If you truly want a break from city life and fully immerse yourself in country living, there's no finer place than the Orange region. Whether you'd love to be sipping wines by a fire pit at the Winter Fire Festival, taking a summer hike up Mount Canobolas, watching the leaves change in autumn or seeing the bud bursts in vineyards in spring, there's always a reason to make the trek to the Central Tablelands. Together with Orange360, we've collated some of the best reasons to visit the Orange region, from epic festivals and top-notch wine to some of the country's best food and cosiest country stays. Outdoor and Festive Events The highlight of the winter season in the Orange region is the Winter Fire Festival. Attendees can enjoy a series of events curated by local producers to showcase the region's finest food and wine offerings. Sample local treats and wines throughout the day. As night falls, fire pits will line the streets as you enjoy live music and family-friendly activities before the event culminates in a dazzling fireworks display. It's a celebration of community against the backdrop of the picturesque countryside. Fireworks are nothing next to this next annual activity. Massive hot air balloons take to the skies every autumn in the Canowindra International Balloon Challenge. This creative festival is held annually in Canowindra, a small but strong rural community in the picturesque and fertile Belubula Valley. It has a long history of hot air ballooning, dating back to the first modern hot air balloon flight in Australia in 1966. Stick around for the monthly Twilight Markets at The Palms Canowindra. Six times a year, this market showcases producers from Canowindra's surrounds. Peruse the produce, hunt for gifts or snack on local food and wines. There's also live music and an open mic for brave travellers wishing to share a song or two. Wine Tasting and Vineyard Visits Thanks to the Orange region's unique climate and high altitudes on the Great Dividing Range's north and west slopes, wine producers can cultivate a diverse range of grape varieties in the region. Cooler sub-regions are perfect for riesling and sauvignon blanc, the warmer spots are ideal for merlot, shiraz and cab sav, and chardonnay and pinot noir are happy in between. So, you simply can't come here and not make time for a wine tasting. Macquariedale Organic Wines should be on your itinerary if you're a mindful wine fan. It specialises in organic, biodynamic, low-preservative, vegan-friendly and natural wines — as nature intended. The winery hosts a range of wine tastings and experiences at its cellar door, including a Wander and Graze package that will take you up the gentle slopes of the property to take in views across to Mount Canobolas while enjoying a hamper stocked with local goodies (and wine, of course). Head to the family-owned winery Angullong in Millthorpe for a more traditional wine tasting. Visit its historic bluestone cellar door to sample its range, which includes classic cool-climate varieties such as sauvignon blanc, shiraz and cabernet. There are also some dynamic alternative wines in the mix, such as viognier, tempranillo, barbera and sangiovese. Delve deeper into the countryside and take a jaunt out to the Logan Wines cellar door. This whimsical wine brand was started by wine industry stalwart Peter Logan. Everything on the wine list is an experiment and a testament to the team's determination to create a shift from the norm. Epicurean Experiences As the Central Tablelands' food bowl, the Orange region is the perfect place to polish up your cooking skills or simply taste some delicious food. Local winery Ross Hill Wines — Australia's first certified carbon-neutral winery — hosts cooking classes every other week with chef Michael Manners, as part of its school of food and wine Barrel & Larder. Classes range from how to prepare Mediterranean share plates to mastering the art of pies, pizzas and desserts. For a taste of the region in the city centre, head to Hey Rosey, on Summer Street. This stylish wine bar celebrates local food and wines. For big feeds, opt for a roasts with seasonal veg or, for lighter bites, go for the oeuf mayonnaise with soft poached eggs, Pernod mayo and salmon roe. Another local favourite is Byng Street Local Store, a must-stop for breakfast, lunch or coffee on the go. From Wednesday to Saturday, the store opens for dinner service. The menu changes weekly but includes dishes like crispy pork belly with a mango and curry sauce, tuna tataki with grapefruit and ponzu dressing, and seven-hour beef short ribs with tamarind and kaffir lime. Cosy Stays in the Country The Orange region has many epic spots to stay, from charming cottages to elegant hotels, but what could be more immersive than a real farm experience? 11 kilometres from the city centre is a sixth-generation sheep station, Bondonga, where you'll find The Quarters' farm stay. Encounter all kinds of flora and fauna and spend the day as a farmer on an ATV Tour, where you'll meet lambs and get a taste of life as a sheep farmer. For a home away from home, The White Place Home on Byng could be the perfect stay for you. This quaint cottage, only steps away from the Byng Street Local Store, boasts four generous bedrooms, fireplaces and glass French doors that open out to an entertaining deck that overlooks an in-ground pool — ideal for a dip after a long day, weather permitting. Whether you're planning a springtime escape or a wintry weekend away, the Orange region has fine wine, good food and spectacular surroundings that make for a great break. Start planning your trip here.
Acclaimed the world over — and named the World's Best Gin Producer for two years running to prove it — Australian's Four Pillars has built up quite the following in boozy circles. Since 2013, the Yarra Valley-based distillery has given Aussie gin lovers plenty of covetable drops to drink, including via famed tipples such as its beloved Rare Dry Gin and bloody great Bloody Shiraz Gin. Even if you don't sip the hard stuff, you've heard of Four Pillars. You've also got a mate with a gin shrine filled with Four Pillars bottles, because everyone does. But now, thanks to the distillery's latest range, folks who don't indulge in alcohol can taste what all the fuss is about — and anyone who is having a break from cocktails for whatever reason can keep knocking back the brand's beverages. Meet Bandwagon, Four Pillars' new booze-free line, which'll arrive for hangover-free drinks at the end of June. Those two popular tipples mentioned above, Rare Dry Gin and Bloody Shiraz Gin, have been given the sans-alcohol treatment — after the distillery spent two years getting everything just right. With Bandwagon Dry, the Four Pillars team started with the same ten botanicals that make up the Rare Dry Gin. Those flavours are extracted in a different way for this boozeless version, though, with the oils and flavours from juniper, lemon myrtle, coriander seed and the like gathered using steam distillation. And, each is distilled separately in order to control the flavour contribution and the quality. They're then mixed together with a water base, and combined with steamed and vacuumed fresh chilli to give the not-quite-gin the heat that comes with alcohol — and with a natural fructose from plants for weight. As for Bloody Bandwagon, it starts with Bandwagon Dry. Bloody Shiraz Gin is made with a base of Rare Dry Gin, too, so that process is replicated — but without alcohol. Then, the clear Bandwagon Dry liquid is mixed with shiraz juice, which is crafted with shiraz grapes that haven't been fermented (so, no booze). Basically, forget soft drinks — you only need to drink these booze-free spirits from now on. When the Bandwagon range hits shelves just in time for Dry July, you'll find it at the Four Pillars Healesville Distillery and Surry Hills Laboratory, as well as from BoozeBud, Coles Local, Dan Murphy's, IGA, Liquorland and Sans Drinks. You'll also be able to pick up just Bandwagon Dry at First Choice Liquor, Vintage Cellars and Woolworths. Wondering how to drink both tipples? Four Pillars co-founder and distiller Cameron Mackenzie recommends using "around 60 millilitres of Bandwagon Dry with 100 millilitres of of your favourite tonic. As ever, use plenty of ice and an orange slice as a garnish." For Bloody Bandwagon, Mackenzie says "this is a unique, purple, and slightly sweet alcohol-free spirit that you can use just as you would your Bloody Shiraz Gin. Combine 60 millilitres of Bloody Bandwagon with 100 millilitres of tonic or soda and you'll have yourself a deliciously grown-up, booze-free drink." It's also advised to use a bit more of the Bandwagon drinks with your mixers to help highlight the flavour. And no, Mackenzie didn't initially think a decade back that this is something that Four Pillars would ever whip up. "When we launched in 2013, never in our wildest dreams did we think we would make a non-alcoholic product. But as we've grown older and wiser, booze is not always your go-to and you a need quality alternative. Enter Bandwagon," he said. Four Pillars' Bandwagon Dry and Bloody Bandwagon will be available to buy from the end of June at the Four Pillars Healesville Distillery and Surry Hills Laboratory, as well as from BoozeBud, Coles Local, Dan Murphy's, IGA, Liquorland and Sans Drinks. You'll also be able to pick up Bandwagon Dry at First Choice Liquor, Vintage Cellars and Woolworths.
