It's no coincidence that everyone's dream occupation is astronaut. Astronauts get to travel into truly unchartered spaces; they are pioneers who feel and see things the rest of us humble earthlings could only dream of. Until now, I guess. Today NASA have launched the very first live HD broadcast of Earth thereby making all the wonders of the universe free and accessible to every slovenly astro-novice sitting at home on their couch. Basically, the internet is the greatest. Live HD Earth viewing from the space station! Sit back, watch & enjoy our home planet: http://t.co/3rUbOQEWpt #ISS pic.twitter.com/DfGBVB2FI9 — NASA (@NASA) May 8, 2014 This thing is so good it might just beat Pandacam. Maybe. Set from a vantage point on the International Space Station, NASA has positioned four cameras facing Earth. Housed in temperature specific casing these cameras have in fact been designed with the help of American high school students, and the High Definition Earth Viewing Experiment (HDEV) is only an experiment with which to test their durability. So far, it's safe to say the cameras are doing their job. The footage is surprisingly clear and the stream is relatively uninterrupted. A grey screen does however separate footage from each camera angle, and if you can only see darkness that's due to the ISS orbit. (Come on — I know you're not an astronaut, but you have a basic understanding of how planets work, right?) While watching the stream, users can also add comments and interact with other viewers via Facebook plugins and chat options. Already viewed over 7 million times, the footage is an incredibly humbling experience not only for its astronomical proportions, but for its communal nature. Even Garth from Wayne's World is on board. NASA is streaming HD video from space: When it flies over California you can just about see me waving...I'm tiny. RT http://t.co/3bfwyM3EWb — Dana Carvey (@danacarvey) May 7, 2014 Best of all, the broadcast footage comes in total eerie silence. "There is no audio on purpose," NASA state. "Add your own soundtrack." We recommend Pink Floyd or anything from The Beatles psychedelic phase. This is every stoner kid's dream come true. Live streaming video by Ustream Via BGR and Mashable.
Chicago house DJ Derrick Carter will be bringing his legendary skills to New Guernica for New Year's Day, and we’re pretty pumped. This one may be a little more ideal for those who plan to party on NYE as well, seeing as the event doesn't kick off until 6pm. The evening will start with a laneway party of sorts in Chuckle Park, with DJs cranking and food available for those who need to build some strength before dancing all night. As well as general admission tickets there are also drink packages available for the organised, so if you're keen to kick off 2015 in a fairly colossal way, check it out.
Italian aperitivo with a tropical tiki twist. It's the combo you never knew you needed in your life and it's here to spice up summer. Introducing, Aperitiki — the new weekend event taking over Vince's Bar above Rocco's this sunny season. From Friday to Sunday each week, until the end of summer, the Gertrude Street joint will be jumping to the sound of Italo-disco and surf rock, as cocktail whizz Joe Jones (Romeo Lane) whips up an exclusive menu of tiki-inspired cocktails heroing Italian aperitifs. You'll find sips like the Heartthrob — a blend of pisco, seasoned Campari, peach vermouth and tomato vinegar — the lager- and Aperol-infused Vince's Lager; and a fun fusion of coffee rum, Campari and pineapple known as the Early Bird. To match, Poodle's Josh Fry will be serving up his own take on the Aperitiki concept, in the form of snacks — think, coconut shrimp sandwiches and mortadella-stuffed fried olives — plus share-friendly mixed seafood towers. And if you get in early, you should be able to nab a sunny spot on the patio to enjoy it all. Aperitiki will run from 4pm–late Fridays and Saturdays, and from 3–8pm Sundays.
When Baz Luhrmann makes a new film, the world takes notice — including the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts and its annual awards. No stranger to heaping the filmmaker's movies with accolades, with every single one of his past flicks from Strictly Ballroom through to The Great Gatsby scoring nominations (and those two specific titles winning Best Film), AACTA has continued the trend by showering the director's latest in 2022 nods. Topping the just-announced nominations for this year's AACTA Awards — which were previously called the AFI Awards, before changing their name — Elvis picked up a whopping 15 nods, the most of any film. The accolades recognise the best and brightest in Australian cinema and television each year, with Mystery Road: Origin also scoring the same amount of noms in the TV categories. In their respective formats, Elvis and Mystery Road: Origin have plenty of company. The former is competing against Here Out West, Sissy, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, The Stranger and Three Thousand Years of Longing for 2022's Best Film, for instance — and the latter is up against Bump, Heartbreak High, Love Me, The Tourist and Wolf Like Me for the year's best television drama. The winners of those categories, and AACTA's full list of fields, will be announced in early December on two dates: Monday, December 5 and Wednesday, December 7. Also highlights among the film nominees: 13 nominations apiece for The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson and Three Thousand Years of Longing, Austin Butler getting an unsurprising Best Actor nomination for playing the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Nude Tuesday scoring a heap of love, acting nods for the powerful Blaze and a whole heap of recognition for The Stranger, including for writer/director Thomas M Wright. And, among the TV cohort, Mystery Road: Origin also picked up five noms in the four acting fields for TV dramas, spanning Mark Coles Smith, Tuuli Narkle, Daniel Henshall, Steve Bisley and Hayley McElhinney; Love Me and The Twelve nabbed ten nominations each across all categories; and Heartbreak High's James Majoos received the show's sole acting nod. Across both film and TV, a heap of international names graced the acting nominations, too, a common AACTAs trend. On 2022's list: Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton for Three Thousand Years of Longing, both the aforementioned Butler and Tom Hanks for Elvis, Sean 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. Here's a selection of this year's major AACTA nominations, ahead of the awards' ceremonies on Monday, December 5 and Wednesday, December 7 — and you can check out the full list on AACTA's website: AACTA NOMINEES 2022: FILM AWARDS: BEST FILM Elvis 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 Akoni Darklands Lonesome Pieces Smoke Between Trees BEST DIRECTION Baz Luhrmann, Elvis 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 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 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 BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Jada Alberts, The Stranger Jessica De Gouw, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson Olivia DeJonge, Elvis 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 George Miller and Augusta Gore, Three Thousand Years of Longing BEST DOCUMENTARY Ablaze Clean Everybody's Oma Franklin Ithaka River TELEVISION AWARDS: BEST DRAMA SERIES Bump Heartbreak High Love Me Mystery Road: Origin The Tourist Wolf Like Me BEST TELEFEATURE OR MINISERIES Barons Savage River The Twelve True Colours Underbelly: Vanishing Act BEST COMEDY PROGRAM Aftertaste Five Bedrooms Hard Quiz Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell Spicks and Specks Summer Love BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Mark Coles Smith, Mystery Road: Origin 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 Bojana Novakovic, Love Me BEST COMEDY PERFORMER Wayne Blair, Aftertaste Patrick Brammall, Summer Love Harriet Dyer, Summer Love Tom Gleeson, Hard Quiz 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 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
Sometimes, we all need to get a little lost. We need to leave our comfort zones — and the homes we've spent so much time in during the pandemic — and go wandering through an otherworldly realm. We need to play with echo light chambers, bound our way into giant bubbles, wander between shimmering digital vines and take a leap into a three-metre abyss, too, and just completely forget about our day-to-day troubles while we're moseying around a multi-sensory installation. If all of that sounds like your idea of heaven at the moment, it's about to become a reality in Melbourne again from Friday, November 12. That's when Imaginaria is bringing its immersive playground for kidults and children alike back to The District Docklands, and setting up shop until the end of January. If you weren't one of the 100,000-plus people who caught Imaginaria's last Melbourne season late last year and early this year, here's your chance to head along. And if you did make the trip last time, there's plenty to tempt you back for a return wander, including new installations and a collaboration with French filmmaker Thomas Vanz. This time, that aforementioned echo light chamber will respond to your movements — and you can jump into that three-metre cosmic abyss. The giant bubble will be filled with Vanz's hypnotic imagery, or you can recline on a seven-metre rotating bean bag perched underneath a light and sound constellation. In general, you can soak up an ambient soundscape that's designed by Alexander Albrecht and Nico as well. All of the above will still fall within a space that's made up of different structures, each filled with lights, sounds and smells. And yes, you'll still take your shoes off first, before exploring Imaginaria's new otherworldly realm. Melbourne's second dance with Imaginaria will be a choose-your-own-adventure kind of experience again, so you can spend 15 minutes skipping through or take your time. Open to all ages, it'll also have capacity limits and strict hygiene measures, with tickets starting at $29.95 a pop for adults. Imaginaria will set up at The District Docklands from Friday, November 12–Sunday, January 30, with tickets on sale now.
