Given the effort they put into creating, curating, collating and copying their wares, it seems kind of weird that the makers of zines would be the kind to abbreviate words. Like, "Okay, guys, we've edited and self-published a niche interest periodical, sure, but we don't have time to pronounce the syllables 'mag' and 'a'. That's where we draw the line!"? But then again, eccentricity and arbitrary decision-making are part of the beauty of zine culture, wherein anyone with access to words and/or images and a means of putting them together can be a publisher. There are political zines and poetry zines and zines about spoons and zines about people spooning. Often stumbled across in cute indie stores and venues or tracked down online, zines also enjoy a good gathering and the MCA and the Sydney Writers' Festival are, as has become their annual tradition, throwing them a party with this fair. Head along and do some collecting — you can buy or barter — or just have a look at what people are into and up to.
Sydney Contemporary, Carriageworks fourth annual celebration of all things art, will return from September 13–16 — and the fair lineup is so jam-packed that it's bursting at the finely-designed seams. Held during Sydney Art Week, the lineup is over-flowing with performances, exhibitions, tours, talks and openings that celebrate both homegrown and international art. The program will not only take place in Carriageworks, but also in partner venues across the city — most notably during the return of its night cap series at venues like the Bearded Tit, The Old Fitzroy and Artspace. We even have our hand in the after-hours happenings, with the opening night party presented by Concrete Playground. We've teamed up with Melbourne-based creative duo Prue Stent and Honey Long to take over The Royal Hotel from 9pm through midnight and bring you one helluva lineup of live performances, installations and DJs. We're keeping the details close to our chest for now, but we can say that it's a party you won't want to miss. Back at Carriageworks, the program features artist Patricia Piccinini, who will take over the Elston Room with her other-worldly survey show, The Field — which has been developed from its time at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. On the performance art side, they've got Taipei-born Parisian artist River Lin, vanishing art act Emily Parsons-Lord and sonic impulse explorer Michaela Davis. Installations range from Abdul Abdullah's emoji-scrawled portraits to the modern clay figures by the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, along with the interactive sound sculptures from Megan Cope. Plus, a moving image program directed by Melbourne-based Kelly Gellatly (Ian Potter Museum of Art) and tonnes of tours and artist talks are also scheduled. These include a free talk series for all ticket holders, following leading figures as they consider the controversial crossroads between contemporary art and culture — including with a panel of artists discussing the #MeToo movement's effect on the creative industries. The program will also extend once again as far as Barangaroo, where three large-scale commissions will take over the precinct from August 27 through September 24. This year, the installations will include an artistic shelter by Canadian-born Callum Morton, a movement based performance by Mel O'Callaghan and a wind-powered exhibition by Cameron Robbins. The food at Carriageworks will be nothing to scoff at either; though the full lineup of eats has not yet been announced, previous years have seen such Sydney heavy-hitters as Longrain, Billy Kwong and Kitchen by Mike run stalls. Other foodie events include a champagne and canapes brekkie with the artists in residence at Paddington's Sabbia Gallery. Sydney Contemporary runs from September 13–16 at Carriageworks. Visit the event website for the full program details, and to buy tickets.
As Brisbane's annual LGBTQIA+ celebration, Melt Festival has seen Sophie Ellis-Bextor grace its stage, and Chappell Roan as well. It has also hosted Spencer Tunick's nude photography works, including shutting down the Story Bridge for one installation. They're just some of the event's highlights from recent years, but it's adding another in 2025: a Brisbane-only show by Broadway icon Bernadette Peters. In New York's famous theatre district, she originated the role of The Witch in Into the Woods, and of Dot in Sunday in the Park with George. She has two Tonys, for Song and Dance and Annie Get Your Gun. She won a Golden Globe for Pennies From Heaven on the big screen, and featured in The Jerk and Annie as well. On TV, she boasts Smash, Mozart in the Jungle, The Good Fight, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and High Desert on her resume. Now, Peters is doing an Australian-exclusive performance in the Queensland capital — and it's her first Aussie gig in more than a decade. [caption id="attachment_998041" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Drama League via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] An Evening with Bernadette Peters has a date with the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday, October 24 — falling within Melt Festival's Wednesday, October 22–Sunday, November 9 run for 2025. The star kickstarts the lineup not just as a Broadway legend, but as an icon of the LGBTQIA+ community, including thanks to her work with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to raise funds for AIDS patients and research. How will a talent with six decades of performing to draw upon — including the current Broadway season of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends — whittle that down into one Brisbane show? You'll need to head along to find out. In her Brisbane performance, Peters boasts support by Camerata — Queensland's Chamber Orchestra. Top image: Drama League via Wikimedia Commons.
Huge music tours are back on Australia's agenda — and they aren't just confined to chart-topping stars, iconic names and huge festivals. In the classical world, the London Symphony Orchestra is also coming our way to play a series of shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. And, the 2023 tour will mark only its fourth-ever trip Down Under. Famous for everything from being the official orchestra of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games ceremonies through to recording the Star Wars, Superman, Indiana Jones, Thor and The Shape of Water film soundtracks, the LSO held its first-ever gig in 1904. That means it's been picking up its instruments for almost 120 years — and in that time, it has only visited Australia on three occasions before now. The April and May shows at QPAC in the Sunshine State, the Sydney Opera House in the Harbour City and Arts Centre Melbourne in Victoria will also see the orchestra make the journey Down Under for the first time since 2014. If it's drama you're after, get ready to watch music director Sir Simon Rattle's baton fly as he conducts the orchestra during his final season with the organisation. The LSO is bringing 114 musicians our way for the tour, including two Australians: Naoko Keatley and Belinda McFarlane, both on violin. And, it's the largest orchestra it has ever toured to our shores. The orchestra will play three different programs — two each in Brisbane and Melbourne, and a third in Sydney as well. All cities will be treated to a night featuring John Adams' 'Harmonielehre', Claude Debussy's 'La Mer' and Maurice Ravel' 'Daphnis and Chloé Suite No.2', plus an entire evening dedicated to Gustav Mahler's 'Symphony No.7'. As for that extra Sydney gig, it'll feature Daniel Kidane's 'Sun Poem' and Anton Bruckner's 'Symphony No.7'. Before its 2014 tour, the LSO first came to Australia in 1966 and then again in 1983. LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2023 AUSTRALIAN TOUR Friday, April 28–Saturday, April 29 —Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane Monday, May 1–Wednesday, May 3 — Sydney Opera House Friday, May 5–Saturday, May 6 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne The London Symphony Orchestra will tour Australia in April and May 2023. For further information and to buy tickets — with on-sale dates varying per city — head to the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and websites. Images: Mark Allen.
Redfern is exactly where you'd expect to find hipster barbershop The Happy Sailors. Set along Bourke Street, the neighbourhood haunt boasts talented and friendly stylists. Despite its charming fit-out — which features those old school barber chairs, vintage copies of Playboy and walls adorned with antique posters and other bric-a-brac — the shop does not overcharge for its services. You can get a haircut here for a rather reasonable $45, or a buzzcut for $25. The owner has over 18 years' of experience working in Sydney and London, so can expect to come out looking like your best self.
There's a vibe that buzzes through a venue just before a live gig starts. It's a feeling of excitement shared by a room, arena or field full of people who just can't wait to see a performer take to the stage, and to completely surrender their senses to a show for the next few hours. We all know it. If you're fond of seeing musicians, bands and comedians do their thing right in front of your eyes, you love it. But for nearly two years now, much of Australia has missed it — or missed experiencing it whenever we liked, as was the norm before the pandemic. The country's live entertainment industry has obviously been suffering due to COVID-19, and the lockdowns and restrictions that've been helping to stop the spread since March 2020. Yes, that's an understatement. So, more than 400 artists, performers and other organisations involved in putting on live shows — think: venues, music festivals, tour promoters, ticketing agencies, record labels and comedy producers, as well as theatre, opera and dance companies — have banded together to encourage a way forward. As the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra did back in July, this alliance has kicked off a campaign that's all about getting the jab. The message: #VaxTheNation, stop the interruptions to our daily lives. Accordingly, the just-dropped campaign commercial features shots of sights that feel a bit like a dream from another time, with performers on stages and packed crowds lapping up their sets. These images play to the sound of Powderfinger's 'My Happiness' — and yes, the Brisbane band is one of the big names backing the initiative. Also involved: Jimmy Barnes, Courtney Barnett, Paul Kelly, G-Flip, Tim Minchin, Celeste Barber, Vance Joy, Archie Roach, Amy Shark, Regurgitator, Courtney Act, Birds Of Tokyo, Tom Gleeson, Amyl & The Sniffers, Hilltop Hoods, Nazeem Hussain, Marcia Hines, Midnight Oil, Judith Lucy, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Nina Las Vegas, Briggs, Daryl Braithwaite and Human Nature. The list of performers and musos throwing their names behind the campaign goes on, while new industry group Live Alliance — which includes folks from a heap of other live entertainment bodies — are onboard as well. Check out the #VaxTheNation commercial below: In a statement, Live Alliance members said that "the impact of the pandemic on Australia's world-leading music, theatre, comedy and live entertainment industries has been truly devastating. Getting vaccinated is the crucial step fans can take which will allow us to join together and enjoy the unbeatable magic of live performance once again." Those sentiments have been backed up by words of encouragement from plenty of the high-profile names involved, too. "It's like boxing — a few well-placed jabs can keep your opponent at bay — so let's get the jab to fight COVID-19 so we can get back to what we love doing," noted Archie Roach. "I miss my family, I miss my mates, I miss travelling, I miss performing and sweating it out with other music loves at live music events. But every day when I see those vaccination rates getting higher and higher, it reminds me that I'll be doing all of that again soon and we are so, so close now to dancing together again!" said KLP. "This IS a race. A race we are all running, together," advised Tim Minchin. "As someone who hates COVID and is desperate for attention, I think we should all vax it up so we can get back to normal and have comedy and music and theatre again ASAP. Let's #VaxTheNation so we all have a reason to have a shower and leave the house," said Tom Ballard. If you're now looking for vaccination clinics, you can check out a handy online map that collates vaccination hub, clinic and GP locations. It covers all Australian states and territories, including New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. For more information about #VaxTheNation, head to the campaign's website.
There's a naked bloke on the back of Sydney buses, but this one's not selling swimwear. You don't need to stop looking at the rippled pecs, but the point of this ad lies in the lines of motion dripping away. The Sydney Dance Company's new work Shared Frequencies is actually a combination of two pieces — LANDforms and Raw Models. LANDforms owns an aria sung by Katie Noonan, but the dance is a collaboration between choreographer and SDC director Rafael Bonachela and composer Ezio Bosso (who did the score for Italian film I'm Not Scared). Bonachela talked with Bosso in Venice during the 2010 Biennale, where the Sydney Dance Company was touring their We Unfold and Six Breaths. Unfold and Breaths seemed to cover the elements of water and air, so LANDforms in turn is pure land and soil. Which you might have noticed already from their earthy posters. In Raw Models Italian choreographer Jacopo Godani sets bodies flowing in perfect crescent movements, while experimental electro-acoustic duo 48 Nord put on a bespoke score. Shared Frequencies' Italian connection will also be explored further at a preshow chat with Godani, Bosso and Bonachela hosted by the Sydney Italian Cultural Institute on April 2.