Former Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning has announced a huge, 17-date national tour — including several all-ages shows — to promote his debut album, Battleships, out June 7 on Dew Process/Universal. It's been a long wait for Fanning fans (which, in keeping with the precedent set by Beliebers and Directioners, we'll henceforth be calling Fan-nings), with this tour their first opportunity to see the great man since Powderfinger's farewell tour in 2010. He'll be traversing the country, from Nambour to Hobart, along with his special guests, Big Scary and Vance Joy. And if you're in Townsville on August 17, you'll get a special mini-festival when that already-awesome lineup is bolstered by The Rubens, The Medics AND Snakadaktal. With Fanning also announced for Splendour in the Grass following hot on the heels of the release of the album's debut single (and title track), it's sure to be a busy few months for one of Australia's favourite songwriters. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 7, via an exclusive fan club presale through bernardfanning.com. The Telstra Thanks presale is available from Wednesday, May 8, before the public on-sale kicks off on Friday, May 10. Concert dates below: Sunday 14 July: Nambour Civic Centre, Nambour (18+) Tuesday 16 July: Empire Theatre, Toowoomba (All Ages) Thursday 18 July: The Tivoli, Brisbane (18+) Friday 19 July: Arts Theatre: The Arts Centre, Gold Coast (18+) Friday 26 – Sunday 28 July: Splendour In The Grass Tuesday 30 July: Newcastle Civic Theatre, Newcastle (All Ages) Thursday 1 August: Anita's Theatre, Wollongong (18+) Friday 2 August: Enmore Theatre, Sydney (All Ages) Sunday 4 August: Royal Theatre – National Convention Centre, Canberra (All Ages) Friday 9 August: Palace Theatre, Melbourne (18+) Saturday 10 August: Geelong Performing Arts Centre – Costa Hall, Geelong (All Ages) Tuesday 13 August: Wrest Point, Hobart (18+) Thursday 15 August: Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (All Ages) Saturday 17 August: Kuranda Amphitheatre, Cairns (All Ages) With Additional Special Guests: The Rubens, The Medics and Snakadaktal Sunday 18 August: The Venue, Townsville (18+) Tuesday 20 August: Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton (All Ages) Wednesday 21 August: Entertainment Convention Centre – Plenary Halls, Mackay (18+) Sunday 25 August: Astor Theatre, Perth (18+) https://youtube.com/watch?v=Fi8OciiVIA4
Before he was navigating innies and outies in stunning new 2022 streaming series Severance, and before he was working for the City of Pawnee in Parks and Recreation as well, Adam Scott popped up on our TV screens in another workplace scenario. His uniform: black pants, a crisp white shirt and a pink bow tie. His gig: serving drinks and slinging hors d'oeuvres as cater waiter Henry Pollard in 2009–10 cult-favourite comedy Party Down. Although its first two seasons only spanned 20 episodes all up, Party Down is one of the very best sitcoms of the 21st century, and proved a must-see right from the get-go. It's the show that Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas started after that also-beloved 00s series was initially cancelled, and came about in a collaboration with writer/producer John Enbom and producer Dan Etheridge — two other former Veronica Mars staff — and none other than Paul Rudd. And, just like Thomas' detective show, Party Down is also making a comeback. Are we having fun yet indeed. If you're instantly giggling at "are we having fun yet", then you saw Party Down's first two seasons. And, you'll know that Scott uttered that phrase more than once — or had it shouted at him. His character, Henry, was an actor famous for saying that line in a TV commercial. But in-between gigs, and because acting wasn't turning out as he planned, Henry was also working for Party Down's titular catering company. Scott made the jump over to Party Down after also appearing in Veronica Mars, as did plenty of his co-stars, including Ken Marino (The Other Two) as the catering outfit's oh-so-eager (but always-bumbling) manager, plus Ryan Hansen (A Million Little Things), Martin Starr (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) and a pre-Glee Jane Lynch as fellow waiters. Rounding out their gang of unhappy serving staff the first time around: Lizzy Caplan (Fleishman Is in Trouble), Jennifer Coolidge before she was winning awards for The White Lotus and Scott's Parks and Recreation co-star Megan Mullally. Party Down's long-awaited six-episode third season will start streaming via Stan in Australia from Friday, February 24, and sees most of the cast return — including Scott, Marino, Hansen, Starr, Lynch and Mullally. Caplan had scheduling issues making the also-excellent Fleishman Is in Trouble; however, Jennifer Garner (The Adam Project), Tyrel Jackson Williams (Brockmire) and Zoë Chao (The Afterparty) join the cast instead, plus James Marsden (Dead to Me) in a recurring part. Story-wise, this new 13-years-later go-around sees Marino's Ron Donald still running the Party Down team despite his past big dreams. And, as the trailer makes plain, plenty of other familiar faces are back in the bow ties as well, catering party after party. Hilarity ensues again in this sneak peek, because of course it does. Check out the trailer for Party Down season three below: Party Down's third season will start streaming via Stan from Friday, February 24.
One thing locals know is that Bourke Street Bakery is the place to hit up for your daily bread and/or weekend pastry blowout. And you know who else knows it? MasterCard. Cardholders who register with the Priceless Sydney program can score all manner of perks and freebies at the beloved bakery (t-shirts, sausage rolls — the good stuff) when they book a sourdough-making lesson or simply drop $15 on their usual nomz. But this is just one example of the deals available through MasterCard's Priceless Sydney, which boasts a beautifully curated knowledge of our city's many villages and their hidden experiential treasures. There's something so nice about getting a little bit of royal treatment, a gift or a great deal when supporting local businesses, and Priceless Sydney has it all worked out for you. So what other varieties of fun are on offer through the program? At Lucio's of Paddington you can enjoy a canapé and an aperitivo (I'd choose the blood orange Pettirosso) on the house. Adventurous types can meet George the friendly Blue Grouper of Cabbage Tree Bay Marine Reserve with Pro Dive and walk away with a free snorkel and mask. There's an array of other groovy offers on dining, entertainment, retail, sport and hotels, too. Getting the idea? Even as a source of inspiration and motivation to get you back into the swing of all that the incredible city of Sydney has going on, Priceless Sydney is a very cool initiative. Take advantage.
The annual reason to not entirely obliterate yourself on New Year's Eve, Field Day, has announced a solid lineup for its 2015 instalment. After significant hints at SBTRKT appearances post-Falls, the Young Turks favourite has been confirmed alongside Dillon Francis, alt-J, Jamie xx, Danny Brown, Cashmere Cat, Bastille, Joey Bada$$, Todd Terje, Milky Chance, Action Bronson and more thumbs up-inducing names. Local legends aren't lacking with RüFüs, The Kite String Tangle, Kilter, Peking Duk, Thundamentals, Touch Sensitive and Golden Features will join the international crew. On the whole, the lineup seems to be stemming from surrounding Australian NYE festivals, as any self-respecting New Year's day festival should, nabbing significantly from Falls and Beyond the Valley. But when the good'uns are in town, why not bring everyone to the hangover? Field Day 2015 Lineup SBTRKT alt-J Dillon FrancisRüFüsBastille Jamie xx Danny Brown Joey Bada$$ Milky Chance Salt N Pepa Peking Duk Todd Terje Kaytranada Tensnake Cashmere Cat Tycho The Kite String Tangle Glass Animals Action Bronson Just Blaze Thundamentals Golden Features Touch Sensitive Friend Within Mø Kilter Charlotte OC Oisima Field Day tickets are on sale from midday on Tuesday, September 30 through the website. Early bird tickets are sitting at $118 + BF. https://youtube.com/watch?v=k131nTwaGLE
Although it’s been a long time since we farewelled the god of grunge, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Kurt Cobain. Photographer Jesse Frohman was behind the lens of the last ever formal shoot Nirvana did. Taken in November 1993, mere months before Cobain’s suicide, the photographs were published for an article in the London Observer. In their larger and more vivid glory, they are currently on display at Paddington’s Blender Gallery. With those iconic sunnies, the photographs show Cobain swaggering around in patched-up denim jeans, a fake-fur coat, and an inseparable ciggy — epitomising the Seattle sound and style. Both goofy and gritty, there is a poignancy to these portraits which seem to reveal not only the vibrant and crashing descent of Cobain but also of grunge. In conjunction with the exhibition, Frohman’s book, titled The Last Session, is for sale. If you’re a fan or just craving a little '90s nostalgia, you won’t want to miss this tribute to one of the most beloved and enigmatic frontmen of alternative rock.
Australia's masters of mash-up return to the stage for their first national tour since 2010 with They Mostly Come at Night … Mostly. Spanning major cities and regional towns, the Yacht Club DJs spring back onto the scene with a spooky bang. Performing their rendition of a low-brow horror film, the DJs want you to expect the grotesque, the kitschy and the downright ridiculous. Zombies and fake blood included, of course. The duo behind Yacht Club DJs, Guy Chappell-Lawrence and Gareth (Gaz) Harrison, are long-time friends; they originally bonded over their shared eclectic musical tastes. Pop, hip-hop, metal, Australian larrikin — you name it, they're into it. Now they've poured and mixed it into some of the most electrifying concoctions, there's no way you'll stay off your feet this night. For the tour, the DJs are joined by their home-town friends, the Hunting Grounds. Beware: the six-member group will only contribute to this twisted, zombie-filled night of debauchery. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wz378CNslwU
Cancer: Generally deep down in the 'not funny' basket. It's almost natural, then, that big-dreaming writers will take that as a challenge. Young playwright Rita Kalnejais has found the comedic key with her new work, Babyteeth, commissioned especially for Belvoir. It’s a bit of an ode to a childhood friend of Kalnejais', so there's a very real and giving tone to this bittersweet story, whose cast of eccentrics are each affected by the sharply declining health of 14-year-old Milla (Sara West). She's a child aware she'll be missing womanhood, and the dead are speaking to her of the beauty of the world. When a drug-addicted 25-year-old, Moses (Eamon Farren), swoops in to tend to her nosebleed, he may be saving her life, and she his. Although some of the characters emerge as caricatures — a mini assault on your warm, Zen journey — others are so wonderful you curse the moment they'll skip off the whirling set and leave you. Babyteeth has a beautiful heart, and it is parents Henry (Greg Stone) and Anna (Helen Buday) as they struggle to cope with their daughter's approaching death and try to give her the experience of a full life before it. When one or both of these characters is on stage — whether they're negligently but understandably mixing barbiturates, emotionally adopting the wayward girl next door, or clumsily trying to revive their romance in between appointments — the play is at its most electrifying. Director Eamon Flack has a great sense of the playful in a text (as he's shown with his As You Like It and A Midsummer Night's Dream), and he and Kalnejais have perfectly balanced the light and dark in Babyteeth. It's a striking night of theatre that spills you out onto a sweeter-smelling Belvoir Street when it's done.
Everyone is picky about their coffee, and once you've find the perfect spot, nothing else tastes quite right. This St Peters coffee spot, however, is doing things a bit differently. Describing itself as 'The Most Inconsistent Cafe in Australia', the pop-up prides itself on its constantly changing coffee offering. Run by Collective Roasting Solutions (CRS), a shared roasting facility in Alexandria used by a slew of industry experts, the pop-up features an all-star lineup of Sydney roasters, including Edition, Skittle Lane, Harry's Bondi and Grace & Taylor. Each week there'll be a new rotation of blends and roasters available, meaning every time you head in, you'll be welcomed with a different coffee experience. While most cafes try to get their coffee as consistent as possible, the idea behind the CRS pop-up is to show off the variety of flavours and depth in coffee beans. CRS, which ran a similar pop-up in Enmore back in 2016, has also partnered Marrickville's Labld Cafe for the occasion, so you can pair your coffee with a breakfast or lunch bento box. Locally sourced pastries will also be available to snack on. Located opposite Sydney Park, the coffee shop is also the perfect spot to do some quality dog-watching (and maybe even pat one or two). Find the CRS St Peters Pop-Up at 641 King Street, from 7am–2pm Tuesday to Sunday.
