Throw those GoPros, bubble bottles and novelty gumboots in your rucksack, Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year of festival merriment. With the epic likes of Blur, Mark Ronson, Florence and The Machine, Death Cab For Cutie, The Wombats, Tame Impala and Of Monsters And Men, Pond, Royal Blood and the Dandy Warhols on the bill, 2015's fest has one heck of a huge lineup. Odd Future's Earl Sweatshirt is back, Australia's own dancefloor kings Flight Facilities are landing back home, Azealia Banks makes her Australian festival return and Spiritualised will play their only Australian show. Ryan Adams is comin' on over, Best Coast is bringing the beachery back to Splendour, while recent Coachella-smash Jenny Lewis is another of the bigwigs we can all get squealy about. SXSW buzz artists like Gengahr and Elliphant are coming, UK producer Shlomo will take things down a notch (and King Khan will do exactly the opposite), while Canadian duo Purity Ring should be one packed-out, all-the-emotions must-see. Australian artists really dominate the lineup this year, including Client Liaison, Elizabeth Rose, Hayden James, Megan Washington, Thundamentals, Meg Mac, Japanese Wallpaper, Dune Rats and more. Plus, there's going to be four stages this year, with the new Tiny Dancer stage joining the Amphitheatre, Mix Up, GW McLennan stages to host Splendour's DJ lineup. Splendour will return to North Byron Parklands on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July. Onsite camping is once again available from Wednesday 22 July. Splendour In The Grass 2015 lineup Blur Florence + The Machine Mark Ronson Of Monsters & Men The Wombats Tame Impala Peking Duk Ryan Adams Flight Facilities Royal Blood (only Aus show) Death Cab For Cutie Earl Sweatshirt Boy & Bear Porter Robinson (Live) The Dandy Warhols (only Aus show) Xavier Rudd & The United Nations Azealia Banks The Rubens Jamie T Pond Spiritualized (only Aus show) Alison Wonderland Thundamentals Best Coast Everything Everything San Cisco MS MR Jarryd James Purity Ring Allday Carmada The Grates The Smith Street Band Tkay Maidza Johnny Marr Last Dinosaurs Megan Washington The Vaccines #1 Dads The Church Kitty, Daisy & Lewis The King Khan & The BBQ Show Alpine Catfish and the Bottlemen Paul Mac Dustin Tebbutt MØ Years & Years Jenny Lewis C.W. Stoneking Seekae George Maple Elliphant Client Liaison Palma Violets SAFIA Hayden James Dune Rats Wolf Alice Meg Mac Cosmo's Midnight Marmozets Oh Mercy Mansionair The Districts Shlohmo Elizabeth Rose The Delta Riggs Circa Waves Nancy Whang Eves The Behaviour Urban Cone Art of Sleeping Japanese Wallpaper Gengahr Bad//Dreems Ecca Vandal Holy Holy Vallis Alps UV Boi The Babe Rainbow Harts Generik Young Franco Mickey Kojak GL Benson Harvey Sutherland Total Giovanni DJs Dugong Jr I'lls Akouo Noise In My Head triple j Unearthed Winners Plus ... Joyride Post Percy Ara Koufax CC:Disco! Adi Toohey Set Mo Edd Fisher Mike Who Shantan Wantan Ichiban For more info, check out the official Splendour In The Grass site.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. MOTHERING SUNDAY Is there anything more intimate than wandering around someone's home when they're not there, gently rifling through their things, and — literally or not, your choice — spending a few minutes standing in their shoes? Yes, but there's still an intoxicating sense of closeness that comes with the territory; moseying curiously in another's house without their company, after they've entrusted their most personal space to you alone, will understandably do that. In Mothering Sunday, Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young, The Staircase) finds herself in this very situation. She's naked, and as comfortable as she's ever been anywhere. After her lover Paul Sheringham (Josh O'Connor, Emma) leaves her in a state of postcoital bliss, she makes the most of his family's large abode in the English countryside, the paintings and books that fill its walls and shelves, and the pie and beer tempting her tastebuds in the kitchen. The result: some of this 1920s-set British drama's most evocative and remarkable moments. Jane is used to such lofty spaces, but rarely as a carefree resident. She's an aspiring writer, an orphan and the help; he's firmly from money. She works as a maid for the Sheringhams' neighbours, the also-wealthy Godfrey (Colin Firth, Operation Mincemeat) and Clarrie Niven (Olivia Colman, Heartstopper), and she's ventured next door while everyone except Paul is out. This rare day off is the occasion that gives the stately but still highly moving film its name as well — Mother's Day, but initially designed to honour mother churches, aka where one was baptised — and the well-to-do crowd are all lunching to celebrate Paul's impending nuptials to fiancée Emma Hobday (Emma D'Arcy, Misbehaviour). He made excuses to arrive late, though, in order to steal some time with Jane, as they've both been doing for years. Of course, he can't completely shirk his own party. Mothering Sunday does more than luxuriate in Jane's languid stroll around a sprawling manor, or the happiness that precedes it — much, much more — but these scenes stand out for a reason. They're a showcase for Australian actor Young, who has graduated from playing troubled daughters (see: 2015's The Daughter and the unrelated Looking for Grace) to searching young women cementing their place in the world (see also: 2020's Shirley). With her quietly potent and radiant help, they say oh-so-much about Jane that wouldn't have sported the same power if conveyed via dialogue. They're also exactly the kind of sequences that screenwriter Alice Birch (Lady Macbeth) knows well, although she isn't merely repeating herself. Helping pen the page-to-screen adaptations of Sally Rooney's Normal People and Conversations with Friends, she's inherently at home revealing everything she can about her characters just by observing what they do when no one's watching. The broader story in Mothering Sunday also springs from a book, this time from Graham Swift's 2016 novel, with French filmmaker Eva Husson (Girls of the Sun) making her English-language debut in the director's chair. Swift didn't choose an annual occasion at random, with the day cloaked in sadness in the Sheringham and Niven households — and across Britain — in the shadow of the First World War and all the young men lost to the conflict. Indeed, marking Paul's engagement is the best way to spend the date because his brothers, and the Nivens' boys too, will never have the same chance. The need to don a stiff upper lip, to keep calm and carry on, and to embody every other grin-and-bear-it cliche about English stoicism is deeply rooted in grief here, and more will come in this touching feature before the sunny March day that sits at its centre is over. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on March 3, March 10, March 17, March 24 and March 31; April 7, April 14, April 21 and April 28; and May 5, May 12, May 19 and May 26. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as The Batman, Blind Ambition, Bergman Island, Wash My Soul in the River's Flow, The Souvenir: Part II, Dog, Anonymous Club, X, River, Nowhere Special, RRR, Morbius, The Duke, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbledore, Ambulance, Memoria, The Lost City, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Happening, The Good Boss, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, The Northman, Ithaka, After Yang, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara, This Much I Know to Be True, The Innocents, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bob's Burgers Movie, Ablaze and Hatching.
Looks like we have a new winter arts festival to get excited about, and it’s all going down on the south side. GLOW Winter Arts Festival will hold 50 events — many of which are free. It's happening over 11 days in August, and will feature everything from circus performers and comedy clubs to musical performances and art exhibitions. One highlight open throughout the festival is Architects of Air's Exxopolis, a cathedral-like luminarium that visitors can immerse themselves in. It’s about half the size of a football field, made with 3,000 square meters of plastic and will be placed on the Jam Factory rooftop for those curious for a new experience of colour and sound. Other parts of the festival to look forward to are the Shot in the Dark photographic exhibition, featuring images of people and places of Stonnington after dark. The images will be located in store windows and will only be viewable with a smartphone or tablet; figure that one out. For film buffs there is Flicks 'n' Feasts, which will pair delicious food offerings and free films in an outdoor laneway of the Prahran Market. Think kung fu and dim sum, Godzilla and sushi, and Bollywood and Indian curry. While there are many musical adventures to partake in during the festival, our pick would have to be The Rhythm Spectacular: The Music of Beyoncé where Adam Hall and The Velvet Playboys will reinterpret Beyoncé pop songs through the prism of R&B, New Orleans street beat and jazz. Intrigued? So are we.
Winter has officially begun, and in true form, Melbourne has wasted no time in getting down to business. With chilly winds, rain and an impending sense of that Melbourne gloom, all we can do is band together, and hand over our hard-earned cash in exchange for a comfy chair by the fire. And perhaps a glass of something — maybe red wine, whiskey, or something piping hot — to warm us from the inside out. To help you through the dark winter months, we've compiled a list of the best spots with open fires north of the river. It should help you survive winter with a smile — or at least without frozen feet.
Greenlighting Anyone But You with Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell as its leads must've been among Hollywood's easiest decisions. One of the rom-com's stars has been everywhere from Euphoria and The White Lotus to Reality of late, plus Sharp Objects and The Handmaid's Tale before that, and has a stint in the superhero realm on Madame Web to come. The other is fresh off feeling the need for speed in Top Gun: Maverick, including getting sweaty and shirtless in the beach scene. They both drip charisma. If this was the 80s, 90s or 00s, they each would have an entire segment of their filmographies dedicated to breezy romantic comedies like this Sydney-shot film, and probably more than a few together. From here, they might achieve that feat yet — because if there's much ado about anything in Anyone But You, it's about how well its two main talents shine as a pair. Regardless of that gleaming casting, director and co-writer Will Gluck crafts his first adult-oriented flick in 12 years — since Friends with Benefits, with Annie and the two Peter Rabbit movies since — as if it's still two, three or four decades back. The gimmick-fuelled plot, the scenic setting, the swinging between stock-standard and OTT supporting characters: they're all formulaically present and accounted for in Anyone But You. Also eagerly splashed in is the picture's biggest twist, courtesy of its filmmaker and co-scribe Ilana Wolpert (a feature first-timer sporting writing and story-editing credits on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on her resume). With Easy A, Gluck took inspiration from The Scarlet Letter, giving it a modern-day remake. Now, complete with some character names to match (there's no Dogberry, though, but there is a dog), ample matchmaking gossip and lines from the play clumsily dotted around the sets for viewers to see, Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing scores the overt riffs. Always apparent as well: the fact that, even as it follows in the Bard of Avon's footsteps, Anyone But You's story constantly comes second to Sweeney and Powell's smouldering chemistry. Plus, most of its obvious jokes only land because the twosome sell them, and the whole movie. Takes on Shakespeare's 16th-century-penned, 17th-century-published rom-com have graced the big screen before. In the past 30 years, see: 1993's with Emma Thompson (What's Love Got to Do with It?) and Kenneth Branagh (A Haunting in Venice) as Beatrice and Benedick, and Branagh directing, and also 2012's with Buffyverse alums Amy Acker (The Watchful Eye) and Alexis Denisof (How I Met Your Father) for Joss Whedon (their guiding hand on Buffy and Angel). But this one is as merry as the day is long about being a playground for Sweeney and Powell first and foremost. Law student Bea (Sweeney) and finance bro Ben (Powell) meet-cute over a restroom key in a busy cafe. She's desperate to use the facilities, the staff won't let her unless she buys something, the line is morning-rush long and he claims that she's his wife to help. So begins a dreamy day of flirting, walking, talking, cooking grilled-cheese sandwiches and connecting over deep secrets like Gluck is fashioning a sped-up version of the Before trilogy, too. That heavenly first date ends badly the next morning, however. More pain is in store when Bea's sister Halle (Hadley Robinson, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty) starts dating Ben's best friend Pete's (GaTa, Dave) sister Claudia (Alexandra Shipp, Barbie) months later. When an engagement is next, cue Bea and Ben's feud going international at the destination wedding in Australia, then getting a shakeup when the quarrelling duo pretend that they're together. There's kindness in this faux truce, alongside trickery and self-interest. Bea and Ben are trying stop their squabbling ruining the nuptials, yes, but they're attempting to get her parents to back off from campaigning for a reunion with her ex-fiancé Jonathan (Darren Barnet, Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story) at the same time — and to make his own past love Margaret (model-turned-acting debutant Charlee Fraser), Claudia and Pete's Australian cousin, jealous. Anyone But You's protagonists are also well-aware that the rest of the wedding party is conspiring to push them into love, subscribing to the whole "fighting means you like them" theory, and quickly tired of overhearing conversations that they're meant to about each other. Romantic-comedy logic dictates what happens next, of course, as packaged with slapstick gags, literal bathroom humour, sing-alongs, farce everywhere, as much flaunted bare flesh as an Aussie beach, and far more horniness than has been typically seen in 2010s and 2020s cinema. Every expected narrative beat is struck, then. Almost every genre cliche is hit as well. Nodding to other rom-com wedding flicks — My Best Friend's Wedding co-stars Dermot Mulroney and Rachel Griffiths play Bea's mum and dad, and the latter is also a Muriel's Wedding alum — is also heartily on the menu. So are fish-out-of-water Americans-in-Australia jokes, and being cheesily Aussie via koalas, endless shots of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House to make both Tourism Australia and Destination NSW proud, and Bryan Brown (Faraway Downs) and Joe Davidson (Neighbours) playing the stereotypical parts. The vision of Sydney that the film inhabits is not only overseas tourist bait, but a one-percenter paradise, as evidenced by the sprawling seaside home of Pete and Claudia's parents (Brown and Star Trek: Picard's Michelle Hurd) that becomes the movie's on-screen base. And yet, as Anyone But You needs and knows with gleeful self-awareness that it's going to get, Sweeney and Powell ace their performances and rapport, and couldn't be more watchable in the process. While no one has a particularly difficult job — least of all cinematographer Danny Ruhlmann (True Spirit), with the film's two stars and a sunny, picturesque locale to lens — it's their lively back and forth and game-for-anything commitment that keeps the picture afloat. For months, this was the feature that sparked headline-grabbing off-screen rumours about life imitating art. Now, it's an audition piece for a second silver-screen team up. Back in the 80s, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn did it (in Swing Shift and Overboard). The 90s had Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks (Joe vs the Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail), plus Julia Roberts and Richard Gere (Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride), while it was Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey's (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Fool's Gold) turn in the 00s. After Anyone But You, audiences won't want anyone but Sweeney and Powell to be next.
