'Tis the time of year when dropping a shot of Bailey's and Jameson into a pint of Guinness is genuinely applauded, blasting The Corrs on Spotify is forgiven, then promptly forgotten, and every last sticky-floored pub in The Rocks and the CBD is heaving with novelty wigs and slurred singalongs. Sure, this might be your thing. But if you're looking to celebrate St Patrick's Day without battling tinsel mullets, listening to U2's 'Elevation' or going anywhere near Scruffy Murphy's, the lads at The Wild Rover are throwing a St Patrick's Day celebration you can actually get excited about. Held over three days from Sunday, March 15 to Tuesday, March 17, the Rovers are cranking out live music, those Wild Rover Paddy's Day spuds with Guinness gravy, $5 Guinness, $10 Irish whiskey cocktails and $1 freshly shucked oysters until 6pm. On Sunday, the Rover will be open from 12pm, with a street barbecue and live music from Cruisin' Deuces from 5pm. On Monday, it's Irish whiskey tasting from 6.30pm with Jameson's Lexie O'Toole, who'll be sharing her whiskies out of the New Midleton Distillery. Then, on the day of days, Tuesday's St Paddy's celebrations will see 'drunken riddlers' during the day and live music from The Sweet Jelly Rolls from 5pm.
Between work and errands, who has time to visit art galleries during the week? Luckily, the Art Gallery of NSW is kind enough to invite us into their galleries every Wednesday until 10pm for their ongoing Art After Hours event. But this week has more Australian '80s-style synth pop than usual, with Sydney's own Client Liaison playing a free show as part of the After Hours festivities. Renowned for their infectious '80s synth and '90s pop influences, this pair continues to pack a punch with the release of their debut EP, Queen, last year. If their sold-out Spiegeltent shows at Sydney Festival this year are anything to go by, the AGNSW had better put a few more nails in the wall — furious dancing is mandatory. Extravagant and over-the-top in every way, Harvey Miller and Monte Morgan are well worth checking out, revisiting or continuing your straight-up superfandom for. If a high-energy midweek dance party sounds like your jam, check out Client Liaison from 7.30pm in the Entrance Court. Again, it's free. Words by Lucinda Starr, Emily McHale and Shannon Connellan.
Canadian producer Dan Snaith, aka Caribou, is headed to Australia for one of summer's most anticipated tours. One of the major headliners for St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, Caribou has locked in two extra special sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne. Caribou's latest record, Our Love, features the feelgood lead single 'I Can’t Do Without You', released in August last year and placing a very respectable #55 in this year's Hottest 100. Playing with some very '90s inspired R&B beats and '80s synth, Our Love is a record that's not only danceable but also engrossing to sit back and absorb. Caribou's no spring chicken at the electronic game; Snaith boasts a career spanning ten years with an impressive back catalogue. Fans of Caribou will remember his 2010 album Swim, with tracks like the expansive 'Sun' and the alluring 'Odessa' that won the hearts of many. To see these wonderfully layered, intricate and incredibly beautiful songs played live comes highly recommended — so if you’re not heading along to Laneway, do not miss this. Want to lock in a double header of electronic bliss? Flying Lotus is playing right after Caribou on Tuesday, February 3 at the Opera House. Tickets for both here.
Where the hell did iOTA go? After melting faces in Smoke & Mirrors, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Baz Lurhman's The Great Gatsby and, most recently Mad Max: Fury Road (he was the Doof Warrior), and holding five albums, eleven singles, six ARIA nominations, and a Helpmann, Green Room and Sydney Theatre Award under his belt, the award-winning, gender bending glam rocker just disappeared into the night. We thought we'd said something, we thought he'd never call again. But it seems the performative prince is riding back into town, to break hearts, take names and bring a brand new stage production to the Sydney Opera House: B-Girl. Directed and co-written by iOTA and longtime collaborator Craig Ilott, B-Girl sounds like a whole world of unpindownable, glamorous drama. Part rock 'n' roll, part vaudevillian cabaret, the show follows the plight of B-Girl (played by acclaimed Australian performer and Belvoir/Bell Shakespeare favourite Blazey Best), a troubled lass whose less-than-desirable circumstances lead her to use her imagination to escape into glam rock euphoria and create her own powerful alter ego: Clifford North (played by iOTA). Sounds like Swan Lake meets Sucker Punch. If you're wondering whether this new production will come anywhere near as daring and heartbreaking as the sell-out festival smash Smoke & Mirrors, the entire award-winning S&M team are the ones cranking the gears on B-Girl. Think live onstage band, all-original music, epic production value — all housed inside the Playhouse Theatre. "Smoke & Mirrors was really our first go and the experience has brought us closer together as people," says iOTA. "We trust each other, we’re a better team — B-Girl will reflect that." Tickets on sale to the general public Tuesday, March 3.
Heartbreak kid Ryan Adams and ex-Rilo Kiley lead singer Jenny Lewis are in the country for what is sure to be another excellent Splendour in the Grass. Even better, while they're here they've decided to team up and perform a couple of sideshows — including one at Sydney's very own Enmore Theatre. Lewis and Adams are far from strangers; as well as sharing alt-country backgrounds and impeccable lyrical writing skills, Adams also produced Lewis’ 2014 album The Voyager. Lewis’ standout single 'Just One Of The Guys' cemented itself into our brains last year not only for its wry vocals and catchy jingle, but also for having one of the best music videos of 2014. Adams, meanwhile, hasn't been to our shores since 2012, and will perform an additional solo show at the Opera House on July 21.
Portraits aren’t all regal furs and awkward “Oh, didn’t see you there,” poses. They can be weird, abstract, figurative, unrecognisable, or downright adorable. It's not an easy task; capturing a realistic, unrelentingly vulnerable likeness of your own reflection, someone you’ve just met or one of your oldest buds takes a fair few stories, maybe a few beers and a willingness to tackle the intimidating notion of thinking up something new after decades of Archibald Prize winners. Australia's top portraiture prize is back for another year, the Art Gallery of New South Wales's annual celebration of Aussie faces, alongside the coveted Wynne and Sulman prizes. The AGNSW has handed out the blue ribbon (and a cheeky $100,000) to Newcastle artist Nigel Milsom, who nabbed the Archibald Prize for his haunting, Edgar Allan Poe-like portrait of barrister Charles Waterstreet. French-born Sydney artist Bruno Jean Grasswill took home the 2015 Packing Room Prize for his portrait of Australian actor and The Castle legend Michael Caton. Caton apparently congratulated the AGNSW packing room staff “on their excellent taste in art.” What a boss. After 832 entries, this year, these 47 Archibald finalists are the top tier of artists trying to make us wake up and pay attention (whether for great or WTF reasons) to Australia’s big ol’ faces. There's a few standouts for us this year, which you can see at the AGNSW's exhibition until September 27. There's Carla Fletcher's striking portrait of Australian fashion designer Jenny Kee, a pretty damn impressive self portrait of Australian artist and political activist Richard Bell, Adam Alcorn's sharply figurative portrait of Sydney award-winning writer, comedian, podcaster and radio host Alice Fraser, Julian Meagher's candy-coloured portrait of Daniel Johns, and Stewart MacFarlane's strange portrait of Cory Bernardi holding some kind of whip. The Archibald Prize exhibition is on now at the Art Gallery of NSW, running July 18 to September 27. To view all the Archibald, Sulman and Wynne finalists, head over here. Image: Carla Fletcher Jenny Kee (detail) 2015 Archibald Prize finalist © the artist.
This imaginative little gathering brings together two of Concrete Playground's favourite things: food and words. Forming part of the Bondi Feast programme, Eat Our Words will see a bunch of food lovers get together to tell you stories about the tasty morsels that have changed their lives. While they're talking, you'll get to eat samples of their subject matter. The speakers are a mix of chefs, brewers, writers and artists. You'll be hearing from Lucien Alperstein, who brews, pickles and photographs; Nicholas Jordan, who writes, blogs and researches (including for CP about delicious things like jerky and juice pairing); David Matthews, who chefs, writes and edits; and Georgia Hutchison, who creates art from a range of materials, food included. Bondi Feast is a fringe-style festival run by the Rock Surfers Theatre Co, combining local theatre, music, comedy, art and food. Since starting up in 2012, the event has double in size. This year, it runs for 11 nights between July 11 and 25, and features more than 100 artists across more than 50 performances.
