After what feels like decades of being stuck within the four-wall confines of our homes during lockdowns, domestic flights and holidays seem firmly back on the cards. So, it's no wonder we're all craving a little something extra to scratch the travel itch. When it comes to your next big vacay, consider adding Central Australia to the mix. This desert paradise has spectacular experiences on offer — things that are worlds away from your everyday life. We're talking red desert dance floors under sparkling stars, helicopter tours of Uluru and festivals that rival Burning Man. We've teamed up with Tourism Central Australia to showcase some of the more unexpected experiences the Red Centre has to offer. Want to plan your very own adventure to the Red Centre? Take a look at our handy trip builder to start building your custom itinerary now.
A week after permitting New South Wales residents to stand up and drink at bars once again, the state's government has announced its next batch of eased COVID-19 restrictions — and they're big. If you thought sipping while you're on two feet was exciting, then you'll be thrilled to know that you'll soon be able to have as many people over to your house as you like. And, you'll finally be able to hit the dance floor once again. Today, Wednesday, March 24, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed that at-home gathering caps will lift from 12.01am on Monday, March 29 — but if you're having more than 100 people over to your house, you will need to have a COVID-19 safety plan in place and record visitor details electronically. Attendee limits are also being ditched for weddings and funerals. Fancy hanging out outdoors in public? Caps for personal gatherings outside are going up to 200 people. Keen to sit indoors in public? All venues are moving to the one person per two-square-metres rule, which'll kick in once there are 25 people onsite. Also, for fans of gigs, shows and sports, seated entertainment venues are moving to 100-percent capacity. If you're most excited about being able to make shapes again, that's understandable. Dance floors are back — and there'll no longer be any restrictions on dancing at all. Which means, nightclubs can reopen, too. If you have a year's worth of dancing to work out of your system and you're planning to make the most of the new rules over Easter, we're sure you'll have plenty of company. All restrictions on singing will ease, too. And, in other hefty news, masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport. They'll move to being strongly recommended instead. If you can't guarantee social distancing elsewhere, you're also advised to wear them. Announcing the news, Premier Berejiklian said that social distancing and recording patron details will remain crucial as restrictions ease. "It means good social distancing, most importantly. It means registering QR codes wherever we go. That is the key to our success. If there is an outbreak and we can't identify all the people in a particular venue, we will be having to go backwards again and I don't want to see that happen," she said. "We believe strongly in always moving forward. What we've announced now is a significant easing of restrictions. There's not much left now from pre-COVID," the Premier continued. As always, NSW residents are asked to continue to get tested immediately if you experience even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms — and to keep an eye on the list of current locations linked to cases, and monitor for symptoms, get tested and/or self-isolate as required if you've visited any of the named spots. The latest round of eased COVID-19 restrictions come into effect at 12.01am on Monday, March 29. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. Top image: Parker Blain.
Been spending the first few months of 2021 pondering the future? Given the current state of affairs, that's only natural. From this weekend, however, you might want to look to the skies as well — and feast your eyes on the night sky. From around April 16–25 each year, the Lyrids Meteor Shower sets the sky ablaze. This year, it's doing just that from April 14–30. It might not be as famous as Halley's Comet, but it's still very impressive. Plus, rather than only being visible every 75 years (the next Halley's Comet sighting is in 2061), you can catch the Lyrids annually. In 2021, the Lyrids will be at its most spectacular from April 22–23. For folk located Down Under, early on Friday, April 23 is when you'll be peering upwards. Here's how to catch a glimpse from your backyard. WHAT IS IT The Lyrids Meteor Shower is named after constellation Lyra, which is where the meteor shower appears to come from near star Vega, and is created by debris from comet Thatcher. While the comet, which takes about 415 years to orbit around the sun, won't be visible from Earth again until 2276, the Lyrids can be seen every autumn between around April 16–25. So, you can even pencil it in for next year. It's also the oldest recorded meteor shower, so there's that, too. On average, you can see up to 18 meteors per hour, but the Lyrids are also known to have outbursts of nearly 100 meteors per hour. So, while no outburst is predicted for 2021, you could get lucky. [caption id="attachment_767783" align="alignnone" width="1920"] jpstanley via Flickr.[/caption] WHEN TO SEE IT In Australia, the shower will reach a peak in the early morning of Thursday, April 23 according to Time and Date, but will still able to be seen either side of those dates between April 14–30. The best time to catch an eyeful is just before dawn after the moon has set, so around 4am. At that time, you'll be in the running to see meteors moving at about 177,000 kilometres per hour, shining extraordinarily brightly and leaving a long wake. The shower's cause is, essentially, the Earth getting in the comet's way, causing stardust to fry up in the atmosphere. HOW TO SEE IT When a meteor shower lights up the sky, getting as far away from light pollution as possible is the best way to get a prime view. If you can't do that, you can still take a gander from your backyard or balcony. To help locate the Lyrids, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also have a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Lyrids. The site updates these details daily. Clouds and showers are predicted over the weekend and into next along the east coast, which could present problems in terms of visibility. Sydney is due to clear up from Monday and Brisbane from Tuesday, though — and Melburnians, fingers crossed that hopefully the weatherman is wrong. Top image: Mike Lewinski via Flickr.
As if Sydney wasn't sweltering enough already, SoCal are set to make things even hotter. This Tuesday, the Neutral Bay pub are holding their first ever Chilli Eating Competition — and the heat will be palpable. Twenty lucky (or not so lucky, depending on how you look at it) brave souls will put their tongues on the line for the ultimate chilli challenge. There'll be six stages and six chillies, with each contestant having 30 seconds to eat each one. The heat will increase with every stage, and the last man standing will be crowned the chilli champion. If you're more worried about material rewards, rest assured you'll be gifted a $250 SoCal bar tab, a bottle of Olmeca Altos tequila, a selection of SoCal's hot sauces and a trophy. A motherflipping trophy. Festivities kick off at 4pm, with the formalities starting at 7pm. The comp launches the Cali Tequila Shack, which will be open on SoCal's terrace Wednesday to Sunday throughout March. The shack will be serving up food and drink specials, as well as Olmeca Altos tequila flights and tastings. To register for the SoCal Chilli Eating Competition email info@socalsydney.com.au.
Sampha started out writing killer tunes for some of the biggest names in hip hop, from Drake and Solange to Kanye and Frank Ocean — and a whole heap more in between. His solo debut came out earlier this year, and is already being touted as the album to beat in this year's UK Mercury Prize. It's not an easy sound to categorise, and maybe that's what makes Sampha's smooth vocals laid over eclectic synths, pads, and drums so darn appealing. The London native is making the trek over for two intimate nights at the Opera House as part of Vivid Sydney 2017. These tickets are bound to be some of the most sought-after at the festival this year.
For an art gallery that has garnered recognition by showing the remnants of a suicide bomber made from dark chocolate and X-rays of people having sex, it seems unsurprising that the first art and music festival from Hobart's Museum of New and Old Art would be entirely unconventional and a bit of an enigma. Dark MOFO is an 11-day celebration of art in its many splendid forms. You could describe it as a world-class music festival featuring such local and international superstars as The Presets, Martha Wainwright, You Am I and The Drones. But Dark MOFO is much, much more than your garden-variety music festival; MONA is offering a full-on assault of the senses with a smorgasbord of concerts and performances, interactive artworks and giant installations popping-up all over Hobart. There is Canyons and visual artist Daniel Boyd's audiovisual extravaganza 100 Million Nights, a curated film festival at the State Cinema, the new MONA exhibition Red Queen and even a massed nude swim on the night of the Winter Solstice. According to creative director Leigh Carmichael, these performances and artworks will celebrate the very thing Hobart is most reviled for: the cold and dark. Oh and did we mention that MONA is offering $100,000 worth of free flights? In order to attract interstate visitors, MONA have promised to pay for roughly 600 return flights to Hobart, ensuring that this groundbreaking new festival can be enjoyed by art enthusiasts across the country. Dark MOFO will run from June 13-23, with new exhibitions, performances, locations and general mayhem being announced almost weekly from the Dark MOFO website. Check it out to find out more about the festival and apply for your own free return flight to Hobart.
2016 marks 40 years of Sydney Festival, and to celebrate, they're giving us the gift of what is arguably their best lineup yet. From January 7 -26, Sydney's most iconic venues will host some of the best performances of the year — many of which are actually affordable. Want to know which ones will give you the most bang for your buck? Read on to see our picks of the 2016 program that won't cost you more than a pineapple. So go forth, and get your culture on for cheap.
Like Rollerfit, Retrosweat, Beyoncé dance classes and Morning Gloryville raves, Fitness Playground gyms offer an opportunity to exercise that isn't scary, or boring. You can work out with your friends, attend a circus-inspired trapeze classes or hang from monkey bars. The people are friendly, the energy is great and everyone knows your name. There are three FP locations (Surry Hills, Newtown and Marrickville). They've just added a third level to their Surry Hills location specifically for classes, something all three gyms specialise in. Our favourite class is Circus Fit, but there's also barre, anti-gravity yoga, pilates and Athletica — small, intensive group training classes that feel like a personal training session. We're giving away a one-year Fitness Playground 'Play' membership and ten personal training sessions to one lucky reader. You'll have full access to all three gyms, as well as group fitness classes and Athletica personal training sessions. To win, all you have to do is enter your details below. [competition]608085[/competition] Learn the story behind Fitness Playground and find out what happens at a 'Circus Fit' class. If you're keen to check out Fitness Playground, head along to the Open Week exclusive to Concrete Playground readers.
Spring and summer are just the right time of year for live music, and there's just a vibe you can't find in the other seasons. One of the music festivals filling stages and venues for springtime festivities is Live and Local, a weekend of Central Coast local musicians taking over venues across the Gosford CBD. On Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2, you'll find musicians from all genres playing shows in everything from coffee shops and churches to bars and breweries. There'll be shows from Tiali, Shacked!, Joel Leggett, Almighty Zilla, Ruby Archer, Mindy Lou and Caitlyn Duran. In terms of venues, check out the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music, Funhaus Factory, Gosford Anglican Church, Parlour Lane and South End Social. Different genres, different artists, and different venues, but they all have the same dates in common: Friday, November 1, from 5pm and Saturday, November 2, from 10am.
