The beloved Cameo Cinema will once again showcase some of the summer's most talked-about films on its magnificent outdoor movie screen under the stars. From mid-November until March next year, audiences will get the chance to nestle down in deckchairs and beanbags, with craft beer, homemade choc-tops and freshly popped popcorn in hand. If that's not worth the drive out to Belgrave, then we just don't know what is. While the full Cameo Outdoor Cinema summer program has yet to be revealed, a handful of early titles already have us pretty excited. The season begins with a midnight, moonlight screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Remember: if you don't come dressed as a wizard, you're doing it wrong. Speaking of fantastic beasts, animal lovers will also be pleased with a pair of Bring Your Pet sessions, of A Dog's Purpose and Red Dog: True Blue. We're a little more sceptical about a Valentine's Day showing of Fifty Shades Darker, although the wine and ice cream giveaways should at least keep you partially distracted from the movie. According to The Cameo website, the remainder of the program will be filled out by "the summer's hottest new releases and some old favourites too." It doesn't hurt that the Cameo concessions are a cut above what you'll find at your local shopping centre multiplex. They've got craft beer and boutique wines, edamame, and lollies from The Sassafras Sweet Co., to name but a few. Alternatively, you can bring a picnic of your own – this is one cinema where you won't have ushers pestering you about bringing in outside food. The Cameo Outdoor Cinema will kick off on Thursday, November 17 at 1628 Burwood Highway, Belgrave. For more information visit cameocinemas.com.au.
Melbourne is getting a gin festival. Or should we say: Melbourne is getting another gin festival. In a turn of events that could only be a problem in our fine city, Melbourne is all of the sudden faced with the happy problem of having not one, but two gin festivals on the cards for this year. You might remember the hugely successful Juniperlooza, a locally-organised festival which was held in November last year. Well, this new festival — confusingly called Junipalooza (yes, that's an 'a' instead of an 'er') — is coming to Melbourne by way of the UK, and will unsurprisingly be dedicated entirely to gin. The Melbourne version of the festival (the first to be held outside of the UK) will be a twin event to Junipalooza London, which started back in 2013. The event will be held over two days this October at North Melbourne's Meat Market. It'll be hosted by founders of the UK's Gin Foundry, Olivier and Emile Ward — so you know you're in good gin-pouring hands. The award-winning brothers live, breathe and drink gin, compiling all their knowledge onto their comprehensive online gin directory. It makes sense then that the pair have teamed up with local gin expert, The Gin Queen (aka Caroline Childerley) and gin makers Four Pillars, Archie Rose and Poor Toms Gin (just to name just a few) to celebrate the noble spirit in Melbourne. Junipalooza will feature sampling stations, cocktails and gin masterclasses with some of the world's best distillers. Over 26 distillers from around the globe will be in attendance, giving punters the chance to take a bottle or two of their favourite gin home. Tonic water specialists Capi will be on-hand as well to bring the T to your G&T. The festival will take place over the weekend of October 22-23, while Juniperlooza has locked in dates for November 19-20. We see a lot of gin drinking in your future. Junipalooza Melbourne will be held on October 22-23 at Meat Market, North Melbourne between 12-6pm. Early bird tickets are on sale now from ginfoundry.com.
The Taika Waititi school of acting gave Julian Dennison one of his first-ever roles in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and James Rolleston his debut in Boy. Seven years after the former and 13 since the latter, the two play brothers in another coming-of-age effort: Uproar. That cheerworthy casting is joined by Our Flag Means Death co-stars Rhys Darby and Minnie Driver in a film that's not only warmhearted, but always feels as if it's practising one of the messages that it's preaching. Set amid 1981's infamous Springbok tour of New Zealand — with South Africa's rugby union team playing games across the nation, and inspiring protests against both apartheid and Aotearoa's treatment of its Māori population as it went — this is a movie about a cultural awakening, and about finding and embracing community. Behind the lens, Uproar's directors have teamed up, too, with Hamish Bennett helming his second feature after 2019's also-heartfelt Bellbird and Paul Middleditch back in the chair for the first time since 2013's Rapture-Palooza. When it told of a father and son struggling to connect, and just struggling, after the loss of the family matriarch who bound them together, Bellbird traded in the same kind of poignancy that seeps through in this engaging charmer. With its sports-meets-politics narrative, there may be few doubts about where Uproar is headed; however, Bennett and Sonia Whiteman's (The Disposables) script — as based on a concept by Middleditch and first-timer Mark Turnbull, a screenplay by Keith Aberdein (The Last Tattoo) before that, and boasting additional writing by Mario Gaoa (We Are Still Here) and actor Rachel House (Heartbreak High) — knows that reality and movies alike can follow a familiar path and be no less affecting and resonant. In another memorable addition to his resume that shows his emotional depth, especially in a potent late monologue, Dennison plays Josh Waaka, 17-year-old son to British-born widow Shirley (Driver). He's dutifully in St Gilberts School for Men's 2nd XV when the 1981 tour comes to Dunedin, but largely because much about his existence is dutiful. His father was a local rugby star. His older brother Jamie (Rolleston) was a former Junior All Black before his career was cut short by injury. To make ends meet, Shirley cleans at the school — and imposing Principal Slaine (Mark Mitchinson, Evil Dead Rise) ensures that the Waakas feel grateful. In fact, when Slane requests that Jamie help coach the 1st XV, he's hardly asking. And when Shirley says that he will, she gets the reluctant Josh a spot on the higher team as part of the arrangement, telling him that it'll set him up for life. Staying out of the public debate about the Springboks is also expected of the St Gilberts' cohort, in a place that's against taking a stand against discrimination yet fine with Josh spending his lunch break alone in the library to avoid his openly racist classmates. But that isn't the community that he wants as his own even before he crosses paths with the marching Samantha (Erana James, Bad Behaviour) while delivering catalogues with his best friend Grace (debutant Jada Fa'atui), and gets a reminder that her Māori heritage is his as well. And, being surrounded by books and silence soon isn't his only option between lessons. English teacher Brother Madigan (Darby) spies a potential actor in Josh, who needs encouraging to join the drama group, then wows his way into auditioning for NIDA in Sydney becoming an option. Outrage frequently makes its presence known in Uproar's crisply lensed frames: in Samantha decrying the country putting sports above equality in any way that she can, in the engrained prejudice that festers against NZ's Indigenous inhabitants daily, in clashes on the street and even within activist meetings, where saying that you're an ally isn't the same as truly understanding having one's land taken. The film's name also comes into play another way, though, as Josh's existence erupts in chaos. As tales about teens becoming adults often do, Bennett and Middleditch's movie tells of change rippling through almost everything that its protagonist thought that he knew. New causes to champion, new connections to his culture, new dreams to chase, new friends, new futures, a new purpose in life that echoes among his nearest and dearest: compared to the pre-tour status quo, this is indeed an impassioned uproar against just getting by, settling and never speaking up. Since his time as Ricky Baker, Dennison has enjoyed big-budget stints in Deadpool 2 and Godzilla vs Kong — and in the festive The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two — but this is his best role since getting stranded in the wilderness for Waititi. The likeable pluck and wit that endeared him to audiences then is layered with searing determination and angst here, while never forgetting humour as well. As Jamie is pushed to rediscover more than just his room and his disappointment at fate, Rolleston is also stellar, as he similarly was in The Dead Lands, The Rehearsal and The Breaker Upperers. The subtlety of Darby's kind and caring performance doesn't go unnoticed, either, and nor does the quiet fortitude of Driver's turn. At the heart of Uproar's key characters, which includes Samantha and Grace, is that other recognisable high-school feeling: being an outsider. That isn't purely an adolescent experience, of course. It hasn't avoided the star player now unable to take to the field, the woman whose marriage wasn't embraced by two families in two countries or the teacher who doesn't fit in — and it certainly hasn't evaded an entire culture that's been made to feel like its home wasn't its own for centuries thanks to the ongoing impact of colonisation, or other First Nations people with similar stories. As it sees and unpacks each of these layers, Uproar sees why living up to its moniker is so important, and also how. It spies the many methods of pushing back and sparking a ruckus. It knows the power of fighting for what's right, just and decent communally. And it wouldn't be as moving without its cast, but that's what coming together means.