The PACT Centre for Emerging Artists is teaming up with performance collective Applespiel for a 24-hour live event in protest of proposed government cuts to the arts sector. Specifically, they'll be hosting an all night telethon, with the aim of raising not money, but rather excellence, in the hope of acquiring enough excellence for George Brandis' controversial National Centre for Excellence in the Arts. The event is titled In Pursuit of Excellence: A Telethon for Excellence. Sounds excellent. Taking place in the PACT Theatre in Erskineville, the tongue-in-cheek telethon kicks off at 6pm on Friday, July 17 and will be taking pledges of excellence until the same time the next day. There'll be panel discussions, dances, exhibits and live performances, plus video statements from arts organisations far and wide. Entry into the event is free, although donations are most welcome. Those wanting to stay the night should bring a blanket and snacks (enough to share please!), while drinks will be available from the bar. If you can't make the event in person, you can stream the whole thing live at www.inpursuitofexcellence.net. The Telethon for Excellence is part of a broader movement of events and protests under the #freethearts banner, which aims to draw attention to and hopefully reverse the planned government cuts to the Australia Council. Under the most recent federal budget, the amount of money allocated to the peer-reviewed arts funding body will be slashed by more than $100 million over the next four years, and instead go to the newly created Centre for Excellence. What is most troubling about this change is that rather than being decided by an independent body, the provision of grant money would fall to the Arts Minister, aka Brandis himself. According to a statement from Applespiel, "This Telethon is at PACT to highlight what we stand to lose: the space and support for independent art makers. Because that’s what spaces like PACT do best, they nurture and grow the practices of artists, they allow space to fuck up, to try something new and difficult, to learn. Without these spaces, where will independent artist go?" For the full rundown on the Telethon for Excellence, including information on how you can pledge, check out the event page on Facebook.
Redfern's 107 Projects is about to be turned into a technological dreamland thanks to Electrofringe. Thirty experimental electronic artists are going to unleash hypercolorful blobs, virtual sculptures and coloured smoke into the space — art you can use to wrap your head around the concept of transhumanism and experience synaesthesia. It's sure to be a doozy. Specialists in unearthing next-level electronic art, Electrofringe have unleashed one heck of a program. There's some pretty intriguing pieces on display this year like NODE's Paul — an interactive animatronic eye that depicts human emotion — and Frolic and Gambol's Unlocked Melody — an audiovisual projection of passwords harvested from various sources. There will also be free workshops running throughout the day covering topics from women's coding to privacy. To wrap the whole thing up, there's a big party happening from 7.30pm (tickets are just $10 +BF). There'll be sets from Net Daddy, Body Promise and other awesome Sydney DJs. EF15 kicks off at 107 Projects from 1pm, with an interactive exhibition, performances and workshops. Entry is by donation. The Party takes place at 107’s Performance Space and starts at 7.30pm. Tickets on the door or pre-purchase here.
When it comes to fashion, staying ahead of the pack can be a mighty tough feat. But if you’re keen to kick monochromic minimalism to the curb, while giving a little back to your global community, we’ve found just the bold West African label to help you do it. YEVU, which means 'foreigner' in the local Ewe language, is a socially responsible clothing line bringing the wild traditional wax prints of Ghana to Aussie shores. Linking local African tailors with style-conscious global customers, founder Anna Robertson is creating serious change for Ghanaian seamstresses living on the poverty line. After launching their sell-out debut range in October 2013, YEVU returns this month with a fresh selection of awesome new threads (we actually can't get enough of these prints). From late November, Sydney and Melbourne will both house YEVU’s latest pop-up stores. Stocked with everything from daring jumpsuits to bold bomber jackets for both ladies and gents, these vibrant designs won’t go unnoticed in your wardrobe. Give back, shop ethically and nab a new look with some of the sweetest prints you’ll see all season. Head along to the launch of YEVU's pop up locations in Sydney (636 Crown Street, Surry Hills) on November 26 and Melbourne (27-29 Johnston Street, Collingwood) on December 3 from 6 to 9pm. YEVU POP-UP OPENING HOURS Sydney — November 27 to January 24 (10am to 7pm daily) Melbourne — December 4 to January 31(10am to 7pm Daily) Both stores closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Image: YEVU.
Carriageworks is bringing back About an Hour for Sydney Festival with seven fantastic shows at the even more fantastic price of $35. Each performance will run around 60 minutes, and the showcase will include both local and international acts, from classical music and theatre to hip hop and acrobatics. Our must-see on the list is the international show from Japan's Okazaki Art Theatre, +51 Aviación, San Borja. Directed by Yudai Kamisato, this peculiar and eccentric portrayal of life in Japan is not to be missed. Check out more of the best Sydney Festival events under $50 here.
Since making folk cool again with her debut album, The Milk-Eyed Mender (2004), harp-playing, cocktail-devouring Joanna Newsom has continually surprised us. She's modelled for Giorgio Armani, given acting a spin — in Paul Thomas Anderon's Inherent Vice — and released four subsequent LPs. Her latest, Divers, released in 2015, grapples with travel, metaphysics, love and war. This is her first visit to Australia in six years. Joanna Newsom plays the Sydney Opera House on January 21 at 8pm. $53-99 + bf. This is just one of our ten picks for Sydney Festival's best gigs. Check out the whole list.
Riding on the back of his last success, Tremors, multitalented Vienna-based singer and producer, SOHN (aka Christopher Taylor) is returning to Australian shores. You've probably heard his raw electronic renditions of traditional R&B before, influenced by the moody vocals of James Blake and How to Dress Well. Recorded entirely at night, Tremors is an immaculately crafted album; drawing together tales of Taylor's relationship-induced emotional melancholy. A London expat now living in Vienna, his music is enamoured with his newfound geographies — with hit tracks like 'Artifice' and 'Lessons' embracing a kind of laidback European pastoralism. If you missed out on last year's sell-out shows, hopefully you'll catch some better luck this time. Grab 'em quick.
Making her Australian debut at Laneway Festival 2015, FKA twigs' sideshow is one of the most sought-after tickets this summer. Otherwise known as Tahliah Debrett Barnett, the Gloucestershire trip hop artist has had a colossal year. After the release of her debut album LP1, twigs was all anyone could talk about toward the end of 2014. Her most recent single, the intoxicating, self-directed video 'Pendulum', is out now on Young Turks/Remote Control. Featuring a Bambi-like vulnerability, the artist is seen tied up in Japanese style bondage (shibari) for the most part of the clip. "Using my own hair represents me at one time being suspended and held back by my own fears," Barnett explains. With her concert selling out in a matter of hours, FKA twigs tickets are a hot commodity. And if her hugely successful debut album is anything to go by, you'll understand why. Set to be an all immersive, visceral experience, FKA twigs' show is sure to create an otherworldly, social media-happy experience for the lucky few.
What's better than spending your Sunday session at a block party at The Vic Enmore hosted by hip hop collective One Day? A Christmas Edition of that very same block party that gets into the festive spirit by raising money for charity, that's what. The inner west's favourite monthly hip hop party, One Day Sundays, is using its Christmas edition to help out disadvantaged youth during the festive season by sending funds to Youth Off the Streets. So if the chance for an afternoon of shooting hoops, devouring spit roast and soaking up great local hip hop long after sunset wasn't enough to get you out the back of the Vic, then donating to a good cause like you're a character in It's a Wonderful Life should pretty much do it for you. Featuring DJs Joyride, Lazer Gunne Funke and Finehouse, it's one great way to keep your festive spirit alive between Christmas and New Year's.
The North Face, who makes your favourite, cosiest down jackets and adventure gear, is celebrating 50 years of exploration and hosting a three-day exhibition at Sydney's aMBUSH Gallery. From November 22 to 24 an immersive gallery will pop up — featuring adventure film screenings, guest speakers and live music. On Tuesday night guest speaker Cas and Jonesy (explorers on The North Face athlete team) will take the stage, followed by a film screening of Antarctica documentary Crossing the Ice. On Wednesday you'll have the chance to meet and greet The North Face Australia and New Zealand athlete team and catch a screening of adventure film Meru. On the last night, Yosemite National Park-based film Valley Uprising will screen followed by live music from Winterbourne. The North Face opened its first store in 1966 alongside a concert from the Grateful Dead, so as a throwback, Winterbourne will open their set by covering the classic band. Movie screenings are ticketed, but include food and drink as well as a 50th anniversary gift pack on arrival. All ticket funds will be donated to the Australian Himalayan Foundation. If you're not keen for a movie, head into the exhibition for free between 10am and 5pm from November 22 -24.
