Every time one of Australia's many cultural film festivals rolls around, viewers are taken on a journey to another country. Celebrating its 20th event, the 2017 Spanish Film Festival is embracing that idea — and they have the perfect movie for it. This year's festival will close with The Trip to Spain, the third instalment in the Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon driving-and-dining series following 2010's The Trip and 2014's The Trip to Italy. Of course, the Spanish Film Festival has put together a hefty program that showcases more than two British comedians trading Michael Caine impressions while seeing gorgeous Spanish sights and ticking off the country's fine dining spots, with the full lineup boasting 38 features. In Melbourne from April 20 until May 7, the festival will kick off with Kiki, Love to Love, which actually has an Australian connection. Telling five comic tales about the passionate lives of Madrid lovers, it's based on Hoges actor Josh Lawson's 2014 directorial debut The Little Death. The film's star Natalia de Molina will be attending the opening night festivities too. Elsewhere at The Astor, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth and Kino Cinemas, expect a vibrant cross-section of Spanish-language cinema, including moving coming-of-age effort Summer 1993, the Penelope Cruz and Cary Elwes-starring The Queen of Spain, and tense dark comedy The Bar, all heading to our shores after screening at the Berlinale. Or, viewers can catch the Goya-winning revenge flick The Fury of a Patient Man, bank robber thriller Escape Plan, secret agent spoof Heroes Wanted, literary-focused Venice Film Festival hit The Distinguished Citizen, or social realist musical At Your Doorstep. Plus, the program also features walk-and-talk romance The Reconquest, Smoke & Mirrors' true tale of corruption from the makers of 2015 festival standout Marshland, and Spain in a Day — the latest crowd-shot time-capsule companion piece to 2011's Life in a Day, joining fellow efforts made in Britain, Japan, Italy and India. This year's festival selections don't stop there, with four films embracing the joys of flamenco, spanning both dance and music. For those keen on looking back as well as catching the latest cinematic fare, three retrospective screenings will showcase the work of actress, singer and filmmaker Ana Belén, who has more than 35 albums, 40 films and 30 theatrical productions on her resume.
If you're like us, you're probably still not over the opening scene in Up. Or the closing scene in Toy Story 3. Or, to be honest, your weird but real crush on Sully from Monsters Inc. (how do they make the monsters so human?). But prepare to feel all the feelings all again because the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is putting on a Pixar-themed evening chock-full of your favourite moments, rendered spectacular by a live orchestral performance. You can expect montages from Finding Nemo, Wall-e, Toy Story, Ratatouille, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc, Cars and Brave. The event will take place in Hamer Hall on April 7 and 8 and include a multimedia show of your fave Pixar gags (hello cheeky Pixar lamp, your exploits never cease to amuse us), along with a score that features music by the greats, including Randy Newman, Patrick Doyle, Thomas Newman and Michael Giacchino. Just remember to bring a backpack full of tissues for the when the You've Got a Friend In Me tears start to flow.
It feels like the winter season of Friday Nights at the NGV just ended, but, turns out, they're already gearing up for summer — and we couldn't be happier about it. Complementing their current exhibitions — which include Lee Mingwei's The Moving Garden, Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists and David Hockney: Current — the gallery is inviting visitors to enjoy another jam-packed late-night summer program complete with food, booze, talks and live performances. The huge 18-week program will kick off on opening night of the Hockney exhibition this Friday, November 11 with Brisbane '90s favourites Custard. Other musical guests on the program include Julien Baker, El Guincho, Gold Class and Olympia before culminating with a performance by the one, the only Amanda Palmer. In addition to the music lineup, other Friday night activities include talks, DJs in the NGV garden and drinks and snacks in the Great Hall. All in all, it should make for many top-notch Fridays at the gallery between now and March. NGV FRIDAY NIGHTS SUMMER 2016-17 LINEUP 11 November — Custard 18 November — Sarah Mary Chadwick 25 November — Julien Baker (USA) 2 December — Dappled Cities 9 December — Tangents 16 December — Models 23 December — Damian Cowell's Disco Machine (With Tony Martin) Presents: Disco Christmas 30 December — Cash Savage and the Last Drinks 6 January — Gold Class 13 January — I Heart Hiroshima 20 January — Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith (USA) 27 January — The Comet is Coming (UK) 3 February — Olympia 10 February — NO ZU 17 February — El Guincho (Spain) 24 February — PVT 3 March — Dave Graney 'n' the Coral Snakes 10 March — Amanda Palmer (USA)
Live music, gourmet food and all the craft beer you can possibly quaff: you'll find it all in the hallowed grounds of the Abbotsford Convent this weekend. Running 6pm until late on Friday, October 28, and from noon until 9pm the following day, the inaugural Brewers Feast will showcase some of Victoria's best craft beers, including bevs from Moon Dog, Two Birds, Mountain Goat, Prickly Moses, Stomping Ground, Blackmans Brewery and many, many more. In addition to enjoying a cold one in the starlight and/or sunshine, ticketholders will get to attend education sessions and Q&As, and pair their beers with mouthwatering food options from the likes of Limp Brisket BBQ and Al Forno Pizza. You'll even get to take home a commemorative stein, which we're sure will get plenty of use between now and when Brewers Feast 2017 rolls around.
Step into the Upside Down at Good Things this Halloween. The South Yarra bar is hosting a Stranger Things party, and all your D&D travelling companions are invited. Kicking off from 9pm on Monday, October 31 (that is, Halloween), the Netflix-inspired shindig will pay homage to 2016's favourite TV obsession, with a playlist featuring all the best tracks from Jonathan Byers' record collection. Think Joy Division, The Smiths, David Bowie and many more. There'll also be an array of Stranger Things cocktails, including Eggo martinis and the Demogorgon Spritz. And with this being Halloween, dressing up is highly encouraged, with a $100 bar tab going to the person with the best costume.