In the Yarra Valley? Looking for a homey place to sleep? Warburton Motel is for you, dear traveller. Penned as the spot for "the adventurers, the readers, the tree huggers, the romantics and the fireside talkers", it's set to offer something delightful for all. Affectionately referred to as The Warby, there's a room with mountain views and a suite with a spa, plus a fire pit perched above a valley for late-night chats and star gazing. These family-run digs have warm wooden accents welcoming you throughout, and the feel of being immersed in nature even when you're tucked up in bed (courtesy of the lush greenery out every window). The mini bar is stocked with beers from local microbreweries, and you're only a minute's drive from dining spots and provisions stores in the small town nearby. Don't miss out on adventuring and take advantage of the complimentary hybrid bike hire, or skip the bikes and head straight to local wineries only a short 20-minute drive from The Warburton Motel. Images: Warburton Motel Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
For Melburnians, this long weekend is a little different to most. Lockdown might be over, but a number of restrictions still remain. Heading to a big music festival isn't on the cards, for instance — but, because we now live in a time where virtual fests are becoming the norm, The Long Weekender is bringing six hours of Victorian music highlights straight to your couch. The latest event in the Victoria Together initiative — aka the online program that delivered plenty of things to watch during 2020's lengthy stay-at-home periods — The Long Weekender will stream a heap of past festival sets from plenty of the state's big events. Falls Festival, Meredith Music Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Golden Plains and Yirramboi Festival are all covered, as are Summersalt, Share The Spirit, Brunswick Music Festival, Roots Picnic and A Day On The Green. You'll just need to head to ACMI's streaming service, Cinema 3, between 12pm–12am on Monday, June 14, and turn your volume up loud. Myf Warhurst is on hosting duties and, if you're wondering who'll be belting out tunes, it's a hefty lineup. Everyone from Courtney Barnett and Archie Roach to You Am I and Frente! is on the bill — with no clashes, no queues and no worries about rushing between stages. THE LONG WEEKENDER LINEUP: Adalita Alex Lahey Alice Skye Allara feat. Culture Evolves Archie Roach Cable Ties Courtney Barnett Djirri Djirri Dancers The Black Sorrows The Cat Empire The Dirty Three Frente! Hachiku James Henry King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Loose Tooth Magic Dirt The Meanies Mo'Ju Sampa The Great Spiderbait Simona Castricum Sleep D The Teskey Brothers Total Giovanni You Am I Top image: Falls Festival.
Not everyone is lucky enough to spend Christmas with their nearest and dearest, and sometimes you just find yourself riding solo. Thankfully, the spirit of Christmas is strong in the city, at our favourite little shipping container-turned-bar. On Christmas Day from midday, Section 8 is welcoming orphans from far and wide to their annual Xmas get-together. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not really isn't that relevant — all you need to know is that there will be a free barbecue, ice-cold beers and beats from Mr Pitiful right until 11pm that night.
Clocking in at a hefty 1500 square metres, Stomping Ground's Collingwood brewpub is quite the monster. But it seems there are even bigger things to come for this ever-expanding brewery, with its owners this week announcing plans to build a second venue in Moorabbin. They've just signed a ten-year lease on a space within the historic Morris Moor development, which they're keen to transform into a brewery, beer hall, event space and roomy beer garden. Helping to breathe new life into Moorabbin's 60-year-old Phillip Morris manufacturing site, the new venue will be part of a dynamic hospitality precinct, designed in conjunction with award-winning architects Genton and lauded architecture and interior design firm Techne. At this stage, details for the Stomping Ground space are scarce, though co-founder Steve Jeffares confirmed there'll be a family-friendly brewpub showcasing a wide range of beers brewed onsite — complete with a 12-hectolitre facility — and a top-notch food offering. There's also no exact date for the site's opening, but expect it to start pouring brews in early 2020. In the meantime, you'll find plenty of the label's fresh brews at its Collingwood home. [caption id="attachment_724944" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Guy Evans Photography[/caption] Stomping Ground isn't the only local brewery with grand plans in the works, either. Abbotsford's Moon Dog is also currently working on a gigantic new Preston site. Find Stomping Ground Morris Moor at 1 Cochranes Road, Moorabbin by early 2020. Images: Guy Evans Photography.
First, it was a popular 80s comedy starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Then, it became a five-season television sitcom led by Parton's real-life younger sister. In 2009, 9 to 5 made the leap to the stage too, because you just can't stop a good story about female empowerment in the workplace. Revived in the West End earlier this year, it's still a huge hit — and now, after an Australian premiere in Sydney was announced last year, we know that the latest version of the production is coming to Melbourne. Just by reading the show's title, we know that you already have Parton's catchy song of the same name stuck in your head. Pour yourself a cup of ambition, because that tune isn't going away anytime soon. Indeed, you'd best get ready to exclaim "what a way to make a living" more than once when 9 to 5 The Musical plays its local run at Her Majesty's Theatre from July 2020. It comes to Melbourne after its Australian premiere season in Sydney this April. Ahead of its time when it first reached cinemas, this tale of three women who take on their sexist, egotistical and all-round despicable male boss is obviously still highly relevant today. Before #TimesUp and #MeToo, workmates Doralee, Violet and Judy decided to turn the tables by kidnapping their supervisor and reforming their office. Expect the same story in 9 to 5 The Musical, as penned by the original film's screenwriter Patricia Resnick, just with more songs. With Parton herself writing the score — and earning Tony and Grammy nominations for her efforts — expect plenty of feel-good music as well. Although she doesn't appear on stage, the famous country star is still involved with the show, and with bringing it to Australia. While the show will premiere in Sydney, it's possible it'll head to other cities around the country after — cross your fingers and we'll let you know if more dates and locations are announced. While you're still singing 9 to 5 to yourself, check out Parton's announcement video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eLfds3BNk8 9 to 5 The Musical will hit Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre from July 2020, with tickets on sale on Friday, February 14. For more information, or to join the ticket waitlist, visit the musical's website.
Just one month after the CBD opening of B. Lucky & Sons, Funlab — the group responsible for Holey Moley and Strike Bowling — is set to open yet another kidult wonderland in Melbourne. This time it's Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, a circus-themed arcade bar that will open in Docklands next month. The Melbourne instalment is the second for the brand, which first opened in Sydney back in December 2017. The Melbourne version — which will open in the District Docklands shopping centre — will feature 67 arcade games (starting at $2 a pop) and tickets can be used to purchase the usual assortment of random objects and plastic toys at the prize bazaar. Like its Sydney counterpart, the venue also includes a bowling alley, dodgem cars, an interactive 3D theatre and virtual reality games. The food menu ties in with the circus decor and focuses on over-the-top novelty American diner grub. Think pink burgers, cheddar cheese-dusted potato gems and garlic aioli that's served in a syringe. You get the idea. The drinks follow suit, with a ridiculously involved Shark Tanq: a concoction of gin, blue curaçao, coconut syrup, egg white and orange bitters, all topped with flavoured Red Bull and garnished with gummy shark lollies. If that's just too much sugar for you, maybe go down the dairy route with an espresso martini with a Magnum on the side, or try one of the signature boozy milkshakes. It's a good thing the arcade is strictly adults-only from 8pm — you'll need to work off all that energy. But what you're coming here for is the arcade games, the nostalgia and to forget you're an adult with responsibilities for at least an hour or two. If the swathe of themed bars that keep popping up around town, it's something Melburnians are really responding to at the moment. Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq will open at District Docklands, 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands on October 18. It will be open seven days a week from noon until late.
At the heart of Queen of the Desert sits Gertrude Bell, a real life historic figure who was anything but ordinary. A writer, photographer, traveller and more, Bell bucked traditional gender roles, blazed a trail for women working in international politics, and ultimately played a key part in establishing the modern borders of Iraq and Jordan in the years following WWI. Sadly, while the film that tells her tale doesn't ignore those achievements completely, its primary concern instead seems to be her love life. That's how an account of Bell (Nicole Kidman) and her time in the Middle East becomes an episodic effort tied to the men she fell for and worked with. After begging her aristocratic father to send her anywhere outside of England, she is dispatched to Tehran to stay with her diplomat uncle (Mark Lewis Jones), and swiftly succumbs to the charms of embassy secretary Henry Cadogan (James Franco). When their courtship ends, Bell takes to the desert, forming a platonic bond with T.E. Lawrence (Robert Pattinson). And largely via letters, she also connects with Charles Doughty-Wylie (Damian Lewis), a married British consul stationed in Damascus. Writing and directing his first fiction feature since 2009's My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done, Werner Herzog wants to have his cake and eat it too. He obviously intends to depict Bell as a fiercely independent woman, and yet he can't resist indulging in overwrought relationship melodrama. While such a contradiction might reflect life (and suit Herzog's fascination with existential contrasts, as seen in his other films such as Rescue Dawn and Grizzly Man), Queen of the Desert just can't seem to strike the right balance between empowered adventure and lovelorn longing. Instead, the film becomes a sweeping but standard epic, hoping to blend the emotion of The English Patient and the spectacle of Lawrence of Arabia, and ultimately proving as formulaic as that sounds. At least the latter inspiration provides striking, sun-drenched imagery, with the film at its best when it's charting a lush visual excursion across the plains. As for its worst — well, that's where the performances come in. In the cast's defence, there's a big difference between bad acting and portrayals that are stifled by bad material. Kidman, Franco and Pattinson are all serviceable, but simply aren't given the room they need to turn thinly drawn characters into something more. Kidman certainly tries in one of her most committed efforts in recent years, yet as she flits between yearning and determined, the true spirit of Bell never shines through. Accordingly, Queen of the Desert feels more like routine historical romantic fodder rather than a genuine biopic. Given the woman at its centre, that's hardly a satisfying outcome.
