Celebrating ten years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005, Laneway Festival returns with one of its biggest lineups yet. Kicking off in Singapore on Saturday, January 24 in The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay, Laneway will run through seven dates (including Sydney's Sydney College of the Arts on February 1 and Melbourne's Footscray Community Arts Centre and River's Edge on February 7) finishing up at its new home in Fremantle's Esplanade Reserve and West End on Sunday, February 8. But if you can't make it to the whole festival, sideshows are your go-to. On sale from Wednesday 5 November, sideshows for Banks's Heavenly Sounds show, Benjamin Booker, Highasakite, Lykke Li, Mac DeMarco, Raury and Sohn are now in pre-sale phase. Here's all the details for your 2014 Laneway sideshow ticket sales: BANKS — HEAVENLY SOUNDS Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM AEDT) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM AEDT) SYDNEY PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM AEDT) Tuesday 3rd February St. Stephen’s Uniting Church, Sydney BENJAMIN BOOKER Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM, local time) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM, local time, or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted) SYDNEY PRE-SALE | MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM LOCAL TIME) Monday 2nd February Newtown Social Club, Sydney Thursday 5th February Northcote Social Club, Melbourne HIGHASAKITE Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM, local time) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM, local time, or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted) Password: TREATMENT SYDNEY PRE-SALE | MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM LOCAL TIME) Tuesday 27th January Metro Theatre, Sydney Wednesday 4th February Corner Hotel, Melbourne JUNGLE Starts: Wednesday 5th November (9AM AEDT) Ends: Thursday 6th November (8AM AEDT) SYDNEY PRE-SALE | MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY 6TH NOVEMBER (9AM AEDT) Thursday 29th January Metro Theatre, Sydney Wednesday 4th February 170 Russell St, Melbourne LYKKE LI LANEWAY FESTIVAL PRE-SALE DETAILS Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM, local time) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM, local time, or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted) Password: GUNSHOT MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM LOCAL TIME) Thursday 29 January Forum Theatre, Melbourne MAC DEMARCO Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM, local time) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM, local time, or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted) Password: SALAD SYDNEY PRE-SALE | MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM LOCAL TIME) Friday 30th January Metro Theatre, Sydney Wednesday 4th February The Hi Fi, Melbourne RAURY Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM, local time) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM, local time, or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted) Password: INDIGO SYDNEY PRE-SALE | MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM LOCAL TIME) Monday 2nd February Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Tuesday 3rd February Howler, Melbourne SOHN FRONTIER PRE-SALE DETAILS Starts: Wednesday 5th November (12PM AEDT) Ends: Thursday 6th November (12PM AEDT) For exclusive Frontier pre-sale info visit frontiertouring.com GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 10TH NOVEMBER (10AM LOCAL TIME) Thursday 29th January Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Friday 30th January The Corner Hotel, Melbourne Find the whole lineup and more info over here.
A new restaurant has opened on Carrington Street from award-winning Turkish chef Somer Sivrioğlu (Efendy) with a push towards vegetarian and plant-based cuisine. Maydanoz is a new 100-seat venue from Sivrioğlu and his business partner Tarik Köni that takes inspiration from the Turkish coast and its veggie-loving meze bars. The menu at the expansive venue is predominantly vegetarian and plant-based, with a smattering of meat dishes found on the menu. "So often, people equate Turkish cuisine to kebab or lamb, but in fact, the meat is often secondary to the incredible array of vegetable-driven dishes available in Turkish cuisine, particularly in the West," Sivrioğlu said. Sivrioğlu and Köni have created a series of distinct menus, based on dishes cooked in olive oil zeytinyagli style. If you are heading to Maydanoz for dinner, you'll be greeted with an extensive a la carte menu with highlights like smoked eggplant salad; beetroot, rhubarb and aged feta sandwiches; honey, sesame and rosemary haloumi kebabs; and carrot hummus. A smattering of meat options are also on the menu, including Murray Cod collar with brussel sprouts and sheep's head wedding soup. If you want to sample your way through the menu, you can opt for the feast menu for $88pp. This includes aforementioned highlights like the hummus, sandwiches and haloumi kebabs, alongside cacik, chilbir on toast, imam bayildi and Tencere-style chicken. This fun doesn't stop at the feast menu. The restaurant has just added an express lunch deal, which offers an array of signature dishes and a glass of wine for $49pp. Featuring stone-baked bread with Pepe Saya butter, hummus and Murray cod collar kebab to name just a few of the dishes, the deal is available from midday until 3pm and is ideal for work catch-ups with your colleagues. Plus, head to Maydanoz between 4–6pm and you will receive a complimentary stone-baked bread and dips to snack on, as well as $12 cocktails and $7 hour beers, wines and spirits. Cocktails on offer include the Spice Market Negroni which adds seven spices gin, ginger, star anise and rhubarb liqueur to a usual negroni recipe; or opt for the Turkish coffee and date martini. Maydanoz marks Sivrioğlu and Köni's first of two new venues. Keep your eyes out for their next venture Tombik, which is set to arrive in Barangaroo in the near future. Maydanoz is open at Shop 1, 50 Carrington Street, Sydney for lunch and dinner Monday–Sunday. Images: Steven Woodburn
Monopole's ongoing series an Evening With continues with its third installation this Tuesday, June 7. In collaboration with Sydney wine favourite P&V Mike Bennie, the evening will champion the small Jura region in France. As one would expect with Bennie heading up the evening's proceedings, wine is central to the event. So central in fact, that there are nearly double the number of paired wines compared to dishes. Guests will enjoy a six-course Jura region-inspired menu with shared dishes, paired with 11 matched wines. On the menu, duck and pork neck terrine paired with dijon mustard and cornichon; river trout, nettle butter and pickled onions; and a pear tarte tatin with vanilla ice cream.