Take an intimate walk alongside the mind and brushstrokes of David Hockney, who has been touted as one of the world's most influential living artists. David Hockney: Current has been curated by the National Gallery of Victoria in collaboration with Hockney and his studio. The exhibition features over 700 works and amalgamates a variety of different mediums, including painting, digital drawings, photography and video. Hockney has been known to work on iPhones and iPads as well as canvas, making him an incredibly intriguing and versatile artist. The exhibition will also display his largest artwork, Bigger Trees Near Water, which is comprised of 50 oil on canvas panels. If the treat of an expansive gallery exhibition doesn't excite you, rest assured there's still more on offer — the NGV will also be holding a range of programs that delve into the themes of the works and Hockney's artistic career throughout the duration of the exhibition, which runs from November until March 2017. Image: Wayne Taylor.
Gone but not forgotten, the stars of yesteryear are rising from the grave at this creepifying Halloween party at Nieuw Amsterdam. Forget generic vampires, wolf men and sexy nurses. This shindig is all about the rich and famous…or what's left of them, anyway. Running from 7pm on Saturday, October 29 until first light the next day, the Dead Celebrities Halloween Party is a costumed affair where A-listers go after they die. You can be an actor, a musician or a world politicians — it really doesn't matter, as long as rigor mortis has set in. Alternatively, come as a living celebrity you'd like to see shuffled loose. Just a guess, but we reckon we might see a few zombie Donald Trumps. Like all good Halloween parties there'll be prizes for best dressed, along with various other spooky surprises. Entry is free, meaning you'll have plenty of cash to spend on your costume.
The most bittersweet show on this year's Melbourne Festival program, David Bowie: Nothing Has Changed shapes up as the ultimate tribute to the man known as Ziggy Stardust. Acclaimed musicians including iOTA, Deborah Conway, Tim Rogers, Steve Kilbey and Adalita will join the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on stage at Hamer Hall to perform a set list of Bowie's all-time greatest hits, from 'Space Oddity' to his swansong, 'Lazarus'. A must for Bowie fans, or music lovers in general — as if you can be one without the other. Image: Robert Catto.
That most undervalued of art forms, the humble postcard, gets its time to shine at the latest edition of the Postcard Show at Linden New Art in St Kilda. Now in its 27th year, this unique exhibition showcases hundreds of small-format contemporary artworks submitted by professional artists and local amateurs alike. And why wouldn't you contribute something when there's more than $10k up for grabs? This year's exhibition kicks off on October 21 and runs until January 29. A number of previous winners have submitted new works, including Kelly Sullivan whose piece Boy With The Pearl Earring (pictured) pays tribute to his royal badness, the late great artist formerly known as Prince. Entry into the exhibition is free, while this year's winners will be decided by a trio of judges from the Castlemaine Art Museum, the Horsham Regional Art Gallery and the La Trobe University Museum of Art. Image: Boy With the Pearl Earring, Kelly Sullivan (2016).
As Pedro Almodóvar sees it, every aspect of life is filled with emotion and mystery. Sentiment and suspense ooze through his movies – although it's not just his narratives that inspire intrigue, or speak volumes about desire, loss, longing and guilt. With a command of style that matches his storytelling abilities, each shade of colour, each textured surface, each intimate close-up and each patient pause reveals and teases, too. The writer-director asks audiences to do more than watch; he wants viewers of his films to probe, to question and — above all else — to feel. It's little wonder, then, that Almodóvar's career has been built upon affairs of the heart and matters weighing on the mind, with his twentieth feature sticking to familiar territory. After sky-high camp comedy misfire I'm So Excited, Julieta unpacks the life of its eponymous figure with hints of the darkness that made the horror-tinged The Skin I Live In so thrilling, and with ample doses of the contemplation and inner drama that have served the Spanish filmmaker so well. First glimpsed in middle age, Julieta (Emma Suárez) is preparing to leave Madrid with her boyfriend (Darío Grandinetti) when she crosses paths with an old friend of her now-estranged daughter. Memories of other times swirl up, derailing her plans and motivating a move into a building the two inhabited years earlier. There, as she comes as close as she can to living in the past, she puts pen to paper to recount her tale. The film brings her recollections to the screen, as a younger Julieta (Adriana Ugarte) meets fisherman Xoan (Daniel Grao) on a train, settles in a seaside village, and forges a happy but short-lived existence. Complex relationships, contentment stolen away by a painful fate, and previous tragedies colouring future decisions – yes, Julieta proves a classic Almodóvar effort through and through, as it fuses three separate short stories from Alice Munro's 2004 book Runaway into one vivid and involving whole. Of course, from the moment the movie opens with the sight of the red fabric of one of Julieta's dresses, its visuals fall into the same category. And while there's little about Julieta that challenges its director or will surprise his fans, it still offers an evocative example of a craftsman doing what he does well. That Julieta largely unravels as expected in both its narrative and in Almodóvar's approach doesn't dampen its vibrancy. Indeed, appearing to so closely follow his own formula might just be by design. That increasingly seems the case whenever the film's performances capture attention, with both Suárez and Ugarte demonstrating devastating nuance. Not only do they provide two different takes on the titular character, but, in the process, they also represent the present and past of Almodóvar's long line of on-screen women. He's long been recognised for exploring female-centric stories and drawing potent performances out of his actresses. As he lets his two leads energise and complicate the film as necessary, he showcases their talent as well as the quiet evolution of his various heroines.
On Saturday, October 22, Prahran Market will host the Say Cheese Festival. For uninitiated (or those who didn't attend last year's debut event), it's essentially an entire day of eating cheese (and buying even more to eat later), featuring free cheese tastings, cheesy dish demonstrations, and stalls from cheese providores. Throughout the day, renowned chefs will take over the kitchen to demonstrate cooking techniques using cheese, including mozzarella stretching and how to make Brazilian cheese puffs. Once their demonstrations have your mouth watering, head to the Cheesy Pop-Up Precinct for lunch – perhaps some charcoal gnocchi with gorgonzola from 48 Hours Pizzeria and Gnoccheria, mac 'n' cheese from Meatmaiden or wood fired margherita pizzas from A25 Pizzeria? If none of those tickle your fancy, there will also be offerings from Professeur Crepe, That Arancini Guy, Wicked Spud and Raw Trader, who'll satisfy even non-dairy-eating cheese lovers with their raw vegan cheese. If you're not too full from all of that, the traders are also offering food to take home or eat there. Some of the highlights include Noisette's croque monsieur, twice-baked goats' cheese soufflés from Kook's Kitchen, and Fritz Gelato's four cheese-inspired gelato flavours, including lemon cheesecake. There will also be many, many cheese plates.