Melburnians will have two outdoor electronica festivals to choose from come January 1, 2019. This year, joining Werribee Park's Let Them Eat Cake is Sidney Myer Music Bowl's The First — a multi-stage music festival dedicated to live electronic, hip hop, house and techno that'll take over the Kings Domain this New Year's Day. Run by Montreal-based festival host Piknic Électronik and Australia's electronic music guru Hardware Group, the festival is a hangover party you don't need to travel out of town for. Among the festival's stages is one dedicated to Piknic Électronic and it'll kick off the brand's fifth season of weekly-mini festivals in Melbourne (the dates of which have not yet been released). The headliners for the inaugural NYD festival include heavy-hitting rap queen M.I.A, Australian dance royalty The Presets and New York hip-hop artist Action Bronson, along with Banoffee, Bloody Mary, Bob Moses, KiNK, Krystal Klear, Max Cooper, Nastia and SG Lewis. The full lineup of local and international acts hasn't been announced just yet, so stay tuned for more. While you're there, visual art, food trucks and booze-a-plenty will be on the docket, too. The First will be held on January 1, 2019 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Early access tickets will be available from Wednesday, September 12 and cost $99. To register for pre-sale, head over here. General tickets will then go on sale from Thursday, September 13, with VIP tickets priced at $150.
It's 27 years since The Cult's first album went platinum. Electric's impossibly high energy saw the Bedford-born rock band's career explode overnight. Perhaps it was something to do with the crazy circumstances in which it was recorded. "[Electric's] definitely a Polaroid of a certain period in my life," frontman Ian Astbury told Max TV recently. "New York City, 1986, when New York was kind of lawless ... We barely slept making that record ... We'd pretty much get up, go to the studio, work till midnight, maybe 1am, go out, come in at seven in the morning, and go do it again, every day." Now, as part of their Electric 13 World Tour, The Cult are going to play the entire album live for Australian audiences for the first time. It's a kind of sequel to their 2009 Love Live Tour, which Astbury described as "such an incredible experience". The show will include a second set, featuring tracks from the band's eight other studio albums. https://youtube.com/watch?v=k6PgftKbQnQ
Summer is almost over, and what better way to welcome the cooler months than with wine season at Hyatt Centric Melbourne's Langlands Restaurant & Bar? In fact, the venue is serving up an exclusive six-course dinner paired with some of Tar & Roses' finest reds, whites and sparklings to see you happily sipping through autumn. Starting at 6pm on Friday, April 12, Tar & Roses is slinging serves of its curated wine list with picks such as pinot grigio, pinot noir, chardonnay, and more. At $200 per head, not only will you get the best grapes, but you will also be offered flavour-packed dishes ranging from fresh oysters to a Southern Ranges beef cheek. If you're still feeling peckish, don't worry: the menu includes a lemon sorbet paired with prosecco, as well as cheesy locals to go with your rosé. Only 20 slots are available for this one-night occasion. Head to the website to secure your ticket.
This year, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's ever-popular Crawl 'n' Bite series will provide even more opportunities for culinary exploration, with a whole new crop of roaming food and drink tours. Sink your teeth into the tastiest of Fitzroy and Collingwood, and discover just how diverse these foodie hotspots are, with the Smith and Johnston crawl. On Wednesday, April 5, this guided journey will have punters enjoying a bite and a drink at French-leaning Hell of the North, stylish gastropub Fitzroy Town Hall Hotel, and vivacious taqueria Hotel Jesus, across one adventurous evening. Six ticket options are available for the tour — choose the starting time and location that suits you best and get crawling.
The festive season continues, and what better way to celebrate the Year of the Rat than with a five-course banquet and fancy cocktails — with stunning views, of course. Ocean 12 is going all out for Lunar New Year, offering a special menu and cocktails from January 24 until February 11. To make the most of the occasion, you'll want to book a table for Friday, January 24, when Southbank will come alive with dance, music and performances for the festival's official kick off. Plus, at 10pm, lion dancers will move through the restaurant. Start with a specialty Hennessy VSOP cocktail on the terrace. Choose between the Lucky Lychee Fizz, the Hennessy VSOP and Green Tea or the Fortune in the House — a zesty concoction of Hennessy, orange juice and kumquat. Then, tuck into a Chinese feast of dumplings, pork buns, steamed greens and fried chicken with Chinese salad. Or opt for the chef's daily special for $25. If you want to take things up a notch, you can settle in for a VIP banquet menu in one of Ocean 12's private karaoke rooms. You'll be hosted by the chefs and dining on dishes such as scallop and prawn dumplings; steamed grouper with spiced greens; sautéed lobster with egg noodle; and green beans in XO sauce. Oh, and an opulent wagyu steak drizzled with truffle oyster sauce. It costs a cool $250 a head and is available for group sizes of four to ten people, with the option of Hennessy VSOP pairings for an additional $100. Afterwards, pick up the mic and sing your heart out to keep the party going. Bookings are only required for the VIP banquet menu, which can be made via info@ocean12.com.au or Ocean 12's website.
Fancy Free, the new cocktail bar from Black Pearl alumni Matt Stirling, Rob Libecans and Ryan Noreiks, might only be sticking around for six months, but it's certainly starting off strong. When the CBD venue launches later this month, it'll do so with some pretty special mates in tow, handing over its opening kitchen residency slot to famed Sydney burger joint Mary's. The two-month stint will mark Mary's first proper pop-up in Melbourne and it's promising one heck of a food and drink lineup to christen Fancy Free's new digs. If you've sampled the goods at the ever-popular Newtown restaurant, or perhaps during brief local appearances for the likes of Download and Laneway festivals and a one-day takeover of South Yarra's Leonards House of Love, you'll know this is one not to miss. [caption id="attachment_684208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marys, Sydney.[/caption] Mary's own Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham will be venturing south to bring Melbourne a taste of their smash-hit fare, the menu featuring the duo's signature mushroom burger, cheeseburger, mash and gravy, fried chicken and of course, the legendary Mary's burger. To match, expect a cracker starting lineup of both alcoholic and booze-free cocktails from the acclaimed Fancy Free crew, pouring alongside a rotation of local beers and interesting vino. Fancy Free will open on Wednesday, February 13 at 381 Little Collins Street, Melbourne.
All right ramblers, let's get ramblin'. After packing the place tighter than Minnie's Haberdashery last year, 24 Moons Bar's Tarantino Ball is back. For one night only, the Northcote watering hole will celebrate one of modern cinema's coolest, bloodiest auteurs with an evening of music, beverages and fancy dress inspired by the movies of QT. Kicking off at 8pm on Saturday May 20, and stretching well into the hours of the following morning (not quite dusk till dawn, but pretty damn close), the third annual Tarantino Ball will feature $5 Sailor Jerry shakes, a Jack Rabbit Slims twist contest, foot massages by the Foot Fucking Master, and all the best tunes from Tarantino's iconic soundtracks played by Melbourne's very own Quentin tribute band, The Tarantino's. There'll also be a costume competition with some pretty epic prizes. So make sure you put in some effort — no guys, just wearing a black suit with a black tie and sunglasses isn't going to cut it. Tickets to the Tarantino Ball go on sale Tuesday April 4.
Set in the backstreets of suburban Brisbane, Trent Dalton's award-winning 2018 novel Boy Swallows Universe is destined to become an Aussie classic. It follows a young boy, his prophetic brother and his jailbreaking best friend as they navigate the heroin-filled underworld of 80s Queensland. And it's about to come to life on the stage. In September 2020, the stage version of the novel will world premiere in Brisbane. It'll be a co-production between Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival, with the former's Artistic Director Sam Strong directing the adaptation, which will be written by playwright Tim McGarry. Brisbane-born author Dalton said in a statement it was only fitting that the stage show should premiere in his hometown, "It was the people of Brisbane who took that wild, strange book and ran with it first and that book belongs to them now and this production will belong to them, too." It has not yet been revealed if the stage show will then travel to interstate theatres, but we'll keep our fingers crossed — and let you know if it does. Boy Swallows Universe has snagged a slew of local awards, including Book of the Year, Literary Book of the Year and Audio Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards. The novel, which has sold 160,000 copies in Australia alone, has also been longlisted for Australia's most prestigious literature prize, the Miles Franklin Award. The winners will be announced on July 30. Fans of the novel will be excited to hear that it won't stop at the stage, either — Boy Swallows Universe is also destined for the small screen. Last week, it was announced that Harper Collins had sold the television rights to the novel, with Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton (who recently wrote, directed and produced Boy Erased) set to produce the show alongside Dalton as executive producer. Boy Swallows Universe will world premiere in Brisbane in September 2020 as part of Brisbane Festival. You can sign-up to receive updates from Queensland Theatre here. Top image: Trent Dalton and Sam Strong by Luke Marsden.