Something delightful is happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are starting to reopen — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney and Brisbane (and, until the newly reinstated stay-at-home orders, Melbourne as well). During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made over the past three months, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlBWyDf0r2M THE BROKEN HEARTS GALLERY Romantic comedies routinely trade in cliches, and The Broken Hearts Gallery is no different. Here, aspiring gallery curator Lucy (Geraldine Viswanathan, Miracle Workers) endures a traumatic breakup, indulges in a niche hobby that might just change her life, and oozes chemistry with the handsome and brooding Nick (Dacre Montgomery, Stranger Things) after the obligatory meet-cute. Her obsession: turning her hoarded mementos from past relationships, and similar junk collected by other lovelorn New Yorkers, into a cathartic, heartwarming exhibition. Long taunted by her best pals and roommates (Hamilton's Phillipa Soo and Good Boys' Molly Gordon) about her need to hold onto trinkets for sentimental purposes, she's actually motivated to make something of her bric-a-brac after drunkenly mistaking Nick's car for an Uber, unburdening her woes to him as he kindly drives her home, and later visiting the rundown old hotel that he's pouring his heart, soul and cash into as a passion project. From the above description, it should be apparent exactly where this film goes — but, in another rom-com trope, The Broken Hearts Gallery's likeable leads make a big imprint. Seen at home in Emo the Musical and Janet King, as well as Better Watch Out and A Few Less Men, Australian duo Viswanathan and Montgomery have already made a splash via high-profile US-made TV shows in the past few years — and, in Viswanathan's case, in the film Blockers as well. They're both destined for bigger things, especially the grounded, relatable and very funny Viswanathan, but they make the most of their roles here. Well, they do as much as they can given they're in an immensely standard movie otherwise. Indeed, while there are few weak links among The Broken Hearts Gallery's cast (which also includes Brittany Runs a Marathon's Utkarsh Ambudkar and Mozart in the Jungle's Bernadette Peters), the film's central duo easily make viewers wish that everything around them had more spark, served up more surprises and took more chances. Even when it's upbeat, spirited and delivered with charming talent, a happily by-the-numbers affair is still going to feel formulaic, after all, a sensation that this feature debut from writer/director (and ex-Gossip Girl scribe and story editor) Natalie Krinsky never quite shakes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC2dsAGvGy0 AN AMERICAN PICKLE If an early 20th-century Jewish immigrant found himself walking around in 2019, what would he think of the world? That question comes with a flipside, of course, because it's equally valid to wonder how today's folks would react in response. With Seth Rogen starring as a ditch-digging, rat-catching new arrival from Eastern Europe to Brooklyn, these are a couple of the queries pondered by An American Pickle. It's the latest in a long line of comedies that trifle with time while doubling as time capsules, and it falls firmly from a familiar mould. Indeed, seeing, examining and giggling at the contrast between century-old ways and contemporary ideas is a considerable part of the film. Not only that, but this Simon Rich-penned adaptation of his own short story Sell Out does all of the above broadly and blatantly — pointing out that big, bushy beards have become hipster beacons, for example, and that much has progressed since the 1900s. Consequently, there's no avoiding just how slight An American Pickle is. Its protagonist might fall into a vat of brine, get sealed in, then emerge in a new millennium, but this movie isn't diving deep. Thankfully, mixed up with all the obvious jokes are two thoughtful performances, both by Rogen, that help the film interrogate the push and pull between the past and the present in a moving fashion. He plays Herschel Greenbaum, a new arrival to US with his wife Sarah (Succession's Sarah Snook), after the pair leave their home of Schlupsk to escape Russian Cossacks and chase a better life — and he also steps into the shoes of app developer Ben Greenbaum, Herschel's great-grandson and only living descendant when he awakens in his preserved (and presumably extra salty) state. The two men are the same age, and look alike, but they sport differences beyond Herschel's facial hair and Ben's technological know-how. It's the usual generational divide, as instantly recognisable to everyone watching. But when An American Pickle lets its star shine, rather than gets weighed down with over-the-top clashes in the service of clearcut gags and satirical observations, this affable but also mostly forgettable film boasts heart and sweetness. It's oh-so predictable, but it also shows an understanding of how the past always leaves an imprint, the future needn't fastidiously be chained to tradition, and that everything old and all things new have a symbiotic relationship. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THXebxAFCzY THE TRANSLATORS Like Agatha Christie and Knives Out before them, the makers of The Translators know that a good whodunnit serves up two major joys. That'd be the puzzle and the journey — because whichever intriguing narrative is being thrust their way, audiences want to sleuth along with the characters, piecing clues together in their heads; and, they want to enjoy each and every one of the story's many ins, outs, twists and turns as all the details unravel, too. In fact, this French film embraces those truths heartily. Writer/director Régis Roinsard (Populaire) and his co-scribes Romain Compingt and Daniel Presley even go a little heavy on convoluted minutiae and attempts to keep everyone guessing. Still, they mostly deliver an entertaining thriller — and, as always proves the case in this genre, if you enjoy the game and the ride enough once, it doesn't really matter if you won't be clamouring for a second helping The Translators' premise is killer — in a film that doesn't shy away from a body count, but is actually more concerned with stolen pages from the yet-to-be-released last book in the bestselling The Man Who Did Not Want to Die series. The latest novel has only been seen by its secretive author, arrogant French publisher Eric Angstrom (Lambert Wilson, The Odyssey) and the nine translators the latter has assembled to prepare the text in multiple languages for a simultaneous worldwide debut. The enlisted team of experts are working in a bunker under stringent conditions, however, so when Angstrom receives an email threatening to leak the new book unless a huge ransom is paid, he's both perplexed and angry. Also starring Olga Kurylenko (The Man Who Killed Don Quixote) as a Russian translator who purposely dresses to resemble the fated heroine in the novel the group is working on, as well as Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World) as a noticeably young Brit, The Translators isn't big on depth but still keeps viewers engaged. Hurtling forward like someone furiously thumbing through an airport novel, and offering a slick, swift-moving affair that ticks all the whodunnit basics (even as it gets a little too carried away with the exaggerated drip-fed clues, surprise reveals and reversals) will do that. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jv6f59Z4Y8 THE SECRETS WE KEEP First bursting onto cinema screens as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo's Lisbeth Salander — before Rooney Mara and Claire Foy both played the role in US versions — Noomi Rapace instantly became a star. Since her great performance in that thriller series and the underrated Prometheus, however, she's struggled to secure meaty roles that do her talents justice. And, unfortunately, The Secrets We Keep doesn't redress that situation. In a film that takes a premise already explored in 1990 play and 1994 film Death and the Maiden, but shifts the details to post-Second World War America, she's saddled with a stock-standard revenge narrative that couldn't feel more routine. In fact, Rapace's casting is actually one of the movie's overtly obvious elements. She's famed for her work a woman determined to right past wrongs and unafraid to take drastic actions to do so, and that's what she's asked to do here. Her last big part, as a mother who might be getting gaslit in Angel of Mine, also proves relevant as well. Rapace plays Romani immigrant Maja, who has set up a life with her physician husband Lewis (Chris Messina, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)) and their young son (Jackson Dean Vincent) in a small American town. Then, in passing, she spies newcomer Thomas (Joel Kinnaman, Suicide Squad). Still haunted by horrors from the war 15 years prior, she's certain that he once brutally attacked her — then changed his identity and moved to her neighbourhood. So, Maja takes matters into her own hands. Quickly, even though he has plenty of doubts, Lewis is enlisted to help. Writer/director Yuval Adler's last film, The Operative, also attempted to wade through a murky plot and similarly had little success. Rapace hits the familiar notes she's asked to with visible gusto, Kinnaman endeavours to play more than just a cookie-cutter possible Nazi, and She Dies Tomorrow filmmaker Amy Seimetz turns in a nuanced supporting performance, but The Secrets We Keep constantly mistakes its solemn tone for substance. A thoughtful, captivating or even just intriguing reckoning with vengeance, trauma and trying to reconcile past struggles, this sadly isn't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy32-KCnexo THE SECRET GARDEN When The Secret Garden first reached the page as a serialised story in 1910, author Frances Hodgson Burnett couldn't have known how relevant her tale would feel 110 years later. Obviously she'll never know, as she passed away in 1924 — but if there was ever a time for a new big-screen version of this beloved children's favourite about escaping life's woes by banding together, making the most of things and enjoying the pockets of nature at hand, it's 2020. Indeed, while this new cinematic iteration was actually due to hit screens earlier this year, which means that it was made pre-pandemic, it firmly strikes a chord in these strange times. Whether you loved the book when you were much smaller, you can barely remember it, or you're more familiar with the narrative from the 1993 movie, a lavishly shot fantasy about a unhappy girl plagued by tragedy yet finding solace in the titular space couldn't be more fitting right now. The narrative, for those who need a refresher, focuses on the pre-teen Mary (Dixie Egerickx, The Little Stranger) — who swiftly segues from from living in India under British rule to being sent to the Yorkshire moors to stay with her reclusive uncle (Colin Firth) when her parents are killed. She's bratty, spoiled and far from content about the new arrangement, but wandering the estate's sizeable grounds soon brings her to a hidden patch of greenery. Under the direction of TV veteran Marc Munden (Black Sails, National Treasure), this version of the tale takes place after the Second World War, but that's not the only change. It relays the same overall details, but it also leans into the darkness and gothic drama of the material in a firm and noticeable way. Perhaps that's another reason why it also feels apt for viewers young and young-at-heart — because overcoming loss, misery and struggle always comes with a sense of weight and, amidst its expected leafy sights and general childhood wonder, this take on The Secret Garden never forgets that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvXgXQ6iro4 TROLLS WORLD TOUR Fuzzy-haired playthings turned into animated heroes, glitter fart clouds and cupcakes poop, and a lengthy list of earworm-style songs: that's what 2016's Trolls served up. It was loud, shiny and sickly sweet, but it also featured lively voicework from Anna Kendrick and standout handmade-looking visuals, which made the film's CGI look as if it had been made from felt and other crafting products. Naturally, the all-ages movie was a hit, like most flicks based on toys and simultaneously designed to sell more toys. So, it's to the surprise of absolutely no one that sequel Trolls World Tour now exists, and that it's once again using bright and bouncy visuals and a jukebox-musical style format to appeal to viewers young and old, and to spread a positive message — again, as efforts like this are known to. With Kendrick back as the perky Queen Poppy and Justin Timberlake once again voicing her best friend Branch, this follow-up returns to the first film's trolls as they learn that other creatures like them exist. They're not exactly the same, though, with different troll groups favouring varying styles of music — making Poppy's community the 'pop trolls'. Clearly, as the villainous Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) of the hard rock trolls tries to make the separate tribes assimilate under her preferred style of music, there's an overt message about acceptance on offer. It isn't subtle, and it's actually undercut by the fact that the different troll crews (including techno trolls, funk trolls, classical trolls and country trolls) are all given such blatantly stereotypical traits. But, once more, the film is lifted by its cast (complete with Sam Rockwell and Ozzy Osbourne), it's textile appearance and the fact that it actually works its ongoing medley of well-known songs into the story, rather than merely uses them as an easy distraction technique as many fellow Hollywood-made animated movies do. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas, check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13, August 20, August 27, September 3 and September 10 — and our full reviews of The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves, The King of Staten Island, Babyteeth, Deerskin, Peninsula, Tenet, Les Misérables and The New Mutants.
The first day of the year, The Domain and Sydneysiders flocking to see live tunes: that's one helluva New Year's tradition. It's also what Field Day serves up every year, and will again to start off 2024. Leading the just-announced bill: RÜFÜS DU SOL and Central Cee. The 2023–24 crossover period will be busy for the Sydney fest's two headliners. They're both hitting the Harbour City on Monday, January 1 after also playing Victoria's Beyond The Valley over the Christmas break. On their New South Wales stop, they'll have G Flip and Genesis Owusu for company, plus Romy, Sub Focus, Ross From Friends, Claptone and COBRAH. Yes, it's going to be quite the massive party. For RÜFÜS DU SOL, this is a huge hometown gig. For British rapper Central Cee, everything from 'Doja' and 'Let Go' to 'Sprinter' and 'Obsessed with You' will get a whirl. Combining both local and international names again in 2024 — as was the standard pre-pandemic, and returned in 2023 after an all-Aussie lineup in 2022 — Field Day will also feature Destroy Lonely, LUUDE, Logic1000, Kinder, Dameeeela, Mell Hall and JessB as part of its packed roster. A triple j Unearthed winner is still to join the lineup as well. [caption id="attachment_811734" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Warr[/caption] Over the years, Field Day has hosted the likes of Calvin Harris, Tyler, the Creator, Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, Childish Gambino and Disclosure. In 2023, Diplo, Denzel Curry, Kaytranada and Yung Lean did the honours. Tickets always prove popular for the NYD festival, with registrations for pre-sale — which kicks off from 1pm AEST on Monday, August 21 — open now. FIELD DAY 2024 LINEUP: RÜFÜS DU SOL Central Cee Cassian Claptone Cobrah Conducta Destroy Lonely G Flip Genesis Owusu Isoxo Knock2 Logic1000 Luude Mall Grab Notion Riton Romy Ross From Friends (DJ set) Sub Focus (DJ set and ID) Dameeeela Fukhed J-Milla Jessb Kinder Mell Hall Swim Willo Field Day will hit The Domain on Monday, January 1, 2024. Pre-sale registrations are available now until 2pm AEST on Sunday, August 20, with pre-sale tickets on offer from 1pm AEST on Monday, August 21 — and general sales from 12pm AEST on Thursday, August 24. Top image: Fifth Legend via Wikimedia Commons
A Wild Picnic promises to be a mysterious and thought-provoking dining experience if you have a spare $240. Join James Viles (Biota), David Moyle (Hobart's Franklin) and Aaron Turner (Geelong's Igni) for a sustainable lunch at a secret location in the Southern Highlands. All the ingredients will be foraged and sourced within the area and prepared using just Mother Nature. For bookings call (02) 4862 2005 or email info@biotadining.com. This event is one of our top ten picks of Good Food Month 2015. Check out the other nine.
In the tiny township of Silverton, right on the border between New South Wales and South Australia, there is a fabulous way to get to know the locals: on the back of a camel. Visitors have clambered upon these gangly plodders since the 60s to explore the historic silver mining town, including past the local pub that you might recognise from beloved Aussie films like Mad Max 2 and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Silverton Outback Camels can show you the sites on one-hour ($55), sunset ($75) or overnight ($250) outback treks that run daily. While there's no high-stakes racing involved, animal lovers will get a kick out of this desert trot. [caption id="attachment_853335" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Top image: Destination NSW
When Skrillex and Four Tet took to the Coachella stage back in April, they did so to help plug a gap left by Frank Ocean dropping out of the Californian festival's second weekend. When they make the trip Down Under this spring, however, they won't be filling in for anyone, headlining 2023's lineup for electronic-meets-hip hop festival Listen Out. Back for another year — after 2022 marked its first gigs since 2019 — this fest will do the rounds throughout September, including hitting up Centennial Park in Sydney on Saturday, September 30. This is the first time that Skrillex will play gigs in Australia since Listen Out 2018 and, as well as Four Tet, the DJ and producer will have plenty of company. [caption id="attachment_900829" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josef W[/caption] Also on the bill: Lil Uzi Vert, Ice Spice, Coi Leray, Piri, venbee, Mallrat and Jyoty, as well as Marc Rebillet, Metro Boomin and Kenny Beats, with Ebony Boadu will be on hosting duties. 2023's fests around Australia mark Listen Out's tenth birthday, and will bring curated stages to its four stops. So, The Atari Stage is primarily about hip hop artists, while 909 Stage features major dance acts. Then, over on the Prophet Stage, you'll enjoy cutting-edge electronic and house acts. LISTEN OUT 2023 LINEUP: Arrdee Coi Leray Four Tet Friction Ice Spice Jbee Jpegmafia Jyoty Kenny Beats Lil Uzi Vert Mallrat Marc Rebillet Metro Boomin Piri Skrillex Spinall Venbee Wongo B2B Little Fritter Young Franco Yunè Pinku Ebony Boadu as host 1TBSP Ayebatonye Donatachi Handsome Kobie Dee VV Pete Willo Plus triple j Unearthed artists to be announced + more Top image: Leo K.
New South Wales being as big as it is, it should come as no surprise just how varied the communities and events calendar can be. If you're committed to travelling across this wide land in search of a good feed, let us do the hard yards for you. Throughout the year, there are food festivals of all shapes, sizes and menus happening across the state, so we've partnered up with Destination NSW for this definitive list of events you'll need to add to the agenda. As of autumn, we're fast approaching the annual celebration of luminescence and warmth that is Vivid Sydney, conveniently timed to fend off the cold and dark nights of winter. Beyond the obvious attractions of bright lights and exclusive experiences, a great many foodie-centric events are booked across the state, too.
Local Natives have made it, exploding out of support band status into a headliner demanding to be heard. They have earned their rise through the musical ranks, attracting the attention of indie heavy-hitters The National and Arcade Fire after their critically acclaimed debut, Gorilla Manor, and are now riding a wave of success all the way to Australia. Their tour comes on the back of the highly anticipated sophomore release Hummingbird, an eclectic harmony of sounds ready to be played at all occasions. There are tracks for parties as well as tracks to woo first dates; you name the event and they have it soundtracked. A live performance by Local Natives is also something to behold, with all four band members tugging at your heart strings and making you feel all of the feelings, culminating in an overwhelming sense of happiness. Thankfully you can experience all this on Wednesday, May 15, in an intimate performance at the Metro, and we can guarantee that ticket prices will not be as low as this next time they come back.