It's oft said that New Year's Eve is the most over-hyped night of the year. But, it doesn't have to be this year — Sydney, you've got a brand new NYE party to attend. From the folks behind Hot Dub Wine Machine and Alison Wonderland's Warehouse Project, NYE in the Park is set to make its bangin' debut this December 31, taking over the lush expanse of Victoria Park for an evening of (actually good) eats, fireworks, Champagne, dancing and no let-downs — it'll be a night you'll actually want to remember. Headlining the inaugural event is Canadian electro and techo maestro, Tiga. You'll remember dancing to his tracks like 'You Gonna Want Me' and 'Far From Home' (he's also behind the monster hit 'Bugatti') back in the 2000s. Also ringing in the New Year is Jurassic 5 legend Chali 2NA, and DJ Krafty Kuts, who'll take us back to the golden era of hip hop in a joint set. Other highlights include Belgian-based dance icons 2MANYDJS, powerful pop artist Vera Blue, disco kings Total Giovanni, and, the evening's host, Hot Tub Time Machine. He'll be counting down the crowd to midnight, before playing one of his signature party sets, sending revellers dancing through the decades on a two-hour journey from the '50s to today. The festival runs for a marathon 10 hours, so you'll need some sustenance. Luckily, there'll be plenty of that. Your cuisine choices range from American barbecue to Greek street food and Japanese snacks. If you're inclined to listen to us, we suggest starting with a crab slider and a spiked milkshake, moving on to a beef brisket burger and fries, then grabbing a Champagne and making your way to the dancefloor for the midnight toast and fireworks show. Let's hope the rest of 2018 is as good as the last night of 2017.
It’s time to brush up on your espanol and start memorising the lyrics to early '00s reggaeton because The Norfolk are holding their Puerto Rico Day Party on Sunday, June 8. The Norfolk corner of Surry Hills will turn into a mini San Juan, where you can forget about the realities of Sydney’s winter and drink $5 copal tinnies, $10 pina coladas and bloody ricos and $15 gasolinas until your heart is content. Celebrating all the great archipelago has to offer (but mainly rum-based cocktails), The Norfolk are slowing down on the schnitties and are instead offering $10 tostone nachos and $30 worth of Puerto Rican pig tacos to share with friends. And if bloated bellies from recent seafood festivities upstairs at House of Crabs have put you off 305 Cleveland Street for a little while, remember that it’s probably nothing a taco or five can’t fix.
If seasonal change has left you in a dizzy headspin of new colours and fabrics and prints and jackets — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is coming back to Sydney for four days this April. But this time round, it's teaming up with pre-loved designer fashion retailer The Frock Exchange to offer new and pre-worn pieces from local and international labels. Shop 1000 lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from a heap of designers — both well-known and emerging. Names you'll see on the racks include Kenzo, Marni, Phillip Lim, Romance Was Born, Anna Quan and more. With pieces starting at just $50, this is one way to up your count of designer threads while leaving your bank balance sitting pretty, too. Prices this low tend to inspire a certain level of ruthlessness in all of us, though, so practise that grabbing reflex in advance. This is every shopper for themselves. The Frock Exchange x Big Fashion Sale will be open 9am–7pm Thursday, 9am–6pm Friday and 9am–5pm on Saturday.
When it comes to exposing the work of switched on, up-and-coming young writers, literary journal Seizure is a welcome repeat offender. Their latest, music-themed issue is out on December 6, and to launch it, Seizure is putting on a double-punch evening of sound and words. The line-up is acoustic, with Edward Deer, Cogel, Jess Chalker and Piers Twomey as well as Benny Davis (aka the Human Jukebox) from Axis of Awesome and more to be announced. The journal is eclectic: this time, it features stories from Simon Tedeschi talking with Frenzal Rhomb, Benny Davis (Axis of Awesome), Alice Rebekah Fraser (comedian, ex-lawyer), and an online mixtape curated by Edward Deer. And the location is 107 Projects, one of the more recent DIY artists' spaces to pop up in Sydney. Entry includes a copy of the mag.
'Based on true events' has been the theme for 2013, and why the hell not? Stranger than fiction and all that. Pick any genre and you'll find an example: Action - Gangster Squad; Comedy - Pain & Gain; Thriller - Captain Phillips; Horror - The Conjuring. None, however, are as adept at circling the carcass of history and picking away at the choice bits like Drama. Even just to look at the 'now showing' or 'coming soon' listings is to see: The Wolf of Wall Street, 12 Years a Slave, Dallas Buyer's Club, Philomena, Fruitvale Station and The Railway Man — all in some way grounded in real-world events. The question is how grounded, and that's why the opening to David O. Russell's new film American Hustle is so refreshing. "Some of this actually happened," it declares, acknowledging in those five simple words that — yes — liberties have been taken for your amusement, but also — yes — some of this stuff actually happened. That stuff is the infamous 'Abscam' sting of the late 1970s, during which the FBI engaged two prolific con artists — Sydney Prosser and Irving Rosenfeld — to ensnare a number of high-ranking US politicians on corruption charges. Sporting elaborate combovers, fake accents and plunging necklines, Prosser (Amy Adams) and Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) were a retro Bonnie and Clyde pairing who used smooth words instead of Tommy guns to fleece desperate men of their savings. Eventually caught by the FBI, they avoided jail time by agreeing to work alongside the ambitious agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), and atop their list of targets was a New Jersey mayor named Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). What began as a simple enough sting, however, soon ballooned out of control as hubris, greed and jealousy picked away at the already threadbare alliance and placed both the operation and their lives in jeopardy. O. Russell is undeniably an actors' director, and like just his previous films (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook), American Hustle is built around its strong performances and crackling dialogue. Bale, Adams, Cooper and Renner are all at their best here; however, it's Jennifer Lawrence as Rosenfeld's wife, Rosalyn, who steals the show. Part seductress, part clown, she moves seamlessly between the two extremes with such ease and speed that each can appear multiple times in a single scene. Keep an eye out, too, for an uncredited cameo by Robert De Niro as a mafia heavyweight in easily the most gripping of the film's 138 minutes. Yes, it is long, and it definitely drags at times; however, it's also immensely funny and beautifully captures the flashy/trashy excess of the '70s — most notably in Adams' countless revealing dresses — for which none will receive any 'best supporting role' nods vis-a-vis her perilously positioned breasts. Yet even they have their place, establishing the complexity of a character who freely exposes all to the world save for the truth of who she really is. That's American Hustle, too: a layered and captivating film where you're never quite sure who to believe or which stuff actually happened. https://youtube.com/watch?v=NqgjPRNRDSY
Keen to pair trivia with a touch of trouble? Well, now you can. Intimate Kent Street venue Since I Left You is hosting a series of storytelling and trivia nights themed around crime history. Bring along your best accomplices — or crime history buffs — to form your equivalent of an Oceans Eleven crew that'll dominate a trivia match. The night will take place in the CBD spot's fairy light-lit outdoor terrace, and you'll score a beer, wine or spirit of your choice upon entering before being tested on an array of historically unlawful acts spanning local, national and international crimes. But first, you'll be led through an immersive storytelling session by Sydney crime historian and storyteller Max Burns-McRuvie. Following story time, you can put your new-found knowledge to the test with a round of trivia which you can pair with a sip from the bar's signature cocktail list. For its June edition, you'll delve into a slice of local history when discovering the strangest ways to get arrested by Sydney police — so you may want to brush up on this niche bit of knowledge ahead of the event.