If you've spent any part of the past two decades dreaming about being a fabulously dressed New York writer who seems to do very little work but can still afford a fantasy wardrobe — or if you've just spent it drinking a lot of cosmos — then Christmas is coming early for you in 2022. Seventeen years after Sex and the City wrapped up its HBO run, the hit series is getting a spinoff, which'll start airing in mid-December. As an early present, it's just dropped a full trailer. That show is And Just Like That..., which was first announced back at the beginning of 2021, and is set to start streaming Down Under next week. The ten-part series reunites Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon more than a decade since they last shared a screen in the terrible 2008 and 2010 Sex and the City movies. And, if you're wondering what's in store, the new trailer expands upon the first glimpses seen when the show's release window was announced, and in the first teaser trailer a few weeks back. Once again, Parker's Carrie Bradshaw narrates the sneak peek. And yes, she's still waxing lyrical about life, love, friends, family, sex, New York and all her favourite topics. The famed fictional New Yorker also spends time looking at her shoes, because, as Manolo Blahnik devotees know, it really wouldn't be a Sex and the City-related series otherwise. Also featuring: glimpses of Carrie, Miranda (Nixon) and Charlotte (Davis) going about their lives — and of plenty of other familiar Sex and the City faces as well. The series' main trio don't have Kim Cattrall's Samantha for company this time, but Chris Noth, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler and the late Willie Garson all return. Yes, that's Big, Anthony, Steve, Harry and Stanford all accounted for. If you're already planning what you'll be wearing while you watch — we know what you'll be drinking — you'll be able to stream the first two episodes on Thursday, December 9 via Binge in Australia, with new episodes dropping weekly on Thursdays afterwards. In New Zealand, it'll air on Neon and Sky Go from Friday, December 10, with new episodes dropping at 1pm each week. It'll also head to SoHo from 9.30pm on Mondays from December 20. Due to Cattrall's absence, And Just Like That... is being badged as a "new chapter' in the Sex and the City story, rather than an additional season of the existing 1998–2004 program. Parker, Davis and Nixon are also named as producers on And Just Like That..., alongside Michael Patrick King, who worked as a writer, director and executive producer on the original (and on the two movies). Check out the full trailer below: And Just Like That... will start streaming in Australia via Binge from Thursday, December 9. In New Zealand, it'll air via Neon and Sky Go in New Zealand from Friday, December 10, and also on SoHo from 9.30pm on Mondays from December 20.
We rang in the year of the ox (goodbye year of the rat, go sleep it off) on February 12, but the festivities are continuing throughout the month. And what's the best way to partake in the celebration? We've got it right here and it'll make you happier than a hungry bullock. Dumpling master Din Tai Fung is offering new limited edition 'Masked Ox Buns', and they are some the cutest dumplings we've ever seen. Just look at them. Din Tai Fung is famous for its dumplings and is known to release beautiful and novelty dumplings for special occasions (check out these adorable little monkey buns from 2016 and pig bao from 2019). The ox buns are filled with a sweet filling of molten chocolate, which oozes out when you squeeze them. And, in line with the times, they're decked out with little masks — because of course they are. The ox buns are available at Din Tai Fung restaurants and food court outlets in Sydney, so you'll want to hit up its World Square, Westfield Chatswood, Westfield Miranda, Westfield Sydney, Broadway Shopping Centre, Gateway Sydney, The Star, Greenwood Plaza and MLC Centre venues. In great news for Melburnians under lockdown, they're also available for delivery via Deliveroo — and in the chain's big frozen Lunar New Year hampers, which you can get brought to your door. The only problem we can foresee with the cute Din Tai Fung dish? Eating those sweet little pig faces may be hard… but we'll probably manage it. Masked Ox Buns are available for $8.80 for two at Din Tai Fung's World Square, Westfield Chatswood, Westfield Miranda, Westfield Sydney, Broadway Shopping Centre, Gateway Sydney, The Star, Greenwood Plaza and MLC Centre stores. They're also available via Deliveroo — and, in Melbourne, in the chain's frozen Lunar New Year hampers, which cost $98 .
News of a shake-up among a few well-loved venues has just come to light as two of Sydney's most visible hospitality groups — The Love Tilly Group (Love, Tilly Devine, Ragazzi, Dear Sainte Eloise) and PUBLIC Hospitality (The Stand Hotel, Maybe Sammy, Oxford House) — have ended their partnership, resulting in changes to three Sydney venues. The biggest change to Sydney's dining landscape sees Balmain's immensely popular Fabbrica Pasta Bar close its doors, effective immediately. Located inside The Exchange Hotel (owned by PUBLIC), the Inner West restaurant and wine bar opened in April this year and had already built cult status as a favourite dining destination for Balmain and Rozelle locals. Alongside the closing of Fabbrica Balmain, Catalan-inspired Redfern eatery and wine bar La Salut will now no longer be run under the reins of the Love Tilly Group and will now be operated by PUBLIC (the venue is located inside the hospitality group's Norfolk Hotel alongside Ricos Tacos). [caption id="attachment_832344" align="alignnone" width="1920"] La Salut, Nikki To[/caption] In addition to those bombshells, the in-the-works second iteration of Fabbrica Pasta Bar bound for Annadale's The Empire Hotel will no longer be happening. The pub's revamp as The Federal will still boast boutique accommodation and a new Maybe Frank outpost but will no longer offer The Love Tilly Group's signature mix of boundary-pushing carbs and minimal-intervention wines. The Love Tilly Group has confirmed that more Fabbrica Pasta Bars are on the way, and you can still get your dose of Love Tilly pasta and vino at their other independent Sydney venues, including their Darlinghurst namesake which recently underwent a mini revamp and the expansive new Palazzo Salato. "It's a devastatingly difficult decision for us to make," says Love Tilly Group Managing Director Matthew Swieboda. "But for the benefit of the staff and the suppliers, we can no longer, in good faith, continue to run our venues together with Public Hospitality. We're excited to focus our attention on the new Fabbrica Pasta Bar sites we've been working on — some of which we'll be ready to announce in the coming weeks." [caption id="attachment_918401" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Empire Hotel[/caption] As for PUBLIC, the crew just opened an exciting new wine and record bar with help from P&V's Mike Benie inside its luxe Oxford Street hotel Oxford House. A statement from PUBLIC reads: "PUBLIC is disappointed to have been informed today that Love Tilly Group has decided to end the commercial relationship. While there have been disputed commercial matters, PUBLIC understood these to be progressing." "PUBLIC thank Love Tilly Group for their contribution and wish them well in future endeavours. Consistent with PUBLIC's strategy of owning and operating strong hospitality brands, PUBLIC purchased the La Salut brand in 2022 and will continue to operate at The Norfolk in Redfern, including offering employment for existing staff." [caption id="attachment_888590" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fabbrica pasta, Nikki To[/caption] Fabbrica Pasta Bar Balmain has officially shut its doors. Keep an eye on the Fabbrica Instagram page for announcements of new pasta bars. La Salut will continue to operate at 305 Cleveland Street, Redfern. Top image: Fabbrica Pasta Bar Balmain, Dexter Kim
If you're a fan of musical theatre, then you know the name Jonathan Larson, the creator and composer behind smash-hit production Rent. And, you likely know his story, too, with the playwright and lyricist passing away at the age of 35 on the day that that now-huge show premiered its first off-Broadway preview performance, and never seeing the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning phenomenon that it would become. Before that, Larson also created another musical called tick, tick…BOOM!; however, it didn't chart the same path. Instead, the semi-autobiographical piece was performed as a solo work before his death, following a character called Jon who worried that he'd made the wrong decision by chasing his dream of becoming a composer. After Larson died, tick, tick…BOOM! was reimagined as a three-actor show, then made its way from off-Broadway to off-West End, as well as West End itself. And, in 2021, it took the leap to the screen, too, courtesy of Netflix — in a film directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and starring Andrew Garfield, the latter turning in an Oscar-nominated performance as Larson. That's a whole lot of history behind Sydney's latest big musical announcement: that tick, tick…BOOM! will bring its Australian mainstage debut tour to the Harbour City in 2023. First, it'll run seasons at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre and Brisbane's QPAC Playhouse, before arriving at Sydney's Lyric Theatre from Thursday, April 20–Sunday, April 23. If you're wondering about tick, tick…BOOM!'s narrative, the rock musical is set in 1990, with promising young composer Jon as its focus. He's almost 30, living in New York City, and life as an artist isn't turning out as he planned — so he has to decide what to do next. The production is an ode to theatre and a tribute to New York, too, and has kept proving popular since it premiered in its current format off-Broadway in 2001. Playing Larson in Australia: multiple Logie-winner Hugh Sheridan (Packed to the Rafters, House Husbands, Five Bedrooms), with Elenoa Rokobaro (Rent) as Susan, Finn Alexander (Urinetown) as Michael, and Sheridan Adams (Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical) and Andrew Coshan (A View From a Bridge) also among the cast. Also, tick, tick…BOOM!'s upcoming Aussie seasons will be produced by Adrian Storey from StoreyBoard Entertainment (Chess the Musical, Barnum, Follies, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) and directed by Tyran Parke (Chess the Musical, Barnum, Follies, Sunday in the Park with George). The Australian production doesn't yet have any footage, either, but you can check out the trailer for the Netflix film below: tick, tick…BOOM! will play Sydney's Lyric Theatre from Thursday, April 20–Sunday, April 23, 2023. For further details and tickets, head to the musical's Australian website.
Opinions may be divided on what is truly the best medium of entertainment, but there's no denying the simple pleasure of going to a musical. The feeling of being swept off your feet by a particularly memorable tune, doubled over laughing or drenched in your own tears, its a stagecraft that's captured the love of millions around the world. This year is is no exception for killer musicals, so we partnered with Destination NSW to curate a guide to the biggest musicals coming to stages in Sydney in 2023. Whether you want to laugh, sing or cry, there's a stage show below for you.
Missed out on tickets to the hugely popular Day of the Dead 3.1 warehouse project, announced last month? You're in luck. An immersive El Dia de los Muertos-inspired experience curated by a group of Mexican visionaries and artists, the Day of the Dead announced plans to visit Sydney on October 24, then Melbourne on October 31 before ending in Brisbane on November 7. While all three cities sold out within hours, and the organisers were inevitably inundated with hundreds of emails requesting tickets, so the Day of the Dead team twisted some arms and managed to increase the event capacity. There'll be a new and final ticket release happening on Saturday, September 26 at 12.30pm, with tickets at $95. Tickets will sell out within hours, so be ready. Get tickets here. Currently sold-out, the Day of the Dead warehouse project takes cues from some of the world's most celebrated immersive spectacles, everything from Burning Man to Sleep No More. The one-off event will immerse ticketholders in a temporary world of interactive art installations, light projections, extravagant costumes, murals created by renowned street artists and an exclusive lineup of local and international DJs and musicians. Pop-ups by a handpicked bunch of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's go-to local Mexican eateries, like Playa Takeria, have been selected to create special Dia de los Muertos menus. Plus, there'll be Mexican cervezas and tequila/mezcal cocktails from the newly announced principal sponsor Tequila Herradura and major sponsor Tequila Jimador to provide you with enough sustenance to dance the night away. With instructions being sent to ticketholders just one week before the event, and locations revealed just one day before the party, this is secret warehouse party business at its best. Honour the dead, celebrate the living. Be ready on Saturday. The Day of the Dead 3.1's new and final ticket release is happening on Saturday, September 26 at 12.30pm. Tickets are $95 and are expected to sell out within hours. Get tickets here. By Kimberley Mai and Shannon Connellan.