Verge is strange. That's one of the best things about it. A silent room churns with frenetic dancers, hopping and bobbing to a common beat. Comedians push to entertain a hungry audience at four in the morning, sixteen hours of gig left to go. At the bar, they argue the virtue of sending arts money into space. A silent disco, a 24-hour comedy gig and a NASA vs. NIDA debate are definitely some of the stranger pieces of the Verge mosaic. Which is varied, like a spotty art wall of Rubiks cube is varied — something they have at the festival. Verge is also perfectly normal. They'll have a best-of Theatresports (with Chaser members and cast from Thank God You're Here) white-lit night-market, open circus-rehearsals and music. The festival has been running at Sydney University since 2003, starting as an experiment along the torn and sticky-taped graffiti tunnel and progressing down to a full-sized cultural event. Spread across the Camperdown campus and the stone-walled Sydney College of the Arts, Verge is well worth checking out, puzzling over, and joining in. Image by University of Sydney Union.
The Concrete Playground team is out on the streets soaking up the Sydney Fringe. Here's what we've found so far — this diary will be updated as the festival progresses. Adventures in Hair 18 and 15 September, The Switchbox, Factory Theatre; 2 October, The Container, Factory Theatre Adventures in Hair is a wonderfully original and clever piece of writing with an incredibly nonsense plot about the quest for a new viceroy for 1622 Macau. It had absolutely nothing to do with hair but certainly lots to do with adventure and whilst there were some criticisms to be had — some scenes involved too much standing still and the hat donning was unpolished — these could be ignored due to the energy brought by the trio of Ciaran Magee, Michael Richardson and Laurence Rosier Staines. They were clearly enjoying what they were performing on stage and it was infectious, with the entire audience laughing even if they weren't always sure why. -MW Fully Committed 26-28 September, New Theatre Sixty minutes. Forty characters. One actor. Becky Mode's Fully Committed is a rollicking, fast-paced one-man satire revealing the not-so-fine underside of fine dining. It depicts one day in the working life of Sam Peliczowski, whose day job is phone reception for a four-star Manhattan restaurant. It's a highly challenging script, demanding on-the-mark timing, deft switching of personas and intensely focused energy. Actor Nick Curnow, under the direction of Alexander Butt, does it tremendous justice, natural and believable as the pressured-to-the-hilt Sam and laugh-out-loud funny as his cast of persistent customers and unhelpful co-staff. As The Brevity Theatre Co.'s debut production, Fully Committed suggests that the Australian theatre scene can celebrate an exciting addition. -Jasmine Crittenden Jane Austen Is Dead 16-23 September, New Theatre Jane Austen is Dead is the best play I have seen at the Sydney Fringe in the years I have been attending. Having been neatly polished in Edinburgh, New Zealand and Melbourne, it arrived in Sydney with not a theatrical crack to be seen. Mel Dodge's captivating performance as 33-year-old "spinster" Sophie, youthful and desperate Mary as well as her countless past suitors fuse together brilliantly and her integration of Austen's archetypal male suitors into the play is effortless, so much so that you certainly need not be an Austen fan to comprehend and enjoy the show. Sophie's final realisation that she is happy in her own company is fitting, as we were all happy to be in Dodge's for the hour. -MW Once again the phrase 'boat peeps' makes its way into my review notes. #SydneyFringe @JazzTwemlow — Anita Senaratna (@anitasenaratna) September 14, 2013 2013 - When We Were Idiots 6-15 September, starting at The Pie Tin Newtown In 2013- When We were Idiots, comedian Xavier Toby dons a penguin suit (not a tuxedo, a literal penguin suit) and pretends that he and the audience are from the year 2113, wandering the streets of Newtown reflecting on all the stupid things people did and believed in in the year 2013. The show is part interactive stand-up. part hilarious walking tour and actually does contain a lot of cool historical facts about Newtown. Toby covers lighthearted stuff like onesies, fast food and consumerism (because apparently in the year 2113 people only wear one outfit until it wears out — a statement met with some dismay by female audience members) but also touches on things like gay marriage, boat people and Tony Abbott. It's one of those things you could go to every single night and have a different experience, because a lot of the humour comes from the interactions with the public along the way and the audience participation elements. Site specific/interactive art is on the rise, but so far this hasn't really spilled over to comedy. It's a unique approach to stand-up (or rather, walk-around) comedy and it would be interesting to see if this inspires other comedians to try similar formats. -Anita Senaratna -When We Were Idiots MotherFather - DoctorDoctor 18-20 September, The Fusebox (Factory Theatre) MotherFather are the two best improvisers in the country at the moment, confirmed by their current status as national Theatresports champions. However, watching them in an hour-long format you can witness their true brilliance in all its hilarious glory. Bridie Connell and Tom Walker excel in an arena where they can flesh out their characters, showcase their ability to rap and generally just entertain — Tom’s description of a pet as a partner that you can hold in one hand will leave this reviewer laughing every time he pats a dog. The chemistry they have as a performing duo results in not a beat being missed, compelling the audience to immerse themselves in the entire hour. Whilst their run is at an end, you can still catch Tom’s absorbing physicality in his solo show, Muscle Clown. Matthew Watson, writer The venue theming could do with a little work, but it's great to see @sydneyfringe with a lively outdoor hub like Emerald City this year. — Rima Sabina Aouf (@rimasabina) September 20, 2013 101 Vagina 17-22 September, TAP Gallery Sigh, if only sex-education made a class excursion to the 101 Vagina Book Exhibition compulsory. It's a tonne more helpful to the prepubescent than 'hair will grow places' and is all about flipping off the taboo that surrounds the female body. Philip Werner's series has donned the walls of Tap Gallery with 101 photos of vaginas (otherwise known to the diagram savvy as vulvas), each accompanied by a message, story or poem. Part of Sydney Fringe, this is one we all need to see one or even 101 times. Expect a little high-fiving your awesome body along the way. -Rachel Eddie, writer 101 Vagina The Defence 4-14 September at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists If the Sydney Fringe Festival is a lucky dip, The Defence is the $10,000 winning scratchie someone kindly dropped into the mix. By Chris Dunstan and his cohorts from theatrically prodigious University of Wollongong, it explores the shifting shape of misogyny over the centuries. Nested like a Russian doll, The Defence contains a bombastic, gender-swapped play about the psychology of playwright and notorious woman-hater August Strindberg (whose Miss Julie is concurrently playing at Belvoir), the rehearsals for which are constantly interrupted so the male director and his two actors can workshop the scenes. Needless to say, its greatest indictment is reserved for today's educated young men, who may be able to deconstruct gender at essay length but still manage to do and say some vile and unaware things. Funny, confident and unflinching, The Defence is incredibly smart but never feels like hard work. -RSA THE DEFENCE was the best @sydneyfringe show I've seen. Funny, unflinching and full of astute observations about misogyny today. Encore pls. — Rima Sabina Aouf (@rimasabina) September 18, 2013 The Defence Jude the Obscure 4-14 September at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists This show has the best premise ever, end of story. Writer/performer Alice Williams plays Australian comedian Judith Lucy, in space, in the the future, doing a catalogue of "little known material" from her oeuvre. It's an odd and marvellous meeting of Williams' academic, questioning brain ("inspired by the fatalism of [Lucy's] comic persona", she looks at the "themes of destruction and failure" from Lucy's comic material from a "universal perspective") and a novelty mode of interrogation. Appropriating the stand-up form and mimicking Lucy brilliantly, Williams takes us on an absurd, punchy adventure that knows its limits and ends within 40 minutes. Confronted by the majesty of space and the horror of complete isolation forever more, Lucy is wry and pragmatic, and we're left to wonder, is that for the best? It's all done with total love, and we hope somewhere out there, Lucy herself is getting a kick out of it. -RSA Jude the Obscure Bushpig 10-13 September, Seymour Centre Sound Lounge The pinnacle of one-woman showmanship right here. Hannah Malarski is a NIDA playwriting grad with a gift for creating vivid characters through both writing and performance, with director, designer and dramaturg Jack Richardson helping give the piece solid form. It's a transfixing little number that evokes the bewildering feeling of living in the world sometimes — particularly if you're from a country town as small as the fictional Funnel, and particularly if you've just left for the big smoke to forge a career in television, as has our dear titular character, Bushpig. The journey has Malarski morphing from corpulent Aunt Vivian to a mystical gardening show host, a disingenuous talent agent, a bratty boy, a vocally challenged cat and plenty more besides. It goes to a weird place you in no way could have imagined at the outset. Rima Sabina Aouf, editor @sydneyfringe @annalieseszota Disney reimagined, just the way I’d’ve liked it as a kid. And wow, what a voice! http://t.co/36WAfOAMW8 — Madeleine Butler (@MadBut) September 12, 2013
Cam Knight gives new meaning to the phrase 'giving 100%', in that he does everything to the fullest. His aptly titled new comedy show, 100 percenter, discusses his goal of saying yes to anything, trying to live in the now and experiencing absolutely everything the world has to offer. Knight is a fixture in the Australian comedy scene, making appearances on Foxtel and The Comedy Channel programs. He has previously hosted two seasons of Stand Up Australia. Knight also performs with Sydney-based band ManChoir. His performance will be in conjunction with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The 25-day festival features some of the best and brightest international and homegrown comedic talent. With venues throughout the city and beyond, MICF is accessible easily accessible to Melbournites that need a little laughter in their life. https://youtube.com/watch?v=vl_nMq_Tt1Q
Musicians around Australia are taking to the streets in an unusual form of protest. In response to the recent decision by ABC Radio National to decommission music programs The Daily Planet, The Inside Sleeve, The Live Set and The Rhythm Divine, buskers will gather en masse outside ABC offices in capital cities to voice their concerns and belt out a few tunes. Set to take place in Sydney today, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart tomorrow, and Brisbane next Thursday, the RN or Busk protests are being coordinated by the Save RN Music campaign. "We need these shows for our careers, our community, our families and Australian Culture, because these shows play and support independent adult contemporary music," reads the Facebook event page for the Melbourne protest. "They are the lifeline from the musicians to the audience." Meanwhile, a number of prominent musicians including Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, Archie Roach, Sarah Blasko, Tim Freedman, Megan Washington and Dan Sultan have co-signed an open letter addressed to ABC board members saying they were "appalled" by the ABC's decision to scrap the programs "without proper industry and public consultation". "The cuts deliver a fundamental blow to diverse, vibrant and independent sectors of the Australian music industry, which receive minimal national radio coverage elsewhere," the letter reads. It also directs the board to an online petition, signed by more than 15,000 people, that calls on the ABC to reverse its decision. To find a busk in your city, go here, and to learn more about the Save RN Music campaign, go here.
In 1996, Independence Day topped the worldwide box office. In music, Los del Rio's 'Macarena' did the same on America's Billboard chart. And, on television, 3rd Rock From the Sun and Sabrina the Teenage Witch made their debuts. Get nostalgic for that year, no matter whether you lived through it or not, and you'll likely think about all or some of the above — plus everything from fellow movie hits Twister and Scream through to tunes such as 'Ironic' and '1979'. Well, unless you're the women of returning 2021–2022 standout Yellowjackets, that is. For Shauna (Melanie Lynskey, The Last of Us), Natalie (Juliette Lewis, Welcome to Chippendales), Taissa (Tawny Cypress, Billions), Misty (Christina Ricci, Wednesday), Lottie (Simone Kessell, Muru) and Van (Lauren Ambrose, Servant), 1996 will always be the year that their plane plunged into the Canadian wilderness, stranding them for 19 tough months. As teenagers (as played by The Kid Detective's Sophie Nélisse, The Book of Boba Fett's Sophie Thatcher, Scream VI's Jasmin Savoy, Shameless' Samantha Hanratty, Mad Max: Fury Road's Courtney Eaton and Santa Clarita Diet's Liv Hewson), they were members of the show's titular high-school soccer squad, travelling from their New Jersey home town to Seattle for a national tournament, when the worst eventuated. Films, songs and shows couldn't be more trivial when an incident like that sears itself in your history. [caption id="attachment_894477" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Colin Bentley/Showtime.[/caption] Afterwards, life would never be the same — not during the time they spent fending for themselves in the forest, and not a quarter-century later as well. In both its instantly addictive Emmy-nominated debut season and just-arrived second go-around, which streams weekly via Australia's Paramount+ and Aotearoa's Neon from Friday, March 24, Yellowjackets flits between these two time frames. Hailing from creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (Dispatches From Elsewhere), it openly courts nostalgia itself in the process. References abound to pop-culture touchstones of the era, the soundtrack is a dark and grungy 90s dream, and the show's theme tune 'No Return' echoes with killer throwback vibes (even if Shrill's Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker, the program's resident composers, created it anew for the series). All that looking back cuts deep, though, with Yellowjackets pondering what happens when someone's yearning for days long passed is forever tainted by trauma. There's far more than wistfulness lost, robbed and infected at the heart of this survivalist thriller, of course; when it premiered, it was understandably pegged as Lost-meets-Lord of the Flies with an Alive twist, a neat but accurate-enough basic summary. All isn't always what it seems as Shauna and company endeavour to endure in the elements. Also, tearing into each other occurs more than just metaphorically. Plus, literally sinking one's teeth in has been teased and flirted with since episode one, too. But Yellowjackets will always be about what it means to face something so difficult that it forever colours and changes who you are — and constantly leaves a reminder of who you might've been. That's where the series' jumping back and forth remains so crucial, exploring shattering turns of events and the choices they spark, then watching their ripples keep biting hard decades later. When Yellowjackets ended its first season, it was with as many questions as answers. Naturally, it starts season two in the same way. In the present, mere days have elapsed — and Shauna and her husband Jeff (Warren Kole, Shades of Blue), who was also her best friend Jackie's (Ella Purnell, Sweetbitter) boyfriend before the crash, are trying to avoid drawing any attention over the disappearance of Shauna's artist lover Adam (Peter Gadiot, Queen of the South). Tai has been elected as a state senator, but her nocturnal activities have seen her wife Simone (Rukiya Bernard, Van Helsing) move out with their son Sammy (Aiden Stoxx, Supergirl). Thanks to purple-wearing kidnappers, Nat has been spirited off, leaving Misty desperate to find her — even enlisting fellow citizen detective Walter (Elijah Wood, Come to Daddy) to help. These narrative threads each connect backwards, where two months have gone by since season one wrapped up. There, as winter makes searching for food and staying warm an immense feat, Shauna is heavily pregnant and also severely grief-stricken. Van thinks that she has a solution for Tai's nighttime departures, but they're stubborn. Nat spends her days scouring the woods with Travis (Kevin Alves, Locke & Key), one of their coach's sons, for his missing brother Javi (Luciano Leroux, A Million Little Things) — and her nights attempting to counter Lottie's "witch-doctor messiah" turn. And Misty has a new pal there, too, courtesy of theatre devotee (and fellow survivor and soccer-team member) Crystal (Nuha Jes Izman, FBI). [caption id="attachment_894479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kailey Schwerman/Showtime.[/caption] Prepare to get meaty: where the rightly buzzed-about initial season was happy mostly hinting at its wilderness secrets, season two ramps up the eeriness, chills and gore. Seeing still isn't always believing in Yellowjackets, but the pivotal crash keeps unleashing vicious consequences — and savagery not only festers but grows the longer that the 90s team is on its own in the cold, lacking a secure source of sustenance, and fraying mentally and as a group. Their predicament never stops being visceral; however, Yellowjackets has always known that the troubles firing up in everyone's hearts and heads are just ferocious. Indeed, cue a bigger dose of fantasy sequences, hallucinations and the supernatural, as the series retains its commitment to examining how the bleakest and most brutal twists of fate, and the options they inspire, turn coping into a lifelong struggle. In Yellowjackets' two timelines, it couldn't have assembled a better cast to slice into trauma, coping, yearning and ripping apart nostalgia — and anchor a series that's a psychological horror show, black comedy and teen drama as well. While its mysteries and cliffhangers made the first season make-a-date weekly viewing, Yellowjackets doesn't merely survive but thoroughly thrives because it feels so acutely human. Its women, then and now, navigate messy situations that no one should face in their worst nightmares. And yet, how these ladies process that fact, and persist — even how they fracture and fight, escape into whatever assists, latch onto the tiniest slivers of hope, and make devastating decisions, right and wrong alike — remains intensely relatable thanks to both complex writing and stunning performances. Lynskey, Lewis and Ricci on the same bill is another of the show's 90s dreams, and that trio is well-paired with Cypress, Ambrose and Kessell, not to mention well-matched by their younger counterparts. This ravenous TV feast will continue, too, with Yellowjackets unsurprisingly renewed for season three in advance of season two. Check out the full trailer for Yellowjackets season two below: Season two of Yellowjackets streams weekly from Friday, March 24 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season one. Top image: Kailey Schwerman/Showtime.