After one (very long) year without a permanent place to call home, Surry Hills favourite Nomad is finally set to reopen its Foster Street doors on Tuesday, October 20. A devastating fire back in September 2019 forced Owners Rebecca and Al Yazbek to shut up shop and temporarily open Nomad Up The Road, before a global pandemic threw another spanner in the works. Now, the restaurant will relaunch in its OG digs with a larger kitchen, more seating and a brand new deli to boot. Thanks to extensive renovations, the open kitchen is back in action, with the addition of wraparound counter seating — allowing 30 diners to sit up-close and watch the chefs in action. The venue's signature woodfired oven is back, too, as is a double-sized charcoal grill. That oven will once again be the focus of Executive Chef Jacqui Challinor's menu, which will include plenty of new additions for patrons to try. But the fan-favourite dishes will return as well, like the smoked ocean trout basturma, date-glazed wagyu tongue and the olive oil ice cream sandwiches (topped with sesame, pistachio and honeycomb). Zucchini flowers with truffle honey and a kingfish ceviche are also on the docket. [caption id="attachment_783321" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petrina Tinslay[/caption] Alongside the reopening is the launch of the brand new Nomad Deli, which will stocked with takeaway items and smallgoods. Expect an extensive selection of house-cured meats, plus Nomad dips and preserves — including duck mortadella, freshly made haloumi and the brand's famed cannellini bean hummus. For bakers, there will be chocolate fudge brownie batter and cookie dough on offer, too. Nomad's cellar has also expanded, with more back vintages available than ever before. The list will continue to focus on small Australian producers and will be available for both takeaway and home delivery (in addition to dine-in). Otherwise, expect the same Nomad vibes you know and love. The team has even restored the restaurant's original chairs and tables, while adding some new touches like plush green banquettes. The venue now has room for 200 all up, but is limited to 110 under the current COVID-19 restrictions. And it's sure to be as popular as ever, so we highly recommend booking ahead. Also on the horizon for the Nomad crew is the opening of its first Melbourne outpost, which has been pushed back to early 2021. Keep an eye on this space for the latest updates. Find Nomad at 16 Foster Street, Surry Hills from Tuesday, October 20. Images: Petrina Tinslay
Catching all the brilliant sights that Vivid’s offering up this year can be thirsty work. So, to keep you refreshed, Finely Tuned (creators of SOH’s Garden Bar by the Corner House) have transformed Martin Place into an illuminated culinary maze that’s part fairyland, part sci-fi cityscape. It’s built of industrial water tanks, made pretty with the help of pixel-mapped LED lights. A previous collaboration with German architects Modulorbeat provided the inspiration. “We wanted to create a giant sprawling space, filled with lights and places to stop and enjoy the ambiance of Vivid Sydney,” said creative director Joe Crossley. “The industrial water tanks were the perfect medium to build this zone, fusing food stalls and industrial elements together to create a unique light show.." Every evening from 5.30pm, an array of Sydney’s favourite street food providers will be onsite — including Eat Art Truck, Agape Organic, Poklol, Jafe Jaffles, Woofys, Cantina Mobil, Bite Size Delights and Gelato Messina — and, for drinks of the alcoholic variety, Bondi’s Panama House. Check out our other favourite dining spots with Vivid views.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Jameson Irish Whiskey. Four hot live music acts will appear at Jameson St Patrick's Live, to be held at Ivy, this Sunday, March 16. Here's the lowdown on the line-up. Furnace and The Fundamentals: 3.30pm-4.15pm Furnace and The Fundamentals play other people's songs, but referring to them as a 'covers band' is an understatement. They take a huge repertoire from both the present (cue The Black Keys, Adele, Grouplove and Foster the People) and the past (think The Beatles, Queen and Chuck Berry) and play it with huge energy. Thundamentals: 4.45pm-5.45pm Even though their name makes them sound like a version of Furnace's band for lisp-sufferers, they're actually one of the nation's most happening hip hop acts. Hailing from the misty Blue Mountains, they've been spending plenty of time under the spotlight of late and are set to tour new album, So We Can Remember, in May. Hot Dub Time Machine: 6.15pm-7.45pm For 90 minutes, Sydney DJ Tom Loud carries the crowd on an irresistible dance party that is, in short, a history of chart-topping hits from the '60s to now. Every tune is played in chronological order, mixed on live turntables and made larger than life via big screen video. Yolanda Be Cool: 8pm-9pm Aussie band Yolanda Be Cool made it big on the international circuit with hit 'We No Speak Americano'. The past year has seen performances at Tomorrowland and Burning Man, plus a new remix of 'All That She Wants'. Please enjoy Jameson responsibly.
