When it comes to prime spring drinking turf, Chiswick's sprawling green lawn is up there with the best. And you can bet it's set to get a solid workout this season, as the Woollahra restaurant plays host to a series of weekly Wednesday evening pop-up bars, running for all of November. Join in the al fresco fun from 5.30–7.30pm each week and make the most of those balmy pre-sunset temperatures with some hard-earned hump day knock-offs. The pop-up Bombay Sapphire bar will be slinging a selection of spring-perfect gin cocktails, including the Garden G&T ($10) with elderflower tonic; the Summer Twist ($12) with gin, peach bitters and mint; and the Passionfruit Collins ($14) with passionfruit liqueur, lemon and soda. There'll also be 4 Pines pale ales ($10) and house-made lemonades ($5) — if gin isn't your thing. And, to cap it off, there'll be live acoustic tunes setting the mood, games of bocce, plus some free canapés making the rounds. Gin will be served on the lawn every Wednesday in November.
A new fashion market is joining Sydney's growing array of weekend shopping spots; however this one-off event has something other than bargain purchases or vintage finds in mind. At the Slow Fashion Market, attendees will browse through racks of clothing and shelves of accessories that fit two criteria. Firstly, everything on offer is made from sustainable, non-toxic materials. Secondly, it all hails from retailers that either make the fashion themselves or pay their workers fair wages. It's the latest venture from Emma Morris and Lee Glezos — aka the team behind The Makers & Shakers Market and the Round She Goes Preloved Fashion Market — with the duo aiming to raise awareness about the slow fashion movement. With mass-produced, over-produced 'fast fashion' having an enormous environmental impact, resulting in around 85 percent of new textiles eventually ending up in landfill, the Slow Fashion Market "will bring together people who care about how their fashion is made," explains Morris. "Consumers are reaching their threshold for clothes that is made cheap and fast, that falls apart after a couple of washes, and potentially exploits the people who made them." Taking place from 10am–3pm on Saturday, September 1 at Petersham Town Hall, the market will feature more than 40 independent brands selling womens, mens and children's fare. Entry costs $2, so keep your gold coins handy. While there's a serious and important topic behind the one-day event, the Slow Fashion Market not only endeavours to educate consumers, but to celebrate makers. "We create an environment where everyone is comfortable asking questions — and 'who made my clothes?' is the core question at this event," says Morris. Image: Alana Dimou.
Keen to embrace slow fashion, but have a hard time sorting the best brands from the rest? Sydney stylist Aleysha Campbell is here to lend a helping hand, with the next edition of her carefully curated luxury pop-up, The Sustainable Wardrobe. Taking over Darlinghurst's ceramics studio Studio Enti from August 1 to 14, the mini marketplace will showcase high-end threads and accessories from 18 of Australia's top ethical and sustainable fashion labels. It's creating a space where customers can engage with the stories behind what they're buying, making more informed fashion choices and throwing their support behind local labels doing good. Mindful shopping will prove a breeze when browsing this conscious collection, including boldly printed silk and wool designs from Annie Hamilton, handcrafted leather goods from Empire Of Bees, Natalija's line of long-wearing silk nightwear, Spirit Natural Clothing's hemp jeans, and handmade jewellery from Melbourne's Maekar. The Sustainable Wardrobe is open from 10am–5pm daily.
Fans of Dolly Parton, Dolly the sheep and anyone who's spent time thinking about cloning, branding or death, this show's for you. Written and performed by Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit — the duo behind multi-award winning UK duo Sh!t Theatre — it's an exploration of the legendary country singer that's at once adoring and cynical. DollyWould comes our way after selling out a UK tour, which included a month on the West End and two runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Expect a cappella singing, lines from actually Dolly Parton interviews, wigs, references to that other Dolly (the sheep), mash-ups of familiar images and general chaos. DollyWould runs from Saturday, September 1 to Saturday, September 8 with showings every night at 8pm, except Saturday, September 7's 2pm showing.
Maybe you've heard about that burger joint in Penrith named Burger Head. Maybe you've wanted to go but you live in the inner west and rarely leave. Well, here's your chance to get your hands on one of the much-loved burgers, with Newtown brewhouse Young Henrys hosting the burger joint for a two-day pop-up. This Saturday and Sunday will be the second time Burger Head's burgers have hit the inner west. For the occasion, the team will be cooking up some crowd favourites alongside a one-off creation, which includes a smashed Angus beef patty, beer tempura onion rings, beer cheese sauce (both making use of Young Henrys, of course), American hi-melt cheese and a smothering of dill and jalapeño mayo. If you've never tried Burger Head's burgers before, we suggest trying The Americana (with a smashed Angus patty, pulled barbecue brisket, grilled onions and mustard mayo) or The Clucker (a fried buttermilk chicken burger seasoned with 16 herbs and spices, pickled onion and mayo). The pop-up will be open from noon until 7pm both days.
Sure, you might live every week like it's negroni week, but the actual event will be here from June 4 to 10. Not that anyone needs an excuse, but that's when knocking back gin, vermouth rosso and Campari cocktails is on the agenda — and, at The Clock, so is building your own. Extending its celebrations from May 30 to June 10 — because, well, why not? — the Surry Hills pub will boast an entire bar solely dedicated to negronis. In fact, it'll have a whole room. Say goodbye to the Whisky Room and hello to the Negroni Room, complete with Italian theming and snacks to go with it. We know, we know, you're here for the negronis — and you can create your own from over 40 different types of gin. Eleven special negroni cocktails will be available on a one-per-day basis, and your sipping and general negroni-loving will also help a good cause, with $1 from each negroni being donated to Oz Harvest.
Vivid might've been and gone for 2018; however it's not the only event that brings brightness to Sydney's dark corners. Antony Youssef's Organism takes inspiration from the city's annual arts, culture and light show, as well as events such as Dark Mofo — and it's illuminating the University of Sydney's Courtyard Restaurant & Bar between August 13 and 17. Here's how it works: you head along, walk through a tree-filled space, and then watch as the installation responds to your presence. The piece's lights and music change to interact with visitors, in a gorgeous — and luminous — blend of technology and nature. "People are momentarily removed from their environments, forgetting the mundanities of everyday life, ensconced in the possibilities, wonder and 'magic'," explains artist and University of Sydney student Youssef. If that sounds like a big call, then consider the specifics: one of the trees in his installation deploys sensors and lights to show how humans impact upon the environment, another triggers animations through the use of water, and another can receive text messages from participants. Entry is free, with the installation open from 5–8pm across its five-day run. Attendees can also nab a drink special, including Iron Jack schooners for $6 or $20 growlers.
Cocktails are unanimously a pretty good thing, and so are cool ladies being great at things. And Speed Rack, a nationwide cocktail-making competition, combines the two. Created by pro-bartenders Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero, Speed Rack throws together some of the most talented up-and-comers in the bartending industry and gets them to compete in timed challenges. While the competition has been running in the US and Canada for a while, it's the first time finals have been hosted down under. All female and all pretty boss at whipping up a margarita, the sixteen women competing in Speed Rack hail from as close as Wollongong and as far away as Perth. There's a slew of Sydney bartenders partaking, too, including Jenna Hemsworth from Restaurant Hubert, Alissa Kate Grabriel from Mjølner and Priscilla Leong from The Baxter Inn. Judges include Kathleen Davies, founder of spirits distributor company Nip Of Courage, Paige Aubort, local bartending legend and founder of Coleman's Academy, Sam Bygraves, editor of Australian Bartender Magazine, and Tash Conte, owner of Melbourne venue Black Pearl. And, apart from maraschino cherries, a sweet thing about the event is that it gives back to charity — Speed Rack has already raised more than $850,000 for breast cancer research charities. Tickets are $25 (or $30 on the door), with all proceeds being donated. Your ticket price includes cocktails and spirit samples, as well as snacks. Speed Rack National Finals will run from 3pm–7pm.