Keen to gift Rushcutters Bay with an authentic taste of Rome, Flavio Carnevale has pulled up stumps on his southern Italian-inspired Popolo to make way for new venture MARTA. As Popolo prepares to relocate to slightly more formal CBD digs, the space at 50 McLachlan Avenue has been transformed into a bright and buzzy neighbourhood osteria and bar, as imagined by award-winning Melbourne architects, DesignOffice (who're responsible for the epic Higher Ground). The all-embracing space is decked out in black and olive neutral tones, boasting a sunny courtyard and an array of seating options to suit any occasion. Moving away from the food of the Basilicata region, MARTA's food and drink offering will take its cues from the lively venues of Rome, where Carnevale's hospitality journey began. Head Chef Christuan Jordaan is leading a menu that is both refined and full of personality, featuring dishes like bombolotti, crumbed mozzarella and rice croquettes and tiella gaetana, a pie-like dish of thin pizza layers filled with baby calamari ragu. Daily house specials hope to inspire regular visits and it won't be open for lunch anymore — just dinner six nights a week and brunch on Sundays. Meanwhile, a bar area with high-topped tables will be ideal for those drinks-focused drop-ins — sessions spent sipping spritzes and quaffing wines poured from Carnevale's handmade terracotta decanters. Marta is now open at 50 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay. It will be open Tuesday to Saturday from 5.30pm and from 9am on Sunday. Images: Alan Benson.
As part of their 2017 program Carriageworks are bringing Independent Italian performance group Motus to Australia, to perform MDLSX. MDLSX is a confronting, empowering hymn to androgyny. Punk goddess Silvia Calderoni, who has been performing with Motus for over ten years, will experiment and explore the above themes within a performance art monologue and DJ set. Music will be from The Smiths, Vampire Weekend, R.E.M and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, while a backdrop featuring Calderoni's family home videos blurs fiction with reality. Previously, Motus' performances and shows have yielded great physical and emotional impact, so this is one not to miss — even it it's purely just to see what happens. Image: Diane Ilariascarpa.
Brisbane's Damian Griffiths is doubling down on his mission to put the entire population of Sydney — and indeed, Australia — into a diabetic coma. After giving us our first taste of his insanely popular Doughnut Time creations, the sugar-mad restaurateur is bringing his retro ice cream parlour, Mister Fitz, across the border. The first Mister Fitz opened in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane last December, followed quickly by a second location in South Bank. The Sydney move was first announced in April 2016, and while we're still waiting for a concrete opening date for the permanent store, Griffiths is kicking things off with a pop-up in Sydney's CBD, opening Friday, May 26. You will have to head into a shopping mall to find it though, one half of Myer's winter Alpine Village activation beside a sibling Doughnut Time pop-up. Mister Fitz's pop-up menu is just four ice-cream sandwiches strong including the Gimme Macklemore (chocolate cookie sandwich, s'mores ice-cream and hot chocolate sauce), and the 24 Carat Magic with a slim shady doughnut sandwich, milk and cookies ice-cream and unicorn crumb), and warm offerings like the Sticky AF (sticky date pudding with vanilla ice cream topped with hot caramel sauce and unicorn crumb). The Mister Fitz and Doughnut Time Alpine Village is located on Level 6, Myer Sydney, 436 George Street, Sydney and will be open during Myer trading hours from May 26 to July 16. To celebrate the opening, both brands will be giving away free ice-cream sandwiches and doughnuts from 12-1pm on Friday, May 26.
Familiar Stranger at 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art sets out to examine the space between memory and reality that plagues the act of returning. Featured artists Shumon Ahmed, Chun Yin Rainbow Chan, Bashir Makhoul, Veer Munshi, Shireen Taweel and Curtis Taylor draw from the familial archive and personal memory to express the constant internal struggle between what is and what was. The exhibition presents place as a space defined by uncertainty, adopting the perspective of the returnee as they seek to retrace their memories in places that have transformed. The artworks explore the idea that if you're a migrant, the idea of moving "home" becomes an implicit part of who you are — and the act of returning is an unpredictable, not necessarily joyful one. Will no doubt strike a chord with anyone who has returned home after time away and found it not what they expected it to be. Image: Shumon Ahmed, What I have forgotten could fill an ocean, what is not real never lived (2013). Polaroid photos, analogue telephone set, original soundtrack originally composed by Yusuf Khan and recited by Nader Salam. Image the artist and Samdani Art Foundation & Project88, Mumbai, India.
Contemporary art fans are in for a treat this March. Sydney Art Month is returning for another year with a stellar line-up of talks, tours, and exhibitions across the city. The fun doesn't end when the sun goes down — quite the opposite, actually. Art at Night gives you after-dark access to the city's premier galleries and creative spaces, followed by some epic after-parties. So, clear your calendar, grab your mates, download an Art Month precinct map, and get ready for some artsy adventuring. The Art at Night program kicks off in Redfern and Chippendale on March 1, then it moves on to East Sydney on March 8 and finishes up in Paddington and Woollahra on March 15. Coinciding with International Women's Day, in East Sydney the evening will focus on the work of female performance and visual artists. Don't miss Jodie Whalen's site-specific performance at the National Art School, which will highlight the under-representation of women in the arts world. Another epic work will come courtesy of Kelli Jean Drinkwater, a radical feminist artist and activist who explores the complex relationship many females have with their bodies. For Art at Night, Drinkwater will perform a durational suspension show with Mistress Tokyo. You'll also get to catch the boisterous Bad Bitch Choir perform in their characteristically bad-ass, infectious style. Galleries on the trail include the New Standard Gallery, Australian Design Centre, and Firstdraft. Round out the evening with music and drinks at the Cake Wines Art Bar at the National Art School. The East Sydney Art at Night trail will run from 6-8pm, followed by the Cake Wines Art Bar at the National Art School 7.30-10.30pm. Don't miss Art at Night in Paddington/Woollahra.
There's only one thing better than a rooftop party, and that's a free rooftop party. Say a saucy hello to the start of warm weather madness with the latest event by legendary party throwers Bad Deep: an afternoon fiesta on the rooftop of the Kings Cross Hotel. Starting at 3pm on the first Saturday in November, the festivities will stretch long into the night. A big lineup of top Sydney DJs — including Adit, Charles in Charge, and Eddie & Miller — will keep you dancing for hours. There'll also be frosé on offer to fuel your shape-throwing. So mark your calendar (you can RSVP here), gather your mates, and dust off your summertime party attire. We'll see you on the dancefloor.
To understand why Brisbane-based, extreme acrobatics circus troupe Circa has gained such a dedicated global following, look no further than their new show Humans. In this world premiere, Circa's award-winning director Yaron Lifschitz fuses jaw-dropping acrobatics with contemporary dance and theatre in a joyous celebration of what it means to be human. See amazing poses like the one above, as performers explore the physical limits of their bodies and push themselves to the extreme, as they question how much we can take as humans. This is a world premiere show at Sydney Festival 2017. Check out more world firsts coming to the festival over here.
For Back to Back Theatre, a Geelong-based company renowned for pushing the envelope with their award-winning productions, a play about death is hardly outside the comfort zone. Lady Eats Apple is the company's newest production — and it's their most daring work to date. Taking the audience on an awe-inspiring, thought-provoking journey from the beginning of time to the present day, the performance is an otherworldly trip that engulfs you in a world of tragedy. Lady Eats Apple premiered in Melbourne last year and will be performed at Carriageworks throughout March. From the set to the score, nothing about the play conforms to expectations. When the audience arrive at the theatre they are ushered into a massive inflatable black bubble, where everyone is given their own headset through which the play's dialogue and score are transmitted. "The idea was to create a visual and aural environment that would approximate the experience of death," Gladwin explains. Within this otherworldly black bubble — which has contours and colours that change strikingly at the end of each act — the play unfolds. Divided into three loosely-connected parts, each act focuses on a death of some sort. The performance begins heavy in dialogue, then plunges the audience into an ethereal world where long wordless scenes are accompanied by a soaring score. Themes of genesis, near-death experiences and reflections on humanity appear, before the final act brings the audience starkly back to the real world and the present day. Although Lady Eats Apple deals with a difficult subject, Gladwin assures it's done in a way that makes the production accessible to almost anyone. "If you're between the ages of 11 and dead, this is the play is for you," he says. He hopes that the structure, themes and the abstract and hallucinatory nature of the performance will leave the audience spinning.
No, not The Beatles record, but instead Joan Didion's seminal essay on 1960s American counterculture, taking in everything from the Black Panther movement to the Manson Family and a coterie of key LA musical figures. Award-winning director Lars Jan has adapted Didion's piece for theatre, building a performance where Mia Barron delivers the text as a number of stories of the time unfold around her. Joan Didion's The White Album has been touring American theatres and is an Australian exclusive for Sydney Festival. The performance features 25 audience members on stage acting as witnesses to the juxtaposing social upheaval of the 60s with our present day injustices. It promises to be a treat; as the first line of the essay says: "We tell ourselves stories in order to live."