Saturday afternoon is the new Saturday night at JŌJI. The CBD rooftop robata and bar has launched Social Saturdays, a weekly bottomless lunch bringing together free-flow drinks, a three-course menu and live music throughout the afternoon. For $130, you'll be treated to 90 minutes of free-flow French rosé and beer, as well as a shared curated menu that includes crowdpleasers like beef tartare with potato hash, nashi pear and bonito cream, miso Murray cod with dashi butter, and a juicy duck katsu sando. For an extra $25, you can level up with prosecco or house cocktails like the Kiku Royale, a velvety smooth mix of cognac, pineapple, umeshu, chrysanthemum and rose. Social Saturdays have been designed for celebrations of all sizes, whether it's a birthday, a milestone or just an excuse to get dressed up for a stylish daytime sip. The setting is sleek, the vibes are high, and the pours are generous. Social Saturdays run every Saturday from midday — but chances are, you'll want to stay long after your 90 minutes are up. Images: Jiwon Kim
It's only February but already it might be possible to name both the worst film and least funny comedy of the year. Fist Fight, starring Charlie Day and Ice Cube, is a monument to stupidity. Its characters are amongst the thinnest and most derivative ever constructed, its plot is simultaneously ludicrous and entirely dull, and its capacity for comedy exists almost solely as outtakes in the final credits. The film's first-time screenwriters rely exclusively on a three-tiered approach of dick jokes, incessant swearing, and a female teacher's desire to have sex with a minor, forever backed by Day's high-pitched stammering whine. Story wise, Fist Fight takes place on muck up day in a US public school, where the students run riot, the teachers are powerless (or apathetic, or both), and the school board is laying off staff to meet budgetary requirements. When Day and Cube's characters clash over an incident in which Cube takes to a student's desk with a fire axe, Cube challenges the diminutive Day to a fist fight in the school yard after class to settle things once and for all. That none of the faculty, campus security or police department demonstrate any interest in properly addressing either the axe-on-student incident OR the imminent crimes of: assault and battery, disturbing the peace, affray or disorderly conduct, somehow represents the least implausible part of this entire abysmal experience. Alongside Day and Cube are various actors of note in roles that are completely beneath them. Tracy Morgan plays an incompetent sports coach, Christine Hendricks plays a butterfly-knife wielding French teacher, and Jillian Bell plays a meth-addicted guidance counsellor determined to get herself some 'teenis' (teenage penis). The whole conceit is so laughably unlaughable that it's astounding the script ever caught a studio's attention. That actors willingly signed on, well...let's just hope the money was worth it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aIzXYo6VCE
When a hit show comes to an end, the network behind it often tries to fill the gap with something similar. It's the situation that HBO found itself in last year when Game of Thrones wrapped up, with the US cable channel quickly launching new fantasy series His Dark Materials and committing to making a GoT spinoff called House of the Dragon. And, with Big Little Lies looking like it's also all done and dusted, the station seems to be in the same predicament in the star-studded murder mystery genre as well. Enter The Undoing. Starring Nicole Kidman, and written and produced by Big Little Lies' David E. Kelley, it's definitely a case of HBO sticking with what they know. Kidman plays a successful therapist who appears to have the perfect life, with a loving husband (Hugh Grant), a son (Honey Boy's Noah Jupe) attending an elite school and her first book about to be published. Then a violent death sparks a chain of revelations that shatters her life as she knows it. Also part of the plot, as seen in both the show's first teaser and its just-dropped new sneak peek: a missing spouse, plenty of public attention, a heap of interrogations and a plethora of tough choices for Kidman's Grace Fraser. It'll all play out as a once-off limited series — although that was originally the case with Big Little Lies before it came back for a second season. Based on the novel You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz, The Undoing also features The Burnt Orange Heresy's Donald Sutherland and American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace's Edgar Ramirez — with Bird Box director Susanne Bier behind the camera on every episode, just as she was on excellent Emmy-winning mini-series The Night Manager. As for when you'll be able to watch it, it was originally set to premiere in the US sometime in May; however now it'll launch on October 25. In Australia, it'll screen on Foxtel and Foxtel Now — with an exact release date Down Under yet to be revealed. Check out the latest teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9lhC1tNIXg The Undoing is set to screen on HBO in the US from October 25, with air dates Down Under yet to be announced. We'll update you when further details come to hand. Top image: Courtesy of HBO.
Is there a better name for a reggae festival than Jammin, which instantly gets the sounds of Bob Marley stuck in your head? Probably not. And at 2024's Jammin, the event is living up to that moniker by featuring Julian Marley, one of the Jamaican icon's sons, on its lineup. His set list is known to feature his dad's songs — 'Jamming' among them. Marley will take to the stage in Sydney when the festival plays Parramatta Park for two days across Saturday, February 3–Sunday, February 4. He has plenty of big-name reggae company, starting with Sean Paul, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Shaggy — yes, Mr Boombastic himself. From there, the roster of talent includes Stefflon Don, Fiji, Oxlade, J Boog, Third World and Common Kings, as well as Maoli, Spawnbreezie, The Green, Pia Mia, Latasha Lee, Josh Wawa, Eli Mac and Sione Toki. Plus, Sons of Zion, Sammy J, Nesian Mystik, House of Shem, 1814 and Three Houses Down are hopping across the ditch from New Zealand's reggae scene. In Sydney, Sean Paul and UB40 featuring Al Campbell headline the Saturday, while Shaggy does the honours on Sunday. Top image: Bieniecki Piotr via Wikimedia Commons.
Marvin Hamlisch's love letter to the theatre has, since its 1975 debut, become one of musical theatre cannon's most enduring and beloved productions. Its roll call of achievements alone is a testament to this: A Chorus Line has picked up ten Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize (not to mention a Helpmann for Best Musical following its recent Australian revival) on its way to becoming one of the longest-running productions in Broadway history. This production of the classic show from Darlinghurst Theatre Company takes its audience backstage to unveil the struggles of Broadway performers, exploring themes of exploitation, racism and sexism. The production also includes some of the all-time great musical theatre numbers, including 'I Hope I Get It', 'One' and 'What I Did For Love'. After four sold-out preview sessions early last year followed by two COVID-prompted postponements, this production of A Chorus Line has finally hit the stage, finding its home at the Sydney Opera House's Drama Theatre. This run of shows, running until Friday, March 11, is backed by some of the biggest names working in Australian musical theatre today, including Helpmann-nominated choreographer Amy Campbell (In the Heights, Funny Girl) and musical supervisor Andrew Worboys (Rent, American Psycho). Images: Robert Catto
Ever so slightly east of central Sydney, Darlinghurst blends the hustle and bustle of busy Sydney life with refined urban charm and the occasional flair of extravagance, making it a mecca for style, cuisine and culture. It's easy to spend a day getting lost wandering through the suburb, and it's even easier to indulge a little while you're doing it. From bars with funky natural wines and hard-to-find craft beers to vintage stores filled with preloved (but very luxe) designer gems, Darlinghurst is packed with ways to treat yourself — and perhaps a lucky mate, too, since its always more fun to splash out with someone by your side. We've teamed up with craft beer haven Bitter Phew to put together a list of top spots to go in the neighbourhood when you want to spend that hard-earned cash on something a little bit special.
Money can't buy you love, as four mop-topped Brits first sang 59 years ago, but it can buy you tickets to see the music legend who wrote one of the catchiest pop tracks ever released — and co-performed it — play it live in Australia. When Paul McCartney heads Down Under this spring, he'll have a wealth of material to choose from. One of his favourite openers: 'Can't Buy Me Love'. Hitting our shores for the first time since 2017 on his Got Back tour, McCartney will work through a massive catalogue of hits from his time in The Beatles, Wings and also across his solo career on a six-city stint around the country. Arenas and stadiums will welcome Sir Paul, starting at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wednesday, October 18, then heading to Melbourne's Marvel Stadium, Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium and Allianz Stadium in Sydney before the month is out. Then, to kick off November, McCartney will take over Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium and finally Heritage Bank Stadium on the Gold Coast. This tour will mark the Beatles icon's first-ever Newcastle and Gold Coast shows, and also commemorate almost six decades since the band that helped McCartney make history famously toured Australia in 1964 amid a wave of Beatlemania. In Adelaide all of those years back, it's estimated that 350,000 people lined the streets to get a glimpse of the group, packing the stretch between the airport and Town Hall. McCartney's Got Back setlist has featured everything from 'Hey Jude', 'Let It Be' and 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' to 'Love Me Do', 'Blackbird' and 'Got to Get You Into My Life' from The Beatles across its stops so far. Yes, 'Get Back' gets a whirl. Wings tunes 'Live and Let Die', 'Band on the Run', 'Letting Go' and 'Junior's Farm' usually pop up, too, as does McCartney's own 'Maybe I'm Amazed'. The Got Back tour kicked off in the US in February 2022, wrapping up last year's run with a massive Glastonbury set. McCartney now brings his usual band — keyboardist Paul 'Wix' Wickens, bassist and guitarist Brian Ray, fellow guitarist Rusty Anderson and drummer Abe Laboriel Jr — our way after picking up a Helpmann Award for Best International Contemporary Concert for his last visit. PAUL McCARTNEY 'GOT BACK' TOUR 2023 DATES: Wednesday, October 18 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Saturday, October 21 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Tuesday, October 24 — McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle Friday, October 27–Saturday, October 28 — Allianz Stadium, Sydney Wednesday, November 1 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Saturday, November 4 — Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast Paul McCartney tours Australia in October and November 2023, with Telstra Plus members pre-sale tickets from Thursday, August 3, Frontier members pre-sale ticketing available from Wednesday, August 9 and general tickets from Friday, August 11 — all at staggered times. Head to the tour website for further details. Images: MPL Communications.
Let's be honest. When it comes to live entertainment, Sydney kind of feels like the town from Footloose at the moment, where music and dancing and general after-hours fun has been pretty crushed by arcane legislation, and venues defined by their live tunes have been reduced to plaques on walls, or simply to nothing at all. Lord Mayor Clover Moore, however, has promised to pop on the rubber gloves, bust out the Gumption, and try and get this mess cleaned up. "We're using every lever at our disposal to encourage more live music and performance," the Lord Mayor said tpday, as well as committing to efforts to "reduce unnecessary red tape". According to the Live Music and Performance Action Plan, the City has identified that live music, unsurprisingly, brings significant cashflow to the local economy — we're talking $353 million in 2016 alone, according to research conducted by the council. After Sydney's CBD live music venues lost half their revenue after the lockout laws were introduced, some venues were granted exemptions from the restrictions — but not all. The plan was implemented in June 2014 and has been having a crack at keeping Sydney open, with targeted spends on live music and performance including $2.77 million in small grants since the program's inception. Other actions detailed by the City include continued collaboration with State Government departments and local business owners to activate Sydney when the sun goes down. The action plan is currently halfway through its projected life cycle, so stay tuned for further updates on the City's efforts to keep the city kicking on.