Your favourite band of merry parapsychologists is hitting the big screen once again — only for this special event they'll be backed live in concert by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Yep, the MSO will perform the musical score to cult hit flick Ghostbusters, live to picture, across three Hamer Hall screenings this April. You'll be able to revisit all the spooky fun of Ivan Reitman's award-winning 1984 title, following the adventures of three ghost-catching heroes, as played by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. And we promise it'll prove even more captivating than the other 367 times you've watched it, with Elmer Bernstein's Grammy-nominated movie score captured perfectly by a full, live orchestra. Just imagine all those spooky, slimy moments made extra thrilling and Ray Parker Jr's chart-topping theme song, 'Ghostbusters', given the live and loud treatment. Hamer Hall will host just two nighttime performances and one daytime session, so get in quick if you want a piece of the slime-filled, ghost-hunting action. 'Ghostbusters' Live in Concert with the MSO will take place at 7.30pm on Friday, April 26 and 1pm and 7.30pm on Saturday, April 27. To purchase tickets, visit the MSO website.
This month, much-loved Melbourne restaurateur Morgan McGlone will kick off an enticing new series of chef collaborations, which'll see a handful of Aussie kitchen legends put their own spin on his famed Belles hot chicken. First up, catch Restaurant Shik's chef-owner, and former Belles sommelier, Peter Jo in the kitchen at Belles' Fitzroy headquarters on July 29. The innovative Korean chef — best known as Kimchi Pete — will deliver a one-off menu featuring Secret-Style Chicken Ribs, his signature kimchi and a crafty cocktail of pear, ouzo and soju to round out the fun. Jo's creative offerings will be available for one day only, between 3–7pm. A selection of wines from Victorian winery Momento Mori will also be on offer for the event. If you haven't had a chance to try these funky, natural wines, this is the perfect opportunity to do so as winemaker Dane Johns will be on hand to walk you through them. Later in the series, Monty Koludrovic, from Bondi's Icebergs, will shake up the kitchen at Belles Hot Chicken Darling Square on August 26, and Shannon Martinez of Smith & Daughters taking over Belles' Tramsheds outpost on November 4. More Rules of The Roost collaborations are set to be announced — keep an eye on the website for updates. Images: Nikki To
Malthouse Theatre's production debut Because the Night isn't just a one stage, one cast situation. Rather, this envelope-pushing immersive theatre show unfolds at each audience member's own whim, staged across 30 custom-built rooms within the historic Malthouse building. As a spectator, you're invited to adventure through the play's fictional world at your own leisure, following along with the main storylines as they're played out by the actors, or heading off to unearth the secret rooms and hidden stories that lie just beyond the periphery. The production itself reimagines the famed story of Hamlet, though set in some 1980s wood-logging town in the lead-up to its annual winter solstice carnival. Tensions arise after the king dies, the workers revolt and secrets about the nearby ancient forest are revealed. The tale's brought to life by two rotating casts, starring the likes of Keegan Joyce (Cloudstreet), Nicole Nabout (Good Muslim Boy) and Belinda McClory (Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.) There'll be two shows held nightly (6pm and 8.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday), each featuring a different six-strong cast performing to an intimate audience of just 60. Images: Pia Johnson
If you're still sitting here thinking veganism meant foregoing all the fun stuff, it sounds like you're the one that might be missing out. Primo example: this month, Melbourne will play host to a downright fabulous all-vegan hip hop high tea. The event is the next iteration of Belleville's popular DJ-soundtracked high tea sessions. This one on May 26 is being headed up by Melbourne-based DJ and radio presenter MzRizk, who'll be working her magic on the decks, paying homage to the best of 90s hip hop and R&B. Groove along to those old-school throwbacks while feasting your way through a serious spread of all-vegan high tea fare. Belleville's head chef Jarrod Moore will be plating up an assortment of savoury bites and sweet treats, to match organic sips from local teahouse and apothecary Beit e'Shai. Tickets cost $70 and vegan drinks will be available to purchase too.
Prancing through fields laced with the charm of provincial France? Casual Saturdaying in Melbourne summertime. So Frenchy So Chic in the Park, presented in conjunction with Sydney Festival, is waltzing back to Werribee Park Mansion on Sunday, January 11. An entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties — think gourmet picnic hampers, tortes and terrines, offensively good wine, quaint puppet shows, furious outdoor chess, casual bongo drum lessons — So Frenchy hinges around a solid lineup of some of France's best: Emile Simon, The Dø, La Femme and Francois and Atlas Mountains will crank out live sets on the lawn this year. Formidable. Don your best floral-headband-and-sundress-combo and gear up for un merveilleux après-midi. Tres bloody chic. So Frenchy So Chic is on Sunday, January 11 at Werribee Park Mansion. Thanks to So Frenchy So Chic, we have a super special shiny double pass to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address at win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au.
Take one of popular culture's biggest supervillains, throw in one of today's very best actors and add the director of The Hangover trilogy. Only a few years ago, the above sentence might've seemed like a joke. Today, it's the reality we're living in — the reality that sees a standalone Joker movie cackling its way towards cinema screens, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role. Move over Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger and Jared Leto — it's Phoenix's time to don exaggerated clown makeup, wield a killer smile and wreak havoc on Gotham City. The just-released first trailer for Joker promises plenty of all three, as failed standup comedian Arthur Fleck turns to a life of facepaint-wearing crime (and eventually obsessing over Batman, we're guessing). As directed and co-written by Todd Phillips (Old School, Starsky & Hutch, Due Date), Joker also comes with a suitably unhinged vibe, as if Phoenix's You Were Never Really Here character stumbled into Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy. (Fittingly, the latter film plus Taxi Driver and Raging Bull have been cited as inspirations for the new DC Comics flick, and Scorsese is one of Joker's executive producers.) It also looks certain to help everyone forget that the last take on the famous villain only arrived three years ago, because who wants to remember Leto's green-haired turn in Suicide Squad? Here's hoping Phoenix will follow in the footsteps of Nicholson and Oscar-winner Ledger instead, which looks likely based on the footage so far. And, of course, his excellent body of work in general. Robert De Niro, Atlanta's Zazie Beetz and Brian Tyree Henry, and Marc Maron also feature in Joker, with the film hitting cinemas in October. Check out the first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t433PEQGErc Joker releases in Australian cinemas on October 3, 2019.
Earth Hour is a symbolic action. Although there is carbon saved by turning things off, the point is the unmissable demonstration that a huge chunk of the world's population caring about the same thing at the same time. If we can manage this for Earth Hour, why not for grander environmental things? The Hour started in Sydney in 2007, and has become an international event in the years since. There are Earth Hour events in Kenya, India and Ireland these days, but you don't need to travel so far afield to find a way to join in this time around. At its simplest, all you need to do is stay home and turn off the lights. But if you'd like to have a more social darkened moment, you can head to a candlelit restaurant or one of a raft of other lights-off events. Image of Earth Hour Switch Off 2010 by Sewell / WWF.
