, and she's really not thrilled about it. Expect Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to serve up will trippy Inception-style imagery, Strange's brooding demeanour and Marvel's usual world-in-peril shenanigans as well, all in a flick that also boasts a nice piece of symmetry. The movie marks the MCU filmmaking debut of acclaimed Evil Dead franchise director Sam Raimi, the man who helmed the original three Spider-Man movies in the 00s, way back before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was even a glimmer in the comic book company's eye, and obviously long before Doctor Strange and Tom Holland's Spider-Man became pals. Check out the latest Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness trailer below: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness releases in cinemas Down Under on May 5, 2022. Images: Photos courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
New venues, a highly topical opening night film, eagerly anticipated premieres and plenty of festival circuit hits — that's the Melbourne International Film Festival's first major lineup reveal for 2019. While MIFF has been dropping small program hints for a few weeks — including a live movie-and-music performance by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and a screening of fantastic French drama Girlhood with an all-new live score — the festival has saved plenty of excitement for this hefty initial announcement. Yes, it's time to start counting down the days until August 1, booking a couple of weeks off and preparing to spend a whopping 18 days in a cinema. Or cinemas, to be exact. MIFF always spreads itself across the inner city, and this year it'll be doing so at five new venues. Given ACMI's closure for renovations and temporary move to the Capitol Theatre as a result, it should come as no surprise that MIFF will be following suit. Also joining the festival fold are Plenary at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Arts House, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Auditorium and Carlton favourite Cinema Nova. https://youtu.be/dCfSZIXqRHA As for what you'll be seeing, MIFF 2019 will kick off with documentary The Australian Dream. Written by award-winning Australian journalist Stan Grant, it focuses on Adam Goodes, not only exploring his decorated AFL career but also his passionate work as an Indigenous rights activist. It's the second doco on the former Sydney Swans player this year, with The Final Quarter screening at the Sydney International Film Festival in June. Also on the local front, MIFF will host the Australian premiere of zombie comedy Little Monsters in its centrepiece slot, with the Sundance-debuting film directed by Down Under's Abe Forsythe and led by Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o. Elsewhere in the program, the Melbourne-shot Angel of Mine brings Noomi Rappace back to the psychological thriller genre, Judy and Punch pairs Mia Wasikowska with Damon Herriman, and the Alia Shawkat-starring Animals delves into thirty-something malaise courtesy of 52 Tuesdays' director Sophie Hyde. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tpMAkDATfg Other high-profile standouts include Ai Weiwei's latest documentary, The Rest, which continues his activism-focused examination of the global refugee crisis; The Art of Self Defence, featuring Jesse Eisenberg as an accountant whose joins an off-kilter karate studio; Tilda Swinton and her daughter Honor Swinton Byrne in the stunning 80s-set drama The Souvenir; and close-up cinematic portrait Your Face from Taiwanese slow cinema great Tsai Ming-liang. Melburnians can also look forward to Japanese teens forming an electro-pop band in We Are Little Zombies, Peter Strickland's haunted dress thriller In Fabric, and the 14-hour (yes, 14-hour), six-part Argentinian epic La flor. Plus, there's a deep dive into New Orleans life with Venice hit What You Gonna Do When the World's on Fire?, Harvey Weinstein documentary Untouchable, four-hour Watergate investigation Watergate — Or: How We Learned to Stop an Out of Control President and a 25th-anniversary screening of Béla Tarr's 432-minute opus Sátántangó. And that's all before the full 2019 MIFF program drops on Tuesday, July 9. The 2019 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 18 at a variety of venues around Melbourne. For further details, including the full program from Tuesday, July 9, visit the MIFF website.