They topped Triple J's Hottest 100 in 2002. They've featured Dave Grohl on drums. Their third studio album Songs for the Death is one of the all-time-great 00s records. They're Queens of the Stone Age, of course, and now they're bringing their latest tour Down Under in 2024, with the band heading our way for the first time in six years. The Josh Homme-fronted group's The End Is Nero tour is their first trip to Australasia since 2018, and comes after their eighth album In Times New Roman... released in June 2023. Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore are giving their latest shows an apocalyptic theme, which fans can look forward to seeing in Sydney from Wednesday, February 21–Thursday, February 22. [caption id="attachment_923130" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andreas Neumann[/caption] Concertgoers can look forward to a setlist that steps through QOTSA's 27-year history, including their Hottest 100 winner 'No One Knows', plus everything from 'Go with the Flow' and 'Make It Wit Chu' to 'Emotion Sickness' and 'The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret'. In support at the Hordern Pavilion: Pond and Gut Health. Queens of the Stone Age formed in Seattle in 1996 after Homme's prior band Kyuss split up, is linked to the Palm Desert music scene and have seven Grammy nominations to their name. Despite the long gap since their last trip Down Under, they're no strangers to playing Australia, including a joint tour with Nine Inch Nails back in 2014. Top image: Wünderbrot via Wikimedia Commons
It turns out you can loosen that grip on your wallet and breathe a little easier — Sydney has abandoned its position in the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) list of the world's top ten most expensive cities. As reported by the Age, in 2019's Worldwide Cost of Living Survey, our Harbour City fell from its 2018 standing of tenth place, in the most expensive cities index, to 16th. Melbourne, meanwhile, dropped eight spots down to 22nd position from 2018's number 14 ranking. For the first time, three international cities have shared the not-so-enviable top position, with Singapore, Hong Kong and Paris all clocking in scores of 107. The rankings are determined by price comparisons across more than 150 products and services, with the EIU looking at things like food, transport, utilities, clothing and rent in all the major cities. https://twitter.com/TheEIU/status/1107929944267603968 There are now no Aussie names in the top ten, with Brisbane, our third most expensive city, at number 41. In fact, Adelaide (which shuffled 21 spots down to 51st position) and Perth (now in 64th place, having dropped 18) are among the index's top 10 biggest downward movers, along with cities like Wellington and Istanbul. According to the EIU Global Chief Economist Simon Baptist, much of Sydney and Melbourne's drops were thanks to the weaker Australian dollar, with currency fluctuations having a hefty impact across the board worldwide. New York, Los Angeles, Osaka all increased this year, re-entering the top ten and knocking out Sydney. Via: theage.com.au
Diablo Cody is a great screenwriter. Which is why it's particularly excellent that she's not idly pumping out Juno siblings but really testing the outer limits of what her stories can do. The United States of Tara and Jennifer's Body were quite a ride. Now her new comedy, Young Adult (again with Juno director Jason Reitman, who also did Up in the Air), tests whether an audience will go on the journey of a character who's not only all-out unlikeable but who's conventional arc of realisation and growth is undermined. The result is not perfect, but it's certainly ballsy. Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) is a young adult fiction writer who can easily capture the mindset of a teenager, given that she's never left it herself. Mavis was the 'popular girl' in high school, and the passage of some 20 years has not changed her for the better. She's still vain, self-involved and insular, but now she wakes up each day hungover and in yesterday's full dress, plays Wii Fit for longer than she works, and has decided to leave the 'big city' (Mineappolis) to visit her home town and seduce her high school boyfriend, Buddy (Patrick Wilson), who's happily married and recently become a father. Naturally, everyone who gets wind of this personal quest is repulsed, including Matt (Patton Oswalt), the first classmate Mavis accidentally runs into, who once held up the inverse end of the school social ladder to Mavis. Still, the two soon strike up a camaraderie, ostensibly because of a shared interest in whiskey and jibes, but really because they're both stuck in the past. Matt was the victim of a teen gay bashing (despite not being gay) that still dominates his life, and he's kept up an earnest action-figure hobby. The interest in this film comes from seeing if each of these tragic figures can initiate the other into adulthood. Cody and Reitman get a long way toward achieving their pleasingly un-Hollywood goals. There are times you feel truly sorry for Mavis. At others, you share a bit of her contempt for unquestioningly happy suburbanites. On a few frightening occasions, she's actually relatable (who hasn't smugly contemplated the lives of schoolmates still stuck in Esperance, presumably looking after kids and animals and natural disaster insurance and not enjoying this coffee you wrested from the impossible end of a Surry Hills queue?). This is hugely due to Theron's performance, which is delightfully maniacal. But you don't want things to go her way, and that poses some problems for the enjoyability of the movie. Young Adult also can't seem to decide what to do with mental illness; it's the only plausible reason Mavis acts the way she does, and the film acknowledges that she's an alcoholic and depressive. But in their determination to make her detestable, Cody and Reitman also don't attribute to her any pre-existing redeemable features. They want to have it both ways — she was always a sociopath and she's recently depressed — so the character comes off an unfinished muddle whose journey is subverted in more than just the way they intend. Fortunately, she's an unfinished muddle it's fun spending time with. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ar_-v7dEEoo
It's only a few years young, but Australia's most inclusive music festival just keeps getting bigger and better. Case in point: Ability Fest just announced the jam-packed lineup of artists that'll be joining in the fun for its next instalment on Saturday, March 25 — and it's a cracker. Leading the talent firing up the crowds at Melbourne's Birrarung Marr this autumn: Aussie hip hop legends Hilltop Hoods, dance duo Mashd N Kutcher and ARIA Award-winning songstress Sampa the Great, along with names like Paris, Meg Mac, DZ Deathrays, Linda Marigliano and dameeeela. Unfolding across two stages, including one devoted to dance acts, there's something on this program for all kinds of music fiends — with SHOUSE, Telenova, Juno Mamba, Mulalo and Latifa Tee just some of the other artists who'll be working their magic at Ability Fest 2023. The brainchild of 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott and Untitled Group (the crew behind Pitch Music & Arts and Beyond the Valley), Ability Fest is carefully designed to be completely accessible and as inclusive as they come. It'll feature ramps and pathways for easy access, Auslan interpreters working alongside the artists, and elevated platforms to give everyone a shot at seeing the stage. Plus: quiet zones, a dedicated sensory area, ticketing for companions and accessible toilets. And tickets start from $89. During its life, the not-for-profit fest has raised close to $500,000 for the Dylan Alcott Foundation, while continuing to dish up primo live tunes and music experiences to Aussies of all abilities. "I'm so proud to see the path Ability Fest has already paved for inclusive events across the country," says Alcott. "First and foremost, our main priority is to create a kick-ass festival that happens to be accessible. And that's something I think we've achieved since launching in 2018." Here's the full lineup: ABILITY FEST 2023: Alex Lahey Alter Boy BROODS Daine Dameeeela DJ Cooper Smith DZ Deathrays Hilltop Hoods Juno Mamba Latifa Tee Linda Marigliano Mashd N Kutcher Meg Mac Mulalo PARIS Sampa the Great SHOUSE Telenova The Journey Tiff Cornish Tyson O'Brien YO! MAFIA Ability Fest 2023 will hit Birrarung Marr in Melbourne on Saturday, March 25. Pre-sale tickets are available from 6pm AEDT on Monday, January 23 (register online), with general tickets selling online from 12pm on Tuesday, January 24.
The world's most famous and adored graffiti exponent, Banksy, has brought his style to America, beginning a month-long 'residency' on the streets of New York City. The British-based artist announced his 'Better Out Than In' exhibition on his website two weeks ago, and his attempt to host an entire show on the city's streets started on Tuesday, October 1. His appearance in the city that never sleeps has created quite a stir. He appears to be creating a new work each day, opening with 'Manhattan', a stencil of two young children disregarding a sign declaring 'graffiti is a crime' and following up with the above artwork, titled 'Westside', written in his New York accent. The titles clearly hint at the location of the works and, combined with Twitter, allow his fans to track them down before they are vandalised or whitewashed (as was the case with 'Manhattan'). Perhaps most enjoyable for those able to visit the works is the availability of an audio guide. Each stencil is accompanied by a toll free number to call that provides a description of the work. In true Banksy fashion, it does not take itself too seriously, with one informing us that graffiti is "from the latin graffito, which means graffiti with an o". You can keep track of the exhibition on his website or Instagram throughout October and enjoy Banksy's brilliance. Alternatively, fly to New York and take them in first hand. We certainly would if we had the cash. Via Fast Co.Create.
UPDATE: JUNE 26, 2020 — Since publication of the below, Coles has also reintroduced nationwide restrictions at all supermarkets, express stores and online. The new limits include one pack per customer of toilet paper and paper towel. Further limits are in place at Victorian supermarkets and those on the NSW border. Everyone remembers the great supermarket chaos of just a few months back, when stores looked like post-apocalyptic film sets, people were everywhere but shelves were bare. And, as a response to the huge onslaught of panic-buying when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit — with shoppers hoarding everything toilet paper and hand sanitiser to pasta and milk — we all remember the item limits put in place by Aussie chains. Two months after local supermarkets started to lift those caps (and after the great bog roll crisis of 2020 seemed like it was over), Woolworths is now reintroducing restrictions — on toilet paper and paper towel. It seems that whenever COVID-19 cases start to spike, Aussies just can't stop stocking up on absorbent paper. Indeed, announcing the news today, Friday, June 26, Woolies advised that the decision follows "a recent surge in demand across different parts of the country". Toilet paper and paper towel will now be limited to two packs per transaction, with the caps in place across the entire nation. On Wednesday, the supermarket chain reintroduced restrictions in Victoria on other everyday items such as flour, sugar, pasta, rice, mince, long-life milk and eggs, too, and Coles followed suit — however Woolies' bog roll and toilet paper rationing is now going country-wide. Explaining the national rollout, Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Claire Peters noted that Woolies has "regrettably started to see elevated demand for toilet roll move outside Victoria in the past 24 hours. While the demand is not at the same level as Victoria, we're taking preventative action now to get ahead of any excessive buying this weekend and help maintain social distancing in our stores." The key words: 'preventative action'. Woolies stresses that there's no current shortage, it has plenty of stock and it has just ordered 650,000 additional packs — increasing its usual order by more than 30 percent of its usual volumes. Given Australia's TP-buying frenzy back in March, though, you can understand why the supermarket is both stocking up and limiting customer purchases. No end date has been given, with the restrictions in place for the foreseeable future. "The sooner we see buying patterns return to normal levels, as was the case throughout May and most of June, the quicker we'll be able to wind back limits," said Peters. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1276037207174889472 Woolies' actions — and the renewed clamouring for the one item no Australian seems to be able to live without — comes in response to Victoria's recent spike in COVID-19 numbers over the past couple of weeks, with new cases on the rise in the state and community transmission levels increasing. As the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) noted in a statement on Sunday, June 21, 83 percent of Australia's newly confirmed COVID-19 cases over the week prior were in Victoria. Of those 116 new Victorian cases in total, 87 "are largely associated with community transmission". The rising Victorian case numbers have already sparked action at the state government level. Victoria's State of Emergency has been extended for four more weeks, and Premier Daniel Andrews also announced the tightening of some gathering restrictions — reintroducing smaller caps on at-home groups, gatherings out of the house and the numbers of patrons allowed in venues. The state has also singled out ten Melbourne suburbs as hotspots, and is implementing a testing blitz over the next ten days. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. For more information about Woolworths' reinstated limits on toilet paper and paper towel, head to the supermarket's website.
