Here's some news you won't read in Lady Whistledown's latest pamphlet — and a reason to frock up like you're in Regency-era London, too. In February 2023, for one day and night only, Sydney Town Hall is playing host to party that'll whisk you back in time: the wholly unofficial but still appropriately themed The Ton Ball. If you're keen to be the talk of the ton, mark Saturday, February 25 in your diary — and prepare for the social soiree of the season. If you've binged your way through two seasons of the Netflix hit already and you're excited about more (and a Queen Charlotte prequel), consider this your chance to pretend you've stepped right into the series. On the agenda: dancing to tunes played by a string quartet, tucking into four hours of food and booze, playing games of chance, doing some life drawing and (probably) gossiping in corners while looking fabulous. Sydneysiders can do just that from 7–11pm, with tickets costing $209 per person. The best way to prepare: watching Bridgerton, of course. Although, surely The Ton Ball won't involve powerful families trying to marry off their children and scandal sheets getting everyone a-tutting. It will let you party like you're a duke or duchess, though. Images: Melissa Hobbs Business Photography.
How does this sound for a way to celebrate the end of the working week: live Christmas carols and Adriano Zumbo macarons, delivered straight to your office door? This Friday, December 13, for one day only, that's exactly what Uber will be offering to workers across Sydney. Between midday and 5pm, a new UberCAROLS option will show in the Uber app — on both iPhone and Android. Put in a request for instant carols, and within a few minutes, your very own private choir will arrive at your office door to sing three festive tunes at top volume. They’ll be armed with both powerful, classically trained voices and a dozen 'Zumbarons' in candy cane and Christmas pudding flavours. Total cost is $50, but given that the macarons are valued at $30, it's a fine deal. The singers come from the Ascoltati Choir and the Sydney Conservatorium, so you can count on professional-standard performances. Cash isn't necessary, as payment will be charged via your Uber account. The only potential hiccup is that Uber is expecting demand to be exceptionally high, so if you can’t access carollers immediately, they’re hoping that you’ll hang in there patiently until you can. Uber is a smartphone-facilitated car service that enables anyone to call a private driver on-demand at the push of a button. In Sydney, the company offers regular cabs (at no extra charge), unmarked Caprices (at 20-30% more than taxis) and luxury BMWs, Audis and Mercedes for special occasions. In July this year, Uber teamed up with Messina to deliver gelato to homes and offices Sydney-wide, providing relief to those put off by the famous queues usually seen winding down Crown Street. Adriano Zumbo, who became a household name after appearing on MasterChef as a guest judge in 2009, is renowned for his technically challenging and exceptionally tasty desserts.
From plot summary alone, it may not be easy to understand why this script would be awarded the Most Original Work at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Playwright Duncan Graham draws on one of the great industry standards – money-motivated businessman from the big smoke vs wild country boy – in a new adaptation of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. However, beware ye old and cynical: the brilliance of Graham’s work is in his ability to seamlessly blend the real and the surreal, holding the audience hostage to their own expectations for the drama while making them believe every second of it. Graham, together with innovative Adelaide theatre company floogle, is undoubtably producing some of the best work that Australian theatre has to offer. Ollie and the Minotaur, another Graham/floogle collaboration which played at Belvoir Downstairs earlier this year, was similarly honest, unique and brilliant. Anyone even mildly interested in new theatre should head along to this production, and keep an eye out for future work from this pairing.
Sydneysiders, are you ready to sit in the room where it happens? Lin-Manuel Miranda's game-changing, award-winning, rightly raved-about international sensation Hamilton is back in town. The global phenomenon has returned to the Sydney Lyric Theatre and is the absolute last Australian season of the acclaimed production, so do not throw away your shot to see the biggest thing in musical theatre this century. Who knew musicals about history could be cool? Turns out Lin-Manuel Miranda did. The globally and critically acclaimed hip hop musical, for which Miranda wrote the music, lyrics and book, is about the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, a story that reflects inclusion, ambition and politics in current-day America. In addition to its swag of Tony® Awards — 11 including Best Musical — it has nabbed a Grammy® Award, Olivier Awards, and a Pulitzer Prize for drama. In addition to the award clout and rave reviews, the musical made cultural waves throughout theatregoers and beyond, sparking a newfound surge to the theatre box offices across the globe. The blockbuster musical first graced the stage in Australia in 2021, opening at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. If you haven't become a Hamilton obsessive yet? We'll give you a few of the highlights of the show. If you missed the debut Australian run, or even if your Hamilton experience has been confined to Disney+, there's nothing like experiencing this in person, feeling the emotion of these world-class performances, stunning sets and costumes and being blown away by these landmark lyrics. Hamilton is truly a bucket list experience. Don't miss your last chance to tick it off in Australia. Hamilton's final Sydney season kicks off on Tuesday, July 30 at Sydney Lyric Theatre and is booking through to January 25, 2025. Visit the musical's website for further details. Images: Daniel Boud.
Stroll through the doors of The Green Park Hotel on Thursdays after 5pm and you'll find yourself in a juniper paradise. A defining part of the neighbourhood since 1893, the Darlinghurst pub has partnered up with Hendrick's Gin to kick off a weekly ode to the spirit dubbed 'Gin in the Park'. The Green Park's drink menu already boasts a large portion of G&Ts and retro cocktails ($18) but now, on Thursdays, you can expect $10 G&Ts and old-school picnic hampers with a side of 'lawn' games. If you've hung out at The Green Park before, you might be wondering what lawn we're talking about. Think small. The pool table will be adapted into the perfect place to challenge friends to a game of Jenga, ring toss or skittles, while you slosh down a G&T garnished with a cucumber slice. Plus, once a month, Gin in the Park will get a dose of extra flavour. Grab a bar stool and hear from experts about the art of craft gin, watch live performances and take part in immersive gin activities. Over the next three months, that activity is in the form of a 'sensory meditative martini experience'. We're not exactly sure what that involves either — but we're told blindfolds and silent disco headphones are involved. The Sensory Gin Experience is free to attend and will take place on April 18, May 16 and June 6. To register, visit The Green Park Hotel's website.
More than three weeks have passed since Greater Sydney went into lockdown, with residents of Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour only currently allowed to leave the house for select reasons. If one of those permitted trips away from home will see you hop on public transport, however, you'll find fewer services operating over the next two weeks. Effective since yesterday, Monday, July 19, Transport for NSW has implemented a network-wide timetable change for services within the lockdown area, all of which have had big cuts. For the rest of the stay-at-home period, routes in these regions have been reduced by up to 50 percent — with some operating on Saturday timetables, others on Sunday and public holiday timings, and others just cutting down their frequency. Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink Intercity services and Sydney bus services are largely running on Sunday and public holiday timetables, while Sydney ferries are working to a modified Saturday timetable. For the latter, that means hourly services other than to and from Pyrmont, which'll run ever half hour. Sydney Metro and light rail services are operating every 20 minutes, too. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Transport for NSW (@transportfornsw) In an Instagram post, Transport for NSW advised that the cuts were put in place to support Greater Sydney's stricter lockdown measures — with the rules tightened back on Friday, July 9 and again on Saturday, July 17. Under the current restrictions, as well as the four reasons to leave home, only critical retail stores can remain open, and residents of the Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool Local Government Areas are no longer be able to leave their areas for work. Announcing the changes, Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said that Sydneysiders shouldn't use public transport at "all if possible" — unless you're an essential worker or have no other option. "If you can use a private car and use other means, please do so," he said. Folks still travelling on public transport during lockdown need to wear masks, social distance, sanitise their hands, and only sit or stand on the green dots. For more information about Transport for NSW's timetable changes, head to its website.