Attention all video game nerds (it's okay, nerds are cool now) and music lovers, this is one event you might want to free up your Friday night for. Indie Symphony is a one-night-only performance that will bring together the best of both worlds, with a live orchestral rendition of beloved soundtracks hailing from some of the most popular indie video games ever created. Presented by Orchestra Victoria, the concert will feature music from Australia's own top-selling worldwide hit Hollow Knight, Grammy-nominated Journey, and Game of the Year winner Hades. The evening will also feature scores from Stray Gods, Celeste, Necrobarista, and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. The night promises to be a feast for the eyes as well as the ears, as gameplay from all titles will be projected onto a giant screen. It's like watching your favourite gamer's Twitch stream, only heaps better. The night will be hosted by ABC's Game Show host, Meena Shamaly, and will feature a Q&A session with some of the composers and musicians post-performance. Names to look forward to include Simon Hall, Steven Gates, and Austin Wintory, the latter of which is the mastermind behind the 2012 emotional rollercoaster Journey — the first video game title to be nominated for a Grammy. If you've ever wondered what goes into making video games, this is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the people who create these beloved titles and the music that brings them to life.
We all know that the Mornington Peninsula is home to stunning natural wonders and hidden gems, but let's not forget about its booming industry of local talent. Packed with artists, designers and sustainable entrepreneurs, as well as brewers and winemakers, the Peninsula is a place ripe with creativity. To showcase this talent, Stoker Studio is bringing back its giant Design & Drink Market on Saturday, November 11, showcasing creative talent and craft bevvies. Head along from 11am–3pm and you'll discover all that area has to offer in terms of small-batch and sustainable products, as well as local cheeses, craft beverages and artisanal spirits. A plethora of stallholders will be there to tempt your wallet, including wares from Everwear Denim, Boatshed Cheese and Kate Bowman Ceramics. You can also expect live music, local DJs and great vibes suitable for the whole family (including the pups). Attendees are asked to come with some spare change as entry is via gold coin donation, with the proceeds going to Project Kick It. Top images: Yves Eyes Photography.
The increasing rise of streaming platforms could mark the death of movie-going as we know it, or so says the popular line of thinking that's been floating around for years. We're fairly certain that online services won't completely kill cinemas, however, even as huge companies like Apple and Disney try to battle it out with Netflix. There's a simple reason, and it's all about the spectacle. If the big screen dies out, all of those huge superhero battles will lose a bit of their sheen — and so will nerve-wracking creature features. It's a truth universally acknowledged that there's nothing quite like watching savage critters attack while you're sat in a darkened theatre, where nothing can disrupt the tension and a whole room of people are reacting to the on-screen horrors. That's one of the reasons Steven Spielberg's Jaws proved such a hit, after all, with the movie credited with inventing the mid-year blockbuster season. Since the 1975 thriller, plenty of films have tried to follow in its footsteps, both seriously and comedically. Crawl is the latest, slinging killer crocodiles at Skins and Maze Runner star Kaya Scodelario — because, well, why not? Directed by Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Piranha 3D) and produced by Sam Raimi (the original Evil Dead trilogy, Drag Me to Hell), Crawl takes place in Florida, just as a huge hurricane hits. Scodelario's Haley is told to evacuate, but she wants to find her missing dad (Barry Pepper) first — and he's injured and stuck in the crawl space of their family home. So far, so unfortunate. But then floodwaters rise, the storm keeps belting down and something with teeth is lurking below the water. If you're not fond of jumps, scares and snapping foes, this won't be for you. If you are, check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4WuVXo_XAM&feature=youtu.be Crawl releases in Australian cinemas on July 11. Image: Sergej Radović. © 2019 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All rights reserved.
No heavy hearts or heavy looks here — during Good Beer Week, Little Creatures turns into a school worth running to. If you or your pals are new to craft beer and would like to un-bamboozle your hops from your malts, then head to Good Beer College. With nine events running from Friday to Sunday, there are also masterclasses and history of beer sessions for those looking to cram harder. This event is part of Good Beer Week's 2015 program, running from May 16-24. For more festival picks, click here.
It's hard to talk about The Darkside. It's a collection of true Aboriginal ghost stories. It's the follow-up to Warwick Thornton's first feature, Samson and Delilah. And it's unlike any other feature film — in format, in feeling and in content. It's a bit like The Turning by Robert Connolly — an anthology of mini-films rather than a long narrative that arcs forward in a straight line. So you have to take it for what it is; there's no suite of regular characters who change or interact or grow or hug or learn together, there are no subplots, no tricks, no twist at the end, no irony, no winking cleverness, definitely no CGI. In 12 small chapters, an encounter with an Indigenous ghost is recounted, usually by an actor, straight into the camera in leisurely, long takes. It's a simple and honest approach to pure storytelling without the cinematic gimmicks we're used to. That makes The Darkside a film to approach with total trust and zero skepticism. Thornton put a call-out all over the country for people to tell their stories of interactions with spirits and the inexplicable. The fact that the stories are real is important. The fact that you may not believe in ghosts is unimportant. After all, you don't need to believe in zombies to enjoy a horror movie. I engaged less with the spiritual side of the film, and more with its sincerity and its unique Indigenous cultural perspective. Thornton's detours from the direct-to-camera thing are highlights: we watch artist Ben Quilty painting a symmetrical, roaring landscape with the spirit of a small, lost girl floating sideways (it is astonishing, and a rare insight into this painter's creative process). We see a long-limbed Claudia Karvan meets the rainbow serpent and dances into Massive Attacked oblivion. And we see quietly distressing archival footage of 1900s colonialists' anthropological studies into Aboriginal people, who were once thought of as the missing evolutionary link between 'legit' humans and apes. There are a few sneaky laughs and a few sneaky creeps. This new tide of Indigenous filmmakers — Thornton, Wayne Blair, Ivan Sen, Rachel Perkins — are speaking for themselves, making Aboriginal stories for all audiences, and showing that black culture cannot be compartmentalised into the past or into the margins of non-white populations: this is not Australia's heritage, this is Australia's present. This film may be in limited release in theatres, festivals and galleries, but it deserves to be seen by everyone. The Aboriginal ancestors of Australia are still here and they're living on in The Darkside. https://youtube.com/watch?v=AUQ-8MBFjjE
If you live in one of the 82 million households that gave Bridgerton a stream during its first month on Netflix — making it the platform's most-watched new series ever — then you're probably also a fan of its reigning monarch. Sure, the soapy series spends most of its time with the eponymous family, with its first season following Daphne Bridgerton's (Phoebe Dynevor, Younger) quest to find a husband, and her dalliances with the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page, Sylvie's Love). But whenever Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel, Lady Macbeth) enters a scene, she steals it so convincingly and savagely that everything else around her withers in comparison. Clearly, Netflix noticed this, too. And, fresh from renewing Bridgerton for its third and fourth seasons before the second even streams, the service has announced a Queen Charlotte-centric spinoff. Get ready to spend more time with the character, but in her younger guise, with the currently untitled new show set to be a prequel. At this immensely early stage, few other details have been revealed — although Charlotte will be joined by a few other familiar faces. Younger versions of Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell, Deep State) and Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh, The Witcher) will also feature in the new series, if you've ever wanted to know more about their backstories. Just who'll be playing Charlotte, Violet and Lady Danbury also hasn't been announced, and neither has exactly when the show about them will hit your streaming queue. It has been revealed that the new series will be penned by Bridgerton executive producer (and Grey's Anatomy and Scandal creator) Shonda Rhimes, though. She's calling the Charlotte-focused show part of "the Bridgerton-verse" — so yes, you can probably expect more spinoffs to follow. For now, you can revisit the original Bridgerton trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpv7ayf_tyE The first season of Bridgerton is available to stream now via Netflix. The show's Queen Charlotte-focused spinoff doesn't yet have a release date — and neither does Bridgerton's second, third and fourth seasons — but we'll update you when details come to hand. Top image: Liam Daniel/Netflix.