Of all the things that Kristen Stewart can teach us, what it's like to shout into the void — what we expect to happen, why we do it, and the simple fact that we do it — might be the most surprising. Welcome to Personal Shopper, a ghost film haunted several times over, and haunting in just as many ways. Reuniting Stewart with her Clouds of Sils Maria director Olivier Assayas, this is a movie that takes full advantage of the actress' minimalist acting style. The former Twilight star is known, and has often been lambasted, for seeming distant and fidgety in her on-screen interactions. But in an age when most people spend hours staring at their iPhones waiting for three grey iMessage dots to turn into a connection, aren't we all guilty of the same thing? Here, Stewart is well and truly one of us – distracted and disconnected, glued to her phone, waiting and wondering what comes next. Her character Maureen, a medium who works as the assistant to a celebrity starlet, spends much of the movie texting back and forth with a mysterious unknown number, answering probing questions and slowly revealing her secrets. At the same time, she tries to reach out to her recently deceased twin, who died of a congenital heart defect that she's afflicted with as well. With everything from the not-quite-vampire flick Irma Vep, to the complex crime biopic Carlos, to the melancholy student drama After May on his extensive resume, writer-director Assayas is a master filmmaker attuned to the subtleties and ambiguities of life. Still, no matter how well shot, paced and structured his latest film may be, it'd be a shadow of itself without its lead actress. Stewart is perfectly cast in a role that Assayas wrote specifically for her. Her relatable blend of awkwardness and yearning, as she tackles the existential malaise that spooks us all, is the main reason the movie works so well. Personal Shopper is a moody, enigmatic horror flick; a spine-chiller that unfolds one text at a time. But that's not all it is. It's also a recognisable portrait of how difficult it is to stomach mundane daily tasks when you're grieving, even when you're working in a seemingly glamorous job. It shows what everyday communication is really like, without resorting to cutesy ways of throwing text messages around the screen. Finally, it contrasts physical mortality with the eternal virtual realm. Blend all that together and you're left watching an immersive, intriguing film that demonstrates how modern life has become a conversation with ghosts of the digital variety. That's what a truly contemporary scarefest is really all about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSqMpkGOW9g
Disney has its own. Apple has one too. And so does Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn. If you're fond of documentaries, you have not one but two local choices. The same applies if you're eager to get viewing for free, especially if you can handle retro flicks and titles that you've never heard of before. And if you're eager to support Australian content, there's one for that as well. We're talking about streaming platforms, of course. Throw in Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video, SBS On Demand and ABC iView, and Aussies can't say there isn't anything to watch. That's not an exhaustive list either, because this space just keeps growing — with a new service dedicated to British television now joining the fold as well. Britbox was already operational in the USA, Canada and, of course, the United Kingdom, but it only launched in Australia on Monday, November 23 — after announcing it was coming to our shores earlier this year. It's a joint collaboration between two English TV networks: the BBC and ITV. They both have a hefty stable of programs up their sleeves, and you can expect retro and recent series. Think Doctor Who, Absolutely Fabulous, The Office, Blackadder, Pride and Prejudice, Prime Suspect, The Vicar of Dibley and Mr Bean, for instance. There's also Luther, A Confession, and David Attenborough's Blue Planet and Planet Earth. And yes, the list goes on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2DCExerOsA Britbox focuses on box sets of UK shows, which means full seasons all there at once ready for audiences to stream. You can do to do so via mobile devices, tablets, connected TVs and Chromecast — and via the online site. And price-wise, it's offering a seven-day trial, with subscriptions costing $8.99 per month or $89.99 for a year. Britbox is now available to stream in Australia via the service's website.