Fans of Merivale's wine curation can now bring the experience home with them, all at just a few clicks of a button. The group's boutique liquor retailer The Bottle Shop has just launched an online store, where you can order from a hefty lineup of beer, wine and spirits — all selected by their team of master sommeliers. The online offering sticks to the same laidback, approachable vibe as its bricks-and-mortar Palings Lane sibling, where many of the bottles come labelled with handy descriptions and suggested food pairings. In a similar vein, the web store's wine list is divided into categories that'll help smooth out the decision-making process, from the 'Weeknight Wine' lineup of affordable midweek drops, to the 'Point Scorers' showcase of more impressive tipples. As well as choosing from both everyday and top-tier vintage wines, vino lovers will find a solid spread of organic and natural drops, which is handy if you're an on-trend boozer. Spirits and brew aficionados are also catered for, thanks to a range of whisky, gin and craft beers. And if you'd prefer to leave the choosing to the professionals, The Bottle Shop even has a range of booze subscription packages. Have an expertly curated 'Savour' (from $60), 'Seduce' (from $80) or 'Splurge' (from $110) wine pack delivered to your doorstep each month, or snap one up as a gift for someone special. For orders other than subscriptions, folks in the Sydney metro area should expect to receive their purchases within three business days. Shipping costs $10 if you're spending $150 or less, with the fee waived for orders above that amount. To order from The Bottle Shop, visit the store's website.
The annual Parramatta Lanes festival is returning for its ninth year, bringing the finest feasts to the streets of the west. This year, thanks to COVID-19, the Paramatta palooza is moving its program online, but you can still expect the usual lineup of eats, beats and art. First up, the food aspect will be a bunch of virtual cooking demonstrations from some local favourites such as fried chicken institution Butter Parramatta, Japanese-inspired salad bar Fishbowl, Aussie burger chain Betty's and KOI, owned by Masterchef Australia's Reynold. You can also head to any of the festival's participating restaurants for a feed, or order in and have the Parramatta Lanes experience brought to your living room. Live tunes will be happening at various Parramatta venues, which you can also live-stream via the Parramatta Lanes website, with the likes of Donny Benet, Nardean, Youngn Lipz, Kwame, Milan Ring, Mariam Sawires and more on the bill. Beyond that, there'll also be a bunch of art-based videos — think poetry readings against a backdrop of three-dimensional visuals, a feature on Aboriginal artists from Boomalli Gallery, drag and numerous dance performances. Check out Parramatta Lanes' full online program here.
As all the days blend into one, it's easy to lose track of time. So, you may have forgotten to organise your dad a long-distance Father's Day gift. If you're looking for something last minute, North Bondi bagel hub Lox in a Box has you covered — Dad's Hot Box is the ultimate Father's Day gift pack for dads who love to snack. Included in the goodie box are four franks from LP's Quality Meats as well as bagel hotdog buns and hot dog toppings so dad can make himself some loaded dogs at home. The father figure in your life will also find a pair of Lox in the Box white tennis socks, four bagels, a packet of lox and herb schmear, plus potato salad and bloody mary mix. I mean, what more could you need on a Sunday? You can also mix and match to create your own box from the Lox in a Box inventory, or if you've already organised a Father's Day present but you're suddenly dreaming of a weekend full of hot dogs and bagels, you can just order the box for yourself. The hot box is available for pickup from the North Bondi store or local delivery around the eastern suburbs and CBD on Father's Day. Pre-orders close Thursday, August 2.
I'm sure the rise of garage rock in the 1970s ran correspondingly with the rise in guitar sales worldwide. Music was easy again – all you needed were some instruments, some friends and a garage. You could be famous, you just needed a little bit of effort and a little bit of luck. It faded though and music became a business again. In 2000, however, Swedish band The Hives led another revival of sorts. Music was back and music was fun, and it still is. The Hives are continuing to strip rock back to basics, delivering powerful performances wherever they go. With frontman Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, a force of nature on stage, the band is turbo-charged, full of showmanship and always, always well-dressed. Supported by The Grates on their Splendour in the Grass sideshow tour, do not miss The Hives because you'll miss what music can and should be. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1M02bAWDFkI
Celebrating Dia de la Independencia in 2023 in Sydney means enjoying some of Mexico's best bars right here at home. Three watering holes that landed on the World's 50 Best Bars List for 2022 list, plus one that placed just outside the top 50 in the 100-bar longlist, are travelling to Paddington to descend on El Primo Sanchez and Oxford House for Mexican Independence Day. On Saturday, September 16, Limantour (number four on the World's 50 Best Bars List) will be taking over El Primo's main bar, while Brujas (number 64) will be popping up at the attached speakeasy La Prima. Both bars will be in charge of the festivities from 6–10pm. The following day, you'll find number 13 Hanky Panky serving drinks poolside over at Oxford House alongside Baltra (number 32) from 1–6pm. Expect all four bar teams to bring their signature flair and some of the drinks that have seen them listed among the best spots for a bev in the whole world. The vibes are expected to be high, with dancing until late. Local party starter Discoteca Tropical will be in charge of the music at Oxford House on Sunday. [caption id="attachment_918066" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption]
Clare Smyth has achieved a lot during her career as a chef. Her London restaurant Core was awarded two Michelin stars, Smyth was named the World's Best Female Chef at the 2018 World's 50 Best Restaurants and she cooked at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Smyth also worked at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Alain Ducasse's Le Louis XV (both three Michelin starred-restaurants), guest judged on Netflix's The Final Table and, locally, appeared on MasterChef Australia. But expect to see a lot more of her soon — the highly lauded chef set to open her first Australian restaurant in Sydney next year. Set to open in February 2021, the unnamed restaurant will be located in the Crown Sydney — yes, James Packer's controversial $2.4 billion casino and hotel — which is also set to launch on that date. [caption id="attachment_759287" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Food Story Media[/caption] While details on what exactly Smyth will be plating up are scarce for now, she says it'll have a similar emphasis to Core on "sustainable food sourced from local farmers and food producers". "The quality and diversity of the produce available in Australia is incredible." Smyth said in a statement. "I look forward to spending a lot of time [in Australia] further exploring its food and wine regions to create our menu which will showcase the best produce sourced from Australia's most dedicated farmers and food producers." Smyth's Aussie venture will be just one of 14 bars and restaurants opening at the Barangaroo site, with the other big-name chefs set to be announced in the coming months. Details are firmly under wraps at the moment, but we've been told "some of the most exciting names in the culinary food scene" from Australia and abroad will be involved. We'll let you know as soon as any more are announced. Clare Smyth's so far unnamed restaurant is set to open in Crown Sydney, Barangaroo in February 2021. Top images: Core by Food Story Media
The annual reason to not entirely obliterate yourself on New Year's Eve, Field Day, has announced announced its return for 2022. And while international touring isn't quite back to normal — so there's no Cardi B or Tyler, the Creator leading the bill this year — the New Year's Day festival still have you spending the first day of next year dancing in The Domain. Once again giving you a reason to skip that last NYE UDL, Field Day's 2022 lineup features a heap of fest favourites: Peking Duck, Hayden James and Mallrat for starters. You'll also be listening to Masked Wolf, Allday and Hot Dub Time Machine — and they're just a few of the highlights. Adapting to the times, and to New South Wales' pandemic rules, this year's Field Day will require all patrons to either show proof of double COVID-19 vaccination to enter, or to show a negative COVID-19 result from a test taken within the 72 hours before arriving at the festival. And yes, it's been a big few weeks for fest announcements, with Field Day following So Frenchy So Chic, For the Love, NYE in the Park, Wollongong's Yours and Owls and new touring fest Summer Camp in letting you know who'll be soundtracking your next few months. [caption id="attachment_768550" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hot Dub Time Machine[/caption] Enough chatskies, here's that full Field Day lineup you're after. FIELD DAY 2022 LINEUP: Allday Anna Lunoe ASHWARYA Choomba Golden Features Hayden James Hot Dub Time Machine Mallrat Masked Wolf MAY-A Peking Duk Field Day returns to The Domain on January 1, 2022. Tickets on sale at midday on Thursday, November 18 via Field Day's website. Top image: Anna Warr.