There's no time like Easter for embracing your inner child, and there's no place better to do it than at Luna Park. The beloved Melbourne theme park will be open all long weekend, and is celebrating the holidays with a spectacular chocolate egg hunt. An astounding 15,000 Darrell Lea eggs will be hidden around the park. Are they behind the Ghost Train? In the Pharaoh's Curse? Atop the Great Scenic Railway? Visitors to the park can participate in exchange for a gold coin donation, or gain free entry with an unlimited ride ticket to find out. Now, back off kids — that chocolate is ours!
Want to experience a slice of Jamaica in Melbourne? There's a rum-inspired adventure happening in the city this April that you should lock into your diary. Fine purveyors and makers of rum for over 265 years, Appleton Estate are launching The Appleton Trail in Melbourne — three delicious pop-up stops brimming with rum-tasting, storytelling and celebration of Jamaica's long-loved spirit. The Appleton Trail is taking over three Melbourne bars over three weekends from April 7, kicking off at Loop Roof in Melbourne's CBD from April 7-10, moving to Rochester Hotel on April 14 and 15, and concluding at Nieuw Amsterdam in the CBD on April 22 and 23. Expect a Jamaican-themed pop-up hideaway with specially-created rum cocktails, paired with bespoke Jamaican food menus, and hosted by a Jamaican dancer — all to make you feel like you're finally on that well-deserved island holiday. There'll even be a Jamaican music DJ accompanied by a steel drum player. You'll be able to try the Appleton Estate Signature Blend – the original Appleton Estate rum — alongside the Reserve Blend and Rare Blend 12 Year Old. Plus, Appleton have taken it upon themselves to create four signature cocktails for the event.
Mischief and merriment are on their way to fortyfivedownstairs. Marking 400 years since William Shakespeare's death, local theatre company Nothing But Roaring present their take on the bard's romantic comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, a tale of seduction gone farcically awry. The play concerns the misadventures of Sir John Falstaff, an old, fat, down-on-his-luck knight attempting to woo a pair of married women and separate them from their fortunes. Unfortunately for him, the two women are best friends, and the plan soon begins to collapse around his ears. Now before you book tickets, you should know that The Merry Wives of Windsor is widely considered to be one of Shakespeare's weakest plays. Then again, that's a bit like talking about one of the world's weakest Michelin-starred restaurants. The Nothing But Roaring production opens April 19 and runs until May 1.
Who would have guessed that Dudley Dursley would grow up to be a playwright? And yet that's exactly what has happened. Peddling is the debut play by actor turned writer Harry Melling, best known for playing Harry Potter's odious on-screen cousin. A one-man show about class and generational divide, the play premiered in London back in 2014, and will be performed in Australia for the first time this week in a strictly limited season at the MTC. Actor Darcy Brown plays our unnamed protagonist, a teenage boy selling household cleaning goods door to door. Supposedly he's part of the Mayor's Young Offenders Scheme, but we soon learn that's just a scam. Described by critics as "a must-see experience" and "an accomplished debut", Peddling shapes up as a highlight of this year's MTC calendar.
View the work of this year's Linden Art Prize finalists on display at the Linden New Art Gallery starting Friday, March 4. Encompassing painting, sculpture, photography, video and a number of other mediums, the two-month exhibition at the Acland Street gallery will showcase the talents of six postgraduates competing for the award, which comes with a specially tailored mentorship and a $10,000 top prize. This year's finalists cover a wide array of disciplines and backgrounds. Ink prints pressed using the metal from road signs, an installation made of misshapen knitted jumpers, and a series of camera-less photographs are just a few of the works you'll see on display from artists Emma Coulter, Simon Crosbie, Jenny Peterson, Julie Shiels, Deborah White and Elizabeth Wallace. The winner will be announced on the first night of the exhibition, which will remain open until Sunday, May 1.
Take in the flavours of country Victoria at a day-long culinary cavalcade that foodies would be mad to miss. On Sunday, April 17, the team at the Lake House in Daylesford are hosting their annual Regional Producers Day, featuring butchers, bakers, farmers, makers, brewers, distillers, producers and cooks from all around the region. As far excuses to get away for the weekend go, that is a pretty damn good one. We just hope you're feeling hungry. Ticketholders will get the chance to view demonstrations by local chefs, or stop by the Alquimie Tasting Tent to try wines from great Australian winemakers. As for food, you can sample your way through the various market stalls, or grab something hot from the wood oven or BBQ grill. Once you've eaten your fill, you can sit back, enjoy some live music, and congratulate yourself on your legendary decision to get out of the city.
