This show at the Art Gallery of NSW’s Yiribana Gallery will illuminate a specific strand of Koori art practice — the use of line by male artists. The historical scope of artists represented will be drawn from pre-contact to today and will include William Barak, Tommy McRae, Roy Kennedy, HJ Wedge, Steaphan Paton and Reko Rennie. Showcasing a variety of materials – from shields through to paintings – Murrywaygu will examine the cultural evolution of line and its myriad applications. Image: Tommy McRae, Spearing the kangaroo (circa 1880s-circa 1890s).
The Chauvel Cinema will showcase the best of contemporary Iranian cinema, as part of Sydney's third annual Persian International Film Festival. Highlighting six critically acclaimed films from the region, the festival aims to challenge audience perceptions while exploring the social and political issues facing people in the Persian world. Certainly, Iran has for the past two decades been among the most exciting global film cultures, in spite of the draconian censorship laws imposed upon its filmmakers. Director Mohammad Rasoulof received a one-year jail sentence for filming without a permit and had his passport confiscated by the security services after making his latest film, Manuscripts Don't Burn. The internationally lauded thriller will open the festival in Sydney and is definitely work seeking out. In a similar vein, both Hossein Shahabi's The Bright Day and Parviz Shahbazi's Tapped explore injustice within the Iranian legal system, featuring characters imprisoned on false or unfair charges. On a blessedly lighter note, closing night will feature Don't Be Tired!, a cross-cultural road-trip comedy. https://youtube.com/watch?v=YKOILvEcHbA
Sit yourself down at a table in the middle of the brewery and enjoy ridiculous amounts of pig, lamb shoulder and beer can chicken all washed down with some of The Rocks' own range. It's medieval enough, with tankards of beer and spit-roasted animals. You might as well dress the part. Now is the time to dig out your tunics and party like its 1299. This event is one of our top ten picks of Sydney Craft Beer Week. Check out the other nine. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
If there's one thing the entertainment industry loves at the moment, it's turning movies into something else. Musicals and television shows, to be exact. Following in the footsteps of La La Land, Amelie and a wealth of others, The Devil Wears Prada is the latest film making the leap to another medium. Yes, the fashion-focused workplace drama is headed to the the stage in musical form. Showing just how terrifying your boss has to be to make you not just scream, but sing, the film-to-theatre adaptation will take its cues from the 2003 novel the movie was based on, as well as the 2006 flick starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. And, it'll come with songs from a famous source, with Elton John signing on to compose the production's music. If this sounds partly familiar, that's because taking The Devil Wears Prada to the stage has been mooted since 2015, but without any specific details. John will join forces with playwright and screenwriter Paul Rudnick (Sister Act, Addams Family Values) to bring the tale of aspiring journalist Andy Sachs, her haughty, haute couture magazine editor Miranda Priestley to singing-and-dancing life. No word yet on casting, or when the musical will become the kind of hot ticket that a million girls would kill for. Via Deadline.
"If you come and have a look at what we're doing, there's going to be something fun that you'll want to check out," says co-owner Richard Adamson with a glance around his (currently covered in Bill Murray portraits) brewery cum tasting bar cuddled between Newtown and Enmore. This is Young Henrys, a boutique brewery run by Ben Joseph, Oscar McMahon and Adamson that after a mere 18 months has emerged as a major player in Sydney's craft beer resurgence. Henrys has already expanded twice to meet demand and now supplies some 40 venues, but the true testament to their success is just how many of us enjoy their signature sippers. In fact, if you are yet to come across their Natural Lager or Real Ale, it could be time to broaden your watering hole horizons. "There's nothing really that new in brewing," says head brewer Adamson, previously of Barons Brewing. "It's been around for thousands of years. So anyone who says they are going to do something new is probably lying." So, what is their secret? It sounds suspiciously like an Italian proverb (and maybe it is), but what they are doing here really boils down to making beer about life, not life about beer. Art, food, music, and sense of community have played a major role in the evolution of their business and their products. For example, the Newtowner — an English Summer Ale brewed by invitation of the council for 150 years of the municipality — remains only available to businesses in the Inner West, and yet is still their third most popular brew. People with their eyes on the beer world will know Henry's for their love of puns and innovative limited releases, including collaborations with bands like PVT and You Am I (Brew Am I) along with their widely talked about seafood series — the first of which, the Mother Shucka, a now sold-out oyster-infused stout, came out of a dinner story about McMahon's mother. "'Cause she's a demon at shucking oysters and we thought, that's a great name for a beer!" Not ones to look back, they are currently luring folds to the tasting bar with A Few of My Favourite Things and Porky's Peach Prescription — a Belgian IPA with truffle and smoked bacon and a mead ale brewed in collaboration with Sydney Living Museum. Or, resist till the opening of Sydney Craft Beer Week (October 19-26), when a swarm of be-cycled Shane Warnes, Angus Young and probably the entire Wu Tang Clan (Bill Murray included) take over Newtown for the first annual Pub Claw. Along with cycling enthusiasts the Spokes People, Young Henrys will host an Inner West treasure hunt for an untold number of beer enthusiasts dressed as their favourite party-animals as they wheel through bars and pubs all for the promise of a Claw afterparty. The simple approach of sparking interest in beer with — wait for it — things that interest them has paid off for the Young Henrys boys, but there's still no denying that people are enjoying an increasing variety of beers and breweries. "I just think people are more interested in what's in their food and where it comes from," says Adamson. "I think MasterChef had a lot to do with that, and the resurgence of small bars has been really, really good for us as well." Young Henrys Tasting Bar is open from 10am-7pm, Monday-Saturday for tastings, brewer's banter, takeaways and brewery tours (by appointment).
In the long line of the immersive experiences, perhaps the most original is the classic murder mystery. If you were a big fan of Cluedo as a kid, you know how this one goes — a group of shady characters find themselves grouped together under suspicious circumstances, and that's when the ultimate crime is committed. A spooky murder mystery is one thing, but take it to the high seas, make it interactive and you've got a whole new level of bone-chilling fun. So, we're betting you'll want some pretty strong nerves to tackle the Australian National Maritime Museum's upcoming Murder Mystery at Sea experience. Launching Friday, September 14 for a limited four-date run, this one's an immersive 'whodunnit' adventure, unfolding creepily aboard the aptly named Navy Destroyer HMAS Vampire. At night. Audiences will find themselves transported back to the Cold War era, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, deciphering spooky SOS messages and cracking a series of clues to solve the mysterious murder of their ship's crew and captain. Tickets will set you back $56 or $49 if you're a student.
They're the masters of immersive thrills, such as smash-hit shipping container installations Seance, Coma and Flight, also known as the Darkfield series, but not even the folks at Realscape Productions are immune to the realities of pandemic life. They're currently locked down with the rest of Melbourne, putting their nerve-jangling real-life projects on hiatus until later in the year. Luckily, in the meantime, Realscape and Darkfield (UK creators) have teamed up for a brand-new audio experience fans can enjoy from the comfort of home. This one's called Double and, while it's delivered remotely, it's geared to be every bit as creepy and unsettling as its IRL predecessors. Launching this Friday, July 17, Double is being presented via the producers' new digital project Darkfield Radio. Like its siblings, it plunges participants deep into an immersive experience by perplexing the senses — this time, with the use of a 360-degree binaural sound, played through your own headphones. Double requires a two-person set-up, with players seated across a table from each other. The pair of you will then tune into a special 20-minute broadcast, at the exact time as hundreds of other players across the country. And there's just one rule to follow: everyone has to be who they say they are. True to form, the exact details are kept vague until you're living the immersion, but we do know Double pulls inspiration from the Capgras delusion, a condition which sees a sufferer convinced that a loved one has been replaced by an imposter (sometimes an evil-intentioned one). Prepare to have your truths shaken and the familiar warped, right there at your kitchen table. If you live in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire, do remember that you're not allowed visitors in your home — unless it is to deliver care or essential services — but, you can visit your partner if you don't live together. For more information on the stay-at-home orders, head to the DHHS website. Tickets for Double are $10 and on sale now through the website. Early-bird tickets are available for $7 for the first week of shows, starting Friday, July 17. Images: Alex Purcell
Young Henrys have teamed up with Brisbane boys Dune Rats and have given a beautiful birth to the Dunies Lager, which the band calls, "A can so cold it'll cool ya house." The brand new brew, like most great inventions, came from a pub bet. "We hung out with our mates Young Henrys one arvo and it came up that we were gunning for number one when our new album dropped," the band says. "The fellas said if you get the top spot we'll brew you your own beer." So when the Dune Rats' second album, The Kids Will Know It's Bullshit, unsurprisingly made its debut on the ARIA charts at numero uno, the lads at Young Henrys stuck to their word and knocked up a batch of crisp lager to honour the bet. Behold, the bet winners: And let's face it, the equally-as-happy-looking bet losers: The Dunies Lager is sold in tinnies, either in the six pack or by the case, with a Dune Rats-yellow design by artist Lee McConnell. On top of that, a select few venues around Sydney will be treated to a keg or two, so there'll be the chance to whet your whistle with the draft stuff. Now, you can't release the product of a beautiful union like Young Henrys and Dune Rats without throwing a big ol' party to celebrate, and the Dunies Lager won't be an exception. There's a shindig going down this Sunday, February 26 in Darlinghurst. Tickets are free, but there are only 200 available here, so best to get in quick. Mary's will be onsite with food available to purchase and and everyone through the door before 8pm will get a free drink on arrival. The combination of bands and booze isn't a new one. It's not even Young Henrys first foray, having created the Pils 'N' Thrills with DZ Deathrays last year. However, a brand new beer from a brewery and a band like Young Henrys and Dune Rats is nothing to shake a stick at, so check out the Young Henrys website for further instructions on how the blow the froth off a few cold ones.