If you've got a pile of gold coins burning a hole in your wallet, pockets or that void down the back of your couch — or just a spare $1 in your bank account because you haven't handled physical cash for years — BrewDog might just have the best way to put it to good use. Like beer? Keen to sample it? Always wanted to learn more about the amber liquid you're so fond of drinking? Meet BrewDog's $1 Beer School. No, there's no typo in that figure. A digit or two isn't missing, either. The Scottish brewery wants you to head by its Sydney location at South Eveleigh and go to class. Beer class, that is, aka the best kind of learning there is. All throughout May, for less than the price of a coffee (or just about anything for that matter), you'll taste four BrewDog sips and boost your beer knowledge via a self-guided online tour. The two caveats: you do need to book in advance, meaning that you can't just walk in and decide it's time to go to beer school; and you can only have a maximum of eight people per booking. Happy learning — and drinking. Images: Anna Kucera.
Eastern suburbs mainstay the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel has just reopened for takeaway and its added some exciting new menu items to its offering. The most noteable is a family-sized seafood pie made with Sonoma puff pastry, Pepe Saya butter and truffle oil from the Loire Valley in France. Inside this incredibly fancy pie you'll find fish, prawns and scallops which are all covered with a fluffy topping of potato. The pie feeds four and is available for $56, or if you're looking for more of an afternoon snack, there are smaller personal versions of the pie for $14. Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find fish tacos; chilli-salted squid; a kale, sweet potato and avocado green bowl; and a crumbed hake fish burger using New Zealand fish and St Malo milk buns. If you prefer your burgers with beef, there are two options — an Angus beef burger with Shake Shack-style sauce, and a cheeseburger with In-N-Out mustard. You can also swing past for your daily coffee, or the hotel is offering takeaway cocktails of all varieties to enjoy at home. The takeaway kiosk is open 8am–3pm, Wednesday–Sunday throughout lockdown.
A new soft serve joint from Korea and Taiwan has just landed in Sydney. It's called Honey Creme and it's serving ice cream smothered in bacon and chocolate. Need we say more? Well, there's more. The specially formulated recipes hail from South Korea and the savoury base for each scoop is made from locally sourced fresh milk and cream. If bacon and chocolate doesn't float your boat, there's also organic cotton candy, popcorn and macarons, along with churros and cereal milk toppings. Or go for their signature 'Comb Honey', which is garnished with an entire organic honey comb, sourced from local bee farms. The 'premium' ingredients are said to be chosen with a concerted effort toward the healthy and organic — obviously calling cotton candy healthy, in organic form or otherwise, is absurd. We doubt they're fooling anyone, but the attempt to stay on trend is noted. Though we will keep dreaming of the day when ice cream becomes the next superfood, as impossible a dream it may be. Sydney is far from Honey Creme's only international stop and is the second Australian location, with the first shop opening in Perth mid-last year. Since opening in Taipei City in 2014, the shop has sold more than five million ice creams in nine nations around the world, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and the States. That's a pretty strong global endorsement — guess it's time to judge it for ourselves. Honey Creme is now open at at 20 Goulburn St, Sydney. Open Sunday through Wednesday from noon to 10.30pm and Thursday through Saturday from noon to 11pm.
With every day that goes by, we get another day closer to Sydney WorldPride, and we discover more and more about the events we can look forward to. It's not just putting Sydney at the centre of the queer universe — it's also proving to be an excuse for some of the biggest parties this city has seen in years. We owe that to festival partners like Archie Rose Distilling Co. – they're partnering with venues across town to bring an extra kick to your Sydney WorldPride itinerary. First up is Hotel Ravesis. The Bondi mainstay is going all out with the first-floor Lounge Bar set to transform into a dedicated Pride bar – and they'll be slinging special cocktails seven days a week throughout the festival. Plus, there'll be plenty of glitter and gags at not one but two ticketed events: Drag superstar Philmah Bocks joins beloved Drag Race alum Jojo Zaho for weekly drag events at the Ravesis on Thursdays and Saturdays throughout Pride. Head over on Saturdays at 11am for Drag Brunch, where you can enjoy live entertainment from your fabulous hosts over Mediterranean-style share plates and signature Archie Rose cocktails. Plus you can enjoy a post-brunch dip if the weather calls for it. If you reserve that sort of energy for the evening, don't worry. Every Thursday from 6.30 to 9.30pm (February 16 to March 2) they'll also be hosting Drag Bingo, serving all the glitter, gags, entertainment and savage crowd work of the brunch, but this time you've also got to keep an ear out for your winning numbers. This is all complimented with Archie Rose cocktails — including a complimentary one on entry. [caption id="attachment_888351" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] Meanwhile, across town, Archie Rose is also teaming up with Bar 83 for what could be the highest-altitude WorldPride celebrations of them all. If you're unfamiliar with Bar 83, it's the only bar in Sydney that sits 245 metres and 83 floors above street level in the Sydney Tower Eye. Throughout Pride you can enjoy signature Archie Rose cocktails and DJ performances from an international roster curated by Sydney rave royalty House of Mince every night of the week from Saturday, February 18 until Sunday, March 5. For more information on Sydney WorldPride, Drag Bingo, Drag Brunch or Bar 83 x Archie Rose, visit their respective websites.