The Central Coast's truly underrated, sustainable and naturally stunning festival Mountain Sounds is set to return for another year. Heading back to the pretty, pretty spot of Mount Penang Parklands in Kariong, Mountain Sounds has locked in Saturday, February 21 for its 2015 instalment. And the just-announced lineup is some seriously applaudable biznatch. Headlined by Splendour in the Grass favourite and Castlemaine local D.D Dumbo, simmering Adelaide newbie and airwaves-dominator Tkay Maidza, loud-as-blazes Brisbane dudes DZ Deathrays, Danny Harley-steered, electronic project The Kite String Tangle, L D R U and Yahtzel's beat-dropping team-up Carmada and perpetually holidaying outfit The Griswolds, the festival lineup also sees the likes of Jinja Safari's whimsical Pepa Knight, ever party-starting crew Northeast Party House, Soundcloud whiz kids SAFIA, croony newbie Daniel Lee Kendall and offensively talented young'un East among others. MOUNTAIN SOUNDS 2015 LINEUP: (alphabetical order) Carmada Daniel Lee Kendall D.D Dumbo DZ Deathrays East The Griswolds Hatch The Jungle Giants Kilter The Kite String Tangle Luke Million Northeast Party House Pepa Knight SAFIA Tkay Maidza Tropical Zombie PLUS Coda Harper Lemond Ratlife DJs Stephane 1993 Sydney Social DJs Zavier Last year's festival saw Midnight Juggernauts, Ball Park Music, Emma Louise, Sticky Fingers, Jinja Safari, LDRU, and Cosmo's Midnight among others (including a farewell to Snakadaktal). Local strummers should get their demos ready too, as a state-wide competition is set to be launched in the coming weeks to give one live band and one electronic act the chance to play alongside Australia's hyped up artists. Giving a high five to the environment once more, the locally-founded Mountain Sounds is again set to take great care in minimising the environmental impact and carbon footprint of the festival. There'll also be silent discos and campsite parties curated by the team, who all grew up on the Central Coast. With tickets on sale now and sitting around 80 beans, this is an end-of-summer festival worth the measly dosh for. Mountain Sounds Festival is on Saturday, February 21 at Mount Penang Parklands, Kariong, NSW. Tickets and more info available over here. Image: Voena.
Once a year, Monster Fest treats cinemagoers to a weird and wonderful film festival filled with genre and cult movies — but that's obviously not often enough. So, behold Monster Fest Weekender, aka the fest that the Monster team hosts midyear when it's not rolling out the full shindig. Hitting Sydney's Event Cinemas George Street from Friday, July 14–Sunday, July 16, this three-day affair has an added focus in 2023. Get ready to peer out of blue and red lenses, because every movie on the lineup is showing in 3D. No, none of them are Avatar. Yes, they're all horror flicks. As well as being the first time Monster Fest has focused on giving every title it's screening an extra dimension, it's also the first time that the event has solely programmed classics. The fun starts with a tenth-anniversary session of Texas Chainsaw 3D, which is playing Aussie cinemas for the first time. After that Amityville 3D celebrates its 40th anniversary, while the Vincent Price-starring House of Wax — the first colour 3D film from a major studio — notches up 70 years. Monster Fest Weekender's 3D lineup also includes Andy Warhol's Flesh for Frankenstein 3D, remake My Bloody Valentine 3D and direct-to-video 1984 effort Silent Madness 3D — the latter of which is similarly making its big-screen Australian debut.
I wonder how long you have to live in Brooklyn to say you're a Brooklyn band? Yeasayer, TV On The Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dragons Of Zynth, Animal Collective, The National, Grizzly Bear. Hmmm. I do wonder. There's no way that all of the individuals in all of these groups could be from Brooklyn. But it is definitely the place to make music these days. Mummy I want to be in a Brooklyn band! White Rabbits are one of these bands, but at least in their bio they admit that they are from Missouri straight away. They play rhythm heavy, piano soaked alternative pop/rock â€" somewhere in between Cold War Kids (less earnest and Christian like) and Spoon (more attitude, less tongue in cheek), and in fact have been accused of being Spoon's protégé and didn't help this by enlisting Spoon's Britt Daniel to produce their second album It's Frightening. I even overheard a conversation the other day in a cafe, "they sound so much like Spoon, but they are better looking". Their music is full of little bits that you can clap or sing along to, intricate and fun rhythms, tambourine shakes, snare rolls, errant backup vocals ahhhing. And Singer Stephen Patterson even sounds like Spoon's Britt Daniel, with a similar aggressive yet lazy vocal style â€" think John Lennon on Instant Karma. They apparently are amazing live, and just watching the video for Percussion Gun makes you want to go watch the 6 piece. So forget everything I said about Spoon, you should fork out and go catch their Falls Festival sideshow at the OAF. https://youtube.com/watch?v=IClBpch9vmM
On November 24-25, the Sydney Opera House forecourt will transform into an outdoor stage for Dance Rites 2018. Now in its fourth year, this epic event is a First Nations dance competition starring more than 300 performers from all over the country. And it's free. Dance Rites was once part of the Opera House's Homeground Festival, but is now a stand-alone event. In addition to watching the heats from 3pm each day, and the finals on Sunday evening, catch an array of established dancers in action. Just some of the acts on the program include 2017 Dance Rites champs Kulgoodah Dancers, 2017 Wildcard Winners ALLKUMO Malpa Paman Dancers, professional troupe Muggera Dancers and, all the way from New Zealand, collective Te Rua Mauri. Check out, too, musical performances from electro poppers Electric Fieldson Saturday night and Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Sumner on Sunday. The Dance Rites 2018 winner, which is judged on three dances and decided upon by an expert panel of Juanita Duncan, Libby Collins, Matthew Doyle and Waangenga Blanco — will score a whopping $20,000, too. Images: Daniel Boud and Jacqui Cornforth.