Every quarter, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology releases its climate outlook for the coming season, signalling to the country just what type of weather might be in store. For the winter just gone, for example, it advised that we were in for hotter and wetter-than-average conditions. And, for both spring and summer, it's now predicting plenty of warm-weather rain. BOM's spring forecast was actually released at the end of August, noting two key points. First, it advised that there's a high likelihood of above-average rainfall across this period. Secondly, it noted that temperatures are likely to be average or even slightly below average in the nation's south, and warmer than usual in the country's north. Since then, however, the Bureau has issued two further statements about spring and summer's weather — with the latest stressing that there's an increased chance of flooding and cyclones. Thanks to BOM's severe weather outlook, it's sensible to expect damp conditions from October through until April, as a result of La Niña. The news follows an announcement at the end of September, when the Bureau revealed that the coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon was now active in the Pacific Ocean, and was likely to remain that way until at least the end of 2020. Some La Niña events can last around a year. When it comes to flooding, BOM advises that because La Niña is expected to bring more rain to Australia's east and north, the risk of widespread flooding increases. It also notes that rain has already been hitting some drought-affected areas. https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1315493814958583808 In regards to tropical cyclones, it predicts that there's an increased risk in the country's north. "On average, Australia sees nine to 11 tropical cyclones each year, with four crossing the coast. With La Niña this year we are expecting to see slightly more tropical cyclones than average, and the first one may arrive earlier than normal," said Bureau climatologist Greg Browning. BOM also advised that there's average potential for heatwaves and severe thunderstorms across the coming months. In good news after last year's catastrophic bushfire season, the Bureau is forecasting average fire conditions for the rest of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, too, as linked to the wetter weather. "This fire season, we're expecting wetter than average conditions in eastern and northern Australia, so long-running large bushfires are less likely; however, a wetter spring can lead to abundant grass growth, which could increase fire danger as it naturally dries during summer," noted Browning. If you're wondering what all of the above means, temperature-wise, it depends on the state. Queensland is never cool once spring and summer hits, but above-average temps are particularly forecast for the state's northern half. In New South Wales and Victoria, higher-than-average temperatures are predicted, with longer and more humid heatwaves possible in NSW's south and across the entirety of Victoria. The latter also applies to South Australia, although it might be in for fewer days of extreme heat. Western Australia can expect higher-than-average temperatures across the state, especially in the northeast. For further details about the Bureau of Meteorology's spring and summer forecasts, check out its spring outlook and severe weather outlook.
Express your adoration through petals and plants from this elegant Clovelly florist. The Botanic Lab creates glorious bouquets, whether you're after a bunch of roses and peonies in sweet pastels, a sculptural selection of flowers and foliage, or a waterfall of bright Australian natives. Designs range from $80–120, but you can also pick up a simple bunch of market-fresh tulips, daffodils or dahlias for $30–60 depending on the season and the bloom. These floral pros can wrap your selection, or you can BYO vase and have them arrange the bouquet for you. And if your beau is a green thumb, there's also a smaller selection of succulents and houseplants. Images: Arvin Prem Kumar
When Quibi launched in Australia and New Zealand back in April, it added yet another streaming platform to the already lengthy list of services competing for your eyeballs. But this newcomer comes with a few twists — serving up its content in small chunks of up to ten minutes in length, for starters, and also designing it all for viewing on your phone. Over the past few months, however, the platform has also undergone some changes. The big one: letting viewers stream Quibi's movies and TV shows from their phone to their television. While the service launched as a mobile-only app, forcing you to watch it on your device of choice, it added Airplay and Chromecast capabilities back in June — after realising that folks didn't just want to view things by themselves on a tiny phone screen, particularly when we're all spending more time at home during a pandemic. Now, Quibi has announced another new change. With the app's original 90-day free trial period now over, it has added a completely free ongoing option for viewers in Australia and New Zealand. There is a catch, though, as you're probably already expecting: if you want to check out the platform without spending a cent, you will need to sit through ads. Still, if you're keen to check out a new version of Punk'd hosted by Chance the Rapper, see Chrissy Teigen preside over small claims cases in the Judge Judy-style Chrissy's Court or get immersed in a Reese Witherspoon-narrated documentary series about females in natural history — or watch Anna Kendrick befriend a sex doll, follow the twists of horror-thriller The Stranger or work your way through a new version of The Fugitive — you can now do without troubling your wallet. Quibi's lineup includes everything from dramas and comedies to news and reality TV in bite-sized portions, with instalments maxing out at ten minutes but most running shorter (between five and eight minutes). Also on the bill: 'movies in chapters', which break films down into episodic segments to fit the platform's whole concept. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKPuomRV5C8 With an ultimate aim of hitting 175 different shows and 7000 episodes in its first year, other Quibi highlights include mockumentary Nikki Fre$h, which follows Nicole Richie's efforts to become a wellness-focused rapper; cooking competition show Dishmantled, where host and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Tituss Burgess shoots food at two culinary industry figures, then forces them to try to recreate the dish in question; and Lena Waithe-hosted documentary series You Ain't Got These, about sneaker culture. There's also Flipped, starring Will Forte and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Kaitlin Olson as a down-on-their-luck couple desperate to host their own TV renovation series; Most Dangerous Game, the latest twist on the humans-hunting-humans idea, this time with Christoph Waltz and Liam Hemsworth; and Survive, which casts Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner as a suicidal patient suddenly forced to fight for her life after a plane crash. Or, you can watch luxury dog houses come to life in Barkitecture. Boasting a name that's been shortened from 'quick bites', Quibi was created by ex-Disney chairman and DreamWorks cofounder Jeffrey Katzenberg, and is led by former eBay president and CEO Meg Whitman. Before it launched, it had been in the works since 2018 — and earned ample attention thanks to its huge stash of cash (reportedly raising $1.75 billion to spend on content), as well as its hefty array of stars and shows (including an upcoming remake of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days). If you are planning to check it out on your phone, Quibi is designed to play in full-screen no matter whether your handset is vertical or horizontal — with the image automatically changing as you move your device around. Don't like ads? If you're happy to pay, Quibi has also reduced the monthly price for its advertisement-free version from AU$12.99 to AU$6.99. For further details about Quibi, visit the streaming platform's website. To download the Quibi app, head to the App Store or GooglePlay. Top image: Barkitecture.
This New Year's Eve, it's time to turn back the clock. Pumping out his signature '90s hip hop classics, the legendary Grandmaster Flash is hitting The Soda Factory for a house party like no other. Spinning an unmissable set of old-school records, the founding father of the hip hop scene will be sending off the year-that-was in spectacular fashion. The Grandmaster is gearing up to bring his truly partystarting edits to our shores this NYE. Renowned for breaking new ground and pushing the limits of what DJs are capable of, Flash paved the way for the mixing methods seen pumping across clubs and airwaves today. Tucked away in Surry Hills, The Soda Factory will play host to partygoers looking for a spot to one-two step their way into 2015. Bring your mates and best dance moves along for some Grandmaster tracks this New Year's Eve. Thanks to the Soda Factory, we're giving away a VIP NYE experience for you and SIX friends this December 31. You'll nab: 6x tickets to the NYE Grandmaster Flash House Party at The Soda Factory A VIP booth for your gang A Magnum of Chandon to share Plus, as the lucky winner, you'll have one very happy 2015, with a year's supply of hotdogs from the Soda Factory for you and a friend. Simply show your face at the Soda Factory throughout the year to collect your prize. Two runners up will also receive passes to the Soda Factory's NYE House Party. To be in the running for this prize, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address: Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au The winner will be drawn on Friday, December 26.
Press play on some Watussi and have a scroll through the Sydney Latin American Film Festival guide online. Choose from features, docos, and short films at four different venues: Dendy Opera Quays, Bankstown Arts Centre, Mu-Meson Archives and the Addison Road Centre - Casa Latina. Opening night to this festival, now in its seventh year, kicks off with Mia, a drama about a transvestite living in a slum. The director, Argentine filmmaker Javier Van de Couter, will appear in a Q&A following the screening. Cumbiamuffin (think cumbia, ragga and reggae beats) are headlining the fiesta on the opening night, served with a side of Latino nibbles and drinks. There's also a Bankstown Arts Centre opening night fiesta (if you needed some more fiesta action), with a screening of The Rumble of the Stones, Venezuela's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film in the 84th Academy Awards. This film, directed by Alejandro Bellame looks at slums, crime, and gangs, popular themes in the festival's films. The Opera Quays closing night will take a distinctly different turn, however, with Juan of the Dead, Cuba's answer to Shaun. Image from Juan of the Dead. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EQJEgOUc00Y
Since July last year, every Stranger Things fan has been troubled by one question: what happened to Hawkins' beloved police chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour)? The show's third season didn't seem to end too well for the character, all thanks to the mind flayer, the Russian lab below Starcourt Mall and that pesky gate to the Upside Down. But then, in season's final moments, a Russian-set post-script — and a mention of "the American" — left everyone with a sliver of hope. When Netflix renewed Stranger Things for a fourth season last October, it didn't give any further details away about Hopper's fate. But when it comes to dropping the first teaser for that very season, the streaming platform isn't keeping anywhere near as quiet. The just-released sneak peek is called 'From Russia with Love', which should tell you enough — and while the clip only runs for 50 seconds, it does reveal exactly what you're hoping. Resolving the show's big cliffhanger in a teaser is certainly an interesting move. Of course, the trailer doesn't unfurl any specifics — and this is Stranger Things, so, well, strange things are definitely still be at play. In a statement reported by Deadline, series creators the Duffer Brothers noted that "it's not all good news for our 'American'", while explaining that "back in the States, a new horror is beginning to surface, something long-buried, something that connects everything". While season four of Stranger Things doesn't have a release date as yet — and might not even hit Netflix until 2021 — the teaser coincides with the beginning of production on the new episodes. It's worth remembering that, when the platform did announce the show's renewal for a fourth season, it did so with the catchphrase "we're not in Hawkins anymore". Given that the third season ended with Joyce (Winona Ryder), Will (Noah Schnapp), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) leaving town, that statement doesn't just apply to Hopper. We'll have to wait to see what it means for Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Max (Sadie Sink), Steve (Joe Keery) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer), though. Check out the teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB2GYwbIAlM Stranger Things season four doesn't currently have a release date — we'll update you when Netflix announces its plans.
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is celebrating this year's NAIDOC Week theme of 'Voice. Treaty. Truth.' with a program of daily (and free!) lunchtime workshops throughout the week. also the perfect excuse to take your full lunch break and take advantage of the sunny forecast ahead while celebrating Aboriginal culture. On Monday you'll be able to learn a few tips on traditional weaving, while Tuesday will get you up and moving at a music and dance workshop. On Wednesday you can learn a bit about traditional tools and weapon, and Thursday will let you get a bit dirty with ochre (and see how it's used with traditional dance). Finish up on Friday with an art class on the Palace Garden Gate lawn just off Macquarie Street. You don't have to book in for the workshops — just rock up and join in. If you work in the city, they're a great (and free) way to get involved in NAIDOC Week, celebrate the history, achievements and diverse culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and learn something new. Plus, the forecast is looking good for this week. The workshops will run from midday until 1pm each day this week.