Welcome to the new breed of combat movies. In Eye in the Sky, soldiers fight terrorists from the comfort of their desks, while the bulk of the people debating which course of action to take, and even those actually carrying out the strike, aren't on the front lines, but watching on from other continents. Their task is seemingly simple: apprehend two extremist ringleaders in Kenya. In the UK, Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren) oversees operations, with her mission changing from a capture to a kill when she discovers a suicide attack may be imminent. On the ground in Nairobi, undercover agent Jama Farah (Barkhad Abdi) spies on the culprits, manoeuvring an insect-sized camera into their safe house. His aren't the only images of the scene, with two Las Vegas-based drone pilots (Aaron Paul and Phoebe Fox) looking on with their fingers on the trigger. But when a nine-year-old girl (Aisha Takow) wanders into the target zone, Powell is forced to seek advice from her superiors, including the supportive Lieutenant General Frank Benson (Alan Rickman) and a raft of indecisive politicians worried about the potential ramifications. The mechanics and morality of war are the movie's main concerns — and while many a cinematic dissection of conflict has probed the same topic, director Gavin Hood (Ender's Game) has crafted a film that's purely a product of its time. Technology is key, both in the way the story unfolds for the characters, and the way it is presented to the audience. Powell and the majority of her colleagues observe matters from the safety of their own countries, yet can take lives at the press of a button. Viewers share the same position, and see the same intercut spy cam, drone and satellite footage — though they can only watch on with a combination of horror, anxiety and flabbergasted amusement, unable to intervene or do more. Indeed, Eye in the Sky is designed to inspire many a question, and leave everyone pondering the various troubling answers. That it succeeds isn't simply a result of the film's intelligent approach to its subject, but of its tone: part military thriller, part bureaucratic farce. Viewers will find themselves inching towards the edge of their seats, even as they chuckle grimly as yet another person in power tries to avoid making a hard decision. There's no ducking the films more heavy-handed elements, including an intrusive score, conveniently increasing stakes, and the blatant attempt to evoke an emotional reaction by placing a child in peril. But there's also no avoiding its effectiveness, both in contemplating a difficult subject and constructing an exercise in tension. The considered mood Mirren brings to her pivotal role proves the perfect weathervane for the film's fortunes, and of the way in which it achieves its aims. She's the movie's robust centre, brimming with as much texture as toughness. Among the rest of the cast, Paul plays his part with the right amount of worry and uncertainty, while the late Rickman's trademark wry charm gets a fitting final outing. Given the intensity of the situation that surrounds them, that they provide the complex feature with convincing portrayals is no small feat.
Now here's a good way to make an entrance to a party: float on in with a crew of 1000 boats. That's exactly what the Inflatable Regatta is all about. 1000 blow-up boats will take to a two-kilometre stretch of the Yarra on Saturday, February 11. In a single or double vessel, they'll paddle down the river for about two hours before reaching the destination party. Should you make it to the end, beers and food trucks will be waiting for you (after all, what's a regatta without a cold bev afterwards?) — and the ticket price includes your boat, so you can even take it home with you. There are some rules though: you can't load your boat with beer (no booze on the river, and you may actually sink your vessel), no DIY vessels and you should wear shoes that can stand to get a bit wet. Boats launch from 9.30am and you can choose your launch time when you book. Tickets cost $60 for a single boat and $110 for a double, and include a life jacket, sunscreen, a bailer (for emptying your boat of water) and a waterproof bag for your stuff. Boats launch from Yarra Bank Reserve in Hawthorn from 9.30am — you can choose your launch time when you book.
Dig out those once-a-year novelty gumboots, Groovin the Moo has unveiled their 2017 lineup. Taking the large-scale music festival out of the city and into regional centres for another year, GTM will kick things off in South Australia before heading to Bendigo on Saturday, May 6. This year's lineup sees local talent front and centre with triple j Hottest 100 list-toppers Tash Sultana and Amy Shark (#3 and #2, respectively) taking the stage, along with The Smith Street Band, Montaigne, Hayden James and Methyl Ethel. Most of the international talent comes from the UK this year, with The Darkness, 21-year-old Loyle Carner and The Wombats making their way to the Moo, along with Germans Milky Chance. Here's the full lineup. GROOVIN THE MOO 2017 LINEUP Against Me! (USA) Allday Amy Shark Architects (UK) The Darkness (UK) Dillon Francis (USA) George Maple Hayden James The Jungle Giants K-Flay (USA) L-FRESH The LION Loyle Carner (UK) Methyl Ethel Milky Chance (GER) Montaigne Northeast Party House Slumberjack The Smith Street Band Snakehips (UK) Tash Sultana Thundamentals Violent Soho The Wombats (UK) Image: Tao Jones.
Make the most of the balmy weather forecast for Melbourne this Saturday night with a twilight visit to the Heide Museum of Modern Art. To mark the final weeks of their Making Modernism exhibition, the gallery is extending its opening hours until 9pm and hosting a laidback shindig after sundown. From 5pm, visitors will be able to scope out the exhibition, wander through Heide's beloved sculpture park, and enjoy beats by 3RRR's John Bailey. There'll also be food and wine available to purchase, because no jaunt through a gallery is truly complete with a glass of bubbly in hand. That's just a straight-up fact. Entry in Art by Twilight starts at $12 for Heide members, $18 for concession holders and $22 for adults. Image: Jeremy Weihrauch.
Germany in the 1890s doesn't exactly seem like the most obvious time or place to set a rock opera. But try telling that to the creators of Spring Awakening. A folk rock-infused musical about burgeoning sexuality and the tumultuous journey from adolescence to adulthood, the original production took home eight Tony Awards back in 2006. Now, more than a decade later, the show is on its way to Chapel Off Chapel for its Victorian professional premiere. Running from May 19 to June 10, the StageArt production will feature a plethora of local talent, including director Robbie Carmellotti and actors Jessie-Lou Yates, Ashley Roussety and Brent Trotter. "Spring Awakening transports us to a time and place which is almost unrecognisable to today's society," said Carmellotti. "Yet, remarkably, the show's contents still strike a resonating chord in all."
Is there anything better than a simple cup of tea? If leaves rather than beans comprise your preferred kind of hot beverage, you'll know its pleasures: smelling the wafting aroma, feeling the heat radiating from your cup and tasting the hearty flavour. Most tea-lovers experience all of that several times a day; however, expect to do so a few times more on May 20 — it's Melbourne Tea Festival time. Returning for 2017, this celebration of specialty loose-leaf tea boasts two main components: a workshop program that'll teach you about everything from Indigenous sun tea ceremonies to blending your own brews, and a tea market. At the latter, you'll wander around Melbourne Exhibition Centre with your porcelain tasting cup in hand — it's included with every ticket — and sip your way through dozens of stalls. Experience the flavours of artisan teas from all around the world; pick up some homemade tea pots, cups and other wares; or grab something edible from an array of food trucks. Whatever you spend the day doing, one thing is certain: you'll always have your favourite warm bev on hand.