Ah, the poignancy of Grand Theft Auto V. We're not even kidding. There's no denying that the naturalistic light effects of GTA 5 are astoundingly realistic, and really quite beautiful to behold. Hazy daylight, golden sunsets and atmospheric nightscapes are equally convincing in the world of the game, which has been the talk of the town since its recent launch. GTA 5's aesthetic appeal has not escaped the notice of 20-year-old Brazilian SVA art student Fernando Pereira Gomes, an avid street photographer and gamer who recognised certain parallels between his two passions. He's been taking artistic stills using a character's in-game camera phone in GTA 5, composing shots just as though he were turning a camera lens on the real world, and the results are both sensitive and pretty dope. In-game photography is not new, as seen here. Gomes, who's one of those hardcore fans that stood in line to grab a copy of the game at midnight when it first launched, got the idea for his ongoing series Street Photography V when he began simply driving around GTA 5's various pixelated Los Santos landscapes and realised how the movement of the characters through digital vistas resembled scenes he'd try to capture IRL every day — not least because of the unpredictability of the scenes unfolding, and their fleeting nature. As he told The Independent, "It was very similar to photographing on actual streets — with me having to run across the road, pulling out my camera in time, framing the shot, and taking it at the right moment.” On his site he says: "The game is so realistic that it felt like being in the streets outside ... anticipating passersby’s movements and reactions. In a way, it was also incredibly frightening that these algorithms could look so real, or is it that we ourselves are becoming ever more algorithmic?" The pictures reveal what attracts Gomes's eye: frequently the images are wide angle shots with an isolated figure turned away from us, a shadow cutting the frame in half or a perfectly flat and symmetrical view of a figure or two against a wall. Be sure to check them out.
Short of physically volunteering your time, there aren't many ways you can help those in need over lunch. But Sydney-based social enterprise food company Two Good is trying to change that, with their buy-one, give-one lunch delivery model. After launching in Melbourne in September last year, Two Good has continued to deliver delicious salads through Deliveroo in the two cities — and for every one sold, a meal is donated to domestic violence shelters in both. They're not just any old salads either. After working with Yotam Ottolenghi and renowned Melbourne chef Andrew McConnell last season, the Two Good guys — Rob Caslick and Cathal Flaherty — have teamed up with Melbourne's Ben Shewry of the 33rd best restaurant in the world Attica to create a lunch option that far surpasses any soggy salad you were planning on making in your office's kitchenette this afternoon. The kimchi, chicken and soba noodle salad will be available to order for lunch through Deliveroo for $14 each Tuesday starting today, which is a pretty standard price for a salad in this town. And, considering for each salad you order Two Good will donate a meal to a domestic violence shelter in your city, it's an incredibly low-cost way to feed yourself and help someone who needs it. Meals are donated to shelters around NSW and Victoria. What's more, Two Good also employ women from the shelters they work with in NSW, and are looking to do the same in Victoria in the near future. If you want to buy a salad, you can place an order through Deliveroo between 11am and 2pm in Melbourne and Sydney. For more information on Two Good, go to twogood.com.au.
Merivale's much talked about mammoth 2016 opening is finally opening its doors at noon on Good Friday. If you want to be one of the first to visit The Newport to experience the expansive beer garden, pizzeria, 'vintage gymnasium' and menu by chef Sebastien Lutaud, make your way up to the Northern Beaches on Friday and/or Saturday for all of the above, as well as live music and DJs. But Sunday is when the real action kicks off. They'll be holding an Easter egg hunt at 9am (with gold coin donations going to charity) and the very first Newport Sunday Sundown session will also kick off at 3pm, with Saskwatch, Yes You and Two Can playing. Best of all, it's free.
If you'd like to spend the rest of 2022 hopping between music festivals and doing very little else, that's definitely a possibility. Everything from Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival to Woodford Folk Fest, Spilt Milk, Lost Paradise, Festival X, Grapevine Gathering, Beyond The Valley and Jungle Love is making a comeback before the year is out — and, as just-announced, so is The Grass Is Greener. Queenslanders should already be familiar with the music, food and art festival, which made its debut back in 2016. In 2022, it'll return to Cairns and the Gold Coast, spreading the love from one end of the Sunshine State to the other. And in excellent news for festival fans and music lovers down south, it's also branching out further for the first time ever. Your destinations: Canberra and Geelong, with The Grass Is Greener expanding nationally but keeping a focus on bringing tunes to cities beyond the usual state capitals. It'll do the regional rounds across the last two weekends in October, starting on the Goldie, hopping down to the ACT, zipping back up to its Tropical North Queensland birthplace, then wrapping up its 2022 run in Victoria. "With plans to grow The Grass Is Greener into a national festival falling through in 2020, we couldn't be more thrilled to bring regional Australia a truly unique offering they deserve," said organisers Handpicked Group. Each 2022 stop will boast multiple — and themed — stages, other eye-catching activations, and VIP packages. Exactly who'll be on the bill won't be announced till Thursday, June 16; however, given that The Grass Is Greener has played host to Amy Shark, All Day, Hayden James, Ocean Alley and Tyga before, expect a characteristically impressive lineup spanning both international and Aussie artists. [caption id="attachment_856350" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Curdin Photo[/caption] THE GRASS IS GREENER 2022 DATES: Saturday, October 22 — Gold Coast Sunday, October 23 — Canberra Saturday, October 29 — Cairns Sunday, October 30 — Geelong The Grass Is Greener will hit the Gold Coast, Canberra, Cairns and Geelong in October 2022. The full lineup will be announced on Thursday, June 16 — head back here then for further details — with pre-sale tickets going on sale from Wednesday, June 22 and general sales from Thursday, June 23. Head to the festival website for more info and to register for pre-sales. Images: Mitch Lowe and Curdin Photo.
It might not be quite the same as jetting off on an international getaway, but the banks of Circular Quay are about to get a taste of New Caledonian beach life, as part of a four-day pop-up this July. A whole heap of sand will transform the eastern side of the quay, between the ferry terminals and the Sydney Opera House, into a tropical oasis inspired by the French island's beach villages. The summery beach is part of the city's annual Bastille Festival, which also includes a wintry Christmas in July Village over in the Rocks. As well as New Caledonia, the temporary beach takes inspiration from the artificial beaches that pop-up along the Seine in Paris during summer. The Sydney beach, however, will have a bit more going on. From July 11 to 14, the sandy stretch is set to be the ultimate playground for those avoiding winter, dotted with beach chairs and palm trees and filled with cocktails, treasure hunts, games and island-inspired fare. Imagine lazing beneath the beach umbrellas while you tuck into the likes of barbecued prawn and pineapple skewers and coconut-glazed roast pork, before sampling limited-edition Noumea-style ice cream treats and desserts from your mates at KOI and Messina. Yep, the Sydney dessert big guns are getting involved for this one. To match, there'll be a bar serving a cocktail selection heavy on rum, coconut and pineapple, along with a tidy lineup of French rosé and bubbles. But it doesn't have to be all lounging and lazing. If you prefer a more adventurous sort of summer getaway, round up your own crew of pirates to take part in a giant treasure hunt, trekking all through Circular Quay and the Rocks. Or, have a crack at 'coconut pétanque' — a riff on the classic European game, which plays a little like Aussie lawn bowls. The Island Kanak Beach Village will be open from Thursday–Saturday 10am–10.30pm and Sunday 10am–8.30pm.