UPDATE, February 8, 2021: The Breaker Upperers is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. Breaking up isn't hard to do in New Zealand's latest hilarious comedy. In fact, dumping someone you never want to see again couldn't be easier. For a fee, best friends Jen (Jackie van Beek) and Mel (Madeleine Sami) won't just do their clients' dirty work for them, but they'll come up with an elaborate scenario or even a song. Want to ditch an unwanted boyfriend via a country ditty? They'll start crooning. Certain that a scandal is the only way to stop your wedding? One of them will pretend to be the mother of your unborn child. Need something with a bit more finality? The pair will tell your wife that you're missing, presumed drowned. Welcome to The Breaker Upperers — the name of Jen and Mel's busy Auckland business, as well as the title of van Beek and Sami's astute and side-splitting film. The duo write, direct and star, and they're an uproarious force to be reckoned with. Comedians with considerable resumes on New Zealand television (as well as parts across Taika Waititi's filmography), their first big-screen adventure together doesn't just milk ghosting an ex for laughs. It's also the kind of female-focused buddy comedy that cinema could use considerably more of, telling a tale of thirty-something women who don't have it all together. Moreover, the movie's protagonists aren't chasing the usual romantic fantasy, and don't feel like they should be doing what rom-coms tell them. Actually, ever since Jen and Mel experienced their own respective relationship mishaps, they've each sworn to keep their love lives casual. That's easier for the pessimistic Jen than the amiable Mel, with two specific jobs thrusting their differences into focus. Firstly, the distraught wife of a former client (Celia Pacquola) keeps popping up in their lives — needing a shoulder to cry on, and making Mel start to doubt whether breaking up couples for cash is a line of work anyone should be doing. Secondly, high schooler Jordan (James Rolleston, delightfully asked to play dumb) hires them to dump his smart-talking girlfriend Sepa (breakout newcomer Ana Scotney), causing sparks to fly between the 17-year-old rugby player and Mel. As well as giving van Beek and Sami on-screen gigs over the years, plus directing Sami's one-woman TV show Super City, Waititi has an executive producing credit on The Breaker Upperers. While the brand of dry, awkward Kiwi comedy found in Boy, What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople is alive and well here, this is always van Beek and Sami's movie. They fire off gags and one-liners with such a hit rate that you might miss a few because you're laughing too much. They not only commit to the more outlandish aspects of the picture's humour, but flesh out their characters so they're much more than just a source of jokes. And, in a film with several standout musical moments, they make the best Celine Dion karaoke video you're ever likely to see. A little bit silly, a little bit sweet, yet still thoroughly smart in its ode to female friendship: that's The Breaker Upperers from start to finish. It's the cinematic equivalent of a great (not doomed) romance — hooking viewers instantly like love at first sight, throwing up plenty of joyful surprises and then riding off into the sunset. The film itself doesn't chart that narrative path, but that's the journey it takes audiences on anyway. It's also energetic, well-paced, and delightfully diverse in its appreciation of sexuality, sex positivity, gender, race, culture, body image and going grey at a young age. If it was your date, you wouldn't be asking anyone to break up with it for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phMlkRiWIg
Throw those GoPros, bubble bottles and novelty gumboots in your rucksack, Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year of festival merriment. As usual, rumours have run wild in anticipation of the lineup announce, but the details for Splendour 2017 are finally here. And we're happy to report that some of the rumours were true. As announced by triple j, there's no Lorde or Frank Ocean, but LCD bloody Soundsystem will be Splendouring — it will be the reunited band's first return to Australia since they played Big Day Out back in 2011. The lineup also doesn't state that Splendour is their only show, so stay tuned for news of a national tour (hopefully). It also seems that, happily, the predictions for The xx and Queens of the Stone Age were correct too. Joining them is one heck of a lineup that includes HAIM, RL Grime, Banks and Two Door Cinema Club, along with Future Islands and LA hip hip artist Schoolboy Q, who will be doing one-off Australian shows at the festival. Australian artists on the bill include Tash Sultana, King Gizzard, D.D Dumbo, Dune Rats, A.B Original, Big Scary and more. Anyway, we know what you're here for. We'll cut to the chase. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2017 LINEUP The xx Queens of the Stone Age LCD Soundsystem Royal Blood HAIM Sigur Rós ScHoolboy Q (only Aus show) Vance Joy Two Door Cinema Club Peking Duk RL Grime Bonobo Father John Misty Catfish and the Bottlemen Tash Sultana Paul Kelly Stormzy King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard George Ezra Future Islands (only Aus show) Banks Bernard Fanning Dune Rats Cut Copy Ásgeir Allday Meg Mac Rag 'N' Bone Man Thundamentals Lil' Yachty San Cisco Client Liaison Real Estate Dan Sultan Vallis Alps D.D Dumbo Maggie Rogers Tove Lo POND Big Scary The Smith Street Band Oh Wonder A.B. Original Dope Lemon The Kite String Tangle Young Franco Julia Jacklin Kingswood Amy Shark Luca Brasi The Lemon Twigs Vera Blue Slumberjack Bad//Dreems Bag Raiders Topaz Jones Middle Kids Ocean Grove Confidence Man Bishop Briggs Late Nite Tuff Guy Julien Baker Kilter Lany Hockey Dad Kirin J Callinan Airling Cosmo's Midnight Gretta Ray Moonbase The Peep Tempel Tornado Wallace The Murlocs Mallrat Luke Million The Wilson Pickers Romare Jarrow Good Boy Kuren Oneman Winston Surfshirt Set Mo HWLS Harvey Sutherland and Bermuda CC:Disco! Enschway DJHMC Nite Fleit Alice Ivy Willow Beats Willaris. K Mookhi Plus... Swindail Dena Amy Andy Garvey Planète Sam Weston Super Cruel Christopher Port Lewis Cancut Kinder plus triple j Unearthed winners Splendour will return to North Byron Parklands on Friday 21, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July. Onsite camping will once again be available from Wednesday, July 19. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 6 at 9am sharp AEST. More info will soon be available at the official Splendour In The Grass site. Image: Bianca Holderness.
One of Melbourne's favourite inner-city shopping spots is moving up in the world, literally. As part of the site's ongoing redevelopment, Queen Victoria Market is getting an elevated addition. Say goodbye to ground-level shopping, and hello to an open-air greenhouse-style pavilion that'll be built on columns nine metres above the street. Slated to begin construction in early 2017 and expected to be operational by the September, the Breathe Architecture-designed structure will temporarily house the market's traders while other parts of the precinct undergo a revamp. And it won't be small — measuring 200 metres by 16 metres, the $5 million effort is expected to stretch from the existing sheds down to the customer car park. In addition to boasting a constant temperature of 28 degrees, it'll also be the longest inner-city conservatory in the world. The pavilion forms part of the broader Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal project, which aims to restore the market's heritage while delivering modern facilities, and will span the next five years. As well as refreshing the existing sheds and fixtures, the $250 million revitalisation will also see the creation of a new 1.5 hectare open space called Market Square, plus another area that can host markets, festivals and more at the intersection of Queen and Therry streets, dubbed Market Cross. And, while the brag-worthy sky-high greenhouse isn't actually intended to be a permanent fixture at present — in fact, it is designed to be dismantled, moved and even re-sold if needed — that may change. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle told The Herald Sun that he expects some traders will want to stay there once the rest of the project is finished. "I suspect this will be such a success and such a drawcard that when we get to the end of the renovation traders will tell us not to take it away," he said. For more information about the Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal, visit the project website. Via The Herald Sun.
It's easy to get swept up in generic Christmas hubbub. Department stores are playing 'Jingle Bells', stockings need to be stuffed, and sooner or later you find yourself buying a relative socks. No one needs anymore socks. Just stop. Now's your chance to break that pattern and become one of those oh-so-cool gift givers. The ones who remember the hints dropped over the past few months and give a gift so great it elicits forceful high-fives all through the festive season. Give a friend a box set of Breaking Bad. After five seasons, an impressive array of industry accolades, and an unquantifiable number of gasps from its captive global audience, it's safe to say that everyone loves Breaking Bad. The hysteria eventually got so bad that people were forced to develop anti-spoiler apps during its final season; it's now acceptable to work from a blue-meth themed cookbook for your next dinner party. Now, thanks to our friends at Universal and Sony, you can re-gift a friend all that magic for the super appealing price of free. We have 10 collector's edition DVD or Blu-Ray box sets of the entire Breaking Bad collection to give away. Who needs to wait for the Australian release of Netflix? Start your session of post-finale binge-watching right now. 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
Come summertime, the celebratory spirit is taking over the entire state, thanks to massive events like ALWAYS LIVE. For the third year running, this festival celebrates the diversity of music in Victoria, with a mix of international headliners and local musicians taking to stages statewide from Friday, November 22, to Sunday, December 8. Some of the unmissable (and exclusive) events in ALWAYS LIVE are taking place on the final weekend. One of those is Yerambooee, a unique celebration of First Nations culture and community. This free event on Saturday, December 7 at 7pm, is hosted by elders and performers from Wurundjeri, Woi-Wurrung and Yolgnu peoples. The stage will be a nine-metre sand circle laid down in Fed Square — representative of a meeting ground filled with river sand — for a gathering unlike anything else on the festival program. Beginning with a welcome from Aunty Joy Murphy, performers will take to the stage with song, dance and music for a celebration that encourages the audience to join in — with music inspired by Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) — the final work of the late Yolgnu musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. Yeramboee will take place in Federation Square on Saturday, December 7. For more information, visit the Always Live website.
If you like celebrating October German-style, a trip to Europe at the right time of year is likely on your must-do list. For those who can't take a boozy overseas holiday this year, Oktoberfest in the Gardens has you covered. There'll be steins. There'll be schnitties. There'll be lederhosen-wearing revellers — and if you're keen to dress the part as well, that's up to you. The Australian Oktoberfest event has been in the Bavarian-themed game for 14 years now, with its 2024 run in seven cities solely taking place in October. Clear a Saturday, whether you live in Perth or Adelaide, where the fest will kick off on Saturday, October 5; on the Gold Coast or in Melbourne, where it's time to say "prost!" on Saturday, October 12; Brisbane or Newcastle, which'll be downing brews on Saturday, October 19; or Sydney, where the tour wraps up on Saturday, October 26. This series of German shindigs isn't small, with 65,000 people expected to attend across the full slate of events this year. At each, the kind of beer- and bratwurst-fuelled shenanigans that Germany has become so famous for at this time of year are on offer. So, if you have a hankering for doppelbock and dancing to polka, it really is the next best thing to heading to Europe. Oktoberfest in the Gardens boasts a crucial attraction, too: as well as serving a variety of pilsners, ciders, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, it constructs huge beer halls to house the boozy merriment. When you're not raising a stein — or several — at the day-long event, you can tuck into pretzels and other traditional snacks at food stalls, or check out the hefty array of entertainment. Live music, roving performers, a silent disco, rides and a sideshow alley are all on the agenda. "We say it every year, but this year's Oktoberfest celebrations will be bigger than ever before. It's amazing how this event has continued to grow across the country," said Ross Drennan, co-founder of Nokturnl Events, which runs Oktoberfest in the Gardens. "Last year, we added additional cities to the tour and introduced even more fun activations. The response was overwhelming, with record-breaking sales." Oktoberfest in the Gardens 2024 Dates and Venues: Saturday, October 5 — Langley Park, Perth Saturday, October 5 — Pinky Flat, Adelaide Saturday, October 12 — Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast Saturday, October 12 — Catani Gardens, St Kilda, Melbourne Saturday, October 19 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Saturday, October 19 — The Station, Newcastle Saturday, October 26 — The Domain, Sydney Oktoberfest in the Gardens tours Australia in October 2024 — head to the event's website for further details, plus tickets from Wednesday, July 31.