Courting might have been sweet back in your grandparents' day, but with the advent of Facebook, relationships have taken on a whole lot more complexity. Admit it - if you like someone, you'll periodically check out their Facebook profile, click through their photos, ascertain their general whereabouts and any signs that their lack of obtainability might be about to take a turn for the better. This practice, commonly referred to as Facebook 'stalking' - with all the overtones of obsession and garbage-bin rifling the word implies - is perhaps coming closer to the world of real-life courting, with the release of the BreakUp Notifier, the app most likely to get you laid by someone on the rebound. Using the app, you can bookmark the profiles of people in a relationship, and then you'll be automatically notified should that status change in the slightest. As the app itself explains,"You like someone. They're in a relationship. Be the first to know when they're out of it." Woe betide the person chasing after someone with the enigmatic 'It's Complicated' relationship status. Or those who refuse to divulge their status at all. While the Breakup Notifier is perhaps another step down the road to normalising creepy behaviour, you know that thousands of people are going to be downloading this app and making damn sure their's will be the first attractive and available shoulder to cry on. BreakUp Notifier
There's no such thing as a perfect movie, but there may be one you wouldn't wish to be any different. Such is the magic of The Artist, which has ridden into theatres on an almost unprecedented wave of acclaim. The French-made, Hollywood-set black-and-white silent movie follows the changing face of the film industry that comes with the advent of 'talkies' in the late 1920s. Silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) finds himself suddenly out of favour, while the star of a girl he recently discovered and clicked with, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), correspondingly rises. After George stakes his fortune and career on a self-made, stubbornly silent blockbuster that flops, everybody abandons George except his dog, his eventually unwaged valet (James Cromwell) and Peppy, who watches over her idol from afar. Cinephiles clearly can't help but love this film — it's all about the history of cinema, the charm unique to cinema, and the rarely considered shared lineage of silent films and musicals. It reflects the practice of going to the cinema back at us, and somehow uplifts our trackie-dacks-and-choc-top experience to the venerated level we see on screen, where women dressed in gowns and gloves applaud a live orchestra. But the reason why people of all kinds, from everywhere, love The Artist so much is almost certainly its generosity, sweet spirit and complete lack of pretension. The film is nostalgic and old-fashioned — as in old Hollywood and new Bollywood, it's a love story in which the lovers never kiss. Without turning saccharine, it has a gorgeously innate ability to strip your well-worn cynicism right off you. You'll smile like a baby. You can't think a mean thought. It also helps that the three leads — that's Dujardin, Bejo and the uncannily expressive dog, Uggie — are monumentally charming. You've never really been charmed by someone, you'll find, until you've been so charmed without words. It's also fun to spot great familiar faces John Goodman and James Cromwell in supporting roles. Seeing The Artist is precious, and that's better than perfection.
At the end of Billy Elliot, the main character (all grown up) steps on stage. He's about to dance the lead role in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, the now-world-renowned retelling of perhaps the most popular ballet ever, where all the traditionally delicate, graceful, tutu-ed female swans are replaced by men. We don't get to see any more in the film, but to those who felt cheated of the brawn and feathers and highly talented dancing boys (the story follows a prince, attracted through curiosity and lust to the leading Swan — a dark, predatory, menacing and morphing sexual predator), you're now in luck. The once-controversial, always-audacious ballet is coming to Sydney, for a limited run of performances. (So get on it.) Bourne's Swan Lake did show here back in 2007, but this time it's been revamped a bit. According to Bourne himself, there's less of the naff and childish humour in some of the prince's scenes, and even more of the wild, raw, animalistic masculinity that this reinvention of Tchaikovsky's classic is famous for. Yes please.
If you didn't already know, Erskineville's much-loved Imperial Hotel is home to Priscillas, a 'drag and dine' restaurant where you'll find everything from plant-based food to late-night drag shows. And for from Friday, September 25 to Saturday, November 21, Priscillas is bringing back its raunchy X-rated Rood Food festival for a third year. Every Friday and Saturday night at 6pm and 8.15pm, a combo of dirty dishes, cocktails and kinky drag will take over the pub's dining room. At its centre is a three-act drag extravaganza performed by Sydney queens Etcetera Etcetera, Peach Fuzz, Dammit Janet, Dakota Fann'ee and Rio that comes with a side of phallic fare and crude cocktails. You can opt for either a two-course Kiss and Tell ($69) or three-course Full Service ($89), which comes with an interactive cocktail. If you want the stuff to be free-flowing, you can tack on two hours of bottomless booze for $40. Expect to see dishes such as 50 Shades of Green guacamole, Bareback ribs and the return of Rood Food favourites, the Panna-Knockers.
If you think you don't know who Cody ChesnuTT is, then you will be pleased to learn that you are wrong. He is the soulful singer of the incredibly catchy 'Look Good In Leather', one of many brilliant songs from his debut album, The Headphone Masterpiece. The Roots (you will know them) also reworked ChesnuTT's song 'The Seed' for their famous album Phrenology. Since then it has been a long time between drinks — Australia last saw ChesnuTT in 2006. Thankfully, though, he is back with his second studio album and an Australian tour. Landing on a Hundred was released late last year and is well worth seeing performed live. In fact, anyone compared to music legends Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, Jimmy Hendrix and Prince is worth seeing, especially for under $50. So hand over a gold note, get your change and enjoy an evening of musical artistry at The Metro Theatre. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8iTRRkOXIoI
Back in 2020, which now seems a lifetime ago, Laneway Festival celebrated 15 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio first decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes. The beloved fest marked that milestone with a characteristically jam-packed lineup that made its way to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Fremantle, as well as Auckland — but since then, it's been quiet thanks to the pandemic. First, the bad news: no one will be raising a plastic cup at the fest in 2022, Laneway organisers have confirmed. Now, the great news: the event is gearing up to finally make a comeback in 2023. In a social media announcement, the Laneway crew noted that right now it'd usually "be sailing the Laneway cruise liner into Australia/NZ, docking at Adelaide." That's clearly not happening at the moment, and "for obvious reasons we have decided to sit out again this year but rest assured, we are busy bees preparing for Laneway '23," the post continued. Dates, cities and venues for 2023 haven't been announced yet, but the Laneway team also noted that they're quite advanced in the planning for next year. "It's unusual for us to have booked so many acts so early on but that is what we can confirm we have done for Laneway 23, and it's already feeling like one of those very special Laneway lineups... there are so many exciting ideas and dreams coming into the picture and we look forward to sharing them with you into the new normal," organisers revealed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by St. Jerome's Laneway Festival (@lanewayfest) If you're now already looking forward to next year, that's understandable. If you're now speculating on who might be on the bill, that's perfectly natural, too. Laneway's news comes after restrictions eased in both New South Wales and Victoria on Friday, February 18, allowing dancing again — with NSW's ban on dancing at music festivals set to lift this week as well. Laneway Festival will return in 2023. We'll update you with further details, including dates, venues and lineups, when they're announced. Top image: Anthony Smith.
Taylor Swift announcing a new album as she broke records. Barbie's 'What Was I Made For?' winning Song of the Year. Tracy Chapman. Celine Dion. Miley Cyrus' first Grammy ever. Annie Lennox's Sinead O'Connor tribute. The 2024 Grammys had them all. The awards also had SZA entering the ceremony as this year's most-nominated artist, swerving away from swords as she performed 'Kill Bill' and collecting three gongs. Next on the R&B singer's list: touring Australia and New Zealand. [caption id="attachment_939968" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacob Webster[/caption] SZA won Grammys for Best Progressive R&B Album, Best R&B Song and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Phoebe Bridgers — and to appreciate why, you'll want to make a date with her shows in Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in April. She's playing two gigs each everywhere but Brissie, all at arenas on a seven-show visit. The S.O.S. tour is in support of SZA's second album of the same name, which dropped in late 2022. She's been performing the record live for the past year, kicking off in North America from February 2023, then playing Europe before returning to the US. Cue 'Good Days', 'Snooze', 'Shirt' and 'Nobody Gets Me' on her current setlists, plus 'Broken Clocks', 'Drew Barrymore', 'The Weekend' and 'Love Galore' from her debut album Ctrl — and everything from 'All the Stars' from the Black Panther soundtrack to 'Kiss Me More'. SZA joins a massive list of big-name tours heading Australia and New Zealand's way in 2024, alongside everyone from Tenacious D, Take That and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and GZA this week alone. SZA S.O.S. Australia and New Zealand Tour Dates 2024: Monday, April 15–Tuesday, April 16 — Spark Arena, Auckland, Friday, April 19 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Tuesday, April 23–Wednesday, April 24 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Monday, April 29–Tuesday, April 30 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne SZA is touring Australia and New Zealand in April 2024, with presales from 2pm on Friday, February 9 and general sales from 2pm on Monday, February 12. Head to the Australian and New Zealand tour websites for more information. Top image: The Come Up Show via Wikimedia Commons.