In summer, we had bottomless frosé and sorbet cocktails. Now, it's winter, and the last thing we feel like doing is chugging endless alcoholic ice slushies. Thankfully, the team at Neutral Bay bar Firefly knows this, and is serving up bottomless mulled wine — five nights a week. Throughout July, you'll be able to warm your belly with 90 minutes of unlimited hot and spicy wine between Sunday and Thursday, for just $28 per person. It's available from when the doors open — so head in anytime after 5pm during the week and from midday on Sunday. On July 27 and 28, the bar is upping the ante, again, hosting a Christmas in July banquet with all the trimmings — including bottomless Christmas beverages, such as mulled wine and egg nog. The six-course feast will set you back $63, with an extra $39 for 90 minutes of unlimited drinks. To book in, head to the website.
If you've been looking for an excuse to book a mid-week date night, then here it is. The Winery, Surry Hills, has extended you a standing invitation. Take your date (or mate) on any Wednesday evening, for a night dubbed Je T'Aime Date Night, and you'll score three share plates plus a bottle of red or white wine for 89 bucks. Among the delectable morsels on the menu are arancini, ricotta baskets, squid, sausage rolls, sweet potato fries, marinated beetroot and cauliflower florets. Book online over here to nab your spot. Can't wait till Wednesday? Get in early on Mondays, when two steak frites (that's French for steak and fries) will only set you back $30 from 5pm. There's no better match for a good steak than a good red and, as you'd expect, The Winery offers a massive list, covering everything from Yarra Valley pinot noir to Italian nebbiolo to a selection of Super Tuscans. To really celebrate your date, treat them to the Road to Rhone dinner, coming up on Thursday 28 June. For $85 each, you'll work your way through a four-course sharing menu and matching wines from the Rhone, one of France's most famous wine regions. Its vineyards are among the oldest in the world, many having been planted 2,000 years ago. To find out more about Je T'Aime Date Nights and the other special offers at The Winery, head to thewinerysurryhills.com.au. Images: Letícia Almeida
Rolling Penny is opening its doors after hours for another community dinner showcasing the wonders of local produce. The feast is a collab betweena local and organic food delivery service Ooooby Eats, Hara Wholefoods, Kurrawong Organics and Trolley'd. On Sunday, July 1, Chefs Cass and Carmen from Hara Wholefoods will prepare meals and demonstrate how you can use your Ooooby produce to the fullest. The power pair is looking to build a community around the seasonal and local harvests they work with, so expect delicious and heartfelt plant-based dishes. Kurrawong Organics is contributing its knowledge and fresh produce to the event. Everything on your plate will be from the farm so you can judge for yourself how good their Brussels sprouts are. Farmers Quentin and Lesley will be at the dinner for a chance to learn about what goes into harvesting and other seasonal details. When it comes to drinks, the mobile Trolley'd bar will serve up native cocktails — you'll get two included with your ticket price. If you've been saving a special vino for the night, you can also BYO after the complimentary drinks.
She was once one of the most famous movie stars in the business, with an Oscar to her name and roles in everything from It's a Wonderful Life to Oklahoma! to The Big Heat. But in 1981, Gloria Grahame (played here by Annette Bening) was worlds away from her '50s Hollywood heyday. Preparing to take to the UK stage in a version of The Glass Menagerie, she collapsed in pain just before the curtains opened. Refusing medical treatment, Grahame instead asked to recuperate in Liverpool, at the family home of her younger ex-boyfriend and local actor Peter Turner (Jamie Bell). Adapted from Turner's memoir of the same name, Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool doesn't play shy with its narrative. Even for those unfamiliar with this particular chapter in tinseltown's history, there's no prizes for guessing where it's all heading. And yet, much like the movie's multifaceted protagonist, first appearances soon prove to be misleading. Grahame was known for her brash femme fatales in the days of black-and-white cinema, but her on-screen persona only told part of her story. Directed with period flair and eye-catching scene transitions by Paul McGuigan (Victor Frankenstein), the film that charts her final years likewise does more than just combine a tear-inducing tale of sickness with an unlikely romance. Both love and illness feature prominently in Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool, with Grahame and Turner's time together unfolding in flashbacks while she's convalescing under the care of his mother (Julie Walters). In sequences from their early days together, she's spirited and sultry, and he's instantly smitten — whether they're trading lines to help her rehearse, catching a showing of Alien, or enjoying a sensationally seductive disco session in her London living room. Later, as she tries to ignore her worsening condition, she's defiant and he's doting, even as her impending demise hangs between them. From these contrasting glimpses, a touching portrait forms not only of a fading star, but of a fascinating, complicated woman and an equally intricate relationship. As such, those eager for a full rundown of Grahame's career would do well to read up before (or after) they hit the cinema. Matt Greenhalgh's latest celebrity-focused screenplay (after Control, Nowhere Boy and The Look of Love) is more a character study than a cradle-to-grave biopic, evoking a entrancing sense of the actress' presence and personality rather than dwelling upon her work. In Grahame's contemplative backstage moments, her flirtatious looks and her all-round fighting spirit, the film serves up a multi-layered portrayal of a multi-layered figure. In doing so, it says as much about its subject as it does the industry's disdain for ageing, and society's lack of regard for older women in particular. With all that in mind, it's hardly surprising that Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool benefits enormously from Bening's stellar performance. Despite missing out on well-deserved awards acclaim for both this and last year's 20th Century Women, the four-time Academy Award nominee just keeps going from strength to strength. Digging beneath glamour and vanity, and painting Grahame as vibrant and vulnerable all at once, Bening's work makes it easy to understand why Turner melts in her company. For his part, in his best role (and with his best dance scene) since Billy Elliot, Bell delivers a tender and textured performance. But when Bening shines, the whole bittersweet film shines with her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnE7jdOfp3E
Now in its eighth year, the Iranian Film Festival Australia returns with another lineup of cinema straight from the Middle Eastern country — with 12 features and three shorts in 2018, in fact. Running between Thursday, October 18 and Tuesday, October 23 at Event Cinemas Top Ryde and Dendy Newtown, it's a lineup that both highlights old masters and showcases new talent. And yes, there's plenty of both. In the tried and tested category sits Jafar Panahi's Three Faces, which sees the filmmaker get playful and star on-screen in his latest combination of fact and fiction. Or, viewers can check out Bahmam Farmanara's Tale of The Sea, a family drama that's also dedicated to the late Iranian auteur Abbas Kiarostami. Then there's Kamal Tabrizi's Sly, which opens the fest with a fictional account of a political leader — and features Mani Haghighi, who also directs IFFA dark comedy Pig, about a filmmaker suspected of murder. If you're keen to check out up-and-coming voices and see different interpretations of classic material, As I Lay Dying offers an Iranian take on William Faulkner's tale of the same name. And, in only their third feature, filmmaking brothers Jamshid and Navid Mahmoudi achieve something extraordinary with Afghan-Iranian co-production Rona, Azim's Mother, with the movie their third title to be entered into the Oscar foreign-language category by Afghanistan.
Chicken-devouring people of northern Sydney, another Chargrill Charlie's is coming your way. As of Saturday, September 15, Frenchs Forest will be home to the eleventh incarnation of the Sydney institution. And, to celebrate, the Charlie's team is giving away free food. Get there between midday and 1pm on opening day to score a free quarter barbecue chicken with chips, then make a return between 5pm and 6pm to tuck into a whole family size chicken, also gratis. There should be plenty of room — Charlie's is transforming a huge shop on the edge of the Forestway Shopping Centre into a huge open-plan space, with seating for 80 people inside and 20 outside. In keeping with the eatery's usual look, you can expect a modern industrial feel, with recycled timber and splashes of black metal. As well as burgers, chicken and chips, the menu will offer all the other goodness for which Charlie's has become legendary. That includes up to 15 types of salad on any one day, chicken schnitzel, creamed potato, rolls, DIY dinner plates and desserts, including apple pie. Chargrill Charlie's will open at 22 Forest Way, Frenchs Forest on Saturday, September 15. Details of the other nine eateries across Sydney are chargrillcharlies.com.