What boasts a hefty lineup of First Nations talent, is all about celebrating Blak excellence in music and culture, and will take over Hanging Rock for one spring Sunday? Australia's newest music festival. What features a jam-packed lineup hand-picked by Briggs (with a thank you to Paul Kelly), and includes Baker Boy, Jessica Mauboy, Thelma Plum, Christine Anu and more on the bill? That same must-attend event, aka First & Forever. The day-long, picnic-style fest will make its debut on Sunday, November 27 in the Macedon Ranges spot, and sport a clear focus: showcasing and highlighting First Nations artists and performers. Indeed, the 20-plus acts announced so far spans an impressive range of names, featuring everyone from Budjerah, King Stingray and Sycco through to Alice Skye, Busby Marou, Electric Fields, Ziggy Ramo and Barkaa. [caption id="attachment_872292" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Georgia Wallace[/caption] The specific Hanging Rock venue has been named The Gathering Place for the event, acknowledging the people of the Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung who have long met there, and also the power of Country. First & Forever is also paying tribute to the late Archie Roach by dubbing its stage the 'Uncle Archie Stage'. If this seems like the kind of festival that Australia should've always had, that's because it is — and it came about via a chance meeting between Briggs and late Mushroom founder Michael Gudinski AM. "For years I'd had an idea for a First Nations-led contemporary music festival, something cool and boutique that was really about the music and culture," said Briggs. "When Gudinski called me about a similar idea he'd had, we found this really collaborative working relationship. We both had a passionate approach to Melbourne, Victorian music, and amplifying Blakfellas' stories. MG got the ball rolling. After he passed, the ball was in my court. I had to take it home." Adds Kelly: "My last conversation with Michael just over a week before he died was backstage at Archie [Roach's] concert. [MG] was bubbling with ideas for a new project, a big concert with headlining First Nations artists... he urged me to get involved. I said no to Michael many times over the years and I said yes lots. I'm glad I said yes this last time." [caption id="attachment_862591" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morgan Sette[/caption] FIRST & FOREVER 2022 LINEUP: Baker Boy Budjerah Jessica Mauboy King Stingray Sycco Thelma Plum Alice Skye Busby Marou Christine Anu Dan Sultan Electric Fields Emma Donovan Tasman Keith Ziggy Ramo Barkaa Birdz Dameeeela Jess Hitchcock Jk-47 Kardajala Kirridarra Kobie Dee and more First & Forever takes place on Sunday, November 27 at The Gathering Place, Hanging Rock, in Victoria's Macedon Ranges. Ticket pre-sales start at 11am AEDT on Tuesday, October 11, with general sales from 11am AEDT on Friday, October 14. For more information, head to the festival website.
Last week, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled how metropolitan Melbourne area will gradually ease out of its current stage four COVID-19 lockdowns. On the cards is a five-step removal of restrictions, with the first step taking place from 11.59pm on Sunday, September 13 — but life isn't going to be returning to normal any time soon. When it was first implemented, metro Melbourne's stage four lockdown was initially set to end on the aforementioned mid-September date; however, Premier Andrews has now advised that that isn't able to happen based on current coronavirus case numbers. Instead, some limits will be rolled back, with more to follow on September 28, October 26, November 23 and whenever the powers-that-be decide that a 'COVID normal' scenario — with absolutely no restrictions on gatherings, visitors, hospitality or sport — will be possible. That said, the loosening of limits at each is also dependent on health advice and hitting specific numbers of cases. So, from 11.59pm on Sunday, September 13, a few restrictions will be eased as part of step one of the roadmap. Here, we've broken down just what you can and can't do. This information is correct as of Friday, September 11. Is there still a curfew? Yes, there is still a curfew in place for metropolitan Melbourne. But, the good news is, it's been extended by an hour — starting at 9pm, instead of 8pm, and running through till 5am. For what reasons am I allowed to leave the house? Remember those four reasons first announced way back in March? Yep, it's still those. You can leave home to purchase groceries and other essentials, for care and caregiving, for outdoor exercise and recreation, and for permitted work. You can find out more about what industries are allowed on-site workers over here. [caption id="attachment_776562" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Heroes mask[/caption] Do I still have to wear a mask? Yes, masks or face coverings are still compulsory whenever you leave home. You can find out all the nitty-gritty over here. How long am I allowed to be out of the house for? You can now head outdoors for up to two hours, which is double the previously allowed one hour. You can use these two hours to exercise or to see a friend or family member (and you can split these into two one-hour sessions, but no more), but we'll get to social interactions in a second. How far can I travel? You can still only travel up to five kilometres from your home. We're sure you're very, very familiar with that patch of dirt by now, but if you want to have another look at what's around, check out this website. Can I see friends and family? Yes, but there are quite a few caveats, so bear with us. You can catch up with one other person not in your household — or all of your household members — outside of your home for up to two hours. You can exercise with them or have a picnic (socially distanced, of course), but you cannot travel more than five kilometres from your home. Inside your home, the rules are a little different. The government has introduced a "single social bubble", which allows a single person living alone or a single parent with children under 18 to nominate one person to be in their bubble. You are allowed to have this nominated person over to your home and you can go to their home — and you can travel more than five kilometres to visit them, but you must stay within metropolitan Melbourne. You can stay overnight, but you can't travel outside of curfew hours (9pm–5am). Premier Daniel Andrews has posted a little more about the bubbles here and there are more FAQs over here, too. https://www.facebook.com/DanielAndrewsMP/photos/pcb.3398375080227004/3401290863268759/?type=3&theater Can I drive to a park to exercise? As long as it's within five kilometres of your home, yes. While it was initially banned at the start of stage four, the government changed the rules after backlash on social media. Can I have a picnic in a park? Yes, as long as it's with one other person or the members of your household. Can I go to the beach? Yes, if there is a beach within five kilometres of your home. But you can go for a maximum of two hours and with one other person or the members of your household. How about a dog park? If it's within five kilometres of your home, yes. Here are some of our favourites. Can I visit a regional town? If you work in regional Victoria, you can travel there (but you'll need a permit), otherwise no. You can travel more than five kilometres from your home to see someone in your "social bubble", but you cannot enter regional Victoria for this reason. Can I go shopping? For groceries and other essentials, yes. But, not all shops are open and some have altered hours, so check before you head off. And do make sure you stay within five kilometres from your home. How about to a restaurant or cafe? You can pick up takeaway from a hospitality venue located within five kilometres of your home, but dine-in service is off the cards for now. Or a gym? Indoor gyms are currently closed, but outdoors playgrounds will be open from 11.59pm on Sunday, September 13. When will more restrictions be eased? For metropolitan Melbourne, the next step of eased restrictions is set to take place on Monday, September 28 — but only if the average daily cases is between 30–50 over the previous 14 days. If you have more questions, the Victorian Government has an extensive list of FAQs on its website. Top image: Edinburgh Park via Visit Victoria
If lighting design (including installation, photography, video, projection or object-based works) is your thing, then have we got something to brighten your day. Globelight is a program solely dedicated to showcasing the talents of both upcoming and established young lighting artists and designers. Lighting as a medium often blurs the line between art and design, and this sparky showcase celebrates this ambiguity. With 22 artists exhibiting in this year's program, there are three locations you can check out the Globelight works: old favourite The Abbotsford Convent, the Anita Traverso Gallery in Richmond and Incinerator Gallery in Moonee Ponds. Check out the program, find the nearest show and head along for a spot of enlightenment.
One of several sporting events on offer throughout Midsumma, Battle on the Bent Track sees teams from Queensland, Victoria, NSW, ACT, SA, WA and New Zealand duke it out in Australia’s only queer roller derby tournament. The Battle’s an offshoot of the Vagine Regime Australia, an international queer league founded in 2008. As well as enjoying a sport that’s high-stakes and fiendishly difficult you’ll be supporting the Regime’s work with LGBTI charities, with an afterparty to boot! This show was one of our top picks for Midsumma 2014, see our full list here.
The laneways of Melbourne have been the unofficial training ground and creative home for Australian street art, in all its variety and forms. Over the years, as street art has changed and evolved, it has moved beyond the laneways and in with some unlikely bedfellows — galleries, governments and businesses. A recent example of this is the collaboration between one of Melbourne's most prominent and talented street artist, Drab, and product design company Buzz Products. Drab's street art has not only graced the walls of Melbourne's laneways but also been part of exhibtions and festivals in Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand. He also worked with locals kids in Woorabinda Queensland to paint murals as part of the Indigenous Hip Hop Project. However, this recent collaboration with Buzz Products has really expanded his artistic repertoire. Literally. The exterior of the Buzz Products has been transformed from a boring blank wall into Australia's largest paste up street art. Using 56 sheets of paper, 40 litres of glue and taking two days to complete, this piece of street of art is 27 metres long by 8 metres high. It gives the urban landscape a much needed lift, and the good residents of Abbotsford in Melbourne something to gawk at on their trainride home.
Earlier in 2020, when events worldwide started cancelling, postponing and rescheduling due to COVID-19, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)'s Dark Mofo was sadly one of many that had to pull the plug. It's also just one of the annual festivals that the venue holds but, thankfully, MONA's summer event will be forging ahead — and, if the first sneak peek at its program is anything to go by, Mona Foma's 2021 festival is returning in a big way. Come January, arts and music fans will be able to soak in the fest's eclectic sights and sounds across two weekends — and in two locations. Although Mona Foma was originally held in Hobart, where MONA is located, the event made the move to Launceston in 2019. In 2021, however, it'll split its program between both Tasmanian cities. Launceston will be up first, from January 15–17, with Hobart getting the nod the next week from January 22–24. After revealing back in September that Mona Foma would definitely return next year, MONA has now announced two parts of its 2021 lineup — one per city — which is great news for everyone who loves arts, culture, festivals, lights, lasers, gorges and warehouses. [caption id="attachment_790928" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Aqua Luma, Robin Fox. Photo Credit: Nick Roux. Image courtesy of the artist and and Mona (Museum of Old and New Art), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] First up, in Launceston, the city's Cataract Gorge will host the latest work by audio-visual artist Robin Fox. Yes, that means the site's landscape will be taken over by an immersive installation, called Aqua Luma — which'll be making its world premiere, will run on a 20-minute cycle from 9.30am–11.30pm, and will be free to attend. Aqua Luma will feature multiple components, too, all adding to one impressive experience. First, it'll include 12 metre-high water jets that'll erupt in time with subharmonic frequencies. Also, there'll be lasers tracing geometrical patterns in the watery mist. Basically, you'll feel like you're standing beneath a canopy of light and sound — and there'll be an electronic composition sent straight to your smartphone as well. [caption id="attachment_790934" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] K&D Warehouse, Hobart, Tasmania. Photo Credit: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona (Museum of Old and New Art), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] Over in Hobart, Mona Foma is turning the site of former hardware store K&D Warehouse into a gallery — with exhibition No Place Like Home filling the entire place with video installations, art and sculptures all selected by Mona curator Emma Pike. You'll be able to wander through one of the city's best-known buildings, which dates back 118 years, and see works by artists such as Tony Albert, Zanny Begg, Andy Hutson, Rachel Maclean, Nell, Ryan Presley and Phebe Schmidt. Entry will cost $10 per person. Revealing Aqua Luma and No Place Like Home, Mona Foma curator Brian Ritchie said that the festival was excited about hosting "installations in two of the state's most dramatically different but equally beloved locations". He continued: "Robin Fox has been involved in every festival program since Mona Foma's inception, so it's appropriate that he has created a new work to address a year like no other. While at K&D Warehouse, the art will take you over the rainbow after the storm that was the year 2020." If you're wondering what else the event has in store, Mona Foma's full program will be released on Monday, December 7, with tickets going on sale at 8am the next day. Of course, before you go making big plans for a weekend getaway down south, you'll want to keep an eye on Tasmania's current border restrictions — which, at the time of writing, requires 14 days in quarantine for non-Tasmanian residents entering from a location considered medium-risk, such as Victoria and South Australia. Restrictions on Victorians are due to ease on Friday, November 27, however. Mona Foma will take place from January 15–17, 2021 in Launceston, and from January 22–24, 2021 in Hobart. We'll update you when the full program is announced on Monday, December 7 — but head to the festival website in the interim for further details. Top image: Cataract Gorge, Launceston, Tasmania. Photo Credit: Rob Burnett. Image courtesy of the artist and Visit Northern Tasmania.