Melbourne, we have a date. After many days of anticipation — and a delay as the state raced to contain an outbreak in the northern suburbs — Premier Daniel Andrews has today, Monday, October 26, announced exactly when metropolitan Melbourne's hospitality venues will be able to reopen for dine-in: 11.59pm on Tuesday, October 27. As part of this third step a few other restrictions will ease, too, including the scrapping of the four reasons to leave home; allowing the reopening of all retail; the reopening of beauty, personal and tattooing services; outdoor non-contact spot for adults can recommence; outdoor entertainment venues can host visitors; and weddings can increase to ten and funerals to 20. Outdoor gatherings will remain at ten, but they no longer need to be restricted to two households. In terms of hospitality venues, there'll be a maximum of 20 seated patrons indoors — with a limit of ten per space — and 50 people outdoors with one person per two square metres. Today's announcement did not include details on in-home visits, but the Premier said further details on these restrictions will be announced tomorrow. Some of the rules that aren't changing tomorrow: the 25-kilometre travel limit and the hard border between metro Melbourne and regional Victoria. That's part of another step, which will be taking place on Sunday, November 8. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1320474981877325830 From this November date, the 25-kilometre limit is set to be scrapped and the metro/regional border will go — "the state will be one again" as the Premier said. In metro Melbourne, gyms and fitness studios will be allowed to reopen — with a maximum of 20 people per space — hospitality venues will move to 40 people indoors and 70 outside, and religious gatherings will move to 20 people indoors and 50 outdoors. Indoor pools will also be allowed to open. The announcement comes as Victoria records zero new cases of COVID-19 for the first time since early June — 139 days ago. While the reopening of venues was paused while the government waited for the results of more than 1000 tests from the northern suburb, all of them came back negative. It's all positive news today, but the Premier warns that "it is not over". "This virus is not going away. It is going to continue to be a feature of our lives, it is going to be a feature of our lives every day until a vaccine turns up," the Premier said. " These are big steps. We have all given a lot, I'm so proud and impressed and humbled by the contribution that so many Victorian families have made, so many Victorian businesses have made, if this is to mean something we have to take our COVID-19 responsibilities to stay safe, and stay open, to stay safe and stay connected, we have to take those responsibility seriously." The steps announced by the Premier today are part of a the Victorian Government's previously announced five-step roadmap to a COVID-normal, with the Premier saying the state is on track to reach the final step (COVID-normal) by Christmas. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website — and for further details about Victoria's steps for reopening, head to the roadmap itself. Top image: Julia Sansone
VJing on now-defunct pay TV music channel Channel [V], then hosting Australian Idol, The Bachelor franchise and The Masked Singer: they're dream gigs. So is appearing as yourself on Neighbours and Offspring, narrating Bondi Rescue, popping up on everything from Thank God You're Here to Have You Been Paying Attention?, running successful podcasts and writing a book. Since getting his start in radio in Brisbane, Osher Günsberg has ticked off all of the above and more for over two decades, and has rarely been far from the spotlight — but he's also always wanted to make fun of the news live in front of an audience. That show now exists, complete with the requisite tongue-twister name: NTNNNN: Night Time News Network Nightly News with Osher Günsberg. "It's an old joke, but it works," Günsberg tells Concrete Playground, his enthusiasm evident over the phone. "How many Ns can you make it? I think The Chaser had four and I wanted to get more than that, so I've gone with five Ns." Premiering in January and playing Marrickville's Factory Theatre in Sydney until Friday, February 17, then set for a debut Victorian stint at Malthouse's Beckett Theatre from Thursday, March 30–Sunday, April 9 as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, NTNNNN is a fully improvised live satire of the news of the day. The show's targets don't stop with whatever's earning attention before each gig, however, also parodying the entire news industry plus Günsberg's stardom. "It's just such a ripe field to plough. It deserves fun being poked at it," Günsberg notes. "Essentially, it's a news show. It's like the six o'clock news or the late news, the 10.30 news. And it's the headlines of the day, with my intrepid NTNNNN news team out in the field — on stage," he continues. "It's completely unpredictable. It's news in the way you've never seen it before. It completely takes the piss out of what people want to cling to in times of uncertainty, which is someone being super sure on television — whether it be a leader or a news anchor or someone who's paid to do long-form editorials late at night on television. We have commercial breaks, because you've always got to have commercial breaks. And if you've never been in a TV studio for a filming, the commercial breaks are a very strange time. People at home are watching ads, but you in the studio are still there, and all the TV people are still in the room. So that actually happens." The end result: Günsberg in a comedic role that he doesn't usually get to slip into, and one that's worlds away from hosting The Bachelors and the like. He's also hoping that it's a step towards making NTNNNN an on-screen reality, as he explained in a chat about the onstage show, his own fame, his need to always give 100 percent and the best advice he's ever been given. "I've always wanted to host a live satirical news show. I'm going the long way about it, but yeah, absolutely, would I want to see this on TV one day? For sure. By the time that it gets there, will what we call television exist? Who knows. I'm only interested in building things that scale, so I'm going to see how far I can take it." ON MAKING HIS LIVE SATIRICAL NEWS SHOW DREAMS COME TRUE "I've always wanted to host a satirical news show since I was a kid. I've always felt that satire, particularly satire of news and current events, was as valuable in the public discourse as a really solid, well-researched editorial or a really great newspaper article that exposes something. I think satire has the ability to expose stuff that is usually shrouded in solemnity, for example the solemnity of office. 