Sydney Opera House isn't just home to big concerts and performances. Thanks to the venue's versatile studio space, it's also a place for intimate gigs. That's what's on the agenda during the aptly named Studio Series — three gigs across December 1 to 4 that are as far from big and cavernous as you can get. Of course, while the atmosphere is small and cosy, the talent is huge, with Korean-American singer, DJ and producer Yaeji doing the honours on Saturday, December 1; indie folk artists Waxahatchee and Kevin Morby teaming up on Sunday, December 2; and West Chicago rapper — and Chance the Rapper collaborator — Saba hitting the mic on Tuesday, December 4. While Yaeji's show is already sold out, tickets are still available for the other two gigs, from $54.50–$62.50 including booking fees.
It has been a busy two years for Timothée Chalamet, aka the internet's current boyfriend. Not too long ago, he was best known for a bit part in Interstellar, and now he's one of cinema's biggest talents. Chalamet swooned over first love in the gorgeous Call Me By Your Name, and was nominated for an Oscar for his impeccable performance. He played one of the titular character's first loves in Lady Bird, a film that nabbed Oscar nominations for almost everyone else involved. In his latest movie, Beautiful Boy, he's grappling with addiction — and he'll likely receive plenty of awards love again. This true life drama stands out from Chalamet's recent hits, however, and not in a positive way. His work is exceptional once more, inhabiting rather than performing his troubled character, but the film doesn't do its star justice. Or, to be more accurate, it doesn't do its stars justice. Beautiful Boy is a father-and-son drama as much as it is a deep dive into the trauma wrought by drugs, with Steve Carell as journalist David Sheff and Chalamet as his bright, thoughtful, college-bound son Nic. David can only watch on as Nic escalates from casual marijuana use to an insatiable crystal meth habit, and the respective tolls of bearing witness to, and spiralling through, the depths of addiction are written across Carell and Chalamet's faces. Each actor plays their character like a man possessed, one by trying to understand what drove his boy down this path, the other by an urge that he can't and won't stop indulging. Or perhaps it's that they both seem like they're haunted — by dreams, wants, needs and choices, and by a life that's not what either originally planned. Based on separate memoirs by the actual David and Nic, Beautiful Boy's details are familiar. Viewers first meet David when he's asking an expert exactly what all of these illicit substances are doing to Nic, before the movie jumps back to show the progression to that point and beyond. The Sheff household is happy, with David remarried to painter Karen (Maura Tierney), and Nic getting along with both his stepmother and much-younger half-siblings. But then, suddenly nothing is happy. All that's changed is Nic, and his newfound penchant for getting high rather than burying his head in a book. Soon he's withdrawn and sullen, out late and disappearing for periods of time, and hiding his soulful gaze further and further behind his dark, wavy locks. Every moment that Chalamet and Carell are on screen, either individually or together, it's easy to believe the Sheffs' plight. Beautiful Boy can't answer why Nic dissolves into his addiction, other than the fact he enjoys taking drugs. It can't explain why this thoroughly middle-class family is put through such an ordeal, other than the fact that the unexpected happens. With images that feel both dreamy and gritty simultaneously, what it can do instead is depict the torturous aftermath. The results are authentic and heartfelt, thanks to the film's basis in reality, its brilliant leads, and the stellar support offered by Tierney and Amy Ryan (as David's first wife and Nic's mother). And yet, while the actors make the most intimate, internalised and difficult of emotions ring true, conveying the pain and suffering that clearly changed the Sheffs' lives, the movie itself couldn't be more heavy-handed. Even if it actually happened, having one character read "I just love drugs" in another's diary, or words to that effect, isn't the most subtle of moves. The same applies to Beautiful Boy's use of Nirvana, Neil Young, John Lennon and more on its soundtrack — songs which may stem from the Sheff's real-life music choices, yet are always deployed to obvious effect. While nuance wasn't in director Felix Van Groeningen's wheelhouse when he helmed the heartstring-tugging Broken Circle Breakdown in 2012, he's made a much less effective melodrama this time around. Beautiful Boy is still a moving, affecting picture — with its two main stars putting in some of their best work, how could it not be? — but it never trusts that viewers will respond accordingly. Chalamet and Carell show the audience what the Sheffs went through, however the film itself doesn't just want to tell their story. Rather, it wants to scream it, and to push every sentimental, blunt and cliched button. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaOhgZez1Nk
While many of Australia's film festivals showcase the cinema of a particular country, region or genre, the Jewish International Film Festival embraces an entire culture. From films about famous comedians to thrilling docos about strange-but-true tales to award-winning dramas, if it ties into JIFF's Jewish focus in any shape or form — and from almost any country or filmmaker — then it's probably on the fest's program. In 2018, that means Love, Gilda, about original Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner; The Twinning Reaction, which uses a different angle on the real-life situation also chronicled in Three Identical Strangers; and Israeli effort Redemption, about an devout musician contemplating returning to his rocker ways in a time of personal crisis. In a star-studded lineup, other highlights include Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy as a writer who dabbles in literary forgery, Matthew Broderick in buddy comedy To Dust and Charlotte Gainsbourg in French biopic Promise at Dawn. From Tuesday, October 23, JIFF runs across two Sydney venues: at Event Cinemas Bondi Junction until Wednesday, November 21, and at the Roseville cinemas from Saturday, November 10 until the same end date. Marking its 29th year, the full program features more than 60 films from 23 countries — and, if you're keen to hear more about some of the flicks, plenty of post-screening Q&As.
This summer, Archie Rose and York Street's The Rook are teaming up for a heap of sky-high gin-fuelled shindigs. Think garden-style soirees paired with plenty of juniper spirits, plus the kind of 80s outdoor furniture you might remember from your childhood. There'll also be ten types of cocktails and three kinds of lobster dishes — including lobster spaghetti with Archie Rose vodka marinara sauce. To kick off the seasonal shenanigans, The Rook is throwing a huge Archie Rose Summer Gin Garden Launch Party on Thursday, October 18 as well. In addition to offering everything that you'll find onsite for the next month and a half, there'll also be free finger food if you stop by between 4–5pm. DJs will spin tunes to suit the mood as well, and, drinks-wise, the $7 Archie Hour will run from 4–6pm. In fact, you'll be able to nab a cheap beverage between those times from Monday to Saturday until December 1.
Some pretty big names in indietronica will be descending on Sydney Harbour this summer. Kicking off on Friday, November 2, Tropicool and UNDR Ctrl are bringing back their insanely popular electronic music series, The Island LIVE, to Sydney's floating stage. The Island has played host to some seriously impressive artists in the past, and many of the nights have sold out in under 48 hours. This time round, the first event will be celebrating 10 years of Sweat It Out, the label founded by dance legend AJAX, with a huge lineup headlined by indie house duo Parachute Youth. The pair'll be pumping out hits like 'Can't Get Better Than This' and 'Awake Now' on stage alongside Melbourne's Miami Horror, Sydney's Tonite Only, The Bang Gang Deejays, Yolanda Be Cool, K.I.M (The Presets) and more. The floating party coincides with the release of the Sweat It Out 2008–2018 vinyl, a tribute to AJAX, which you can pre-order here. And this is just the first event in The Island LIVE's 2018 series — there'll be more events announced down the track. Tickets include a return water taxi from Double Bay and complimentary drinks (worth $20) on arrival. Pretty excellent deal. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, October 16. You can signup for pre-sale here.
Spring, with its abundance of whimsy and wildflowers, is a perfect season for a cute date. Whether you're meeting a new prospect or treating your forever boo, the park should be your first port of call. But don't worry about organising all of the park paraphernalia (rugs, picnics and the like) because Good Food Month has you covered, hosting a pair of events for the lovers amongst you. Date Nights, running on the 13th and 20th of October, pair gourmet food with classic rom coms. You can expect balmy spring nights in Hyde Park watching either '80s cult-classic When Harry Met Sally on October 13 or The Wedding Singer on October 20. Food is being provided by Ume Burgers and Gelato Messina. As well as your choice of bevvy, you can choose between the classic Ume Burger (made up of beef pattie, American cheese, mayo, tomato and lettuce), the fish katsu burger (served with tartare sauce, lettuce and cheese), or the kakiage burger (veggie fritter, nori mayo, cabbage and tonkatsu sauce). Of course, a burg wouldn't be complete without fries and they're serving 'em up with their iconic Umami seasoning. And to polish off a fancy (but fun) evening, chow down on a Messina choc top and a recline in the park with a very contented date on your arm. Image: Gelato Messina.