No matter how you feel about the Super Bowl, American football's night of nights for 2023 is a dream for Vin Diesel fans. Before and during the big game each year, film studios unleash their latest sneak peeks at some of the upcoming year's huge movies. And this year, that's included a first trailer for Fast X in the days leading up to the match, plus a mid-game new look at Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. If a franchise features Diesel, does it have to go heavy on family and last rides? According to both glimpses at both films, yes, yes it does. When Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 soars into cinemas in May, it's poised as a hefty farewell for Marvel Cinematic Universe's ragtag space-hopping superhero — and the current trailer makes that plain. When this threequel arrives, it will have been six years since 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, although they popped up in Thor: Love and Thunder and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special in 2022. Here, Peter Quill aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt, Jurassic World Dominion), Mantis (Pom Klementieff, Westworld), Drax (Dave Bautista, Knock at the Cabin), Groot (Vin Diesel, Fast & Furious 9), Nebula (Karen Gillan, Dual) and Rocket (Bradley Cooper, Nightmare Alley) have been settling into life in Knowhere, but then Rocket's past upends their fresh status quo. There's no Kevin Bacon in either the new trailer or 2022's first sneak peek, or likely in the movie, but there is the return of another familiar face — Gamora (Zoe Saldana, Avatar: The Way of Water) — because Vol. 3 is serious about getting the team back together. Off-screen, that includes usual writer/director James Gunn (The Suicide Squad), after a chaotic few years that saw him fired by Marvel, then make the switch to the DC Extended Universe, where he's now actually co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios. Gunn returned to the MCU, however, for the holiday special and Vol. 3. The new film picks up after the festive episode, after the rest of the MCU's mayhem over the past few years, and with Quill still coping with big events. Even with Gamora (Zoe Saldana, Avatar: The Way of Water) back, that isn't as straightforward as it sounds. Also returning is Sean Gunn (The Terminal List) as Kraglin, while Bodies Bodies Bodies and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan's Maria Bakalova voices Cosmo the Spacedog as she did in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Plus, Will Poulter (Dopesick) joins the cast as Adam Warlock — and Chukwudi Iwuji (Peacemaker) as The High Evolutionary. Check out the latest trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 below: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 releases in cinemas Down Under on May 4, 2023. Images: Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
What's better than one Gelato Messina sweet treat? Twenty-four days of them, all in chocolate form with each one hiding behind tiny numbered windows. In 2022, the cult-favourite dessert brand launched its first-ever advent calendar, much to everyone's delights — and it's bringing it back in 2023. Even if you're not the biggest fan of Christmas, this is festive news worth celebrating. So, 'tis the season to be jolly, and to also enjoy opening miniature cardboard doors and eating the goodies within. First, the sad news for ice cream lovers: Messina's advent calendar won't need to be stored in your freezer, because it isn't filled with gelato. Next, the still-tasty news: it does come stuffed with Messina's delicious chocolate bites. (And it is recommended that you keep it in a cool, dark place, or in the fridge.) So, you can now spend the first 24 days of December feasting your way through gingerbread men, fruit mince tart choccies, pastry-choc clusters, pralines and pâte de fruits — plus other Messina wares. That's all that the chain is officially giving away, because part of the whole advent calendar setup is getting a surprise daily. That said, you can also expect to find little chocolate candy canes and snowmen among the sweets. Handmade by Messina's in-house chocolatiers, every chocolate in the custom advent box is different — and, like all Messina specials, there's only a limited number available. Thankfully, there's more on offer than in 2022, when the 300 that were made were snapped up quicker than Santa eating cookies (well, as you believed when you were a kid). The gelato chain realises that plenty of people want its advent calendars, releasing a bigger number in 2023. Christmas fiends (and chocolate lovers) will need to order on Monday, October 9, for pick up from Friday, November 24–Sunday, November 26. (Yes, that does mean you'll need to exercise some self-control for a few days, to stop yourself breaking open the calendar as soon as it's in your hot little hands.) As with the brand's other limited-edition treats, this one is doing staggered on-sale times. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am AEDT and Victorians at 9.15am AEDT, with New South Wales customers are split across three times from 9.30–10am AEDT depending on the store. Gelato Messina's advent calendar goes on sale on Monday, October 9 from 9am AEDT, for pick up from Friday, November 24–Sunday, November 26. For more information, head to the Messina website.
Once known as New Buffalo, Sally Seltmann's collaborated with Feist, Beth Orton, Jim White (Dirty Three), Holly Throsby, Sarah Blasko and hubby Darren Seltmann (The Avalanches). And now the singer-songwriter can add another feat to her CV — her fourth full-length album. Out on February 28 through Caroline Label Services, Hey Daydreamer will coincide with a round of Australian tour dates. The intimate performances will see the Sydney muso return from her new home in LA to play alongside multi-instrumentalist Bree van Reyk, and opening act Wintercoats, Melbourne's orchestral pop pedlars. Check out the mesmerising animated video for 'Catch of the Day', the first single from Hey Daydreamer, below. Running all through April, Seltmann's tour will reach Kincumber, Sydney, Katoomba, Brisbane and Melbourne. Tickets available through each venue. Sally Seltmann's 2014 Tour Dates: Thursday April 3 – Lizottes, Kincumber Friday April 4 – The Vanguard, Sydney Saturday April 5 – The Clarendon Hotel, Katoomba Thursday April 10 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane Friday April 11 – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh, Melbourne Sunday April 13 – Kelvin Club, Melbourne https://youtube.com/watch?v=aeYWAuHsMEQ
Off the back of his new EP Gratitude Over Pity, exciting young Gomeroi rapper Kobie Dee is setting off on a free Gomeroi Nation tour across regional NSW. The run of show is concluding in Moree for a huge block party as part of Great Southern Nights. The gig will be taking over SHAE Academy on Saturday, March 19, boasting a lineup full of groundbreaking young hip hop acts. Joining Kobie Dee will be western Sydney trio Triple One, longstanding Sydney MC NTER, and hard-hitting Yuin and Thunghutti rapper and host of Triple J's Blak Out, Nooky, with more to be announced. The Block Party is all ages and is a drug and alcohol free event. It's sure to fill up quickly so be sure to get down early whether you're a local or you're travelling in from the big city. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGNuOb9XxzA Great Southern Nights is facilitating a heap of gigs across Sydney and regional NSW, ranging from icons like Jimmy Barnes popping up in western Sydney or Archie Roach performing in Wagga Wagga, through to smaller acts like hyped R&B singer Liyah Knight headlining a night of local music and DJs at Zetland's 107 Projects. You can find the full program at the Great Southern Nights website.
It's not unusual for people to dress as their favourite pop culture icons on Halloween, or to a themed party. However, one couple have taken their love for Star Wars to a different level by dressing up as the movie's characters for their engagement shoot. The photos include the couple dressed in dark cloaks and face paint, carrying lightsabers, and lurking cautiously through the woods as if they are about to be attacked by a savage mob of Wookies. Photographer Michael James said that the couple initially wanted a traditional engagement shoot, but as the conversation progressed their ultimate desires began to show. "We figured out that while I’m more of a Trekkie, their love of all things Star Wars totally surpassed my love of Star Trek,” he said. “So we incorporated their ideas into the shoot. I didn’t think the bride-to-be would actually wear the make-up, but she seriously showed her true colors and went for it. The shoot was shot in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mountain bikers and hikers passed us and everyone thought it was great,” he continued. It's fair to say that I would have been slightly intimidated if approached by a hooded figure wielding a lightsaber in the deserted woods. This photoshoot proves that the best way to celebrate your romance is through a mutual love for a film/TV show. I'm just waiting on the engagement photos with characters from the The Simpsons and Jersey Shore.
The eighth season of Game of Thrones won't hit our screens until 2019 — and while waiting it out might just be the less-frosty equivalent of facing a White Walker, there's something more painful in store. As you probably already know and have tried to forget, the next run of episodes will be the show's last. That said, HBO isn't letting go of its hugely popular commodity completely While we'll all be saying goodbye to Jon Snow, the scheming Lanisters, and Daenerys and her dragons when the series wraps up, Westeros isn't going anywhere. Last year, the US network announced it was considering five different prequel ideas, and it's now doing more than that, greenlighting a pilot for a spinoff set thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones. Co-created by A Song of Ice and Fire author George RR Martin with British screenwriter Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and the two Kingsman movies), the unnamed series will chronicle "the world's descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour", Variety reports. Although HBO have only agreed to make an initial episode to test the waters, you don't have to be the Three-Eyed Raven to see that it's highly likely the show will get the final go-ahead. If/when that eventuates, expect to start feasting on your new favourite show in 2020 at the earliest. Via Variety.