'Ooh, we can't say that, that person's very important' — but look what they've done, you know? When you use satire, you can break out of that stuff and look at things from a different angle. So I've always wanted to host a show like that, and I've had a few chances here and there — I've done a stint on a panel once or twice. And I guess I figured out that no one was going to walk down my front path knock on my door and say 'hey, we've got this great television show, can you come and host it?'. It was going to be up to me to create it, so that's what I've done. It's the news show that I've always wanted to host — it just isn't on television at the moment. But it plays with all of the language of television and television news, which is ridiculous. It's a product just like any of the TV shows that I make, and it deserves to have a bit of fun poked at it as well. So that's the show we've made." ON WHY MAKING FUN OF THE NEWS IS SO FUN — AND IMPORTANT "I think as the news becomes more and more of a product, in that it's a business — whether it's a website or a newspaper or a radio station, or a television network or program on a television network, essentially that's a product — it needs to rate. It needs to be able to justify the expense of it being created, so hopefully it brings in more money than it costs to make. There are ways to get that to rate. There are ways to get eyeballs onto your content, and it doesn't matter what's in the news — the way the news is framed is to try to push those numbers, which is also worth having a crack at. Those are the laughs that we find, I think: the laughs of just the ridiculousness of how the news is told, and the ridiculousness of the way the systems and the people who are in charge of those systems play the news against itself from one publication or one network to another. There's a way that you'll get quoted on one particular network and then the very same press conference will have a completely different soundbite, because that is the lens through which those networks view the situation. I think it is in exposing those moments and having fun with that, those are where the laughs are. So it doesn't matter what's in the news cycle, there's always something funny — there's always something to laugh at." ON TAKING THE PISS OUT OF HIMSELF AS WELL "I've been working in TV for nearly 25 years. It's ridiculous that I'm even still on air, so I think it's important — most of this is me taking the piss out of myself as well. I think I'm this ridiculous character on television, and I really enjoy taking the piss out of the way that I do some of the jobs that I do on television. I know I'm very good at them, but that's not everything about me. So it's funny for me to take the piss out of the person I become when I do those jobs — I think it's quite funny for me to have a crack at him, too. There's a lot to work with. I think there's this mystical idea of a person on television. I enjoy busting the bubble of what people think life is like when you have a job like the job that I have. Because there's only one person who's actually really living the mega mega mega mega dream, and that's the man who's the smartest with his money than any of us — that's bloody Larry Emdur. Me, I'm paycheque to paycheque, and I think that's hilarious — and well-worth making fun of. I was in television before the global financial crisis, and maybe there was a time when I was getting paid that kind of money. But, that was also a time when I was drinking very heavily, and I was doing really dumb stuff, so all that money's gone. And they don't pay that kind of money anymore, so it's pretty funny. I am going do whatever job people want me to. I have kids and a mortgage. I'm in the business of topping up my super and making sure I pay off my mortgage. I'm making sandwiches after this. I've got two podcasts going on, I'm trying to get this live show happening — I've got not enough room on my stove, there's that many irons in the fire." ON THE PATH TO NTNNNN "I'm nearly 50, and what you want in life changes over time. When I was working in radio at B105 in Brisbane, what I wanted in radio is certainly not what I want in radio now. Through this show, am I exorcising that need to question authority or challenge the status quo that I just adored watching people on television do when I was a kid? Yeah! I think that's important. Systems should be challenged, status quos should be challenged, because that's how you refine them. There's always 'ooh, you can't say that about the Prime Minister' — but you can. And it's useful when you do, if you do it in the right way. I'm thrilled to be calling back to that 14-year-old watching TV at night in Brisbane, feeling he was being naughty hearing someone say something about the leader of the country that he in his heart felt was also true. ON THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE HE'S EVER RECEIVED "I lived in America for about ten years, and my manager was an absolute legend of the game over there, a bloke by the name of John Ferriter — a really big bigwig. I was so lucky to get in with him, and he's the one who told me that only you know how hard you've worked to make your dreams come true. He's right. Because you can tell everyone around you, 'oh, I didn't get into that course' or 'oh, I didn't get the job' or 'oh, he doesn't want to go out with me'. And people will go, 'yeah, no problem, moving on'. But you're the only one that knows 'did I actually pick up the phone enough times, did I put the work in, did I study hard enough, did I train hard enough?'