Recently opening the Sydney Film Festival to great buzz, 20,000 Days on Earth is a documentary that's fiction. It imagines the 20,000th day on earth of singer and raconteur Nick Cave, and it's a day that includes him talking to his shrink, recording an album, helping archivists make sense of his historical record, lunching with his pals, driving Kylie Minogue around Brighton, and playing at the Sydney Opera House. A pretty great day, by any standards. Instead of clarity and chronology, what you get is a fragmented sense of biography that you have to put together yourself, or let wash over you as a series of impressions, sensations and enraptured moments. Artists-turned-directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard have basically conjured a new format here, made sweeter by the flair and flamboyance Cave brings. 20,000 Days on Earth is in cinemas on August 21, and thanks to Madman Entertainment, we have ten double in-season passes to give away in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=a8vy-DO-I5E
We’ve known for a while that Public Enemy are headlining the eighth Golden Plains Festival next year, so we knew it would probably kick a fair few arses. But we had no idea it would be this many. The lineup includes such a tasty smorgasbord of local and international artists that the March long weekend can’t come quick enough. The overseas contingent boasts some of the world’s finest, including the soulful, confusing and perpetually beautiful Neko Case, Japanese funk legends Osaka Monaurail and Kiwi super-dub soldiers Fat Freddy’s Drop. The home crowd is just as exciting, with rock stalwarts You Am I leading the charge, followed closely by new rave pioneers Cut Copy and the supernatural soul crew that has earned Questlove’s glowing endorsement, Hiatus Kaiyote. The lineup is an eclectic mix of dance, funk, soul, blues and good ol’ rock 'n' roll, all spaced out with care over a long weekend in the country. Hot damn, we say to Golden Plains. Hot damn to the promise of a chilled-out festival in the middle of nowhere with a lineup that’s got something for everyone, and then a little more. Words cannot express. For the full lineup, check out the Golden Plains website. The ballot is open now for tickets.
Summer is over for now and spring is still almost half a year away. But if you want to start thinking ahead, Surfers Paradise is set to welcome a brand new attraction that'll keep you busy when the warm weather hits. Do you like hanging out by the beach? Splashing around in several pools? Enjoying a few games of volleyball on the sand? Watching a movie under the stars? If you answered yes to all of these questions — and you also like to spend your sunny days and starry nights kicking back in a cabana, hopping between multiple restaurants and bars, dancing to DJs and gathering the gang on a rooftop with a view — then you'll want to add Cali Beach Club to your must-visit list. First announced late in 2020 and originally scheduled to open this past summer, Cali Beach Club will feature all of the aforementioned facilities and activities in the one spot. Yes, it's going to be more than a little jam-packed with things to do when it launches just in time for spring this year. Although an exact opening date hasn't yet been revealed, the new precinct will officially open on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Elkhorn Avenue sometime in August — perched four levels about the street, sprawling across more than 5000 square metres, and boasting vantages over both the ocean and the Surfers' skyline. The Gold Coast might be known for its theme parks, but this is shaping up to be the boozy adult alternative, as run by Australian hospitality group Artesian Hospitality. Whether you're a Brisbanite heading down the highway, a Sydney or Melbourne resident enjoying the lack of border restrictions, or hail from elsewhere in the country, you'll find quite the spread awaiting once you step inside. That includes four pools to swim in, and plenty of daybeds, sun lounges and cabanas where you can while away the hours. There'll also be exercise areas and sports facilities, such as the aforementioned beach volleyball court, and a dance floor as well. In terms of food and drink, you'll have options, thanks to two restaurants and four bars. Exact details of what they'll be serving, and what'll make them different from each other, haven't yet been revealed — but one eatery will sit right by the ocean. Come evening, a moonlit cinema will screen flicks by the water — again, though, no other details have been revealed. Showing Jaws and Point Break seems like a must, however, because everyone likes catching movies about the sea while they're literally right next to it. [caption id="attachment_793063" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Map of Cali Beach Club[/caption] All the other questions you're currently pondering — such as opening hours, cost, capacity and social distancing measures — haven't been answered yet either. But, while it looks perfect for spring and summer shenanigans, Cali Beach Club plans to operate year-round. The Gold Coast does have the weather for it, after all. And, although the precinct will officially welcome in the general public in August, it'll actually be completed sometime in June. Over that two-month gap, it'll let a few exclusive corporate functions and events — and even weddings — have the run of the place. If you or someone you know are currently looking for a space for a up to 150 guest for a special occasion, take note. Cali Beach Club will open on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Elkhorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise, sometime in August 2021 — we'll update you when an exact date is announced.
Kylie Kwong is one of Sydney's most admired chefs, and she'll share the secrets to some of her tastiest Australian-Chinese food creations at a cooking masterclass taking place at Carriageworks on September 17. Owner of one of our favourite Sydney restaurants Billy Kwong, Kylie is a powerhouse in the cooking world and has a lot of fingers in a lot of delicious pies. She manages the running of her busy fine-dining restaurant at the same time as hosting a cooking show (Heart and Soul), popping up on Masterchef every now and then, and writing six books that celebrate traditional principles of Cantonese food. She's also just returned from presenting at René Redzepi's MAD5 Symposium in Copenhagen, Denmark, so there's that. Kylie's philosophies are collaboration, celebration and community with a focus on using fresh Australian produce, while staying true to the Cantonese food principles she learned from her mum. We wish we'd listened more to our own mums on the cooking front and were as good as Kylie. In the meantime, there's this masterclass. Get your $25 ticket via Carriageworks.
The close ties between Italy and Australian can't be ignored. Italians love pasta and wine, and we also love pasta and wine, after all. Accordingly, what better way to celebrate this joyful union than to head along to an Italian street festival on your Sunday. Returning for 2019, Ferragosto will bring a solid dose of Italian culture, food and general entertainment to Sydney's Five Dock on Sunday, August 18, with over 150 food stalls hawking street eats and handmade goodness (including Pasticceria Papa's famed ricotta cheesecake), as well as dance and music across five stages. Aussie singer and former Home and Away star Johnny Ruffo will headline alongside comedian Joe Avati — and if you've ever wished you were cruising across Florence on a vespa, there'll be a bunch of fancy Italian vehicles on display. Last year's event drew more than 100,000 people, so it seems that the people of Sydney enjoy Italian culture a fair amount: and with this being Ferragosto's 22nd birthday, the obsession doesn't seem to be fading. What's to argue with when it comes to pizza and cannoli, really? Ferragosto runs from 10am–4pm. Image: Ann-Marie Calihann
After a funding dispute resulted in the cancellation of Corroboree Sydney, the fate of the Black Arts Market was up in the air. But, luckily, Carriageworks came to the rescue, and has given the Indigenous arts market a new home at their Eveleigh site this November. Featuring 55 stallholders and 93 Aboriginal artists from Australia's southeast region, the two-day market is a showcase of the cultural heritage of southeastern Aboriginal Australia. The market itself has been curated by former curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales Hetti Perkins, and Sydney-based Aboriginal multimedia artist Jonathan Jones. According to Perkins and Jones, the market "showcases artists who have transformed their traditional knowledge and skills into contemporary artworks and products of wonderful and inspiring diversity". It will feature 55 stallholders, including shell artist Esme Timbery (whose work earned her the inaugural Parliament of New South Wales Indigenous Art Prize back in 2005), Aboriginal florist Flannel Billy, who will be creating native floral arrangements on-site, and Uncle Greg Simms, who'll demonstrate wood carving techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with the artists and learn about southeast Australian Indigenous cultural practices, as well as purchase works, which will include homewares, ceramics, weavings and contemporary visual arts. Local Indigenous students from Alexandria Park Community School and Darlington Public School have also collaborated with established artists to create a Welcome to Country book and a collection of contemporary rugs called the Jarjums Collection, respectively. The Black Arts Market will take place at Carriageworks on November 12-13. For more information, visit carriageworks.com.au.