If summer screams ice cream to you, then there's only one way to start the season: indulging in your favourite frosty treat. That's great advice in general, but gelato chain Gelatissimo has an even better spin on it. Hit up one of its 43 stores around the country across a five-hour period and you'll nab $3 scoops. The date: Thursday, December 1. The time: between 4–9pm at all Sydney shops. The offer: creamy gelato for just a couple of gold coins, all to celebrate the official start of the warm weather and indulge in a dessert staple. Thursday, December 1 also happens to be the day that Gelatissimo is releasing its latest limited-edition flavour, which is both summery and festive: smashed berry pavlova. So, you can add that to your list of cheap scoops — in a cone or cup, it's up to you — complete with vanilla bean gelato swirled with blueberry sauce, then topped with Aussie-made meringue pieces and strawberry puree. Fancy a year's worth of gelato afterwards? We all do. The chain is running a competition to make your dessert dreams come true for 12 months, as long as you tag @gelatissimogelato between December 1–13 and and add #gelatissimosummer to your post.
Cancel any dinner plans you may have for Friday, February 10, because a free food festival is returning to Hurstville with more than 40 different culinary stalls. Pulling together a wide variety of local chefs, the event will serve an extensive program of different cuisine including Malaysian, Greek, Japanese, Chinese, Lebanese, Austrian and Spanish food stalls. Taking over MacMahon Street from 4pm, the In Good Taste Festival will take the form of an outdoor night market. Arrive hungry and peruse the stalls until that perfect dish catches your eye. Be warned, though — with the number of top-notch options on offer, you may be overwhelmed by choice. As part of the festival, there will be a free food-based art workshop. If you've got a creative streak, you'll be able to create the next Mona Lisa using pantry products like coffee, sauce, spices, dressing and juice. The workshop is running between 5–7pm, so head down after work if you want to start your weekend by getting artistic. Those just looking for a hefty feed can roll in at any point, with the festivities wrapping up at 10pm.
Roll on down to Prince Alfred Square over the Easter school break for some old-school fun that's fit for all ages. Skate and Play — part of the western CBD's biggest festival of the year, Parramatta Nights — is returning for a second time, bringing the unbridled good vibes it's known for. Think thrilling rides for a joy-filled kick to your adrenaline levels, disco beats to soundtrack your rollerskating antics, a vibrant food village and a fully stocked bar that's ready to pour. From mid-morning to well past bedtime, you and your gang can skate loops round the outdoor rink and wander through the larger-than-life Lost Dogs' Disco (an interactive inflatable installation courtesy of the Melbourne-based art and tech company ENESS). Or, if you're looking for a maxo-relaxo session, you can sit back and listen to live music while your minis run their energy stores down on whirling, high-flying rides. Whatever your preference, you're certainly in for a day of spins and thrills. Plan your trip to Skate and Play here, or head to the website to check out the full Parramatta Nights program.
When you've won over one of television's most cynical characters with a serenade, what comes next? Taking the tunes on the road. During his time on beloved and hilarious Emmy-winning sitcom Schitt's Creek, Noah Reid did far more than sing Tina Turner's 'The Best' to Dan Levy's David Rose, of course. When he joined the show from season three onwards as Patrick Brewer, he helped bring balance to the Rose family's fish-out-of-water antics, and became one half of its big love story. But the series kept finding ways to get Reid singing, including having Patrick star in the comedy's version of Cabaret — and now he'll be taking to the microphone Down Under. Off-screen, Reid is indeed a musician, releasing his first album Songs From a Broken Chair back in 2016 before joining Schitt's Creek. Since then, he's dropped two follow-ups: 2020's Gemini and 2022's Adjustments. Next, he's bringing his live gigs to Australia for the first time ever. Yes, 'The Best' usually features on his setlists overseas. Beyond that, the Canadian actor and musician will be playing tracks from across all three of his records when he heads Down Under this spring. Reid will kick off his tour in Sydney, playing The Enmore on Friday, September 29. Since Schitt's Creek, Reid has popped up on sci-fi western Outer Range — and also has past appearances on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Alphas and House of Lies on his pre-Schitt's Creek resume.
UPDATE: 4PM, APRIL 5, 2019 — Nimble has had a huge turnout to its sale so far, and has just announced that it will sell out today and not reopen on Saturday. The sale will be open until 7pm tonight unless it sells out prior. There's nothing like a fresh haul of shiny new workout gear to inspire a little fitness kick. Especially when that workout gear takes the form of some high-performance threads from sustainability focused label Nimble Activewear. Well, this April, you're in for a treat, as the local brand pulls together a swag of great pieces for its huge Sydney warehouse sale. Taking over 419 Crown Street, Surry Hills, from April 4–5, the sale will be packed full of bargains, offering a hefty range of outerwear, tights, sports bras, sweats, shorts and more. Some designs will be going as cheap as $20, with savings of up to 80 percent across the racks. And nothing will cost you more than $40. You'll even catch pieces from the label's core CompressLite line, which is cleverly crafted from recycled plastic bottles. Nab one of these and you'll really have something to feel good about — Nimble's saved over 300,000 plastic bottles from heading to landfill in the past year alone. Nimble Warehouse Sale will be open from 7am–7pm on Thursday and Friday.
The natural wine craze has made it to the northern beaches in a big way with the opening of Winona Wine. The specialty bottle shop, which launched last week along Pittwater Road, focuses on minimal intervention drops, craft beer, Junmai sake and artisanal spirits — and resembles an art gallery more than a bottle-o. Winona is run by Elli and Cam Walsh, who founded The Funky Bunch in 2016 — a blog and natural wine party that has made its way around Manly — as well as Manly legends Luke Miller (Sunset Sabi, Chica Bonita) and Bo Hinzack (Rollers Bakehouse). "We are all passionate about natural wine, but we couldn't really get it anywhere in the northern beaches," says Walsh. "With The Funky Bunch, we ran these casual makers events that showcased natural wines — Winona is basically an extension of that concept and ethos, with the added expertise of our good friends Bo and Luke." [caption id="attachment_717436" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] The shop focuses on small producers, specifically working with organic, biodynamic or sustainable vineyards and minimal intervention winemakers. Expect drops from around the country and around the globe, including renowned Adelaide Hills winemaker Lucy Margaux and cult Austrian producer Gut Oggau. "We want to introduce locals to wines they haven't experienced before," says Walsh. "The kinds of wines we're stocking are very new to the northern beaches and we want to help people realise it's not too intimidating to try natural wines." Wild fermentation brewers will also be on show, including Tasmania's Two Metre Tall and Marrickville's Wildflower Brewing. And some very special artisanal spirits will line the shelves — at the moment, those include Syria's Aeijst gin, Mexico's El Jolgorio mezcal and Denmark's Klodsede Bjørn unfiltered vodka. Apart from all the booze, there's an impressive global collection of drinkware and wine accessories on offer, too. Think handblown decanters by Canberra glassblower Annette Blaire; tumblers made using recycled clay by Sydney ceramicist Bryce Malcom; handblown carafes and tumblers by New York artist Chad Davis; brass corkscrews from a small family run operation in Greece called Athanasios Babali; and even a few ceramic pieces from Walsh, who has a background in contemporary art. [caption id="attachment_717440" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] These pieces add to the art gallery aesthetic of the space, with the wine displayed more as works of art than bottles of booze. To further drive the minimal intervention message home, the team built most of the fit-out themselves, using handmade and natural materials. While the bottle-o is takeaway only, the shop will host regular tastings, meet-the-maker events and masterclasses. Keep an eye on the Winona Facebook for all upcoming event details. Winona Wine is now open at 2-14 Pittwater Road, Manly. Opening hours are Monday through Friday 10am–9pm and Sunday 10am-8pm. Images: Kitti Gould.