Huge music festivals have largely been on pause over the past 15 months or so, including one of the biggest there is: Coachella. The 2020 event was less than a month out from its April dates when it postponed until October due to COVID-19 — and then, a few months later, it cancelled last year's fest completely. The aim was to return in April 2021 instead; however, unsurprisingly, that didn't happen either. But now the event has announced that it's planning to make a comeback in April 2022. Mark April 15–17 and April 22–24 in your diaries and, if you'd like to cross your fingers and hope that Australians will be allowed to travel internationally by then, mark Friday, June 4 as well. The latter date is when advanced tickets will go on sale. At the moment, it's expected that the Australian border won't open until mid-2022, so if you are keen to snap up a ticket, you obviously need to factor in the reality that you mightn't be able to use it. Music lovers will be able to watch along from home, though, with Coachella once again teaming up with YouTube to live-stream the festival. That's no longer such a novelty in these pandemic times, given that streamed live music has been one of the industry's coping mechanisms of late. Splendour in the Grass is even going virtual this July, ahead of its IRL fest in November. Still, given the calibre of Coachella's usual lineup, there'll be plenty of bands tempting your eyeballs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) No lineup details have been revealed as yet. So, if you're wondering whether 2020's planned headliners — that'd be Frank Ocean, Rage Against the Machine and Travis Scott — will feature next year, there are no answers yet. In the interim, you can still check out the free YouTube documentary Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert, which does an entertaining — albeit highly official, and therefore highly celebratory — job of exploring the fest's origins, growth and success. The doco also includes some killer performance footage, highlighting performers who've graced the Indio stage over the past two decades, such as Jane's Addiction, Bjork, Daft Punk, Madonna, Amy Winehouse, Beyonce and Prince, plus Tupac in hologram form. Coachella will take place April 15–17 and April 22–24, 2022. For further information, or to access the pre-sale from Friday, June 4, visit coachella.com.
Are you the kind of person who starts plotting your next meal before you've even finished the last? Love eating more than anything else? Well, you can get right to the guts of our global food obsession when culinary legend Nigella Lawson hits Aussie shores, joining social psychologist and author Hugh Mackay for two special conversation events this January. Hosted by The School of Life in Sydney on January 22 and Melbourne on January 24, Nigella Lawson On Why Food Matters will have audiences diving deep into the concepts surrounding food and its links to pleasure, creativity and belonging. The renowned celebrity chef will share insight into her philosophies on life and food while Mackay dishes up some of his own research finds, exploring rituals, our dependence on fast food, and the idea of food as a sort of therapy — whether that involves cooking up a storm, sharing a feed, or simply stuffing your face. Sink your teeth into some enlightening chat about social food trends and learn a little something about your own eating habits in the process. Those feeling inspired will also be able to grab a copy of Lawson's new book, At My Table. Catch Nigella Lawson On Why Food Matters at The School of Life Sydney on Monday, January 22, 118-132 Enmore Road, Newtown. It'll also take place on Wednesday, January 24, at The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Plenary 2, 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf. You can buy tickets at theschooloflife.com.au.
One of Australia's largest contemporary multi-arts centres has gone into voluntary administration as the industry is hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. After being forced to close in late March and standing down almost half its core staff in mid-April, Carriageworks in Sydney's inner city has this morning, Tuesday, May 5 announced the appointment of Phil Quinlan and Morgan Kelly of KPMG as its administrators. In a statement, the Eveleigh multi-arts centre said, "the sudden cancellation or postponement of six months of activities due to restrictions on public gatherings has resulted in an irreparable loss of income." Upcoming events set to take place at Carriageworks included Sydney Writers' Festival, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Semi Permanent, all of which have been cancelled or postponed in line with the government's restrictions on mass gatherings. The ongoing Farmers Market, which saw up to 5000 Sydneysiders visit each Saturday, has also been put on hold during the pandemic. [caption id="attachment_716971" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carriageworks Night Market by Daniel Boud.[/caption] On the closure, Carriageworks CEO Blair French said in a statement: "Since opening in 2007, Carriageworks has enjoyed the support of both the NSW and Federal Governments, and the generosity of its many partners and donors. With restrictions on social gatherings likely to remain in place for some time to come, the Board determined that it had no alternative but to place the company into Voluntary Administration." While Carriageworks relies partially on government funding, it generates 75 percent of its revenue from "on-site events and programs". Carriageworks administrator Quinlan said that "all options are on the table" for the future of the arts organisation, with stabilising its financial position and allowing it to "continue its important role for Australian arts and culture" being one of them. French echoed this sentiment, saying, "the Board remain hopeful that the Carriageworks facility will be able re-open to artists and community alike once NSW emerges from the effects of the current pandemic." Top image: Jacquie Manning
Any good Mexican will tell you that Mexican food is supposed to be hot. A taco without some piquante? Pfft. A mild burrito? Get out. Apparently the folk at SoCal know this, and they’ve come up with a Cinco de Mayo deal to weed out the wimps — Taco Roulette. For $16 you and your amigos can grab a plate of four tacos, three of which are your mild variety. But the fourth promises a ‘super hot’ kick we’re betting lies somewhere between that hot sauce you say you like but really you can only just handle and that pepper Homer Simpson ate that one time. A quick Google search tells me the idea is the loser pays; they’re usually easily identified by a shower of profanities or the way they break out in a sweat. This shindig is put together by SoCal and Corona, so there’ll also be $5 Coronas and Spanish and Mexican tunes playing all night, plus $10 margaritas (regular and chilli varieties) and $20 prawn and chorizo quesadillas for those who’d prefer not to run the risk of temporary tongue damage.
If you thought Sydney's Tramsheds had squeezed in all the foodie goodness it could possibly fit, then you'd better think again. The folks behind the huge new Harold Park development have big plans for Artisan Lane, a new flexi-space at the heart of the recently-opened foodie precinct, that's playing host to a mix of markets, workshops, master classes, and innovative food pop-ups — including a new European-inspired market. Boasting two fully functional kitchens, and room for 76 people, Artisan Lane will be serving up knowledge feasts, as well as the edible kind, with a lineup of classes set to cover everything from butchery and fish filleting, to brewing beer. But if you're more of the market-minded foodie type, Artisan Lane is also the setting for a new European-inspired Sunday market, showcasing seven local traders each weekend. Discerning foodies will be able to get their hot little hands on a grand array of nosh, like Pepe Saya's handmade butter, Sri Lankan dishes from Hopper Sadé, and stunning floral works by Thorny Roses Florists. Tramsheds' weekly food market runs every Sunday at 1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge. Find out what else you can feast upon with our handy guide to Tramsheds' culinary offerings. Image: Steven Woodburn.
This month the City of Parramatta is hosting Moon Markets to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (also known as the Mooncake Festival), an annual calendar holiday celebrated in many Asian countries. Head to Epping on Sunday, November 13 from 5 pm to 9 pm, to witness the transformation of the suburb's Town Centre into a bustling open-air hawker's market, complete with live lion dancers, food stall pop-ups and drool-worthy drinks. With Sydney street-food faves Firepop serving their signature sticky sizzling skewers, Yummy Time Dumpling delivering on the pork bun front and Tebu Sugarcane Juice on hand to keep you hydrated (alongside a few emerging vendors such as Churros La Flamenca, Egyptian Grillers and Natas & Co Portuguese tarts added to the mix) the traditional harvest festival will be a celebration of culture, cuisine and the kind of colourful #moonmarketmagic moments just begging to be captured for the 'gram. Keen to kick off your celebrations early? Pop into Epping Town Centre and check out the The Langston Weekender, which starts at 9 am on the same day. Moon Markets will take place from 5pm on Sunday, November 13. For more information, visit the website.
Thought meditation retreats were all about early wake-up calls and lots of serious silences? Well, not anymore. Say hello to Soundscape, a new three-day sensory experience to be held in NSW's Southern Highlands this March. A wellness getaway that breaks the mould, this one's focused on music, food and great company. It's the brainchild of the team at Surry Hills mindfulness studio The Indigo Project, a progressive practice that runs naptime and mindful pasta-making classes, and relatable courses like Get Your Shit Together. And it's being helmed by a trio that describes themselves as "an experimental chef, a rebel psychologist and an electronic music producer". Over one weekend at Highball House, they'll guide guests through an exploration of sound, designed to help recharge, connect and unravel all that stress. Forget about any 'hippy' stuff — here, you'll take meditative walks through the forest, feel inspired during guided creativity sessions and experience fun sound immersion sessions based around The Indigo Project's popular Listen Up workshops. And with Love Supreme chef Harry Bourne helping to run the show, boring food is definitely not part of the agenda. Instead, enjoy gourmet eats at every meal and have your mind blown wide open during a series of curated food and music experiences. "We felt that it was time to re-imagine your typical meditation retreat format," says The Indigo Project founder and head psychologist Mary Hoang. "People are in for a colourful, deep, creative journey into their minds." If this sounds like your bag, you'll probably be interested in Yoga Cucina, a yoga, wine and pasta-filled retreat that takes place a couple of times a year also in the Southern Highlands. Soundscape will run from March 16–18, at Highball House, Bundanoon in NSW's Southern Highlands. Places cost between $595 and $1390 for the weekend. To book or for more info, visit theindigoproject.com.au.