The rise of the smartphone has seen the demise of the public telephone booth. Good riddance, you might say — those things were an eyesore anyway (and they didn't even have Instagram). But it's a bit of a different story in the UK; their fire engine-red phone booth are iconic cultural landmarks, and the streets of London just wouldn't look the same without 'em. So to stop them from entering extinction, New York co-working company Bar Works are looking to repurpose the booths into tiny on-street offices. It's not the first time someone has decided to give telephone boxes a new life — Berlin have turned theirs into a series of mini nightclubs — but it certainly seems like the most productive way to use them. Pod Works, which will be launching in London, Edinburgh and Leeds, will transform the phone booths into mini workstations for people who are working in the city and need a place to tap out some emails, make a call or prep for a meeting on the go. The pod 'offices' will be fully equipped with Wi-Fi and internet connections, a printer and scanner, a wireless mouse, a 25-inch screen, a hot drinks machine and a power source. Membership will cost £19.99 (roughly AUD $39) and will allow you to access the pods whenever you like through an app on your phone. "Entrepreneurs and others constantly on the move need a convenient, affordable and private place to work," said CEO Jonathan Black in a press release. "Why should they sit in Starbucks or any other coffee bar when using one of our Pods will allow them to truly focus on their job before an important meeting or presentation at less than the price of two cups of coffee a week?" If you've ever had to make an important Skype call in a loud cafe with shitty Wi-Fi (or had to endure someone else doing the same), you'll know that an insulated internet pod is exactly what this world needs. Telstra, please take note. Image: Negative Space.
It's a series about the squabbling children of a global media baron who, after their father's health takes an unexpected turn, start trying to position themselves as next in line to the empire. It's obviously set among the one percent, in lives of luxury and privilege that most folks will never know, too. But the idea that depiction doesn't equal endorsement is as rich in Succession as its always-bickering characters. Created by Peep Show's Jesse Armstrong — someone who knows more than a thing or two about black comedy — this Emmy, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, Writers Guild and Directors Guild Award-winner is savagely witty, darkly biting and often laugh-out-loud funny about its chosen milieu. Succession also has one of the best casts currently on TV, and its stars keep picking up accolades and nominations that demonstrate just that. Brian Cox is as formidable as ever as family patriarch Logan Roy, but he's matched at every moment by Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin and Australian actor Sarah Snook as three of the four Roy children.
Autumn might be in full swing across Australia — whatever autumn looks like in your part of the country — but an endless summer now awaits. Fancy spending a year flying around the country, and the world, to various beach spots? Win Jetstar's latest giveaway and that's on your agenda. The Aussie airline is handing out a golden ticket — and, because it isn't Willy Wonka, there's no free chocolate involved. Instead, the carrier is gifting the lucky recipient a year's worth of free flights, although there is a limit to how much you can get soaring over a 12-month period. One person will receive up to $24,000 in Jetstar flights, which'll come in the form of 12 return flights to any beach within Australia, plus six international return flights — both for two people. So, if you win, your other half / bestie / sibling is going to want to start making holiday plans, too. Before you can go in the running for the contest, which is only open to over 18s, you need to start how Jetstar wants you to continue: by hitting up a local beach. Until Thursday, March 16, the airline is asking for your snaps — but where you'll need to head, when and what you'll need to do for your picture varies. On Saturday, March 11 in Melbourne, for instance, you'll need to head to Catani Gardens Beach in St Kilda between 10am–12pm. On Sunday, March 12 in Sydney, the same applies at Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club from 10am–12pm, too. At both spots, folks will find a pair of 14-karat gold trunks. And yes, that's what you'll need to take a photo of — a selfie, in fact — then upload it to Instagram Stories while tagging @JetstarAustralia #TheGoldenTicketTogs. Those shimmering swimmers won't be heading elsewhere, but residents of Canberra will still want to hit up Lake Burley Griffin from 9am–5pm on Monday, March 13 — and Adelaide inhabitants should make their way to Adelaide Oval from 9am–5pm on Tuesday, March 14. In Perth, you're going to City Beach from 9am–5pm on Wednesday, March 15. And southeast Queenslanders, including Brisbanites, have a date with the Pelican Beach boat ramp on the Gold Coast in their future from 9am–5pm on Thursday, March 16. Visit those togs-free spots in the ACT, SA, WA and Queensland, and you'll be looking for Golden Ticket Togs posters and billboards. Again, you'll need to take a pic, then upload to Instagram Stories while tagging @JetstarAustralia #TheGoldenTicketTogs. Jetstar advises that the most creative golden snap will win, so interpret that however you like. It'll then pick one per state/territory, and open up the ultimate winner to a public vote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jetstar Australia (@jetstaraustralia) Jetstar's Golden Ticket Togs promotion runs on different dates in different states, closing with its Queensland leg on Thursday, March 16. Head to Jetstar's Instagram for further details, and the airline's website for terms and conditions. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Sometimes it seems like most up-and-coming bands gather their inspiration from the same batch of indie artists. If you've grown tired of the monotony, fear not, for some new sounds are coming to Australia soon — Japanese alt sounds, that is. Sonny King of Melbourne rock band Lucy's Crown is eager to show just how great Japanese alternative music can be with Australia's first Japan Music Festival. Featuring bands Jill, 101A, Sparky Quano and Kaimokujisho, King set out to represent the large range of sound that exists in the underground music scene of Japan, from J-Pop to J-Rock. "I was on tour with Lucy's Crown in Tokyo and was astonished just how good the Japanese underground bands were that we played with and thought that Australia should see them," says King. Choosing bands that were enthusiastic about coming to Australia was another big factor in how the acts were chosen. He also took into account how Australian audiences might respond to them. "It was a difficult process because there were so many good bands but we wanted diversity in both music and image and we also needed them to be accessible to the people going to the gigs," says King. Japanese music, especially of the underground variety, is constantly evolving. Yet it still holds onto the roots of the previous musical trend. Bars and clubs that cater to a particular music genre or band are very popular in Tokyo. "There are Ritchie Blackmore bars, Yngwie Malmsteen bars, Jeff Beck bars, clubs and restaurants for The Stones and The Beatles, '60s bars, '70s bars, '80s bars, the list is almost endless," says King. King is optimistic about the future reach of Japanese music in Australia. With the internet becoming such an influential way to get smaller bands heard, it's only a matter of time before musicians from Japan and other similar countries break into international markets. The problem, he says, is the oversaturation now prevalent in the music world. "It's a bit like learning to read and then being taken to a world library and being told to help yourself," says King. "You'd start with what is familiar, Australian, English, American, etcetera. and eventually you'd get around to the Japanese stuff, and that's the same with exploring world music." Though this is only the first Japan Music Festival, King is optimistic about the future. "We already have the foundations in place for next year and are receiving discs from Japanese bands who want to come." With four shows scheduled in three cities, and music and instrument demonstrations happening at select JB Hi-Fi stores, the Japan Music Festival promises music entirely different from the usual festival line-up. For now, King is keeping focused on running a successful first festival. "This is the inaugural event so once it's finished I can sit back, take a look at it with fresh eyes and raise the bar for next year."
If you're not the heiress of a Russian billionaire or a Victoria's Secret model, then it's probably unlikely that you have the spare cash to buy yourself a private island or hold your 21st birthday on one. Despair not. Do what you can to rustle up $1500 and you'll have the option of spending the night on a man-made island: Africa's first underwater hotel room. Opened as the Manta Resort's newest attraction on November 1, 2013, the subaquatic accommodation floats in a circular blue hole in the coral reef near Pemba Island, off the East Coast of Tanzania. The top floor — above sea-level — features an open-air deck where guests can relax, take in the idyllic Indian Ocean surroundings and soak up some sun or gaze at the stars. The bottom floor, submerged to the depth of four metres, is a bedroom, walled entirely in glass and affording dreamy views of passing sea-life. The nocturnal scenes, illuminated by spotlights, have been described as rather surreal. The vacation innovation was designed by Swedish installation artist and sculptor Mikael Genberg. He's the brains behind the Utter Inn, an underwater room built in a lake near Stockholm, and is currently contemplating putting a Swedish-style cottage on the moon. Funding was achieved via a newly formed company registered in Zanzibar, Genberg Art UW Limited, which represents a collaboration between several Swedish and Tanzanian investors, including Genberg Underwater Hotels, Christer and Jacky Abrahamsson, Hans Elis Johansson and Michael Wild. Via PSFK.