Gelato Messina is about to become a place both wonderful and strange. With Twin Peaks finally happening again in the form of an eagerly anticipated third season, the gelato kings are getting in on the action by turning two of their stores — one in Sydney and one in Melbourne — into the show's iconic Double R Diner for one day. Naturally, there'll be themed frozen goodness aplenty, as well as free scoops. It's going to be damn fine indeed. In what will be Messina's first ever store transformations, the Double R Diner is set to take over the Richmond store on May 25. There mightn't be staff called Norma and Shelly on-hand, but there will be custom-made cherry gelato 'pie'. If that's your idea of dessert heaven, then here, the ice cream is what it seems. This must be where pies go when they die. In addition to the limited edition pie — there will only be 50 slices available per store — Messina has created three custom Twin Peaks flavours. They'll be served up for free (yes, free) between the hours of 12pm and 4pm, and then again from 5pm to 10pm. Just what those varieties will be, if they'll be wrapped in plastic, and whether there'll be a jukebox on-site playing tunes you just want to click your fingers to — well, you'll have to head along to find out. You can probably expect good, hot, black coffee too. Let's just hope there isn't a fish in the percolator. Unless you've been trapped in the Black Lodge for the past 25 years, you'll know that the whole thing is timed to coincide with the start of new Twin Peaks season, which will drop on Stan in Australia at 2pm on Monday, May 22. All 18 episodes have been directed by David Lynch, so we're in for quite the treat. Celebrating with pie and gelato is something Special Agent Dale Cooper would approve of — remember his wise words of advice: "every day, once a day, give yourself a present".
"I know it's only rock 'n' roll, but I write about it," sang no one, officially — though if anyone was going to paraphrase the Rolling Stones to describe the relationship between writing and music, it's probably someone at Australia's only literary festival dedicated to the two. After launching in Brisbane in 2016, A Rock & Roll Writers Festival returns is coming to Melbourne for the first time to tackle tune-inspired text on Sunday, April 9 at Abbotsford Convent. Crooning, scribbling: both are encouraged at the weekend-long event; however it's chatting about both and how they intersect in panel and interview sessions that proves the fest's catchy refrain. Here, authors, artists, journalists and musicians come together to discuss the relationship between art and freedom, stereotypes of rock 'n' roll stardom, the role of music criticism and the way that a picture can convey the vibe of a live gig, among other topics. And, not only will they trade words about songs in what are certain to be energetic and melodic conversations, but you can head along to watch. The lineup features everyone from musician Jess Ribiero, to radio journalist Dom Alessio, to writers Jenny Valentish and Kate Hennessy from a speaker list that just keeps on keeping on. If you're looking to get your toes tapping before all their talking, the festival has also put together a handy compilation of playlists from this year's guests to really put you in the rock 'n' roll mood.
Hornbags of Melbourne, get ready to put those post-Christmas muffin tops to good use because Good Things is throwing the Kath & Kim-themed party of your dreams. On Australia Day eve, Kath & Kim's Aussie Shindig will see the South Yarra bar celebrate two of our most iconic silver screen heroines, complete with life-sized cutouts, a photobooth, and a free BBQ feast from 6-8pm. The legends in charge have come up with a cracker of a drinks list, starring Aussie-themed creations like Barbecue Shapes Margaritas, Bloody Marys with footy franks, vodka Passionas and of course, Kim's beloved Cardonnay (the h is silent). Post your favourite Kath & Kim moment on the Facebook event page before the party, for the chance to score yourself some free drinks. There's even a $50 bar tab up for grabs, going to the best-dressed foxymoron or hunk 'o' spunk on the night. Best start assembling your finest netball skirts, midriff tops, matching tracksuits and lycra in preparation.
A Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard falls for the superstar singer he's been hired to protect. It's pegged as one of cinema's most iconic love stories, with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner first tugging at our heartstrings back in 1992. And now, The Bodyguard is set to come alive for the Australian stage, with producers David Ian, Michael Harrison and John Frost bringing their award-winning musical show Down Under this year. Kicking off in Sydney in April 2017 before coming to Melbourne in August, this local production of The Bodyguard — which follows the just-as-awesome news that Moulin Rouge! will finally be made into a stage show — comes off the back of a wildly successful and star-studded run in London theatres, and record-breaking UK tour, which commenced in February this year. Paulini (of Australian Idol fame) will play Houston's Rachel Marron. Based on the eponymous Warner Bros. film and adapted for the stage by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris, The Bodyguard musical features all those epic Houston tracks that audiences fell in love with the first time around. According to co-producer Frost, the emotionally-charged storyline, along with those "soaring ballads" — like 'Queen of The Night', 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' and the legendary 'I Will Always Love You' (you know the ones) — were simply destined for the stage. The album is still the biggest selling movie soundtrack of all time. Yep. Still.
A brand new film program at ACMI is shining the spotlight on the heroines in Japanese animation. Running from December 14-23 at the cinema in Fed Square, Essential Anime: Heroines will showcase six outstanding films featuring female protagonists, including multiple Studio Ghibli classics. Unsurprisingly, the films of Hayao Miyazaki featuring prominently in the lineup, with the epic Princess Mononoke, the magical Spirited Away and the heartwarming My Neighbour Totoro all included. You'll also find on the slate a more recent Ghibli gem, in Hiromasa Yonebayashi's Arrietty. The program also features a pair of films from acclaimed animator Mamoru Hosoda, in Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. Each film in the Essential Anime lineup will be shown multiple times throughout December, with some available in both English and Japanese with English subtitles. For the full schedule, go here.
In the CBD, there's one bar that's amping up the festivities in the name of Christmas. After last year's popular festivities forced Bar Americano to turn away some festive folk in search of a seasonal skull, this year, the small venue is spreading the joy across 12 days of Christmas. From December 12 through to December 24, Matt Bax's Bar Americano will become Bar Yuletide, and will serve up all kinds of festive drinks to fit the silly season. Christmas concoctions include the ominous-sounding Ghosts of Christmas Past cocktail selection and the bar's own oak barrel-blended glühwein. With the spirit of giving in the air, the vintage reds infused with summer fruits, winter spices, and artisan teas of the glühwein might just make you glow, too — all profits from the sale of the drink will be donated to the UNICEF Christmas Appeal. Bar Yuletide's 12 Days of Christmas starts at 5pm on Monday, December 12 and will run right up until Christmas Eve.