Earlier this year, the Newtown legends at Young Henrys took the sustainable brewing game to the next level. The beer brand added a glowing bioreactor among its tanks, with the plan to drastically reduce the brewery's carbon emissions. The 400-litre bioreactor is filled with microalgae, which consumes carbon dioxide (one of the main byproducts of the brewing process) and produces as much oxygen as one hectare of Australian forest. Now, as part of National Science Week, Young Henrys has teamed up with the UTS Deep Green Biotech Hub to host Beer & Algae: Brewing a Greener Future. The free online event will take place on Thursday, August 20 from 5.30–7pm. It'll begin with a virtual tour of the brewery, hosted by YH Co-Founder and Director Oscar McMahon and UTS Research Associate Dr Janice McCauley. Then an interactive panel discussion will take over and explore practical steps toward sustainability in various industries — including urban farming, fashion and, of course, brewing. Moderated by Triple J's Lucy Smith, the panel will include Professor Peter Ralph (Executive Director of the Climate Change Cluster (C3) and Founder of the Deep Green Biotech Hub) alongside YH Head Brewer Jesse Seals, Pocket City Farms Founder Emma Bowen and Fashion Designer Dr Mark Liu. While the live streamed event is free, registration is a must.
Ah, Cherry Bar. Home to sticky floors and leopard fur. Hallowed ground of headbangers. Tucked away down AC/DC Lane, the iconic venue is the ultimate dive bar in today’s age of overlit, oversanitised rock venues. Every not-so-self-respecting local has a story tell about the night they popped their Cherry. This Sunday the bar's 7th annual street festival, CherryRock013, will be co-headlined by two gloriously disgraceful stoner rock bands — recently reformed Californian legends UNIDA and Swedish fuzz rock sensations Truckfighters. They’ll be joined by King Parrot, Barbarion, Matt Sonic & the High Times, The Murlocs, Mammoth, Gay Paris, Surefire Midnights, The Workinghorse Irons, Drunk Mums, Little Bastard and Battle Axe Howlers, plus a swag more to be announced. Cherry festivals are notoriously epic days, when the makeshift curtains come down over the graffiti laden laneway, barely concealing a writhing sea of black tees, skinny jeans and badass rockers. Expect an all-day party that blends live music and Jack Daniel's better than AC/DC ever could. Image via theheavychronicles.com
Jay Rayner — journalist, prolific food writer, and a man who does apparently not go in for any wanky gastronomy business — will speak at Northcote Town Hall on Wednesday, May 24. Appearing in conjunction with his new book The Ten (Food) Commandments, Rayner will expand the rules crucial to his dining experiences, taking the audience through his own ten commandments. But don't expect any biblical stuff. As the resident food columnist at the UK's Observer, Rayner's done his fair share of eating, savouring and, most importantly, shaking his head at establishments serving a plate of onions for close to $100 — so you can assume he knows what he's talking about. Let him guide you through the food of the 21st century and probably teach you exactly how to pronounce 'acai'. Hopefully he'll expand even further on this scathing review, which was published in The Guardian in April. Image: Levon Biss.
If you live in Melbourne's north-eastern suburbs, then you've probably been waiting for the Mernda Rail Extension. It extends the existing line from Epping to South Morang, with a new rail line from South Morang to Mernda — and after announcing it was ahead of schedule earlier in the year, the Victorian government has opened the line to passengers. The $600 million project launches six months ahead of original plans. As part of the new line, three new stations are open at Mernda, Hawkstowe and Middle Gorge. They're expected to service up to 8000 commuters a day, easing road congestion in the area. In addition, a new shared pedestrian and bike path links the stations. Plus, new community spaces and a new skate park have been built around each of the three spots, located immediately south of Mernda Station, immediately north of Hawkstowe Station, and at The Parkway, adjacent to Mernda Park Primary School. While landscaping works will still need to be finalised around the stations in the coming months, commuters can start accessing new services from today, with 982 services connecting to the city every week from Mernda Station. To ensure that locals can access the new rail line, two new and seven realigned bus routes will also take passengers to the three new stations.
When a big tour is announced, it's always worth paying attention to the dates around the shows in your city. Has whoever is taking to the stage spread out their gigs? Is there room to add more concerts? If you're worried about a huge demand for tickets, that's handy information to notice. When Drake announced his next trip Down Under for early 2025, for instance, the gaps between his visits to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane stood out — handily so, it proves, with more shows now added to the tour. Here's the latest headlines: Drake has added an extra gig in each of the New South Wales, Victorian and Queensland capitals, and before general ticket sales even kick off. It'll be his first trip this way since 2017 — and yes, you're still going to have 'Hotline Bling', 'Too Good', 'Passionfruit', 'Nice for What', 'In My Feelings', 'One Dance' and 'Laugh Now Cry Later' stuck in your head, as you have since the tour was first revealed. The Canadian artist is bringing his Anita Max Win tour Down Under, and is now playing ten shows in four cities across Australia and New Zealand. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland, this is what's next. The five-time Grammy-winner will head this way in February and March, kicking off at Rod Laver Arena in the Victorian capital for three nights. The following week, it's the Harbour City's turn at Qudos Bank Arena, again for a trio of gigs. After that, Drake will play two nights at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, then another two at Spark Arena in Auckland. The Degrassi: The Next Generation star last hit the stage in this neck of the woods on his Boy Meets World tour, and eight years will have passed between those shows and his 2025 visit. The platinum-selling singer is fresh off his 2023–24 It's All A Blur Tour, which saw him chalk up over 80 soldout shows in North America. On that last visit, Drake had four studio albums to his name: 2010's Thank Me Later, 2011's Take Care, 2013's Nothing Was the Same and 2016's Views. He's doubled that since, so expect tunes from 2018's Scorpion, 2021's Certified Lover Boy, 2022's Honestly, Nevermind and 2023's For All the Dogs, too. The Anita Max Win tour's announcement wasn't new news if you've been paying attention to Drake's social media, where he's been teasing details — but now consider it all officially locked in and even bigger. Drake's 'Anita Max Win' Tour 2025 Australian and New Zealand Dates Sunday, February 9–Monday, February 10 + Wednesday, February 12 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Sunday, February 16–Monday, February 17 + Wednesday, February 19 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Monday, February 24–Tuesday, February 25 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, February 28–Saturday, March 1 — Spark Arena, Auckland Drake is touring Australia and New Zealand in February 2025, with various ticket presales from Tuesday, December 2, 2024 at various times — and general sales from 12pm local time on Friday, December 6, 2024. Head to the tour website for more details. Images: The Come Up Show via Flickr.
A pub has stood on the corner of Hawthorn's Church Street and Barkers Road (formerly Beehive Road) since the 1800s. It's had a few different names during that time — most recently, Serafina — but it's been called The Beehive throughout most of its life. And though Serafina is no longer, Julien Moussi and Tony Pantano from Only Hospitality (Hotel Collingwood, Hobsons Bay Hotel) have taken over the 300-seat pub and given it a major makeover, renaming it The Beehive in the process. By.Underwood was brought on to restore rather than renovate the building, and has worked hard to keep plenty of the pub's heritage features. The famed beehive sculpture that crowns the pub remains, as does the old-school ceiling plasterwork, restored flooring and large arch windows. A warm, bee-inspired yellow and brown colour palette flows throughout the venue, while playful beehive lights sit above banquette seats. It's a fun nod to the pub's name, but you'll still be hanging out in a pub, not a bee-themed bar. Chef Chris Rendell has designed The Beehive's new menu, delivering contemporary gastropub fare with a particular focus on woodfired cooking. Flame-kissed proteins now feature at The Beehive alongside pub classics like chicken and eggplant parmas and fish and chips, as well as a rotating selection of pastas and share plates. As another little nod to its name, local honey by Pure Peninsula is sprinkled throughout the food and drinks offerings, from a honeycomb-starring cheeseboard to honey-based desserts and a hot honey cocktail. Harrison Young (Milton Wine Shop) has been enlisted to create the wine list, which showcases both local and international drops. The team is pouring an impressive 17 by the glass and another 120 by the bottle. The old-school pub vibes live on at the front bar, which boasts a 12-strong selection of beers on tap and plenty of classic and signature cocktails. Here, you'll also find screens streaming sports matches, a roaring fireplace and plenty of sporting memorabilia. Moussi and Pantano used to frequent The Beehive in their 20s, and the duo is working hard to hold onto the historic pub's character while modernising certain elements. "Our vision for The Beehive is that it'll be a pub for the people and reignite that sense of community," says Moussi. "This transformation invites a new wave of Melburnians to discover the iconic venue, and that's something we're really excited about." The Beehive can be found at 84 Barkers Road, Hawthorn, open 12pm–late on weekdays and 11.30am–late on weekends. For more information, head to the pub's website. Images: David Green.
Fervent fans of The Roots, listen up! Don't worry if you don't have the cash for Falls or you can't make Southbound Festival — they’ve just announced they'll be playing two sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne with Australian MC Urthboy as a special guest. So that's two more chances to see The Roots jam out their first Australian gig since 2007. You will no longer have to resort to watching episodes of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to get your fill of Questlove's magic. Expect to hear a lot from their most recent album, Undun (2011), whose reverse narrative arc followed the short life of Redford Stephens and featured play-it-compulsively songs like 'Kool On', 'Make My' and 'The OtherSide'. Even if you don't know much about The Roots, if you’re remotely fond of hip hop or neo-soul then this is a rare opportunity to see one of the most influential, visionary, long-loved groups to ever emerge from Philly (in 1987 and still kicking!) up close and personal. Tickets go on sale soon. Tour dates: Sydney: Friday, December 27 – Hordern Pavilion (tickets on sale Tuesay, 8 October, at 2pm) Melbourne: Saturday, December 28 – Festival Hall (tickets on sale Thursday, 10 October, 9am)
With the impact of COVID-19 continuing to be felt worldwide — including in Australia, where mass gatherings of over 500 people will be banned from Monday, March 16 — everyone could use a little light in their lives at present. It won't be coming from the usually radiant Vivid Sydney, however, with with luminous annual festival cancelling its 2020 event. In a short statement, the festival advised that "unfortunately, Vivid Sydney 2020 has been cancelled on the recommendations of the Australian Government and health authorities regarding non-essential, organised gatherings of more than 500 people". On Facebook, it provided further details, explaining that "the decision to cancel was not taken lightly. Vivid Sydney must follow the advice of health officials to ensure the health and safety of attendees and everyone involved with the event". https://www.facebook.com/vividsydney/posts/10157962724233397?__xts__[0]=68.ARDCG3xavDcAqXRBAMsOQFLAELmPpU30KHOxyVUHdZu89RSXER3aX4D_3zDac5pbbNJl2ZTc_VaqfYBHQYNSiDtRBAUl28cnDPxalb0vo7lHb9UB8aNWiuTYoISPxaze2CONivIjqSCbEkHHseUClqUPfeEIXcv7Q30mBjMhERyy_eDWaXZhMGiEBrJ3TKXs8LpKZxmKEFNPTzijXwphkPsnYnbncLeJq42WBnYHuMClxpyYjJ-2FDUiweW4A-NokSf41hQacoQCUdBhzgAbXSrKx4ydI1kNRXQ_u6ny9g5npB7qpXBU2uJdKSuWGgWHAC9iQzufm7x38A&__tn__=-R The 2020 event was slated to take place from Friday, May 22–Saturday, June 13, and had already announced its first headliner for the year: US neo-soul singer and poet Jill Scott. Vivid was due to release its full lineup of gigs, installations, light shows and other cultural events this month. Last year, the event attracted more than two million attendees, so its cancellation in the current circumstances doesn't come as a surprise — especially as other events are doing the same both locally and globally. Vivid joins a growing list of scrapped events and closed venues, with large swathes of cinemas shutting across Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and theme parks doing the same in Asia, Europe and the US as well. We've also seen the cancellation of Texan music and film festival South by Southwest and postponement of Coachella. More locally, both the Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Tasmania's Dark Mofo and the Sydney Royal Easter Show have all been cancelled. Vivid Live 2020 will no longer take place from Friday, May 22–Saturday, June 13. For more information, visit the event's website. 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: Hamilton Lund.