Sometimes a needle drop just works, even when it simply states the obvious. One of those instances: playing a remix of Nas' 'Got Ur Self a Gun' throughout the latest trailer for John Wick: Chapter 4. The song famously samples Alabama 3's 'Woke Up This Morning', the tune forever famous as the opening theme to iconic HBO series The Sopranos, and fits John Wick as much as the original fit Tony Soprano. Just over a month out from the latest John Wick flick hitting cinemas, the third sneak peek at what's to come has been unveiled. Unsurprisingly, plenty of action-packed confrontations are in the works, as brought to the screen with plenty of frenetic stunt choreography. Just as expectedly, Keanu Reeves is still using every weapon at his disposal in his fourth stint as cinema's favourite dog-loving assassin. If you're thinking that Wick's luck might run out at some point, the new film understands. But this stunt-filled saga still has one last way to give its namesake his non-violent life back. As past trailers have explained, he can agree to a duel against the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård, Barbarian) — but of course only one can survive. With that premise, expect the ante to be upped on the saga's latest onslaught of fights, as the latest trailer goes all-in on. Anywhere that Wick can shoot, fight and dispense with everyone trying to take him down, he will and does. This flick involves hopping around the globe, in fact, including Paris, New York and Berlin — and also getting into sword fights in Japan, riding horses through a sandy desert, using cars as weapons and boasting one mighty handy canine. Accordingly, as all John Wick movies have so far — the first in 2014, John Wick: Chapter 2 in 2017 and John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum all included — this one follows the hitman that other hitmen fear as he takes on his ever-growing list of adversaries. Whatever gets thrown his way hasn't stopped Wick yet, after he got dragged back into the assassin life when a past batch of enemies messed with his pet pooch. Reeves' former stunt double-turned-filmmaker Chad Stahelski directs again, as he has on all three prior movies. On-screen, Reeves is also joined by a roster of familiar and new John Wick faces, with fellow franchise mainstays Ian McShane (American Gods) and Lance Reddick (Godzilla vs Kong) returning, and Reeves' The Matrix co-star Laurence Fishburne — after appearing in the past two movies — as well. And, Donnie Yen (Mulan), Hiroyuki Sanada (Mortal Kombat), Shamier Anderson (Son of the South), Rina Sawayama (Turn Up Charlie) and Scott Adkins (Triple Threat) are all also set to feature. In similarly excellent news, a fifth John Wick movie is already in the works, because more ass-kicking Keanu is always a great thing. And, so are two spinoffs: The Continental and Ballerina. The first is a streaming series, clearly set around the hotel that features so prominently in the films as a safe haven for hitmen. As for the second, it's a movie that ties in with John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, and will star Ana de Armas (Blonde) — and also feature Reeves and McShane. Check out the latest trailer for John Wick: Chapter 4 below: John Wick: Chapter 4 releases Down Under on March 23.
Just because the sun has officially gone down on summer, doesn't mean you have to crawl into bed with a hot water bottle for four months. Though the heady days of wearing freshly pressed linens and sipping rosé in the park are officially over, winter has its perks. For one, everyone looks considerably chicer when they're not sweating constantly. For two, restaurants go hard serving up the good stuff — meats of the slow-cooked variety, hearty soups with crusty bread, vegetables roasted in duck fat, and warm buttery desserts. We've partnered with Samsung to scout out some of the best winter dishes you can get your mitts on in Sydney right now. And since everyone loves a good food photo, the new Galaxy S9 and S9+ has superior low-light capability, to capture your tasty meal in all its glory. So get stuck in. Like those arctic explorers always say, your body needs fat to survive the cold. SUNDAY ROAST AT THE DUKE OF CLARENCE Those looking for a cosy nook to hold winter at bay need go no further than the Duke of Clarence. This reimagining of a British tavern from the 1800s is the sort of place Charles Dickens might have sunk a few pints with mates. On Sundays, the pub offers four particularly extravagant roasts: a sirloin beef, a free-range roast chicken, a blue eye cod and a field mushroom. They're served with a generous side of trimmings: stuffing, Dutch carrots, peas, broccolini, potatoes roasted in beef fat and Yorkshire pudding. The place has proper Victorian manor library vibes, which is great, but bring a camera that can handle the moody light. BAKED CAMEMBERT AT KITTYHAWK Kittyhawk knows a thing or two about burrowing its way into your heart through your tastebuds — we tend to think if it only had its baked camembert en papillote on the menu, the bar would still be doing just fine. One of the truest delights of this dish is the way its gooey goodness runs at the first slice of your knife. And if you're someone who thinks that all cheese is improved by a spread of quince, wait until truffle is added and it's warmed by the creamy concoction. Served with a side of toasted sourdough and topped with a sprig of lemon thyme, this is pure French joy wrapped in a fragrant little parcel. BURNT RAMEN AT GOGYO Though Gogyo is fairly new in the Sydney eating world, it has significant chops back home in Japan. If you're looking to beat the winter chill, there's no going past their house speciality — ramen kogashi, or "burnt ramen". The toasty ramen is prepared by cooking fat at over 300 degrees until it bursts into flames. A special concoction of miso, soy and other umami flavours are added to the mix, followed by slow-cooked pork broth, a generous slice of melt-in-your-mouth pork belly, a silky egg, and perfect ribbons of freshly made noodles. The ramen arrives at your table flecked with blackened oil at the very manageable temperature of 80 degrees. The broth is intense and rich — perfect for those cooler days. FONDUE AT GPO CHEESE AND WINE ROOM How lucky are we that somehow putting little cubes of bread and meat on a stick and dipping them into pots of melted cheese is considered fancy? And the fondue platter at GPO Cheese and Wine Room is particularly fancy. Boasting a selection of almost 100 cheeses, this cosy little nook tucked away in the depths of Martin Place is the perfect spot for all your liquid cheese needs. The fondue comes in three flavours — goat's cheese, truffle cheese and blue cheese — and is served with an entire platter of dipping delights, including cured meats, prawns, roasted chat potatoes, honey pepper figs and multiple types of bread. You'll want this in slow-motion action shots. CACIO E PEPE AT BUFFALO DINING CLUB If you've ever thought, "why have I wasted my whole life eating meals out of bowls like a peasant when I could be eating out of a wheel of Parmesan like a cheese god?", then Buffalo Dining Club is the place for you. The cacio e pepe is the most simple combination of quality pasta, salt, pepper, oil and parsley served in a wheel of sharp pecorino cheese. The silky pasta is swirled around the parmesan wheel until the cheese gets all melty and delicious. It's then heaped onto your plate and cloaked with additional shaved parmesan because there is literally no such thing as too much cheese. Instead of spending your winter nights on the couch, discover all the after-dark happenings in your city here — and don't forget to document it all on the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, designed especially for low light so you can capture your best moments no matter what. Images: Cole Bennetts.
When the end of the year hits, do you get 'Christmas is All Around', as sung by Bill Nighy, stuck in your head? Have you ever held up a piece of cardboard to tell the object of your affection that, to you, they're perfect? Does your idea of getting festive involve watching Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson and Martin Freeman, all in the same movie? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you clearly adore everyone's favourite Christmas-themed British rom-com, its high-profile cast and its seasonal humour. And, you've probably watched the beloved flick every December since it was first released in cinemas back in 2003. That's a perfectly acceptable routine, and one that's shared by many. But this year, you can do one better — again. A huge success during its past tours of the UK, Australia and New Zealand (to the surprise of absolutely no one), Love Actually in Concert is returning in 2023 to make this festive season extra merry. It's exactly what it sounds like: a screening of the film accompanied by a live orchestra performing the soundtrack as the movie plays. And, to the jolly delight of fans Down Under, it's heading to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, as well as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Dates and times vary per city, but all shows are taking place in December so that you can get your Love Actually fix in the lead up to Christmas. Here, you'll revisit the Richard Curtis-written and -directed film that you already know and treasure, step through its interweaved Yuletide stories of romance, and hear a live orchestra play the movie's soundtrack. And, yes, Christmas (and love) will be all around you. LOVE ACTUALLY IN CONCERT 2023 DATES: Friday, December 15 — 7pm, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Saturday, December 16 — 3.30pm, Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney, Sydney Saturday, December 16 — 3.30pm, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth Saturday, December 16 — 4pm + 8pm, The Civic, Auckland Sunday, December 17 — 4pm, Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch Saturday, December 23 — 3.30pm + 7pm, Hamer Hall, Melbourne Love Actually in Concert will tour Australia and New Zealand in December 2023— head to the event's website for further details and tickets.
Victoria's Grampians National Park is already home to a number of world-class hiking trails, but, come next year, it will have a giant new one that's will be a whole trip in itself. Start stretching, because this will be a big one. When completed in late-2020, the Grampians Peaks Trail will cover 160 kilometres and take 13 days to traverse. It'll connect some of the Grampians' best mountain peaks, providing panoramic views of the southern volcanic plains from Mount Abrupt, winding through the parks low-lying greenery and waterfalls to Mount Zero in the north. The track has been designed so everyone can get some use out of it — whether you're looking for a leisurely day trip or an overnight hike, or ready to commit to an epic two-week adventure. Gariwerd — as it's known by the land's Traditional Owners, the Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung people — is more than just its rugged, sandstone mountains. The park is heritage listed for its Aboriginal significance (there is a large number of ancient rock art paintings and shelters in the area), its abundance of animal and plant life, and its damn spectacular views. If you're raring to get started, a section of the Grampians Peaks Trail is already open — and it's a three-day circuit, so you can easily make a weekender out of it. As it stands, the 36-kilometre walk starts and ends at Halls Gap and has two campsites — Bugiga Hiker Camp and Borough Huts Campground — and takes in highlights like the Pinnacle, Spitters Falls, the Gate of the East Wind, Mount Rosea and Bellfield Lake. The Grampians Peaks Trail will open in full in late 2020. We'll keep you updated with new details on the track as its launch gets closer.