A series of works at the National Gallery of Victoria will highlight the art and traditions of Australia's Pacific neighbours. Visible to the public between June and mid-September, the works on display include a trio of bark cloth wall hangings, a two-channel video installation, and a collection of staged photographs that bear witness to the moment when two very different worlds came together. Dubbed The Raft of the Tagata Pasifika, the photographs are by Greg Semu, a New Zealand-born artist of Samoan descent, whose work has often explored the meeting place of Pacific and European culture. Using a cast of Indigenous actors from the Cook Islands, Semu has recreated a pair of European paintings from the 1800s — and in doing so draws attention to the devastating effect colonialism had on the region. Also featured is Lisa Reihana's in Pursuit of Venus, a live-action video work that brings to life a piece of nineteenth century panoramic wallpaper, in order to "recalibrate colonial history" through the cultural rituals of Indigenous performers. Complementing these works are three enormous wall hangings created by contemporary artists Robin White and Ruha Fifita in collaboration with women from Haveluloto, Tonga.
Learn the secrets to becoming the ultimate modern Melbourne man at the city's annual celebration of masculinity and style. Hosted by small business association City Precinct, the Festival of Steve is a day-long event featuring designers, outfitters, retailers and more. Whether you're looking to redo your wardrobe or score a few pool tips from a champ, Steve is here to help you up your game. This year's festival will be held at Taxi Riverside in Fed Square. Expect styling sessions, beer and wine samplings and gin and whisky masterclasses, along with a pool tournament hosted by Triple World Champion Robby Foldvari. The festival will also host a series of talks in conjunctions with ACMI's new Martin Scorsese exhibition, exploring the recurrent themes of masculinity in the movies of one of America's greatest filmmakers. There'll be a whole slew of exhibitors as well, specialising in everything from skincare to glassware to socks. Yes, socks. By the time the day is done you'll be a new man top to toe.
They say a rose by any other name would still smell just as sweet. And yet when you're talking about something named Ecosexual Bathhouse, no other moniker is going to have quite the same effect. The latest live art encounter from Loren Kronemyer and Ian Sinclair — better known collectively as Pony Express — for Next Wave 2016, this immersive after-dark labyrinth in the Royal Botanic Gardens explores the concept of ecosexuality, an emerging queer identity that positions the environment as an erotic partner. Kind of gives a whole new meaning to the notion of getting in touch with nature, doesn't it?
Sister Akousmatica is radio like you've never heard it before. For this year's Next Wave Festival, over seven hours seven female musicians from around the country will perform on the banks of the Yarra. But that's not where you'll listen. Instead, you'll join curators Julia Drouhin and Pip Stafford as they lead a procession through the streets of Melbourne with an arsenal of portable radios, stopping at various landmarks along the way to tune in to each performance. The pair will leave from Signal, Flinders Walk at 11am on Sunday, May 8, but you can join them at any time and stay for as long as you wish. And don't worry if you can't make it into the city — you can still listen in on 3CR 855AM, or via stream at 3cr.org.au.
It has been a rough couple of months for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The wave of popular support in the wake of his ousting of ol' onion breath has dissipated, leaving the PM struggling with a divided party and an unimpressed Australian public. It's hard to even imagine what would be going through his head at the moment. Fortunately, playwright and journalist Ross Mueller has done it for us. Taking over the stage at the Beckett Theatre for four performances only, this Malthouse Theatre production promises to deliver the kind of upfront political address that voters so desperately want to hear. Actors Louise Siversen and Rhys Muldoon will take turns playing Turnbull depending on the night. We'll try not to read too much into the fact that the man in charge of our country is being depicted as literally having two faces.
For the penultimate day of Good Beer Week 2016, Brooklyn Brewery will team up with Australia's first communal motorbike workshop for an epic afternoon of barbecue and beer. Feast on slow-cooked meats paired with ice cold brews, before taking a tour of Kustom Kommune's Easey Street workshop. Stick around from 3pm for the Brooklyn Block Party, a free event featuring more meat, more booze, and live music until late.
Pile into the Pussy Wagon with 88 of your craziest friends, and make your way down to 24 Moons Bar for the second annual Tarantino Ball. Inspired by everybody's favourite blood-spattered film geek auteur, this all-night costume party will see Northcote overrun with femme fatales, inglourious basterds and katana-wielding killers. We also suspect we might see a couple of guys in black suits wearing skinny black ties. Kicking off at 8pm on Saturday, May 14, this is more than just your run-of-the-mill costume party. The organisers have gone all-out with the Tarantino theme, with everything from a Jack Rabbit Slims Twist Competition to foot massages from the Foot Fucking Master, and $5 Sailor Jerry Shakes (of course). There'll also be Death Proof, Kill Bill and From Dusk 'Til Dawn tribute shows, along with live musical performances from Jukebox Racket and the aptly-named Tarantinos.
When writer, dancer and choreographer Jacob Boehme was diagnosed with HIV, he turned to his Indigenous heritage in search of answers. Nearly two full decades later, he's the writer-in-residence at ILBIJERRI, the longest-running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander theatre company in the country. Premiering this week, Boehme's new solo work Blood on the Dance Floor will pay homage to the ceremonies of his Narangga and Kaurna nation ancestors, while examining the politics of queer, Blak and poz identity in modern day Australia. The limited run show will be performed at Arts House in North Melbourne from June 1-5. Through a combination of theatre, dance, images and text, Boehme will explore concepts of fear, love, legacy and community in what is described as an "unapologetic, passionate and visceral narrative". The performance on Thursday, June 2 will be followed by an audience Q&A.