From the CBD to the west, Sydney Festival will take over the city yet again this January, with over 130 art, music, theatre, comedy and cultural events happening across three weeks, between Wednesday, January 6 and Tuesday, January 26. Get your calendar ready, it's going to be a busy 21 days. Things will look a little different from previous years, with all 2021 events adhering to COVID-19 safety guidelines, including capacity limits and social-distancing regulations. The festival, however, is a big step for the city's culture and nightlife, marking a slow return to normality. 2021 will be the festival's last year under the helm of Artistic Director Wesley Enoch, with Olivia Ansell taking over in 2022. Due to border closures, Enoch has had to craft an Australian-only program, calling on the best established and up-and-coming talent the country has to offer. [caption id="attachment_789697" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'The Rise and Fall of Saint George' by Peter Rubie[/caption] Highlights of the newly announced program include a pop-up stage at Barangaroo; the telling of Evonne Goolagong's life story, which will see Sydney Town Hall transformed into a tennis court; an installation of large floating bees around Vaucluse House called Hive Mind; an homage to musical legend George Michael starring Paul Mac; and the return of the festival's Blak Out program, promoting and uplifting First Nations voices and storytelling throughout the festival. The Barangaroo pop-up titled The Headland, will see a 32-metre-wide stage, larger than both the Capitol and Sydney Lyric, constructed in front of Sydney Harbour. The stage will operate over 16 nights, playing host to performers and musicians such as the Bangarra Dance Company, Sydney Symphony and Paul Mac, all for just $25 a ticket. Taking to smaller stages across the city, including The Lansdowne, Factory Theatre and Tokyo Sing Song, will be a whole bunch of Australian favourites including Christine Anu, Urthboy, E^ST, Alice Ivy and Emily Wurramara. [caption id="attachment_789696" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Hive Mind'[/caption] Alongside the giant bees taking residence in Vaucluse, visual art will consume the city, with exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Contemporary Art and outside Customs House, Circular Quay, where a new large-scale immersive experience from audio-visual artist Matthias Schack-Arnott will be set up for the public to interact with. The festival will also see the return of long-running favourites, such as Parramatta Park's Sydney Symphony Under the Stars and Barangaroo's The Vigil on Australia Day eve. Sydney Festival 2021 runs from January 6–26 at venues across the city. For further details and to buy tickets, visit the Sydney Festival website. Tickets are on sale now. Top image: The Headland stage and 'Sydney Symphony Under the Stars' by Victor Frankowski
Huge news: South by South West (SXSW) is coming to Sydney in October of 2023 for its first festival outside of its longtime home in Austin, Texas. The world-renowned festival has been bringing together big names and rising stars in tech, film, music, gaming, culture and education industries since it first began in 1987. Now, it's heading Down Under for the first time, with its week-long edition in Sydney set to become the official location of SXSW's annual Asia-Pacific installment. Running from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22, 2023, the new iteration of SXSW will fill the city with more than 1000 sessions, screenings, performances, parties, networking events and activations over eight days. The Sydney iteration of the festival will bring a wide variety of events hailing from the US edition, but with a greater emphasis on creatives and thinkers from the Asia-Pacific. "Focusing on the creator industries in the Asia-Pacific region, SXSW Sydney will celebrate what's next in culture, tech and the regions thriving creative economy," SXSW Sydney Managing Director Colin Daniels said. "Put simply, SXSW is the Olympics of events for the creator industries, and we are thrilled to bring this legendary festival of gaming, music, screen, tech and innovation to Sydney in 2023," CEO of SXSW Sydney's event producer TEG said. Alongside the Sydney edition of the festival, SXSW will continue its usual programing in Austin with a 2023 festival locked in for March. The festival returned in-person earlier this year after an online iteration in 2021 due to the pandemic. It was headlined by talks from Mark Zuckerberg, Lizzo and Neal Stephenson; performances from Dolly Parton and Beck; premieres of films such as Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Lost City and upcoming A24 horror movie Bodies, Bodies, Bodies; and a Q&A with the cast and crew of Donald Glover's critically acclaimed TV show Atlanta. [caption id="attachment_854807" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Atlanta Season 3 premiered at SXSW 2022 with a cast and crew Q&A.[/caption] Over the years, SXSW has featured appearances from the likes of Barack Obama, Dave Grohl, Jordan Peele, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Arnold Schwarzenegger to name just a few — as well as large-scale activations. It also acted as an important space for young musicians, filmmakers and creatives to cut their teeth. The festival has had a close relationship with Australia over the past few years, with Sounds Australia running the Australia House showcase at the festival since 2018 featuring up-and-coming Australian musicians. Major Australian musical exports including Flume, Alison Wonderland, Nick Murphy, Tkay Maidza, Gang of Youths, RUFUS DU SOL and Courtney Barnett have all made appearances at SXSW over the years You can head to the SXSW Sydney website to register your interest for the 2023 event and stay up-to-date as new information emerges over at the festival's Instagram. South by South West will host its inaugural Sydney festival Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22, 2023.
Despite its nickname as "the city of angels", Los Angeles is hardly angelic. It's an idea that comes up time and time again throughout movies, television, music and literature — the seedy underbelly of a city that hails itself as the gateway to fame and riches, to dreams come true. So while David Cronenberg's Maps to the Stars isn't the first, and most definitely not the last, to mine this terrain for metaphoric scraps, it is quite surely one of the weakest. And though a film by Canada's master of body horror, one of the tamest. Agatha Weiss (Mia Wasikowska) arrives in Hollywood and quickly gets into the backseat of a car chauffeured by wannabe screenwriter Jerome (Robert Pattinson). She gets a job as an assistant to a narcissistic, over-the-hill actress named Havana Segrand (Julianne Moore) while tracking down the child star Benjie (Evan Bird) and his father, Stafford (John Cusack). Their inter-connected lives become melodramatic fodder for Cronenberg as he navigates the incestuous nature of the American film industry and peels back the sunny exterior of its destructive nepotism and skewed standards. Like I said, this is hardly new terrain for any filmmaker, but for Cronenberg it feels like a drastic step backwards, even from the doldrums of Cosmopolis. One of the ugliest films of the year, Maps to the Stars finds no visual storytelling methods at all, which is especially disappointing given the director's trademark audaciously sexualised grotesquery would have been a perfect fit for Bruce Wagner's screenplay. Wasikowska, perfectly fine in the role, is even dolled up to look like Holly Hunter in Cronenberg's Crash, only worsening the comparison between this and his earlier work. It's up to Moore to save the film, and indeed she does some of the best work of her career as the ridiculously named Havana, who is attempting to star in a remake of her own mother's defining role. She is able to fill the character to the brim with all of the Hollywood insecurities to inevitably come with being an actress of any age, let alone one pushing 50. Her lips perma-glossed, her hair bleached blonde, and constantly shopping just in case she needs to be seen; it's a deliciously hilarious role, and without Moore's keen instincts with the part, the film would be a disaster from start to end. Maps to the Stars still isn't a good movie, but Moore gives it a life it doesn't deserve.
Daft Punk have never been averse to some commercial collaboration, and now they've teamed up with perhaps the biggest and most recognised soft drink company in the world. It's just been announced that Coke will release two limited edition bottles in silver and gold, entitled 'Club Coke,' as a tribute to the French electro duo's robot helmets. The bottles will begin production in March 2011, and will be coupled with the launch of the Daft Coke website. Naturally, the bottles will almost solely be available in clubs, where shiney things are always the best things, and will no doubt be the source of many a French hipster's pick-up line. They'll also be sold at the very chic, high-end store Colette in Paris as a collector's box set (although how long can you keep Coke for? Or is Coke like baked beans, and strong enough to survive nuclear holocaust?). Daft Punk have previously collaborated with Adidas and The Gap to sell stuff, so the Coke venture doesn't come as much of a surprise. But surely the real question, and one that everyone seems to be ignoring, is: does it taste like Daft Punk? https://youtube.com/watch?v=86vQMkR9raI
Dracula's castle is the place that nightmares are made of, as anyone who has read Bram Stoker's iconic 1897 gothic novel or seen a vampire flick knows. Nestled in the Carpathian mountains in the heart of Transylvania, it's also a place you can actually spend a night in. Well, it's a 14th century mountain-top manor that served as the inspiration for the creepy dwelling in the book, but you get the picture. Close enough, right? No, the fictional master of the undead isn't pulling his own What We Do in the Shadows-style caper; it's not a share house, and there won't be a doco crew there filming everything. And no, you don't have to willingly get lured in by a charismatic recluse who can turn into a bat, or turn up to help him with legal matters (but hey, if you want to pretend that you're Keanu Reeves in the 1992 movie, go for it). Instead, it's as simple as hitting up Airbnb to win a chance to stay at Bran Castle in Romania. The accommodation-sharing service has offered up shark tanks, van Gogh's bedroom, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' secret lair and an Abbey Road slumber party with Mark Ronson before, so you shouldn't be surprised. Now that's how you celebrate halloween. Plus, the evening will be hosted by the great grand-nephew of Bram Stoker himself, Dacre Stoker, who actually wrote a sequel to the bloodsucking classic in 2009. After riding in a horse-drawn carriage at sunset, probably seeing swooping bats and hearing howling wolves, he'll answer your knock at the door — and once he does, you're trapped until dawn. As an expert on Transylvanian lore, he'll guide you through lamp-lit corridors, creepy nooks, squeaky staircases and secret passages. There's 57 rooms in total, including lofty tower lookouts, deep dark crypts, a grand dining room perfect for an intimate candlelit dinner, and luxurious velvet-trimmed coffins to sleep in. Entrants must be 18 and over, and it goes without saying that anyone who is easily frightened shouldn't bother. For more information, visit the castle's listing on Airbnb.
UPDATE Tuesday, March 9: The Boatbuilders Yard's 90s RnB brunch has been extended beyond summer, now running until Saturday, April 30. Which means you've got a few extra weeks to don your velour trackies and book in a seltzer-filled Saturday session. The below dates have been adjusted to reflect the change. There are some things best left to the 90s, like pukka shell necklaces and over-plucked eyebrows. But one thing that's happily here to stay is 90s RnB; especially teamed with good food, delicious cocktails and some of the most iconic 90s looks. If you're ready to relive your youth — or you'd rather re-do it — The Boatbuilders Yard is hosting its new 90s RnB Mixtape Saturdays every week this summer. Moon Dog are in charge of the 90s-themed drinks list, which features plenty of cocktails crafted on its signature Fizzer seltzers. Think, the Piney Limey flavour paired with Midori, and a lemon and Blue Curacao combination. There's a seltzer-filled post-mix machine, plus, a Smirnoff Ice or Passion Pop is promised on arrival to really bring back that hit of nostalgia. Food-wise, you're in for the likes of potato skins, mini hot dogs and sloppy joes — so you can pretend you're eating in the cafeteria in your favourite 90s high-school rom-com, of course. DJ Joey Lightbulb will be on the decks and taking song requests, so dig out your old mixtapes for inspiration. Tickets are $65 per person and bookings are recommended, with sessions running from 12-2pm and 2.30-4.30pm each Saturday. Don your Mytiko pants, finest beige Masseurs and hypercolour t-shirts and get ready to boogie like Y2K is imminent.