Some things are set in stone. Like barbecues on Australia Day, or like Sydney's lust for cinema en plein air; summer sets in and we're just gasping to find a place to enjoy our favourite flicks in the great outdoors. If you missed out on tickets at the various established outdoor cinemas, try the free Addison Rd Moonlight Cinema. Marrickville's community centre is offering four spectacular films over four summer nights from the 16th January through to the 6th of March. On opening night enjoy the screen adaption of Alexander McCall Smith's immensely popular series The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency . The following fortnight be enraged with Michael Moore's stirring doco Sicko, and on the anniversary of the apology to the Stolen Generation two weeks later, celebrate with your sisters and watch Radiance, the story of three sisters who come together after the death of their mother. Finally, the Addison Rd program wraps up with Turtles Can Fly, one of the first feature films made in Iraq since the recent war about a group of orphans creating their own community on the eve of the fall of Saddam Hussein. All films will start at sunset, and some snacks will be available on the night. So if you like your flicks with a side of stars and fresh air, you know where to go.
Sydneysiders love their noodle soups. The city is loaded with pho, laksa and ramen shops, and we are not complaining one bit. But there aren't many joints solely focusing on fresh, produce-driven soups as a healthy, alternative winter-warmer. Mr Perkins, which is set to open in the Pacific Bondi Beach development — right near the new poké bar, Fishbowl — at the end of August, is looking to fill that soupy void. Inspired by the popular soup shops of San Francisco and New York City, the house-shaped storefront will welcome patrons in for a big bowl of homely goodness. The menu will be seasonal and fresh, and classic soups like potato and leek and celeriac and crispy bacon will be accompanied by more intricate flavours, like mussel and clam chowder, spiced pumpkin and coconut and an especially tasty-sounding oxtail minestrone. The home cooking, family vibe makes perfect sense considering Mr. Perkins actually is a family affair — siblings Chris and Candice Miller have teamed up with their father to make their dream a reality. "My brother is the entrepreneur of the family and he's been thinking of opening this place for years," says Candice. "We grew up eating soups at home and he's always wanted to open a place like this." The cafe's manager and fourth shareholder, Phil Ujdur, is also a good friend. They may be opening late in the game for winter, but the seasonal menu won't solely rely on cold weather dishes, and summer will see gazpacho and other chilled soup additions. They're also sporting a seasonal porridge menu, with savoury and sweet options from oats, rhubarb and granola to black quinoa and mango. This focus on high quality ingredients extends to their coffee as well — Mr. Perkins will be supplied by Melbourne's infamous Seven Seeds. Still thinking about the Asian noodle soups we mentioned at the start? Don't worry, Mr. Perkins is already considering ramen weekend specials too. Mr Perkins will open in late August in the Pacific Bondi Development at 180 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. They don't have a website yet, so keep checking back here for an opening date.
You've heard us sing the praises of The Indigo Project before. From lunch-hour nap classes to four-week meditation courses, the Surry Hills sanctuary has been bringing wellbeing workshops to stressed inner city folk for over a year. With summer here, it's time to bring the good vibes outside with Indigo Summer Sessions. Pop your phone away and head up to The Indigo Project's rooftop for some beats and beverages. Between 6pm and 9pm, enjoy the sunset with a drink and mingle with other Indigo converts. Local artists and DJs will be there to provide the soulful soundtrack. There is limited capacity so RSVP and get there early to secure your spot. Image: Kimberley Low.
Think you're a bit of a home brewing legend? If you've enjoyed all the matey backslaps for your latest backyard-created 'Smithy's Pale Ale', there could be some bigger accolades in store for you — the Home Brew Championship wants your mad hop-lovin' skills. Running as part of the 10th Annual Australian Beer Festival from October 17 – 19 in The Rocks, the Home Brew Championship invites punters to put their home creations in front of a select panel of beer experts and super tasters. The winners will be announced prior to the festival on Monday, September 15 and will take home some pretty sweet prizes — first prize includes flights and a VIP tour of Tasmania's Cascade Brewery, plus a VIP package for the winner and a bud at this year’s Beer Festival with a night at the Shangri-La in The Rocks (so you can faceplant on a nicer, closer mattress post-festival). Second prize ain't too shabby either; be a brewer for the day at Murray’s Brewery, Port Stephens, plus a Beer Fest VIP package. That's just for being top notch at brewing at home, which you'd most likely be doing anyway on your own steam. Celebrating ten years of golden goodness with its regular stalltacular and a hub at the Australian Heritage Hotel, the 10th Australian Beer Festival expects over 12,000 punters to attend The Rocks' staple event; with 28 stalls of local, interstate and regional NSW beer and cider brewers (and all the gourmet BBQs, oyster shucking stations and pigs on spits that go with it). You're looking at three days of blind tastings, Meet the Brewer sessions, live music, beer gardens and over 130 different Australian beers and ciders to try — not a bad way to toast the warmer, outdoorsy weather heading our way soon (so very, very soon). Beer festivals aren't entirely cheersworthy without special edition beers, so the Australian is celebrating its 100th birthday with a special Rocks Lager. Let's hope no one tries a Centurion drinking game to mark the occasion. Nope, don't even think about it. Animals. The 10th Annual Beer Festival runs October 17 – 19 (around the same time as Sydney Craft Beer Week). Entry is free and tasting cups are $5. Tasting tickets are $25 for 10, available on the door or pre-purchase at www.australianheritagehotel.com. To enter the Home Brew Championship, contact Matt Denholm on 02 9247 2229 or email beerfestival@australianheritagehotel.com. Entries close Thursday 11 September and winners will be announced on Monday 15 September. Image: The Australian Heritage Hotel.
When we watched The Fifth Element almost 20 years ago (yes, it's been almost 20 whole years), we didn't dare imagine that we could have Bruce Willis' flying car with autopilot mode. Thankfully, we're not quite at the flying car stage in history, but self-driving cars are most definitely a thing. Still can't imagine getting in a car without a driver? You better get used to the fact — and fast. US ridesharing company Lyft (a major competitor to Uber in the States) is teaming up with General Motors to test out self-driving cabs. On real life customers. The trial doesn't have a confirmed location yet, but it will be offered as an option to punters in one of the cities Lyft services sometime in 2017. According to The Wall Street Journal, customers will have the opportunity to choose a self-driving or human-driving car when ordering one from the Lyft app. The app will also allow passengers to contact customer support if something goes wrong, and to tell the car when to go and when it can leave after they've reached their destination. The partnership comes after GM invested a cool $500 million in Lyft a few months ago, and it signals the entry of driverless cars into the mainstream. They'll be testing out their self-driving Chevrolet Bolt electric taxis in the trial — the first time they'll be placed on public roads. Watch out, world. Via The Wall Street Journal.
Artists' studios are secret, somewhat enchanted places, where anything can happen — and for most artists, sharing their space with others is only an occasional event. So, it's pretty exciting that sculptor and large scale artist Caroline Rothwell is opening the doors to hers during Art Month 2016. For just one hour, you'll be able to step into the space where she creates her extraordinary pieces and chat about her work. Represented by Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery in Sydney and Tolarno Galleries in Melbourne, Rothwell is respected and adored in both Australia and overseas. She has exhibited all over the planet — from the India Art Fair in New Delhi to the Spitalfields Centre in London to Future Perfect in Singapore. The event is free, but you'll need to register beforehand. Image: Tolarno Galleries
It's been a heck of a long time coming, but retail giant Amazon will this week open the doors to the first of its automated grocery stores in Seattle, USA. As reported by CNBC, the Amazon Go concept is out to shake up the retail industry, by doing away with the queues, checkouts and registers of traditional grocery stores. Instead, customers scan their Amazon Go app upon walking into the store, cameras and sensors are used to track which products are taken from the shelves and make their way into a virtual shopping cart, and shoppers are charged accordingly and emailed their receipt after leaving. But while it all sounds pretty nifty, there's always a swag of hype surrounding Amazon's new technologies and launches, and lately the company seems to have had some issues bringing them to fruition. The Seattle store was scheduled to open to the public back in early 2017, but was delayed for testing nearly a year due to kinks in the automated check-out technology. There has been speculation that Amazon is aiming to open bricks-and-mortar stores in Australia as well, namely its grocery service Amazon Fresh. But given the long-overdue launach of Amazon's Australian online retail service late last year, we won't hold our breath waiting for the Amazon Go concept to arrive Down Under for a little while. Via CNBC.