Fans of Muji's minimalist homewares and consumer goods will be glad to know that the Japanese megastore isn't done with Sydney yet. With recent news of the newly opened Muji hotels in Japan and China, we were starting to feel a bit like their neglected middle child. But, according to a blog post, the north shore will get its very own MUJI outpost in March. A sister store to The Galeries on George Street, the newbie will be Australia's first multi-level Muji, and the place will be big, covering a whopping 884 square metres at Westfield Chatswood. You can expect it to be stocking all the usual homeware goods, along with men's, women's and children's apparel and accessories, skincare products, stationery, back-to-school/work necessities and travel goods. Their simple designs are also eco‐friendly with minimal packaging, so you really can't go wrong here. The store will open on Wednesday, March 21 with a range of special offers and even a Muji exhibition. We're personally down on bended knees, wishing and hoping that this store will be selling those flat-pack homes and tiny pre-fab huts that we've been waiting so very long for. Muji Chatswood will open on March 21, 2018. Keep an eye on Muji's Facebook and Instagram for updates. Updated: February 27, 2018. Image: Muji/Facebook.
As we all know, no Christmas season is complete without a solid few hours spent devouring a stack of classic festive flicks. And this year, you can upgrade from that living room couch to a comfy outdoor cinema, thanks to QVB's new festive Cine-mas series. Transforming the centre's secret terrace into an intimate theatre from December 5 to 7, this mini movie fest will screen three of the best-loved Christmas films of all time. Making the cut are Will Ferrell-starring comedy Elf, animated adventure flick The Polar Express and that timeless Macaulay Culkin number, Home Alone. Each night, there'll be a family-friendly session at 6.30pm, followed by a screening for adults at 9pm. Tickets start from $35 for adults, but if you fancy making a night of it, you can splash out an extra $25 to add on dessert from La Belle Miette and your choice of bubbly, wine or beer from the Reign Champagne Parlour & Bar. Drop an extra $75, and you'll get a two-course pre- or post-movie feed at QVB's Esquire Drink + Dine on top of all that.
Bars and restaurants across the world are coming up with creative ways to implement social distancing. Some are trying out giant teddy bears, some mannequins and some plastic shields, but right here in Australia, one beer company has come up with a novel solution: robots. Dutch beer brand Heineken together with engineering students from Sydney University have opened a pop-up bar in Darlinghurst that's staffed by two robot arms named Heidi and Ken. The arms will crack you a cold one and send it over via a conveyor belt. Only one person is allowed in the bar at a time, so it's a completely human contact-free experience. The beer it's serving is free, too, but it's also alcohol-free — which is great if you're doing Dry July, not so much if you were hoping to get boozed without spending a dime. If you are doing Dry July, we've rounded up some of our favourite booze-free beverages over here. Running from Wednesday, July 15 to Saturday, July 18, the Heineken Zer0.0 Contact Bar coincides with the (relatively recent) launch of the beer brand's alcohol-free beer: Heineken 0.0. It's said to have a fruity flavour with malty notes, but to find out for yourself, head over to the robot bar. Heineken Zer0.0 Contact Bar is open from 11am–6pm daily.
The Canadian electro-pop group Austra caused a sensation at the 2012 Laneway Festival, with their exhilarating fusion of riveting vocals and electronic synth. That performance was just from their debut album, and since then they've added two new members and dropped a fantastic follow-up album. 2013's Olympia is the perfect combination of indie rock and new wave. Katie Stelmanis, the main songwriter, rings a bell of Florence Welch and London Grammar's Hannah Reid with her operatic voice. Her songwriting talents have shone as well in this second album, which is a beautiful collection of lyrically personal tracks. But perhaps its been her ability to expand the band's range of sounds — which encompasses many dimensions of trance, electro and pop — yet stay true to feeling of their first album that have made Austra so successful. They've recently had a crazy touring schedule, sharing the stage with big-timers such as The xx, Grimes and The Gossip. This summer, Austra will be returning to The Standard alongside their Perth Festival appearance.
What happens when you take a huge name in Australia's music scene, add 40 more musical talents, then combine them all for two big gigs? In 2023, you get Red Bull Symphonic with Genesis Owusu and the Sydney and Brisbane Symphony Orchestras. The popular series pairs impressive local talents with an orchestral backing, after first debuting in 2022 in the Sunshine State with Goodna rapper Lisi and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. In 2023, it's expanding its shows to New South Wales, too — and making Ghanaian Australian artist Owusu the star. "If you've seen me perform live, you know I love the drama. Bringing out the grandeur in every element," said Owusu, announcing the gigs. "What's grander and more theatrical than a punk-funk-rap enigma backed by a 40-piece orchestra? We getting real thespian out here." The 2023 Red Bull Symphonic tour will kick off in Brisbane, at the River City's Fortitude Music Hall on Friday, March 3, with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra in support. Sydneysiders get their turn on Thursday, March 23 at the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall, with — naturally — the Sydney Symphony Orchestra on hand to assist. Owusu will also be collaborating with Australian composer and arranger Alex Turley (Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, Omega Ensemble, Electric Fields, NGAIIRE), in two shows that promise to combine two different arts worlds — and give his own punk-electronic tracks a new interpretation that even his most ardent fans haven't experienced. The multi award-winning performer gets orchestral after a massive couple of years that've seen him win triple j's Album of the Year in 2021 for his debut record Smiling with No Teeth; nab four ARIAs including Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Release, Best Independent Release and Best Cover Art for the same release; and score 2022 ARIA noms for Best Music Video and Best Independent Release for single 'GTFO'. And yes, it's an excellent time to enjoy classical orchestras in new ways, courtesy of other events like Ministry of Sound Classical and Synthony, plus film-and-music screenings for flicks as diverse as Black Panther, Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, Frozen, The Princess Bride, Home Alone, Toy Story and more. Wondering what's in store at Red Bull Symphonic? Check out footage from 2022's event below: RED BULL SYMPHONIC WITH GENESIS OWUSU: Friday, March 3: Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra Thursday, March 23: Sydney Opera House, Sydney, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Red Bull Symphonic with Genesis Owusu takes place in March 2023, with tickets onsale now via the Sydney Opera House for Sydney and Ticketmaster for Brisbane. Top image: Bart Celestino.