Sydney has had a saltbush cake-shaped hole since Kylie Kwong closed her Potts Point institution Billy Kwong in June. But, thankfully, Kwong is not quite done with our city. Today, it was announced that the famed chef will open her next venue within the huge new South Eveleigh precinct (formerly Australian Technology Park) — and that she'll also act as the precinct's ambassador. Kwong's new restaurant is slated to open in late 2020. While details are quite slim at the moment, we do know it'll focus on Cantonese dishes made with native Australian ingredients — similarly to Billy Kwong. So, we can only hope he crispy saltbush cakes and steamed warrigal greens dumplings will be making a triumphant return. We also know that the restaurant be smaller, slightly more casual and a daytime-focused venue. The chef will be working with and sourcing ingredients from the Yerrabingin Indigenous rooftop farm, too, which is run by Clarence Slockee and Christian Hampson and located just around the corner from the South Eveleigh hub. [caption id="attachment_750695" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clarence Slockee, Kylie Kwong and Christian Hampson[/caption] In her duties as ambassador for the revitalised hub, set to be fully operational by 2021, Kwong will work to engage the local community through food, culture, events and other activations. As an ambassador for Carriageworks, the chef has curated night markets, held masterclasses and hosted Mad Mondays, a talk series that tackles the big issues in food, so expect Kwong to lead more of the same exciting events over at South Eveleigh. Also announced as part of Mirvac's huge new South Eveleigh project is a mega-venue by The Grounds group. The property developer is comparing South Eveleigh to its other relatively new precinct, Tramsheds Harold Park. If the new food, retail and recreational precinct is going to be anything like its Forest Lodge counterpart, expect a heap more big names to be announced in the upcoming months.The retail and public space will include cafes, dining, wellness and pop-up events. Kylie Kwong's South Eveleigh restaurant is slated to open in late 2020. The calendar of events will be announced early in the year. Top images: South Eveleigh Precinct and Kylie Kwong
UPDATE, January 29, 2021: The Dig is available to stream via Netflix. When Ralph Fiennes first trundles across the screen in The Dig, then starts speaking in a thick Suffolk accent, he's in suitably surly mode, as he needs to be. But, playing forthright, hardworking and under-appreciated excavator Basil Brown, the adaptable Official Secrets, Hail, Caesar!, Spectre and A Bigger Splash star also flirts with overstatement in his initial scenes. Thankfully, Fiennes settles into his role quickly. What starts out threatening to dissolve into caricature — not a charge aimed at the actor very often across his long career — soon becomes a measured, layered and earthy performance that's quietly weighty and moving. The self-taught Basil has spent a lifetime being judged by his voice, demeanour and appearance, and not on his talents and intellect, which Fiennes conveys with a firm but also delicate touch. As he finds his groove, not only while his character shovels dirt but in his conversations with those around him, this 1939-set drama about a real-life archaeological discovery also finds its rhythm with him. Hired by Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman) to burrow into what appear to be centuries-old burial mounds on her sprawling estate, Basil doesn't unearth any old junk. His kindly employer has always had a feeling about the small hills on her property, as she tells him in one of their friendly, leisurely chats, and her instincts prove more than accurate when they're found to contain Anglo-Saxon relics dating back to the sixth or seventh century. Basil initially dismisses Edith's suggestion about one particular mound; however, he swiftly realises that she too has spent her years being cast aside — due to her gender, not her class — by others. Their discovery on the site now known as Sutton Hoo is immense. It sparks national attention, including from museum head honchos who were barely interested when Edith first went asking for help excavating her property. Indeed, they cared so little about assisting Edith, and what her land might contain, that they fobbed off the job to Basil. The latter was well-recommended, and rightly so, but the way in which he came to be in Edith's employment smacks of men of authority, wealth or both who think they inherently know better than everyone, especially those they consider beneath them. Telling this tale, The Dig adapts the 2007 novel of the same name by John Preston — exploring Basil's work, Edith's fight to retain both recognition and the items buried deep in her soil, her increasing health woes, and the keen excitement of her primary school-aged son Robert (Archie Barnes, Patrick) as the excavation continues. It also follows the circus that arises when the British Museum's Charles Phillips (Ken Stott, The Mercy) insists on taking over once objects of value are found, and the love triangle that forms between his married employees Stuart (Ben Chaplin, The Children Act) and Peggy Piggott (Lily James, Rebecca) and Edith's airforce-bound cousin Rory Lomax (Johnny Flynn, Emma). The latter is the film's least convincing and least necessary element, smacking of pointlessly adding a romantic subplot to ramp up the drama. Still, whether you already know Sutton Hoo's story or you're learning the details for the first time, The Dig nonetheless relays an astonishing chapter of history. The first half of the 20th century was a staggering time for unearthing the past in general, as the movie nods to when Edith and Basil mention the exhumation of Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt just the decade prior. That said, spending time at an archaeological site mightn't sound like rich and riveting viewing — but this fascinating feature proves that notion wrong. While The Dig doesn't hone in on the scooping, shovelling and scraping too often, every shot that does leave an imprint. Such images also reinforce the film's broader contemplation of longevity, mortality and legacies, too. This is a movie that steps back into the past, chronicles an extraordinary historical discovery, and ponders the reality that time comes for all things and people. We all hope to leave a mark, to ensure that generations to come know that we once walked this earth, and to live on in the minds of those who follow after us, but the reality is that not everyone gets to. We can't all have our treasures dug up more than a thousand years after our deaths, or have our names etched in the history books for finding someone else's. We can all hope to be remembered by those nearest to us, those dearest to them and so on, though. As well as its true tale and its ruminative, melancholy undercurrent, The Dig benefits from two important decisions: the casting of Mulligan and Fiennes, and the involvement of Australian theatre director-turned-filmmaker Simon Stone. After the anger and raw energy of Promising Young Woman, Mulligan finds power in restraint here. Arriving back to back, her two recent performances are almost whiplash-inducing; that's how extensively they survey her range. Once Fiennes finds his knack as Basil, he's a source of stoic potency as well. Indeed, Mulligan and Fiennes' scenes together rank among the movie's best, although, making his first feature since 2015's The Daughter, Stone ensures that even the most routine of moments is never dull. The Dig abounds with sun-dappled imagery of Suffolk fields, their green and yellow expanse being carved into one spade at a time, but it's a gorgeously lensed picture in every frame. Stone and cinematographer Mike Eley (who also worked on The White Crow, which was directed by Fiennes) rarely shoot anything within view in the expected manner, resulting in a film that appears the handsome period part, yet also looks and feels fluid and lively. It has a sense of movement, of living, of truly engaging with everything within its view, rather than just peering on. And, while gouging into the land sometimes disinters valuables and sometimes just offers more dirt, this graceful movie proves a consistent gem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZQz0rkNajo Image: Larry Horricks/Netflix.
Every actor has one, albeit in various shades, lengths and textures, but sometimes one single hairstyle says everything about a film. Wildly careening in whichever direction it seems to feel like at any point, yet also strikingly sculptural, the towering reddish stack of curly locks atop Penélope Cruz's head in Official Competition is one such statement-making coiffure. It's a stunning sight, with full credit to the movie's hairstylists. These tremendous tresses are both unruly and immaculate; they draw the eye in immediately, demanding the utmost attention. And, yes, Cruz's crowning glory shares those traits with this delightful Spanish Argentine farce about filmmaking — a picture directed and co-written by Mariano Cohn and Gastуn Duprat (The Distinguished Citizen), and also starring Antonio Banderas (Uncharted) and Oscar Martínez (Wild Tales), that it's simply impossible to look away from. Phenomenal hair is just the beginning for Cruz here. Playing filmmaker Lola Cuevas — a Palme d'Or-winning arthouse darling helming an ego-stroking prestige picture for rich octogenarian businessman Humberto Suárez (José Luis Gómez, Truman) — she's downright exceptional as well. Humberto decides to throw some cash into making a movie in the hope of leaving a legacy that lasts, and enlisting Lola to work her magic with a Nobel Prize-winning novel called Rivalry is quite the coup. So is securing the talents of flashy global star Félix Rivero (Banderas) and serious theatre actor Iván Torres (Martínez), a chalk-and-cheese pair who'll work together for the first time, stepping into the shoes of feuding brothers. But before the feature can cement its backer's name in history, its three key creatives have to survive an exacting rehearsal process. Lola believes in rigorous preparation, and in testing and stretching her leading men, with each technique she springs on them more outlandish and stressful than the last. As Lola, Cruz is a 'find yourself someone who can do both'-kind of marvel. She's clearly starring in a comedy, and her timing, rhythms and line delivery are as fine-tuned as any acting great who has ever tried to amuse an audience — and serve up a hefty reminder that viewers rarely get to see her in such a role — but she perfects the drama of the situation, too. The latter stems from Lola's male leads, who are caught up in a clash of egos, and from the director herself as she keeps eagerly but purposefully pulling their strings. Light, fluid, sharp, smart: they all fit this savvily portrayed character, and never for a second does Cruz feel like she's seesawing too easily, needlessly or temperamentally from comic to serious and back. Earlier in 2022, she was nominated for an Oscar for her sublime performance in Parallel Mothers — an award she deserved to win, but didn't — and although Official Competition couldn't be a more different film, she's just as much of a force to be reckoned with within its frames. Cohn and Duprat might have a little of Lola in them, as well as conjuring her up with fellow scribe Andrés Duprat (My Masterpiece). The Argentine filmmaking duo's rehearsal methods aren't part of the movie, obviously, and it's likely that they didn't wrap their cast in cling wrap as their protagonist hilariously does — but, whatever mechanisms they deployed, they obtain outstanding performances from their key players. This is Cruz's film, but Banderas revels in the chance to cleverly and cannily satirise his profession and industry as much as she does, with the two teaming up yet again after featuring side by side in plenty of Pedro Almodóvar's movies (see: Pain and Glory most recently). The playful teasing is ramped up a level, and there's a greater emphasis on his killer stare, which can flip from brooding to charming to pouting in an instant; however, the result remains remarkable. Martínez plays it relatively straight in-between his co-stars, but is no less compelling; Iván has his own ego battles. Getting Cruz, Bandereas and Martínez bouncing off of each other was always bound to spark something special. They're acting in the service of unpacking acting, and their pitch-perfect portrayals perceptively probe and parody in tandem. The arrogance that comes with fame, the quest for constant validation, the ridiculousness of being a celebrity — they're all targets for laughs, as is the gaping chasm between acting megastardom and everything else. None of these spark new revelations, but Official Competition isn't merely content to get three top talents turning in ace performances to merely state the blatant. Cohn and Duprat's work relies upon acting, and they clearly treasure it as an artform, even as they poke fun at it. The jokes land, but their film also has time to appreciate the emotional toll that goes into a dynamite performance and the sincerity summoned up by the best of the best, all as Lola wrings everything she can out of Félix and Iván. Her tactics, unfurled across their nine-day pre-shoot period, and designed to get the two men to discard their senses of self and become one with their characters, would do Wile E Coyote proud. They're more mischievous than torturous, though — and they're also shrewd and very funny. In one, Félix and Iván argue beneath a giant rock, suspended precariously above them, heightening their anxiety while Lola is thoroughly nonplussed. Another gets them practicing their kissing techniques in front of a bank of microphones so that every sound can be heard and critiqued, with their director ruthless in her scrutiny. In yet another, getting wrapped in plastic together, which both Félix and Iván unsurprisingly abhor, is part of a bold and drastic plan to get the pair to relinquish their reliance upon external approval. What images these three scenarios, and others like them, spark — capturing Cruz and that hairdo, naturally, and so much more. Plenty about Official Competition sounds surreal, and it's certainly how this spectacularly staged and shot feature looks at every moment. Eccentric and meticulous are words that describe Lola and, of course, her coif; they couldn't sum up the movie's production design or cinematography better, too. Here's another that fits: magnificent. Director of photography Arnau Valls Colomer (Lost Transmissions) operates on a Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul level of visual precision, spanning where the camera is placed, the angles it peers on from, the painterly composition of each and every image, and what that level of detail says about an industry that's all about detail. Like the gem it is, everything about this film gleams.
Beloved Potts Point wine bar and restaurant Dear Sainte Éloise is turning up the heat this winter with a new Guest Chef Series, kicking off on Tuesday, July 29. The monthly event sees some of Sydney's most exciting chefs team up with Dear Sainte Éloise's Head Chef Tom Cleland for one-off seasonal set menus served across the venue's cosy dining spaces. The first guest of the series is Tom Bromwich of Ennui, who will bring the Haymarket restaurant's French, Thai and Japanese-inspired dishes to the popular wine bar. Be sure to pair Bromwich's crowd-pleasing dishes with wines from Dear Sainte Éloise's award-winning list for a truly decadent experience. Dishes include the ever-popular fried polenta served up with puffed sorghum and chermoula mayo. Or, try the smoked mussels with lemon habanada kosho and of course, the signature Duck Ennui with bone sauce. Then, finish it off with a rich chocolate terrine and brandy cream. Next up, Chez Crix's Wesley Cooper Jones and Refettorio OzHarvest's Jez Wick will be showcasing their own seasonal set menus in August and September respectively. This Guest Chef Series will run on Tuesday, July 29, Tuesday, August 26, and Wednesday, September 17, with seatings starting from 5pm. Bookings are essential for the full set menu ($89) via SevenRooms. However, walk-ins can enjoy a curated selection of snacks at the bar.
The experiences of Afghan and Persian migrants are central to Blacktown Arts Centre's new program Daneha. Launched in early July, this epic project includes art, talks, live music, theatre and interactive adventures. At the program's heart is a major exhibition featuring new works by Avan Anwar (Melbourne), Elyas Alavi (Adelaide), Zainab Haidariy (Germany), Gerrie Mifsud (Sydney) and Blacktown's own Khadim Ali, winner of the NSW Government's 2016 Western Sydney Arts Fellowship. In addition, local group Afghan Women on the Move will present a series created in community workshops led by Maryam Zahid. "Afghan Women on the Move creates a radically safe platform for women as survivors of war and trauma, to gather and participate in arts and cultural programs, outside of religious and political influences," says Zahid. To deepen your knowledge of the artworks, get along to the artist talks, happening on Saturday, August 18 and Saturday, September 1 from 4–6.30pm. Entry is free, but online registration is essential. Finally, rounding out the program is the Australian premiere of Sitaraha – The Stars, a one-woman play covering the stories of three generations of Afghan women, taking place Thursday, September 6 and Saturday, September 8 at 7.30pm; and Sunday, September 9 at 3pm. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here. Images: Sharon Hickey.