With September comes some much-needed spring and — to build on the beers in the sun you've no doubt been raring for — so too comes Oktoberfest. The famous German beer drinking festival runs for three weeks, kicking off before actual October, and it's a big deal in Munich. It's certainly not a small deal here, either, with Hofbräuhaus Melbourne leading the fray in the festivities in this part of the world. It's one of the oldest German restaurants in the country and has been celebrating Oktoberfest for fifty years — so, coming right up this year is a particularly big birthday bonanza. Starting on Saturday, September 22 and running for five weeks, the opening party will bring huge steins of bier, obviously, as well as live entertainment, stein carrying comps (it's even harder than it looks) and Bavarian feasting. The winner of the competitions can get themselves a whole year of free Hofbräuhaus bier, so it's worth doing a few arm days at the gym between now and then. The day will start with a traditional keg tapping in the restaurant at noon, with the party kicking on from 5pm in the 'bierhall'. If huge biers and German comfort food are your things, then it's time to crack out the lederhosen or dirndl and prepare yourself for easily the rowdiest 50th birthday you'll attend this year. Table bookings are necessary — book here or over the phone.
The artists at Pretty Dirty Theatre will tread the boards at the Southbank Theatre, with an anarchic tale of insanity and obsession. A loose, contemporary adaptation of Hermann Hesse’s early twentieth-century novel Steppenwolf, The Lonely Wolf is the latest work featured as part of the Melbourne Theatre Company’s Neon Festival of Independent Theatre, which continues to showcase homegrown theatre-makers with unconventional voices. Written and directed by company founder Gary Abrahams, The Lonely Wolf (or an Incomplete Guide for the Unadvanced Soul) combines theatre and dance with the writing of psychoanalyst James Hillman. The aim is to provide an irreverent take on the philosophical drama found in Hesse’s source material, about a man divided between his human and animal personas. The Lonely Wolf runs from June 11 until June 21, with the June 14 show followed by an audience Q&A. For more information, visit the MTC Neon Festival website.
We all know that Melbourne is the place to be if you love music; this week's the time to prove it. Melbourne Music Week is back for another year with 250 artists taking part in 110 events over 10 days of festivities in 40 locations. While your usual bars and bandrooms are all accounted for, this year you'll also be seeing music in laneways and trams, at Rooftop Cinema, the NGV, MPavilion, and power stations. It'll even be in elevators. No kidding — elevators. This enormous reach comes in an effort to showcase not only Melbourne's music, but the city itself. "Melbourne is one of the world's greatest music cities," says Councillor Beverley Pinder Mortimer from the City of Melbourne."[In this festival] the city becomes the stage." Kind of like in that film with Kiera Knightly and Mark Ruffalo... but better. Here are a few things to pencil in your diaries to make the most of it. Opening Night with Architecture in Helsinki There's no better to kick off your Melbourne Music Week celebrations than with an opening night extravaganza, and there's no one better to lead the charge than Architecture in Helsinki. These local kids done good have been putting the pep in your summer house parties for just over a decade now. After the release of their fifth album NOW + 4 EVA they're back to christen the new festival hub at Queen Vic Markets. After supporting Client Liaison earlier this year and recently being signed to Two Bright Lakes, local boogie kids Total Giovanni will also be on the bill with Rainbow Connection DJs. Get ready for some magic. November 14, 7pm-1am, Queen Vitoria Market, $35. Morning Ritual There's a reason this event is a regular at MMW. While the rest of the program favours night owls and those up for a bit of a bender, this is a rare opportunity to get some tunes in the sunlight. This year's Morning Ritual will see five bands including The Harpoons, Klo and Lowtide playing a bunch of free sets at Queen Vic from 10.30am. It's an amazing way to wake up, a decent substitute for coffee and, quite frankly, a freebie you should definitely take advantage of. November 15-22, 10.30-11.30am, Queen Victoria Market, FREE. Love in an Elevator Does corny elevator music get you down? Local folk-pop duo The Twoks have concocted an ingenious morning pick-me-up for those Melbourne nine-to-fivers with better taste. Setting up in undisclosed elevators around the CBD, the boppy electronic duo will be hosting impromptu performances starting from 8am, riding up and down with unsuspecting members of the public as they make their way to work. Not the easiest of gigs to find, but if you're in the city this early, it'd definitely be worth searching out. Fair warning: venues may hit capacity pretty quickly. November 17-19, 8-9am, Elevators across the city, FREE. The Roller Jam Presumably inspired by the plot of Xanadu, Foreign Brothers are transforming 1000 £ Bend into a full blown, '80s style roller disco. A collection of DJs and live artists including Northside Records, The Mondo Freaks, ALTA and Jimmy James & DJ Jnett will keep your wheels turning late into the night, and surely someone will have the good sense to crank some Olivia Newton John. Skates will be available for hire. If there's not a smoke machine and mirror ball, we'll be very disappointed. November 20-22, 6pm-1.30am, 1000 £ Bend, $25. Hunt. Tram. Party. No Myki? No worries. Hop on board a moving Melbourne icon, for a one-of-a-kind tram party without a single mouth-breathing ticket inspector in sight. Clues around the CBD will reveal the hidden starting point where your musical transportation will be waiting. Suffice it to say, moshing is probably out. After rattling around the city to the tunes of a secret artist, the party will terminate right outside Ding Dong Longue, where a live performance by totally charming poppy hip hoppers Jakubi will see the good times continue long into the night. November 20, 7pm-1am, Trams across the city, FREE. Mixed Doubles Artist-run record label Air Punch Collective has pitted the stars of the Melbourne indie music scene against one another for a collaborative song tournament that looks set to be a grand slam. Hosted at the North Melbourne Rec Centre and umpired by the audience, competitors in the musical tennis showdown include Milk Teddy vocalist Thomas Mendelovits, as well as Helena Plazzer, Ellen Sorensen, David Carlin and Mark Mannone. We're not saying things could get violent out there on the court. Then again, we're not not saying it, either. November 15, 1pm-4pm, Bella Union, $10. Free Screenings at Rooftop Cinema Relax under the stars with a cold beer and a bucket of popcorn, and enjoy a trio of free, music-themed screenings at Melbourne's favourite outdoor cinema. Sort-of documentary 20,000 Days on Earth provides a weirdly meta look into the life and creative process of enigmatic artist Nick Cave, while Mistaken For Strangers chronicles the 2010 tour of your favourite sad rockers The National through the eyes of its lead singer's younger brother, who tagged along for the ride. The third screening remains cloaked in an air of mystery. Is it too much to hope for a bit of Bjork? November 18-20, 8pm-11pm, Rooftop Cinema, FREE. The Church Plays The Blood of a Poet One of the all-time great examples of avant-garde filmmaking, Jean Cocteau's The Blood of a Poet is getting a brand-spanking new musical score, courtesy of legendary Australian rock group The Church. First released in 1932, the film follows an artist through an unsettling parallel dimension; its impenetrable imagery a perfect fit for the band's evocative alt-rock sound. Whether you're a film buff or a music lover, this live performance/screening absolutely shouldn't be missed. Alternatively, if French surrealism isn't your thing, check out William Friedkin's 1977 thriller Sorcerer, accompanied by visiting German electro pioneers Tangerine Dream. November 21, 7.30-8.30pm, ACMI, $30-38. Swell Just when you thought you'd figured your way around the giraffes in jewellery, watchful elephant heads and tree-lined rooftop spaces, they throw another thing in the mix. For six nights in November, the Carlton will be opening up an abandoned space that lies above the main bar but below Hasti Bala. Through labyrinthine corridors and hidden little rooms, you'll be treated to an array of secret gigs and intimate "plastic-coated" raves featuring a load of surprise acts. I know that's a whole load of craziness to hear with little to no context, but it's all we've got at this point. This very hush hush event is mysteriously titled Swell. November 14-23, Friday-Sunday, Various times, $25-39. Live Music Safari Without a doubt the highlight of the whole MMW program, the Live Music Safari brings the entire city to life. Fourteen of Melbourne's best venues including Boney, Section 8, The Toff and The Hi-Fi are hosting some of the city's most exciting bands and they're doing so for the ever-so-tasty price of free. Running for nearly 12 hours of sonic bliss, the Safari wants you to pop in and out of shows from 4pm-5am. Ideal route: chill out in Ferdydurke as City Calm Down and Milwaukee Banks turn Tattersalls Lane into an all-out laneway party, head along to Queen Vic to catch a set from Kingswood, cruise down to the Toff to catch The Harpoons, get a load of newbies Japanese Wallpaper at the Kelvin Club and, as always, finish it all off at Boney. There's no judgment here, friends. November 20, 4pm-5am, Various locations, FREE. Photo credits: jaded on and flattop341 via photopin cc. Written by Tom Clift and Meg Watson.