Sydney Festival has revealed its massive 2017 program, with a renewed focus on dance and theatre along with bold new works from Australian artists. Running from January 7-29, the lineup is comprised of 150 events, almost half of which are free. From sensory installations to shows in Parramatta Lebanese restaurants and performances by iconic musicians, your dose of summertime culture is basically sorted. Most visually, the city will also play host to a number of major installations, including The Beach by Snarkitecture at Barangaroo — a ball pit made up of 1.1 million recyclable polyethylene balls that you can jump into — and House of Mirrors in Hyde Park, which comes from Hobart's Dark MOFO (and most recently Brisbane), and and is more or less what it sounds like. Treading the boards at this year's festival are some of the country's most celebrated stage companies, including Brisbane's La Boite Theatre Company — who'll present the four-time Helpmann nominated play Prize Fighter — and Australia's longest running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander theatre company, who've teamed with writer-performer Katie Beckett on her play Which Way Home. They'll be joined by an impressive international contingent, including the London-based Complicite company, whose play The Encounter arrives direct from Broadway; Pushkin Theatre Moscow, whose co-production of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure with the UK's Cheek by Jowl also stands out as another surefire festival highlight. Immersing you further in this year's festivities are a number of works that play upon the senses. Cat Jones' Scent of Sydney is a free immersive exhibition based on — you guessed it — smell, while Imagined Touch, by deafblind artists Heather Lawson and Michelle Stevens, lets audiences experience the world without vision or sound. Musical highlights include live performances from PJ Harvey and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, as well as an Opera House performance of 1967 Music in the Key of Yes, a concert of remembrance on the 50 year anniversary of the Indigenous rights referendum. You'll also be able to catch free tunes every night at the Meriton Festival Village in Hyde Park. Sydney Festival also revealed its complete program for Western Sydney last night, which includes an interactive 'Circus City' and the first posthumous exhibition of works by Myuran Sukumaran. Sydney Festival will run from January 7-29, 2017. For more information visit sydneyfestival.org.au. Image: The Beach, Snarkitecture. Shot by Noah Kalina.
The worlds of boutique brewing and high-end fashion will come crashing together at this swanky event during Good Beer Week 2016. Moo Brew have teamed up with Kirrily Waldron (aka The Beer Diva) and stylist Lara Reynolds to present a fashion show featuring chic new looks inspired by the Moo Brew brand. It all goes down from 6.30pm on Wednesday, May 18 at Madame Brussels in the CBD. Tickets get you in the door, and entitle you to a gift bag packed full of goodies.
When you're going through the motions of your morning skincare routine — likely a little bleary-eyed as you've only just woken up and haven't had a coffee yet — it can be easy to forget how much work, passion and science have gone into that substance you're smearing all over your money-maker. Clarins is setting out to change that. The plant-based French beauty brand has designed an interactive virtual laboratory, which will be popping up on a screen near you from 5pm on Wednesday, May 4. The digital space offers visitors the chance to delve into the history of Clarins, learn all about the research that backs its products — including the pioneering Double Serum, which contains a whopping 21 plant extracts — and play games for the chance to win luxe skincare-centric prizes. Up for grabs is a year's worth of Clarins skincare (to keep you looking fresh and your skin glowy), a 75ml Double Serum for 30 winners as well as samples galore so you can quickly add a dose of plant-based science to your skin routine. With a prize pool worth over $110,000, it's the perfect chance to join the fun. Hurry along, the virtual laboratory's doors are only open for a limited time (that is, until the prizes run out or Tuesday, May 17). The Clarins virtual laboratory pop-up is free to visit and will be open from 5pm, Wednesday, May 4, until prizes run out or Tuesday, May 17. Happen to find yourself in Sydney? Head to the Clarins Herbarium on Pitt Street for an IRL beauty experience.
For Queenslanders, Bundaberg Rum is the nectar of the gods. To its most devoted admirers, it is known as 'sugarcane champagne', a colloquial fan term that Bundy has now officially co-signed in a new 'sparkling' beverage the distillery is releasing in partnership with Uber Eats. The creation is called Maison de Bundy's Blanc de Cane, a faux-pretentious riff on champagne house nomenclature, and is an alcoholic ginger beer made with white Queensland cane spirit and Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Not to be confused with the Dark 'n' Stormy, this drop doesn't actually contain rum per se — rather, white cane spirit is the base spirit used to make rum. The resulting beverage is super sweet, extremely easy to drink (4% ABV) and is best served cold on ice with a squeeze of lime. The good news for rum fans and Bundy collectors: They're giving the stuff away for free. This Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 at Leonards and Dawn in Brisbane, The Civic Hotel in Sydney and The Sporting Globe in Melbourne (the Richmond location), you can turn up, show bar staff the Uber Eats app on your phone along with proof of ID and you'll get a free 640ml bottle. The bad news? Maison de Bundy's Blanc de Cane comes in an extremely limited run of one thousand bottles so you'll want to set your alarm. It will be available in the aforementioned venues from 5pm on Friday until they're all gone. There are people out there who will line up for these like BTS fans lining up for concert tickets. One thousand Maison de Bundy's Blanc de Cane will be available across selected Australian venues. Just show your Uber Eats app and proof of ID to claim a 640ml bottle this Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11.
Bill Murray. Zombies. As movie-goers learned ten years ago, it's a winning combination. But Zombieland is no longer the only way to see the beloved film star enter the realm of the shuffling undead. Thanks to upcoming comedy The Dead Don't Die, Murray dwells in a world of re-animated corpses once more — and it's now his job to fight them. The latest flick from filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, this zom-com spends time with a trio of small-town cops (Murray, Adam Driver and Chloë Sevigny), who discover that their new case has quite the twist. As the movie's first trailer tells us, "in this peaceful town, on these quiet streets, something terrifying, something horrifying is coming". Yes, that something is zombies, the undead or ghouls, as Driver's character explains. Cue plenty of comic battles against brain-munching foes, as well as plenty of appearances by famous folks — including Tilda Swinton, Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Caleb Landry Jones, Rosie Perez, Sara Driver, Selena Gomez and Carol Kane, plus Iggy Pop, RZA and Tom Waits. Murray (Coffee and Cigarettes, Broken Flowers), Driver (Paterson), Swinton (Only Lovers Left Alive) and Buscemi (Mystery Train) have all worked with Jarmusch before, as has the movie's trio of musicians, but don't go expecting something familiar here. As all of the above flicks have shown, and Night on Earth, Dead Man, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai and documentary Gimme Danger too, the writer/director has never been fond of making the same film twice. The Dead Don't Die will hit Aussie cinemas on October 24. But if you're in Sydney, you can catch it at this year's Sydney Film Festival, where it will screen over three sessions on June 14, 15 and 16. There are still tickets available to them, so we recommend booking them in now. In the interim, prepare for a wacky yet deadpan addition to the zombie fold, complete with Murray hanging out in a cemetery and Swinton playing a sword-wielding mortician. Check out the deadly trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs5ZOcU6Bnw The Dead Don't Die will hit Australian cinemas on October 24, 2019. It will also screen at Sydney Film Festival on June 14, 15 and 16. You can get those tickets here. Updated: May 20, 2019.
For hundreds of years, El Dia de los Muertos has been one of the biggest parties in Mexico honouring the dead. The 4000 year-old tradition's history can be traced back to Mexico's indigenous beliefs of the afterlife — that death is only the beginning. Now it's Australia's turn to delve into the underworld, as The Day of the Dead finds its way to secret warehouse locations across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this spring. Curated by a group of Mexican visionaries and artists, Day of the Dead 3.1. takes cues from some of the world's most celebrated immersive spectacles, everything from Burning Man to Sleep No More. Find yourself immersed in a temporary world of interactive art installations, light projections, extravagant costumes, murals created by renowned street artists and an exclusive lineup of local and international DJs and musicians. Is this a Mexican-inspired fiesta or what? Where's the nosh? Pop-ups by a handpicked bunch of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's go-to local Mexican eateries, like Playa Takeria, have been selected to create special Dia de los Muertos menus. Plus, there'll be Mexican cervezas and tequila/mezcal cocktails from Tequila Herradura and Tequila Jimador to provide you with enough sustenance to dance the night away. With instructions being sent to ticketholders just one week before the event, this is secret warehouse party business at its best. Each city's locations are more closely guarded than an abuela's special mole sauce ingredient and will only be released one day before the party. Day of the Dead will visit Sydney on October 24, then Melbourne on October 31 before ending in Brisbane on November 7. Honour the dead, celebrate the living. Get tickets early. Due to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane events selling out within hours and hundreds of emails requesting tickets, the Day of the Dead team twisted some arms and increased the event capacity. There'll be a new and final ticket release happening on Saturday, September 26 at 12.30pm, with tickets at $95. Tickets will sell out within hours, so be ready. Get tickets here.