Late in January, the Alliance Française French Film Festival confirmed the news that Australian movie-goers wanted to hear: not only that the annual cinema showcase would be back this year, notching up its 33rd round of fests, but that it had set its dates and first ten movies. Now, the event has freshly unveiled its full program — so get ready to watch your way through more than 40 flicks that'll whisk you off to France while you're munching popcorn in your cinema seat. There's no shortage of highlights from this year's complete lineup — including the festival's opening night pick, the 19th-century Paris-set Lost Illusions, which had already been announced — but Claire Denis' Fire is easily one of the most exciting films on the bill. It'll play AFFFF straight from the Berlinale, and marks the acclaimed French filmmaker's first release since 2018's exceptional High Life. It also stars her Let the Sunshine In lead Juliette Binoche, with the romantic drama pairing the latter up with French actor Vincent Lindon (Titane) for the first time. Also a standout: Happening, winner of the 2021 Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, which adapts Annie Ernaux's autobiographical novel about the rights of women in France in the 60s. It just nabbed filmmaker Audrey Diwan a BAFTA nomination for Best Director, and follows a bright young student who gets pregnant, then sees her options — for her future, and regarding what to do about her situation — quickly dwindle. When AFFFF tours Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart — and in Byron Bay and Parramatta, too — from Tuesday, March 1–Sunday, April 24, the exceptional Petite Maman also sits at the very top of the fest's must-see list. The latest film from Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Céline Sciamma, it already made a few Australian festival appearances in 2021, and channels the director's trademark sensitivity and empathy into a sci-fi-skewing tale of mothers and daughters that's instantly among Sciamma's best. Other top new picks from its complete lineup include the latest film in the OSS 117 spy spoof series, OSS 117: From Africa With Love, once again starring The Artist Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin; François Ozon's Everything Went Fine, which sees the Summer of 85 filmmaker tackle the right to die with dignity; Paris, 13th District, a love story from A Prophet and Rust and Bone's Jacques Audiard; and Murder Party, a murder-mystery with big Cluedo vibes. Or, there's also Anaïs in Love, a rom-com about a woman having an affair with a married man but then falling for his wife; biopic Authentik, about French hip-hop duo Suprême NTM; World War II drama Farewell, Mr Haffmann, as based on the play; and friendship drama The Braves, about two twentysomething women following their dreams to become theatre actors. And yes, the list of French cinema treats gracing the fest's full bill goes on — so don't say you don't have anything to see at the cinema in March and April. ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2022 DATES: March 1–April 6, with encore screenings from April 7–10: Palace Central, Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema and Hayden Orpheum Cremorne, Sydney March 2–April 6, with encore screenings from April 7–10: Palace Electric, Canberra March 3–April 6, with encore screenings from April 7–10: Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Como. Palace Westgarth, Pentridge Cinema, The Kino and The Astor Theatre , Melbourne March 9–20: State Cinema, Hobart March 9–April 6, with encore screenings from April 7–10: Camelot Outdoor Cinema, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, Palace Raine Square and Windsor Cinema, Perth March 16–April 13, with encore screenings from April 14–18: Palace Barracks and Palace James Street, Brisbane March 24–April 24, with encore screenings from April 25–26: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide, plus Victa Cinemas, Victor Harbor March 30–April 14, with encore screenings from April 15–16: Palace Byron Bay, Byron Bay April 7–10: Parramatta Riverside Theatres, Parramatta The Alliance Française French Film Festival tours Australia from Tuesday, March 1–Tuesday, April 26. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the AFFFF website.
Chippendale stalwart The Lord Gladstone Hotel is joining the growing list of local businesses that are encouraging vaccination by giving away freebies. If you've been vaccinated, you can make the most of promotions including hotel room upgrades, cheap sneakers and frequent flyer points. Now, The Gladdy is reinventing itself as The Lord Jabstone Hotel for the month of September and giving jabbed patrons a free takeaway Young Henrys beer. The beloved pub has even adorned itself with a new sign to mark the occasion. "We know the quickest way back to a thriving pub again is through vaccination, we back our doctors and scientists and wanna show our support to all the legends doing their part for the greater community," owner Mitch Crum says. In order to claim your free takeaway tinnie, just head into The Jabstone and show proof of vaccination. The promotion is available for anyone who has received their first jab of any COVID-19 vaccine. [caption id="attachment_723814" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lord Gladstone owners Ben Johnson and Mitch Crum[/caption] If you need more motivation to swing past Chippendale, you can pick up a meal from the pub's excellent takeaway menu. Swing past on a Thursday to take advantage of its $12.50 steak night, or come by on a Saturday for slow-smoked charcoal chicken or pork rib packs. The inner city mainstay's menu also features a range of pub classics, burgers, salads and tacos. Other pubs offering free beers to encourage vaccination include Rozelle's Bald Rock Hotel and the Prince Alfred Hotel down in Melbourne. Earlier this month, Hawke's Brewing Co also hosted a giveaway, offering 'slabs for jabs' to vaccinated Sydneysiders. NSW's path out of stay-at-home conditions is tied to vaccination rates, with more restrictions set to relax when the state hits 70-percent and 80-percent double doses. These thresholds are in line with Australia's overall 'National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response' that was announced in July, which steps through how the country aims to move away from lockdowns, temper restrictions for fully vaxxed folks and handle COVID-19 cases moving forward. If you're looking to book your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, this helpful map shows vaccination clinics across NSW. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW and to have a look at the COVID-19 vaccination map, head to the NSW Government website. You can also keep up-to-date with the latest restrictions including mask-wearing and travel limitations via the NSW Health website. The Lord Gladstone is located at 115 Regent St, Chippendale and is open 11am–8pm Wednesday–Saturday for takeaway throughout Sydney's lockdown.
Often, the best summer getaways are the ones you don't spend months planning. It's when you spot a cheap airfare and simply go ahead and book flights, or you say yes to joining your mates on a last-minute road trip — free of all the back and forth on Whatsapp. Whatever the case, there's nothing quite like an impromptu adventure. But, one of the key things you shouldn't rush is what to pack. Arriving at that out-of-town cabin without a bottle of wine, or a set of headphones, can really put a dampener on things. We've teamed up with Sunglass Hut to bring you an essential list of what to chuck in your bag before you hit the road. We've covered all bases, from keeping you safe in the sun, to maximising your fun times. Keep one of these six goodies in your bag or car and you'll be half way to a cracking getaway. PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS Summer isn't summer without a super-relaxing soundtrack. Whether you're hanging in your hotel room or hitting a private beach, you don't want to have to hide the party in your headphones. So, throw a portable bluetooth speaker in your bag and you'll be ready to rock out wherever you go. And, if you're planning lots of sand, surf and swimming, make sure it's water resistant. Ticking all these boxes – while providing top-notch sound and weighing just 540 grams – is the Bose SoundLink Color II. It's also pretty tough because of its silicone covering, which comes in a range of colours. LIGHTWEIGHT, SAND-PROOF TOWEL Gone are the days when your travel pack has to weighed down by a wet, sandy towel. Thanks to advancements in materials technology and ambitious entrepreneurs, there's now a bunch of lightweight, yet effective, alternatives. Chances are your Instagram feed is already flooded with turkish towels, famous for their social media-friendly colours and prints. Also worth considering is the sand-proof towel. Our pick is Tesalate. The full-sized beach towels start from $79 and they can absorb over one litre of water, but still fit neatly into your bag. But the truly impressive part is that it repels sand, so you don't have to worry about taking half the beach home with you when you leave. GIANT (OR TRAVEL-SIZED) JENGA With a lot of laying in bed and even more lounging around by the pool to do, you'll need some inspiration to get moving. So, why not include a pack of giant jenga on your list? If you're travelling by vehicle, and have plenty of space, this Giant Jumbling Tower from Sunnylife ($69.95) will do the trick. If you're flying, and running out of kilos, go for the nifty travel version ($19.95). Jenga not your thing? How about pick up sticks ($9.95 — also available in a backpack-friendly edition) or an old-fashioned four-in-one ($19.95), which includes cards, dominoes and dice? PARASOL Want to avoid sunburn, but don't want to cover up your beautiful face with a hat? Shelter from the sun with a parasol — an umbrella, but for the sun. In fact, parasols are much, much older than the umbrella; the earliest known parasols date all the way back to ancient Egypt and ancient China. And, in the 18th and 19th centuries, they were a crucial element of any serious fashionista's get-up. But, if you're looking for a more modern version, you might consider Sunbella, a parasol developed by Australian mother and daughter duo Jillian and Casey. The Coast Sun Parasol, pictured, is $54.95. SUNNIES Of course, you want to look good while you're on your holidays, and you can't go wrong with a pair of designer sunnies. If you want to try on a stack without having to travel from store to store, then Sunglass Hut is the place to go. Look out for Persol, which takes its name from "per il sole", which means "for the sun". Pictured above are the Persol polarised lenses for $390. Also winning a lot of love this summer is Versace, with its classic and elegant unisex designs. For a bold look, with just the right amount of bling in the form of Versace's medusa, check out the VE4376B ($379.95). WATERMELON KEGGING KIT Can't fit an entire keg into your break bag? Fret not. Invest in a kegging kit instead, and, when you get to your destination, pick up a watermelon (or similar fruit). Slice said fruit, so it can stand up on a flat surface, remove the flesh so you have a hollow cavity, fit the tap, then fill with your beverage of choice — may we suggest the Watermelon Smash Sour Beer by Stomping Ground or Serpents Kiss Watermelon Pilsner by Grifter Brewing Comany. And voila! You're ready to drink in style. The watermelon kegging kit is available at Peter's of Kensington stores for $16, and it comes with everything you need — except watermelon and booze. Face your summer head on with new shades from Sunglass Hut. Top image: Cristofer Jeschke.
Our city's biggest summer celebration of local and international talent has finally arrived – and you've managed to bag tickets! Good start, compadre. But as any regular arts-goer knows, finding pre- or post-show eats is a tricky business. That's why we've chosen our top places near the main Sydney Festival venues, so whether you're heading to Carriageworks for Kiss and Cry, Enmore Theatre for Atomic Bomb! or the Seymour Centre for Adrienne Truscott's Asking for It, we've got your nosh needs covered. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... THE SPIEGELTENTS, CITY RECITAL HALL OR SYDNEY TOWN HALL Festival Village Go for offerings from Bar Pho, Harvest Trader & Co, Jafe Jaffles and more, but leave room for the American-style fare at The Double Down Diner, a genius collaboration between two of our favourite Sydney venues, Gelato Messina and Porteno. While the guys behind Sydney's best Argentinian grill will dish up the savouries (think cheesesteaks, chilli dogs and waffles), Messina promises a gelato burger and pecan gelato 'fried chicken' for dessert. Mary’s CBD Mary's has brought its signature burgers (plus some deliciously thick new inventions) over from Newtown. Located on Castlereagh Street, the new Mary’s CBD has two floors, with the upper level functioning as a production space, while downstairs is the kitchen and takeaway counter. The menu features the same burgers we know and love from Newtown. Add to that the new chicken burger, super crispy French fries, and thickshakes. Did someone say smoked maple? China Lane Underneath an art installation nest of bird cages in Angel Lane, China Lane is a mix of suits, trendy young things checking out the CBD’s hidden laneway escape, and daters. If you’ve seen any of director Wong Kar-wai’s movies, you’ll get the idea – moody lighting, a modern sense of decor mixed with ’50s Hong Kong glamour, and general snappiness. Japanese sashimi rubs up against Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai on the menu, showing head chef Ben Haywood’s dexterity with Pan Asian cuisine. Mordeo Offering the best of Southern European cuisine, Mordeo brings a little piece of the Mediterranean to the inner city. Owner and executive chef Nicholas Aspros worked alongside head chef Marc Gehret to curate an innovative collection of fresh, produce-driven dishes, focusing on the vibrant flavours of Greece, Italy and Spain and ranging from tapas to generous share plates, woodfired meats and pizza. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... THE OPERA HOUSE OR SYDNEY THEATRE The new-look Opera Bar D'uh. Pop by this revamped icon and see if it's finally done good. Equip yourself with a refreshing pomegranate and mint Sydney Sling ($18) and head outside to the sun-drenched deck where you and 699 other people can now find a seat. The House Eatery by George pop-up on the Opera House Forecourt Kick back in a low-slung cabana chair under a beach umbrella and sample the cocktail menu, which includes the rapaska (vodka, fresh raspberry and passionfruit puree, fresh cloudy apple juice, orange juice) and the San Francisco-invented Tommy’s margarita (Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, fresh lime juice, agave syrup). The Morrison Bar and Oyster Room Perch yourself on the bar and you can watch the action right before your eyes as Morrison’s oyster maestros shuck your Pacific, Angassi or Rock oysters to order. Alternatively, opt for the Fast Festival Feast menu, and graze your way through a tasting plate, a main and side to share with a glass of wine each for $30pp. The Glenmore The much loved local’s-style pub remains on ground level, but as you head up the stairs towards the first level and rooftop terrace, you can see just how much this oldie has been spruced up. It has one of the best views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, along with some great pub food. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... CARRIAGEWORKS Rubyos Newtown institution Rubyos is offering a Fast Festival Feast for $30 a head – a selection of no less than six grazing plates to share. The special menu covers an eclectic selection of dishes, ranging from sweet pea salad and pan-fried haloumi, to twice-cooked pork belly and Korean fried chicken wings. The Animal at Newtown Hotel The Animal restaurant unites Newtown’s Greek migrant history with its colourful, trendy present. It’s unfussy, friendly and reasonably priced. The main lure is whole animals cooked on the spit, making up a medley of daily specials. Cornerstone at Carriageworks You're there, it's there, what more do you want? We love the colossal monster ferns hanging from cranes, the Edison bulbs burning seductively like lanterns along a lakeside dock, and the option of outdoor seating. The bar food menu is solid and served fast. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... THE SEYMOUR CENTRE The Rose Hotel With a lively atmosphere, reasonable prices (thanks to a student-dominated clientele), and a lamp-lit beer garden to boot, the Rose is one of your best options in this part of town. Despite being sandwiched between busy City Road even busier Cleveland Street, the pub manages to keep things intimate. Go for the prolonged happy hours and experimental pizza toppings. The Duck Inn Less like a pub, more like your mate's place – complete with board games and comfy couches – the Duck Inn does 'homey vibe' well. The pub food doesn't disappoint either, with the menu covering a number of pub classics (beef burger, bangers and mash), plus some new favourites ('deconstructed' beef wellington and BBQ octopus). IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... ENMORE THEATRE Hartsyard There’s no denying Hartsyard’s heritage; it’s palpably American in taste, substance and style. As soon as you push open the glass door, the smell of hickory smoked pork greets you with open arms. Salvaged timber and industrial lighting, utility and charm, Hartsyard sits at the intersection of bustling farmhouse kitchen and buzzing late-night diner. A visit wouldn’t be complete without feasting on their fried chicken, served with buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy ($29) just like they do in the South Carolina low country. Just remember that you won’t be able to enjoy KFC in the same way ever again. Lentil as Anything Who said you can’t make friends with salad? The not-for-profit vegan chain Lentil as Anything has quickly become the darling of King Street. No need to book, just turn up for amazing food and an atmosphere that can’t be beat. As 30 percent of the ingredients are donated from food rescue operations, the menu changes often so you’ll need to ask your waiter what’s on offer. If you swing by on a Friday or Saturday night, head upstairs for a tasty tonic in their new Lentil on the Rocks mocktail bar. Secret Garden Bar Right next to the Enmore Theatre you'll find Secret Garden, a lush, green sanctuary with overflowing hanging baskets above, field-ploughing paraphernalia to the side (courtesy of owner Ashleigh Cavagnino’s grandmother) and outside-furniture-style chez lounges connecting tables along the main wall. As food goes, currently Secret Garden serves just one type of dish: the gluten-free Columbian cornmeal snack widely known as arepas. And, quite frankly, they serve it good. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... PARRAMATTA/RIVERSIDE THEATRES El-Phoenician There may be cheaper Lebanese options along Parramatta's Church Street, but you're unlikely to find better quality than at El-Phoenician. Known for its generous servings and loud groups, this local institution is offering festivalgoers a Fast Festival Feast menu of all your favourites – expect hummus, tabouli, falafel, shish tawouk, kamb kafta and an endless supply of bread. If you'd like some belly dancing on the side, head there on a weekend. The Emporium While this dual-level food and wine mecca from the guys behind the Coffee Emporium franchise isn't set to open til January 15, the new venture promises great things for festivalgoers and Parramatta locals alike. With a Mediterranean-inspired menu designed by chef Leon Volk and an international wine list, The Emporium hopes to the raise the bar of the area's main eats street. Don't go past the Fast Festival Feast menu, with a whole Spanish mackerel, a fresh Tuscan panzanella salad and a glass of Massena Viognier or Roussanne on offer throughout the festival. Sabu This contemporary Japanese restaurant and sake bar sports a sleek fitout and a prime position in the Eat Street district of Parramatta. The menu ranges from sushi, sashimi to robata, with cocktails, sake and sake flights on offer. Sabu is known to exhibit local artists and often surprises guests with live performances, so if you're looking for a culture-infused dinner spot to relax in ahead of your SydFest adventures, this is your go-to. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... THE STAR PizzAperta Located at the entrance to Star City , this openair pizzeria offers you a better place to spend your dough. With stone-milled flour from Padova, olive oil from Tuscany and a pizza oven from Naples, PizzAperta was created by Stefano Manfredi, the Australian godfather of Italian cuisine, and it’s backed by an impressive Neapolitan woodfire oven (a Stefano Ferrara M130 for all you buffs out there). The outdoor venue has piazza seating (aka Pirrama Road footpath) or you can people-watch from a sleek timber bench bar — a particularly enjoyable sport with the casino entrance nearby. BLACK by Ezard Set within luxurious surrounds, BLACK by ezard is the Star’s steak in shining armour. A favourite amongst the casino’s high rolling gamblers, BLACK is a beef fiend’s haven. Chef Teage Ezard plates up American grill-inspired steaks and a considered seafood menu, offering diners variety in choice. If you're after a Fast Festival Feast, two courses for $55 — an entrée of tomato vine ripened salad, buffalo cheese, green kalamata olives, white balsamic and basil dressing and a main course of kingfish salsa verde with fennel salad. Balla Balla's Milanese cuisine is fresh and seasonal served with a side of harbourside view overlooking Jones Bay Wharf. This Milanese ‘osteria’ (translating as ‘traditional restaurant’), is headed up by chef Gabriele Taddeucci (ex Ucello and then Beresford). Fast Festival Feasts are value for money here — three courses for $55; saikou salmon with pea purée and preserved lemon, then a choice of orecchiette with prawns, cherry tomatoes and oregano or grilled lamb cutlets with smoked eggplant purée and summer salad, and a tartufo al cioccolato for dessert. By the Concrete Playground team.