Know a very good boy or girl of the furry, four-legged persuasion? This weekend is their time to shine. On Saturday, February 25, food truck park and beer garden Welcome to Brunswick is set to become even more dog-friendly than usual, as it celebrates man's best mate with a day of festivities. The Good Dogs of Brunswick party will kick off from 12pm with DJ tunes spinning through the afternoon, $20 jug specials and food trucks, as well as a hot dog stand raising funds for Forever Friends Animal Rescue. If you and your pooch are up for some shopping, you'll find an array of pet-centric market stalls slinging everything from dog desserts and treats to funky accessories and leads. And for pups with a competitive edge, the venue will be running a whole swag of fun dog contests throughout the day, with prizes for the waggliest tail, the most petite pooch, the wrinkliest dog, the hound with the best rescue story and more.
If 2020 has given us anything, it's a renewed appreciation for bread. In particular, the humble sourdough and the fluffy white Japanese milk bread known as shokupan. The cult Melbourne bakery that also goes by the name of Shokupan even took things to the next level, fusing the two bread varieties to create its signature sourdough shokupan loaf. Now, another smart pairing sees Shokupan teaming up with innovative Japanese eatery Future Future for a one-off pop-up this Saturday, September 12. The duo's specialty collaboration menu of fruit sandos and Japanese-inspired sausage rolls will be available for pre-order to take away from the Richmond restaurant from 11am–3pm. Get ready to sink your teeth into a dreamy riff on the sausage roll ($12), featuring a Japanese pork snag from Meatsmit encased in miso-glazed shokupan and baked to golden perfection. It'll be accompanied by pickles, miso mustard and a fermented chilli tomato sauce. Meanwhile, dessert is sorted with a limited run of sweet shokupan sandos ($7), loaded with spring fruits and whipped mascarpone. While you're there, you'll be able to stock up on some full loaves of Shokupan's finest, along with batch brew coffee, genmaicha tea and tinnies of Japanese beer. Pre-orders are available via the Future Future website. Of course, under current stage four restrictions, you can only swing past the Richmond store if you live within five kilometres. If you don't, sorry — stay tuned for more pop-ups, hopefully a little closer to you. Images: Jana Langhorst
It's been fifteen years since Death Cab for Cutie released Transatlanticism, a seminal album of the early 00s. After releasing it, the band went on to sign to a major record company and this album, the band's fourth, is widely considered to be its greatest. It's an opinion held strongly by critics and fans alike, and — most likely — by the Melbourne musicians who are taking to the stage this August to celebrate the album. Taking place at Richmond's Corner Hotel on Saturday, August 11, So This Is...A Death Cab for Cutie Party will be a tribute to Transatlanticism and the band who you used to listened to — moodily, in the dark — at least five dozen times after a break up. Incorporating songs from the band's other albums as well, the Melbourne artists stepping into the fray to cover Death Cab (forming a band of rotating singers) will include JP Klipspringer, JMS Harrison, Lauren Perkins, Emma Heeley, Sean Sully and Daniel Boca Vista, among others. If singing your heart out with dozens of other strangers who are having the same nostalgic feely feels as you sounds right up your alley, then this night is yours.
Don’t let the name of Australian artist and performer Anthony Breslin’s Trybe: An Opera in Paint deceive you — his is no traditional libretto. In place of a tenor to rival Pavarotti, viewers can expect an all senses experience (or assault, depending on where your tastes sit) that encompasses art, dance, film and live music. Traditional conventions get a makeover to ensure the opera is not only palatable, but markedly challenging, for contemporary sensibilities. The absence of an operatic orchestra, replaced by a three-piece band that performs a score by Greg Long, is just one such attempt at modernisation. Subverting the role of the all-knowing conductor, Breslin assumes the (at least partially autobiographical) character of a tortured artist struggling to give life to a painting it becomes clear he is somehow spiritually compelled to produce. From the safety of their offstage seating audiences are led on an involving journey that even their brave guide is not sure will end in triumph. Breslin’s opera does not follow a conventional narrative structure, instead erratically blending depictions of the protagonist’s battle to overcome internal anxieties for the greater creative good with a series of high-energy, visually explosive dance and music sequences. This strong conceptual bent is likely to strike many viewers as jarring at some point in the just over an hour it takes for the artist to cultivate the canvas that will later come to define the performance. Audiences have been conditioned to expect certain things from entertainment — a chronological story, humanised characters and speech, to begin — none of which Trybe: An Opera in Paint delivers. Perhaps the intermittent alienation that comes with experiencing turbulent, uncertain artistic practice played out in real time is something to be celebrated despite its intrinsic, accompanying discomfort. Rather than feeling cheated by the lack of script, predictable character development and the general fulfilment of “normal” expectations, viewers must focus on what is gained from this cost — an honest insight into the customarily personal act of creation — in order to fully appreciate Breslin’s vision. The risk that Breslin runs by turning his studio into a stage and inviting perfect strangers to enjoy, or pass judgement upon his fraught artistic journey has to be admired, regardless of whether one “likes” the performance or does not. By privileging the communal the artist is able to abandon the constraints of the ego in order to create a work that is bigger than any singular reputation or internal vision can ever be. The needs of the tribe are favoured in another, less abstract way, as each resulting canvas will be available for sale post performance. All proceeds will be donated to the Lasaillian Foundation, an organisation that supports the education and empowerment of children, youth and their communities in the Asia Pacific. Will Breslin ultimately overcome the personally constructed version of success that shackles his ability to create for much of the performance? Will the audience, who develop a sense of ownership over the artwork, be left creatively satiated or wanting for something more? Like all truly great operas, all will be revealed in the final act, when the canvas will speak what the performers cannot. Image credit Jacqueline Barkla.
It's not like Mexican or Mexican fusion is all that hard to find in Melbourne, but new Windsor Street taqueria Tacocat intends to make their own mark and rethink the taco. With a menu inspired by owner Craig Dick's world travels, the dishes fuse Mexican street food with elements of traditional foods from a wide array of cultures. While tradition is usually the name of the game when it comes to international cuisines, Tacocat is taking the road less travelled. There's a 'Tacocat Madam' for breakfast, made with pulled pork, melted cheese, tomato, fondue sauce and a fried egg on sourdough, or the 'Pho' taco with beef, bean sprouts, coriander, Vietnamese mint, spring onions and Sriracha. For those with a sterling palate, Tacocat also serves a chilli and garlic roasted grasshopper taco with guac and pico de gallo, quite an interesting twist on the traditional protein. There are plenty of more traditional taco options, as well as vegetarian options across the board. The idea came during a trip through Central America, Iran, and North Korea in 2016, where Craig decided he could fuse flavours from Asian cuisine with Mexican food. "I just thought the two were a natural fit," he explains. Tacocat's insistence on not sticking to one location continues into dessert, as well. For those who have never tried a deep fried tequila shot, they are the business, so it's good to see one included on Tacocat's menu, albeit tweaked into a full dessert. With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, Mexican places are going to be amping up the festival game around town, and Tacocat is throwing their sombrero into that ring, too — head down on the day to score yourself a special taco for free. Find Tacocat at 118 High Street, Windsor. Open Tuesday to Friday 5–10pm, Saturday to Sunday 8am–10pm.
Melbourne's bar scene is off to a high-flying start in 2022, with news it's set to score a sparkling new rooftop drinking destination. Perched eight storeys above Bourke Street, The Stolen Gem is gearing up to throw open its doors from Thursday, February 17. Once a private event space, the venue and its sweeping 360-degree views will now welcome everyday punters for the first time, the site reborn as a sky-high cocktail bar and terrace celebrating Aussie spirits and top-notch sushi. It's a snappy, modern space, with pops of neon and a striking bronze bar complemented by the impressive vistas visible from the all-weather terrace. The drinks offering is an eclectic and locally-focused one, headlined by a crop of signature cocktails featuring seasonal botanicals foraged by Yarra Valley's Spurrell Foraging. Expect concoctions like a cinnamon and brown sugar espresso martini, a pavlova spritz crafted on Melbourne's Nosferatu Gin, and the S'more Fashioned — starring peated Tassie vodka and a house-made vanilla bean syrup. Drops from the likes of Echuca Distillery, Grainshaker and the Mornington Peninsula's award-winning distillery Jimmy Rum feature throughout; as do considered ingredients like ginger mint, aloe vera foam and house-made grapefruit cordial. A concise vino selection champions Australia's best winemaking regions, and you'll find just a handful of beer options on tap and in the fridge. While you're soaking up the views and sipping primo local booze, you can also be chowing down on produce-driven canapes from the kitchen. Or, for a touch of luxury, there is the venue's exclusive sushi boxes courtesy of a collaboration with Prahran's Uminono. There'll be a limited number of the freshly-made boxes on offer each day, and they're expected to be snapped up quick. Find The Stolen Gem at Level 8, 388 Bourke St, Melbourne, from February 17. It'll open from 4–10pm Wednesday and Thursday, and 12pm–1am Friday and Saturday.