The second season of House of the Dragon might've come to an end, but HBO has plenty more must-sees on the way to fill your viewing schedule until its third round of Targaryen feuds arrives. The Last of Us season two, The White Lotus season three, fellow Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, IT prequel series Welcome to Derry: they're just some of the shows that'll have you hearing the US network's famous static-filled intro again. Can't wait for another wander through a world infected with Cordyceps? To see a seemingly idyllic holiday prove anything but again? For more time in Westeros? To be creeped out by an evil clown once more, too? Sadly, none of the above series are due to premiere imminently — they're all set for 2025 — but HBO has dropped a new trailer with footage from all of them. The American station does this periodically — back in December 2023, it also unveiled a glimpse at its 2024–25 slate — but this one includes the first new scenes from some of its keenly anticipated hits. With The Last of Us, not just Pedro Pascal (Drive-Away Dolls) and Bella Ramsey (Catherine Called Birdy) but also new cast member Catherine O'Hara (Argylle) make an appearance, for instance. And with The White Lotus — which stars Walton Goggins (Fallout), Carrie Coon (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire), Jason Isaacs (The Crowded Room), Michelle Monaghan (MaXXXine), Leslie Bibb (Palm Royale) and Parker Posey (Mr & Mrs Smith) — in its third season — "what happens in Thailand stays in Thailand", viewers are told. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms comes to the screen from George RR Martin's novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg, and has been talked about for a few years. The story follows knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg as they wander Westeros a century before the events of GoT, when the Targaryens remain on the Iron Throne and everyone still remembers dragons. As for Welcome to Derry, it returns to Stephen King's go-to Maine town, stepping through the locale's scares before the terror that viewers have already seen. HBO's new trailer also spans 2024 releases The Penguin, Dune: Prophecy, The Franchise and documentary Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, alongside the third seasons of Industry and The Sex Lives of College Girls, plus the fourth of My Brilliant Friend. From its 2025 slate, look out for more And Just Like That... and The Gilded Age as well, plus newcomers The Pitt with ER veteran Noah Wylie and Duster with Lost's Josh Holloway. Watch HBO's latest 2024–25 roundup trailer below: The Last of Us season two doesn't yet have a release date, other than sometime in 2025. When it returns, it'll stream via Binge in Australia and on Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of the first season. Images: HBO.
Aaron Hobson has taken some breathtaking landscape photographs of remote locations scattered across the globe, and all without leaving the comfort of his own computer screen. From the haunting energy of undisturbed forests in France to roads that wrap around mountainous Spain, Hobson has captured each of these picturesque moments using Google Street View. Hobson says that he began using Google Street View to discover possible shooting locations for a film, but soon found himself clicking away for miles along deserted roads, all for his own pleasure. He also says that he uses Google Street View in High Definition, so that the photographs only require a few minutes of editing before they are put on show. His work has garnered so much attention that last week his website buckled under the pressure of 50,000 views in one day. This isn't the first time that Google Street View has been used to create an artistic work. Last week we featured the remarkable Address is Approximate, a stop motion animation film by Tom Jenkins. This film uses a clever combination of Google Street View and everyday objects to create a quirky sense of travel and distance. The use of Google Street View by these online explorers proves that the world is now literally in the palm of our hands. [via Mashable]
Haunting strains of bluegrass music flow through Belgium's tear-jerking entry to last year's Academy Awards. Such mournful melodies are a fitting accompaniment to the story, about two musicians whose marriage begins to crumble after their daughter succumbs to terminal cancer. Despite the miserable subject matter, writer-director Felix Van Groeningen eschews unchecked histrionics for honest, bittersweet emotion. Actors Johan Heldenbergh and Veerle Baetens have devastating chemistry as shell-shocked parents Didier and Elise. A banjo-playing cowboy and a music-loving tattoo-artist respectively, they're a free-spirited pair brought crashing down to earth by six-year-old Maybelle's unexpected diagnosis. The best moments in the movie are undoubtedly the songs; a mix of classics and original compositions performed in key scenes by Didier, Elise and their band. In these moments in particular, Van Groeningen finds his harmony between beauty, sorrow and joy. Read our full review here. The Broken Circle Breakdown is in cinemas on Thursday, May 15, and thanks to Entertainment One, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=raaHRyBtIEo
Before 'indie' meant more than 'independently signed', Neutral Milk Hotel fit the term by all accounts. Reaching cult status only after their 1999 breakup, the American outfit have since inspired Tumblr posts the world over with angst-soaked lyrics such as "How strange it is to be anything at all." As part of their reunion tour, Neutral Milk Hotel were set to headline the dust-biting Harvest Festival, but made sure to remember their generation-spanning fans here in Aus. Yep, for their first Aussie shows ever, the full lineup from everyone's favourite record — 1998's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea — will be brought to The Forum Theatre on November 15 and 16. The once-in-a-lifetime shows will see NMH joined by M. Ward and Superchunk. So c'mon fanboys and girls, grab the last of the tickets that went on sale Friday October 11. One show has already sold out!
This summer, you'll have another excuse to enjoy a G&T as a heap of gin and tonic gardens pop up across the country. Settling into the outside areas at pubs and bars in Melbourne, the gardens will feature plenty of gin and tonic (obviously), as well as DIY garnish stations. The idea is that you can learn more about different botanicals, then mix, match and experiment to find your ideal G&T combination. That sounds like a task that we'd all gladly accept; however there'll be tonic pairing menus on hand should you need some pointers. At the time of writing, Melburnians can scratch their G&T itch at Ciao Cucina in Port Melbourne, as well as Richmond Social, the Notting Hill Hotel and the Lower Plenty Hotel in their respective suburbs. More locations will pop up across the country over the summer, with a handy interactive map tracking new venues. The gardens are the work of Fever-Tree, so the company's tonics will be splashing in your glass. They'll be setting up shop not only in Melbourne, but Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Cairns, and the Gold and Sunshine coasts, too — so whether you're eager for a drink close to home or you'll be holidaying in a sunny spot, cocktails laden with juniper spirits await.
Got a spare spot in your calendar? Fill it up by heading to one (or more) of the world-class sporting events coming to New South Wales in the second half of 2022. As a number of the world's top athletes touch down in search of glory, don't miss your chance to feel the roar of the crowd from up close as diverse exceptional talent do what they do best. WALLABIES v ENGLAND When: July 16, 2022 Where: Sydney Cricket Ground Get down to the SCG on Saturday, July 16 as the Wallabies take on England in what could potentially be the deciding match of a three-test series. It'll be the first time the old foe has been on our shores since 2016, so you can expect to be part of a heaving local crowd that will undoubtedly give the visitors a warm welcome. With the Bledisloe Cup and the 2023 Rugby World Cup just around the corner, both squads are looking to get off to an ideal start at the first test to be held at the SCG since 1986. To purchase tickets for Wallabies v England, head to the website. [caption id="attachment_855864" align="alignnone" width="1920"] UCI, SWpix[/caption] 2022 UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS When: September 18–25, 2022 Where: Wollongong Hot off the heels of Jai Hindley becoming the first Aussie cyclist to claim victory at the Giro d'Italia, one of the races that make up the Triple Crown of Cycling, the cycling world will descend upon Wollongong this September. The coastal city is hosting one of the other meets in that prestigious trifecta: the 2022 UCI Road World Championships. Catch over 1000 of the world's best cyclists from 70-plus countries ripping through the streets of Wollongong and along its lung-busting coastline in the battle for the coveted rainbow jersey. Across the jam-packed eight-day event, 11 world-championship races will be cheered on by an estimated 300,000 spectators keen to see pedal power reach remarkable heights. In this picturesque location, you'll find men's and women's road races, time trials, community activities and more. If you're planning to make a weekend out of it (and why wouldn't you be?), check out our massive guide to the Gong here. For more information about the 2022 UCI Road World Road Championships, head to the website. FIBA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WORLD CUP 2022 When: September 22–October 1 Where: Sydney Olympic Park Returning to Australia for the first time in 27 years, the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup sees 12 of the best national teams go head to head across ten action-packed days. For the 2022 edition, games will take place at Sydney Olympic Park and its two incredible stadiums – the Sydney SuperDome and the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre. Across 38 matches, some of the most exciting players in the world right now will put it all on the line to take the coveted trophy home. The United States team is travelling to Australia as three-time defending champions. But our hometown heroes, as well as Canada, Belgium, France and China, are all well-placed to spoil the Americans' party. Get down and support the Opals in their hunt for a second FIBA championship title. To purchase tickets to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022, head to the website. [caption id="attachment_855867" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gareth Copley - ICC via Getty Images[/caption] ICC MEN'S T20 WORLD CUP 2022 When: October 16–November 13 Where: Sydney Cricket Ground As Australia gets ready for another summer of cricket, the world's best players will be in Sydney from October for one of the biggest events on the global cricket calendar. From October 22, the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will take place at venues all around the country. The SCG is set to host seven matches, including Australia's opening match of the tournament against New Zealand on October 16 and a semi-final on November 9. Australia is the defending champion but faces tough competition from 15 international teams, with the likes of India, England, Bangladesh, South Africa and Pakistan also featuring in Sydney. The thrilling pace and dynamic nature of T20 cricket makes it a perfect night out for all ages, so make sure you don't miss your chance to experience this global celebration of cricket in person. To purchase tickets for the ICC Men's T20 Men's World Cup 2022, head to the website. To discover more world-class events taking place in NSW, head to Visit NSW.