. You're the only one that knows that, and you're going to have to be okay with that. That means that whether you're going for a job on television, or you're going for a job at the coffee shop down the road, or you're studying for your grade ten exams or your grade 12 exams, or you're trying to pass your apprenticeship certificate, or you're going for uni — or you're trying to meet someone and convince someone to fall in love with you, or you're trying to date somebody — only you will lie in bed at night knowing how much effort you actually put in. For someone like me, I am no good if I haven't put in everything. So I'm pretty stuck, I've got to do it as hard as I can, because I can't rest if I don't." NTNNNN: Night Time News Network Nightly News with Osher Günsberg plays Marrickville's Factory Theatre in Sydney until Friday, February 17, and will then head to Malthouse's Beckett Theatre from Thursday, March 30–Sunday, April 9 as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Carrie Fisher is bringing back those famous bagel buns and reprising her role as Princess Leia in the upcoming Star Wars trilogy. Or at least, so says Carrie Fisher. Since Disney and LucasFilm confirmed the new Star Wars trilogy scheduled for release from 2015 would concern the post-Return of the Jedi era, the casting rumour mill has gone into hyperdrive. However, when asked by Palm Beach Illustrated if she would be back for the new saga, Fisher confidently declared "yes". She ventured that an older Leia "would be just like she was before, only slower and less inclined to be up for the big battle." Whilst Mark Hammil, the original Luke Skywalker, has said he is keen and Harrison Ford has not dismissed the notion of playing Han Solo, neither have been as definitive as Fisher. When contacted by Entertainment Weekly, LucasFilm representatives stated that "we haven’t made any announcements about casting". We hope Fisher is telling the truth though, else we are looking for casting information in Alde-wrong places. In the meantime, with no script written, fans can only speculate over what her role may be, but we reckon that bikini will be staying in the wardrobe this time round.
Leo is Vera's stepdaughter’s son. He turns up on her doorstep, fresh from a cross-country bike ride, at 3 in the morning, when she doesn’t even have her false teeth in. He’s just cycled all the way from Seattle to New York — hence the title of the play, 4000 Miles. He decides to stay with Vera rather than pitch a tent in the backstreets of Manhattan. Well, fair enough… we should all be lucky enough to have a grandma with a rent-controlled apartment near Chelsea. Over a couple of weeks of cosy cohabitation, Vera relates family stories to Leo, and reveals she's a lifelong communist. Leo is at first elusive about his own beliefs and backstory, but the mystery of what happened to his cycling buddy slowly unravels. Playwright Amy Herzog, just 33, achieved fame virtually overnight with 4000 Miles, dubbed "#1 Play of 2012!" by TIME magazine. It’s a family drama without sentimental shtick, exploring compassion, companionship, and our capacity for empathy. Come find out what Leo's secret is. BYO bike.
UPDATE: MARCH 18, 2020 — Hop Nation is currently offering free delivery within Melbourne metro for all orders over $75. To see what other venues are offering new takeaway options during the COVID-19 pandemic, head over here. As Melbourne's craft beer scene and its love affair with the western suburbs continue to explode simultaneously, it seems only fitting that the city's latest craft brewery has made a home in Footscray. A few sheds over from Back Alley Sally's — and just a stroll from fellow beer nerds Up in Smoke — the team behind Hop Nation have thrown open the doors to their brewpub, adding to the growing list of weekend fun to be had out west. After a stint gypsy brewing out of Cavalier and Hawkers, Sam Hambour and Duncan Gibson have finally found a place for Hop Nation to call its own — and it's too good not to share with the rest of the beer-loving community. All that 'blood, sweat and beer' the boys have put in has clearly paid off. The lofty, industrial space feels home-spun, yet far from sloppy with furniture crafted from pallets, the bar clad in recycled timber, and striking artwork jazzing up the exposed brick walls. Nab a seat up on the roomy mezzanine level to team your pint with a birds' eye view of the whole operation. Alongside a trio of guest beers from the likes of Bad Shepherd and Rodenbach, the bar's currently pouring all five Hop Nation brews, with small batch projects set to hit the taps as they drop. The boys' hop-inspired range has a little something for every palate, from the malty American red ale they call The Buzz to the lively Sturm, a limited release collaboration with the Yarra Valley's Jamsheed Wines, brewed with wild fermenting Riesling juice. Meanwhile, a short but thoughtful wine list nods to the brewers' winemaking backgrounds and dinner comes courtesy of a rotation of food trucks. So far there have been appearances from La Revolucion, El Chivi and 3 Lil Monsters and a Pizza Truck, but you can keep an eye on the brewery's Facebook page to see what's on the menu for your visit. Whether you're a craft beer rookie or a seasoned pro, nothing beats drinking a pint of beer fresh from the source — especially when you get to do it in a space as nifty as Hop Nation's new digs.