Cinco de Mayo is nearly upon us — and Coogee Bay Hotel is celebrating in a big way. Mexican Madness will take over the venue's seaside garden across Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5. Expect Mexican-inspired everything — from the vibe and entertainment to the food and drinks. The space will transport punters from the Coogee coastline to the beaches of Mexico with a fully immersive fit-out, a three-piece mariachi band and a full menu of Mexican eats and drinks from the kitchen — think tacos and nachos paired with Lexington Hill margaritas, ice-cold Coronas and other themed cocktails. A full lineup of live entertainment will be on throughout the weekend, too. But it's not always enough just to feel like you've been to Mexico for the day. That's why the hotel is also running a competition for an all-inclusive, seven day trip to Mexico for two. Simply purchase one bucket of Corona or two Lexington Hill margaritas at Coogee Bay Hotel to be in the running. The deal will also be running at the adjoining Liquor Barn until May 31. You'll score one entry if you purchase two Lexington Hill cocktails or a Corona six-pack to take away — or three entries with a case. Mexican Madness will take place across May 4–5, from noon until sundown each day. For more information, head to the website. Images: Kai Leishman and Karina Lee.
If all goes to plan, this could be one of our last Friday nights in lockdown. And how better to send it off than with a big ol' living room boogie? Fittingly enough, this Friday, October 23, also marks the final event in Melbourne Fringe Festival's lockdown program, starring a celebratory edition of fan-favourite, Mr McClelland's Finishing School. Broadcasting to a screen and speaker system near you from 9pm, the virtual dance party will see DJ Andrew McClelland working his usual magic, guiding you all through a foot-stomping, groove-inducing mix of indie, pop, soul and rock tunes. Live and loud from his own lounge room, mind you. Clear out the coffee table, put the breakables somewhere safe and get ready to sweat out your lockdown frustrations to hard-hitting songs from across the decades. Best of all, it's an affordable night spent cutting shapes. You'll pay $5 if you're flying solo, $10 for a household ticket, or $15 if you're joining in from some other magical place where IRL partying is still allowed.
Liberating creativity from rational thought just as the colour field painters sought to destroy illusion, Matthew Allen’s forthcoming exhibition Where You Go I Go Too, offers a place of refuge at Sullivan+Strumpf Gallery. It is a painterly antidote to an increasingly detached and complex world. In this exhibition, Allen celebrates the beauty of raw materiality and its formal qualities, stating: “I deem a work valid when there is an interplay between the tactility of surface and the depth of light, colour and space.” In this way, he is engaging with the gravitational flow of paint and the immersive experience generated by the aesthetic flatness of the canvas. Allen's practice draws largely from the history of 20th century abstract expressionism and the theoretical domain of colour psychology. He aims to spark an epiphanic experience in the viewer, akin to the intentions of the melancholic colour-field pioneer Mark Rothko. He also seek to imbue his painting with a sense of mystic elusiveness, mediating between things verifiable and things unreachable. Where You Go I Go Too invites the viewer to partake in an unearthing of truth, igniting the spirituality of painting as a physical action and paint as material substance.
Director Godfrey Reggio and composer Philip Glass have joined forces with filmmaker Jon Kane to create a "cinematic time capsule for the 21st century". Visitors is a haunting black-and-white film that explores humanity's relationship with technology, and the potential dangers such a relationship could bring. The wordless film will be shown in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra playing Glass's musical score live. The film comes to Sydney after its premiere at this year's Toronto Film Festival. Its release coincides with the 30th anniversary of Glass and Reggio's first collaboration — the phenomenal Koyaanisqatsi, the first of the Qatsi Trilogy. Visitors is a rare and wonderful opportunity to see this special mode of filmmaking at its best, with the score performed live in an unbeatable venue. https://youtube.com/watch?v=-DieLfWWf0w
You may recognise Nongshim ramyun's iconic packaging from various trips to your local grocery store or as your go-to budget meal when you're strapped for cash but in need of a flavour-filled feed. Well, the Korean Ramyun brand is teaming up with Morgan McGlone (founder of Belles Hot Chicken and one of the brains behind one of our favourite Sudney bars, Bar Copains) for a delicious pop-up. Aptly named Shin's Table, the temporary eating spot will celebrate the launch of Nongshim's latest product range and eco-friendly change to paper packaging. Shin's Table, kicking off on Friday, November 24 and remaining open until Sunday, December 3, will be dishing up a menu of Asian-inspired dishes, specially curated by chef McGlone. Head over to 137 Oxford Street on Friday from 5pm and you'll be met with a tight selection of noodle dishes for $16. Heat things up with the chilli chicken ramyun paired with napa cabbage, tofu and chicken thigh pieces, or opt for the vego-friendly cheesy stir fry ramyun — starring the Shin Stir Fry with cheese — topped with kimchi, spam and nori. For smaller dishes — or sides, depending on your stomach's capacity — take your pick from kimchi-, pickled chilli- and cheese-loaded tater tots for $10, Korean fried chicken (KFC) wings for $15 and chips with a cheesy pork bolognese and tomato sauce at $9. Plus, each week offers up an additional elevated ramen dish available for $24. For the first week, you'll be able to grab a seafood-centric ramen containing the familiar OG Shin Red noodles, squid, crab and fish cakes. For week two, the limited-edition ramen will feature tender wagyu beef, a cured egg yolk and shiitake mushroom with Shin Black noodles. And to top things off, there are limited-time cocktails from an old fashioned with a Korean twist to bubbly mimosa seltzers and a ginger lima soda highball. Once you've eaten to your heart's content, swing by the prize wheel on your way out and you'll score some free merch ranging from chopsticks and noodle packets to beach towels and bottles. Each day's opening hours will vary, with some days opening from lunchtime to dinner and others opening for a special dinner service. For its opening day, Friday, November 24, Shin's Table will be open from 5pm to 9pm. The weekend following the launch will open for a lunch and dinner service from 12pm to 10pm on Saturday, November 25, and from 12pm to 7pm on Sunday, November 26. The pop-up's second week will run from Thursday, November 30, to Sunday, December 3. Thursday's pop-up will run from 5:30pm to 9pm, Friday will be open from 5pm to 10pm and the Saturday and Sunday hours will remain the same as the previous weekend — so there will be plenty of time to swing by and secure an enticing meal. Head over to Nongshim Australia's Instagram page for upcoming event updates.