Beylesque. Beyonce burlesque. Just let that sink in for a second. All good? Now that the blood has settled back in your head we'll give you the details. As if Yonce isn't raw and sexual enough, this burlesque-themed six-week course is set to the Fifty Shades of Grey remix of 'Crazy In Love', a slow and sensual remix of a Bey classic. The Beylesque course will run in Brunswick from February 25 to March 31, and is designed for intermediate dancers. And of course, sexy heels are encouraged to help the moves pop — this is a burlesque class after all. There is also a distinct possibility this combination will devolve into sex riots, but that's the risk we take. If this seems a bit intense for you, Bey Dance also run courses for beginners – check out their upcoming calendar for a course to suit your skill level and the ferocity of your swag.
It might be winter, but things are only heating up at W Melbourne's pool deck WET. On Thursday, August 25, the swanky sky-high destination will host its first party, headlined by none other than Brisbane-based indie-pop act Cub Sport. Nab yourself a ticket for $25 and head on up from 7pm to kick off your night with tunes from a lineup of Melbourne DJs, dancing poolside with a cocktail in hand. Then, Cub Sport takes the stage from 9–10pm, celebrating their latest single 'Always Got The Love'. Expect a soundtrack of past hits and new-release tracks, plus a few covers of songs from some famous musical mates. As for refreshments, you've got WET's full food and drink offering to pair with the tunes. Think, Aqua Boogie seltzers, brews by Stomping Ground and Deeds, local wines and signature sips like the Noisy Neighbour — a blend of Plantation rum, mezcal, Yaguara Ouro cachaca, kiwi fruit and green chartreuse. [caption id="attachment_865119" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cub Sport[/caption]
If you've ever needed your texts in physical form, designer Joe Doucet has created a nifty little mobile printer that produces your text message conversations on paper. The 'Blackbox SMS Printer' simply connects to your phone through a cable to produce two identical records of any conversation, no matter how long, using a "standard, non-carbon receipt printing system." Importantly, the designer states that this printer is appropriate "whether the communique is of a loving or legal nature." So if you're keen on treasuring some heartwarming messages from your lover, and also scared of the inevitable cracking of your iPhone screen making them illegible, the Blackbox will be right up your alley. Furthermore, it's only a matter of time before these little text message scripts become evidence of communication between dodgy drug dealers in high profile court cases. [via PSFK]
Photobombing is an art attempted by many, yet perfected by few. Ruining somebody's photo in the most humorous way possible takes impeccable timing and swift movement. Now, photobombing experts will have their work cut out for them as software company Scalado look set to release their new Remove technology. As the name suggests, Remove allows you to erase unwanted objects from those precious picture moments. When a photo is taken, Remove actually takes a lightning-quick succession of snaps, and detects moving objects within the lens. It then gives you the option to simply remove any moving objects, leaving the regular background unscathed. If you're a little vain and a strict perfectionist, Remove will be right up your alley. Not only will you be able to erase immature friends who sneak into your photos, but you also won't have to worry about flying birds, speeding cars or annoying pedestrians. Taking the perfect picture for your bedside table has never been so easy. No word on when it will be available to the public, but we're guessing that plenty of teenage girls will be eager for this one. Check out the video below and see how this technology works. https://youtube.com/watch?v=flNomXIIWr4 [Via Mashable]
Some would say there's nothing better than sitting back in one of Melbourne's iconic rooftop cinemas and sipping the night away with a summer cocktail in hand. Simply put, those people are chumps. Sitting there in their deck chairs, fully clothed, getting their own drinks from a bar that they walk to with their un-wrinkled legs. Fools! The future is here, and it's powered by hot jets of liquid happiness. Hot Tub Cinema is exactly what it sounds like. From Friday, January 10, the top level of the multi-level carpark behind the Prince in St Kilda will be transformed into a unique cinema featuring two outdoor screens and 16 hot tubs. The pop-up space, designed by the same people who brought us The People's Market, will stand till February next year, and will feature some rowdy and hot-tub friendly flicks such as The Hangover, Superbad, and Dirty Dancing — for those that like their spa experience with a side-order of Swayze. Doors open from 3pm for a sunny afternoon tipple, then the movies kick off from around 8.30pm. There's even full bar service straight to your spa for those that want to kick on into the night (everyone, obviously). Bookings can be taken by the tub, or separately... if you don't mind the idea of sitting in stranger juices for a couple of hours. Tickets are on sale now. This event has been postponed until further notice. For updated information check the organiser's Facebook page.
At Prahan's French gastropub L'Hotel Gitan, Monday nights are raclette nights — and that fact couldn't make us happier. Available now through September 24, you can chase away those cold Monday blues with chef Jacques Reymond's take on this classic French dish. The special includes that ooey-gooey cheese you can't get enough of, served with steamed potatoes, a mixed leaf salad, three types of charcuterie, cornichons and a fresh baguette. It'll cost you $28 on your own, or $48 shared between two — so grabbing a dinner date will save you some cash, but we don't blame you for wanting that hot melted cheese all to yourself, either. Who needs company when you have cheese, really? Head in anytime from 5.30pm to close, but don't forget to book ahead of time.
We're about to farewell winter and jump right into another season — and if that's put you in the mood for a wardrobe shakeup, well, you're in luck. The treasure trove of vintage threads that is the Round She Goes Fashion Market returns to Melbourne this month, taking over Coburg Town Hall on Sunday, August 28. This time around, the ever-popular market is treating shoppers to over 55 stalls heaving with quality pre-loved designer fashion, vintage pieces and retro accessories. And these wares start from just $10. Get your stylish self along from 10am to score covetable finds from big-name labels ranging from Carla Zampatti to Christian Dior, and from Balenciaga to Bianca Spender. Grab yourself some Gucci, pick up some Prada, and splash out on some Romance Was Born, Jean Paul Gaultier or Gorman. There'll be specialty coffee and baked treats from Coffee on Cue to fuel your rummaging, too.
Gone are the days when travel restrictions, including on travel through both domestic and international borders, meant that making the most of your own backyard was the only way to get out of the house. If you're a Brisbanite, playing tourist in your own town shouldn't just be something you're doing because you have to, though — and if you need an extra incentive in August, a heap of $20 tourism deals are coming to help. When we say a heap, we mean it. More than 5000 deals will be on offer from Monday, August 1–Wednesday, August 31, covering the kinds of experiences that every Brissie resident should've had but mightn't have gotten around to yet. Always wanted to take a cocktail cruise along the river? Head to Moreton Island for a stint of quad biking? Climb and abseil your way around the city? They're some of the tourism activities covered. You don't need to be a local to take advantage of the deals, either, if you have a trip to the Sunshine State in your future — you just need to have Brisbane City Council's free Brisbane app. That's where the deals will be available, and you can download the app from Apple's app store and Google Play. Different $20 specials will drop every single day across August's 31-day span, giving you motivation to check in with what's up for grabs daily. The reason behind the deals? Like plenty of other efforts to get locals exploring their home turf during the pandemic — such as travel vouchers and staycation giveaways — the aim is to get Brisbane residents and visitors out and about to support local businesses. "Brisbane businesses and tourism operators have faced unprecedented times over the past two years with COVID and devastating floods having huge impacts on their livelihood," said Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, announcing the deal scheme, which has been badged 'Rediscover Brisbane'. "Rediscover Brisbane will give residents and visitors access to great deals to get out and about in our great city, while also injecting $370,000 into some our top tourism attractions," continued the Lord Mayor. "From Moreton Island adventure and river cruises to mini golf and food and wine tours, these $20 deals will be up for grabs at the click of a button." Rediscover Brisbane will feature more than 5000 $20 deals from Monday, August 1–Wednesday, August 31 on tourism experiences around Brisbane. To access the deals via the Brisbane app, head to the app's website.