Airbnb have a habit of coming up with wacky, adrenaline-inducing places to stay the night — like this shark tank, the end of a ski jump, or the Catacombs of Paris. Their latest listing is no less exciting, though it may have your heart pounding for an entirely different reason. On October 15, Airbnb is giving one lucky chump and three of your best (and most musical) mates the opportunity to spend a night in Studio 3 of Abbey Road Studios. And on top of that, you'll be hosted by legendary DJ, singer, songwriter, producer and all-round super musician Mark Ronson. Yep, imagine snoozing in the same studio where Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon was recorded. The last time anyone slept in Abbey Road Studios was in June, 1969, when an artist requested it. Thanks to Airbnb, the next person could be you (and Ronson will be your tour guide). Ronson grew up just around the corner from the studios and will greet the four lucky guests before they explore the entire building. They will have access to everything the historic studios have to offer, from the Beatles' cigarette-burned piano to the world's largest mixing board, and will be immersed in the rich musical history of the iconic building. Later in the evening, after hearing some of Mark's tips and stories about the building, they will even have the opportunity to pick up an instrument and record their own song. All you have to do to enter is click here and tell Airbnb a bit about yourself, which song you wish you'd been at the studios to see recorded and why. And the best bit? They'll even fly you to London from anywhere in the world. The house rules are pretty simple. Among a few other directions, you can crank up the volume (they have good sound proofing, as you'd expect) and answer the phone with a simple "Hello, it's me." They also ask that you "Don't go chasing pavements," although we think they might offer an exception if it's the zebra crossing out the front. And the last rule? "Leave your mark." Don't mind if we do.
Dance parties are back on the menu for 2021, with Untitled Group pulling together the tastemakers and boundary-pushers of the Australian dance music scene for the return of their famed day parties. Headlined by Coachella and Splendour in the Grass alumni Willaris.K, the Day Party will see the cream of our local DJ crop converge on the Coburg Velodrome come Saturday, March 20. Former Triple J House Party presenter KLP, Late Nite Tuff Guy, Torren Foot and Made In Paris are among the other acts billed to perform in the Velodrome. Untitled Music has been putting together virtual day parties in lockdown, with Hayden James, Dom Dolla, and Willaris.K all performing live-streamed sets over the last six months. Now, following the rolling back of Melbourne's restrictions, the event organisers have announced they'll be bringing back the audience and taking the day party to the people. The announcement gives Victorians hope that live music could be back to some level of normality next year. Tickets start at $69. Pre-sale starts at 5pm on Thursday, October 30, with registration closing at 3pm. General sale kicks off at 12pm on Friday, October 31.