For four days this week discover the hidden masterpieces of artists living and working in Melbourne's inner west with Maribyrnong City Council's Open Studios in the West. Through a self-guided tour, you'll be able to wander in and out of the studios, galleries and workshops of some of Melbourne's most interesting artists, performers and designers in Footscray, Yarraville, Maidstone and Braybrook. These artists will welcome you into their studios — be it their backyard shed, a warehouse, or even their own lounge room. It's a great opportunity to experience the inspiration and working spaces of a diverse range of the city's creatives. Alongside the artistic wandering, the Maribyrnong City Council will be hosting two accompanying events: a screen-based arts instillation called Dangerous Deeds, and exhibition This Empty Chair. For the full program, visit the website.
Located right by the water on St Kilda Beach, Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema is one of our favourite summer hangouts. This year's program kicks off in late November, with recent releases including The Accountant, Nocturnal Animals and Arrival alongside a smattering of classics such as Elf and Love Actually. Festivities start while the sun is still shining, with live music squeezed in before the film (plus plenty of time to suss out the bar and stock up on snacks). Head along to one of their Sundae Sessions (you guessed it, on a Sunday) to enjoy a great film, live music, and free Ben and Jerry's. No, you didn't hear wrong, that's free ice cream. The Ben and Jerry's Open Air Cinema has a much shorter run than Melbourne's other outdoor cinemas, so if you're keen on catching great film and indulging on some Peanut Butter Half Baked heaven, make sure you lock something in by December 18.
It's the kind of music event every pet lover dreams of, and it's back for another year of cute puppies and pumping sounds. That'd be Dogapalooza, of course. It does have a rather excellent name — and that merry moniker is just the beginning. After wowing crowds with their first fest last year, the dog-friendly shenanigans are bound to get tales wagging again at Richmond's Burnley Park. Expect everything from ethical eating options (including Dogapalooza's own in-house vegan barbecue) to boutique dog product vendors. Even though the music lineup isn't announced until August 26, we're betting that won't find the likes of Bow Wow and Snoop Dog on the bill, as on-theme as they would've been. That said, we're sure that the roster of acts will get your toes tapping regardless — and the paws of your furry best friend too. Dogapalooza isn't just about a day of music-oriented bliss in the sun with your pet pooch, though. All proceeds go raised will go towards helping canines in need via Oscar's Law and Melbourne's dog rescue groups Stafford Rescue Victoria, Melbourne Animal Rescue and Puppy Tails Rescue.
Fancy a Tassie wine-tasting extravaganza, but can't find the time (or cash) to make the trip? How about a quick hop over to North Melbourne instead? If you can get there with 50 bucks to spare this Sunday, August 21, you'll be living the Apple Isle dream. That's because one-day wine festival Vin Diemen is coming back to Melbourne for a second year. Your ticket will get you a take-home wine glass and access to the creations of a whole slew of Tasmanian winemakers, who are crossing the strait to show us what their island is made of. Expect to sample some of the best Pinot Noir in the nation, alongside top-shelf Chardonnay, Riesling and sparkling — cold climate varieties get a better go in Tassie than nearly anywhere else in Oz. And giving the wines the respect they deserve will be a bunch of tasty Tasmanian morsels, including fresh salmon from Huon and cheesy noms from Bruny Island Cheese.
Global warming, renewable energy, sustainable farming and animal rights — these are just a few of the big topics on the agenda at this year's Environmental Film Festival Australia. Beginning in Melbourne on September 29 before touring around the country (including stops in Sydney and Brisbane), the seventh edition of this green-themed film fest shapes up as the biggest one yet. Standout films on this year's program include Sonic Sea — about the effects of noise pollution on marine life — and Time to Choose, a climate change documentary by Oscar winner Charles Ferguson (Inside Job). Those of you with iron stomachs might also want to check out Bugs on the Menu, a sustainable food doco about exactly what it sounds like. In Melbourne they're even pairing it with a special gourmet dinner at Grub Food Van. Yum!(?)
This is a public service announcement for anyone who bakes, eats or lives and breathes cake. One of the biggest dessert shows in the country returns to Melbourne this October, featuring everything and anything in the world of baking and cake decorating. Running for three days from October 21-23 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event will include live demonstrations across a number of theatres, as well as shopping, challenges and — of course — lots and lots of epic, out-of-this-world cakes. From MasterChef 2016 winner Elena Duggan to international cake artist Danielle Gotheridge to Movida's Frank Camorra, the 2016 Cake Bake & Sweets Show will host a huge lineup of expert bakers. International chocolate sculptor Paul Joachim (known for his huge chocolate pieces, including a huge Harry Potter sculpture he made for J.K. Rowling's birthday) will be there too, teaching punters how to carve 15-kilogram blocks of chocolate into works of art. Visitors can make their way through the Producers' Marketplace, the temporary home to Victoria's best pastry, macaron, pie and cake makers. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase the latest and greatest in baking equipment, ingredients and tools. The show will run from 10am until 5pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start from $28 for single-day general admission.
If you've ever used a public bathroom in this town, you could be forgiven for feeling sceptical about this particular Melbourne Fringe installation art piece. A (presumably) tongue-in-cheek tribute to Melbourne's status as a UNESCO City of Literature, The Stalls combines light, sound and video, bringing some of the city's strangest and most revealing toilet stall graffiti to a single lavatory in the Fringe Hub, which is this year located at North Melbourne's Arts House. No need to bring a magazine — there'll be reading material all over the walls.