Looking for an extravagant WorldPride experience filled with iconic hallmarks of Sydney and plenty of main character energy? Merivale and Absolut have teamed up to deliver exactly that with Bert's Pride Plane. With the southern hemisphere's first-ever WorldPride in full swing, you can now book a luxurious four-hour aerial adventure that includes unbeatable views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, top-notch food and an essential dose of drag. Available for $699 per person until Sunday, March 5, the experience starts in Rose Bay where you'll enjoy a welcome cocktail with your hilarious host, Sydney drag queen Jackie Daniels. From there you'll board a seaplane decked out in rainbow hues, which will take you along Sydney's famous coastline, past the city skyline and Circular Quay, and all the way up to the Northern Beaches. Once you've arrived up north, you'll feel just like James Bond as you take a boat to shore, disembarking at The Newport. Venture through the beer garden and you'll be shown to your seat at the pub's luxury brasserie Bert's where you'll be treated to a four-course lunch. The bespoke set menu is overflowing with lavish exuberance. You'll start with oysters, and warm brioche fingers topped with salmon and fennel pollen. The starters will keep rolling with anchovies soaking in lemon thyme oil and paired with fried bread, as well as steak tartare. You'll move onto the garlicky taglioni served with a lobster tail before you have to make the unbearable decision between a Brooklyn Valley grass-fed 800-gram rib-eye on the bone or a whole fish covered in caviar and champagne. Yes, you are reading that right. Rounding out the meal is your choice of dessert, with a frozen peach and sheep yoghurt slice with toasted marshmallow offered alongside a dark chocolate tart paired with malt ice cream. Following your meal, you'll hop back on the plane for more sky-high views across Sydney before being dropped back in Rose Bay. Limited spots are on offer, with bookings available via the Sydney Seaplane website. [caption id="attachment_890315" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] The Bert's Pride Plane experience is available for bookings until Sunday, March 5.
The internationally renowned Ritz-Carlton hotel brand hasn't had an offering in Sydney for a decade, with its Circular Quay property shutting to make way for the Sir Stamford and the second inner-city site famously relaunching as the Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay. But now, the luxury name is set to make a triumphant return, thanks to an ambitious $500 million development project proposed by a full-pocketed trio: The Star, local developer Far East Consortium and Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook. To be built within The Star Sydney's existing Pyrmont casino complex, the soaring 61-storey hotel and residential tower would boast around 200 apartments and 220 hotel rooms. Designed to appeal to the booming number of international visitors hitting Aussie shores each year — a figure that's expected reach to 15 million within the next decade — the build could be a huge win for the city's tourism industries. The work of renowned architects FJMT, the design will feature a Sky Lobby, a rooftop terrace, three pools and two gyms, as well as 15 new food and beverage offerings, including a new high-end restaurant, that will be spread across the resort and casino complex. After consultation with locals, the proposal also incorporates plans for the new Pyrmont Neighbourhood Centre — a five-level precinct complete with reading room, function space, social enterprise cafe and rooftop terrace. The plans are currently with the NSW Department of Planning and have yet to be approved. We'll update with more information as soon as it's released. Image: FJMT, subjet to all approvals
Tarantino fans, it's the moment you've all been waiting for — and it just might be even better than the world-famous Jackrabbit Slim's twist contest. In a three-month movie tribute, the Randwick Ritz is showing its love for the filmmaker responsible for making everyone think twice about Madonna's 'Like A Virgin', Royales with cheese, getting sword-wielding vengeance and getting caught in Minnie's Haberdashery during a snowstorm. With more enthusiasm than the man-in-question's fondness for rapid-fire dialogue, retro soundtracks and paying homage to every film he's ever seen, the We Love Tarantino film series will train the Randwick cinema's projector on some of QT's finest on selected dates between Friday, April 12 and Sunday, July 14. Each session will feature a flick helmed by Tarantino, with Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, both volumes of Kill Bill, the Grindhouse double, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight all on the agenda. Breaking out your best yellow jumpsuit, bathrobe, Hawaiian shirt, daggy tee and shorts combo, or flight attendant's uniform is heartily recommended. And if you want to dance to 'Stuck in the Middle with You' or 'Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon' in the foyer, we're guessing that no one will stop you. Days and times vary, although the films are screening in order of their release, and show two sessions of each per week — either on 35mm, 2K or 70mm. And the timing really couldn't be better, with Tarantino's next flick, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, due out in Australia in August.