Mexican chain restaurant Los Vida have been one of this year's big foodie success stories — so much so that, barely more than six months after their CBD debut, they're heading out to Crows Nest for location number three. In truth, it feels a little bit wrong to even refer to them as a chain, in that there’s something warm and authentic about their menu that seems incongruous with the restaurant franchise phenomena. In fact their only resemblance to a chain is the demand from Sydneysiders who are hungry for whatever Los Vida is laying down. Perhaps their success stems from the two co-founders Mexican heritage and upbringings, both hailing from Mexico City and bringing with them a bonafide, electrified slice of their national cuisine. Their Crows Nest location will offer a similar, homey decor, plus a ten metre cocktail bar where you can get friendly with their drinks menu, wile out with a tequila shot and then face off with the mezcal, tequila’s slightly wormier cousin. The food menu will offer the same variety, with no Western substitutions or naming conventions. You won’t be asked if you want fries with your tacos here (but if you do in fact want fries, get the patatas bravas — it’s the Mexican equivalent and you won’t be sorry). Los Vida at Crows Nest is open from July 30 at 419 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. For further information, email info@losvida.com.au.
Kingpins of Brooklyn hype Parquet Courts are the kind of ramshackle, indie genre benders that strip back production-heavy 'garage' and deliver punk-as-blazes music every time. Blending lo-fi, geek-chic, your beyond stock-standard garage rock, and a healthy dose of punk, Parquet Courts are impossible to pin down. Think Pavement meets The Strokes, but with more tongue-in-cheek. Now, after playing sold-out shows in the States and making their mark at Splendour in the Grass last year, they're heading back to Australia for three intimate shows. Their 2014 album, Sunbathing Animal has been praised by Pitchfork as a musical testament to the band's unique grasp of simple, rough rock that places the band, "in their own distinct weight class." The foursome just released a new album Content Nausea under the name Parkay Quarts last December, recorded on a four-track tape over two weeks and predictably brimming with bristly feedback. Making appearances after their headlining spot at Secret Garden Festival, Parquet Courts are popping into Manning Bar in Sydney, The Zoo in Brisbane and Melbourne's Hi-Fi in early March.
Get the bacon and whisky ready, and prepare your ears for some high-pitched laughter. They're the only things you can do — other than start making your own canoe, and generally squealing with glee — upon hearing the news that Nick Offerman is coming to Australia this week. Although initially slated to appear with partner in crime Megan Mullally to perform their Summer of 69: No Apostrophe, an unforeseen scheduling conflict has seen the show replaced with Offerman's solo show Full Bush. Mullally is no longer able to tour early next year as she starts a major film production overlapping directly with her Australian dates — but, luckily, Offerman is still able to make it. Just take a moment to let that sink in. Ron effing Swanson will be in the country. Described as a veritable smorgasbord of cautionary tales, tunes, and tips for prosperity, Full Bush looks set to make all your dreams come true: you'll get to sing a tune with Offerman while taking in his natural beefy musk. He'll be up on stage at the State Theatre on Thursday, January 28, and will do two shows the next night on Friday, January 29 (at 8pm and 10.30pm). NICK OFFERMAN: FULL BUSH DATES January 28-29 — State Theatre, Sydney January 30 — Theatre Royal, Hobart January 31 & February 9 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne February 2-3 — Astor Theatre, Perth February 4 — Festival Theatre, Adelaide February 5-6 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
A pop-up by the name of Mazi Mas is bringing a whole lot of goodness to Sydney — in two important ways. Firstly, it’s providing female migrants, refugees and asylum seekers with training and employment. Secondly, it’s bringing you fun, tasty dinners, in cafes that you’d usually find closed after dark. A not-for-profit project, Mazi Mas kicked off in London in 2012, thanks to founder and CEO Nikandre Kopcke. While studying for a Masters of Gender at the London School of Economics, she met an Aussie by the name of Maggie Lloyd, who decided to bring the project to Sydney. “In both the developed and developing world, women do the lion’s share of care work, cooking and cleaning and looking after children,” Lloyd told Mamamia. “This is a way of celebrating that work, and rewarding it with fair wages … Its main aims are around celebrating the skills the [participants] already had, but there’s also the practical element of finding ongoing work in a new country and having formal and local qualifications.” This year’s events have included spring dinners at Ultimo’s Lush Bucket Café, autumn dinners at Potts Point’s Café Dov and Fijian feasts at Darlinghurst’s The Rusty Rabbit. And once a dinner's all done? Mazi Mas has teamed up with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre to help participants find jobs. And, so far, more than 50 percent of them have landed work in hospitality. Keep an eye on what's next for Mazi Mas and where they'll be setting up shop via Facebook. Images: Mazi Mas/Facebook.
Fresh off their epic car park screening of Fight Club featuring Ikea furniture, group therapy sessions and stuntmen beating the crap out of each other, clandestine cinema specialists Curious Cartel are back for their second top-secret event. The location? A mystery. The movie? Who knows. The dress code? High school formal. Curious Cartel's 'Prom Night' is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, and is expected to run from 6pm through to midnight. While the specifics are being kept under wraps, we do know that there'll be music, food and a fully licensed bar as well as interactive activities and performers. Tickets to Prom Night are $60 from the Ticketbooth, but thanks to Curious Cartel, we have two double passes to give away to to the event on September 19. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
If you think Sydney Contemporary — a biennial international art fair held at Carriageworks — is only for art lovers with Chanel suits and investors with hedge funds, think again. Sure, 75 respected galleries from all over the world will be exhibiting (and selling) some of the best contemporary art money can buy, but you will also find an entire program of more affordable (and just as impressive) art on offer. It's made even more accessible by the presence of Art Money, an art loans program for works priced between $750 and $20,000. And if you want to leave commerce out of it entirely, look to addendum program Sydney Art Week, which is scattering art happenings throughout Carriageworks and its surrounding suburbs. Here are seven things you can do at Sydney Contemporary as well as browse the artwork. EAT YOUR WAY THROUGH LOCAL PALETTE What do Young Henrys, Mary’s, Bloodwood, Food Rascal, 212 Blu and Gelato Messina all have in common? They are all delicious highlights from Sydney’s home-grown food and beverage scene? Well yes, but here’s another fun fact. These local favourites are all coming together to create Local Palette, a pop-up bar and restaurant in the Elston Room at Carriageworks for the duration of Sydney Contemporary. And while you’re at it, why not try some art that you can actually eat? As part of the broader Sydney Art Week program, Art and Dine brings Sydney establishments like The Apollo, Longrain, Cho Cho San and Riley St Garage into the mix with special offers. Wash them down with an artist-designed cocktail — 2014 Archibald winning artist Fiona Lowry has paired with a mixologist to create Pink Frost, a sumptuous cocktail being served at Sydney Contemporary’s favourite bars and restaurants across the city. LISTEN TO THE SOUND OF PLANTS GROWING The grand cavernous spaces at Carriageworks inspire and demand so much more than art in its traditional two-dimensional form. That’s why Sydney Contemporary also includes 18 immersive, interactive and site-specific installation art works by Australian and international artists for you to discover as part of their Installation Contemporary program. From the monumental to the elusive, Sydney Contemporary will basically be an art playground for adults. You won’t be able to miss towering large-scale works by Callum Morton and Gregor Kregar, but also be sure not to miss the almost invisible work by Mylyn Nguyen – a painstakingly rendered troop of insects that quietly inhabits a spot below the ground. Conversation with Plants will get you interacting. Created collaboratively by ceramic artist Simon Reece, music producer Darren Seltmann and artist Vicky Browne, the work invites participants to stand under a huge suspended pod as ceramics and electronics surround you to capture and amplify sounds made by nature, giving you a sensory experience that transforms perceptions of self and space. BAR CRAWL THROUGH REDFERN The official Opening Night on Thursday, September 10, transforms the fair into an immersive, all-encompassing night of art, music and food. It's the place to catch Alaska Orchestra's 'cuckoo clock' performance, listen to the smooth sounds of Sarsha Simone and have Jake Meadows serenade you with his harp, while performance artists take you on an eye-opening journey through the fair. Tickets are $50, include a complimentary drink and can be booked in advance or bought at the door. If you can’t make it to the Sydney Contemporary opening night celebration on Thursday, September 10, never fear. A whole program of events and parties will continue during Sydney Contemporary, spilling