It's that time of the year already. When mid-January hits, everyone is back at work and the summer's holidays start to fade away, we all get a new obsession: booking their next vacation. Consider Webjet's current flight sale, filled with discounted fares to Australia's Red Centre, exactly what you need, then — and an excuse to start packing your suitcase. Until 11.59pm AEDT on Friday, January 20, the travel site is slinging one-way flights to the Northern Territory from just $19 one-way — at a discount of up to $150 off in total on some fares. Of course, that first figure is just the starting point, so you mightn't score such a cheap flight depending on which day you're planning to travel, and also where you're jetting off from, but there are still some mighty cheap prices available. The sale covers trips to Uluru and Alice Springs, for travel from now — yes, right now — through to April 5 this year. Fancy an autumn jaunt to the middle of the country? Making end-of-summer plans to help brace yourself for the cooler weather? Just craving another break already? They're all options. One key caveat: the discounted prices are available for inbound flights only, so you won't receive the same discount to come home. [caption id="attachment_773731" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NT by Tourism Australia[/caption] Among the list of deals, the $19 fares are a starting point for flights from Sydney to Uluru, Melbourne's (from Tullamarine) start at $30 to the same destination, Hobart to Uluru legs begin at $108, and Adelaide to Alice Springs fares start from $115. Wondering what to do once you get there? Uluru's incredible Field of Light installation remains a permanent recommendation — and you can also check out our guide to visiting the Red Centre. [caption id="attachment_847444" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Central Australia[/caption] Webjet's Red Centre sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Friday, January 20. Top image: Tourism NT, Salty Travellers.
The community spirit is well and truly thriving at the Coburg Farmers Market. Every Saturday from 8am–1pm, the playground of Coburg Primary School transforms into a bustling community marketplace. The market features over 30 stalls where you can browse an excellent selection of fresh, seasonal produce from growers and farmers across Victoria. The market also features live music and great breakfast and brunch stalls. Entry to the market is via gold coin donation. Remember your shopping bags, too — there's a strict no-plastic policy here. [caption id="attachment_809950" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Chew Photography[/caption] Images: Mark Chew Photography
Some of the best young filmmakers in the country are headed down to the esplanade, for ten straight days of cinematic mayhem. Australia’s oldest and largest showcase of short form filmmaking is back for another year, with a brand new venue along with a prize pool of more than $50,000. With the Astor Theatre temporarily out of action, this year's festival will be hosted at St Kilda Town Hall. As per usual, the meat of the program lies in the Top 100 Australian Shorts section, stretched strategically across 14 separate sessions. You can get the complete package for a cool $100, or choose from a selection of genre streams including 'coming of age', documentary and LGBT. This year will also see St Kilda continue its partnership with the Palm Springs International Shortfest, with four sessions dedicated to some of the best shorts from overseas. Rounding out the program are specialised youth and family streams, along with audience favourite music video contest, SoundKILDA. For the full St Kilda Film Festival Program, visit their website.
Melbourne's leading queer arts experience Midsumma Festival is back for another turn around the sun, descending on close to 100 venues across the city from Sunday, January 19 to Sunday, February 9, 2020. And, this year, it's set to deliver one of its heftiest programs yet, featuring a whopping 194 events across 22 days of festivities. Unveiled last night, the supercharged Midsumma 2020 offering will dish up a diverse celebration of local and international LGBTQ+ communities, through a lineup of exhibitions, installations, talks, dazzling performances, captivating cultural events and more. Over 5000 movers, shakers and makers are involved, from both overseas and closer to home. One of this year's highlights is major project Queer Unsettled, with its own program deep-diving into themes of colonisation. Unearth stories of queer Iranian life in The Sky After Rain, celebrate Indigenous femmes through Famili's mix of movement and music, and discover a Chinese New Year party complete with some very special Thai drag guests at Melbourne Museum's Nocturnal x Midsumma: Lunar New Year Disco. Midsumma Carnival kicks the whole thing off on January 20 with over 110,000 revellers expected to head to Alexandra Gardens for the free party, while the famed Midsumma Pride March hits St Kilda on February 2, wrapping up with a rollicking after party on the foreshore of Catani Gardens. [caption id="attachment_626875" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nocturnal at Melbourne Museum[/caption] Midsumma 2020 also features return appearances from a slew of fan favourites, including Midsumma Extravaganza — this time, showcasing legends like Kirsty Webeck, Tom Ballard, Bob Downe, Dolly Diamond and Drag Race Thailand's Pangina Heals — and the renowned Midsumma and Australia Post Art Award exhibition. The Queer Playwriting Award Showcase will feature works from four Aussie finalists and a two-night festival of queer music Power will take over Chapel on Chapel. Such a big, wide-ranging program calls for more than just one festival hub and indeed, this year there are seven: Theatre Works, Hare Hole, Arts Centre Melbourne, Gasworks Arts Park and Chapel Off Chapel, with special family programs at The Melba Spiegeltent and Midsumma Westside. Midsumma Festival will run at venues across the city from Sunday, January 19, to Sunday, February 9, 2020. You can check out the full program on the website. Images: Midsumma Carnival by Jackson Grant
2020 was especially quiet on the arts and live performance front, but this year's edition of the First Nations Yirramboi Festival is set to make up for lost time. Returning for its third citywide outing in May 2021, the multi-disciplinary festival will dish up a huge program of over 150 different events, celebrating Indigenous arts and culture in a very big way. The genre-tripping lineup of free and low-cost events is set to descend on venues across the city from Thursday, May 6–Sunday, May 16. And, while the full program won't be dropping for another few weeks, organisers have shared a few of the festival highlights that punters can look forward to. There's a political cabaret by the Northlands Collective Mob, with A Fight for Survival centred on the well-publicised fight to save Victoria's Northland Secondary College back in the 90s. It stars a diverse cast of talent, including folks who were involved with the school and the case. A further theatre fix comes in the form of Considerable Sexual Licence, a flirty production by Joel Bray (Wiradjuri) exploring the real history of sensuality in Australia — and in a touching celebration of belonging in Maryanne Sam's (Meriam Mer) Coconut Woman. There'll be laughs aplenty when a roll call of Blak comedic talent takes to the stage for the Deadly Funny Showcase as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and lots of sparkly thrills as the country's top First Nations drag entertainers battle it out in the Miss First Nation 2021 competition. Rapper Ziggy Ramo will play his debut album Black Thoughts live on the Melbourne Recital Centre stage, while Harley Mann (Wakka Wakka) will deliver a mind-blowing acrobatic performance with the Na Djinang Circus, titled Arterial. [caption id="attachment_803729" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Barring Yanabul 2019[/caption] Melburnians can also catch a huge, roving celebration of Blak culture when free, all-day fiesta Barring Yanabul (translating to 'we all walk the path' in Boonwurrung and Woiwurring language) takes over more than 40 pop-up locations throughout the CBD. Stay tuned for more events to be revealed as the full program is released in the coming weeks. Yirramboi Festival 2021 runs from May 6–16, at various locations and venues across the city. For more details and to check out the full program once it drops, head to the festival website. Top images: Miss First Nation; Arterial photographed by Cecil Martin; Kimberly Lovegrove photographed by Jim Lee.
The Prince of Darkness is getting a high camp makeover just in time for Halloween. Presented by Theatre Works along with the acclaimed team at Little Ones Theatre, and drawing on the theatrical traditions of early silent cinema, this seductive take on Bram Stoker's Dracula taps into the character's status as a queer icon, in an evening of sex, gore and kitsch galore. Taking its cues from iconic depictions of The Count, as played by the likes of Gary Oldman and Bela Lugosi, Dracula will be performed live on stage in the style of a silent movie, complete with title cards, musical accompaniment and Buster Keaton-inspired slapstick comedy. Throw in a little full frontal nudity, and this promises to be unlike any tale of Transylvanian horror that you've ever seen before.