If you're after an excellent day on the water in the Tweed Valley, look no further than Tweed Eco Cruises. This family-run business specialises in First Nations-led tours and river cruising in the Bundjalung Nation with a number of unique food experiences to enjoy. Our pick? The sunset picnic filled with locally produced cheeses, dips, antipasto, sparkling wine and more. You can also join them for a sumptuous three-hour floating dining experience against the backdrop of Wollumbin (Mount Warning) during the North Coast Festival of Flavour. The cruise will make its way down the Tweed River through mangroves and rainforests while you enjoy a banquet of freshly caught local seafood. Oysters, prawns and Tweed River mud crabs will be served alongside produce from local farmers while the family's fishers take you through their sustainable fishing process in this incredible 'sea-to-table' experience.
If you've ever driven to Sydney's eastern beaches via Old South Head Road, you've probably noticed the mammoth sign about truffles, caviar and mushrooms hanging outside Gourmet Life. When you enter the shop, it's as if you're in some sort of specialty food wonderland, with aisle upon aisle of delicacies that will make your jaw drop and your stomach rumble. Not only that, but they also have an incredible variety of cured meats, cheeses and hard-to-find delicacies, such as tinned asparagus with lobster, blocks of foie gras and octopus legs imported from Spain. You won't leave without at least one thing that is 'truffled' — whether it be truffle sea salt, truffle brie or truffle anchovies marinated in olive oil and, yes, you guessed it, truffle.
Prancing through fields laced with the charm of provincial France? Casual Saturdaying during SydFest time. So Frenchy So Chic in the Park is waltzing back to St John's College, an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties — think gourmet picnic hampers, tortes and terrines, offensively good wine, quaint puppet shows, furious outdoor chess, casual bongo drum lessons — So Frenchy hinges around a solid lineup of some of France's best: Emile Simon, The Dø, La Femme and Francois and Atlas Mountains will crank out live sets on the lawn this year. Formidable. Don your best floral-headband-and-sundress-combo and gear up for un merveilleux après-midi. Presented as part of the 2015 Sydney Festival.
Alaskan-bred, Portland-based indie foursome Portugal. The Man will be hitting the road for an epic string of Australian dates this November. We're talking a whopping 25 shows — and all free. Presented by Corona Extra, the tour kicks off in Western Australia on October 31 and travels through Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria before finishing up in Melbourne on November 30. With seven albums under their belt — including their most recent, Danger Mouse-produced, 2013 album Evil Friends — and playing up to 200 shows a year since they started, Portugal. The Man aren't ones to shy away from a long touring stint. They're big ol' festival favourites, making highlight lists at all the big guns from Coachella, Lollapalooza to Laneway Festival and Splendour. After their huge US tour wraps up, the foursome are going to bring their psychedelic, indie outdoorsiness to Australia's snuggly pubs and bars. Corona's last epic Australian tour saw Sydney's beloved Cloud Control hit the road for an unfathomable amount of free shows, so we'll see how the Portland locals go with such a schedule. Get along, burl out 'Got It All', 'Evil Friends' and 'So American' like you're front and centre for a P.TM festival set. It's freakin' free. New South Wales dates: Saturday, 15 November — Hotel Brunswick, 4 Mullumbimby St, Brunswick Heads at 3.30pm, then Beach Hotel Crnr Jonson & Bay St, Byron Bay at 7.30pm. Sunday, 16 November — Park Beach Hotel, 84 Ocean Parade, Coffs Harbour at 5pm. Friday, 21 November — Towradgi Hotel, 170 Pioneer Rd, Towradgi at 7.30pm. Saturday, 22 November — Bucket List, Shop 1, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Pavilion, Bondi at 2pm, then Manly Wharf Bar, East Esplanade Shop 19, Manly at 10pm. Sunday, 23 November — Watsons Bay Hotel, 1 Military Rd, Watsons Bay at 3.30pm, then Old Joes, Crnr Kingsway & Erouera Rd, Cronulla at 8pm. All tour dates are 18+ only and free entry. More info here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EITwxJrZKj0
Following the announcement of Nils Frahm's return to Sydney, electronic classical music fans have plenty to salivate over this week. Minimalist, ambient electro-acoustics will bring in 'The Four Seasons' this Spring, the legendary Max Richter is set to make play his first ever Australian show. One of the most influential composers in recent times, the German born, British neoclassical mastermind is set to present the Australian premiere of his celebrated reworking of Vivaldi's masterpiece, 'The Four Seasons', with New York City's 22-piece Wordless Music Orchestra. Following a sold-out Royal Albert Hall show showcasing his seminal 2002 album Memoryhouse, the 48-year-old composer is heading to Sydney on Sunday, November 23 to present both his recomposition of Vivaldi's masterwork and his own sparse 2010 album, Infra — an expansion of his poignant, ambient score composed for a Wayne McGregor ballet once staged at the Royal Opera House. Following piano and synthesiser studies under the great Luciano Berio and ten years with the neo-classical quintet the Piano Circus, Richter has been long-celebrated for countless projects including 2004's Tilda Swinton collaboration, the spoken word full-length album The Blue Notebooks, alongside reams of cinematic scoring to films like Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island, Ridley Scott's Prometheus and Clint Eastwood's I. Edgar. "Max is someone we've wanted to have perform here for a very long time and to be able to present this vivid, fresh, mesmerising and precise composer performing his Vivaldi The Four Seasons Recomposed with the vibrant restlessness of the Wordless Orchestra from NYC is something of a dream come true for us," said Ben Marshall, Head of Contemporary Music at Sydney Opera House. The pairing is a solid catch for the Opera House (presented as part of Music at the House), with the Wordless Music Orchestra set to perform Jonny Greenwood's world premiere performance of his There Will Be Blood score in New York City in September. Originally premiered at London's Barbican Centre in 2012, Richter's Vivaldi, The Four Seasons Recomposed apparently discarded 75% of Vivaldi's original material, with Richter using the remainder to loop, phase and rework into a postmodern, minimalist triumph — one that topped the iTunes classic chart in the UK, US and Germany. It's an exciting time for Sydney-based, contemporary classical fans with a love for electronic innovation. "Every now and then when programming music it becomes clear that something new and significant is emerging. There is currently a strand of rigorous, talented and acclaimed contemporary classical composers who are as comfortable with electronics as they are with formal composition," said Ben Marshall, Head of Contemporary Music at Sydney Opera House. "The Opera House has been proud to present the Australian debuts of Nils Frahm and Ludovico Einaudi in this area and we are absolutely thrilled to now welcome Max Richter's first ever performance in this country." Image credit: Yulia Mahr. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qTapNp-31rU
If you're one of those fancy, fancy people with more Christmas party invitations than actual days on the calendar, you're going to need a good few outfits this December. Sure, you could crank a horrific reindeer jumper worthy of Seth Cohen to each one, but we've got something fancier for you to throw on. Formidable fashion duo, Romance Was Born, have made their mark as the go-to for party showstopper pieces. Just in time for Christmas, they're having a gargantuan sale, selling items from their RWB Spring '14 collection, Tripsy Gypsy, for anywhere between 30 - 50 percent off. That's some pretty epic discounts for some pretty epic threads. Nab special edition pieces straight from the archives, whether for your own glorious wear or for a hit-it-out-of-the-ballpark Christmas gift. But be prepared to get there early, this is some shiny, shiny must-have gear we're talking here. And be civil to each other, no hair-pulling, shirt-ripping etc. etc. Image: Zan Wembley.