Fear, dread, tension, apprehension, just being creeped out — they're all strong emotions. They're also exactly the types of reactions that Darkfield and Realscape Productions trade in. The two companies have been teaming up for a couple of years now, with UK creators Darkfield first collaborating with the Melbourne-based Realscape Productions on Seance, Coma and Flight, those eerie shipping container installations that have popped up around the country. Then, when the pandemic hit, the pair pivoted to at-home audio experiences. If you've listed along to Double, Visitors and Eternal as part of the Darkfield Radio series — all of which are back streaming again now — you'll know that putting people on edge is firmly on the agenda here. Announcing their latest Darkfield Radio project, Darkfield and Realscape aren't messing with their successful formula — so audiences can expect another unsettling experience designed to be listened to at home. But this duo never serve up the same thing twice, even if their current works all spin nerve-jangling tales and unfurl creepy audio experiences. With Knot, which'll make its Australian premiere on Friday, June 25, you won't just sit in one place, don your headphones and listen attentively, for instance. You'll initially head to a park bench to listen in — still wearing those headphones, of course — and then you'll need to sit in a car. For the last section of this three-part experience, you'll then get comfy in a room in your house. To get the full experience, you need to work through all three of Knot's sections in one evening — untangling them in your head, naturally. Darkfield and Realscape always keep the minutiae of their shows close to their chests, so that audiences experience them for themselves while listening, but they have released one clue for Knot: "Here I am, I have come from nothing, created in this moment, as your brain improvises me into existence, improvised into existence... but with no hidden depths." "Season one exposed audiences to the mysterious and supernatural inside their homes, magnified by Darkfield's signature 360 degree binaural sound,", said Realscape Productions Amy Johnson. "We're looking forward to getting audiences outside of their homes for Season two — in COVID-safe settings of course — and pushing them out of their comfort zones even more." Leading Darkfield Radio's second season, Knot will arrive in Australia fresh from playing as part of the Tribeca Film Festival's 2021 immersive lineup. The company's shows have been earning that kind of attention over the past year, with season one becoming the first audio-only experience to ever be a part of Venice International Film Festival last year. Knot will be available to listen to every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between Friday, June 25–Sunday, September 30. For further details or to buy tickets, head to the Darkfield website. Images: Empty Bottles Media.
Get up close and personal with some of Australia's biggest YouTube stars in this multi-venue video installation taking over the shopfronts of North Melbourne. As part of Next Wave 2016, artists Xanthe Dobbie and Tiyan Baker have collaborated with six YouTubers — including Andrew Ucles, Damielou Shavelle and Shyamali Sinha of Foodie's Hut — on a series of intimate video portraits showing a side of the internet celebrities that their subscribers don't usually get to see. The videos will be on display Tuesdays through Saturdays across the duration of the Next Wave Festival. Dobbie and Taker will also hold a walking tour on Saturday, May 7 and a YouTube workshop on Sunday, May 8. INSTALLATION LOCATIONS Kenny & the Sunshine Girls – 113 Errol Street Counter – 104 Errol Street Quirk & Co. – 466 Victoria Street Casa Verde Flowers – 40 Errol Street Crumbs Organic Bakehouse – 16 Errol Street North Melbourne Library – 66 Errol Street Joe Taylor – 7 Errol Street
Before Succession first graced TV screens back in 2018, you mightn't have quite realised exactly how entertaining it is to watch people squabbling. Not just everyday characters, either, but the constantly bickering — and ridiculously wealthy and privileged — family of a global media baron. It's not just the arguing and power plays that make this hit HBO series compulsively watchable, however, but the witty words flung about, the scathing insults shot back and forth, and the pitch-perfect performances that deliver every verbal blow. The result: one of the best shows currently airing on television. Of course, Succession hasn't actually been on our screens for a couple of years now, with the series' last season dropping back in 2019. Now, after a pandemic delay, the show is set to return sometime this spring. Neither HBO nor Foxtel, who airs the series in Australia, has announced an exact date, but they have just dropped a welcome new trailer. Yes, it's time to soak up your latest glimpse of the fictional Roy family, including the always-formidable Brian Cox (Super Troopers 2) as patriarch Logan, and Jeremy Strong (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Kieran Culkin (Infinity Baby), Alan Ruck (Gringo) and Australian actor Sarah Snook (Pieces of a Woman) as his four adult children. If you've seen the past two seasons, you'll know that this brood's tenuous and tempestuous relationship has only gotten thornier as we've all watched. Based on the heated words swapped in this new teaser, that obviously won't change any time soon. For Succession newcomers, the series follows the Roys as Logan's offsprings try to position themselves as next in line to his empire. It's clearly set among the one percent, in lives that most folks will never know — but the idea that depiction doesn't equal endorsement is as rich in Succession as its always-disagreeing characters. Created by Peep Show's Jesse Armstrong — someone who knows more than a thing or two about black comedy — this Emmy, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, Writers Guild and Directors Guild Award-winner is savagely smart, darkly biting and often laugh-out-loud funny about its chosen milieu. And in the words of cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun, Zola) in this new sneak peek, yes, that sounds kinda dramatic. Check out the Succession season three trailer below: Succession's third season is set to air on Foxtel in Australia sometime this spring — we'll update you with exact details when they're announced.