out into iconic Redfern locales The Dock, The Bearded Tit, Arcadia and 107 Projects after the official fair closes its doors each evening. This is your after-hours art party mecca. Don’t miss Trailblazers. Curated by Emma Price and Connie Anthes, it's a performance art trail that starts at Sydney Contemporary from 8.30pm on Thursday, September 10, and continues along a string of local sites, featuring artists Latai Taumoepeau, Alex Chapman and Penelope Benton, Erica Englert and Bhenji Ra. And if you like your rooftop parties with a healthy dose of zzzzs, then don’t miss Sleep. In partnership with 107 Projects, artist, musician and general legend Megan Alice Clune has curated a selection of performances about sleeping. The night will feature Pendant (formerly Nakagin), video works by Eugene Choi, Adam Guzowski (Golden Blonde, Alaska Orchestra) performing an improvised piece around a binaural drone and DJ Megan Alice Clune. GET CONTEMPLATIVE WITH ADRIANO ZUMBO For the critically curious among you, get inspired with a series of free (with entry) talks. You can join actor and philanthropist Rachel Griffiths as she discusses whether or not gender matters in contemporary art alongside Artspace director Alexie Glass-Kantor, artist Liam Benson, artist and curator Emma Price and MONA curator Jarrod Rawlins. Adriano Zumbo is also in the mix, talking about creative processes with architect Sam Marshall, broadcaster James Valentine, artist Michael Zavros and actor Claudia Karvan. If you’re interested in the intersections between fashion and art, then get along to The Fashion Forum, presented by Vogue deputy editor Sophie Tedmanson and featuring Romance Was Born designers Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett, as well as writer and curator Alison Kubler. Even though the talks are free, bookings are essential given limited spaces. TAKE IN SOME BITE-SIZED CINEMA Contemporary art meets film with two exciting short film screenings included in the price of your entry ticket. Acclaimed Australian artist Tracey Moffatt will premiere her new short film and comedic montage, The Art, and created with experimental filmmaker and music video producer Gary Hillberg. Sydney Contemporary also presents The Nightingale and the Rose, Del Kathryn Barton's take on the Oscar Wilde short story. It will be followed by a conversation between the film's co-director Brendan Fletcher and composer Sarah Blasko. TRAWL THE MARKET STALLS AT URBAN NIGHTS On the first Friday of every month, Redfern comes (even more) to life with the Redfern Night Market at Redfern Community Centre. In collaboration with Sydney Contemporary and Sydney Art week, a special one-off edition of the markets called Urban Nights will take place on Friday, September 11. This is your chance to check out some local culture and craft in an evening of art, performance and food. VOTE TO SEND YOUR FAVOURITE ARTIST TO POSSIBLY THE BEST RESIDENCY EVER Here's your chance to help send one artist to a place that is sure to stoke their creative fires. Sydney Contemporary has launched an artists in residency competition in partnership with Glenfiddich whiskey. That’s right, one lucky artist will get to live and work for three months at the Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown, Scotland. The even better news? You could also win a trip for two to the Glenfiddich distillery. And unlike the poor talented souls who have slaved away to make brilliant art, which will be assessed by a panel of formidable judges, all you have to do to go in the draw is head to the Glenfiddich pop-up bar at Carriageworks and vote on your favourite artwork. Sydney Contemporary is on from September 10–13 at Carriageworks. For the full program and to book tickets, see the event website.
Childhood; a time when your biggest problem was trying to explain your phone bill to your parents. Well now the Have You Heard crew (well known for their secret parties) is trying to bring back this simpler life with Summer Land – part boutique music festival, part grownup summer camp. Similar to Return to Rio and the ol' Playground Weekender format, ticket-holders will be transported to a secret bush location for a weekend away in mid-February. Remember running back to your room and pretending to be asleep at curfew? There won't be any of that at Summer Land. Instead, you'll be able to get down at the weekend-long dance party, enjoy the pool and soak up the sunshine. All the shenanigans! It's BYO snacks and booze because that's just the mature thing to do. Admittedly it's not all upside. Now that you're an adult, you actually have to pay for things yourself. First release camping tickets are $199 but if you're keen to relive your Year 9 camp experience, there are six or eight bed dorms available for $289 per head. Or if you're willing to fork out an extra $20 each, you can go full grownup and book out a 12 bed villa. Ticket prices includes all activities and meals from Saturday breakfast to Sunday breakfast. As for transport, you can either drive and pay $15 for parking, or book a coach ticket and spend the whole journey singing and passing around lolly bags like a bunch of backseat bandits. More ticketing information is available here. Gates will open 7pm Friday 12 February and close 1pm Sunday 14 February.
One of Queensland's favourite sources of doughy deliciousness has expanded pretty damn rapidly over the last 12 months. Brisbane's Doughnut Time has opened multiple pop-ups and a whopping 11 Australian stores across Brissy, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Sydney, plus they've got a roving van in Brisbane — despite having been in business for just over a year. And now? They're headed for the beach. This Saturday, April 2, Doughnut Time is set to open their next Sydney instalment at Bondi. Located at Shop 1, 82 Gould Street, the store will be pumping out doughnuts seven days a week until 11pm. Of course, the full rotating range of delectable iced, filled bites will be on offer, so prepare to devour the Melon Degeneres with watermelon and sour green glaze, the pretzel-topped George Costanza, the Wake Me Up Before You Vovo (a doughy with a light strawberry glaze, jam and coconut marshmallows), and the Fruit Loop-laden Cereal Killer, among others. Picking something based on its name alone is completely acceptable. Every good store opening needs a celebratory novelty schtick to kick things off right? Doughnut Time will be handing out 1000 free giant inflatable doughnuts to first-in, best-dressed from 11am. You'll use this inflatable to redeem a free doughnut of your choice. And we'd use it on their limited edition Blue Crush doughnut, with honeycomb and blue cream glaze, crushed biscuits, a tiny chocolate surfboard and a candy beach ball. Doughnut Time have expanded incredibly fast in a very short amount of time despite having been in business for just over a year. In Sydney, you'll find them in Glebe, Central Park in Chippendale, Newtown and Topshops across the city. Next stop? Tokyo. Really. Doughnut Time opens at Shop 1, 82 Gould Street, Bondi Beach on Saturday, April 2 at 11am. Find more Doughnut Time locations on the website. By Shannon Connellan with Sarah Ward.
Seems this little Sydney balcony bar just can't stop changing outfits. Taylor Square's Lo-Fi is set to be replaced by a brand new Cuban-style cocktail bar. Sandwiched in between Kinselas on the ground floor and The Standard Bowl up top, the soon-to-open Middlebar will strip away the technicolour trappings of its Romance Was Born-designed predecessor, replacing them with warm, earthy timbers and the flavours of Havana. The Riversdale Group, who own the venue, have tapped bartending gun Lee Potter Cavanagh to design and reside over the drinks list. A multiple award-winner, Potter Cavanagh previously worked as the bar manager at the now defunct Victoria Room. But it was his recent trip to Cuba that inspired the direction of the Middlebar cocktail menu, which is made up primarily of gin-based libations served "without the wank factor of a neo-speakeasy bar." Live entertainment will be handled by venue manager David 'Rizza' Rozario, who like Cavanagh comes to Middlebar after a long stint at another highly respected Sydney venue — in his case, CBD whisky joint The Baxter Inn. Expect a regular contingent of local DJs plus the occasional international sideshow. And if the name Middlebar sounds weirdly familiar? It's probably because The Middle Bar was the name of the bar before it became Lo-Fi back in 2010. Circle of life, right? Located at Level 2, 383 Bourke Street, Taylor Square, Middlebar is due to open on Friday, July 24. Their regular trading hours will be Wednesday – Sunday, 5pm – 3am. For more information, visit their website.
Western Sydneysiders, there's some unfathomably good cheesery coming your way. Alexandria's Salt Meats Cheese is set to open a new store in Parramatta. Modelled on the Alexandria Salt Meats Cheese store and following tomorrow's Mosman opening, the new food emporium will take over 4000 square metres of EcoWorld's huge West Village development — with SMC's beloved fromagerie, charcuterie delights, and Italian deli stylings at the ready. So why the western venture? Salt Meats Cheese co-director Stefano de Blasi told Good Food that the team were lured by a few western factors: CBD lockout laws encouraging residents to stay local, Parramatta City Council's new cash grant program for new businesses and a big boom in apartment development in the area. He sees the area as "the new Martin Place". SMC is hitting its stride since opening in 2011; the crew just recently opened their in-store shipping container pizzeria The Pizza Box, are set to open the Mosman store tomorrow and have even gone interstate with a brand new Surfers Paradise store. Salt Meats Cheese will open in Parramatta at EcoWorld's West Village development. Opening date TBC. Via Good Food.