If you like your tunes a little off-centre, extra crisp and wholly unconventional, OutsideIn is your jam. Locked in to be held over three levels at Manning Bar in the University of Sydney, boutique music festival, OutsideIn, cooked up by Sydney touring and management agency Astral People and record label Yes Please returns for its third instalment on Saturday, November 29. Forecast to sell out like its 2012 and 2013 events, OutsideIn will spread its super solid lineup over three stages. Enough chatskies, who's on the bill? Headlining the bunch, '90s US hip-hop legends The Pharcyde are sure to draw the surefire nostalgics. Sydney's beloved electronic trio Seekae will crank out tracks from their recently-released album alongside Germany's Pantha Du Prince and America's Giraffage. Rounding things out with some solid '80s synth and the best hair in Australian music right now, Melbourne duo Client Liaison are sure to pack out their stage, while fellow Melburnian partystarters Cut Copy promise to crank a DJ set. Then there's legendary Chicago house DJ/producer Roy Davis Jr and US R&B/housemaster Brenmar, alongside Melbourne’s Noise In My Head, Adelaide’s Late Nite Tuff Guy, and Sydney's own Collarbones, Chris Barker and Basenji. Keeping the beats rolling from a kickass program at Splendour in the Grass this year, Red Bull Music Academy will dominate one of the three OutsideIn stages; with UK garage legend Wookie, US fancy dancer DJ Spinn, Four Tet-produced MC Rome Fortune (US), Jubilee (US), Fishing, Guerre, Black Vanilla and local favourites Preacha & Moriarty, with Aussie RBMA alumni Sui Zhen, opening the stage. To the DJ roundup, OutsideIn have booked some serious house-loving, party-inducing talent this time around. Melburnian Tornado Wallace and Plastic World’s Retiree join local Astral People kids Andy Webb and Ariane. One of Sydney's genuinely top notch festivals, OutsideIn is back for another year of beats-you-may-have-missed and downright shindigging. FULL 2014 LINEUP: The Pharcyde (US) Seekae Cut Copy (DJ set) Pantha Du Prince (GER) Giraffage (US) Roy Davis Jr (US) Client Liaison Basenji Brenmar (US) DJ SPINN (US) Tornado Wallace Collarbones Late Nite Tuff Guy Wookie (UK) Rome Fortune (US) Fishing Jubilee (US) Guerre Black Vanilla Retiree Sui Zhen Noise In My Head Preacha Andy Webb Moriarty Ariane Chris Barker
Fans of tequila and mezcal, start loading up on salt and lemon. The biggest agave conference ever held in the Southern Hemisphere is about to be held in Sydney this March, the brainchild of Phillip Bayly, owner of Sydney's now-closed tequila institution, Café Pacifico. Held over March 22 and 23 in Darlinghurst, Agave Love is a colossal, two-day conference and networking event for bartenders, growers, producers and all-round agave enthusiasts. In a flurry of masterclasses, mixology sessions, talks, tasting sessions and tequila parties, Agave Love is one epic attempt to raise celebratory spirits like tequila to a higher shelf than shitty hens parties. Some of Sydney's best watering holes are to act as conference 'venues' for AL: The Cliff Dive, Shady Pines, The Winery, Hello Sailor, Casoni, Low 302 and Mr Moustache in Bondi. The team are expecting over 2000 people to attend, from bar owners to liquor industry reps and us lowly tequila-lovin' plebs. If you're after information on the day, the whole thing is set to hinge around a festival info hub dubbed 'Agave Central', stationed inside the National Art School from noon to 5.30pm on Sunday, March 22. If you're one for free samples, inside the hub you'll be able to sample and trade (yep, trade) over sixty tequilas and mezcals. There's also going to be a 'Margarita Brunch' with two official tequila ambassadors. Sure, everyone's going to be there for 'research' reasons. "The idea for Agave Love is to educate and recognise the rich cultural history of the agave spirits including the denomination of origin — tequila, mezcal and including other spirits like raicilla and sotol," says Bayly. "Agave Love is an opportunity to spread my love and passion for all things agave, a plant that dates back some 12 million years and has a history as an alcoholic beverage that dates back to Pre Columbian times. “This is about category not brand, with a focus on educating lovers of agave spirits and introducing it to people who have either never tried it or have had bad experiences, usually with ‘false’ or cheap versions of these unique spirits." Image: Mr Moustache.
It's extraordinary that with only one film to his name, Zach Braff's directorial style became instantly recognisable. Perhaps because it was so influential, his popular 2004 film Garden State quickly became the shorthand for a certain type of independent film with a checklist of insta-clichés: a manic pixie dreamgirl who rouses a sullen lead out of his ennui; droll metaphorical imagery (a shirt that looks just like the wallpaper!); profundity in the mundane (a big hole in the ground that represents in the infinite abyss!); a carefully considered collection of melodic indie songs on the soundtrack (The Shins! Coldplay! The Shins!). It's odd that with such a big success under his belt, Braff took ten years to make his follow-up. Difficult second album syndrome? Perhaps. But in doing so, Garden State has calcified in our shared cinematic memory as a sub-genre unto itself; for Braff's second film to have any chance at all, it would have to shake off all the tropes that are now synonymous with his name and do something drastically different. It does not. In fact, aside from the fact that Braff is now looking at the problems faced by rich white actors in their 30s (as opposed to rich white actors in their 20s), his new film Wish I Was Here plays like a biting parody of Zach Braff. All the hallmarks of Garden State are present, and what should, in a more just world, be considered an authorial style, now feels like a failed attempt to recapture a movement and a mood that expired years ago. Much has been made of the fact that Braff turned to crowdfunding to raise the budget that he could have so easily raised with a studio; famously, he feared interference from the suits and wanted to make his own vision. Perhaps some interference might have been a good thing. But this path is only galling in light of the journey of Wish I Was Here's characters: wealthy people who need slightly more money asking for charity. This is hardly an exaggeration. The film's story — which I'm now only getting to at the tail end of the review — follows a failed actor who is still trying to follow his dreams despite the fact that he has responsibilities to his family. His father, stricken with cancer, needs to pay for his own treatment, and so can no longer pay for his grandchildren's expensive religious education. This is the inciting incident that's meant to inspire sympathy, but the stakes are so low and so unrelatable to the average moviegoer, that the film is crippled from the outset. It's so poorly judged, few changes would be needed to turn it into an all-out pastiche; Not Another Zach Braff Movie, if you will. Both Braff's character and his on-screen brother (Josh Gad) are manchildren who essentially learn that the women in their lives will continue to support them so long as they persist in their manchildish ways. The "lessons" learned at the end feel superfluous and unaffecting, despite what the last shot tries to tell us. The brother's storyline is the most baffling, and possibly the worst idea in a film full of poor choices. I wanted to like this film. I really did. For all that it now represents, I still hold a soft spot for Garden State, and I like Braff as both an on-screen performer and a filmmaker. As a director, he has a keen eye; it just failed him horribly here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=XWZWJtHrG4U
Sunday sleep-ins are for the weak. Especially when the alternative is an uber-refreshing workout followed by morning market strolls on Sydney's most Instagrammable beach. Dedicated to improving women's health and encouraging more people to get active, Active Nation Day is in its third year and 2014 marks its global debut. An initiative of activewear brand Lorna Jane, the day puts a focus on physical and mental health. Get there bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and in your finest fluoros at 8am for a free 45-minute 'Move' class that combines the best bits of aerobics, body strength and yoga to start a spring Sunday morning at Bondi Beach the right way (if there ever was a wrong way...). As your reward, hit the food markets (9am - noon) for all the nut milks and refined sugar-free goodies you can handle. Or just sleep in and do the food market bit just the same.