When the Vivid Music lineup was announced a good few weeks back, squeals were heard and hashtagged citywide. Since then there’s been time for the dust to settle and tickets to be snapped up, but you’re still sitting on your hands. Vivid kicks off on May 23 y'all, time to turn those circled program guides into reality. Don’t attend Vivid through your smartphone, get amongst the beats and get to one of these must-see rambunctious gigs, Studio parties and epic concerts. With kitsch seventies disco, brash garage punk and politically-charged hip hop on the bill, choose your own Vivid adventure through sound with these top picks. SIBERIAN NIGHTS The brainchild of cosmic Melbourne trio Midnight Juggernauts, Siberia Records plays host to a swag of electronically-grounded, eclectic artists worth giving a significant damn about. For their highly-anticipated label party Siberian Nights they’re bringing Mancurian electronic wizard Andy Stott and his formidable bass/vox fusion to The Studio on May 23, alongside Sydney threesome Black Vanilla, Forces, Cassius Select (Guerre), DCM and Four Door. Plus, the Middy Juggs will be jamming as well, bringing their fully immersive experience AERIALS to psych everyone out. GOOD GOD TIN PAN ALLEY Shenanigans will run rife from the Chinatown basement to the Joan Sutherland Theatre, as Good God Small Club packs up and brings its undying party vibes to the Opera House on May 30. Headlined by the man Rolling Stone called "the next Rodriguez", cult South African musician Penny Penny and his seven-piece band, the stage will get some support act lovin' from Bart Willoughby of seminal indigenous band No Fixed Address, ever theatrical Royal Headache frontman Shogun flying solo, Melbourne soft rockers Montero and Sydney's indescribable Donny Benét. MS. LAURYN HILL The First Lady of hip hop, Ms. Lauryn Hill, has been this lineup's biggest talking point. Known not only for her groundbreaking 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill but also for her subsequent ‘disappearance’ from the music scene, she’s back — with plenty to say. Two Opera House shows are scheduled for May 27 and 28 and the good seats are evaporating, so skip the pricey night out this weekend and book yourself in. ACO FEAT. THE PRESETS Dropping out of the Conservatorium of Music worked out pretty well for The Presets. After ten years on stages and three full-length albums, The Presets will finally make their Opera House debut. The Sydney electronic heavyweights are doing it in good company too – hand-in-hand with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, directed by Richard Tognetti. If the joining of such potent musical forces weren’t ambitious enough, they’ve decided to navigate their way through 42,000 years of musical history and more than 230 songs. Prepare to lose yourself in a mindbending journey from Mozart and Bach to Miles Davis and Bob Dylan, while Ignatius Jones masterminds the visuals. The first show (Sunday, May 25, 2pm) is already sold out, but if you’re quick, you might be in with a chance of scoping out the second (Thursday, May 29, 7pm). R.I.P SOCIETY 5TH BIRTHDAY Rough and tumble Sydney label R.I.P. Society have been hand delivering you the grungiest, straight-up fun garage rock and unfathomably catchy electronica for five whole years — so they’ve got a few toasts to give. Fronting up a chock-a-block lineup to The Studio, the beloved label has invited some of Australia’s best to party down, with some iconic neighbours on top. New Zealand's legendary trio The Dead C will arrive for an exclusive Sydney headlining spot, along with buds Feedtime, Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys, Woollen Kits, Native Cats, Rat Columns, Cured Pink, Holy Balm, Ghastly Spats, Housewives, Constant Mongrel, Half High and Wallaby Beat DJs. Kicking off from 5pm on May 24, this is sure to be one rambunctious afternoon-to-midnight affair at the House. SINCE I LEFT YOU - A CELEBRATION OF THE AVALANCHES Sydney artist management, touring company and all round nice guys, Astral People, have rounded up their buds with Stones Throw whiz kid Jonti to pay tribute to Melbourne electronic legends The Avalanches — in particular their seminal album Since I Left You. Celebrated as the biggest Australian album of its decade, the 2000 album was apparently assembled from approximately 3,500 vinyl samples, selling over a million copies and winning multiple ARIAs. In a project originally developed for 2013's OutsideIn Festival (gaining thumbs way up from The Avalanches themselves), Jonti will re-visualise those thousands of vinyl samples onstage on May 24 with the help of a ten piece band; including celebrated Sydney alt-pop singer-producer Rainbow Chan. If you’re wanting more Astral love, check out their Studio party; with Chicago acid house pioneer Phuture’s Australian debut; the collaborative project of L-Vis 1990 and Bok Bok, Night Slugs; Andras Fox playing everything live; and Sydney favourites Ben Fester, Preacha and Rainbow Chan kicking on 'til 3am. MODULATIONS LONG WEEKEND As if the Modulations project weren't epic enough, creators Modular and Carriageworks have extended the concept to a Queen’s Birthday bash of such epic proportions we won’t be surprised to see Lizzie herself in attendance. Between Friday 6 and Monday 9 June, Carriageworks will be transformed into a music-art-food extravaganza, to be headlined by The Pet Shop Boys in the only Australian shows of their 2013/14 multimedia Electric tour. Plus, there’ll be a one-off appearance from bizarre yet beautiful experimenters Liars, and a full-day showcase presented by LA indie label Wild Records, whose current darlings include Gizzelle, The Delta Bombers and Luis and the Wildfires. Innovative culinary delights will be provided by Sydney favourite Porteno in pop-up mode — Friday to Sunday from 5pm and Monday from midday. THE MUSIC OF MORODER - THE HERITAGE ORCHESTRA Presented by those constant bringers of Internet-hyped gigs, Red Bull Music Academy, this is one tribute show that’s sure to end up on everyone’s Instagram feeds. Paying tribute to the legendary music of Giorgio Moroder with new arrangements and special guest vocalists, 40-piece British rulebreakers The Heritage Orchestra will revisit every last gem from the career of 'the godfather of EDM', from his disco-fuelled hootenannies with Donna Summer to his 1977 landmark album From Here To Eternity. While the Don of dance himself won't be performing on the night, he'll most likely sit in on one of the trips down memory lane. If you missed out on tickets to Moroder’s super special studio party or intimate convo event, just hang around the Opera House. He’s sure to be milling about and down for a chinwag about Daft Punk, just try it. ANNA CALVI Brian Eno reckons she’s “the biggest thing since Patti Smith”, Nick Cave’s invited her on tour and Karl Lagerfeld draws on her for inspiration. And now, Anna Calvi is set to bless Vivid audiences with her cinematic spectacle. She’ll be blasting her way through classically influenced, timeless songs from recent album One Breath, accompanied by haunting film noir visuals, in just one show – Wednesday, May 28. Nab a ticket before they sell out. FISHING Eclectic Sydney duo Fishing have been trying out their peculiar brand of experimental loops, remixes and layered synths for a few years now, whittling away EPs and singles and pricking ears at FBi Radio and online. After revealing a brand new single 'Chi Glow' with Collarbones' Marcus Whale in mid-April, Russell Fitzgibbon and Doug Wright are finally ready to unleash their debut album Shy Glow for Vivid on June 5. Taking their genre-defying electronic sound to The Basement with a host of fellow producers and DJs, Fishing will unleash their debut album on the eve of its official release date — an LP described by the pair as "an eclectic delight that never holds on to any one idea for too long". Head here and here for the entire Vivid music lineup and get amongst it. Words by Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan.
Trying to pick the best line from Succession isn't just a difficult task; it's almost impossible. The series is one of the best-written shows on television, and best in general, in no small part thanks to how well it hurls about bickering dialogue. Before the HBO series first graced TV screens back in 2018, you mightn't have realised exactly how entertaining it is to watch people squabbling. Not just everyday characters, either, but the constantly feuding and backstabbing — and ridiculously wealthy and privileged — family of a global media baron. It's not only the arguing and power plays that make this hit compulsively watchable, however, but the witty words flung about, the scathing insults shot back and forth, and the pitch-perfect performances that deliver every verbal blow. Due to the pandemic, Succession hasn't actually been on our screens for a couple of years now. So, since 2019, we've only been able to enjoy its scheming chaos by re-binging its first two seasons. But the acclaimed drama is set to return next month — and, based on both its initial teaser back in July and the just-dropped full trailer, all those Roy family antics and the bitter words they inspire are in full swing once again. Yes, it's time to soak up your latest glimpse of a fictional family that could be Arrested Development's Bluth crew, but much, much more ruthless. And, after the big bombshell that son Kendall (Jeremy Strong, The Trial of the Chicago 7) dropped at the end of season two, the third season has plenty to dig into. Obviously, always-formidable patriarch Logan (Brian Cox, Super Troopers 2) is far from happy, and the rest of his children — Connor (Alan Ruck, Gringo), Shiv (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman) and Roman (Kieran Culkin, Infinity Baby) — are caught in the middle. If you've seen the past two seasons, you'll know that this brood's tenuous and tempestuous relationship has only gotten thornier as we've all watched, and that doesn't ever look set to change. For Succession newcomers, the series follows the Roys as Logan's offspring try to position themselves as next in line to his empire. It's clearly set among the one percent, in lives that most folks will never know — but the idea that depiction doesn't equal endorsement is as rich in Succession and its brand of satire as its always-disagreeing characters. There is something different this time around, however, with Alexander Skarsgård (Godzilla vs Kong) and Adrien Brody (The Grand Budapest Hotel) joining the drama. Created by Peep Show's Jesse Armstrong — someone who knows more than a thing or two about black comedy — this Emmy, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, Writers Guild and Directors Guild Award-winner is savagely smart, darkly biting and often laugh-out-loud funny about its chosen milieu. And in the words of cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun, Zola) in this year's earlier sneak peek, yes, that sounds kinda dramatic. As well as dropping the full season three trailer, HBO has also announced that Succession will return mid-October — and Foxtel, which airs the series in Australia, has revealed that the third season will start airing Down Under from Monday, October 18. Check out the full Succession season three trailer below: Succession's third season will start airing on Foxtel and Foxtel On Demand from Monday, October 18. Image: HBO.
Call this 'The One with Familiar But Still Exciting News': Friends! The Musical Parody is bringing its comedic, song-filled take on a certain 90s sitcom to Australia in 2022. Yes, this announcement has been made before, and more than once. The show has even opened its umbrellas in some parts of the country already. But we all know how the past two years have turned out — so the fact that the production is doing the rounds again should still make your day, week, month and even your year. This time around, Friends! The Musical Parody will kick off its tour in Adelaide in May, before being there for audiences in Hobart, Wollongong, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne. So, wherever you live, get ready to spend time with the show's versions of Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey and Phoebe — hanging out at their beloved Central Perk, of course, and sitting on an orange couch, no doubt. The musical starts with caffeinated catch-ups, but then a runaway bride shakes up the gang's day. From there, you'll get to giggle through a loving, laugh-filled lampoon that both makes good-natured fun of and celebrates the iconic sitcom. Yes, no one told you that being obsessed with the Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer-starring show about six New Yorkers would turn out this way — with on-stage skits and gags, recreations of some of the series' best-known moments, and songs with titles such as 'How you Doin?' and 'We'll Always Be There For You'. And no, no one told us that being a Friends aficionado would continue to serve up so many chances to indulge our fandom 17 years after it finished airing, either. FRIENDS! THE MUSICAL PARODY AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2022: May 4–15: Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide May 20–21: Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart May 26–28: Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong June 10–18: Riverside Theatres, Parramatta July 13–15: The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra July 20–24: The Tivoli, Brisbane September 9–11: Regal Theatre, Perth November 23–December 17: Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne Friends! The Musical Parody tours the country from May–December 2022. For further details, and to buy tickets, visit the production's website.