Reckon you've seen all of Sydney there is to see in all the ways there is to see it? Find out what you don't know (and work off those Good Friday and Easter Saturday excesses) with a guided foreshore discovery ride on Easter Sunday. Leaving Sydney Square at 8.30am, 10am and 11.30am, this 10-kilometre cycling adventure run by the City of Sydney will take you and up to nine others on a fun journey, passing many of Sydney's famous, infamous and not-so-famous sites. If you've been wanting to cycle the city, but been put off by driver aggression, out-of-control traffic and crazy fines, this is your chance to explore without stressing. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Yesterday afternoon, Melbourne hosted a climate change rally and knocked it out of the park. Upwards of 60,000 people attended the march through the CBD, which according to organisers would make it the largest rally of its kind in Australian history. The demonstrators marched from the State Library to Parliament House, and were joined by the likes of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Greens Senator Richard Di Natalie and national treasure Paul Kelly, who led the crowd in a rendition of 'From Little Things, Big Things Grow.' The People's Climate March in Melbourne was the first of many set to take place around the country this weekend, with Australian's calling on their leaders to take a strong stand against climate change ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris next week. According to the Australian Conservation Foundation, a further 10,000 people marched through Brisbane this morning, while there's a demonstration scheduled for Sydney tomorrow afternoon. Here's hoping they can amass even bigger numbers. If there was ever a time to put the ol' Sydney-Melbourne rivalry to good use, this would have to be it. To find the closest People's Climate March near you, go here. And if you want to feel good about humanity, we've gathered some of the best social media reactions from the Melbourne rally, below. "Coal- don't dig it! Leave it in the ground, it's time to get with it!" Huge crowds at Melb #peoplesclimate march! pic.twitter.com/IHRG8mLm1L — Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) November 27, 2015 'The largest climate change rally we have ever seen in Australian history' #peoplesclimate #COP21 #melbourne https://t.co/Rcs2IjuU58 — CAHA Inc (@healthy_climate) November 27, 2015 That's a great view #Melbourne #peoplesclimate march @Peoples_Climate 50,000 pic.twitter.com/MPAXtslZgo — Samantha Dunn (@SamanthaDunnMP) November 27, 2015 Pics from the #peoplesclimate march in Melbourne this evening. Organisers think they have 30,000. #PeoplesMarch pic.twitter.com/IA1zFib0om — Melissa Davey (@MelissaLDavey) November 27, 2015 Pretty sure this guy just won #peoplesclimate (via @350Australia) pic.twitter.com/dAN3TSEjjO — GetUp! (@GetUp) November 27, 2015
Imagine an informercial, but instead of steak knives and stain-proof trousers, this one's selling nothing less than The Great Society itself. You've got your host, Michael Moore, waddling his way from one set piece to the next and reacting with staged incredulity to every deal and reveal ("you get HOW MUCH annual leave in Italy!?") Then there are the interviews, not strictly scripted, but painstakingly selected to ensure they provide every piece of tantalising information without any of the fine print or shortcomings. And, finally, the offer: "Act NOW to adopt the Norwegian penitentiary system and we'll throw in Finnish tertiary studies ABSOLUTELY FREE!" The thing is, unlike so many of those late night absurdities, this one's genuinely enticing. The premise of Moore's latest documentary is a simple one: America hasn't won a war since WWII, so he's giving the US Armed Forces a well-earned stand down order and is instead single-handedly invading countries to steal the things America's most desperately in need of, including France's healthy school lunches, Germany's recognition of past national atrocities, and Italy's fair workplace conditions. Yes, Moore is selective in his 'spoils of war', only showing us the instances where such programs work, but as a model for better government, better business…better living, it's a forgivable choice. Unlike many of Moore's previous films such as Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Capitalism: A Love Story, there's a refreshing absence of cynicism in Where To Invade Next. Even with the overarching message, which basically boils down to "look how much better than us the world does these things", the film ends by reminding us how so many of those initiatives were born in America and, with just a little legislative courage, could easily be reintroduced to sudden and sweeping effect. Greed, unsurprisingly, is identified by Moore as the chief source of America's ills, and it's no grand revelation that the privatisation of prisons, schools and healthcare invariably precipitates a clash between value and values. However, as Moore seeks to prove, a healthy and educated society where welfare is considered a strength rather than an embarrassment is, in the long run, both a cheaper and a more productive one. Moore's trademark one-liners, musical gags and, for want of a better term, 'clowning', repeatedly threaten to distract (or even detract) from his message. Thankfully he demonstrates enough reserve throughout to let the compelling facts speak largely for themselves. And they are compelling, speaking directly to many of the same shortcomings here in Australia that few would deny are in need of significant redress. Most notable of these are Norway's humane treatment of incarcerated criminals to combat recidivism, and Iceland's massively increased female representation at the executive level across both business and politics. This is a film that shows you how things can be done better, then compels you to ask why it's not already the case. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KeAZho8TKo
Before SXSW made its way Down Under, Australia was already home to an annual event filled with live tunes, plus musicians and industry experts chatting about the business. In 2025, BIGSOUND marks 24 years of serving up that exact combination, and also of making Brisbane the centre of the Aussie music scene for a spring week in the process. How is it celebrating nearing its quarter-century milestone? With quite the hefty lineup. Briggs, Tash Sultana and Blur drummer Dave Rowntree are just some of the talents on the program — and that's just at BIGSOUND's conference. There are two key strands to this Sunshine State event: getting an array of people talking about all things music, and enlisting as many Brissie sites as possible in turning the River City into a multi-venue festival heaving with gigs. The first part is where well-known names usually come in. The second is where discovering your next favourite act is on the agenda. In 2025, you can enjoy both across Tuesday, September 2–Friday, September 5. Yorta Yorta rapper and Bad Apples Music founder Briggs will be in conversation with Gomeroi musician Kobie Dee, digging into their journeys, while Sultana is on the bill fresh from releasing her Return to the Roots EP. As for keynote speaker Rowntree, he heads to Brisbane just as he releases his new photography book No One You Know, which is filled with behind-the-scenes snaps taken by the man himself. Also among the folks on the conference lineup: Mallrat, Elly-May Barnes and Josh Pyke, adding to the musos picking up the microphone in a different way; Darcus Beese, aka the first Black President of a UK major label and the executive who signed Amy Winehouse at Island Records UK; Music Supervisor Anne Booty, who has worked on Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness; plus SXSW Music Festival Director Dev Sherlock, Reeperbahn Festival's Senior Partnerships Manager Robin Werner and The Great Escape's Head of Music Adam Ryan. So far, the list of musicians among the 120-plus acts that will play 18 Brisbane stages includes WAFIA, KAIIT, Inkabee, Azure Ryder, The Southern River Band, Hatchie and plenty more — all following in the footsteps of Sultana, Flume, Courtney Barnett, Baker Boy, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard and others at past BIGSOUND festivals. "BIGSOUND is about taking stock of where we are and imagining where we want to go next. At a time of rapid transformation in the music sector — across tech, touring, sustainability, and artist income — we want to amplify the value of meaningful connection. Between creators and audiences, between industry peers, and artists and the people who can take their careers to the next level. Whether it's onstage or over coffee, BIGSOUND is where new ideas and partnerships begin," said QMusic and BIGSOUND CEO Kris Stewart about 2025's lineup so far. "Curating this year's program has been such a joy — the artists we've selected reflect the incredible depth of talent in Australia, and each one is doing truly exciting things with their music. We're so proud of this group and can't wait to see them bring the Fortitude Valley to life in September," added BIGSOUND Co-Programmers Casey O'Shaughnessy and Katie Rynne. [caption id="attachment_907796" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Kan[/caption] [caption id="attachment_851424" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_861894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_907800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simone Gorman-Clark[/caption] BIGSOUND 2025 takes place between Tuesday, September 2–Friday, September 5 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information and tickets, visit the event's website.
Opened in early 2024 to much fervour, Casa Esquina's innovative Argentinian fare has meant its first trip around the sun has been a successful one. Situated in a revamped Victorian mansion on the corner of Balmain's Elliott and Darling Streets, the spirit of shared meals and cutting-edge dining emanates through the place from top to bottom. Yet the restaurant isn't holding back as we enter 2025. Held across six weeks until February 28, Casa Esquina is hosting a Summer Bottomless Menu every Saturday and Sunday in partnership with St Germain. Inspired by the growing popularity of the hugo spritz – a refreshing cocktail made with prosecco, elderflower syrup, seltzer and fresh mint – there's more to this event than just a few tasty drinks. From your table nestled on the restaurant's tranquil outdoor terrace, you'll enjoy a hugo on arrival before dining on a three-course selection of Argentinian bites, such as pulled lamb croquetas with paprika mayo, and flame-roasted chicken with salsa chambota. With seatings running from 12pm to 2.30pm, you'll also get two hours of bottomless sparkling and rosé. With Casa Esquina led by the same bright-minded team behind two of Sydney's best Mexican restaurants – Tequila Mockingbird and Esteban – if you're saving a bottomless feast for a special occasion, now might be the best time to shoot your shot. The experience costs $99 per person, with a minimum of two guests required.
In this age of fast food, fast cars and fast women, there's something to be said for taking things slow. A Tavola, one of Sydney's most exquisite Italian restaurants, knows the pleasure that comes from simple things done well. They've turned this principle into two special event evenings this Tuesday and Wednesday - perhaps as a celebration for their newly acquired chef's hat. The eight course feast sounds dangerously tempting. Dishes include new season green garlic buttered Yamba Prawns, with native lemon myrtle dukka, finger lime and shaved fennel; and Pappardelle with Byron Bay Berkshire pork and native bush tomato ragu, served with apple balsamic. We can't wait for the 'Cremino' dessert: chocolate fondente, salty macadamia and caramel ice cream, with Italian meringue. It looks to be simple, beautiful Italian cooking, with a slight Australian twist. Make sure you book soon: we imagine that seats at this intimate 'tavola' won't last long. We're giving away tickets for two people to Wednesday night's event. If you would like to attend, simply make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name through to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
"Touring is the only job in the world, I think, where you are a professional and you drink," James Vincent McMorrow muses from a phone somewhere in Dublin. "If you were an accountant or even if you were an actor and you drank at the levels that some touring bands do, you wouldn't be able to function." Two years ago, he decided to give the bottle the boot. Not because he had an uncontrollable drinking problem, but because he wanted to "see what would happen". "At that point in my career, everything was on a really intense upswing and I was playing big shows. It's not that I wasn't enjoying [drinking], it's just that I didn't feel that I was in control of what I was doing. I didn't think I was doing it justice in the way that I wanted to." In a January 2014 Guardian interview, McMorrow identified a packed-out show at London's Festival Hall as a turning point. "The biggest show I'd ever played in this country... I got off stage and thought — did that go well? I don't know," he told journo Tom Lamont. At first, the sobriety inspired a sizeable dose of performance nerves. "I became incredibly aware of my hands and started making mistakes again," he recalls. "I used to think that you needed to drink to get out of your own way mentally and create. But it actually made me think from a much clearer perspective." CREATING POST TROPICAL When work began on second album, Post Tropical, the music flew thick and fast. "I had better ideas than ever before... I was much more ambitious." Where 2011 debut Early in the Morning was folk-ish and harmony-fuelled, Post Tropical sees McMorrow delve into new territory – R&B influences, dashes of Rhodes, electronica and intricate layering. There's hardly an acoustic guitar to be heard. The songs were assembled over the course of eight months and recorded "on a pecan farm half a mile from the Mexican border" — where the likes of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Animal Collective, Beach House and At The Drive In have laid down tracks. "It's the perfect place to make music... I don't think I'll record anywhere else again. I came for the equipment and stayed for the view," he adds, laughing. McMorrow sees putting together a song is akin to solving a Rubik's Cube. "Every time I look at it, there's a couple less red squares. Then I keep going and I take a look at the other side. It might go the wrong way, or it might get better. And one day, it's just done. I'll listen to it and there'll be nothing in it that doesn't make me happy." https://youtube.com/watch?v=jgE3AengS0A ON BEING YOUNG AND MUCH MORE SERIOUS The songwriting process wasn't always so intuitive for the Irish native. McMorrow remembers a younger and much more serious version of himself. "I think I went from trying to be a musician to being a musician and that was a very big change. I don't examine music anymore; I follow it where it leads me. I used to question — you'd worry about whether you were good enough, or whether you could do the things that needed to be done. But I don't worry about that anymore. I still challenge myself every day and push myself infinitely harder than I ever did, but I do it with a sense of knowing what I'm doing and how to get there." Back in his worrying days, he spent hours reading some pretty meaty literature. "I became really obsessed with people like John Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner and the American idea — between 1900 and the 1930s and '40s. It's quite funny, because if I examine the books I read and where I was at musically, I can connect the dots quite quickly. I read a lot of heavy books like The Sound and The Fury, and because I was writing music there was a certain element: 'if I read these serious things then I want to write about serious things.'" https://youtube.com/watch?v=j0DvjgagJko ON GAME OF THRONES These days, however, he'll "read anything that's put in front of [him]". Even if the writing isn't quite up to scratch. "I just read the entire Game of Thrones, everything up to the point where it finishes," he explains. "I read it because I started watching the series and I got annoyed because it was ending, so I thought I'd read the book. But then I realised the books were really, really long and kind of weirdly written. I don't know if you've read fantasy novels before but they're kind of... they're not the most amazing writing in the world, even though the story is obviously compelling. And when I started reading them I didn't realise that [George R. R. Martin] hadn't finished the series. So I got to the last book and found out he had two more to write still!" Fortunately, he's moved onto Hans Fallada's Alone in Berlin, which he describes as "really beautiful". And McMorrow has a plethora of tour dates to keep him busy between reads. JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW TOUR DATES: Wednesday 21 May — Astor Theatre, Perth Friday 23 May — Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane Tuesday 27 May — Forum, Melbourne Thursday 29 May — Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House (Vivid LIVE) Saturday 31 May — Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House (Vivid LIVE)
Tavi Gevinson, the precocious pixie editrix, is finally manifesting her person on our shores. As a hugely successful teen blogger and founder of Rookie magazine, her entrepreneurial chutzpah is something of a phenomenon. Sydney Opera House Concert Hall will host Tavi's Big Big World, part of Ideas at the House, a program which presents conversations with influential personalities. She'll also be at the Melbourne Writers Festival. She's an old hand at public speaking, too, having already given a TED talk. Awash as the internet is with kids promoting their #personalbrands, it's cool to see someone so young found a publication like Rookie, a surprisingly down-to-earth and intellectual voice in the teen zine scene. Launched in 2011, it's festooned with the Tavi aesthetic, which, since her solo blogging days as a 13-year-old, has channelled '90s pop-goth and pretty pastels, movies like Ghost World and all the quirkiest developments of the fashion world. But it's Tavi's self-awareness and feminism that make her a compelling fashion commentator: never glossing over the fact that this is an industry which fetishises youth, she's all for female empowerment. We're looking forward to hearing her speak on a local stage. Book here (from July 12) to see Tavi speak at the Opera House on August 18, and here for her August 23 appearance in Melbourne.