All The Feels are about to return to Sydney; German pianist and electronic mastermind Nils Frahm is heading back to the Opera House. Following his wildly talked-about, sold-out Vivid LIVE debut this year, the 31-year-old composer will play an intimate show in the Studio on Sunday, 12 October. The Opera House set is locked in after Frahm's Melbourne Festival stints in the Foxtel Festival Hub on October 10 and 11. "Nils Frahm was one of my highlights of Vivid LIVE this year and while we rarely present the same artist again so soon, I jumped at the chance to have him back in here," said Ben Marshall, head of contemporary music at Sydney Opera House. Frahm respects the keyboard like nothing else; the virtuoso has been likened to a Philip Glass-meets-Thelonious Monk style of piano-loving goodness. The Berlin-based serial collaborator has worked with the dreamy likes of Ólafur Arnalds and Arcade Fire's Sarah Neufeld, as well as Ludovico Einaudi, Anne Müller and Max Richter. His most recent album, the celebrated live LP Spaces, is a good place to start if you haven't delved into the Frahm before — an epic two year journey through his collected live performances. https://youtube.com/watch?v=dIwwjy4slI8
The Central Coast's truly underrated, sustainable and naturally stunning festival Mountain Sounds is set to return for another year. Heading back to the pretty, pretty spot of Mount Penang Parklands in Kariong, Mountain Sounds has locked in Saturday, February 21 for its 2015 instalment. And the lineup is some seriously applaudable biznatch. Headlined by Splendour in the Grass favourite and Castlemaine local D.D Dumbo, simmering Adelaide newbie and airwaves-dominator Tkay Maidza, loud-as-blazes Brisbane dudes DZ Deathrays, Danny Harley-steered, electronic project The Kite String Tangle, L D R U and Yahtzel's beat-dropping team-up Carmada and perpetually holidaying outfit The Griswolds, the festival lineup also sees the likes of Jinja Safari's whimsical Pepa Knight, ever party-starting crew Northeast Party House, Soundcloud whiz kids SAFIA, croony newbie Daniel Lee Kendall and offensively talented young'un East among others. MOUNTAIN SOUNDS 2015 LINEUP: (alphabetical order) Alison Wonderland Carmada Daniel Lee Kendall D.D Dumbo DZ Deathrays East The Griswolds Hatch The Jungle Giants Kilter The Kite String Tangle Luke Million Northeast Party House Pepa Knight SAFIA Tkay Maidza Tropical Zombie PLUS Coda Harper Lemond Ratlife DJs Stephane 1993 Sydney Social DJs Zavier Last year's festival saw Midnight Juggernauts, Ball Park Music, Emma Louise, Sticky Fingers, Jinja Safari, LDRU, and Cosmo's Midnight among others (including a farewell to Snakadaktal). Local strummers should get their demos ready too, as a state-wide competition is set to be launched in the coming weeks to give one live band and one electronic act the chance to play alongside Australia's hyped up artists. Giving a high five to the environment once more, the locally-founded Mountain Sounds is again set to take great care in minimising the environmental impact and carbon footprint of the festival. There'll also be silent discos and campsite parties curated by the team, who all grew up on the Central Coast. With tickets on sale now and sitting around 80 beans, this is an end-of-summer festival worth the measly dosh for. Mountain Sounds Festival is on Saturday, February 21 at Mount Penang Parklands, Kariong, NSW. Tickets and more info available over here. Image: Voena.
What happens behind our neighbours' closed doors after dark? As twilight falls in Bankstown in Sydney's west, visitors are invited to glimpse the experiences as well as the very homes of those living in the neighbourhood, with collaborative performances from Australian and international artists which showcase the realities of suburban life. Spread over four hours, Sydney Festival's Bankstown:Live is an immersive selection of theatre, film, audio and animated works curated by Urban Theatre Projects' Rosie Dennis. Long-term residents of Northam Avenue in Bankstown have offered their homes – and their stories – to the audience, including a Macedonian family who emigrated to Australia more than 30 years ago, and 81-year-old David Cranston, who still lives in the same home as he did while growing up in Sydney. Watch artist Alwin Reamillo build and carry a bamboo hut on the streets, and Joanne Saad's series, Family Portraits, a series of intimate photographs of contemporary daily life. Among the other works presented will be Michael Mohammed Ahmad and Janice Muller's performance adaptation of a story of a Muslim family seeking asylum in Australia, a documentary on Indigenous women and motherhood, a performance by local dancers, animated short films, songs performed by musician Toby Martin and audio works by local writers and residents.
As you'd expect, The Red Rattler will be catapulting us into the Australia Day Long Weekend with a shindig that has little to do with flags, barbies and monosyllabic chants. In fact, The Subconscious Restaurant Magazine Launch Party is all about #smashingborders — of any kind. The inspiration for the celebration is the launch of the third edition of the Subconscious Restaurant, an art magazine published by White Fungus. Heading up the party will be sound performance artist Betty Apple, who's a star of the experimental live art scene in Taiwan, where she lives. She'll be joined by two locals: imagination-stoking costume-performance artist Justin Shoulder and influential sound artist Lucas 'Granpa' Abela, whose achievements include "drag racing the Pope across the Sydney Harbour Bridge" and recording "chance John Peel sessions with the Flaming Lips". Meanwhile, a multicultural experimental music extravaganza will be happening, with five DJs from Sydney, Tokyo and Taiwan: QU-zen (Sydney), DJ Meta Etcetera (Sydney), DJ Sveta (Sydney), Jimi Mased (tripple nipples Sydney/Tokyo) and Smile Buddha aka Chaos (Taiwan). They'll be spinning tunes until 3am.
Nick Cave is embarking upon a tour of Australia and New Zealand in November and December this year, and unencumbered by new releases, he'll be playing a wide selection of classics that stretch right back into his 30-year catalogue. Unlike Cave's 2013 Push the Sky Away tour with featured his much-loved band The Bad Seeds, this will be a rare solo outing. Prepare yourself now — you're probably going to cry when he plays 'Into My Arms'. Cave's epic tour comes fresh after the run of 20,000 Days on Earth — a fictional documentary (just go with it) about this legendary musician. We enjoyed this 90 minutes of one-on-one time with the artist so much we even named the film one the best at this year's Sydney Film Festival. Now we get to make this alone time a reality; just like in the cinema, this tour will be you and Nick Cave (and a bunch of strangers) in the dark.
Cleveland-based, alt-punk trio Cloud Nothings is set to head our way this week, armed with brand new album Here and Nowhere and ready to play Meredith Music Festival — as well as a bunch of sideshows. Since starting out jamming around singer-songwriter Dylan Baldi's basement, Cloud Nothings' trademark sound has become bigger, bolder and more powerful; nostalgic in its references to the Buzzcocks, Husker and Blink-182, yet very much its own thing. It's been an unexpected year for Cloud Nothings. After moving from a quartet to a trio in early 2014 (former guitarist Joe Boyer can't actually leave Ohio for legal reasons), the band's blistering live shows — including recent appearances at Pitchfork Music Festival and Primavera — have played a huge role in boosting their fanbase. In fact, you'll probably want to nab yourself a ticket super-fast: their 2013 Australian tour was a sell-out. In addition to Meredith, Cloud Nothings will play Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on Wednesday, 10 December, supported by Palms and Bed Wettin' Bad Boys; Melbourne's Corner Hotel on Thursday, 11 December, supported by Palms and Power; and Brisbane's The Zoo on Sunday, 14 December.
What happens when you throw a rotating roster of 10-15 of Brisbane's biggest shredders and wailers in a studio together and let the music sort itself out? The super slick, self-titled debut from garage-pop powerhouse Velociraptor, an album oozing with snappy beats and boundless swagger (released August 15 via Dot Dash/Remote Control). To celebrate their debut LP — their first release since 2012's The World Warriors — Velociraptor are hitting the road, set to make a pit stop at Sydney's Newtown Social Club. This is your best chance to get amongst the catchy crooning of frontman Jeremy Neale in the flesh, with lead singles 'Ramona' and 'Sneakers' guaranteed to be crowd favourites on the night. With support from Bloods, Spookyland and Paul Conrad, this is one gig you want front and centre on your agenda this week. https://youtube.com/watch?v=VqtxLk3Co5M
We all know how gruelling a breakup can be. Plain awkward at best, the experience is more usually fraught with painful decisions that range from who gets to keep that Breaking Bad box-set you bought together to the very Gen-Y dilemma: to unfriend or not to unfriend? Though breaking up is a very personal experience, it's also a universal one, which is what makes the new exhibition at Redfern's artist-led space 107 Projects all the more powerful. Curated by Luke Letourneau, The Breakup will showcase the works of 11 emerging artists from both Sydney and overseas, including Syed Faraz Ali, Brenton Alexander Smith and Lucy Zaroyko. The works express a variety of personal breakup experiences through different artistic media, while sharing similar themes of uncertainty and emotional displacement. Though probably not a show to see if such feelings are still fresh, The Breakup makes for an intimate viewing of reactions our post-breakup selves can all relate to. Head along at 6-8pm on Wednesday, July 23, to enjoy the opening.