Beware wells in the middle of the forest, crawling women with long black hair completely covering their faces and, naturally, any VHS tapes that depict both. Along with a healthy disdain for viral videos, that's what the Ring franchise has taught us over the past three decades — and the original Japanese series isn't done yet. The seventh film in the initial saga, Sadako follows psychology counsellor Mayu Akigawa (Elaiza Ikeda). Her younger brother is a YouTuber, and her latest patient may have a connection to the eponymous murderous spirit that's known to haunt videotapes. Yes, that likely means that someone will let the killer ghost loose on the internet, giving anyone who sees the creepy force just seven days to live. While Ring's concept was always going to play with the online world at some point, perhaps the most exciting aspect of Sadako is its filmmaker, with Hideo Nakata returning after directing the initial Japanese flick Ringu. He also helmed sequel Ring 2, as well as the sequel to the American remake, called The Ring Two. If you're a fan of J-horror, you've probably seen his other flicks, such as Dark Water and Kaidan. Ring actually started on the page back in 1991, thanks to a horror mystery novel series that spawned printed follow-ups called Spiral, Loop, Birthday, S and Tide. On-screen, the Japanese films debuted in 1998, and are split over two different timelines — with Sadako following on from 1999's Ring 2, and the other branch releasing its first follow-up in 1998, two more 3D movies in 2012 and 2013 that are confusingly also called Sadako, plus a cross-over with the Ju-on series named Sadako vs. Kayako in 2016. Of course, there's also the three American movies, starting with 2002's well-received The Ring starring Naomi Watts and ending with 2017's terrible Rings. A South Korean remake, The Ring Virus, also popped up in 1999. Check out the trailer for Sadako below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-Pftw4fd8k Sadako doesn't currently have a release date Down Under — we'll update you if and when that changes. Via IndieWire.
In the universe of human relationships, one burns brighter than any other, at any point able to explode and flood the world with light or to cave into a black hole. Teenage girl best friends: they're supernovas. The fuel is in component parts who haven't yet learnt to distrust or hold back and for whom boundaries of intimacy, sexuality, friendship and love are still fluid. With your bestie in tow and the whole future still verdant and uncharted, real-world restraints seem small indeed. The world of Smashed is so small its protagonists stomp over the fragile paper-and-plywood houses, the doll-size model vehicles, the green grounds of suburbia. Hazel (Suzannah McDonald) and Ruby (Katherine Tonkin) have their heads quite literally in the stars. Their names are too good, and they know it. Everything is heightened; everything is possible. The most beautiful thing about Smashed is that it sustains the special dynamics of its characters' relationship while throwing them into a metaphysical world where the past crashes into the future, memory blurs with fact and the mechanics of their friendship are strewn across the stage. A tragedy has occurred, they say but do not specify before unravelling the years of shared moments that led to it: performing a school science skit, supporting each other through loss and terror, imagining their lives as empowered businesswomen, cuddling, kissing and re-enacting Dirty Dancing. This production first played six years ago in Melbourne, and it has now been revived through Griffin Independent with its parts — actors, director, set, sound — intact. You can see why: it's a perfect, enchanting, vivacious 45 minutes of theatre. It could even afford to be longer. Director Clare Watson and the team devised it in collaboration with playwright Lally Katz, and it's clearly a project that has stuck with them since. As great as it will be to one day see this play with a new frame and young actors who match the nervy freshness of the characters, you worry you will miss the maturity of these performances and the poetry age brings to their "time travel". Tonkin has a lovely energy and wonderment as Ruby, and McDonald, as the louder, more dominant friend, communicates so much in times of wordlessness you feel the full dread of the impending tragedy. Smashed is an extraordinarily powerful and self-aware piece of writing, at once recalling vividly the youthful sense of being the first person ever to authentically live in the world and having the wisdom of distance and reflection to know better. It's warm and funny. For half the audience at least, it'll take you back to your own old friendships. If there's something you've always wanted to say to your girlhood bestie, Katz and the crew have found the words. https://youtube.com/watch?v=h_MIGI-XFRQ
There have been seemingly endless conversation surrounding the topic of pill testing of late, as we face some pretty grim figures — five young people have died from suspected drug overdoses at NSW festivals in as many months. But despite these devastating and ever-growing stats, the government has remained firmly opposed pill testing as a harm minimisation measure at raves and festivals. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian continues to vocally squash the idea, and it wasn't even considered by the expert panel assembled to produce the Keeping People Safe At Music Festivals report a few months back. Now, Sydneysiders have the chance to throw their support behind pill testing and push for the government to also get on board, at a protest rally at Sydney's Town Hall this Saturday, January 19. During the rally, there'll be a series of speeches from harm minimisation experts and campaigners at Town Hall from 4pm, before the march moves on through to Hyde Park. With an expected turnout of over 7000, the rally is being backed by a coalition of advocate groups, including Keep Sydney Open, anti-sniffer dog campaign Sniff Off, Reclaim The Streets, Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Unharm, which campaigns for safe and positive drug use. Pill testing advocates across the country maintain that it can save lives, citing extensive research carried out internationally, as well as the results of Australia's only pill testing trial, which was carried out at Canberra's Groovin The Moo last year. At any rate, many argue the rising death toll makes it pretty clear that the government's current zero-tolerance approach to drugs isn't working. "We're throwing this protest because we're sick of reading the same headlines about young people dying around us," said Reclaim The Streets spokesperson Kieran Adair. "Festival overdoses are easily so preventable, the Government needs to stop burying its head in the sand and listen to the experts." Image: Keep Sydney Open rally, Kimberley Low.
Fans of the legendary Stephen Fry should prepare to laugh, cry and squabble over ticket sales because the man himself is coming down under in November with a new comedy show, Telling Tales. The announcement hit hungry inboxes this morning, accompanied by an arguably redundant biography about Fry’s history of making us laugh, cry and think; from his days in A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Blackadder all the way up to his poignant LGBT doco Out There. Yes, we know who he is. Yes, we will sell our hair to go to his show and bask in his glowing presence. Fry will be hitting the big cities, Melbourne (Hamer Hall), Canberra (Royal Theatre, Perth (Riverside Theatre) and Sydney (State Theatre). Sorry Brisbane, next time. The show has been described rather alliteratively as an evening of "fun, frolic and uniquely Fryish delight" but let's be honest, the host of QI, the best TV quiz show of all time, needs no fancy introduction. Frankly we’d respond the same way to an email that just barked, "Stephen Fry is coming to Oz, buy a ticket you garbage people." Speaking of, tickets go on sale Tuesday 1 September at 9am. STEPHEN FRY'S TELLING TALES 2015 TOUR DATES: Monday, November 9 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne. Tickets via Arts Centre Box Office or Ticketmaster. Saturday, November 14 — Royal Theatre, Canberra. Tickets via Ticketek. Tuesday, November 17 — Riverside Theatre, Perth. Tickets via Ticketek. Saturday, November 21 — State Theatre, Sydney. Tickets via Ticketmaster. Image: Virgin.
Since rebranding as Sydney Brewery back in 2013, originally Schwartz Brewery, the heavily awarded craft brewery has become known for its suburb-specific beers. Now, it has expanded past its World Square digs and opened its very own brewhouse in Surry Hills. Located on the corner of Albion and Mary Streets within the Rydges Hotel, it's boasting fresh brews, beer-filled pub grub and live music. While The Cidery (also within a Rydges Hotel) may showcase the brewery's range, the Surry Hills spot is a homegrown brewpub through and through — with owner Dr Jerry Schwartz heading the renovations. The fit-out takes on the typical warehouse vibes we've come to expect from the Sydney craft scene, with design elements like exposed brick and concrete walls, unfinished timber floors and patchwork wooden tables. The brewery will of course be slinging the suburb's namesake Surry Hills Pils and Darlo Dark, with the addition of the new Albion Ale, which will be brewed onsite. The shiny brew kit is also visible from the dining room, so patrons can watch the brewers at work while they sip their fresh-as brews. Accompanying the drinks is a menu of beer-filled pub grub. Think slow-cooked sticky beef ribs in porter barbecue sauce, bratwurst braised with Paddo Pale Ale and a cider-infused pot of mussels served with crusty bread. Plus classics like beer-battered fish and chips with mushy peas and chicken tenders with chipotle aioli. For dessert, there are chocolate tacos and rhubarb tarts, too. To round out the brewpub's Surry Hills feels, there'll be regular live gigs, with a weekly roster of local bands and DJs on the weekend. Sydney Brewery is really jonesin' to become your new go-to for brews in the inner east — not an easy task in a suburb already full of good'uns. Sydney Brewery Surry Hills is now open at 28 Albion Street, Surry Hills. Opening hours are Monday through Wednesday from 11am to 11pm; Thursday through Saturday from 11am to 11.30pm; and Sunday from 4pm to 11pm.