Even if you're not loved up, Valentine's Day is an ideal time to lean into some lovely times with your nearest and dearest — or to enjoy some delightful solo time. Although you don't need an excuse to do delightful things, a dedicated day pushes us to make plans and then execute them. Like birthday nights spent disco dancing, gift-giving on December 25 and candlelit meals on anniversaries — all activities that can happen any old day if you so choose. But, in the spirit of luuurve, we've compiled six activities that are optimal for that February 'holiday', whether you've got a lover or not. What's more, you've got the chance to score the funds — $500 to be exact — to bring the date of your choosing to life. Melbourne-based Grinders Coffee Roasters are asking you to share the cheesiest pet name you use for your lover or friend, and the best ones will be rewarded. Each and every day from now until February 14, one person will score the prize. And on that romance-heavy Tuesday? Ten extra people will score the dollars too. Red hot. Itching to go in the running? Get your entry in now, lover. Otherwise, read on. [caption id="attachment_794495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Unyoked, Trent and Jessie[/caption] BOOK A NIGHT AWAY WITH YOUR LOVER OR PAL Whether you prefer an escape that's lush or bush, a vacay or staycay, shaking up your routine and spot of slumber is a surefire way to jump-start those good-time vibes. And $500 towards the trip (courtesy of Grinders Coffee Roasters) would be the cherry on top. Off-grid more your thing? Unyoked (pictured above) has tiny homes aplenty, all ready and waiting for you to lose the buzz of the city in your own patch of wilderness. A fire pit, cosy cabin and nothing but the sounds of nature — undeniably romantic. Hankering for a hotel stay? Lock down a roommate (or fly solo), pick a spot to stay (in Melbourne, Brisbane or Sydney, perhaps?), make a dinner reservation (or peruse the room service menu) and pack a book — staying between the sheets (whether reading or otherwise) is only made better by a turndown service and do-not-disturb tag hanging from the door. [caption id="attachment_825044" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nonna's Grocer[/caption] HOST A DINNER PARTY WITH FRIENDS Sharing a meal with people you love is one of life's greatest joys. Delicious bites and excited chatter stretching into the night is always a treat if the setting is your home and there's no closing time. Make it super special by carefully curating the menu and setting the table beautifully — and to achieve this, moody (read: tutti-frutti) candles are a must. If you're looking for more romance, channel the City of Love. Assemble a Parisian-inspired spread, have matches at the ready and the finest bottle of French red wine you can afford (500 big ones are certain to help you here). [caption id="attachment_885773" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thatchypoo[/caption] GET UP EARLY AND WATCH THE SUN RISE Fact: collectively, we don't watch enough sunrises. When we do catch one, it's mesmerising. And usually followed by a promise to do it more often, before inevitably succumbing to the sweet embrace of a few extra moments in bed. Well, pledge to start this Valentine's Day soaked in golden light — set your alarm, find the dreamiest spot and make sure to arrive while it's dark so you witness those precious first beams. Afterwards, get yourself a double-shot coffee. Head to your local cafe (one that serves creamy shots of Grinders Coffee Roasters, if you know what's good for you) or plan ahead and grab a bag of beans or grounds online for when you head home — either way, make sure to savour each and every one of your well-earned bright-and-early sips. [caption id="attachment_885772" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oleg Breslavtsev[/caption] STAY IN AND PAMPER YOURSELF Face mask, rom-com and eight hours of sleep: that's as self-loving as it gets. While time spent doing this is enjoyable regardless of whether you have a companion or not, true luxury is found in a solo pampering session. Pick a flick — be it When Harry Met Sally, Call Me by Your Name or Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet — decide upon a sheet mask or bubble bath and make your bed with fresh sheets*. A full glass of vino and page-turner works in the same way. Heartbroken? Blast Adele in your living room and scream-sing through an album. Self care, baby. *Trust us, you'll be stoked come the credits. [caption id="attachment_885771" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Manchester[/caption] EXPLORE A GALLERY AND THEN TREAT YOURSELF TO AN EXTRA SPECIAL LUNCH Appreciating others' creative expression has the high potential to ignite a flame in your soul. If you're a Sydneysider and the Art Gallery of New South Wales (pictured above) is within your reach, take a jaunt through the staggering Grand Courts, gazing up at works from ages gone by. Brisbanites, a V-Day date is a great opportunity to head to GOMA to check out Air, an exploration of the element that keeps us all breathing (and, technically, loving); and if you're in Adelaide, a visit to Yayoi Kusama's infinitely spotty room at the Art Gallery of South Australia is a must. Melbourne based? A trip to The LUME will see you literally immersed in the artistry of Monet. And if you're in Perth, the Art Gallery of Western Australia is perfectly primed for your visit, with free exhibitions aplenty on throughout February. Afterwards, take yourself to lunch. Somewhere fancy. Order a glass of something lush, carefully consider the menu and bask in your arty arvo. [caption id="attachment_828069" align="alignnone" width="1920"] KoolShooters, Pexels[/caption] PACK A PICNIC AND GET INTO NATURE Sunlight, snacks and endorphins: the recipe for a romantic Valentine's Day (even if you're sans date). Grab some pals, a selection of soft cheeses, a bottle of something sparkly, then stick an icepack on top and get out in nature. You'll feel better (it's been proven), more connected to the earth (and, more than likely, to your company) and be delighting in some lo-fi al fresco dining. True love. Feeling inspired to make February 14 red hot this year? Grinders Coffee Roasters are giving away a $500 Mastercard e-gift card each and every day until Valentine's — so get your entry in, stat. Top image: Alessandro Biascioli
Ever shy away from a misshapen tomato? How about a three-legged carrot? Chances are rare that you've ever encountered them at your local Coles; larger stores tend to reject these products based on appearance. Now the Youth Food Movement is hosting CropFest in order to teach young adults how to effectively use the imperfect produce they encounter. CropFest will host a night of activities incorporating unloved produce. There will be meals prepared by local chefs, talks from farmers, live music, farm-direct produce stalls and cooking masterclasses. Youth Food Movement started in 2011 with the purpose of teaching and inspiring young Australians to make more sustainably conscious and locally based food choices. Their aim is to reduce food waste in Australia and to increase food literacy in young adults. The Environmental Protection Authority's Love Food Hate Waste program, Green Villages, and the City of Sydney support CropFest. All leftover food from the event will be donated to OzHarvest. photo credit: MTSOfan via photopin cc
Looking for an evening of action, intensity and unexpected heroics? You could spend your Saturday night curled up on the couch catching up on the newest Netflix melodrama. Or, you can grab a couple of tickets to the last NRL Preliminary Final of 2022 and watch the drama unfold in real life. With four main characters (okay, technically teams) vying for the last two spots in next week's grand final, the race is on to secure a spot in the Rugby League spotlight. And here's how the script is currently playing out. Opening scene: Curtains rise with kickoff at 7.50pm at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday 24 September for the final NRL Preliminary Final of the year. Scene 2: Reigning premiers the Penrith Panthers take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a scintillating Grand Final rematch. Scene 3: With tensions soaring and much at stake, will Penrith's master halfback Nathan Cleary guide his team to back-to-back Grand Final appearances? Or will the Rabbitohs' superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell (supported by Cameron Murray and Cody Walker) find redemption for his team? Scene 4: In what promises to be an evening of amazing on-field performances, after an 80-minute battle one team will be ultimately crowned the winner with its supporters basking in glory and the other drinking from the bitter cup of defeat. Closing scene: To be confirmed on Saturday night. Excited? Get onboard the footy finals bandwagon (as well as the literal train to the stadium — which is free for all ticket holders) for an evening of theatre that even Shakespeare himself couldn't script — or at the very least some piping hot pies and icy cold beers. Snap up your tickets at ticketek.com.au (starting at $35 for adults and $20 for kids) before they sell out.
Even when there isn't a cost of living crisis tightening our collective belts, the Christmas and New Year period can be eye-wateringly expensive. So, it's very welcome news that Concrete Playground's official pick for Sydney's best bar right now is launching one of the most generous happy hour deals in the city, just in time for the silly season. Golden Hour at Bobbie's in Double Bay will be available every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night from 4–5.30pm. Guests can enjoy $10 cocktails — yes, just $10, you read that correctly — and better yet, there are also complimentary bar snacks to accompany your beverage including olives, nuts and Neil Perry's famous chicken Waldorf sandwiches. The discounted drinks menu, crafted by internationally revered bar tender Linden Pride, includes several signature mixes including Dante's Negroni, a mingle of Tanqueray 10, a blend of Italian vermouths and a splash of Campari; and Bamboo, a refreshing eastern-inspired sip combing Manzanilla, Dolin Blanc, Noilly Pratt, olive bitters and Fever Tree's Mediterranean tonic. For those who prefer bubbles — and after all, 'tis the season for popping corks — there's also the Sunrise Spritz, featuring Aperol, sunshine cordial and passionfruit, topped off with prosecco; and the Sbagliato Romano starring Campari, Aperol, Davidson's plum, dry vermouth and blood orange syrup, also finished with a fizzy hit of prosecco. Martini lovers are also well served with Bobbie's singular take on a dirty martini, featuring olive-oil-washed Absolut Elyx, Noilly Pratt, cerignola olive, elderflower and the surprising savoury tang of blue cheese-stuffed olives. Hopping on the ascendant trend, the New York mini martini is a small but mighty pour of Ketel Vodka, Noilly Prat, 50/50, orange bitters and a choice of garnishes. While we recommend booking to avoid disappointment, Bobbie's also welcomes walk-ins, so do your wallet a favour and enjoy a scenic stroll to Double Bay. Images: Yusuke Oba
Soufflé? Good. Pancakes? Good. Soufflé pancakes? A match we're very keen to get behind — and one Sydneysiders can now experience for themselves at Gram Cafe's first store on Australian soil. Founded by Takeshi Takata, Gram Cafe opened its first store dedicated to sky-high soufflé pancakes in Osaka back in 2014, before quickly gaining a cult following across Japan (and across the internet). Since then, it has opened more than 60 stores in Asia, Canada and the US. As of last Friday, a Chatswood cafe is among that number, too. To make sure each pancake is as light and fluffy as its Osaka counterparts, the Sydney chefs have been trained by the big boss from Japan. They're whipping up a batter heavy with egg whites, steam it under metal domes and then cook it until its golden on the outside and white and fluffy on the inside. For $18.90, you'll get a stack of three ultra-light pancakes, each with a soufflé consistency and drizzled with syrup. There are eight different flavours to try, including matcha, tiramisu, caramelised banana and honey apple with earl grey cream. Plus, there are a few other brunch items on the menu, too, including french toast, savoury pancakes, parfaits and smoothies. Of course, such aesthetically pleasing food comes in a pretty package, with the cafe itself sporting a luxurious green, grey and gold colour palette, complete with velvet chairs, luscious hanging plants and neon lights. We're told only limited numbers of the soufflé pancakes are available each day, so we suggest you head in earlier rather than later. Gram Cafe and Pancakes is now open seven days a week from 11am–9pm, at Shop 67, Podium Level, Chatswood Interchange, 436 Victoria Ave, Chatswood.