After cancelling all international flights late last month and all domestic flights bar one daily route in early April, Virgin Australia has entered voluntary administration. In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange this morning, Tuesday, April 21, the Australian airline confirmed it had appointed Deloitte's Vaughan Strawbridge, John Greig, Sal Algeri and Richard Hughes as its voluntary administrators in an attempt to recapitalise and come out of the COVID-19 crisis in a "stronger financial position". Virgin Australia Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Scurrah confirmed the airline will continue to operate its scheduled domestic and international flights, which are helping to "transport essential workers, maintain important freight corridors, and return Australians home", and is "determined to continue flying". "Australia needs a second airline," Scurrah said in the statement. "Virgin Australia will play a vital role in getting the Australian economy back on its feet after the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring the country has access to competitive and high-quality air travel". The airline's decision to enter voluntary administration comes as it battles a reported $5 billion debt. While the Federal Government has so far rejected its plea for a $1.4 billion loan, both the Queensland and NSW Governments have offered the airlines bailouts — conditional on the location of Virgin's headquarters, currently located in Queensland. When asked about the Federal Government's refusal to bail out Virgin in an interview with ABC, Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Simon Birmingham said, "we can't save every business in Australia. Ultimately, there can be no black cheques from Government... we've provided additional support already in the aviation sector." Virgin launched in Australia in 2000 as Virgin Blue, with just one route and two aircraft, and quickly grew following the collapse of Ansett in 2001. With 16,000 employees and 130 planes, the Australian brand, which also includes bargain flight carrier Tigerair, is owned by Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, the HNA Group, Nanshan Group and Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group. The fate of those aircraft and staff is currently unknown, with administrator Strawbridge saying in the statement, "our intention is to undertake a process to restructure and re-finance the business and bring it out of administration as soon as possible".
NAIDOC Week 2023 runs from Sunday, July 2–Sunday, July 9, championing the theme 'for our elders'. If you want to head along to an event celebrating Australia's First Nations people, the oldest living culture in the entire world, the NAIDOC Week website has a handy guide where you can find what's happening near you. One standout Sydney shindig that any live music lover should head to is this week's edition of Carriageworks Nights. The expansive Eveleigh space is serving up a free night of talented, boundary-pushing Indigenous musicians and storytellers — plus a selection of food and drink items celebrating native Australian ingredients. Popping up between 6–10pm on Thursday, July 6, Carriageworks Nights: NAIDOC is pulling together an eclectic lineup headlined by pop trailblazer Sycco. The Erub songwriter and performer will hit the stage with hits like 'Dribble' and her Flume collaboration 'Ripple' for a must-see set. Joining Sycco will be the multi-talented rapper Dobby and violinist Eric Avery, as well as Kirli Saunders and Jazz Money — who will be providing attendees wth a pair of spoken word and poetry sets. In charge of the food is Indigiearth, an award-winning, Aboriginal-owned culinary team that specialises in dishes and drinks that spotlight native Australian ingredients. On offer will be smokey pepperberry pulled-pork rolls; lemon myrtle Thai crocodile curry; and a vegan pumpkin, saltbush and lemon myrtle soup. There will also be a series of Archie Rose cocktails brought to life with ingredients like eucalyptus and rosella. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB9xhr_wR0M Top image: Carriageworks Night Market, Jacquie Manning.
Local theatre mainstays Nat Randall and Anna Breckon are back with Set Piece, an inventive and captivating multimedia production exploring queer relationships. Pulling from 1950s pulp fiction and weaving in pieces of improve, the 70-minute stage show will combine elements of film and theatre into a witty couples drama. This show marks the return of Randall and Breckon after their marathon performance of The Second Woman which saw the lead actress perform the same scene with 100 different counterparts over a 24-hour period. Always looking to push the boundaries of independent theatre, the duo's new production incorporates live camera work to bring a new element to the theatre piece. Set Piece will be performed five times between Thursday, January 6 and Sunday, January 9 at Carriageworks as part of Sydney Festival. Tickets range from $45 for concession through to $60 for full priced premium seats. Images: Robert Catto
As part of Merivale's quest to rule the city, they've opened a plush new whisky bar in the Angel Hotel. The bar draws on its glamorous past as the former site of the iconic House of Merivale and it shows in the interiors. Think rich green velvets, sleek brown leathers and copper accents. It also wouldn't be a whisky bar without the prerequisite chesterfield lounges. Merivale has gone all out with this one; J&M boasts a specially imported drinks trolley, named 'The Sidecar' (a collaboration between Moore & Giles and acclaimed barman Jim Meehan) and a long glass bar. J&M is a tribute to the late John Hemmes and his wife Merivale, so it only seems fitting that it would be located where their empire began. J&M wants you to have a "unique, sensory whisky experience". In a clever nod to the empire's roots as a fashion label, the bar's bespoke haberdashery cabinets are be filled with ingredients. Settle into one of the comfy lounges and enjoy personal trolley service, or sit at the bar to get a side of whisky knowledge with your drink. J&M has an upper hand compared to other bars in that it will stock exclusive whiskies that you can't buy anywhere else in the country. If straight whisky isn't your thing, you can try one of their specially-crafted cocktails with fun names like the Blood and Marie (Chivas Regal 18-year-old, Cynar, Cherry Heering, Antica Formula, pink grapefruit and cherry dust) and the POPSCOF (buttered popcorn washed Chivas Regal 18-year-old, salted caramel syrup, bitters and Himalayan salt). A short menu is also available if you need some nibbles with your drink. J&M is a welcome addition to the city's bar scene and your chance to savour a slice of Sydney history and some world-class whiskies.
Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellhabour, is currently under stay at home orders, while the rest of NSW has some restrictions. You can stay up to date with the developing COVID-19 situation in NSW, as well as current restrictions, at NSW Health. While international borders remain (mostly) shut, there's no better time to explore our regional areas — especially when there's a festival bursting with arts, eats and beats to lure you there. So, it's time to fire up the group chat and figure out whose car to take on a road trip because we're heading to Wagga Wagga for Lost Lanes Festival at the end of the month. Now in its third year, Lost Lanes returns to light up multiple locations across Wagga Wagga's CBD on Saturday, June 26 with a program centred around the theme Gloww (two w's, get it?) — and it's well worth hitting the Hume Highway for. We're talking light projections, interactive artworks that you can literally get on top of and live tunes galore across eight locations including Victory Memorial Gardens, Wollundry Lagoon and the Civic Centre Precints. Catch performances from Creature Fear and Eastbound Buzz as well as internationally renowned DJ and former Wagga Wagga resident Nina Las Vegas on the decks. Or, have a crack at ice skating at Wagga Wagga's first pop-up outdoor ice skating rink. There'll be street food and boozy winter drinks to keep you warm as you cruise around town checking out the art and activations, too — think, spicy mulled wine, fluffy paella, gooey cheese toasties and more. Lost Lanes is a free community event by Wagga Wagga City Council happening on Saturday, June 26, but you can get your skates on at the ice rink until July 11. For more information and to book tickets to an ice-skating session, visit the website. Images: By Jack of Hearts Studio, Lean Timms and Pineapple Design Studio courtesy of Wagga Wagga City Council.