Barangaroo House has been three years in the making — we first wrote about this back in 2014 — and the anticipation around it will surely injure someone if it continues to grow. Thankfully, the first concept within Matt Moran and the Solotel Group's three-tiered stacked bowl masterpiece in Barangaroo has just been announced. Taking the name Smoke, the rooftop level will be a cocktail bar nested on the rooftop level of the harbour-straddling oasis. Needless to say, there's going to be a 'smoke' theme which will be evident in both the 50-plus cocktail menu and interior design. The architecture of the building is striking as it is, and the interior will mirror these standards. We already know that there will be colours of black, white, pink, burnt orange and green across tallowwood timber floors, brass fittings and leather and velvet upholstery. The building will be draped in plants, from which garnishes will be sourced. Head sommelier of Barangaroo House, John Paul Wilkinson, has created a 400-bin wine list featuring both small and large growers and a huge selection of Champagne. You'll also be able to choose from at least 50 other cocktails, both new and classic with spirits from local and international distillers. Food throughout the building will be overseen by credential-heavy Cory Campbell, who previously headed Noma and Vue de Monde. Moran has long hoped to showcase contemporary Australian cuisine, and the food at Smoke will be matched to cocktails. Expect oddities such as fried smoked brisket doughnuts, spiced crisp chicken skin skewers and a sea urchin and orange jam toastie. It'll have a capacity of 150 outdoors and 100 indoors and a specially-designed soundscape will allow live music. With the harbour at arm's length, we can already see it being the perfect place for Friday evening drinks. When the building is fully open to the public on December 15, it'll be a gargantuan addition to the Streets of Barangaroo, which is already teeming with bars, cafes and restaurants. The two other levels are set to be announced in the coming weeks. Barangaroo House will open at 35 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo on December 15. We'll keep you tuned about further Barangaroo House openings as news is announced. Until then, visit barangaroohouse.com.au.
CBD dwellers, your lunch time options have just gone gangbusters. Brand new, straightforwardly-named dining precinct Level One has landed, opening in Chifley in the CBD. With it comes a plethora of healthy eating options designed by some of Australia's favourite chefs. It's a novel idea wherein chefs curated their favourite dishes and, goddamn, do they sound delicious. Designed by design firm SJB, the precinct features 180 tonnes of New York and Nero Marquina marble, with 20,000 handcut Herringbone marble tiles. It's not your average food court. Especially when one of of the culinary offerings comes from the team behind Flying Fish. Entrepreneur Jack Fonteyn and chef Jason Roberts. have designed a concept based on Hawaiian fish salads (so hot right now, Hawaiian fish salads), dubbed Poku by Flying Fish. Furthermore, Chinta Ria's Simon Goh is serving up Malaysian food and jazz at his establishment Ella Blues, inspired by the American blues movement that hit Malaysia in the '60s. Maria Barona and Francisco Rodriguez are launching Encasa, a Spanish/Colombian style tapas bar. George Nahas of Romolo is contributing a New York style deli named Sal, inspired by the Italian-American delis of the big apple. Expect a few more pretty damn big names to grace Level One (announcements to come) but for now the prevailing ethos of the new foodie hub is clean and sustainable eats. Bring it on. Level One is open at 2 Chifley Square, Sydney.
The October long weekend is nigh upon us, and you've probably already begun daydreaming of plans to leave Sydney. Now's the time to ditch that idea. We've partnered with Mastercard to help you make the most of your long weekend, here's a handful of reasons why Sydney's the place to stay. THERE ARE SO MANY NEW RESTAURANTS TO TRY Hubert, Kittyhawk, Mercado, Hacienda – they're just four of the many incredible restaurants and bars that have popped up in the CBD this year. Take advantage of the slightly less busy CBD and use your four day weekend to tick off the restaurants you've had your eye on for a while. IT'S THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP How long have you been putting off visiting the Kiama blowhole? This gift from mother nature is great, but it's not the best thing about driving 90 minutes south of Sydney. Kiama is backdropped by green, rolling hills, and it has good coffee, good food (particularly good burgers), and good accomodation. Fill up the tank, follow our itinerary, and hit the road. YOU CAN GO ON A PROPER BIKE RIDE The Prospect Reservoir and Orphan School Creek track is 29km, and an entirely off-road loop that soars through several high points and offers cracking views of Greater Western Sydney. There are Instagram opportunities aplenty. If you're there on Saturday, pause at Prairiewood and visit the 600 stalls that make up Fairfield Markets. GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR A STAYCATION Be a tourist in your own city for the weekend. Book a room at one of Sydney's lovely, luxury hotels (we're looking at you, Shangri-La) and explore the city from a prime location. Or, put on a hotel robe, head down to the hotel spa for some spa treatments, then go back to your room and order some room service. Spending the night sleeping in crisp hotel sheets, and returning to your room the next morning to find your bed made can sometimes feel like a holiday in itself. YOU CAN GO BEHIND THE SCENES AT ROCKPOOL If you prefer to eliminate the possibility of surprise wallabies from your fine dining experience, Mr. Perry's Rockpool Bar and Grill is running pre-dinner tours through its wine cellar, giving connoisseurs of plonk the chance to revel in one of the most varied and impressive wine collections in the country. There's no tasting included, but don't worry, you can do that at the table. Visit priceless.com to see a Sydney long weekend itinerary from @beesbeesxthree, and more priceless experiences in Sydney exclusive to Mastercard cardholders. Words: Matthew Abotomey, Jasmine Crittenden and Kelly Pigram. Top Image: Hacienda
Celebrating the valiant crusaders of vinyl worldwide, Record Store Day is remarkably still a staple in the international music calendar. It's an entire day meant to champion the little guys and the people who still believe vinyl is an artform worth preserving; for those who fear the independent music store is being replaced by bigwig streaming services. But it's also a day for music lovers get their mitts on rare Record Store Day special edition vinyls. For live sets by local legends instore. For remembering what it's like to flip through section after section of CDs and carry your little stash to the counter, instead of having a Spotify playlist curated for you. It's a global day of festivity for music fans, and these Sydney stores are rocking out this Saturday for the cause. Check out these neighbourhoods for a day — and night — of killer music and new finds. Damn the Man. Save the Empire. CBD UTOPIA RECORDS The 'Home of Metal' does it big for Record Store Day — they're not simply getting in the Metallica demo tape, Slayer 7" single and Northlane double LP reissue (all much anticipated). Utopia is also inviting Sydney heavy metal band No Life Til' Leather and the DJs from Frankie's to perform instore, and will be giving out prizes galore. Century Venues will be giving out a Willy Wonka–type golden ticket hidden in a specially selected vinyl (then using a raffle to draw a second ticket). Metropolis Touring is also donating concert vouchers for online customers on the day. Along with their wall of rare records and impressive stock of metal and rock albums, Utopia will surely hold one of the best headbanging parties on RSD. Lower ground floor/511 Kent Street, Sydney RED EYE RECORDS For this go-to CBD shop, Record Store Day is the biggest day of the year; with people often lining up overnight (sometimes in the rain) to get first dibs on exclusive reissues and limited editions. This Saturday, they're guaranteed to have both Courtney Barnett and the Red House Painters boxsets instore — the latter is printed on gold vinyl and is among only 1500 copies. Overall, there's guaranteed to be a great vibe in Red Eye for RSD, but that always tends to be the case for this long loved store. With expert staff and well-catalogued stock, Red Eye makes it easy to find what you're looking for; whether it be new or old, Aussie or international. 143 York Street, Sydney FISH FINE MUSIC For the first time, Fish will sell vinyls on Record Store Day. That's right, the popular classical music shop has finally began to stock more records — something both staff have been fighting for and patrons are excited about (they've had limited stock here and there in the past). Fish's starting stock, including Richard Strauss's Salome, Dvorak's From the New World, and Philip Glass's Mad Rush, will be available on the day. The QVB's top level is sure to be bustling more than ever, with 15 percent off across the board. Check the recommended section and be sure to chat with the super knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff. Shop 40/42, Level 2 QVB, 455 George Street, Sydney MOJO RECORD BAR It's all 'booze, tunes, rock 'n roll' at Mojo, as the slogan goes. Mojo is both a bar and record shop, one of the few you can drink at while you browse. On Record Store Day, they'll be open from 8am – late, and they're getting in all the big titles across any genre you can think of. Mojo is a true record store by definition, selling vinyl only, and both the bar and the shop have a commitment to 'good music'. On Saturday, their House Blues Band and special guest DJs will keep the party going, while Young Henrys rocks the bar with a tap takeover. 