Hophaus Bavarian Bier Bar Grill is hosting its annual charity dachshund race this week — and, frankly, you shouldn't need any more information to understand why that's a thing you should care about. Returning to the Southbank German restaurant, the teckelrennen is an Oktoberfest tradition, and will see sausage dogs from far and wide pumping their stubby little legs for gold and glow. The first heat kicks off at 11am on Saturday, September 24, with the grand champion expected to be crowned at around 2.30pm that afternoon. There'll also be a costume competition, because the only thing better than dachshunds is dachshunds in tiny adorable outfits. Entry is free for spectators, while all money raised from entry fees paid by competitors will be donated to Dachshund Rescue Australia. https://player.vimeo.com/video/139814129
Hop on board the Route 19 tram and make your way north to the Coburg Carnivale. Part of Melbourne Fringe, this annual street festival will once again take over Victoria Street Mall — as well as the nearby Coburg Library — for five days of performances, workshops, music, food and more. Kicking off on Wednesday, September 21, this year's Carnivale will feature a number of free and ticketed events, including the interactive storytelling experience The Little Wooded Caravan, a pair of performances by comic songwriter Justin Heazlewood (aka The Bedroom Philospher), and the world premiere of General Fiasco's Circus Spectacular. In-between shows, punters can pay a visit to the pop-up park, open every afternoon and long into the night, before grabbing a bite and kicking back under the stars.
For a long while, people have been raising issue with the lack of gender diversity in the music festival scene. Women often occupy tiny stages and small percentages of festival lineups. Up-and-coming female and LGBTIQ musicians struggle to achieve non-gendered recognition. But finally, there's a local collective taking action. Sydney-based record label Sad Grrrls Club is launching their first Melbourne showcase at the Reverence Hotel in Footscray on Saturday, October 1 — and they've pulled together a stellar non-male lineup. The event is designed to be a safe space, free from the kind of harassment that can make festivals so draining for those that don't identify as males. The event motto is: "Be good to each other and have fun". Right on. Check out the full lineup below. SAD GRRRLS FEST 2016 LINEUP Jaala Jess Ribeiro CAMP COPE Simona Castricum Alex Lahey MISS DESTINY Dark Fair Kt spit Claws & Organs Beloved Elk The Girl Fridas Shiny Coin CHELSEA BLEACH Denim Owl Dogood Plus Acoustic Artists: Rin McArdle (SA) Stellar Addiction (NSW) Rachel Maria Cox (NSW) Samara Cullen Sandy Hsu Eli Cash Jo Neugebauer Image: Matt Warrell.
Chunky Move Artistic Director Anouk van Dijk is joining forces with renowned multimedia artist Ho Tzu Nyen for an ephemeral new dance work at Malthouse Theatre. Presented in partnership with Dance Massive and Asia TOPA, Anti—Gravity is a refined, highly physical show inspired by clouds — the way they swell, the way they shift, and the way they shape the experiences of those of us on the ground. Running from March 17 to 26, Anti—Gravity will feature Chunky Move dancers James Batchelor, Marlo Benjamin, Sarah Ronnie Bruce, Tara Jade Samaya, Niharika Senapati and Luigi Vescio. Over the course of the hour-long show, the six performers will transform from 'celestial creatures' into 'terrestrial warriors'. You'll have to head along to see what that means.
If Scenes From a Marriage hadn't already been taken, it would've made a great title for most of Asghar Farhadi's movies to date. From 2003's Dancing in the Dust to 2011's Oscar-winning A Separation and his 2013 follow-up The Past, the Iranian writer-director has filled his resume with features about the struggles of not-so-harmonious domesticity. Now you can add The Salesman to the pack, just as Farhadi can add another Academy Award to his mantle. Still, a shiny new statuette can't mask his fondness for repetition. Farhadi is a master of observing just how the bonds of matrimony can unravel, but seven films in there's no avoiding the feeling that you've seen some of it before. The Salesman opens on the set of a play, with husband and wife Emad (Shahab Hosseini) and Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti) staging a revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. As Farhadi demonstrates rather unsubtly by cutting from a bed on stage to their crumbling real life home, all isn't well for the couple. That's especially true after they move into a friend's flat and Rama leaves the door unlatched, only to be attacked by a stranger. Understandably she's shaken. Just as understandably, he's driven to track down the perpetrator. Their conflicting responses sit at the heart of Farhadi's latest film, with the writer-director eager as ever to wait and watch as the couples' fraught emotions slowly but surely rise to the surface. Indeed, pumping seemingly ordinary spaces full of the kind of tension that can only spring from fraying intimate bonds is one of the things he does best. Dissecting how even a mere word, look or gesture can completely reshape, change or ultimately unravel a relationship is another. Both talents are on display as Rama takes the reserved and ultimately forgiving route, while the increasingly frantic Emad can't shake his wounded pride — or his need for vengeance. Cue a situation rife with drama, which Farhadi carefully heightens. As he's done before, he makes plain the gender lines driving the divide between husband and wife, as well as the cultural reasons for their behaviour. Here, he also stresses the fact that Iranian society will applaud a man bent on revenge but blame a woman who's a victim and judge another that's made untraditional choices, making hefty material even meatier. Throw constrained yet probing visuals into the mix alongside nuanced and multifaceted performances by Hosseini, Alidoosti and the pivotal Babek Karimi, and The Salesman can only be described as classic Farhadi territory. Still, there's a difference between ticking the usual boxes and expanding them, and here the Oscar-winning filmmaker manages one but not the other. As a result, the movie feels less like an involving effort in its own right and more like a greatest hits package. Many a director has made a successful career out of playing the same cinematic notes over and over again, but just as many have eventually stretched their usual tendencies too far. While The Salesman proves engaging, particularly in its later stages, there's a distinctive sense that next time Farhadi needs to show us something new.
Come hear the music play at the eighth annual Melbourne Cabaret Festival. Returning to Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran as well as The Butterfly Club in the Melbourne CBD, this year's festival will feature almost two full week's worth of shows from established and emerging cabaret performers from all around the country. The fun begins on Tuesday, June 20 with a dazzling opening night gala emceed by the festival's artistic director Dolly Diamond. The famous diva will also feature in her own show, Dolly Diamond: The Lady is a Tramp, featuring tales of her "life, loves and (alleged) lascivious behaviour". Other standout shows on the program include Queenie van de Zandt's Blue: The Story of Joni Mitchell and Jon Jackson's Queen of Broadway: The Ethel Merman Story, plus Australia's Boys of Motown featuring Vincent Hooper, Richard Swanson and Barnaby Reiter. You can view the full lineup here.