We've lost another one; London Grammar have pulled out of the Splendour lineup due to illness. Frontwoman Hannah Reid is apparently dealing with pneumonia, a pretty fair reason not to jump on a plane and play back-to-back shows. London Grammar issued the following statement: It's with great sadness that we must announce the cancellation of our trip to Australia & Splendour in the Grass this week due to illness. This is an incredibly sad situation for us as our last visit was one of the most memorable of our careers, but we do not feel that we can currently deliver the level of performance that you all deserve from us. Our fans in Australia have been hugely supportive of our music since the very beginning, and it pains us to have to disappoint any of you. We are going to do everything we can to make sure we are back down under as soon as possible and will reschedule our Sydney & Melbourne shows and give you more details very shortly. The preternaturally talented UK trio were slated to play sideshows at Festival Hall and Hordern Pavilion, alongside a hugely anticipated slot at Splendour. They'll now play the shows in March next year. The announcement comes after last week's Foals-replacing-Two Door Cinema Club Splendour shakeup. The party's now in the super capable hands of Sydney's kings of dance shindiggery, The Presets, who have just been announced to play the Friday slot. Splendour co-producers Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco issued their own statement: We're sorry to report that Hannah from London Grammar has been taken ill, after cancelling T In The Park we hoped she would recover in time for Splendour but unfortunately has not. It's been quite a challenge finding a suitable replacement at such short notice but we are pleased to announce The Presets have come to the rescue and will play at Splendour this Friday. " Whilst beyond our control we are personally very disappointed with the last minute line-up changes but we are thankful for the support from Foals and The Presets stepping up in lightening speed. Here's to a great show! For those who purchased a single day ticket particularly to see London Grammar, refunds for Friday 25 July single day tickets only will be available from Moshtix until 5pm Wednesday 23 July. More info about refunds here. But all we can say (loudly) is "AHMHEREWITHALLOMAHPEOPLE...MERR.MERR.MERR." https://youtube.com/watch?v=0H40riQv5Jk
After a dinner date idea that'll satisfy your taste buds while helping support a great cause? You'll find it in Kensington this autumn as social enterprise Scarf returns for its latest life-changing dinner series. The hospitality training and mentorship program has clocked up 13 years of helping marginalised youth and those from migrant backgrounds make their way into the hospitality industry. And every Wednesday from March 15–May 10 (except April 26), it's continuing this important work, popping up at sustainability-focused eatery Cassette for a fresh run of weekly feasts. [caption id="attachment_893695" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben Moynihan[/caption] Run by the newest batch of Scarf trainees and their mentors, the two-course dinners clock in at $55 per person, showcasing a seasonal, produce-driven menu by Cassette Head Chef Laura Boulton. Not only can diners feel good about doing their bit for the Scarf program, but there's the added bonus of the night's feed being super sustainable, thanks to Cassette's zero-waste approach and commitment to minimising food mileage. The eatery is powered by 100-percent accredited GreenPower energy and even has a Closed Loop bio-composter that repurposes all of its food waste. [caption id="attachment_893696" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassette, by Ben Moynihan[/caption] Top image: Roger Ungers
Rarely in Australia does a business pop-up that is truly unique. Welcome Merchant is one of them. Founded by Marjorie Tenchavez, Welcome Merchant was initially launched on Instagram to support and celebrate innovative Australian entrepreneurs — who also happen to come from refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant backgrounds. The not-for-profit has since expanded its critical role in elevating the voices of refugee and asylum seekers in the community — and offers one-of-a-kind dining experiences in collaboration with refugee chefs. The Sydney-based company is heading to Melbourne for its next event, popping up at The Foreigner Brewing in Brunswick on Saturday, April 29. Serving up a Sri Lankan feast in partnership with chef Niro Vithyasekar, the menu includes kothu roti, a delectable stir fry of roti, egg, onions and chilli, chopped together on a hot griddle. Vadai (dal fritters), masala dosa (thin pancakes made from rice and lentils), and a range of addictive chutneys and sambals will also be on the menu. Meanwhile, the Foreigner Brewing's regular rotation of craft beer will be on offer to quench any thirst, and entry is free. "We love doing events in Melbourne, the community there is so supportive of the refugee chefs we work with. Niro's dream is to expand his market stall business, hopefully to buy a deep fryer. The Foreigner Brewing enabling Niro to host his market stall there again will bring his dream closer to becoming a reality." says Welcome Merchant Founder and Director Marjorie Tenchavez. Images: supplied.
Having cemented its status as a firm favourite in the Mornington Peninsula beer scene, one young brewery now has its sights set on the big smoke. Dromana's locally made and locally loved Jetty Road has announced plans to open a huge brewery and gastropub in the heart of South Melbourne. The team has lodged an application to transform a sizeable chunk of real estate on Market Street into a multi-storey beer oasis, complete with a fully operational microbrewery, a 250-seat modern Australian restaurant and a mezzanine dining space. The new venue is set to bring Jetty Road's trademark laid-back coastal vibes to the city, reimagined with an urban edge. More concrete plans will be revealed once the project's officially been given the green light, though we do know Head Brewer Blake Bowden is keen to start working on some new experimental beers and launch a barrel-aging program. [caption id="attachment_736959" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jetty Road Brewery, Dromana[/caption] The team is still waiting on planning approval for the new South Melbourne site — which should come through, hopefully, next month — but hopes to open the doors by late 2020. Jetty Road's Mornington Peninsula brewery launched in late 2018, making its home within the now buzzing Dromana Industrial Estate, and is known for its signature easy-drinking brews including a pale ale, an IPA and the mid-strength Steady Street. Jetty Road Brewery is slated to open at 139–145 Market Street, South Melbourne in late 2020, pending approval of its development application. In the meantime, you can find Jetty Road Brewery at 12–14 Brasser Avenue, Dromana. Image: Jetty Road Brewery, Dromana
Many of Australia's annual cinema showcases focus on one particular country; however, that definitely isn't the Jewish International Film Festival's remit. Surveying the past year in movies with ties to Jewish culture, it fills its program with flicks from around the globe — in 2022, when it returns to Melbourne cinemas, with 31 feature films, 25 documentaries, six short films and even episodes from episodes a TV series, in fact. That lineup will hit the Classic in Elsternwick from Wednesday, March 2–Sunday, April 4 and the Lido in Hawthorn from Wednesday, March 3 through until the same ending date, and it clearly isn't short on highlights. That obviously includes its bookending titles, with the event opening with Simone Veil: A Woman of the Century and paying tribute to the French feminist icon, then closing with period melodrama Beauty Queen of Jerusalem from Israel. Other standouts and must-sees include The Painted Bird, as based on Jerzy Kosinski's novel and featuring Harvey Keitel and Stellan Skarsgård among the cast; Tahara, a coming-of-age story starring Shiva Baby's Rachel Sennott; the Cannes-premiering A Radiant Girl, which steps back to the Occupation in Paris in World War II; and satire Let It Be Morning, which picked up Best Film at the 2021 Ophir Awards (aka the Israeli Oscars). Or, there's also Haute Couture, which dives into French fashion; Tiger Within, about an unlikely friendship between a Holocaust survivor and a teenage runaway; the Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish-starring Here Today; documentary Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song, focusing on the singer-songwriter and that immensely popular song; and fellow doco Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful, which turns the lens on the prolific German Austrian photographer.
Aphids are at it again. Following on from such outlandish projects as the champagne-fuelled live cinema experience Thrashing Without Looking as well as the first ever Australian performance to be broadcast into outer space, the latest genre-hopping work from the St Kilda-based arts and performance collective celebrates one of Australia’s most iconic songs. Which one? You’ll have to figure that out for yourself. Described as a mix between a theatre restaurant, a rave and a game of 20 questions, A Singular Phenomenon will explore our fascination with pop culture and the evolution of cultural stereotypes, while chronicling the inner life of an iconic '80s hit "that refuses to go away". Could it be Farnham? Kylie? Whatever the answer, expect plenty of guilty pleasure music and audience interaction. A Singular Phenomenon runs May 21 – 23 at the Malthouse Theatre. For more information, go here.
Ridley Scott directs an all-star cast in The Counselor, the first original screenplay from Cormac McCarthy. Fans of the gritty, unflinching writing behind The Road will definitely want to check out this soon-to-be released drama-thriller. It stars man of the moment Michael Fassbender (currently generating praise for his turn in 12 Years a Slave) as a hotshot lawyer who gets involved in the dangerous world of drug trafficking and, quelle surprise, throws his near-perfect life (good job, beautiful fiance) into chaos. It's worth seeing for Javier Bardem alone, who demonstrates yet again just how well he can play the bad guy and rock an unsettling hairstyle. Although his 'do this time round doesn't quite live up to his No Country for Old Men coiffure in the creep-o-metre stakes. There are also performances from Penelope Cruz, Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz in a surprisingly hard-edged role that looks set to showcase her dramatic range outside of comedy. The Counsellor is in cinemas on November 7, and thanks to Twentieth Century Fox, we have ten double in-season passes per state to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
Before Michael Crichton conjured up an island theme park filled with cloned dinosaurs as seen in Jurassic Park, he took audiences to a different but just as eerie attraction. The year was 1973. The film was Westworld. And it was not only written by the author, but it was also directed by him as well. That's where HBO's futuristic show of the same name starring Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Wright, Liam Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson and Aaron Paul first started. Yes, life really does find a way. Series creators Jonathan Nolan (brother of Christopher Nolan) and Lisa Joy have taken the central idea and expanded it, though, as Westworld's first three gripping TV seasons have shown since 2016. When it comes to tales about a technologically advanced amusement park where people pay to experience Wild West times, and where androids play the park's roles but don't realise that they aren't human, there are oh-so-many stories to tell, after all.