Break out the bandannas and start practising your old-school R&B moves, 'cos those time-tripping throwback parties just keep on coming. We've scored recent visits from Usher, Salt-N-Pepa, Vengaboys and even Aqua – now, get ready for another musical blast from the past, as Bobby Brown, Young MC, Bell Biv DeVoe (Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe) and Blu Cantrell head Down Under to deliver a sweet serve of nostalgia. The Bring That Beat Back tour is the retro music party of your wildest 90s kid dreams, hitting stages in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland this October. And it sees none other than Public Enemy membr Flavor Flav in the role of MC. Headlining this mammoth lineup is a group now known as RBRM (Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky and Mike), featuring four legendary hitmakers from the likes of New Edition, Bell Biv DeVoe and Bobby Brown. They'll be digging into their collective back catalogue to throw down time-honoured gems like 'My Prerogative', 'Every Little Step', 'Poison' and 'Rock Wit'cha'. Joining them on tour is gospel-driven R&B star Montell Jordan, who you'll know from hit track 'This Is How We Do It', as well as 'Get It On Tonite' and 'Somethin' 4 Da Honeyz'. And we'll hopefully all be belting out renditions of 'Breathe' and 'Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)', when singer-songwriter Blu Cantrell hits the stage. Elsewhere in the lineup you'll be jamming out to nostalgia-heavy tunes from All 4 One ('I Swear', 'I Turn To You' and 'I Can Love You Like That'), and the Grammy Award-winning artist behind 'Bust A Move', Young MC. BRING THAT BEAT BACK 2019 DATES Friday, October 18 — Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Saturday, October 19 — Eatons Hill, Brisbane Sunday, October 20 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Tuesday, October 22 — Logan Campbell, Auckland Bring That Beat Back tickets start from $99 — you can buy them here. Updated: August 2, 2019.
In Contagion, the most prophetic film of the 21st century so far, filmmaker Steven Soderbergh didn't just chart the outbreak of a deadly pandemic or introduce everyone to the term 'social distancing'. His eerily accurate thriller also delved into the quest to find a vaccine, too, so that life could go back to normal. And, that's the reality the world has faced since COVID-19 first emerged — with pharmaceutical companies and medical researchers around the globe working furiously to come up with a solution. Several vaccines have not only been created over the past year — much faster than the usual timeline — but have started being used in countries around the world. The latter is happening in places such as the UK and the US, where coronavirus case numbers have remained at enormous levels. In Australia, where the situation thankfully hasn't reached the same scale, the federal government has decided on a different approach. And today, Wednesday, January 6, Minister for Health Greg Hunt, revealed that doses should start being rolled out locally in early March. The Minister discussed the current plan in an interview with radio station 2GB, including revealing the change to the schedule — noting that originally the government was going to start administering the vaccine in the second quarter of 2021, then moved that up to late March 2021, and has now jumped forward to the beginning of that month. In recent weeks, as case numbers have been rising in Sydney and Melbourne, the original timeline received criticism. Vaccines need to be evaluated and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration before they can be rolled out, with that process currently underway for multiple different vaccines — including from Pfizer-BioNTech and University of Oxford-AstraZeneca. Hunt also confirmed that the first round of vaccinations will cover frontline workers — particularly those working at hotel quarantine sites and international border checkpoints — as well as health workers and residential aged care facility residents. "That's the first round, and then we'll work through it in terms of age and other priorities — which are currently being finalised by the medical expert panel, but progressively working down in age and where there are other vulnerabilities in terms of disability or certain Indigenous age groups and others, then they'll all be identified," he said. As Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in mid-2020, vaccines will be provided to every Aussie for free when they are rolled out. Australia currently has agreements to receive ten million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which will be manufactured overseas, and 53.8 million doses of the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, with production of the latter already starting locally. Both require two doses per person to be effective. Obviously, it's expected that the government will provide further details about how everyone will get vaccinated — and specific dates for the start of vaccinations — before the beginning of March. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
When you think of ghosts and ghouls you most likely think of rickety houses covered in ivy, or old asylums on misty moors. The oceanic paradise of Australia is probably the last place to come to mind. But with waters full of stuff that eats you, and often inhospitable lands teeming with things just as iffy, this land with a darker history than most really does seem the perfect home for things that go bump in the night. So, here is a look at haunted Australia, a list of ten haunted prisons, houses and townships. Reader beware. OLD MELBOURNE GAOL Completed in 1844, the Old Melbourne Gaol is one of the most famous buildings in Australia. Before closing in 1929, the prison housed dangerous criminals among petty offenders, the homeless and the mentally ill. Executions were undertaken, and at least 133 prisoners, including the infamous outlaw Ned Kelly (whose remains were later sent to Pentridge and recently exhumed) and Jack The Ripper suspect Frederick Bailey Deeming, met their end on the hangman’s rope. The Gaol is an imposing building, but despite a bloody history, it isn’t known for its hauntings — though the things are reported, the building is relatively quiet. Some believe Elizabeth Scott, the first woman to be hung at the gaol, still walks the halls. MONTE CRISTO HOMESTEAD Compared to the Old Melbourne Gaol, and most other buildings in the country, the Monte Cristo Homestead is a hive of ghostly activity. Finished in 1885, the double-storey late-Victorian manor sits on a hill overlooking the town of Junee, and claims to be Australia’s most haunted house. Now a museum, it has a bloody past — a caretaker was murdered in the 1960s, a stable boy burned to death, a maid fell from a balcony, a baby was dropped from a stairwell and a man was imprisoned in the dairy. With wall and floors practically running red with blood it’s not exactly surprising that people report seeing ghosts. Supernatural occurrences range from strange voices, phantom lights and invisible forces, to ghostly figures and animal mutilations. Hardly the best place to spend a night. JENNY DIXON BEACH In 1870 a coal schooner called the Janet Dickson ran aground during a storm along the central coast. All on board survived, but others in subsequent years weren’t so lucky. Before the construction of a lighthouse, more than 20 people were killed. The area is famous for its ghosts; there have been many reports over the years, including that of a woman in a flowing dress who walks the beach at night, and the legend of a phantom hitchhiker that haunts a nearby road. STUDLEY PARK Now a country club and home to Rolls Royce enthusiasts, Studley Park was built in the last years of the 19th century, and has had many different uses. A highly recognisable building, it served as a school for nearly four decades, and it was during that time that Ray Blackstone, a fourteen-year-old student, tragically drowned while swimming. Sadly, that wasn’t the only premature death to befall a resident of Studley Park; in 1939 the son of Arthur Gregory, a former director of 20th Century Fox Australia, lost his fight with appendicitis. Visitors to the area report feeling of being watched, and mediums have claimed the presence of several entities, including a soldier who could have called the place home when it served as a command school, and a young girl who was supposedly raped and murdered in a top floor bedroom. THE GUYRA GHOST In 1921 in the town of Guyra events that would come to be mirrored by a cult movie of the same name saw twelve-year-old Minnie Bowen apparently possessed by a violent poltergeist. What began as shaking walls and thrown stones led to the cottage being constantly surrounded by people and international interest. Minnie’s parents did all they could to calm the spirit, but try as they might they could not. Soon the young girl claimed to be possessed by the ghost of a sister that had died just a few months earlier. The terrors continued even when Minnie was moved from the house, but all of a sudden they just stopped. PICTON Founded in 1822, the small town of Picton would appear to have more dead residents than living ones. The tiny St. Mark’s church and pioneer graveyard is the playground of children often seen walking hand in hand. Legend has it the children are Blanche Moon, who was crushed to death by falling sleepers in 1886, and David Shaw, who died from polio in 1946. The old maternity hospital is one of the scariest places in town. Haunted by an unpleasant matron, visitors report hearing the cries of unearthly babies, and waking with spectral hands wrapped around their necks. There are many more stories to be told in the town of Picton. THE STREET WITH NO NAME Believed by locals to be home to inexplicable evil, the area in Sydney's Annandale has served as a dumping ground for numerous mutilated corpses, and is thought to provoke strange behaviour in children and dogs. The street with no name has its share of resident ghosts to go along with the horrific happenings, including that of “Jock”, a railway worker struck while attempting to rescue an injured animal from the same fate. CHANNEL 9 Studio 9 in Willoughby was originally a church that was built in 1858. The building had been converted into a music hall and in the late 1950s it, and the surrounding area and cemetery, was purchased by the future owners of Channel 9 Studios. A new television production centre was built atop the old cemetery, where it’s rumoured the bodies still remain. Perhaps an unusual setting for a haunting, the staff at Channel 9 believe that a World War I soldier called Charlie roams the corridors, and is responsible for many ghostly goings on. Perhaps Charlie’s body still remains somewhere beneath the foundations. THE TEA TREE GULLY HOTEL Named after the trees that thickly dotted the landscape on which it was built, the Tea Tree Gully Hotel was opened in 1854 and since then its walls have played host to horror. Staff at the hotel refuse to visit parts of it alone, complaining of bad atmospheres, whilst others have heard voices, seen lights flash on and off, and heard phantom footsteps all around. Like many hotels of its age this one has seen its share of death, with accidents, suicides and murders all taking place there. Several people have reported seeing and speaking to a cheeky girl in period dress, though no records mention her. ARADALE ASYLUM An abandoned psychiatric hospital preserved as if it were still in operation, the Aradale Asylum is a labyrinth of dead ends and dark passageways, many of which could easily hide a ghost. Made up of 63 buildings, the complex looks imposing, so much so that sceptics sweep aside all notion of paranormal activity. But so many reports of footsteps, loud bands and apparitions by visitors and staff add up.