Add three more names to the hefty list of big music stars heading Australia's way in 2023: Ice Cube, Cypress Hill and The Game. In what's basically a 90s and 00s hip hop and rap fan's dream come true, the trio are teaming up on the same bill for an Aussie arena tour, including hitting Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne in autumn. This isn't just any old nostalgia-dripping tour, either. It'll also mark the 30th anniversary of two influential albums: Ice Cube's Lethal Injection and Cypress Hill's Black Sunday. The former was the N.W.A member's fourth solo release, and included singles 'Really Doe', 'You Know How We Do It' and 'Bop Gun (One Nation)', while the latter gave the world 'Insane in the Brain', 'Hits from the Bong', 'When the Shit Goes Down' and 'I Ain't Goin' Out Like That'. Expect to hear plenty of those songs get a whirl on Thursday, March 23 in the Victorian capital. For Ice Cube, the tour marks his first visit to Australia since 2018, when he became the first-ever rap artist to headline at the Sydney Opera House. "I love performing in Australia. It's been four long years since my last visit and I can't wait to return for a couple of history-making shows in 2023," said the rapper, aka O'Shea Jackson Sr (and yes, his son O'Shea Jackson Jr did play him in N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton). Ice Cube and Cypress Hill will be joined by The Game, who came to fame in the 00s in the West Coast scene. The US talents will also feature Aussie talent in support, with exactly who else will take to the stage yet to be announced.
It won't be long until summer's gone, so make the most of it with a once-off collab between Molly Rose Brewing and Kariton Sorbetes. While the idea of a schooner and scoop on a sunny day is a tempting prospect, this Float Your Boat event takes things further with a selection of beer and ice cream floats. Keep an open mind as the team at Kariton pairs their signature Asian-inspired flavours with a selection of Molly Rose brews crafted just for the occasion. The menu is still a work in progress, but one mad creation is the Bright and Bubbly, featuring a berry sour served with a scoop of purple yam gelato with purple yam fudge, blackberry jam and caramelised coconut curds. Another creation is the Véraison Liqueur, featuring a stiff drink made from mango skins and seeds, coconut, pandan and toasted white bread. It's harmonised with Buko Pandan – a coconut and pandan 'gelato' with shredded young coconut, pandan jelly and toasted rice flakes. If the wild flavour combinations make it too hard to choose, there's always the option of exploring the All Board – a four-pairing tasting that makes your decision simple. You'll get one beer float alongside three more pairings that will push your palate into overdrive. With more surprises awaiting when this culinary experiment goes down on Sunday, March 2, walk-ins are welcome, but it's best to book for a big group.
Tucked between Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ipswich, and sprawling around the towns of Beaudesert and Boonah, southeast Queensland's Scenic Rim region is home to scenic sights, national parks, mountains and plenty of other reasons to head outdoors. Come October, it'll also boast another attraction luring visitors into the area's the natural surroundings — a 55-kilometre walking trail, complete with eco-cabins. Dubbed Spicers Scenic Rim Trail, just approved by the Queensland Government and expected to take six months to complete, the new route will start at the existing Spicers Hidden Vale Retreat and venture through Mt Mistake, up to Spicers Peak Nature Reserve and through parts of Main Range National Park. Extending existing walking tracks, it'll trek through sub-tropical rainforests, eucalypt forests and mountain heathlands over five days. And if the frequent name-dropping didn't give it away, the venture is being spearheaded by the Turner family, who founded the Spicers Retreats chain, to the tune of $10 million. The Turners are building two new sustainable eco-camps along the path, both within Main Range National Park. The first, Spicers Amphitheatre, will feature light coloured cabins perched above the floor of the forest, surrounded by gum trees, decked out with king-sized beds and adjacent to an observation deck. As for the second site, Timber Getters Eco Cabins, the structures will take on a darker hue. Both will include six sleeping pods, two wash pavilions and impressive views. As well as bunking down for the night, the full walk itinerary includes a visit to the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre, a 4WD trip to a private nature reserve, and hiking along the Scenic Rim's Main Range. Weekly journeys will depart on Sundays from October, costing $3190 per person twin share with all accommodation, meals and beverages included, while the 2020 season will run from March to November. The venture comes in response to a state initiative to increase ecotourism in Queensland's national parks, with Main Range National Park featuring one of 42 reserves that comprise the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area (GRAWHA). For those planning a visit to the area in general, without booking in for the official trail, the project will also include improvements to public camping and hiking facilities. Spicers Scenic Rim Trail and eco-cabins are slate to open by October, with bookings now open. For more information, visit the trail website. Images: Spicers Retreats and Spicers Scenic Rim Trail.
If catching a wave as your favourite DJ drops his hit song seems like the stuff of your dreams, you may be in luck thanks to this new Tullamarine music and surfing event. Melbourne surf park Urbnsurf and the new touring event from the minds behind Beyond the Valley, For the Love, have come together for a mix of music, food and gnarly waves. After originally being scheduled for the weekend of Friday, February 19, the three-day event series was postponed due to Melbourne's snap five-day lockdown. The event will now take place over two weekends starting Saturday, March 20 — and has expanded to five days with a 15-strong act lineup. On the lineup you'll find the likes of Gold Coast DJ and former surfer Fisher, Sydney folk heartthrob Matt Corby and aviation-themed dance duo Flight Facilities, as well as Ocean Alley, Mallrat, Hayden James, Julia Stone and a whole bunch more. Australian clothing label Nana Judy will be hosting a VIP section to add some glam to the event, and of course on-site farm-to-table eatery Three Blue Ducks will be providing food out of its new Melbourne digs adjacent to Urbnsurf. For the Love will be using some of the profits to help clean up oceans and beaches through its Music for Oceans initiative. Tickets are available here.
When many talk about design, they invariably talk about minimalism. We see a harsh white cube. Perhaps a few well-manicured young people painstakingly drawing triangles on graph paper. The graphic designer, in our popular imagination, is a Helvetica-loving, glasses-wearing snob who takes their coffee black and their projects with loads of empty white space. Common (and funny) as this impression may be, it's unsurprisingly a bit reductive. This talk from internationally-renowned design critic, Alice Rawsthorn, is bound to set us straight. Claiming design is all-encompassing, this talk from Rawsthorn is about the way design in fact influences most of what we see and do in our everyday lives. These thoughts are coming off the back of her new book, Hello World: Where Design Meets Life — check it out, it's pretty well-designed, so she must know what she's talking about. As Melbourne's CBD become more and more curated — hello city squares, public art, and coloured laneways — it's clear to see the importance of design in most aspects of our lives. After this, perhaps you'll be able to see some of the cogs that make it all work.
Just because you're not heading to the snow for the first weekend of ski season, doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the fun. St Kilda's Pontoon Bar is bringing the mountain vibes to you, with its annual Snow Party, this Sunday, June 9. The beachside hot-spot is set to heat up the long weekend, as it transforms into a cosy winter chalet, complete with powdered snow, all-you-can-eat paella and a swag of food and drink specials to warm those cockles. You can kick things off early from 12pm, with $25 per person bottomless paella from the venue's new Basque-inspired menu on offer throughout the day (bookings essential). Otherwise, roll in from 3pm, nab a spot by the crackling outdoor fire and settle in with some well-priced drinks — there'll be $5 wines and pots, $10 espresso martinis and mulled wines, and a cosy Cherry & Cinnamon Sour, also for just a tenner. Throw in half-price tapas and some DJ tunes and you've got yourself a pretty good antidote to those winter blues. Entry is free, though if you RSVP via Pontoon's website, you'll be in with a shot at winning a Mt Buller lift pass for two.