The post is sponsored by our partner Thredbo When the June long weekend rolls along, ski addicts the nation over breathe a collective sigh of relief: no more pacing the floor and resenting surfers their year-round, unlimited access to adrenalin-fuelled action. Not only does the onset of winter open the floodgates to months of spontaneous dashes to the mountains, its coinciding with the Queen’s Birthday presents the opportunity for a rather enormous party. This year, the good folks at Thredbo Alpine Village have organised a bash that would have Lindsay Lohan shaking in her shoes (or moon boots, rather). A free Saturday night concert headlined by the Potbelleez is the major drawcard. The electro trio, who’ve been more pumped than ever (who would have believed it possible?) since releasing their single, ‘Save it in a bottle’, will be powering through a two-hour set of dance anthems. That’s just the icing on the cake. Rekorderlig will be hosting its first ever apres poolside bar in Australia, featuring DJ Abel el-Toro on the decks, while the Steve Edmonds Band will keep the music going until the late hours. Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa are planning on doling out their usual blend of hits and gigs via a live appearance on the Friday evening. Then there’s a cocktail competition, the annual Thredbo fashion show, a snowman building contest, a three-course long lunch and fireworks. For the full lineup of events, visit www.thredbo.com.au
Gauchito Gil is Argentina's Robin Hood. As such, it seems fitting that Australia's own Malbec World Day has been borrowed from the South American country, where the majority of the world's malbec comes from. If this day is a donation from the grape god, it's one we're happy to accept. After a successful three years in Melbourne, Gauchito Gil is bringing Malbec World Day to Sydney with a five-hour wine bonanza at the National Art School's Cell Block Theatre on Saturday, April 23. The event comes from the organisers of the Pinot Palooza and Game of Rhones, and mirrors the free-reign tasting set up. Your $50 ticket will include a wine glass, and from there you'll be able to move around, sampling over 80 Australian and Argentine Malbec varietals. Other events have been known to get a little boozy, so to soak up all that wine, Porteño will be cooking up an epic Argentinian feast. Think empanadas, think asado, think yum. It really doesn't matter if you know everything there is about malbec or if you don't know much at all, because Malbec World Day is about education and celebration of the Argentine grape. And what better way to celebrate than with an bottomless glass of wine?
There's a reason why the expression 'la dolce vita' is so universally popular. Because if any culture knows how to live life well, it's the Italians — siestas, espresso and carbs for every meal. The ritual of aperitivo, the traditional Italian version of 'cocktail hour', is no exception. Earlier this year, The Dolphin Hotel launched its own version of aperitivo in its Wine Room with great success. Running from 5–7pm Sunday to Thursday every week, the sessions promise reasonably priced drinks and snack plates from some of Australia's — and the world's — most renowned restaurateurs and chefs. Former guest chefs have included Mitch Orr (Acme), Matt Stone and Jo Barrett (Oakridge) and CJ Wells (Automata). But the next scheduled guest appearance is already causing quite a stir. On December 13, Ben Shewry from multi-award winning Melbourne restaurant Attica will be in the kitchen. The anticipation is so high, that The Dolphin is ticketing the event for the first time. Tickets go on sale today — Friday, December 8 — at noon. The $40 ticket will cover a 'four-course snack attack' prepared by Shewry and his Attica team. Anyone familiar with Shewry's cooking will know to expect confident, flavoursome dishes that hero native ingredients. If Attica has always been on your bucket list, this event is a great way to sample the food in a more casual setting — think of it as the prelude, or 'aperitivo', to your forthcoming visit. Tickets go on sale today — Friday, December 8 — at noon will all proceeds going towards Shewry's nominated charity Helping Hoops.
Every last trilby-wearing tween celebrity, former President's daughter and your smug, smug US-based friends will be rubbing their paws together after this afternoon's Coachella festival lineup announcement. Running over two weekends from April 10–19, the Californian festival has delivered its usual jaw-dropper of a lineup. Leading the charge on both Saturday nights will be Travis Scott — who was set to perform in Australia this summer at the cancelled Sandtunes festival — while Frank Ocean will be doing the honours on Sundays. Fridays, however, will be led by the recently reunited 90s rock icons Rage Against the Machine. Elsewhere, a bonafide metric fucktonne of squealworthy acts fill out the rest of the bill — Lana Del Rey, Flume, Calvin Harris, FKA Twigs, Run the Jewels, Charli XCX and Fatboy Slim to name a few. Anyway, let's be honest, you haven't truly read any of those words — you'll be wanting this: https://www.instagram.com/p/B613-zinSA0/ Weekend one is already sold out, but presale tickets for weekend two are available from 7am AEDT, Tuesday, January 7. You can signup for access over at the website. Coachella runs from April 10–12 and 17–19 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Find out more info and register for tickets at coachella.com.
If you're one of millions of people worldwide watching American TV series Breaking Bad religiously and needing to avoid spoilers — or perhaps you're just sick of hearing friends rave about the show on social media — then your (#firstworld) problems can now be put to ease. Popular internet streaming website Netflix has debuted a new app that can block Breaking Bad spoilers from social media feeds. Spoiler Foiler is programmed to black out "danger" words (namely, words related to plot) from your Twitter feed, maintaining the mystery and suspense of plot developments for the wildly popular television series. Once fans have caught up with the episode, they can then safely return to their regular feed with the ability to read everything people had to say. Sure, this isn’t the first solution we’ve seen to the issue of social media killjoys. But at the moment it is certainly the most effective. Browser/hashtag-filtering is time consuming and not always foolproof. And abstinence from social media? Well that's just way too extreme. The Netflix app can be easily activated by logging into the Spoiler Foiler website using your Twitter account. Surely it'll just be a matter of time before this concept is extended to other popular series. Until then, rant away! We just won’t be listening. Via PSFK.
It's the 90s rock musical that's loosely based on Puccini's La Boheme and, come January 2021, it'll celebrate its 25th anniversary. We're talking about Jonathan Larson's Rent, of course, which follows a group of young artists trying to etch out a living in Lower Manhattan's East Village — and it's hitting up the Sydney Opera House to celebrate its big occasion. From Sunday, December 27–Sunday, January 31, the Opera House's Drama Theatre will unleash this tale about seizing the moment, facing adversity and finding one's community — aka the production that's won a Tony Award for Best Musical and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. When it first hit Broadway, it ran for 12 years, making it one of the famed theatre district's longest-running shows. The Opera House's version is an all-new Australian staging of Rent, too, starring Seann Miley Moore (The UK version of the The X-Factor) and Callum Francis (Kinky Boots). And if you need a refresher on the story — or you're coming to Rent for the first time — then prepare to step back to New York in 1991. Over the course of the year, as their neighbourhood is being gentrified and HIV/AIDS casts a shadow, a group of friends chase their dreams and strive for their place in the world.
Forget The Big Bang Theory — in The Flight Attendant, Kaley Cuoco well and truly leaves her long-running stint in the popular (and just-finished) sitcom behind. Exactly what her character does for work won't come as a surprise given the mini-series' title, but the fact that she wakes up in a Bangkok hotel room next to a dead body and then finds FBI agents on her trail when she returns to New York sparks a mighty big mystery. If it sounds familiar, perhaps you've read Chris Bohjalian's 2018 novel of the same name. Before it even hit bookstores, Cuoco's production company snapped up the rights to turn it into a thrilling TV show. Accordingly, it's clearly a passion project for the actor and executive producer, and promises to treat audiences to an array of twists and turns.