Australia's efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19 continue to change daily, hourly and even more frequently. Today, Sunday, March 22, for example, the Australian Government has already announced that all non-essential travel throughout the country should be cancelled. Now, just a few hours later, the Victorian Government has followed that announcement by revealing it will implement a statewide shutdown of all non-essential activity. That means widespread closures — including of schools, with school holidays brought forward to commence on Tuesday, March 24. Exactly what counts as non-essential activity hasn't been specified as yet; however Premier Dan Andrews has advised that "Victorians will still be able to go to the supermarket, the bank, the pharmacy and other essential stores, like petrol stations and convenience stores". Also considered essential are freight, logistics and home delivery services, which will all also remain open. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1241578357537386496 It's expected that more details will be provided about the shutdown either tonight or tomorrow morning, with the national cabinet due to meet again this evening — where the Premier will inform the group of Victoria's planned shutdown. The Premier noted that "this is not something that we do lightly, but it's clear that if we don't take this step, more Victorians will contract coronavirus, our hospitals will be overwhelmed and more Victorians will die". As of 6.30am on on Sunday, March 22, 229 Victorians have tested positive for the virus out of 1098 confirmed cases Australia wide. The move comes after Australia has already banned non-essential mass events, restricted indoor gatherings, mandated that everyone arriving from overseas self-isolate for 14 days, and closed the country's borders to non-citizens and non-residents. As a result, festivals and gigs are cancelling and postponing in swathes, cultural institutions are shutting down and moving their activities online, restaurants and bars are transitioning to takeaway options, and Aussie airlines are suspending all international flights. Top image: Maha Bar, Julia Sansone.
What would you do if you were a little less freaked out by consequences? Would you talk to more new people, fear a bit less, dance a little more like FKA Twigs, quit your desk job and put on that festival you've always wanted to give a red hot go? Some sparkling young Australians are already flinging their inhibitions into a ziplock bag and seizing this little ol' life with both hands. Concrete Playground has teamed up with the Jameson crew to give you a sneak peek into the lives of ten bold characters who took a big chance on themselves. They've gone out on a limb and rewritten their path, encapsulating 'Sine Metu', the Jameson family motto which translates to 'without fear' — getting outside your comfort zone and trying something new. After all, we only get one shot at this. Take notes. For Brett Louis, co-founder and curator of Melbourne's ambitious festival Sugar Mountain, a 'Sine Metu' way of life is the only way. Thanks to Brett's meticulous curation over the years, Sugar Mountain has broken new ground with its blend of music, art and food — redefining what a festival can be (without fearing it won't work). We had a chat to Brett about his own business of taking chances. You can read the interview over here. Want to experience a little bit of 'Sine Metu' yourself? Brett's being a total legend and helping us give away a VIP Sugar Mountain Experience for two, so you can see for yourself what happens when bold humans take big creative chances with big payoffs. Enter here to win.
Adding to Ovolo's growing Australian portfolio, the hotel company has revealed its next new location. Come 2020, a six-storey site will open in South Melbourne — the first that the brand will manage, but won't own. Due to be built at 183-199 Moray Street, the$50 million South Melbourne hotel will bring 100 rooms to a mixed-use precinct that's being developed by Perri Projects. If you're already planning a staycation, you can expect the usual Ovolo flourishes. That includes a distinctive interior design scheme tailor-made for the location. At its other Aussie hotels — such as Ovolo Laneways in Little Bourke Street in the CBD — the company offers a heap of freebies, such as a free mini-bar with every room (including a lolly bag full of treats), free breakfast with every stay, free wi-fi, free laundry and free happy hour drinks each day. Here's hoping that they're all part of the South Melbourne spread as well. Construction is due to start in the second half of 2019, with the hotel also set to feature bars, restaurants, and a rooftop function and events space. The news caps off a big 2018 for Ovolo, with its two Brisbane sites in Spring Hill and Fortitude Valley opening this year. Find Ovolo South Melbourne at 183-199 Moray Street, South Melbourne from a yet-to-be-revealed date in 2020.
Everyone's favourite 'candy man' hit Aussie shores in January, with the smash-hit musical production of Charlie And the Chocolate Factory landing in Sydney. And now, it's Melbourne's turn, with the announcement that the show will do a season at Her Majesty's Theatre from this August. Roald Dahl's classic sugar-dusted tale is being brought to life in its Australian debut by a collaboration between theatre producers John Frost, Craig Donnell, Langley Park Productions, Neal Street Productions and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures. Following the worldwide popularity of both the original book and the 1971 Gene Wilder film of the same name, the musical has been confirmed a sweet success internationally, scoring rave reviews during its stint on Broadway last year and selling out a heap of shows in Sydney. With original songs like The Candy Man and I've Got a Golden Ticket featured alongside new tunes from the songwriters of Hairspray, this confection of a show promises to lure audiences of all ages into, shall we say, a land of pure imagination. It's directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, with music by Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Marc Shaiman, lyrics courtesy of Grammy and Tony Award winners Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and choreography by Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Joshua Bergasse. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Melbourne season will kick off on August 9, 2019, with performances running on Wednesday to Sunday. Top image: Joan Marcus, the original Broadway cast 2017.
Style inhibits substance in 2 Autumns, 3 Winters, a stilted French dramedy from writer-director Sébastien Betbeder. Chapter breaks, out-of-body experiences and a never-ending stream of voiceover are just a few of the tricks Betbeder throws haphazardly at his audience. Apparently no one told him that the French New Wave happened decades ago. Truth be told, there's nothing even remotely 'new' about this self-conscious little indie, one in which the seeds of dramatic sincerity are smothered by constant affectation. For the most part, 2 Autumns plays less a film with a plot, and more a series of loosely related anecdotes. You know, the kind you might find yourself being forced to listen to at a party after accidentally getting trapped in a discussion with the vaguely pompous friend of a friend (the one who likes to reference obscure Swedish arthouse films into everyday conversation, yet can't fathom why no one will give him a job). In any case, the chief storyteller here is Arman (Vincent Macaigne), a Parisian art school grad who, after 33 years of doing very little, decides to get his life in shape. His reinvention begins with a jog through the park, where he literally bumps into the beautiful (if somewhat regrettably named) Amélie (Maud Wyler). He falls for her immediately, although it's only after he gets stabbed in the stomach while saving her from two would-be rapists a few weeks later that the pair officially begin dating. You've got to give Betbeder credit: it's a pretty original meet-cute. And so, for the next two autumns and three winters, we watch Armon and Amélie weather the trials of a long-term relationship. Both characters, we soon learn, have a tendency towards excessive self-analysis, which they exercise (at great length) in monologues spoken to the camera. Also getting in on the introspective action is Arman's best friend Benjamin (Bastien Bouillon), who like Arman discovers romance in an unexpected place. While 2 Autumns belongs firmly in the category of 'quirky indie romance', Betbeder's movie has almost none of the charm or energy of Chinese Puzzle or (500) Days of Summer. In those films, the visual whimsy felt driven by the characters and the story. By comparison, the plot in Betbeder's film — to the extent that there even is one — feels basically like an afterthought. On a more fundamental level, it's not particularly interesting listening to characters describe what's happening in front of us. "Tears rolled down Amélie's face," narrates Arman at one point (as we watch tears roll down Amélie's face). Yeah, no kidding.
Elton John summed it up perfectly: when Marilyn Monroe died in 1962, her candle burned out long before her legend ever would. Six decades since her passing, the actor remains a Hollywood icon. Like Elvis, she may as well be mononymic. Her face is instantly recognisable, and still everywhere. Ana de Armas just received an Oscar nomination for playing her, after Michelle Williams earned one back in 2012 for also stepping into her shoes. And, the Some Like It Hot, Gentleman Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire star is also the subject of a sizeable exhibition heading to Australia for the first time: Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon. This Marilyn celebration will make its Aussie premiere at Sydney Town Hall, in the Lower Town Hall, from Saturday, July 1–Sunday, September 24. On display: more than 200 artefacts spanning Monroe's life, including handwritten notes, personal letters and other possessions. [caption id="attachment_905883" align="alignnone" width="1920"] New York Sunday News via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] This is the largest Marilyn collection of its kind. Indeed, the objects set to grace the showcase stem from Ted Stampfer, owner the world's largest range of Marilyn items. With Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon, he's aiming to share insights into Monroe as a person, not just a celebrity — spanning her time in the spotlight, of course, but also back when she was Norma Jeane Mortenson. Stampfer will be on hand on opening day providing a curator's tour, as part of an events program accompanying the three-month memorabilia exhibition. Friday-night sessions will feature music and entertainment, and film screenings will also be part of the lineup, letting attendees experience Marilyn's movie magic for themselves. [caption id="attachment_905881" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joseph Jasgur, Ted Stampfer[/caption] As it celebrates the woman who scaled the heights of fame, became a household name, but received horrific scrutiny for her sex-symbol status and her love life — focusing on her hard work, not the stories spun about her — this'll be the only time that Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon will open to the public in this form. "With rare insights and exclusive access to Marilyn's personal belongings, this exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the private world of this cultural icon," said Stampfer. "From humble beginnings to Hollywood stardom, Marilyn Monroe remains an enduring cultural icon, whose life continues to fascinate and intrigue us to this day." [caption id="attachment_905878" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ted Stampfer[/caption] Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon will display at Lower Town Hall, Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney, from Saturday, July 1–Sunday, September 24 — head to the exhibition website for further details.
Whenever cold weather hits, spotting Uniqlo fans isn't hard. The brand's puffy jackets and vests are a winter favourite all around the globe, after all. Indeed, the chain has put a lot of fabric and oh-so-much down out into the world, as seen on rugged-up torsos everywhere. But, as part of a new sustainability drive, the company is looking to cut down its environmental impact. If you have a Uniqlo down-filled coat or vest rolled up in its handy bag and sitting on your shelf, but you know you're not going to wear it again, the company now wants you to bring your unwanted pieces of clothing back to one of its stores. Australians can head in, return their worn down jackets and vests, and receive a $10 voucher for their efforts, with the clothing then being recycled via the chain's new Re.Uniqlo program. The $10 voucher offer is only available until June this year, you can only use them in-store (not online) and you'll have to use it on replacing your old down products with something new. But the down recycling project is here to stay, in an attempt to stop the jackets and vests ending up in landfill. As part of its efforts to make sustainable apparel, Uniqlo will expand the scheme to other clothing items down the line, too. View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNIQLO AUSTRALIA (@uniqloau) If you're wondering how those returned items will be reused, Uniqlo is also launching a range of recycled down jackets in early April. They're made from 620,000 coats that were already collected in Japan since last September, and use the down and feathers previously in that big batch of jackets. For more information about Uniqlo's down recycling project and other recycling plans, head to the brand's website.