It takes a brave filmmaker to see cancer and climate change, and think of art, evolution and eroticism in a possible future. It takes a bold director to have a character proclaim that "surgery is the new sex", too. David Cronenberg has always been that kind of visionary, even before doing all of the above in his sublime latest release — and having the Scanners, Videodrome and The Fly helmer back on his body-horror bent for the first time in more than two decades is exactly the wild and weird dream that cinephiles want it to be. The Canadian auteur makes his first movie at all since 2014's Maps to the Stars, in fact, and this tale of pleasure and pain is as Cronenbergian as anything can be. He borrows Crimes of the Future's title from his second-ever feature dating back 50-plus years, brings all of his corporeal fascinations to the fore, and moulds a viscerally and cerebrally mesmerising film that it feels like he's always been working towards. Long live the new flesh, again. Long live the old Cronenberg as well. In this portrait of a potential time to come, the human body has undergone two significant changes. Three, perhaps, as glimpsed in a disquieting opening where an eight-year-old called Brecken (debutant Sotiris Siozos) snacks on a plastic bin, and is then murdered by his mother Djuna (Lihi Kornowski, Ballistic). That incident isn't unimportant, but Crimes of the Future has other departures from today's status quo to carve into — and they're equally absorbing. Physical agony has disappeared, creating a trade in "desktop surgery" as performance art. Also, a condition dubbed Accelerated Evolution Syndrome causes some folks, such as artist Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen, Thirteen Lives), to grow abnormal organs. These tumours are removed and tattooed in avant-garde shows by his doctor/lover Caprice (Léa Seydoux, No Time to Die), then catalogued by the National Organ Register's Wippit (Don McKellar, reteaming with Cronenberg after eXistenZ) and Timlin (Kristen Stewart, Spencer). When Crimes of the Future stages one of Saul and Caprice's gigs, it drips not with blood but spectacle and seduction. Indeed, it's no wonder that a curious Timlin utters that catchy observation about medical slicing and intimate arousal shortly afterwards. Alluring, eerie, grotesque and enthralling — and the epitome of the feature's sparse yet entrancing look and mood in the process — it's a powerhouse of a scene, with a self-autopsy pod at its centre. Saul lies still, Caprice uses an eXistenZ-esque fleshy video-game controller to get the contraption cutting, and an enraptured audience hang on every incision. Saul and Caprice do, too, although their visibly aroused reactions have nothing on their time later in the suite alone. (Cronenberg does love eschewing traditional ideas about what titillates; see also: his 1996 film Crash, about characters excited by car crashes. It's a clear precursor to this, and the movie that purred so that 2021 Palme d'Or winner Titane, by filmmaker Julia Ducournau, could rev.) Crimes of the Future's scalpel-equipped coffin is just one of Saul and Caprice's Lifeform Ware gadgets; if eXistenZ, Naked Lunch and Dead Ringers procreated, these are the devices the three flicks would spawn. HR Giger could've conjured them up as well, and thinking of the biomechanical artist's contribution to Alien, which saw him share an Oscar for visual effects, is as natural as feeling spellbound and perturbed by Cronenberg's movie in unison. This is a grimy world where a bed covered with skin and tentacles floats in Saul's home, calibrated to cater to his "designer cancer"-riddled body's needs as it slumbers — and where a chair that looks like a skeleton reassembled as furniture contorts Saul as he's eating, something he is having increasing trouble with otherwise. In other words, it's a world where the old flesh isn't doing what it always has, new flesh is sprouting in a changing and devastated reality, and technology fills in the gaps as it is always designed to. Is Crimes of the Future a Cronenbergian nightmare painted using tools of horror as a brush, just as Caprice uses the autopsy bed as hers? Is it a probing and penetrating pondering of what lies in store on this planet of ours, where machinery keeps progressing, the environment continues to be pushed to its limits, and human bodies are in a state of metamorphosis? The answer: it's both, just as it's sensual and sinister — and, story-wise and thematically, there's still more to come. Writing as well as directing, Cronenberg works with his own original ideas for the first time since the constantly relevant eXistenZ, and doesn't stop questioning what physical, emotional, intellectual and psychological mutations may await humanity. Unsurprisingly, in a script he penned back in 1999, what he posits is bleak — his sci-fi body-horror visions always are — and thoroughly riveting. Connecting the dots, Cronenberg brings Brecken's plight into Saul and Caprice's life via a request by the shadowy Lang (Scott Speedman, Best Sellers), the boy's father, for a public autopsy. The feature has Saul carrying out missions for a detective (Welket Bengué, Berlin Alexanderplatz), and sees a pair of Lifeform Ware technicians (Yellowstone's Tanaya Beatty and Private Eyes' Nadia Litz) hovering around. Plus, Crimes of the Future spans an Inner Beauty Contest, with a zipper inserted in Saul's stomach for the occasion, which Caprice licks in the film's most carnally salacious moment. If Cronenberg's name hadn't already been adapted to describe his aesthetic, fascinations and narratives, it would be based on this movie. Actually, the filmmaker takes it back. He's shared the term with a raft of imitators, but no one holds a blade to Cronenberg at his best. Well, one fellow director comes close: his son Brandon, whose Antiviral and Possessor couldn't be more worthy of the family moniker. Crimes of the Future is an art-world and celebrity satire among everything else — when artists modifying bodies become stars, as happens here, how can it not be? And, joining the list, it's as strong an example there is of Cronenberg's masterful ability to use the instruments at his disposal to bring disturbing but enticing musings to a stunning fruition. There isn't a misstep among his cast, including his cloaked-up A History of Violence, Eastern Promises and A Dangerous Method star Mortensen oozing vulnerability and looking like death (a The Seventh Seal-style figure, to be exact); Seydoux serving up a picture of slinky passion; and Stewart delivering a delightfully nervy supporting turn. Every shot lensed by Douglas Koch (Funny Boy) exudes a ravaged air in multiple ways, and the score by Cronenberg's usual composer Howard Shore is devilishly menacing. Surrendering to their skills, and to Crimes of the Future's thrills, proves just like evolution: inescapable.
Anytime's a good time for oysters, but there's only one occasion where it's perfectly acceptable to gorge on them to the point of no return — and that is the Oyster Frenzy. You must have heard of the Oyster Frenzy by now: a night where abandon is left at the door, and Melbourne's biggest oyster lovers converge to eat as many of the molluscs as they can humanly handle. It's at the same time the fanciest and the messiest buffet we can imagine. Oyster Frenzy #11 will go down at The Deck at The Prince on Thursday 23 July. As well as all-you-can-eat freshly shucked oysters — yes, all-you-can-eat — there will also be other fancy seafood canapes such as hot oysters, clams, mussels, prawn rolls and barramundi hot dogs. Plus, all the required beer, wine and cider to wash it down. April's Frenzy saw 22,032 oysters shucked and swallowed, so do what you need to prepare. And maybe try and get Friday off work.