Capable of tearing it up with a screamalong feedback-fuelled tune or turning things down with a snuggly acoustic ballad, Sydney's rambunctious garage crew Palms are one of the country's surefire good time live shows. If you haven't burled along to 'The Summer is Done With Us', scratched up your vocal chords with 'Love' or dived into All The Feels with 'In the Morning', you're in for a warm, sweaty introduction. The brainchild of Ex-Red Riders Al Grigg and Tom Wallace, the foursome released their debut album Step Brothers last August. Currently working on their follow-up, the lads were getting a little stir crazy. According to their Facey-B: "Because we get bored easily, and because it's been about a year since we put out our debut album Step Brothers, and because we missed yas, and because we missed sleeping on our mates' couches, drinking their beers and washing irregularly, we decided to hit the road." One for fans of fuzzy, gazey fun like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Twerps or Bleeding Knees Club, Palms crank a mean, loud live show. Likely to trial material from the upcoming second album, this is set to be a tour-before-the-follow-up type of deal — meaning no holds barred, pressure off, get loose type of fun.
Yasukichi Murakami: Through a Distant Lens casts a spiritual spell onto the SBW Stables Theatre, revealing the little-known but remarkable life story of Japanese photographer Yasukichi Murakami. But it’s much larger than that — a poetic reflection on our modern desire to ‘capture’ every moment. As we strive to immortalise ourselves in the Insta-age, we forget to listen to the ghosts of ancestors who would teach us the message “It’s possible to contribute without recognition”. This play is penned by Mayu Kanamori, a Sydney-based photographer intrigued by cultural intersections of Japan and Australia. The show follows her preoccupation with the figure of Murakami, a photographer, publican, pearl-farm manager and father of nine. His migration to Australia in search of gold, his subsequent life and loves are interesting enough, but Kanamori also uses him to represent the Japanese histories lost in Australia during WWII. Kanamori begins a quest to find Murakami’s precious family portraits, which disappeared when he was interned in 1943. She's searching for ‘truth’ in personal and philosophical realms. Kanamori’s script offers historical findings, as well as many beautiful musings on the art of photography, and artists in general. We are encouraged to use s-l-o-w shutter speed, to notice the details missed by this instant-upload society. Director Malcolm Blaylock wants us to focus fully on the experiences of life, not their over-documentation. Arisa Yura, as the actor playing the writer, ponders, “we take so many photographs, how do we know which ones are important?” Yura walks a line between immersion and observation. As she describes Mayu’s pilgrimage to truth, she both presents the character and reflects upon her own life; her own ghosts. It’s a stunning and convincing performance, enhanced by the ethereal video projections and sound. She has a charming, conversational style, which contrasts with the rigid, formal acting of Kuni Hashimoto, who plays the ghost of Murakami. His performance displays how Japanese traditions may grow to seem strange or stilted for those generations moving away from the rising sun. Ghosts patrol this show. It begins with a funeral, and, as the heroine converses with the dead Murakami, she cannot turn her face to him. Instead, she feels and hears his presence. The gentle music of Terumi Narushima transports us away from the land of the living. It is mesmorising to watch her perform in the near-darkness, playing strings percussively, tapping clock-springs or a wooden instrument that sounds like a hollow skull. As the portraits of long-dead faces flicker past in slideshow, a haunting, whispering chorus of voices connects us to the Japanese bones buried in Australian soil. Murakami invites Mayu and her audience to share a worldview, and be “silent with history” for a short time.
It has dragons, shape-shifting, power struggles and Kit Harington — and someone is told that they know nothing, though not the man best known as Jon Snow. We’re not talking about Game of Thrones. If only. Instead, the latest effort to wave the fantasy flag is Seventh Son. The film is based on the novel The Spook's Apprentice and was actually shot three years ago, but it clearly really wants to be everyone’s favourite TV show. It also wants to be every other story about epic quests, long-held feuds, strange creatures and supernatural powers that has reached a screen — large, small or kindle — over the past ten years or so. The bad news: shared dashes of drama, magic and medieval theming aside, and there's plenty, trying to be just like everything fantasy fans know and love doesn’t do this movie any favours. The worse news: it also leaves it looking like a pale imitation of better work. From the computer-animated monsters to the lukewarm love story, Seventh Son comes second in every category. The title and the tale tell of a young man, Tom Ward (Ben Barnes), whose birth order sees him selected to learn the witch-hunting, realm-protecting trade. He’s not just a seventh son — he’s the seventh son of a seventh son — so legend has it that he’s something extra special. Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges) tries to teach Tom new tricks, but time isn’t on their side. A once-in-a-century blood moon is a mere week away, with evil enchantress Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore) planning to use the occasion to take over the world. If it all sounds like your average good-versus-evil scenario, that’s because it is. More than that, it’s dull, familiarity not quite breeding contempt but certainly not inspiring much interest. That every plot point just feels like an exercise in ticking the requisite boxes doesn’t help, including the complications added when half-witch Alice (Alicia Vikander), the nicer niece of Malkin, falls for our hero. The 3D action sequences do the same; even when they’re trying to ramp up the spectacle with giants, tumbles down waterfalls and shape-shifting henchmen, everything is firmly in by-the-numbers territory. What Seventh Son does boast is ample talent, though two-time Oscar nominee Sergei Bodrov (Prisoner of the Mountains, Mongol) doesn’t fare so well with his slapdash efforts in the director’s chair. Thankfully, 2011 best actor Oscar winner Bridges and newly minted best actress Oscar recipient Moore do better — or as well as they can given what’s being asked of them. Indeed, the veteran performers are the most watchable part of the movie, one grumbling, mumbling and stumbling, the other relishing an over-the-top role, and both as cartoonish as you can get. That Barnes and Vikander — and everything else — seems bland in comparison is hardly surprising. As an adaptation of the first book in a now fourteen-strong series, Seventh Son was obviously once seen as the start of a new film franchise. If there’s any real magic in this movie, it is in ensuring that that doesn’t happen.
From his breakout role as a dimwitted talk show sidekick in The Larry Sanders Show to his fan-favourite turn as the Bluth family patriarch in cult comedy hit Arrested Development to his current part as an elderly transgender woman in the Amazon original comedy-drama Transparent, 70-year-old Jeffrey Tambor has helped bring life to some of television’s most memorable comedic characters. Now he’s headed to Sydney for a one night only show, in the latest addition to the program at Spectrum Now. The event is co-sponsored by local streaming service Stan, who not so coincidentally owns the broadcast rights to Transparent’s first season. Hosted by Spectrum Now’s creative director Richard Roxburgh, the talk will cover some of the greatest hits of Tambor’s 40-year career, from his early years on Broadway to his recent win at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards.