Freedom Time — the free-spirited festival synonymous with balmy summer days, dance-fuelled nights and lush DJ sets — has been giving Melburnians good times for two years now, and it's gearing up for another huge summer season, today announcing that, in 2018, it will drop by Sydney too. This time around, the Freedom Time gang are spreading the love even further, adding a January 7 visit to Sydney's Manning Bar and Gardens on top of the usual shows in Perth on New Year's Eve and at Melbourne's Coburg Velodrome on January 1. As always, the festival's gifting us with a diverse lineup of musical guests, assembling a mix of international greats and homegrown heroes that'll have you dancing your little feet off no matter your style. Headlining this eclectic bunch is famed Chicago house producer Larry Heard (aka Mr Fingers), Jamaican dancehall legend Johnny Osbourne and an inter-generational collaborative effort from Leroy Burgess and Melbourne's own Harvey Sutherland. Meanwhile, Rhythm Section International's Bradley Zero will present a handpicked label showcase in each city, featuring a crop of local acts performing alongside modern soul duo, Silentjay and Jace XL. Sydney's lineup includes appearances from the likes of Simon Caldwell, Rimbombo and local producer Jonti. FREEDOM TIME 2018 LINEUP Larry Heard (aka Mr. Fingers) Leroy Burgess Harvey Sutherland Johnny Osbourne Sassy J Bradley Zero Nai Palm Jonti Freda & Jackson Ben Fester Simon Caldwell Boogie Monster Rimbombo SilentJay & Jace XL Inner West Reggae Disco Machine Jimmy Sing Love Bombs Mike Who Cazeaux Oslo Freedom Time will take place on Sunday, January 7 at Sydney University's Manning Bar. Tickets will go on sale at 9am, September 26. Grab yours here.
Usually, IKEA's food game is as unmistakably Scandinavian as its furniture names — headlined, of course, by those iconic Swedish meatballs. But for one January night each in Tempe, Marsden Park and Rhodes, the retailer is shaking things up and taking a jaunt to the other side of the globe, dishing up an Asian-inspired feast in celebration of the Lunar New Year. The dinner is set to run from 5pm and 7pm on Thursday, January 19 at the Tempe and Rhodes stores, and from 5.30pm on Friday, January 20 at Marsden Park — and arriving hungry is recommended. On the menu, you'll find classic dishes like pork and chive dumplings, spring rolls and vegetable gyoza. There's both tofu and vegetarian hot pot, Cantonese-style chicken wings and Singapore noodles, and even sweet offerings like fruit plates and matcha panna cotta. Adult tickets to the buffet feast are $30, though IKEA Family members can nab theirs for just $25. And, you could even squeeze in a spot of pre- or post-dinner flatpack shopping while you're there. IKEA has a new range of Lunar New Year wares, too, such as LED lanterns, red serving containers, rabbit cushions and more. [caption id="attachment_757260" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Maksym Kozlenko via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Images: Maksym Kozlenko via Wikimedia Commons.
One Day is the closest thing Australia's got to a hip hop supergroup. The crew comprises Sydney acts Horrorshow, Spit Syndicate, Jackie Onassis and Joyride. They're probably best known for their now legendary One Day Sundays at The Vic on the Park — that's the regular hip hop social on the last Sunday of the month, headlined by the sharpest producers and best up-and-comers in local hip hop, plus slow-cooked spit, live graffiti art, basketball and a heaving dancefloor in the carpark. It's one of Sydney's best hip hop events, hands down. But the One Dayers haven't limited themselves to the monthly block party (and best thing that's happened to Sundays in recent times). The collective/powerhouse have just released their debut record Mainline and its first single 'Love Me Less'. Now they're taking their inner west-born brand of hip hop on a national tour — to the biggest venues they've played to yet. These guys go from strength to strength, and they're proving some pretty sweet things about the quality of Aussie hip hop. For the tour, each act will play an individual set — but hold out for the collaborative finale. All seven crew members will come together on stage together for the first time, and if their trajectory so far's anything to go by, you can expect something big. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZSxCB7wU1gw
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is barrelling into the new decade with a bigger, bolder and brighter program than ever before, pinning its 2020 festivities to the theme of 'What Matters'. A supersized lineup of music, theatre, performance, dance parties, workshops and more will descend on the city from Friday, February 14 till Sunday, March 1 next year. And, with the city recently named as the 2023 location for huge international LGBTQI+ celebration World Pride, you just know that Sydney will be out to show exactly how big it can go. When it comes to the annual Mardi Gras Party — the post-Mardi Gras Parade celebration that'll descend on Hordern Pavilion for a multi-sensory extravaganza — the event is definitely going big. Headlining is Dua Lipa, with the Grammy Award-winning artist leading the all-night festivities from 10pm–8am on Saturday, February 29. She'll be joined by an array of other performers and DJs, with her pop sounds echoing through the party alongside techno and house beats. Also scaling things up is the Seymour Centre, housing an expanded festival hub — and playing host to 15 of its own memorable events, as well as to the late-night Festival Club that'll be partying hard from Thursday to Sunday right through Mardi Gras. One of its grandest shindigs comes in the form of Gender Euphoria, a genre-bending main-stage event celebrating trans life with help from a huge cast of emerging performers and big-name acts. The venue will also host rollicking live song fest Homage, which'll see a roll call of acclaimed LGBTQI+ musicians give a big, sonic nod to defining queer artists and tunes from across the decades. Expect a big injection of Eurovision talent, too, especially when 2014 winner Conchita Wurst joins Aussie cabaret star Trevor Ashley for Conchita Wurst and Trevor Ashley in Concert. The pair will play the State Theatre with a full orchestra in tow to deliver a night dedicated to their greatest hits. And the chuckles will be flowing freely when Laugh Out Proud pulls together a sparkling lineup of homegrown and international acts into one side-splitting variety comedy event. Hosted by Nath Valvo, this one features appearances from the likes of Rhys Nicholson, Cassie Workman, Zoe Coombs Marr, Geraldine Hickey and Myra DuBois. [caption id="attachment_749886" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sissy Ball, Ann-Marie Calilhanna[/caption] Of course, the program is also peppered with plenty of returning fan favourites, including sell-out vogue celebration that is the Sissy Ball, Ivy's sun-drenched, DJ-fuelled Pool Party and the family-friendly Fair Day. While the Mardi Gras party schedule will still have to contend with Kings Cross' harsh lockout laws, the CBD is getting a reprieve, with its own lockout legislation set to be rolled back later this year. That could mean even more late-night Mardi Gras fun than Sydney's enjoyed in years. The 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will take place from Friday, February 14 till Sunday, March 1, 2020. To check out the rest of the program, visit the Mardi Gras website. Top images: Jeffrey Feng.