Christmas has come early for foodies. Sydney's Good Food Month is Australia's largest food festival, a sprawling event which includes everything from bargain deals in suburban hotspots to extravagant harbourside dining, a cacophony of events running the gamut from casual picnics to buzzing parties. There's a real focus this year on ethical dining, with locally sourced produce and sustainable consumption a theme in numerous events. Pop-ups are also in vogue, with The Mint and Sydney Markets hosting events, while another intriguing pop-up dinner event starts with a treasure map and a Surry Hills laneway. The special deals are also back, with Let’s Do Lunch offering the chance to have a lunch with a glass of Brown Brothers wine or a Coopers Beer with tea or coffee for only $38. Always a great way to sample some of Sydney's fine diners at a more affordable price, this year's participating restaurants include est, Aria, The Bathers’ Pavilion Restaurant and Gastro Park. For the first time, there’s also The Supper Club, which offers late-night dining and aperitifs. Over a million people are expected to attend the festival, whose calendar is packed with more than 500 events. Concrete Playground has sorted through the program to select these mouth-watering highlights. Night Noodle Markets Long a staple of Good Food Month, the Night Noodle Markets are the ideal after-work hangout, combining the bustling atmosphere of an Asian hawker market with the opportunity to kick back with a couple of drinks and watch the sun go down in Hyde Park. Over 200,000 people attended last year, and with many of Sydney's top Asian restaurants amongst the stallholders, this year promises to be just as popular. October 9-12, 14-19, 21-26; Hyde Park North Rene Redzepi: A Work in Progress Head chef at Copenhagen's illustrious Noma, named the best restaurant in the world three years in a row, the extravagantly talented Redzepi is one of the most inventive food makers on the planet, infusing his visually striking creations with a real sense of playfulness and wonder. The menu at his impossible-to-get-into restaurant has included crawling ants, edible flowerpots and live shrimp in a jar of ice. At this event he discusses his work and pre-launches his new book A Work in Progress: Notes on Food, Cooking and Creativity, which combines recipes, photos and an extensive journal of a year at the pinnacle of the food world. There's also a dinner with Redzepi, which promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. 28 October, Sydney Opera House, tickets from $45 Dinner in the Sky Every great meal is memorable but it's fair to say this is one you're never going to forget: dinner at a table hoisted 50 metres into the sky, complete with waitstaff and a chef in the centre of the table attending to the 22 diners. It's been a sensation overseas and Good Food Month brings it to Australia for the first time. 11-13, 18-20, 25-27 October, Moore Park, Tickets from $230 Omnivore Originating in France, Omnivore is an international tour de force that emphasises an innovative approach to the culinary arts by breaking down barriers between chef and consumer, method and madness. Part of the Omnivore repertoire is a series of masterclasses, to be held at the National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, which promises to reveal the secrets of the masterminds behind a number of Sydney and Paris's most beloved kitchens. If you're more of an appreciator than a creator in the kitchen, however, Omnivore's pop-up dinners may be more your style. For $120 per head, you can experience a feast crafted from the freshest local ingredients and paired with a selection of world-class wine at Sixpenny in Chippendale. Prepared by James Parry and Daniel Puskas, the dynamic duo behind Sixpenny, in collaboration with Sven Chartier, famed for his farm-to-table approach to French cuisine at Saturne in Paris, this pop-up dinner is just one of a handful of banquet options on the menu between Friday, 4 October, and Sunday, 6 October. 3-6 October, Australian National Maritime Museum, Tickets from $45 Jamming and Jammin' Rosebery’s Kitchen By Mike has been a revelation with its back-to-basics food, which uses radical simplicity and topnotch ingredients to great effect. They host this event, where the affable Mike teams with Grant (Three Blue Ducks) and Matt (Hands Lane) teach you how to make your own jams and preserves. Throw in live music and a charcuterie dinner and it sounds like a winner. 2 October 6-10pm, 1/85 Dunning Ave Rosebery, Tickets $75 Pop-Up Ethical @ Cake Wines HQ There's a real focus on ethical food consumption this year, and this event by community-minded winemakers Cake Wines (they give 25 cents from each bottle sold to community radio) is a prime example. Their previous pop-up wine bars have been excellent, and this three-course feast promises to take their commitment to ethical production to the next level, focusing on ethically sourced food which is locally produced and minimises waste. Their dining hall in Redfern will be transformed for the event, which includes a cocktail on arrival, a range of craft beers and wines as well as art and music. 10-11 October, Redfern St Redfern, Tickets $90 Bucket List Seafood Fest Part of Bondi’s resurgent dining and bar scene, The Bucket List are seafood specialists, offering the likes of lobster spaghetti, mussels and the ubiquitious fish and chips opposite the famous beach. Their weekend-long seafood fest offers the opportunity to attend a seafood masterclass (a bargain at $30 which includes a glass of wine and food) or you can simply wander through the stalls and feast on a range of seafood for as little as $10 a plate. 25-27 October 12-6pm, Shop 1 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Pavillion Mariachi Monday Mexican Markets Fans of alliteration and Mexican culture will want to mark this one in their diaries; it combines fiery food, latin music and a street party in Macquarie Place. Having previously won awards for Sydney's Best Tacos, the La Lupita team have moved permanently into The Basement and this event celebrates their authentic approach to Mexican cuisine. 28 October 6-9pm, The Basement 7 Macquarie Place Sydney, Free Oz Harvest Hunger Buster Food Truck Oz Harvest are a charity that rescues food that would be wasted and redistributes it to local charities. To date they’ve rescued almost 6 million kilograms of food that would otherwise have been landfill. For this Good Food Month, they have a series of food trucks which will be dotted throughout the CBD. By day they'll be offering affordable Middle Eastern favourites like hummus, tabouleh and falafel ($5-15). For every $1 the trucks raise, Oz Harvest will be able to provide two meals to people who need them. By night, the trucks will serve free meals to the homeless or hungry. You can also purchase a meal 'forward', meaning it goes to those in need. 1-21 October 11am-3pm, Various locations (check their facebook page for details) Wild Tucker @ Eveleigh Markets Eveleigh's Carriageworks hosts one of Sydney’s best farmers' markets every Saturday, and on Saturday, 19 October, they take their commitment to interesting use of local produce to another level with this event, which will introduce you to the exciting flavours of bush tucker. Aboriginal elder Aunty Beryl Van Oploo and Billy Kwong head chef Kylie Kwong team up with Skye Blackburn, an expert on insects as food, for a talk and cook-up based on this exciting new foodie frontier. 19 October, 243 Wilson St Darlington, Free Check out the full program at the sydney.goodfoodmonth.com.
If the impending winter chill has you dreaming of cosy nights spent quaffing drams of whisky, there's a Melbourne-made creation that deserves a spot in your spirits collection. The team at the city's own Starward Whisky has just unveiled the latest edition of its Ginger Beer Cask series — and, as it has six times before, this spicy little number promises to keep those wintry blues at bay. The seventh iteration of Starward's ginger-based program since 2014, 2022's offering isn't just about pairing ginger and whisky, as fine a combination as that is. Another winning duo gets a look-in as well: chocolate and orange. So, expect to smell ginger, orange and dark chocolate while you're sipping — and to taste ginger, obviously, as well as vanilla, pineapple, sweet raisins and fig. For this year's version, Starward has also added more ginger for extra spice, and only used American Oak red wine barrels, which've helped ramped up the vanilla and coconut characters. Starward's experts say you can try the whisky any way you please, but they particularly recommend sipping it straight, perhaps alongside some good-quality dark chocolate. Either way, it's safe to say you can expect a very good drop — 2021's drop won a Double Gold medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirit Competition, while 2020's Ginger Beer Cask edition took out a gold medal at the World Whisky Masters, plus a bronze at the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Competition. The special-edition spirit is always quick to sell out, and this year's release is pegged to be no different. It's on sale now, so stocking up for winter ASAP is highly recommended. Starward's Ginger Beer Cask #7 is on sale now via the distillery's website, and at national retailers. A 700-millilitre bottle will set you back $149.
Many families' budget for Christmas lunch doesn't factor in lobster. Enjoying a $40 crustacean around the Christmas table feels like an activity reserved for households with large end-of-year bonuses. Woolworths and Coles, however, have both made this a more affordable reality in 2020, dropping the prices of their Western Australian rock lobsters to just $20 a pop nationwide. On Friday, December 11, both supermarket giants announced the reduction in price of the luxury seafood item by 50 percent, down from $40 this time last year. Woolworths reportedly has purchased five times as many lobsters as it did last year, with the company sighting recent restrictions on seafood exports from Australia as a reason the company has reduced the price. "Our support in purchasing more rock lobsters this year will give WA producers an avenue to move more volume into the domestic market which would have traditionally been exported," said Dudding. "It's a win-win partnership and we look forward to working with the industry to offer Australian households the chance to add premium seafood to their Christmas table this year at a more affordable price." Coles seemingly one-up its competitor, announcing on the same day that it had purchased 29 times as many lobsters as it had in 2019. Eager shoppers have already jumped at the opportunity to snap up the half-priced lobsters, with Woolworths implementing a limit of four lobsters, per person, per transaction. Coles is set to introduce the same limit from next Wednesday, December 23. Seafood is a holiday tradition in Australia, with Coles stating the supermarket sells 70 percent more seafood in December in comparison to every other month. That number may rise even more this year thanks to the reduced price, with Woolworths estimating Australians will purchase 35 tonnes of lobster this holiday season compared to 6.5 tonnes last year. $20 Western Australian rock lobsters are available nationwide at both Coles and Woolworths while stocks last.
Grassroots media and arts organisation dLux is all about giving anyone who's interested in learning new skills the opportunity to do so. This month, they're hosting a workshop that will teach you how to make devices that will literally light up your wardrobe. Electronics guru and multimedia artist Nick Wishart (who is also the mastermind behind Toydeath, a rock band made made up of electronic toys), will spend the day teaching 'Electronics 101', which will mostly involve playing around with cool flashy sensors and things that beep (like accelerometers and microphones), coding them using Arduinos and soldering the components together. By the end of the day you'll have all the tools you need (no really, you get your own starter kit) to add LEDs to your backpack, shoes or bike. Who says light-up shoes are just for kids?
Dial your Christmas spirit up a notch at this year's Sydney Living Museums Christmas Fare. With over 40 of Sydney's best artisan food producers, this annual Christmas Fare will host some of the state's finest edible creations and provide plenty of inspiration for the looming Christmas lunch. There'll be more than 40 artisan stallholders including Cornersmith (pickles), Pecora Dairy (cheese), Los Lacayos (Spanish-style nougat), Chunky Dave's (peanut butter), The Jam Bandits (preserves), and more. Pick up some edibles for Christmas Day or put together a hamper for a special human. Plus, Chur Burger, Brooklyn Boy Bagels, Baxter & Bird and Young Henrys will be providing the food and drinks for you to consume on the evening. Entry is by gold coin, which will also allow access inside the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. Eat, drink and be merry — the Christmas season has spoken. Images: James Horan.
Usually, for one week each September, Brisbane becomes Australia's live music capital — even if a Melbourne survey generally claims otherwise. When BIGSOUND hits the city, it seems like every venue in Fortitude Valley is packed to the rafters with bands, industry folks and music-loving punters, all enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent the country has to offer. There's nothing usual about 2020, though. And, yes, that applies to this beloved music-fuelled celebration. Thankfully, BIGSOUND is still forging ahead this year as a physical — but socially distanced and COVID-safe — event; however it'll look a little different. Rather than a four-day lineup of conferences, workshops, facilitated conversations, live festival showcases, secret shows and official parties, music fans can look forward to all of the above across a condensed two-day (and two-night) program. And, instead of happening in September, it'll all take place on Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22. While just who'll be strutting their stuff hasn't yet been revealed, this year's changes are likely to mean that there'll be a smaller list of artists gracing the event's stages — down from last year's tally of 147. Venue-wise, too, BIGSOUND will be smaller, taking over ten Fortitude Valley spots compared to 2019's 18 sites. Again, just where the fest will be cranking up the tunes hasn't been revealed, but venues such as Black Bear Lodge, The Zoo and The Elephant Hotel have been involved in past years. [caption id="attachment_636255" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bec Taylor[/caption] Overseeing the yet-to-be-unveiled program are Janne Scott, BIGSOUND's creative director (and Splendour In The Grass' senior creative manager); Alethea Beetson, the event's First Nations producer and programmer; and Dominic Miller and Ruby-Jean McCabe as festival co-programmers. Past BIGSOUNDs have showcased everyone from Gang of Youths, Flume, Tash Sultana and Courtney Barnett to San Cisco, Violent Soho, Methyl Ethel and The Jungle Giants, so its program is usually a very reliable bellwether of current and up-and-coming talent. BIGSOUND 2020 runs across Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22 at various venues around Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For further details, or to pre-register for delegate pass from 9am on Wednesday, July 29, visit bigsound.org.au. To discover what to do, see, eat and drink while visiting Brissie for the annual event, check out our weekender's guide to Brisbane during BIGSOUND.
After eight seasons, a massive body count and an enormous wait for winter, Game of Thrones is coming to an end, with the final season kicking off this week. But that doesn't mean saying goodbye to the world first created by author George R.R. Martin — not only thanks to the author's books, whenever The Winds of Winter finally hits shelves, or even simply due to the planned prequel series. In addition, fans will soon be able to visit a heap of new GoT tourist attractions. After shooting much of the show in Northern Ireland for the past decade, last year HBO announced that it's teaming up with Tourism NI to open a number of sets and sites to the public for the first time. If you've ever dreamed about walking around Westeros, this will be your chance. Winterfell, The Wall, King's Landing and Dragonstone are among the iconic spots that'll feature in what's being called Game of Thrones Legacy. Now, further details have been revealed, so prepare to be happier than Arya Stark crossing a name off of her infamous list. The first part of Game of Thrones Legacy will be a huge Game of Thrones studio tour within Linen Mill Studios, which is where plenty of she show has been filmed. Yes, this is where you'll find the ancestral home of House Stark, the headquarters of the Night's Watch and the capital of the seven kingdoms. When it launches as a tourist site, it'll be filled with original set pieces, costumes, props and weapons across a hefty 110,000-square-feet. The tour has been dubbed an 'interactive experience', although exactly how you'll be able to interact with these GoT items — other than training your peepers towards them — hasn't yet been unveiled. You will definitely wander through fully dressed sets, walk "in the very footsteps of Westeros's most prominent residents", relive "key moments from the series" and stand "right where they took place" as part of the immersive attraction, according to the press release. There'll also be informative displays highlighting the production spaces, as well as the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into bringing something as epic as GoT to life. Plus, you'll also be able to play around at an interactive costume department station, as well as sections dedicated to the show's make-up, prosthetics and armoury. Also set to go on display: art files, models and other production materials, as well as accompanying digital content and interactive materials highlighting GoT's digital effects. If you're now contemplating a trip to Northern Ireland, the entire Game of Thrones Legacy setup will comprise the largest authentic public display of GoT artifacts in the world, should that stoke your excitement. More details are set to come and, after originally touting a 2019 opening date, the tour looks slated to open around this time in 2020 (spring in Northern Ireland) instead. By then, you'll certainly know whether Jon Snow really does know nothing — and then you can head to Northern Ireland to visit many of his haunts. Images: Home Box Office, Inc.
Marrickville's annual street festival will take over the inner west suburb once again on Sunday, October 20. Over 130 stalls will flood the streets in a full-day celebration of live music, local entertainment and international cuisine that champions Marrickville's multicultural community. A massive lineup of local bands and acts handpicked by local venues Lazybones and Gasoline Pony will perform across two stages, and there'll be a slew of dance performances, too. Local cafe favourite Cornersmith will be overseeing the new Local Market where you'll be able to attend free workshops in everything from pickling, beeswax wraps and burrata making, while an art and design alley will see you trying your hand at ceramics and screen printing. Even your four-legged friends will be looked after, thanks to a mini Street Paws market with stalls offering pet treats, grooming and more. Of course, there'll be a tonne of different food and drink options from local vendors, too. The Calvert Street car park will be transformed into a beer lover's paradise with pop-ups from Willie the Boatman, Batch, Sauce, Philter, The Grifter and Young Henrys. If hops aren't your thing, there'll also be a spritz bar. To eat, you'll be able to choose from arepas, gozleme, bagels, okonomiyaki, croissants and creative doughnuts from Donut Papi — and so so much more. We suggest heading here with an empty stomach. Marrickville Festival runs from 10am–5pm. Image: Fiora Sacco.
Along with offering excellent food and drink at its cafe, Cornersmith is also an advocate for and teacher of a more sustainable, more delicious way of living. From teaching the fundamentals of preserves, to explaining the basics of pickling, Cornersmith is dedicated to sharing ways of making your food last longer, taste better and do more for you nutritionally. Next up on the list of classes is how to smoke stuff. Smoking meats has become massive around Sydney in the last few years, so why not try your hand at it? The crew shows you not only how to smoke traditional meats and fish, but also, for less carnivorous, how to smoke cheeses and tofu.
Going sailing with your dad is like going to IKEA with your partner — it will either bring you closer together and, at the end of the day, you'll be back-clapping and high fiving all over the joint, or it will drive you sorely apart. If you think you and your dad fall into the former camp, take you're assuredness to the seas of Sydney Harbour for Father's Day 2016. Don't have your own yacht? Not many people do. That's where Red Balloon come in. Purveyors of fine experiences as they are, they've sourced the yacht for you (the America's Cup) and will get you and your pop out on the seas with minimal action required on your behalf (like maybe you'll have to pull a rope or something, but that's it). For $65 per person, you'll get a two and a half-hour round trip journey on the 24-metre vessel, which will pick you up and return you to Darling Harbour.