From continually churning out top professional surfers to scoring a mention in the best surfing heist film ever made, aka Point Break, Australia's surfing prowess is well recognised around the world. Now our island continent has another wave-riding feather in our cap, with a stretch of Sunshine Coast coastline being named the latest World Surfing Reserve. Spanning a four-kilometre area at Noosa — including the beaches and five surf breaks between Sunshine Beach and the Noosa River — it's only the tenth spot on the planet to earn such honours. And, as a land girt by sea (as our anthem reminds us), it's Australia's third entry on the list. Sydney's Manly beach was selected in 2010, while the Gold Coast joined the swell in 2016. World Surfing Reserve status is awarded by the Save The Waves Coalition, with partners National Surfing Reserves Australia and the International Surfing Association, after launching the initiative in 2009. As well as aiming to preserving wave breaks and their surrounding areas, the scheme recognises and works to protect the surfing reserves on an environmental, cultural, economic and community level. It was Noosa's "beautiful pointbreaks and visionary coastal conservation," that got it over the line, according to the WSR announcement made at the dedication ceremony for the ninth reserve in Punta de Lobos, Chile. If heading to the popular Queensland spot wasn't already on your summer itinerary, you now have another reason to channel your inner Johnny Utah and head north for a splash in the sun. Via the ABC. Image: Yun Huang Yong via Flickr
Forget about Ingmar Bergman, Stellan Skarsgard and Noomi Rapace. The cinema of Sweden has a brand new face — and by new, we mean very, very old. Adapted from the bestselling novel by Jonas Jonasson, The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared is the single most profitable film in the history of Swedish cinema. What drove audiences in such numbers to such a singularly unfunny comedy we'll chalk up to cultural misunderstanding The film, to its credit, delivers exactly what it promises to. On the day of his centennial, geriatric explosives expert Allan Karlsson (Robert Gustafsson) decides he's had enough of life in his retirement home and promptly shimmies through the curtains for a stroll. While at the bus station purchasing a one-way ticket to wherever, Karlsson accidentally comes into the possession of a suitcase full of drug-money — the first in a series of hi-larious coincidences and knee-slapping misunderstandings that follow the senior citizen wherever he seems to go. Indeed, the addlebrained pensioner is no stranger to misadventure. As flashbacks soon reveal, Karlsson apparently met, and influenced, most of the major figures of the 20th century, including Franco, Stalin and both Eisenhower and Reagan. He was also the lynchpin in the Manhattan Project, served as a spy for both sides during the Cold War, and spent some time in a Siberian gulag for his troubles. The film's most obvious compatriot would be something like Forrest Gump, but frankly, the comparison doesn't flatter. Gump wasn't exactly the sharpest hammer in the cutlery draw, but he had a certain childlike innocence that helped endear him to an audience. Karlsson, on the other hand, is just plain dumb. As such, it's difficult to care about either his past or his present, the latter of which sees him on the run from some skinhead bikers, intent on getting their money back in whatever way they can. The comedy is broadly slapstick, but with an undertone of callous black humour. Putting aside the fact that Karlsson helped invent the atom bomb and apparently feels not the least bit bad about it, the film regularly sees him cause the deaths, albeit mostly accidental, of people who cross his path. As it turn out, stupidity and nastiness doesn't make for an entertaining mix. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared can hardly disappear from cinemas soon enough. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6SEiaODjTZw
Nothing makes us feel so alive as to see others die. This starkly confronting line comes from Leo Carax's new surrealistic film, Holy Motors, and is resemblant of the tone and style of the whole story. Carax's first feature film in 13 years, Holy Motors is an abstract expression of a heightened reality. It follows the life of Monsieur Oscar, a roving assassin played expertly by Denis Lavant, who meanders between varying identities and lives - whether that be a family man, a monster or a captain of industry. The film is set between dawn and dusk, yet follows no clear linear progression, instead exploring the irrational nature of the human subconscious. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian awarded the film a whopping five stars and described it as "wayward, kaleidoscopic, black comic and bizarre; there is in it a batsqueak of genius, dishevelment and derangement; it is captivating and compelling". It first appeared at this year's Cannes Film Festival and although it has received some mixed reviews, it has largely been received as a cinematic delight and created a mass of critical excitement. Other notable performances in the film include the slender blonde chauffeur, Celine, played by Edith Scob, the sultry Eva Mendez as Kay M, and Kylie Minogue, whose character is believed to represent the struggles in the protagonist's career. The most important thing to note in Holy Motors is to not look for one simple meaning - although we can safely say that it is at least in part about the significance of human role-playing as we journey through life. Concrete Playground has ten double passes to giveaway to see Holy Motors. To go in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
The Arab Film Festival in Australia is back for another year of features, docos and award-winning shorts from across the Arab world. It will first hit the Riverside Theatres in Parramatta from August 17 through 20, then Cinema Nova in Melbourne from August 25 through 27. The festival will kick off in both cities with an opening night screening of Mahbas, a Lebanese culture clash comedy from first time filmmaker Sophie Boutros. Other standouts across the 11-film repertoire include Gaza Surf Club, a documentary from Palestine about surfers on the beaches in Gaza, and Ali, The Goat and Ibrahim, an Egyptian road movie about two friends (and a goat). Sydneysiders will also get a second chance to catch a screening of Ali's Wedding ahead of its nationwide release on August 31. The critically acclaimed comedy from writer/star Osamah Sami was our pick for best film at this year's Sydney Film Festival. After Melbourne, the festival will head to Canberra from September 1 through 2, then wrap up at Perth on September 9. To see the full program and schedule, head over here.
The landscape of the late Harry Dean Stanton's face is home to a thousand stories. In Lucky, we're privy to a few. Directed by actor turned filmmaker John Carroll Lynch, this intimate character study revels in Stanton's crumpled gaze, rugged skin and weary expression, as though they're the only things in the world worth looking at. For 88 minutes, they might as well be. Of course, there are other things that fill Lucky's frames. The movie starts with desert vistas that are almost entrancing as Stanton, with Lynch drawing a clear connection between their arid, weathered state and the film's central figure. A tortoise, named President Roosevelt, is spied ambling across hills and through cacti, slowly but surely going about its business. Townsfolk gather at the local diner during the day and at a bar each evening, shooting the breeze about life and love, and saying everything and nothing all at once. They're all connected to Stanton's protagonist within the narrative, but speak also to his mindset and his journey through life. Still, while these elements – these images and characters – all have a part to play, there's also no ignoring that this thoughtful motion picture wouldn't have worked without Stanton in the titular role. That's partly because Lucky the film and Lucky the character can't really be separated. Story-wise, Lucky doesn't chart big developments or action-packed occurrences. Instead, it follows the charmingly cantankerous World War II veteran's routine, as he smokes a pack of cigarettes a day, watches game shows, does crosswords and exercises in his underwear. But when the nonagenarian suddenly faints, it becomes clear that his mortality lurks just around a looming corner. Much like Jim Jarmusch's Paterson, this is a film that peers into a man's existence in order to show just how extraordinary the ordinary can be. Life, death, loneliness, friendship, hopes, regrets: they all ebb and flow through Lynch's film, sometimes mapped out in Lucky's expression, sometimes seeping through in his gruff chatter. As much as the film is tied to its star, it's also peppered with extra flavour thanks to its supporting cast. Stanton's Alien co-star Tom Skerritt pops up as a fellow veteran, while Ron Livingston makes an appearance as an insurance salesman. Meanwhile, acclaimed director David Lynch — with whom the 91-year-old Stanton has collaborated on everything from Wild at Heart to The Straight Story to the recent third season of Twin Peaks — plays the owner of the aforementioned turtle, and brings vibrancy and warmth to every scene he's in. It's not an easy job, shining a spotlight so soulfully on Stanton, while leaving room for others to have their moments too. But, in his first stint behind the lens, it's a job that John Carroll Lynch does masterfully. More than just a love letter to its leading man, Lucky is a melancholy ode to the inevitability that life goes on until it doesn't. Though conveyed calmly and with lashings of warm comedy, that's a potent message — both before Stanton passed away in September and now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWxpmcZ0E0Q
There are excellent club nights. And then there are three of the best club nights in the city brought together for one mammoth event. Introducing A Kooky Motorik Pelvis Party, happening at Carriageworks on Sunday, June 7, as part of Modulations. At least 22 local and international acts will perform over the course of eight hours, with each club taking over a particular Carriageworks space. The gay Sunday night institution Kooky just celebrated its 20th anniversary and will be bringing Daniel Wang, Gemma and Seymour Butz, Glitta Supernova and Kaia to Carriageworks, along with a huge list of others. Meanwhile, Motorik, known for its epic techno warehouse shindigs, will be delivering live sets from the likes of Sei A, CSMNT 61 and Kirin J Callinan, Mike Callandar and wordlife. Finally, you'll find Pelvis's always unpredictable blend of disco, house, techno, smoke and strobe lights, with Samo DJ, who runs the Born Free label, and the Pelvis residents.