You may have caught Zoe Coombs Marr on ABC2's Dirty Laundry Live or in post's bloody riff on death scenes, Oedipus Schmoedipus. Separate to her work with post, Coombs Marr's thing tends to be the timely topic of gender, and bending it. The "awkward sapphic high priestess of cool" (that's a description worth milking) confirms she's been dressing up as a dude (intermittently) all her life — like when she skipped schoolies to put on a drag musical. She's also won a Phillip Parsons Playwright Award and FBi SMAC Best on Stage in her time, which is pretty much as close as you get to having a quality guarantee. Now, after a run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (where she was nominated for Best Newcomer) and just before heading off to the Edinburgh Fringe, she's bringing her show Dave (co-written with Charlie Garber) to Sydney. In a piece of 'endurance drag' meta-comedy, a bearded, bumbling, pelvic-thrusting Coombs Marr parodies Aussie masculinity in the comedy scene (and probably more widely, too). Dave's an ordinary guy — confused by female anatomy, bleeding from the head and joking about lesbians and turducken. There are lots of comedians named Dave, but none are quite like this one. Or maybe they all are.
Dessert gourmands, cancel your plans for next Wednesday night. The Shangri-La Hotel's executive pastry chef Anna Polyviou may have put on innovative and excessive dessert events in the past, but this latest offering is the literal icing on the cake. Polyviou has teamed up with the Sydney chefs most adept with sweet-tooth-pleasing final courses to put on Sweet Street, the dessert festival you never knew you were missing. The bunch (which includes, naturally, the unconquerable Adriano Zumbo, and Min Chuan Chai of N2 Nitrogen Gelato) will transform the Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-La into the fanciest bake sale you've ever attended, putting all your high school efforts with cupcakes and coloured icing to shame. Aside from sampling ten (ten! my stomach hurts already, but in a good way) of the crush-worthy team's creations, there'll be patissiers to meet, prizes to win and DJs to get down to. The hotel's Blu Bar bartenders will also be serving fizzy spider cocktails, which means this event is basically your ideal childhood birthday party, all grown up.
There's something about Kingswood's undeniably raw and blokey brand of indie rock that just makes you want to grow some hair on your chest and spend an afternoon in your shed, lovingly (in a manly way) toiling over your custom Harley. That's almost what this event is about. (Disclaimer: no bike included.) Presented by Harley Davidson's community customisation platform The Shed, this is an intimate, invite-only chance to catch the Melbourne four-piece. Kingswood have had a pretty decent year so far, cementing their ones-to-watch status with continued high-rotation Triple J play, an appearance at Splendour and the release of their debut album Microscopic Wars, which they recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. The band — who have a serious and somewhat surprising thing for First Aid Kit covers — are on an extensive national tour at the moment, but with only 40 tickets available, and only to competition winners, this gig is something special. Thanks to Harley Davidson and The Shed, we have two double passes to give away to see Kingswood at Rising Sun Workshop in Newtown on September 27. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
It was inevitable. They've done Seinfeld, Friends, Harry Potter and The Simpsons, and now Goodgod, specialists in esoteric pop culture trivia nights, are inviting you to brush up on your already highly detailed knowledge of the ladies of Litchfield for their first Orange Is the New Black trivia event. (If that means rewatching the whole series, so be it.) You knew all those intimate days in bed with your laptop spent hating on Vee, wringing your hands in exasperation waiting for Pornstache to get what was coming to him and crying over Poussey (don't click the link if you haven't seen season two — though if that's the case, get on it) would be put to good use one day. Hosted by Goodgod trivia regular Elisha May, it's free, it kicks off at 8pm and there are no bookings. If you're well acquainted with all the intricacies of the chicken plotline, and know why you should never, ever call Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes' after season two, this is your chance at a glory akin to being voted into WAC (and food and drinks, no mouldy bologna in sight).
There’s nothing like waiting for a train at Central after a long day at work and having the bustle of swiftly-moving suits unexpectedly interrupted by the captivating vocals of Sydney singer/songwriter John Vella (or at least we assume this is true), but take away the surprise factor and it’s still pretty cool. Thanks to the legends at Logitech UE this sort of thing will be happening all over town from Thursday 29 November to Friday 21 December. Rounding up some of our most talented emerging acts to materialise in different public places, it’s a great way to see music that’s free, good and doesn’t require you to dig around for any print-out barcodes. Included in the lineup are sprawling six-piece Winter People, vocalist Ashley Macedo and guitarist Mark Chivas, the aforementioned John Vella and blues man Ed Worland. See the cheat sheet below. Thursday 29 November: Winter People at Westfield Pitt Street Mall (6.30 – 7.10pm) Friday 7 December: Ashley Moacedo and Mark Chivas at The Grounds Alexandria (12 – 2pm) Thursday 13 December: John Vella at Central Station (1 - 4pm) Friday 14 December: Ed Worland at Belmore Park (three 20-minute sets between 4pm and 6pm)
Hip-hop star, painter, unabating philanthropist and 2010's 75th most influential person of the 21st century M.I.A. has announced a one-off Sydney headline show. Performing on the back of the Summadayze and Summafieldayze festivals in January, M.I.A will hit The Enmore on January 4th armed with jangly new single "Bad Girls" and a slew of other electronica/hip-hop/world/pop fusions. Somehow managing to be both irresistibly catchy and outlandishly different, M.I.A. is one of the defining artists of the last ten years. One of the ten defining artist of the last ten years according to Rolling Stone. She's also been nominated for an Academy Award for the track "O… Saya" (that you'll probably know from Slumdog Millionaire), and has two Grammy awards to her name thanks to "Paper Planes" and "Swagga Like Us". Just in case you feel like feeling old, the original non-T.I. version of those two tracks was released almost six years ago. Have your clicking finger at the ready when tickets go on sale through Ticketek on Tuesday 27th. This really is a show not to be missed. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3Yuqxl284cg
It's a nice story that Flickerfest had its humble beginnings 22 years ago at Balmain High School, but its new home on Sydney's most Instagrammable beachfront is a way more awesome place to sip some brews before your screening time. Sunset Bar is this 2013's on-site watering hole, setting up inside the iconic Bondi Pavilion. Besides panoramic sunset views you can enjoy tasty organic food from partners including misschu and a daily 5-6pm happy hour. Crystal Head Vodka are doing the drinks, including a cocktail of vodka, Charlie's Feijoa Quencher, and Phoenix Honey Ginger Beer. It's the perfect way to enjoy a sunset dinner and drinks overlooking the beach without getting sand stuck to your rice paper rolls. Weekends will also feature acoustic sets from some of our most talented local musos, including Wes Carr's Buffalo Tales on Saturday 12th.