Bluesfest has lifted the lid on its second artist announcement for 2019, adding 19 more names to the festival's already hefty 30th anniversary lineup. Heading this latest stampede is music legend Paul Kelly. He'll be hitting the five-day Easter long weekend festival just out of Byron after touring the country for his pre-Christmas show Making Gravy (which has sold out in most cities). More second announcement names include Irish singer Hozier, chart-topping UK artist David Gray and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Mavis Staples — who, fittingly, co-wrote and sang on Hozier's last hit single 'Nina Cried Power'. They'll place alongside two huge headliners: Jack Johnson and Ben Harper, who will play with his band The Innocent Criminals. Both artists will be performing exclusively at Bluesfest, with Johnson making his third appearance at the festival after first appearing in 2001 and again in 2014. S Other acts taking to the stage at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm over the weekend include Aussies Kasey Chambers and Richard Clapton, six-piece soul band St. Paul and The Broken Bones and Grammy Award-winning jazz and funk collective Snarky Puppy. American singer and record producer George Clinton will perform one of his last live shows ever, before retiring in May, alongside his funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic. Anyway, here's the full lineup (so far). Better start making Easter plans because tickets are already selling fast. BLUESFEST 2019 LINEUP SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT Paul Kelly Hozier David Gray Julia Stone Gary Clark Jr. Mavis Staples Flogging Molly Meshell Ndegeocello Ruthie Foster Shakey Graves Anderson East Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Samantha Fish The War and Treaty Mojo Juju Caiti Baker Deva Mahal Melody Angel Hussy Hicks FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT Jack Johnson Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals Ray Lamontagne George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic Snarky Puppy Kasey Chambers St Paul and The Broken Bones Nahko and Medicine for the People Tommy Emmanuel Colin Hay Arlo Guthrie Keb' Mo' Tex Perkins Allen Stone Richard Clapton Russell Morris Kurt Vile and The Violators Vintage Trouble The Black Sorrows The California Honeydrops Trevor Hall I'm With Her Larkin Poe Irish Mythen Elephant Sessions Greensky Blugrass Rockwiz Live + more to be announced. Bluesfest 2019 will run April 18 to April 22 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay. More details and ticket info here. Image: Cybele Malinowski and Joseph Mayers.
The further we move away from the wild, it seems, the more we bring the wild to us. From adding rooftop gardens to buses to cultivating bioluminescent plants that replace light bulbs to the opening of the world's first fully algae powered building, the past two years have seen a surge in the green-ifying of our urban environments. The most visually dramatic movement of all has been the spread of the vertical garden. Of course, it's not necessarily a new thing. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (or Nineveh), after all, were at least imagined, if not built, in 600 B.C., and back in 1938, Stanley Hart White, Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Illinois, employed hydroponics to invent the first green wall. However, Patrick Blanc is the man behind the scattering of the seeds of "living architecture" all over the world. His vertical gardens have been planted in more than 25 cities, including San Francisco, Berlin, Tokyo and New York. As most Sydneysiders already know, he's just installed the tallest one on the planet right here, at One Central Park, Broadway. Twenty-one panels, filling 1,120 square metres of area, comprise its expanse. One hundred thousand seedlings, including exotic and native species, were established at nurseries all over New South Wales and Queensland. THE STORY STARTS BELOW SEA LEVEL Blanc first became passionate about plants at the age of 12, due to an obsession with his fish tank. "My first aim, forty years ago, was to filter the excess nutrients out of my aquarium by way of using plants," he explains. For such a child, a career in botany was inevitable. It was in the 1980s that he first became interested in training plants to defy gravity — the perfection of which is crucial to the success of any vertical garden. Now that he has the process worked out, he insists that it's technically straightforward. What can be trickier is attaching the plants firmly enough to the wall to protect passersby from an unexpected botanical deluge. They (the plants, not the passersby) are attached to mesh-covered felt, around which their roots cling as they grow, creating a secure stronghold. Mineralised water, rather than soil, provides a source of nutrients. ART MIRRORS NATURE When asked whether he's encountered any opposition to his projects, Blanc replies with a calm self-assuredness that his "living artwork" involves a mere mirroring of nature. "Some people have objections because they think it's a manipulation of the way nature intended plants to grow," he explains. "But this is not the case, well, not always. For a local example, at Wentworth Falls in New South Wales's Blue Mountains, rock-clinging plants are everywhere." At the Australian Garden Show, Blanc will be giving a lecture on how soilless plants survive in their natural habitats — cliffs, caves, waterfalls and tree branches. IT LOOKS GREEN, BUT DOES IT ACT GREEN? And what about the environment? Vertical gardens certainly help to lessen the burden of some of our more regrettable architectural decisions, but how do they score when it comes to cleaner air and reducing energy use? Some of the installations found in fancy hotels and the like are often dependent on energy-intensive lighting. They might promote an impression of environmental awareness, but they're actually doing damage if the carbon harnessed by the plants is less than that necessary to their growth. On this issue, Blanc states that making wise botanical choices is essential. "When planting indoors, it's a matter of choosing plants that are not full-sun," Blanc says. "So that lights are not required for many hours of the day." Stephen Collis, of Victoria-based business Wallgarden, agrees. He sells DIY vertical garden systems for household use that are light on resource consumption. "All the products needed are very low cost ... With its patented irrigation system, [the Wallgarden] uses one-seventh of the water that a plant uses in the ground and it also has massive insulation. Plants grow best on north western facing walls (because they get the most heat). They insulate in summer and also in winter, by keeping the heat in." BEATING BACK THE WINTER BLUES Both Blanc and Collis point out that vertical gardens can play a role in promoting mental and emotional health."Having a garden has a calming effect," says Collis, "especially in offices." "Indoor vertical gardens can bring a world of colour to the depths of winter," argues Blanc. "Given indoor spaces are climate-controlled. This provides an opportunity for plants from warm countries to grow in cold countries." He works with diverse flora, the origins of which often lie in some of the planet's most obscure locations. Recently, on a visit to the Philippines, he even discovered a new Begonia species, which has been named after him. Blanc has plenty of freedom to partake in international botanic and artistic escapades because his creations are really low on maintenance. As long as the watering system is functioning, pruning is required just once every few months. They can be expected to live for at least 31 years — Blanc planted one at his place in 1982 and it's still growing. Patrick Blanc will be appearing at The Australian Garden Show, to be held in Centennial Park, Sydney, between September 5 and 8. He'll be speaking as part of the "Seeds of Wisdom" Lecture Series. On Thursday, September 5, at 5.45pm, he'll deliver "Cliffs, Caves, Waterfalls, Tree Branches: the Natural Habitat for Soilless Living Plants", and on Friday, September 5, at 4.15pm, he'll discuss "The Vertical Garden: A Forty Year Innovation". Each 45 minute lecture will be followed by a 15 minute Q & A. Wall Garden will be exhibiting a vertical garden and conducting DIY demonstrations.
This 007-inspired spy flick is sending critics into a frenzy, for all the right reasons. Director Matthew Vaughn (the mastermind behind Kick-Ass and X-Men First Class) is at it again, this time reworking the beloved 2012 comic-book series The Secret Service into a fast-paced and tongue-firmly-in-cheek tale of crime, action and adventure. Kingsman: The Secret Service stars Colin Firth (as you've never seen him before), Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Caine. It follows street kid Gary Unwin (Taron Egerton) as he attempts to join the highly contested ranks of an underground spy ring. And the initial verdict? It's one to watch. With 100% approval so far on Rotten Tomatoes, Kingsman has been labelled "a thoughtful, exciting, whip-smart spy adventure that doesn't let its smart-ass post-modernism overwhelm its playfulness or its heart" (by Andrew Taylor for The Playlist). Kingsman is in cinemas on February 5. Thanks to Twentieth Century Fox, we have 20 double passes up to a January 28 VIP preview screening to give away in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
“Your nose like a delicious slope of cream / And your ears like cream flaps / And your teeth like hard shiny pegs of cream.” Diner en Blanc — like Howard Moon's poem — will have you in all white. But sorry, Booshers: the second edition of this Sydney event is just for the sophisticated. Now on five continents, the Diner en Blanc began in Paris 25 years ago thanks to François Pasquier and friends. This year, around 3000 of Sydney's creme de la creme will once again dress in all white on Saturday, November 30, for the event held at an iconic location that remains secret until the very last moment. Following an evening of elegance, fine dining and live music, the foodies then pack up their crystal, dinnerware, tables and litter. Like ghosts (white 'n' all), they leave behind no sign of their rendezvous. (But don't get any ideas: a white sheet thrown over your figure will not do for an outfit). Diner en Blanc guests must either be invited by a member from the previous year, or get on the waiting list for a $38.50 ticket (+$5.50 membership fee).
Authenticity is no problem for Urban Theatre Projects (UTP). The Bankstown-based theatre makers don't make stories about the culturally marginalised; they make stories with them and through them. They place the community, both real and imagined, at their core and have crafted a 30-year legacy of memorable, mainly site-specific works in Sydney. These include last year's Stories of Love and Hate, a response to the Cronulla Riots, and 2010's Sydney Festival surprise The Fence, for which they invited audiences into a real Parramatta backyard. For their current work, Buried City, they've called on community organisations representing African migrants and Indigenous Australians as well as trade unions to contribute to the development by watching and responding to early rehearsals. They've collected a dynamic, multiethnic cast of professional and non-professional actors, including "the troubadour of Redfern-Waterloo", Perry Keyes. And they've moved to a big, inner-city space that demands a response of its own. Buried City is about the fundamental, nearly inextricable question of who owns the future and who's vision of the city is the one we build. One night in a gutted building primed for redevelopment, a gathering grows of people who work there and people who can't go home — security guards, a socialist worker who drinks and struggles to keep pace with the present, an Aboriginal youth who smokes pot and creatively interprets New Scientist, a couple of clubbers. For this group, the personal is very much political, and the interaction between characters drifts from the trivial, diversionary and casually curious into big issues in a very organic way. In the gaps between cultures, classes and generations, the play sketches some marked observations for this postmodern, post-unionised, pluralist, migrant city and others like it. UTP's methodical observation is evident throughout: in the scaffolded set strewn with bongs and beer bottles, in the ignored hum of a security guard's walkie-talkie, and in the conversations between these unlikely companions. Belvoir's Upstairs Theatre is a revelation as this stripped-bare cavern, and an opening from the back wall into Belvoir Street proper brings extra immediacy and inner-cityness (and with the thunderstorm that crashed through on opening night, a particularly heightened sense of spectacle). There's a circuitousness to both the drama and the conversation that can get a little frustrating. But don't see Buried City for the script; see it to get thinking about artistic process and how much debate can be thrown open when you expand the speaking list. Image by Heidrun Lohr.