73 York Street, Sydney INNER WEST EGG RECORDS For Record Store Day, Egg went international. Manager Baz travelled to Japan and individually purchased 500+ Japanese pressings, including special releases of mainly western music. Along with these, the limited edition of Robyn Hitchcock and Emma Swift's 7" vinyl collaboration will be on sale. Egg both buys and sells used LPs and CDs, as well as restored vinyl players, T-shirts and action figures. The Australian vinyl section sits next to sections for independent, Afro, world and comedy. On Saturday, the new stock will be welcomed by three local bands — Ego, Hunch and Mack The Knife — playing live in store. 3 Wilson Street, Newtown HUM Vinyls and disco balls hang from the ceiling in one of King Street's most beloved record shops. Selling all new records across genres, the store is well-stocked and well-organised. Tony Bennett and Lady Gagas' collaboration album Cheek to Cheek, Led Zeppelin's 1969 re-release, Chet Faker's Talk is Cheap and Foals' Holy Fire are all instore now. On Record Store Day, they'll also have new, re-released and limited editions on the shelves. With listening stations and turntables for sale, Hum is sure to be buzzing on Saturday. 271 King Street, Newtown; second location on Oxford Street SOUNDS ESPRESSO This coffee bar/record store has only been open a year this Sunday, so Record Store Day will be a bit of an anniversary celebration for owner Anthony Skapetis. By Saturday, the shop will be completely revamped, ready to serve up espresso and welcome customers with great music. There will be giveaways and DJs, along with the usual record and CD sales and turntable repairs. The shop has a good mix of '90s vinyl, including Nirvana and Madonna, as well as hip hop and Latin albums. Sounds is a truly 'mom and pop shop' of record stores. 268 Victoria Road, Marrickville REPRESSED RECORDS In the real spirit of Record Store Day, Repressed is dedicated to independent music and culture. On Saturday, they'll be celebrating this music community by stocking up on interesting and different artists, not just limited editions and mainstream releases. Both local and international talent will be represented on their shelves, including the reissues of Australian soundtrack composer Brian May and the reissue of Mark Kozelek's 12" vinyl. The shop itself sells new and used vinyl including a 7" 'unlucky dip bucket' — bacon paper wrapped vinyls for $2 each. They also sell t-shirts, DVDs and used books. The impressive punk and 'Oz and NZ' sections are especially worth a peruse, and look out for the handwritten staff picks on select vinyls. 413 King Street, Newtown NSW DARLINGHURST/SURRY HILLS THE RECORD STORE This Darlinghurst shop has its stuff together. With a newly released Diggin' Sydney booklet that helps navigate Sydney's vinyl stores and a full day and night of parties planned for Saturday — these guys are truly dedicated to keeping independent record stores alive in Sydney. During the day, they'll have six DJs in store, including Kato and Ben Fester, along with Briggs and Hau promoting their new releases. Beside the re-pressed, Stephan Gyory will also be putting out new releases that won't have a hefty price tag. After all, Record Store Day is all about opening a community's eyes to new music, not about spending big bucks. At night, they're co-hosting events with Movement at Cafe Lounge and Ching-A-Lings, which will host Inkswell and Cloud Control DJs, respectively. Late night, the DJs will keep rocking on at PLVY Bar. In this neighbourhood, the music will be blasting from 9am – midnight. 255 Crown Street, Darlinghurst TITLE The Surry Hills shop for all things music, literature and film is gearing up for Record Store Day with an exclusively sold Erases Tapes RSD release of Kiasmos. Apart from this awesome grab, Title is stocking the usual limited editions and independent releases, so Saturday will be all about the vinyl. Door prizes will accompany the always-eclectic music and existing $10 sale bin. Another great vinyl to grab here is Steve Martin's Comedy is Not Pretty. Apart from the music, Title is well known for art and coffee table books. Stop by and browse your heart out. 499/501 Crown Street, Surry Hills Head to Record Store Day's official site for more details, special releases and events.
The crew who brought you ACME, the elegant, understated and Italian-ish eatery in Rushcutters Bay, are back (and more powerful than you could ever imagine) with their new project Bar Brose. As you may have guessed, Bar Brose is a wine bar that's just opened in Darlinghurst. The nod at rose is a bit of a red herring as they serve up a broad range (a very broad range) of drinks. Their French-inspired menu is just as you would imagine; minimalist and varied, with fair whack of dessert options. Chef Analiese Gregory, formerly of Quay, is the force behind the food, comandeering a menu which includes adventurous dishes such kingfish, quince juice, apple and geranium ($18) and aged beef tartare with coffee and pickled raspberries ($18) alongside more traditional titles: spaghetti carbonara ($20) and Iceberg salad ($10). Gregory's menu sees simple but rich flavour combos, really embodying that Frenchy feel. She's got a penchant for desserts too and you may be tempted to skip dinner entirely and jump right ahead to a buffalo yogurt sorbet with maraschino cherries and meringue ($12) or the crisp potato, brown butter mousse and salted caramel concoction ($12). Potato for dessert! See, we told you. Venue manager Matty Hirsch says the project was a result of opportunity and planning when the space became available. "The Passage closed its doors in December of last year, but the license was just too good to give up — late trading hours and the ability to function as both a bar and restaurant," he says. "There are plenty of patrons at ACME who ask where to go for an after-dinner drink and the neighbourhood seemed to be missing this kind of spot." Though they sprung from the same loins, there are a few important differences between Bar Brose and Acme, the most notable of which is the abundance of women in the kitchen. "There are most definitely quite a few ladies in the house," says Hirsch. "It's… not to prove a point or make a statement, but women always bring a different and special touch to service, wine and food and it's important to showcase that." Right on, Bar Brose. Find Bar Brose at 231A Victoria Street, Darlinghurst. Open Wednesday - Thursday 5pm - 12am; Friday - Saturday 5pm - 1.30am; Sunday 3pm - 12am. Images: Bodhi Liggett.
Sydney's reached peak burger obsession. No longer confined to the realms of American chains and RSL bistros, burgers now clock up appearances on the menus of top-tier, hatted chefs, each putting their own contemporary, fine dining spin on the longtime casual favourite. So we reckoned it was about time for a good ol' fashioned burger battle — and so did Merivale. This February, we invited 16 of Merivale's top chefs to Ivy Ballroom to hit the kitchen and cook up their ultimate burger for March Into Merivale's Between Two Buns. Watch it all go down here. From dozens of entries, our enviable panel of burger experts whittled down the shortlist to six. You'll be able to try every single one of these juicy delights at the Between Two Buns event on Wednesday, February 17. After you've tried 'em all comes the most important moment: vote for your favourite. The winner will score a spot on Merivale's pub menus for a year, and bragging rights forevermore. So, who won over the judges? Which Merivale chef makes the best burger? Try these at MiM and vote. BETWEEN TWO BUNS FINALISTS Dan Hong (Mr. Wong) — Lotus Burger Alex Lewis (The Beresford) — The ultimate duck burger Jeremy Strode (The Fish Shop/ Bistrode CBD) — The Fish Dog (chicken and eel) Jordan Toft (Coogee Pavilion) — Aged trim beef, cheese, burger sauce, B&B pickle Paul Donnelley (Ms.G's) — Beef, bacon and cheese burger Patrick Friesen and Chris Hogarth (Papi Chulo/Queen Chow) — Canadian beef and bacon burger Best bit? Thanks to Merivale, we're giving away win a year's worth of burgers for free. A YEAR OF FREE BURGERS. The winner will land themselves one Merivale burger voucher per month (valid to $25 each month, valued at $300), usable from Saturday, February 20, 2016 – Monday, February 20, 2017. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address and what your ‘Guiltiest Foodie Pleasure’ is. The winner will be drawn on February 19 and notified via email. And it's 18+ only, sorry kids. Here are the comp's terms and conditions FYI.
One of Sydney's more experimental, seasonally-focused openings of the last year, Automata, is getting collaborative. This year, the Old Clare Hotel-dwelling restaurant will launch co.lab, a series of events showcasing some of the best chefs from across the globe — particularly those who celebrate seasonally-changing menus. Kicking off February 20, co.lab will begin the series with one of London's top chefs, Lee Westcott of East London's Typing Room, teaming up with Automata's Clayton Wells (formerly of Momofuku Seiobo). For $100, you'll be treated to two snacks and six courses — one snack and three courses from each chef. For 100 beans, that's actually pretty damn reasonable. For an extra $60 they'll do beverage pairing. "Whilst we always try to utilise the best ingredients with minimal fuss, co.lab will be a fun way of switching things up and experiencing multiple concepts," says Wells. Bookings are now open from Automata's website or by buzzing (02) 8277 8555. Sittings available from 12pm on February 20. Future co.lab guests will be announced soon.