For every boarded-up venue there’s a group of musically shrewd Sydneysiders doing great things to nurture our city’s really-very-thriving live music scene. One of the most game-changing is The NOW now, a community-run organisation responsible for two regular gigs a month throughout the year and one massive festival in January. Now in its 12th year, the festival is a five-day unpicking of that intriguing musical category marked ‘other’. A huge array of Australian acts and overseas imports will be flying the flag for sound sculpture, improv, composed music, new collaborations, trash rock, shitcore and other exploratory genres. Sydney producer Jon Hunter commands time the way other artists wield guitars, Peter Blamey’s ‘open electronics’ explore the neglected material potential of e-waste, and Berlin-based NOW co-founder Clare Cooper demos her rhythmic chops on something called a guzheng. Also unconventional are the ticket prices, which range from $15 for one night to $65 for a five-day pass.
Anyone who ever had a sneaky pash in a dark corner of the pre-refurbed Abercrombie after multiple tequila shots and five sweaty hours of late night dance floor debauchery — and anyone who never got the chance — will be glad to know Purple Sneakers now has a not-so-shiny new home on Oxford Street. It wasn’t just great music but the promise of friendly faces and unmitigated antics that drew people through the Abercrombie’s doors until Purple Sneakers moved out in January 2010. New weekly rave Discovery promises to offer up much of the same along with an increased propensity for sweatiness (Brighton Up Bar is miniscule compared to the AH) and a lineup of bands/DJs/Producers that belies the venue’s size — the launch night was headlined by Step-Panther, who NME named one of the best new bands of 2012. All that in a venue far more convenient for hailing cabs in the early hours of Saturday morning. What more could you ask for?
UPDATE, October 26, 2022: The Good Nurse released in select cinemas Down Under on October 20, and streams via Netflix from October 26. It isn't called CULLEN — Monster: The Charles Cullen Story. It doesn't chart the murders of a serial killer who's already a household name. And, it doesn't unfurl over multiple episodes. Still, Netflix-distributed true-crime film The Good Nurse covers homicides, and the person behind them, that are every bit as grim and horrendous as the events dramatised in DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Such based-on-reality tales that face such evil are always nightmare fodder, but this Eddie Redmayne (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore)- and Jessica Chastain (The Forgiven)-starring one, as brought to the screen by Danish filmmaker Tobias Lindholm (A War, A Hijacking), taps into a particularly terrifying realm. The culprit clearly isn't the good nurse of the movie's moniker, but he is a nurse, working in intensive care units no less — and for anyone who has needed to put their trust in the health system or may in the future (aka all of us), his acts are gut-wrenchingly chilling. Hospitals are meant to be places that heal, even in America's cash-driven setup where free medical care for all isn't considered a basic right and a societal must. Hospitals are meant to care for the unwell and injured, as are the doctors, nurses and other staff who race through their halls. There is one such person in The Good Nurse, Amy Loughren, who Chastain plays based on a real person. In 2003, in New Jersey, she's weathering her own struggles: she's a single mother to two young girls, she suffers from cardiomyopathy to the point of needing a heart transplant, and she can't tell her job about her health condition because she needs to remain employed for four more months to qualify for insurance to treat it. Then enters Cullen (Redmayne), the newcomer on Loughren's night shifts, a veteran of nine past hospitals, an instant friend who offers to help her cope with her potentially lethal ailment and also the reason that their patients start dying suddenly. There's no spoiler alert needed about The Good Nurse's grisly deeds or the person responsible. Cullen's name hasn't been changed in Krysty Wilson-Cairns' (Last Night in Soho, 1917) script, which adapts Charles Graeber's 2013 non-fiction book The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder, and Loughren's similarly remains the same. The Good Nurse also opens with the quietly disquieting Cullen retreating as someone in a different hospital years earlier goes into convulsions — standing back motionless, he tries to appear anxious but instead looks like a creepy blank canvas. Accordingly, that he's the cause of much of the movie's horrors is a given from the outset, but that's only one of Lindholm and Wilson-Cairns' angles. As aided by centring Loughren's plight, The Good Nurse is also a film about institutional failings and coverups with very real consequences. Indeed, as set to an eerie score by Biosphere (Burma Storybook), there's a procedural feel to Lindholm's first feature in America; that he helmed episodes of Mindhunter beforehand doesn't come as a surprise. There are cops, too, in the form of detectives Baldwin (Nnamdi Asomugha, Sylvie's Love) and Braun (Noah Emmerich, Dark Winds), who are brought in seven weeks after a patient's passing just after Cullen arrives. But nurse-turned-administrator Linda Garran (Fear the Walking Dead), who summons the police, is hardly forthcoming — about the almost-two-month delay or with information overall. It isn't in the hospital's interests to be upfront, which is why and how Cullen has kept moving from healthcare facility to healthcare facility, and notching up a body count at each by spiking IV bags with fatal doses of insulin and other medications. No hospital wants to be seen to be at fault, and won't warn fellow institutions, either. Long before figures are splashed across the screen — the significant number of victims admitted to, and the far more vast tally authorities suspect Cullen has killed — The Good Nurse is distressing. Cinematographer Jody Lee Lipes (A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood) lights the movie like a horror flick, using darkness and shadows for a story filled with them, but there's more than just an icy tone and mood at play in that choice. Crucially absent is the vision of slick, gleaming medical setups seen in hospital-focused TV dramas and comedies, and in illness weepies, because nothing is softened or soothed here. Even if Cullen hadn't crossed her path, Loughren's own relationship with the health industry is disturbing enough. Doting on her patients with a dream of a nurturing disposition, she truly fits the film's title — and yet her own life depends upon her grinning and bearing her own sickness so that she doesn't lose her job, otherwise she won't be able to afford the treatment necessary for her own survival. Fresh from winning an Oscar for The Eyes of Tammy Faye after two prior nominations, and having a busy year with The 355, The Forgiven and Armageddon Time already in or bound for cinemas — and with TV show George & Tammy also soon to drop — Chastain is restrained but commanding as a woman in an excruciating situation several times over. Frequently, and with Lipes peering close to her face, she conveys The Good Nurse's engrained dismay and shock purely in her gaze. That expression is loaded with commitment and concern as well, in a performance that's always the movie's weathervane. Fellow past Academy Award recipient Redmayne is nowhere near as subtle, proving both forceful in Cullen's ordinary mannerisms and later histrionics; a frequent trait of his work in general, it mostly fits given his current part is needling from the get-go. In far different territory than the last feature boasting his involvement — that'd be Danish day-drinking dramedy Another Round, which he co-wrote — Lindholm lets unease drip from Redmayne as Cullen, rather than have it astonish. He isn't interested in endeavouring to explain the why of it all, either, accepting that something this awful can happen because it has, and serving up no attempt at finding motivations for Cullen's actions. Instead, he lays bare the human toll, including moments with two men whose existences are ripped apart thanks to trips with loved ones to the wrong hospital at the wrong time. Taking cues from the likes of Spotlight, Lindholm also exposes the system that enables such atrocities. Of course, swap nurses for doctors and viewers of Dr Death will feel like they're in familiar terrain, although that also helps make The Good Nurse more upsetting — knowing there are other true tales like this can only heighten the discomfort.