Bringing a slice of inner-city cafe cool to Melbourne's northern suburbs, Parkstone is a lush, creative haunt in Pascoe Vale South. From part of the team that first brought you nearby George Jones Eatery and Richmond's Cheeky Monkey, the sunny corner cafe teams modern sensibilities with all the approachability of a tried-and-true local gem. Inside, sage accents, blonde timber and walls of greenery make for a cheery, comfortable setting to match a food offering that straddles the gap between the familiar and the inventive. In the kitchen, Brazilian-born Head Chef Leandro Mello draws on experience from the likes of Longrain and Sake, to deliver a lineup just about everyone can get behind. Traditionalists will take comfort in additions like the smashed avo — here, with whipped feta, fried basil and heirloom tomatoes — and a classic cheeseburger, while more adventure lies in the likes of a baba french toast, the Middle Eastern spiced lamb with house-made flatbread, or a modern riff on eggs benedict, sporting waffled hash browns and apple cider hollandaise. Vegans are in excellent company, with bites like barbecue jackfruit tacos and fluffy carrot cake pancakes teamed with coconut ice cream and walnut maple. To match, there's coffee, smoothies — including a decadent 'lamington' version — and, like all good locals, a tidy selection of beer, wine and breakfast cocktails. Images: Brodie Chan
What has happened to that once glorious Hollywood staple, the romantic comedy? Even at its most saccharine, it was a dependable genre, the type that left you in a kind of terrible movie heaven of enjoyably unlikely plot premises, clueslessly fated lovers, and fairytale endings. Trashy, sure, but reliably trashy — carefree and frothy and silly. Beautiful people, overcoming mindlessly familiar cinematic hurdles and falling in love — it's comforting stuff for hopeless romantics. But a genre that focuses more on seduction and courtship and the happily-ever-after, bridal magazine moments eventually leaves viewers craving something a little more substantial. After all, anyone who lives in the real world knows that the real work in relationships begins at the point where rom coms usually end: the kiss, the wedding, the honeymoon period, the beginning. I Give It a Year goes some way towards reclaiming the rom com genre in favour of the reality and ridiculousness and complexity of relationships and sex and romance. British director Dan Mazer has styled it as a renovated, thinking-person's rom com, one that starts at the wedding and explores the difficulty of staying in love. Rose Byrnes' highly strung Nat and Rafe Spall's man-boy Josh are not meant to be — they marry too quickly and are obviously more suited to the two supporting characters, played by Simon Baker and Anna Faris. Concrete Playground has 10 double passes to give away to see I Give It a Year. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Read our full review here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3UgPWKPDlvA
For most of the last decade, Melbourne party-seekers have been getting together on New Year's Day for a boogie of epic proportions. The first day of 2020 will be no different, with Animals Dancing presenting a mammoth celebration across the outdoor and warehouse spaces of The Timber Yard. At the Port Melbourne home of industrial raves, revellers will find a huge international lineup of music makers from all over the world, coming together to bring in a new era with you. From across Europe, the lineup includes Nosedrip, The Pilotwings, Tornado Wallace and German headliner Lena Willikens, then there's New York's Tim Sweeney, Glasgow's 12th Isle and New Zealand's Vanessa Worm. If that's not enough to get your feet moving, homegrown talent like Andee Frost, Sleep D and Darcy Justice surely will. Animals Dancing will have two stages you can get down at, but there's a limited capacity and first release tickets are already sold out. General release tickets are $119 so be quick to snap them up before it's too late. Image: Animals Dancing Facebook/Dave Smiley.
In 1931, Harold Bell Lasseter died in a desolate corner of the outback while searching for a fortune he claimed to have stumbled upon years before. Or at least, that’s how one version of the story goes. The fantastical tale of a seven mile stretch of quartz reef filled with gold has lingered in Australian folklore, while its supposed discoverer has been alternately praised as a visionary and denounced and denigrated as a fraud. But more than eight decades later, one man still clings to Lasseter’s legend: his 85-year-old son Bob, who has spent the bulk of his life searching for the reef in the hopes of clearing his father’s name. A story of obsession and the allure of a tale well told, Lasseter’s Bones is directed by British documentarian Luke Walker, a young man who, like so many others, heard murmurings of Lasseter’s precious metal and came looking. Together, he and Bob follow the same track that Harold did, battling the same rough terrain and unflinching heat that slowly turned sceptical prospectors against the man who promised to make them rich. Bob and Luke prove a likeable if fairly unlikely duo — two men separated by generations but united by a single, common goal. But as the journey continues, Walker’s faith seems to wane, especially after discovering evidence suggesting not only that Lasseter never found gold, but that he may have faked his own death and escaped his investors to America. Ironically, while the theoretical purpose of a documentary is to expose or elucidate the truth, Lasseter’s Bones demonstrates how difficult — not to mention, how undesirable — that task can sometimes be. Even as Walker presents multiple versions of Lasseter’s story, it’s obvious which one he and everyone else prefers. After all, who wouldn’t want to believe that there really is gold out there, somewhere? That Lasseter never abandoned his family, but rather died trying to provide for them? That poor, kind, eccentric, optimistic Bob hasn’t wasted his life, all on the word of a charlatan? Lasseter’s Bones never gives us a solid answer. Rather, it suggests we might be better off believing the dream.
From family classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to hard-hitting documentaries in the league of Camp 14 – Total Control Zone to black comedies such as Invasion, this year's Audi Festival of German Film promises the bravest, brashest and most bizarre in German film. There'll be panel discussions, Q&As, special cultural programs and parties. The selection for opening night, Georg Maas' Two Lives, makes it clear the festival is seeking the cutting edge, new generation of German filmmaking. It's a 2012 post-Berlin wall spy thriller about the exercise of state control over individual identities. Another highlight is This Ain't California, a Cannes winner that explores the development of skateboard culture in East Germany during the 1970s and 1980s. With over 20,000 people expected to attend, representing a 37 percent growth in popularity over the past six years, this year's festival is set to be the biggest on record. The festival is on in May around the country: Sydney: April 30 to May 14, Chauvel Cinema and Palace Verona Melbourne: May 1-15, Palace Cinema Como and Kino Cinemas Brisbane: May 3-9, Palace Centro Thanks to the Audi Festival of German Film, we have 15 double passes, valid for any screening throughout the festival, to give away in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8noDewE16iM
A half-acre worth of art is coming to rural Victoria. For one weekend only, the old Woodend Saw Mill in the Macedon Ranges will be transformed into a temporary gallery, featuring work by close to 100 different street artists. Part of the Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival, Art of the Mill is presented by No Fixed Address Gallery. Created in partnership with Alex McCulloch Art consultancy and Ken McGregor of the Australian Street Art Festival, the show will welcome a number of prominent graffiti artists, including Makatron, Adnate, Unwell Bunny, Kid Silk, Phibs, Facter and Ohnoes. "This vast warehouse complex breaks down the division between gallery art and street art, with a mix of finished pieces and art-in-progress bringing the audience different moments of creativity," said McCulloch. The free exhibition will be open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28. The Saturday will also feature live painting, bands and DJs all day, along with an art auction. 20 percent of all proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network, which operates shelters in the area for injured bush animals. UPDATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 2 After a successful weekend, Art of the Mill have decided to extend the exhibitionand will open it from Thursday, March 3 to Sunday, March 6. For more information about Art of the Mill, go here. Images: David Russell
My yoga studio has a basketball court below it. During a calming session of yoga, it is not uncommon to hear the piercing screech of a whistle, frequent cheering and the intermittent shrieks of "Great shot Mike!". One time, I kid you not, there was a marching band procession going down, and the instructor had to calmly try and talk over the incessant drumming. Quite un-zen. Flow After Dark Silent Disco Yoga seeks to give yoga enthusiasts the exact opposite experience. How exactly does one silent disco yoga? Quite easily with the introduction of wireless headphones. These bad boys give participants a one-on-one with instructor, Flow Athletic co-founder Kate Kendall, while simultaneously pumping out beats from Sydney DJ James Mack. Also, they're neon. This one-off, 90-minute Vinyasa yoga session will see a whopping 700 yogis come together at Melbourne Park Function Centre. It's probably your best (possibly only) chance to show off your best warrior pose while simultaneously jiving to some seriously smooth music. Silently.
UPDATE: Wednesday, September 8 — This event has moved from Saturday, September 11 to Saturday, September 18. The article has been updated to reflect this. Have you been feeling a little languid lately? Have the long days in lockdown taken a toll on your wellbeing? If you're looking for something to help pull you out of hibernation and bounce you right into spring, this one's for you. On Saturday, September 18, you can join Naomi Ingelton from Beechworth's Farmacy Co Clinic for Home Herbalist, a 90-minute, interactive natural remedy workshop. Ingelton has a background in organic horticulture and is a qualified Ayurvedic lifestyle practitioner and herbalist. In this workshop, she'll show you how to make an elderberry tonic that helps to support the immune system, a 'focus tea' to promote sleep, digestion and reduce stress, and a 'cooling tea', too. To make sure you've got everything you need to create these concoctions, Farmacy Co Clinic will send you a remedy kit with all the essentials. Inside the pack you'll find 20 herb sachets, an apothecary bottle, two apothecary jars, herb function information, apple cider vinegar and more. All you need to add are some household items including saucepans, a teapot, colander, mixing bowl, four jars, honey and some water. Sound like the the lift you need to get you through lockdown? Home Herbalist with Farmacy Co will kick off at 4.30pm on Saturday, September 18. For more information and to book, visit the website.