We hate to break it to you, but if you haven't yet spent an evening with Donny Benet, you haven't lived. Donny's undeniable sex appeal is the stuff of Sydney legend. Don't let his reputation fool you, though. His shows ride on more than his moustache and irresistible charisma. He's also a cracking singer and bassist and, in the Vivid Lounge, will be spending the evening with his equally genetically-advantaged brothers Dan (saxophone, cowbell) and James (drums), as well as friends Harry Sutherland (keyboards) and Ben Hauptmann (guitar). Donny has smashed out performances at Mona Foma, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival and Secret Garden and, in 2013, won FBi Radio's SMAC Award for Best Live Act. His fourth album is on its way.
When Moonlight Cinema returns for its 2019–20 season, hitting Sydney's Centennial Park from Thursday, November 28 until Sunday, March 29, the annual feast of outdoor movies will give film fans exactly what we all want. Sure, we're all keen to roll out our picnic blankets, sit under the stars and stare up at the big screen — but, given that this openair cinema launches at the end of each and every year, we also want Christmas movies. In the week leading up to the big festive day, Moonlight will screen Last Christmas, Die Hard, Home Alone, Love Actually and Elf. Yep, all the basics are covered. They're not the only highlights on the bill, but they sure do twinkle brightly among a heap of other movie standouts. If you're wondering what else will tempt your inner cinephile, it's a lengthy list. With recently or newly released movies a big part of Moonlight's lineup, expect to watch Rocketman, Hustlers, Joker, Ford v Ferrari, Knives Out, Cats, Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker and Charlie's Angels. Moonlight also showcases advanced screenings of upcoming films, so add the Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie-starring Bombshell and Tom Hanks in A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood to your must-see pile. Going retro, the outdoor cinema will revisit last year's A Star Is Born and 90s perennial favourite 10 Things I Hate About You. Dirty Dancing is also on the bill, like every year — it wouldn't be a Moonlight without it. As always, Moonlight will also boast its usual food truck and licensed bar offering, and its reserved bean beds. You can also bring your dog and BYO food and booze. Moonlight Cinema has now dropped its March program, which'll take the openair cinema through until the end of its 2019–20 season on Sunday, March 29. Highlights include Oscar-winner Parasite, the creepy new version of The Invisible Man and a couple of chances to see Margot Robbie unleash mayhem in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). You can also enjoy a blast from the past with The Dark Knight and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. CORRECTION: FEBRUARY 18, 2020 — This article previously stated that you cannot BYO, but this is incorrect. You are welcome to BYO food and drinks (including alcohol) to all Moonlight Cinema Sydney sessions.
Curated this year by Sophia Kouyoumdjian, Primavera 2017: Young Australian Artists at the MCA will exhibit work from eight selected artists exploring the theme of 'Ancient Futures' and considering the relationship between existence in the present, and the past. Artists Laura Hindmarsh, Teelah George, Jacobus Capone, Elena Papanikolakis, Adam John Cullen, Nicole Foreshew, Kynan Tan and Tom Polo work across a range of disciplines including video, installation, painting, photography and collage. About half the works will be created especially for the exhibition, and each artist will be specifically questioning the ideas of archives and collections — whether human or natural, physical or digital. For the uninitiated, Primavera is the MCA's yearly exhibition of Australian artists under 35 years old. Now in its 26th edition, the show has a rep for catching artists early in their careers who then go on to achieve international acclaim. Kouyoumdjian says part of a thrill of the show, besides the art itself, "is about what the experience of exhibiting at the MCA, a unique and significant institution, can mean to an artist's career." Basically it's a chance to see the ones-to-watch while they're still the ones-to-watch. While you're there, make sure to visit the Hilarie Mais exhibition also opening August 23. Image: Jacobus Capone, Dark Learning (still), 2015.
If seasonal change has left you in a dizzy headspin of brand new colours and fabrics and prints and jackets — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is coming back to Sydney for four days this March. The name pretty much says it all. This thing is big — it takes over Paddington Town Hall. You'll find lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from cult Australian and international designers, both well-known and emerging, including Celine, Stella McCartney, Ellery, Alexander Wang, Karla Spetic, Balenciaga, Studio Elke, LANVIN, Christopher Kane, Benah, Marni and macgraw. With discounts of up to 80 percent off and items for as little as $20, this is one way of upping your street cred with designer threads that'll leave your bank balance sitting pretty too. Prices this low tend to inspire a certain level of ruthlessness in all of us, though, so practise that grabbing reflex in advance. This is every man and lady for themselves. The Big Fashion Sale opening hours: March 23 — 9am - 7pm March 24 — 9am - 7pm March 25 — 10am - 6pm March 26 — 10am - 3pm
When you're celebrating Irish cinema in Australia, there's nothing like a movie made in the former with talent from the latter to connect the two together. And, if it involves one of the stars of beloved Aussie comedy Muriel's Wedding, even better. Last year, Toni Collette was in the spotlight at the Irish Film Festival, but this year it's Rachel Griffiths' turn. She's absolutely compelling in intimate drama Mammal, one of the five features on the eight-film program. Screening at Paddington's Chauvel Cinema from March 30 to April 2 — with a one-night-only stint at Penrith Gaels Club in Western Sydney on March 29 as well — this year's festival boasts everything from a comedy based on a true crime tale (The Young Offenders) to a documentary about the troubles of oil and fishing at the sea narrated by actor Brendan Gleeson (Atlantic), plus plenty in between. That includes a relationship drama that tackles unplanned pregnancy with sensitivity (Twice Shy), plus a heartwarming account of two young people with learning disabilities falling in love (Sanctuary). Plus, for those who missed it at the Mardi Gras Film Festival, the festival kicks off with the charming love and friendship-focused A Date for Mad Mary, complete with a breakout performance from Irish talent Seána Kerslake. Throw in docos about Bobby Sands' famous hunger strike (Bobby Sands: 66 Days) and two friends selling mattresses (Mattress Men), and you've got yourself a short but sweet feast of Ireland's finest filmmaking.
So you have good aim, know how to throw and you need a bill paid? Head down to World Square this Thursday, June 22 between 10am and 2pm, and every 15 minutes you could have your rent, water, electricity or phone bills paid for by BPAY. All you have to do is dunk someone (who will also be dressed as a bill for your own entertainment). You only have three chances, so brush up on your hand-eye coordination before then. At the dunk machine you'll be given a raffle ticket, and if randomly selected, you will then get the chance to spin a wheel to determine which bill could get paid. It's like your favorite childhood carnival memories are resurfacing to free you of your adult worries. You could quite literally make a bill disappear — into the dunk tank and off your to-do list — and even if you don't, at least you're not the one getting soaked on a winter day. Didn't get a dunk? Find out how to set up paying your bills through your bank using BPAY. See full terms and conditions here.
The local wine fiends at Cake Wines are teaming up with the folks at Vivid for a trio of rooftop parties in the Sydney CBD. Each secret sky-high location will feature a different live music lineup, plus catering by some of the finest eateries in town. The burning question: with three events raging simultaneously, which do you head to first? Pies in the Sky kicks off at 1pm on Saturday June 3, at three different locations that have yet to be revealed. What we do know, however, is the talent involved. The first site will feature food by Thievery plus music from Geology, 30/70, Mike Who and Tom Studdy. The second will be serving up burgs by Superior Burger, along with tunes by J'Nett, Adi Toohey and a number of disco- and house-loving DJs. At the third, you'll fill your belly thanks to the gang at Three Blue Ducks, before kicking back to the sounds of Swooping Duck, Ed Lyons, Preacha and Krakatau. The three locations are all within walking distance of one another (or stumbling distance, depending on how much wine you've had). Entry is $45 per rooftop, while food and drink will be sold separately.
Huddled around a fire, the apocalypse still fresh in their memories, a small band of survivors amuse themselves by acting out an episode of The Simpsons. Seven years later, the band are a travelling troupe, performing the episode for each outpost they pass through. A generation later, the episode has achieved almost mythical status, the story — a spoof of Cape Fear — a beacon, an example and a comfort to the people who have fashioned humanity's rubble into a primitive society. Back in the day, it was said that Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov contained the sum of all human experience. Come the 21st century, Matt Groening's pop culture behemoth is the proud usurper of that throne. Anne Washburn's play advances this argument one step further — elevating the show above the role of mass entertainer to that of a vital common language for humanity's devastated survivors. So, there's all that. But, to be honest, it also just sounds really freaking enjoyable. Image: Daniel Boud.