Johnny Depp: is there anything he can’t do? Increasingly, the answer is yes, there’s plenty. Or, maybe it’s more about what he shouldn’t do. For proof, see his recent filmography. From being a mainstay in Tim Burton’s movies, to playing Pirates of the Caribbean’s Jack Sparrow, to nodding nonsensically in disguise in Tusk, Depp’s career has become a parade of almost-indistinguishable quirky characters. He pulls silly faces, talks in a ridiculous voice and stumbles around as though he might fall over at any moment. The premises and predicaments change, but the former 1980s 21 Jump Street teen idol doesn’t, apart from costumes and make-up. Mortdecai provides yet another example, with Depp the eccentric art dealer of the title. He comes from wealth – complete with a stylish wife, Johanna (Gwyneth Paltrow), and a loyal manservant, Jock (Paul Bettany) — but owes the British government £8 million. To maintain his lifestyle, he agrees to help old pal, romantic rival and MI-5 agent Martland (Ewan McGregor) recover a stolen painting shrouded in mystery. A Russian assassin and Nazi treasures also feature. The farcical film kicks off with calamity, ripping off Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as a Hong Kong casino rendezvous ends in a shootout, and doesn’t improve from there. Disaster is key to the plot, with Mortdecai an awkward mix of Mr. Bean and The Pink Panther’s Inspector Clouseau, wreaking havoc wherever he goes — including Moscow and Los Angeles. Disaster is also the only outcome possible for a movie that thinks overripe cheese and cheap port are the height of humour, labels one of its three prominent female characters as a nymphomaniac, and wrings many of its jokes out of gag-reflex reactions to moustaches. “You look like you have a vagina on your face,” Johanna tells Mortdecai in response to his hairy top lip. Yes, really. To be fair to filmmaker David Koepp, who previously worked with Depp on Secret Window, he is taking his cues from existing material. 1973 novel Don't Point that Thing at Me started a series about the oddball aristocrat, but whatever cartoonish joys it may have had are lost in this energetic but overworked update. The flimsy script by Eric Aronson, best known for co-writing rom-com On the Line starring NSYNC’s Lance Bass and Joey Fatone, doesn’t assist matters. If Mortdecai was trying for a manic, frantic combination of smugness, superficiality, and stupidity, then it succeeds — though surely that wasn’t the aim. As for Depp, he is as committed as ever, but also as tiresome. Sharing zero charisma with his co-stars makes every second he is on screen seem like an eternity; and while Paltrow, McGregor, Bettany, Jeff Goldblum and Oliva Munn easily overshadow him, they do so as stale stereotypes, and clearly bored and unhappy. Mortdecai, the man and the movie, just isn’t something anyone wants to spend time with. Chalk it up as one of the same supposedly comedic efforts Depp makes too many of, and everyone else should be running far away from.
The Golden Age Cinema presents an exceptionally well-balanced selection of music-driven cinema that will have you dressed as Bjork by Sunday. First up they're celebrating the arrival down under of beloved Glaswegians Belle and Sebastian with a Wednesday screening of God Help the Girl, the directorial debut of frontman Stuart Murdoch. Following on Saturday is a beauty of a double bill: beginning with Nas: Time is Illmatic (a doco on the making of Nas's benchmark debut 1994 album Illmatic) and opened by guest presenters Groovescooter and Eastside Radio. Saturday will finish with a Bjork dress-up party for the screening of the brilliant concert film Bjork: Biophilia Live. To finish Sunday are The Slow Downs, performing live their 'Hillbilly Disco Review' in between screenings of The Good the Bad and the Ugly and No Country for Old Men and giving you the inevitable cool down you will require after that many Bjorks in one room.
The vinyl revival is at its height, meaning that if you're reading an article about Record Store Day, you're either one of those junkies hooked on the spinning black stuff or you're checking in on when this musical nostalgia trend is going to go away. While music sales in all other formats are decreasing, record sales have increased by a whopping 900 percent since 2004, with 9.2 million copies sold globally in 2014. So it's not surprising that heading to Record Store Day might feel like caving to trend. But besides special edition releases, discounts and maybe a few in-store gigs, Record Store Day has got something else going for it. It's a day to celebrate that tactile connection with music you get with vinyl in a sleeve — that childish need to have music in the shape of an object that's yours yours yours. For you converted, basically this Saturday is a chance for you to nerd out. Share in the stupid excitement of finding and owning your favourite album or forking out a precious $10 on an unknown new band in the hopes that you might own something heavenly that no one else has. Head to your local store, gather with your kindred junkies and talk favourite albums, perfect finds and collections, like we know you really want to.
For the second year running the Newtown Hotel will be quenching your thirst with a Cider Fair that celebrates your favourite apple-flavoured and bubbly beverage. Alongside live folk music and delicious pork treats, the main event will be the 26 different varieties of local and international ciders on offer. If you're into discovering smaller local labels, you can head for Newtown's local brewers Young Henrys, Fog City Cider from Melbourne (known for their sangria-styled brews) or Willie Smith's 100% organic brew from Huon Valley, Tasmania. Bigger international names on the menu include Bulmers and Kirin, while an interesting international newcomer is Sidra Del Verano, brewed in the Basque region of Spain in San Sebastian. On top of the Newtown Hotel's usual pub fare, pulled pork and cider rolls will be going for $12 and there will be performances from bluegrass-tinged folk artist Brother Jimmy, an inner-west mandolin player formerly of local band The Morrisons.
West Elm are teaming up with Etsy to bring you an afternoon of crafty goodness from some standout online designers at their Sydney and Melbourne stores. From 1pm to 6pm on June 21, you will be able to track down and purchase unique items made by local artisans. Better yet, there's no need for postage fees or waiting periods. Etsy has curated a stellar lineup of 16 sellers, offering everything from nifty jewellery and inspiring stationery through to repurposed timber homewares and hand-poured soy candles. There will be a broad range of handmade products oozing with style and personality. Plus, you'll get to chat to your local innovators over treats and tunes. In recent years, the Brooklyn-based retailer and the online marketplace have turned from competitors into unlikely collaborators, citing the common goal of injecting a bit of integrity and authenticity into the crafts and homewares market. On the whole, it's pretty cool that this mega-brand is giving shelf space to indie crafters. But don't forget, this pop-up is on for one day only. Snooze ya lose. Photo credit: Kimberly Chau Lee.
Brothers Wreck is a superb piece of theatre. Set in Darwin, Jada Alberts’ contemporary drama follows the life of a tight-knit, if troubled, Indigenous family. Daily life in the top end is interrupted by torrential rain, plenty of expletives and much laughter. Designer Dale Ferguson has transformed the upstairs theatre at Belvoir into a simple home interior with a concrete floor, metal beams and upturned milk crates serving as the family coffee table. The play follows the redemptive journey of Ruben (Hunter Page-Lochard), a 21-year-old masquerading as a tough guy to get through the grief of losing his best friend, Joe, to suicide. Ruben’s sister, Adele (Rarriwuy Hick); her boyfriend (Bjorn Stewart); and Ruben's Aunty Petra (Lisa Flanagan) rally around him to make sure he doesn't suffer the same fate. The story of a troubled young man blaming himself for events beyond his control may not be new, but it is extremely moving. The narrative simplicity of Alberts’ story is a strength in this production, as each actor is crystal clear and hell bent on their objective, to save Ruben. This clarity is also down to Leah Purcell’s direction. She uses clever snap transitions from nightclub to lounge room to counsellor’s office, driving the action headlong to the climax, followed by a warm and tender denouement. This is cathartic drama at its best. Page-Lochard as Ruben is remarkable to watch. From the first scene, where he sits paralysed by the trauma of seeing his dead friend, to his embarrassingly cocky, drunken displays of bravura, he’s a physically dynamic, captivating presence on stage. Hick and Stewart as lovers portray convincing tenderness and Stewart is every bit the gentle giant, refusing to leave Ruben’s side even when he’s being a belligerent little shit. Cramer Cain, playing Ruben’s counsellor, is poised and intelligent but fierce when he needs to be. Lisa Flanagan as Aunty Petra enters the fray halfway through and lifts the stakes, hitting Ruben with impressive authority that his sister and counsellor don’t hold over him. The genuine care the cast have for each other is palpable. Brothers Wreck is powerful storytelling, which deservedly received a standing ovation on opening night. Go and see this play. Image by Brett Boardman.
Venice Beach's grungy hype-fueller Sky Ferreira will drop into the Newtown Hotel for a cheeky DJ set on Thursday, July 24. Preceding her Splendour in the Grass appearance, the Californian pop artist will spin some tunes supported by Fingertips and Snapback DJs. Fresh off the back of supporting Miley Cyrus' Bangerz Tour, 21-year-old Ferreira will no doubt relish the change of pace with this laidback DJ set and an intimate all-ages show at the Metro — allowing her to showcase the raw vulnerability of her debut LP Night Time, My Time. Ever the boundary-pusher with a self-described destructive streak, let's just hope the pop powerhouse manages to not get arrested, hospitalized or injured before making her much awaited return. Sky Ferreira will play at Newtown Hotel on Thursday, July 24 supported by Fingertips and Snapback DJs from 8pm (and FREE). If you're keen to see more Ferreira favourites head to her official sideshow at the Metro Theatre on Friday, July 25. Words by Jack Gow and Shannon Connellan. https://youtube.com/watch?v=pWo7SC-tG4U