If you've been dreaming of a frosty cold winter — a reprieve not only from a record-breaking summer, but a hotter-than-usual autumn, too — it's time to recalibrate your expectations. As it does every quarter, the Bureau of Meteorology has released its climate outlook for the June to August period, and the forecast favours two words that Australians are all too used to: warm and dry. Just like last season, if you call mainland Australia home, there's a very good chance that you'll experience winter temperatures that are a whole lot warmer than the median. Apart from the far north of Queensland, as well as isolated spots in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the whole country is tipped to endure maximums at least 60 percent higher than normal. For the east and west coasts, that figure goes up to 80 percent. Nights are also likely to be toastier than average, especially for WA, the northern NT, parts of Queensland, eastern New South Wales, and most of Victoria and Tasmania. If you're wondering exactly what's in store, then it's worth keeping the usual daily temps across the period in mind — and remembering that they'll be exceeded. In Sydney, that means the mercury will soar above a 17-degree maximum in June, a 16.4 top in July and a 17.9 max in August, while Melbourne can expect temps above 15.4, 15.7 and 16.3 in the same months. In Brisbane, the standard tops range between 22–23.3, and in Perth it spans 18.4–19.4. Once again, farmers are in for not-so-great news. The three months are set to be drier than average for much of Queensland, NSW, Victoria, southeast South Australia, northern Tasmania, the NT, and northern and far southwest WA — and, for everywhere else, the chances of either being wetter or drier are roughly equal. If you're wondering what's behind this forecast, El Niño–like warmth has been having an impact in the central tropical Pacific Ocean, and a drying effect on Australia as a result. That's actually expected to reduce slightly over winter, but the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), or Indian Niño, will spark its own dryness. Combined with higher atmospheric pressures, it all makes for a lack of rain and a spike in warmth. It's becoming a familiar story. Let's not forget that in 2018, overall, Australia copped its third-warmest year ever. If this year's winter is set to favour hotter than usual temps, and less rain than usual as well, things aren't shaping up well for spring and summer.
Earlier this year, Goose Island migrated down under from its home in Chicago, setting up shop in Tasmania. Now, the craft brewery is bringing its Migration Week event series to Australia for a hop-fuelled week of brews, eats and Aussie-American mashups. To kick off the very first Aussie Migration Week, Goose Island will take over The Bank Hotel in Newtown on Wednesday, November 8 from 6pm, bringing together the best of Chicago and Aussie culture. At The Chicago Session, you can enjoy unlimited schooners of Goose Island's premium brews (until the kegs run dry, that is) including the Midway IPA, the award-winning IPA, plus the barrel-aged Halia, Lolita, Matilda — flown in direct from Chicago. Paying homage to its roots, Goose Island will also serve up plenty of American snacks and throwback tunes from its early days when the brewery was just a mere gosling. Want to get in on the fun? We have several double passes to give away, so you and a mate can join the flock for a night of frothy fun. Enter below to win. [competition]644273[/competition]
Surfing and gig-going have always been two of Australia's best-loved pastimes, and last year we scored a festival celebrating the best of both worlds. And, now, it's back for its second round of autumnal beachside festivals. Returning this March and April, The Drop festival will cruise around the country as it follows the Aussie leg of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour and it's bringing a banging little lineup of musical gold along for the ride. Surfing the festival wave for 2019 are brother-sister folk band Angus and Julia Stone, the perennially pastel indie pop duo Client Liaison and NSW surf rock band Hockey Dad, along with other local legends The Jungle Giants and Alex the Astronaut. Held on the first weekend of each area's surfing event, The Drop is set to grace some of the Australia's most iconic surf spots, each outing featuring a locally focused offering of food, drink and culture, to match the tunes. As well as heading to the official WSL events in Torquay, Margaret River and Coolangatta, this year, the festival will also kick off Surfest Newcastle and Vissla Sydney Surf Pro in Manly — both WSL Qualifying Series events. THE DROP FESTIVAL 2019 LINEUP Angus and Julia Stone Client Liaison Hockey Dad The Jungle Giants* Alex the Astronaut * Ball Park Music will replace The Jungle Giants in Newcastle THE DROP FESTIVAL 2019 DATES Newcastle, NSW — King Edward Park, Saturday, March 16 Manly, NSW — Keirle Park, Saturday, March 23 Coolangatta, Qld — Queen Elizabeth Park, Saturday, April 6 Torquay, Vic — Torquay Common, Saturday, April 20 Margaret River, WA — Barnard Park, Busselton, Saturday, June 1 The Drop tickets are currently on sale for $95. For more info, visit thedropfestival.com.au. Images: Miranda Stokkel.
Boxes are good for many things. Jewellery. Leftovers. Sealing away the trinkets of a doomed romance. Spare USB cables. One thing they're not good for is the arts. 'An art' will do this annoying thing where it squirms against the pressing of a lid, busting out to mix with all the others. And Performance Space, bastion of cross-disciplinary art, shoulders a hunk of the blame for the glorious mess that results. The works under its roof combine music, dance, live cinema, story, animation, comedy and other practices to create things new and surprising. Its latest season, Show On, draws you into immersive, sensory experiences that by their nature can only be unlocked in real time. In Aphids' strictly limited-capacity Thrashing Without Looking, it's the audience that creates the work (through the provocation of crowd dynamics — no awkward 'audience participation' with all eyes upon you here). Kitted with 'video goggles' that feed you live footage and potential cues, you mingle at a party that's bound to be the talk of the town. Cool nomenclature combines with music, dance, storytelling, humour and animation in RRAMP: the Collector, the Archivist & the Electrocrat. Employing the romantically grotesque animation of Ahmarnya Price, it tells the story of the Collector, the tall lady-of-the-house, and the unsuspecting band members she recruits. The chance to tap into terror without actual bodily danger is what keeps us returning to horror films and roller-coasters, but neither do it as pervasively, intimately, and thoughtfully as Tamara Saulwick in Pin Drop. Primarily using sound design, the Green Room Award winner for Outstanding Production awakens a catalogue of fears learnt through interviews with subjects aged six to 92. Applespiel Make a Band and Take On the Recording Industry sees the collective transform into a band, cut an album, go on the road, and package the imaginary results in a live show that's described as a lethal cocktail of performance art, gig, and rockumentary. A manufactured non-band playing non-music — sounds oddly familiar, right? There's more where that came from; peruse the full program here.
If you're still harbouring a mild hope of ever breaking into the Sydney property market, you might want to ignore this bit of news. A new apartment in Parramatta, that is yet to even be built, has sold this week for a whopping $3,325,000, according to Domain. Granted, the apartment is a luxury penthouse — but it has broken the price record for an apartment sold in the suburb, marking a new tide for the Parramatta property market. The eye-watering $3 million-plus figure is more than five times Parramatta's median apartment price, which typically sits at $626,500. Maybe it's time to move to Canberra. The apartment was sold to a couple from the Hills District, who are supposedly 'downsizing' to the new pad. The couple's new not-so-humble abode will be built on the 53rd storey of the new 8 Phillip Street development, which will also house a new locations for Rockpool and Sake. Due to be completed by 2020, 8 Phillip Street will act as an expansion to Church Street's existing 'Eat Street' precinct and will also be home to Sydney's highest rooftop venue, Studio 54 — a 600 pax, 54th floor space with a fit-out inspired by the rooftop bars of Bangkok, New York, Shanghai and Singapore. A grand ballroom, multiple event and meeting spaces will also exist within the hub. While apartments now make up more than 80 percent of homes in Parramatta, this is the third time within eight months that a penthouse in the development has set a new unit price record for the suburb. The first penthouse, which sold in 2016, pushed Parramatta's record to $3 million, while the second apartment sold for $3.2 million just two weeks later. 8 Phillip Street will join the new 28-storey V by Crown complex and the changing face of Parramatta. . Via Domain. Image: Coronation Property.