Nineties kids, Disney fans and everyone who's ever cried over a lion cub that just couldn't wait to be king, it's time to climb onto a rock and yell your lungs out. The circle of life has struck again, and The Lion King is back. It's in live-action form this time around, and the second teaser trailer for the new movie has just dropped. You can watch it here courtesy of Beyoncé. Yes, Beyoncé is in the new Lion King. Releasing in mid-2019, the film will once again tell the tale of Simba, who's set to take over the pride from his father Mufasa, only for his malicious uncle Scar to get in the way. You know where it goes from there — and you'll be hearing the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as his childhood pal Nala, and James Earl Jones as his dad. Yes, the latter is reprising his role from the original film. Other big names attached include Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, John Oliver as Zazu, and Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa. Elton John is back working on the soundtrack with Tim Rice, as they both did on the first film. They'll reportedly have some help from Beyoncé, naturally, while The Jungle Book's Jon Favreau is in the director's chair for the entire production. If you're anxious about how it might turn out, it's worth taking Timon and Pumbaa's advice at this early stage — although this initial look should help get rid of your worries for the rest of your days. The Lion King hits Australian cinemas on July 18, 2019. We'll share the full-length trailer when it hits the internet.
What starts with an anthology drama that tells eight tales by Western Sydney writers, then ends with Wes Anderson's latest? That'd be the 2021 Sydney Film Festival. Finally set to return to the city's big screens for a full festival run, the annual cinema showcase will unleash a lineup of 233 titles between Wednesday, November 3–Sunday, November 14 — beginning with Aussie effort Here Out West and ending with The French Dispatch. They're SFF's bookends for the year; however, with a full program that hefty — with 111 feature films, 50 documentaries and 72 short films, in fact — there's obviously much, much more where they came from. And, yes, the fest will be returning the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Cinemas Newtown, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne and Ritz Cinema Randwick quite a bit later than usual. The 2021 event will be making its debut at Palace Central Broadway, Palace Chauvel Cinema Paddington and Palace Norton Street Leichhardt a few months after it originally planned, too, after this year's event initially shifted from its usual June dates to the end of August, then moved again to November due to Sydney's lengthy lockdown. And, while the 2020 festival completely moved online, the 2021 event is actually going hybrid. So, Sydneysiders can get their movie fix in-person for 12 days, complete with those quick jogs down George Street to dash between sessions, before checking out SFF On Demand from Friday, November 12–Sunday, November 21. Thanks to the latter, 56 feature-length films and 13 shorts will be available to watch digitally — not just locally, but nationally as well. During the fest's physical run, program highlights include the Timothée Chalamet-starring new version of Dune, 2021 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or winner Titane, Pedro Almodóvar and Penelope Cruz's latest collaboration Parallel Mothers, Broadway-to-cinema adaptation Dear Evan Hansen and Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's latest A Hero. Still among the big-name titles, Aussie drama The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson sits among SFF's competition lineup, as does Memoria, the Tilda Swinton-starring English-language debut of Cemetery of Splendour filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul; and Petite Maman, the latest film by Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Céline Sciamma. Or, there's Jane Campion's new film The Power of the Dog, which stars Kirsten Dunst and Benedict Cumberbatch; televangelist biopic The Eyes of Tammy Faye with Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield; the Will Smith-led King Richard, about Venus and Serena' Williams' father; and Oscar Isaac and Tiffany Haddish in The Card Counter. Two Berlinale Golden Bear winners are on the bill as well, thanks to 2020's There Is No Evil and 2021's Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn. And, SFF has kept a heap of its initially announced titles — from way back in June — such as Undine, Christian Petzold's Berlin-set, fable-inspired romance; and New Zealand's The Justice of Bunny King, which stars Essie Davis (Babyteeth) and Thomasin McKenzie (Old). There's also 2020 Sundance hit Zola, which is based on a lengthy 148-tweet Twitter thread; The Kids, which sees Australian filmmaker Eddie Martin (All This Mayhem) explore Larry Clark's 1995 film Kids; and three-time Sundance 2021 winner Hive, the first film to ever win the fest's Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award and Directing Award. Obviously, the list of standouts just keeps on keeping on. Wash My Soul in the River's Flow hones its focus on Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, following the couple as they prepare for 2004's Kura Tungar — Songs from the River — a collaboration between the First Nation artists, Paul Grabowsky and the Australian Art Orchestra; River is the latest musing on the planet we all call home by Sherpa director Jennifer Peedom; Cow sees American Honey director Andrea Arnold explore the existence of a dairy cow, and Bergman Island is the Tim Roth and Mia Wasikowska-starring new drama from Mia Hansen-Løve (Things to Come). Also, Fist of Fury Noongar Daa dubs the Bruce Lee-starring Fist of Fury in an Aboriginal Australian language, and becomes the first feature to ever do so; SBS documentary Strong Female Lead, about media coverage of Julia Gillard's stint as Prime Minister, gets a big-screen berth; and SFF's usual lineups of family-friendly fare, wild and wonderful genre flicks, Aussie documentaries and features from talented female European filmmakers all return. Whether you're attending SFF in-person or watching along via SFF On Demand — or both — you'll clearly have plenty to watch in November. The 2021 Sydney Film Festival will now take place between Wednesday, November 3–Sunday, November 14. For further information, head to the festival website.
It's been far too long since Birrarung Marr was last enveloped in the smoky scents and region-hopping flavours of the Night Noodle Markets. But the wait is finally over, as the much-loved food festival breaks free from its COVID-enforced hibernation and returns to its riverside home from Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 27. And that, friends, means it's time to start plotting exactly what tempting street food bites you'll be tucking into over those 18 flavour-packed nights. Especially since we've scored a peek at the full lineup of vendors and hawker stalls hitting this year's Night Noodle Markets — and the signature menus they'll be serving up for your karaage-scoffing, noodle-slurping, dumpling-downing pleasure. So, from barbecue and bao to dumplings and doughnuts, we're here to break down all the must-try eats to pop on your market itinerary. [caption id="attachment_875062" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flying Noodle[/caption] Of course, the Night Noodle Markets' namesake dish will be in strong supply, including some new gravity-defying offerings from Flying Noodle. Try the likes of The Big Boss, featuring marinated chicken and chinese broccoli, or the Way of the Dragon — pork belly slow-cooked in a honey soy sauce with tamarind and black pepper. The folks at Teppanyaki Noodles are serving a Japanese riff on the concept with their fried yakisoba creation, while Queensland's Raijin will be turning out crispy chicken karaage noodles (and a tofu karaage version), alongside their house dumplings. Speaking of which, your dumpling dreams are set to come true many times over, thanks in part to the Bumplings x Mazda stall. Brendan Pang's legendary Perth dumpling house is teaming up with the car brand to deliver a special menu of signature morsels designed to pair with his exclusive Soul Red Crystal sauce. [caption id="attachment_875067" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wonderbao[/caption] In the dumpling-adjacent corner, you'll catch Wonderbao whipping up six different bao varieties, with fillings ranging from roast pork belly and Korean fried chicken, to tofu okonomiyaki and sweet custard. As always, there'll be plenty of things on sticks, headlined by a bumper lineup from the masters at Hoy Pinoy. Get your Filipino barbecue fix via their inihaw na baboy (pork belly skewers glazed in banana ketchup) and inihaw na manok (soy-glazed chicken skewers), alongside other creations like a chicken adobo rice bowl and the bistek tagalog — soy-glazed beef rump that's roasted and smoked over charcoal, and served on rice. [caption id="attachment_875064" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hoy Pinoy[/caption] Meanwhile, at May's Malaysian stall, you'll find a sizzling array of fusion plates including char kway teow, nasi goreng and Singapore noodles. And crowd-favourite, Windsor's Mr Miyagi, will be coming to the party with a brand new menu in tow, dishing up three Japanese-inspired bao burgers — a crumbed mushroom and miso mayo number, a pork katsu creation and a new take on the classic chicken schnitty roll. [caption id="attachment_875060" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Demochi Donut[/caption] Dessert fiends aren't forgotten, either, with an array of mochi-doughnut mash-ups courtesy of Sydney's Demochi Donut, and an Asian-inspired Messina offering starring the likes of the dulce de leche-infused HK French Toast and the Milo Fry Club — pudding made from the Messinatella choc-hazelnut spread with deep-fried Milo gelato and an Oreo crumble. Since all that eating will be thirsty work, you'll have stacks of liquid treats to choose from, too. Hit Cointreau's retro Margarita Kombi for an original or spicy marg, quench your thirst the fruity way beneath the Rekorderlig Cider dome, or drop by the Stomping Ground beer garden for a couple of cold cans. And if you're getting noodly sans booze, try the Dan Murphy's Zero% Bar (a new edition of its Hampton pop-up) for non-alcoholic beers and made-to-order booze-free cocktails, including a Salted Caramel Espresso Martini. Melbourne's 2022 Night Noodle Markets will run from Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 27 at Birrarung Marr, Melbourne. For more details on the menu, head to the Night Noodle Markets website. Top Images: Hoy Pinoy, Mr Miyagi, Wonderbao.
Six seasons and a movie. That's how long everyone who loved sitcom Community — its cast and crew included — hoped that the community college-set comedy would run. Alas, when the show wrapped up after 110 episodes in 2015, it only achieved the first part of that goal. And while a film doesn't appear to be in the works in the immediate future, the Greendale gang are all reuniting for a virtual table read. After Parks and Recreation banded its cast together for a new one-off special episode to raise money for charity during the COVID-19 pandemic, Community is following in its footsteps — although its cast and crew won't be performing fresh material. Instead, they'll be reading through the season five episode 'Cooperative Polygraphy', Variety reports. Cast members will join forces via an online video call, stepping back into their old roles. That means that Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong will all be present. Fresh from hosting the Tiger King post-series special via video chats, Joel McHale will be involved as well. And, in news that'll have all Community fans singing "Troy and Abed in the morning", Donald Glover will be, too. Glover left the series partway through the fifth season. They'll be joined by Community creator (and Rick and Morty co-creator) Dan Harmon, as well as a special guest: Game of Thrones and Narcos actor Pedro Pascal. The latter will read the part originally played by Walton Goggins when the episode aired. Screening in full via Sony Pictures TV's Community YouTube channel at 7am AEST on Tuesday, May 19 (2pm Pacific Time on Monday, May 18 in the US), the reunion will also feature a Q&A with the cast — and fans will be asked to donate to José Andrés' World Central Kitchen and Frontline Foods. If you're now in the mood to binge your way through Greendale antics in the lead up, all six seasons of the series is now streaming on Netflix, too — and on Stan in Australia. Check out the Community season one trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4W4L9TLJa8 The Community virtual table read will air via Sony Pictures TV's Community YouTube channel at 7am AEST on Tuesday, May 19 (2pm Pacific Time on Monday, May 18 in the US). Via Variety. Image: Netflix.
Like music? Like art? Then, head down to Boney for the official launch party of SUGARYAMA — a new international music and arts partnership program. You’ll get performances from Chela, Andee Frost (The House Defrost), Edd Fisher (Tomorrowland/PBS), Jamie Bennett (Red Bull Music Academy) & Julien Love (DJ/ Producer), Bryce Lawrence/Louis McCoy/ Glyn Hill (Out Of Focus) plus a secret headline act. [UPDATE: Melbourne six-piece No Zu have been revealed as headliner.] As the little sister of Melbourne’s Sugar Mountain Festival, SUGARYAMA is designed to facilitate cross-cultural artistic exchanges between visual artists and musicians, in the process getting Aussie artists out there into the international scene. First project up will see artist and creative director Pete Keen take a handpicked bunch of Melbourne musos and artists to Mexico, where they'll undertake a guest curatorial role at independent art and music Festival NRMAL next year. Proceeds from the launch party will fund the transport of Keen and fellow artists all the way from Melbourne to sunny Monterrey. Oh, and the first 100 guests to arrive get a goodie bag so get in early. Tickets are $10 at the door (no pre-sales).