There's nothing like lacing up your hiking boots and discovering a new trail. To help shave down the Googling time for our next adventure, we've asked Concrete Playground readers to share their favourite trails. So, if you are planning to take advantage of the long weekend and stretch your legs, here are your tips for the best hikes to check out — plus suggestions for neighbouring campgrounds, as well as the nearest The Bottle-O so you can stock up on bevs for a winner weekend. Cape to Cape Walk Track, Gnarabup, WA Starting off with the big one, Cape to Cape in WA. This multi-day track is on every hike lover's hitlist, and for good reason, according to John, who submitted this tip: "The best views you will ever get in WA. You don't have to do the entire 130 kilometres from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin — unless you have up to ten days to spare. You can break it up and do a smaller section, easy." So pack your gear, pick up your mates and head down from Perth to the starting point in Cape Naturaliste. Stop in Brunswick for hiking snacks, easy meals to enjoy and bevs from Brunswick's The Bottle-O to enjoy as the sun sets across the ocean as you camp at one of the many campsites along the trail. Closest The Bottle-O: Brunswick Forts Walk, Magnetic Island National Park QLD Are you keen on koala spotting, historical tours, and epic views? Find all three at the Magnetic Island National Park, just an easy car ferry from the mainland. The island is a frequent getaway for our reader Karen who says: "There's always rock wallabies hanging around the beaches and headlands in Arcadia. The best walk is the Forts Walk, hands down." Explore the rest of the island's rainforest, rocky coastline and local wildlife before stocking up on supplies including local Queensland craft beers from The Bottle-O in Arcadia. Then all that's left to do is chill at the campsite with your mates. Closest The Bottle-O: Arcadia Middle Brother National Park, NSW The biggest of the 'Brothers' parks, Middle Brother, is found on the mid-North Coast of New South Wales. Reader Alex recommends the Middle Brother Circuit: "It's a hard hike that covers most of the park, so you will see a lot. There's little signal and signage, so it's best to come prepared for this one. Or do the shorter Peak Loop — great for a trail run." After a long day on the trail, pack up your car and head to North Haven to stock up on supplies at the servo and drinks at The Bottle-O before kicking back at one of the caravan parks and enjoy the bush and the beach over the long weekend. Closest The Bottle-O: North Haven Nelson Falls, TAS Keen to chase waterfalls in the wild western side of Tasmania over the long weekend? According to our Instagram follower Natalie, the best track is Nelson Falls in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. She says: "It's not a long trek, but it's worth the scenery and a perfect sidetrack if you're road-tripping from Cradle Mountain to Queenstown or vice versa. The best time to visit the falls is after heavy rain — the waterfall will be raging!". There's a free campground nearby, Lake Burbury, where you can relax with your mates and a few cold ones from The Bottle-O in Queenstown. Closest The Bottle-O: Queenstown Cape Woolamai Circuit Walk, VIC Melburnians who want to get out of the city for the long weekend are so spoiled for choice. You could go north to wine country or west to the Great Ocean Road, but reader Steve says you should head south along the Bass Coast to Phillip Island: "The best spot for an epic walk is the Cape Woolamai Circuit — it's the highest point on the island, so it's perfect for sunset snaps." The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so it's super easy to get to, and everything you need is there. Plus, there are plenty of accommodation options, from farm stays and campgrounds to resorts and hotels — and The Bottle-O for all your beverage needs. So, whatever kind of adventure you want to take with your mates this long weekend, you are sorted. Closest The Bottle-O: Phillip Island Wherever the road leads you on your weekend adventuring, find your nearest The Bottle-O and stock up on some standout bevs. Ready to start planning? Head to the website. Top image: Canva Stock
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).
Miranda July is many things. She is a writer, filmmaker, actor, artist, app maker, and bona fide A-grade nutcase, and now a fashion designer. Teaming up with outlandish leather specialists Welcome Companions, this queen of quirk has created something pretty unique. 'The Miranda' is a specialty item that's been touted as a "millenial survival kit"; an all-purpose bag for the modern manic pixie dream girl. While it appears relatively normal from the exterior, this bag really comes alive on the inside. It boasts somewhat regular compartments for things like emergency cash, bobby pins and medication, but it also asks you to carry a USB drive of "ultra top secret projects", a tiny security blanket and a singular almond "in case of low blood sugar". In place of business cards, the owner of The Miranda carries around offbeat calling cards about theft and personal lubricant. Unsurprisingly, the inspiration for the bag came from July herself. After agreeing to collaborate on the project, July approached designer Laurel Conseulo Broughton with fistfuls of miscellaneous junk. "These are the things I always have with me," she said. The project grew quickly from there. Retailing for $1725, The Miranda is hardly something to be picked up on a whim. Half fashion and half wearable art, the bag is a bit of a collector's item; a definite budgetary stretch for July's usual rung of doe-eyed twentysomething admirers. Regardless, a girl can dream. This thing strikes the perfect balance between functional and neurotic. We can't help but want one. Via PSFK and New York Times.
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 it's a big blockbuster franchise, it stars Harrison Ford, and it debuted in the 70s or 80s, then it's always coming back to the screen. In 2008, before Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens and its sequels, as well as Blade Runner 2049, that actually first proved true for the Indiana Jones series. Alas, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull wasn't the adventure saga's best effort, but that isn't stopping it from coming back for another go. Cue the fifth Indy flick, aka Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny — and yes, Ford is donning the famous hat once more. Hitting cinemas in late June 2023, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny heads back to the 60s, and uses the Space Race between the US and the Soviet Union as a backdrop. And, it serves up two different looks at Ford, as the just-dropped first trailer shows: Indy in the film's present day and Indy in the past, with the movie using digital de-aging technology. Harrison Ford? Check. Dr Henry Walton 'Indiana' Jones Jr's famous headwear? Check again. That whip? Yep, check. A tale that includes Nazis? Just keep checking those boxes. And yes, the famous John Williams-composed theme tune gets a whirl in the first sneak peek, because it wouldn't be an Indy movie otherwise. Indeed, the icon takes care of the whole score again. The archaeologist's latest outing will bring in a few changes to the series, however. Firstly, Steven Spielberg isn't in the director's chair for the first time ever, handing over the reins to Logan and Ford v Ferrari's James Mangold. And, George Lucas doesn't have a part in the script, either with Mangold co-scripting with Ford v Ferrari's Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth. Cast-wise, expect the return of John Rhys-Davies as Sallah, as well as a heap of new faces. Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge looks set to keep Indy in step, playing his goddaughter, while Antonio Banderas (Official Competition), Mads Mikkelsen (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore), Thomas Kretschmann (Das Boot), Toby Jones (The English), Boyd Holbrook (The Sandman) also feature — alongside Shaunette Renee Wilson (Black Panther), Oliver Richters (The King's Man) and Ethann Isidore (Mortel) . When it crusades across the big screen, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will arrive a whopping 42 years after Raiders of the Lost Ark, 39 since Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and 34 since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Check out the trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny below: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny releases in cinemas Down Under on June 29, 2023. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
"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).
Stretch your brain a little with this series of thought-provoking talks by UTS. These lectures by some of the university's great minds examine pressing contemporary issues and will be sure to provide ample food for thought. Check out Consuming the World, for an exploration of the tension between environmentalism and mass consumerism, and Analogue Body in A Digital World for a reflection on how hyper-digitalisation impacts human engagement with our surroundings. While the talks are free, pre-registration online is required.
Think watching a movie under the stars is a summer activity? Think again. Braving the elements to catch a film in winter comes with its own rewards: snuggling up next to your nearest and dearest, enjoying the brisk night air and sipping hot mulled wine, for example. As part of the broader Bastille Festival, Cadmans Cottage will become a pop-up openair movie theatre again in 2024. That means settling in for a flick with a view not just of the screen, but vantages out over the Opera House and Sydney Harbour as well. Screening ten sessions over four days between Thursday, July 11–Sunday, July 14 for $2 a ticket, Le Mulled Wine Cinema lets attendees get cosy in chairs (with blankets, of course), and offers up a glass of mulled wine to complete the outdoor film-watching experience. As for what you'll be watching, if the movies aren't French, they have ties to France in some way. Think: Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge!, the Audrey Tatou-starring Amelie, more Tatou in Coco Before Chanel, Pixar's Ratatouille, Marion Cotillard's Oscar-winning performance in La Vie En Rose and 2024 standout The Taste of Things.
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