The Melbourne International Film Festival have already announced that The Blackhearts Club will be the official bar of the 65th festival, but they just dropped their musical lineup — and it includes some very special, ghostbusting guests. Created by Blackhearts & Sparrows wine shop, the piano bar will pop up at the Forum Theatre on the first full day of the festival on Friday, July 29, and run until Sunday, August 14. It's set to pay homage to Hollywood's Golden Age grandeur and speakeasy vibes while delivering a series of performances inspired by the festival's programming. The bar itself is centred around a Steinway & Sons Concert Grand Piano, which will be manned by 'player in residence' Mark Fitzgibbon. Fitzgibbon is an internationally-renowned Melbourne jazz pianist who has famously played in the Shinjuku Park Hyatt Bar, better known as the bar featured in Lost in Translation. But the set we're most excited to witness is on opening night, when Mr. Ray "I ain't afraid of no ghost" Parker Jr. — aka the guy behind the Ghostbusters theme song — will headline a very special, one-off DJ set. Yes, that is his real nickname and yes, this is really happening. Guests can also expect birthday cake (it's MIFF's 65th, after all) and a full night of entertainment to follow. Other special events include a 'Gimme Danger' after party, with DJ sets inspired by Jim Jarmusch's film about Iggy & The Stooges, and a Bieber "Sorry" dance workshop hosted by the fabulous Amrita Hepi. The bar will of course feature a wine list curated by Blackhearts & Sparrows, including a few specially produced for MIFF. The simple food menu by D.O.C will consist mainly of cured meats, cheeses and antipasti ($15), along with their much-loved minestrone soup ($10) and tiramisu ($10), all of which are pre-packed for in-theatre enjoyment. This slim menu will be extended for the August 10 Aperitivo Night, which aptly coincides with the screening of the Italian film-noir Suburra. Though the bar was created specifically for MIFF, patrons don't need a festival ticket to enjoy it. And enjoy it we will. The Blackhearts Club will be pop up from Friday, July 29 through Sunday, August 14 at the Forum Theatre, at the corner of Flinders and Russell Streets, Melbourne. Visit the MIFF website for the full entertainment lineup and menu.
When boutique music agency Novel announced plans to host a series of big live music events in Thornbury earlier this year, it had music lovers across the city excited. But those parties and shows have been thrown on the back-burner, as the company goes head-to-head with the local council. The shows were set to take place in the sports arena of a decades-old Italian club called the Furlan Club — which is already licensed to host events — under the banner Thornbury Social Club. The space regularly hosts weddings, sporting events and private functions. Novel christened the venue with a Smalltown outing in May and had plans to host its next show — with big-name German DJ Stephan Bodzin — this Thursday, September 26. But that's been relocated, after Darebin City Council took the Furlan Club to VCAT, saying that by hosting the event, the club would be operating outside of its permits. The show, now happening this Saturday, September 28, has been moved to The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne — and a hefty 2400 punters have already RSVPd. [caption id="attachment_722803" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Novel[/caption] Darebin City Council says it has been trying to engage with both the Furlan Club and Novel since May to make sure all the proper permissions were in place for Thornbury Social Club events. The Council is mainly concerned about patron safety, venue management plans and liquor licensing, and says it never received a permit application to host events of such a big scale as the Bodzin gig. As for what the future holds, a council spokesperson told Concrete Playground that "council is open to working with the event organiser and venue operator in the future should they decide to seek the appropriate permissions". On the other side of the court, Novel's director Daniel Teuma told Concrete Playground that the Furlan Club believed its existing permits were sufficient for all planned Thornbury Social Club events, and that the roadblock was unwarranted. "The council's reason behind the rejection of events were based on the the club operating as nightclub, which were completely inaccurate," Teuma said. But, it looks like things are looking up for the Thornbury Social Club. While a VCAT hearing is scheduled for 2020, Teuma says that based on "recent positive dialogue" between the two parties, it looks set to be scrapped and we'll likely see Novel events at the space "in 2020 and beyond". Novel Presents Stephen Bodzin is going ahead at Port Melbourne's The Timber Yard this Saturday, September, with tickets still available. We'll let you know if when any future Thornbury Social Club events are announced. Images: Novel.
Since 2014, the staff behind Ripponlea boutique Camelia have been dedicated to providing customers with a luxury place to shop for the best brands from Australia and around the world. The team aims to deliver high quality customer service to help everyone who walks through the doors find their new favourite outfit. Pick up your dream dress by Alexandra Calafeteanu or Elliatt, and pair it with boots from United Nude, an Amber Sceats necklace, an Italian leather handbag by Dylan Kain and sunglasses from Gold Coast-based boutique label Vieux.
If you missed Gelato Messina's degustation bar the last two times, you're in luck because they're coming back to Melbourne for two weeks this August — and this time it will be all about truffles. In conjunction with Madame Truffles, Messina's Creative Department is returning to the secret room behind their Windsor store, this time with a seven-course gelato-meets-gourmet mushrooms degustation. So what kind of truffle-gelato goodness have the masterminds come up with? There's a pine and eucalyptus gelato that's a mix of 67 percent chocolate and black truffle cremeux, salted caramel, Jerusalem artichoke crisp and caramelised honey served with a ginger and lemon myrtle infusion. Using ingredients from the Dominican Republic, Japan, Tonga and NSW, Messina will take your tastebuds on a sweet and savoury journey. There are also two kinds of sorbet on the special Truffle Week menu: apple and nasturtium sorbet, and black truffle oil and vanilla oil sorbet. Sorbets are paired with a finger lime tonic and a spiced chai latte. Tickets are $130 per person and, with just eight seats available at each of the three sittings each night, you can book for groups of two, four, six or eight of your gelato-loving mates. And based off of previous events, you'll want to grab your tickets ASAP before Melburnians book out the event (most probably in record time again). Head to the Messina Creative Department page to nab a seat. If you miss out, a limited editing truffle flavour will be available to buy at the Fitzroy store. Seats at the truffle takeover are now sold out, but, look at that — you can win a double pass by completing our reader survey.
Collaborating for the third time, Melbourne-based visual and sound artist Michael Graeve teams up with Mark Booth, an American interdisciplinary artist, to create a lively space rich in text, prints, projections, surround sound and performance. A playful experiment, (18) ... Insert Text Here ... :Thus One Might Add (But Not That Itself contrasts abstract works with text-based creations, which have been modified as paintings, stencils, vinyl works and more. The exhibition will be a compelling one as works blanket almost the entirety of BLINDSIDE Gallery's floors, ceiling and walls, as fragmented sound and projections also permeate the space. Having met in Chicago in 2005, Graeve and Booth have worked together twice previously, exploring notions of space, environment and time. Clashing sound, visuals, physical objects and text, the artist's consider how we might find visual inspiration in sound works, make auditory discoveries through paintings and uncover other unique experiences through varied and intense stimulus. (18) ... Insert Text Here takes place at Blindside Gallery from Wednesday, July 12 until Saturday, July 29. Image: Mark Booth and Michael Graeve, (6) THE SPEED OF THE WORD SOUND. THE SOUND OF THE WORD SPEED (installation view Light Projects, Northcote), 2011, installation, dimensions vary, photo by Michael Graeve.
Fitzroy's Transformer has already carved out quite the reputation thanks to its plant-based menu; however the Rose Street restaurant isn't done tempting tastebuds yet. Ticking off two of the golden rules of eating — one, that everyone loves multiple courses; two, that culinary curiosity always wins out — they're hosting a Flavours of Korea vegetarian degustation dinner. Four courses of the kinds of pickled and fermented dishes you won't usually find on offer, coming up. On August 22, patrons can sit down to smoked tofu with cabbage, watermelon radish, chrysanthemum greens and sesame; and then follow it up with pine nuts, fragrant rice, shitake, smoked egg yolk, nashi pear and toasted yuba — and they'll only be halfway through their meal.Lotus gochujang with black rice cakes and grilled cucumber helps round out the menu, alongside pecan brioche pancakes with honey, persimmon, koji and black sesame, as well as sides ranging from kolhrabi water kimchi to truffled sweet potato noodles. Bookings will be taken for every half hour between 6pm and 8.30pm, with two price points available. Opt for the food-only feast for $75 per person, or add matched wines for $110. Whichever one you choose, your stomach wins.
With all these 'Rocket Man' and wild weather events going on, the apocalypse sometimes feels like it's just around the corner. In this witty and deeply sardonic two-day event at Arts House, a series of Australian artists come together to present the ultimate survival guide to helping their fellow creatives outlast the rest of society when the world finally meets its demise. Hosted by some artists who've just about seen it all – including Lois Weaver, Lawrence Leung, Alice Pung and Sarah Jane Pell – audiences will receive a DIY guide to surviving off weeds, living on the moon and disappearing off the grid once and for all.