Incongruous fact: Massive Attack were once heavily supported by Neneh Cherry. But that Robert Del Naja and Andrew Vowles returned the favour and worked on Raw Like Sushi is not too surprising. After all, the Bristol-based pair started out as producers and went on to influence artists from Mos Def to Madlib to Madonna (?), not to mention defining an entire genre. Now, the legendary trip hop duo is coming to Australia for the first time since 2003. Their fifth official album has generated muddled reviews, and the Guardian noted that they still sound as "listless" as ever, but fans of anything they made pre-2000 will know that this is, in fact, a great thing. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y5I7apl4s-0
This year the CBD isn’t the only place where you can indulge in seasonal shenanigans. On December 13 and 14, twelve of the city’s villages will get their Christmas spirit on, with free drinks, free food, roving performers, in-store events, seriously discounted gifts and visits from Santa. More than 200 retail outlets are getting on the sleigh. If you’re in Surry Hills, Redfern or Newtown, you’d best prepare yourself for free beverages, sweet treats and some epic bargains. Those who venture into fun wallpaper shop Wall Candy or unique collective space O’Connell St Merchants will be treated to complimentary sparkling wine, while Special Lights will be handing out Christmas goodie bags to the first ten visitors each day. If that’s not refreshment enough, try two-for-one fish and chips at the Crown Street Fish Shop, free coffee and $4.99 French cider tastings at A Touch of France, and Flour and Stone goodies at Yoshi Jones’ Storio. In addition, loads of stores are selling stock at reduced prices and/or handing out presents with a minimum spend. Old-fashioned bicycle restorers Stallion Bikes will reward every $100 with a gift, quirky curators Starnam are taking 30 percent off everything, Artsite Gallery is running a prize draw, Cream on King and Cream on Crown will give you a free pair of new sunnies for every $50 you spend on upcycled and vintage clothing, and Stacks of Wax is inviting you to make your own candle. There’s also a villages-wide Instagram comp going on, which might see you jetting off to some long dreamt-of destination. Simply take a shot of your favourite shop window and tag it #sydxmas #bestwindow, for a chance to win a $2,000 QANTAS travel voucher. The business responsible for the most-tagged window will score $5,000 worth of adventures with Red Balloon. Both prizes are courtesy of American Express. And these are just the tip of the iceberg. Find out more about the City of Sydney’s Christmas in the Villages at their website.
Smash Palace looks at Chinese contemporary artist’s reactions to the shocks of “new China.” All of the shiny newness of Communist China is presented as having smashed the customs, culture, habits and ideas of old China, replacing it with anxiety, greed, corruption and ever taller skyscrapers. As per usual, White Rabbit Gallery has presented a slick exhibition in a range of media to which it is impossible to not have an emotional reaction. The overall impression of Smash Palace is a tactile one. There’s Zhou Jie’s CBD (2011) a fragile porcelain city covered in bizarre tentacles and bumps sitting on a bed of rice. It is just asking to be touched and smashed into tiny pieces. Looking over this work from the far wall is Madeln (Xu Zhen’s) Under Heaven 20121018 (2012) which has been made from incredibly thick dollops of oil paint, squeezed from an icing bag. The paint has been applied so thickly that it will take years for it to dry. When viewed up close, the viewer has an almost irresistable urge to touch the icing-sugar-like dollops, or even lick them from the surface of the canvas. Cheng Dapeng’s Wonderful City (2011-12) compares urbanisation to “speeding". "It’s dangerous for everyone, drivers and pedestrians” (Dapeng), yet it is also the vehicle from which he earns his living. It draws the viewer in to gaze and want to touch the resin 3D prints of animals, plants and human city mutants. Even Zhang Tingqun’s line works are inspired by cracked china bowls, hinting at the fragility of life in contemporary China. This fragility is a theme that unites many of the works in the exhibition, and is picked up again and again to varying degrees. Jin Shi recreates the tiny cupboard-like living space of a city dweller. This work has a caustrophic effect, leaving the viewer with a strange desire to walk into the filthy, minuscule room, purely to see if it is possible for them to fit inside it. The comic book like animations of Adventures in Mount Yu 1. (2010) and Adventures in Mount Yu 5 (2011) are described by the artist Tu Pei-Shih as “colourful but fake plastic sweets, pretty to look at, but if you eat them they make you sick.” The viewer almost wants to grab these assemblages on screen to rearrange them into a happier story. One that would be far more suited to the bird sounds and astroturf underfoot in the viewing room. Unfortunately the rape and murder of children — as well as the land —cannot simply be rearranged so that it does not exist. Smash Palace is an exhibition that cannot leave the viewer untouched. The full force of a country that is beginning to show its cracks is presented by White Rabbit Gallery in a carefully curated show. The physical effect of the exhibition alone will leave you wanting to reach out and gently touch — or, perhaps, smash — the works on show. White Rabbit opens Thursday-Sunday 10am-6pm. Image: Cheng Dapeng, Wonderful City (2011).
If you can't make it to New Orleans for this year's Bourbon Street Mardi Gras, take a ferry to Cockatoo Island instead. On March 8 and 9, the Island Bar will transform into the famous French Quarter to host a mini-version of 'The Greatest Free Show on Earth'. Jester-hatted street performers, vivacious blues singers and jazzy marching bands will take over the bar for two days. New Orleans-style fare, including soft shell crab Po' boys, gumbo, spicy Cajun chicken wings and banana crepes with vanilla cream cheese and pecans will be on the menu. There'll even be cocktail-making classes, where you can learn to mix a mint julep like a master. Not sure what to wear? The good news is that you'll have some help. Arriving guests will be greeted with the Mardi Gras-style masks and bright beads that are part of the New Orleans tradition. The festival will run from 12:30 till late each day. To get there, catch a ferry from Circular Quay or book a water taxi.
According to The Guardian, Thumpers "make spiritual feelgood music for people who don't necessarily want to go to church". In January last year, the London-based indie-electro-pop duo made the UK media institution's prestigious 'new band of the week' page. Since then, they've released their debut studio album, Galore, in both the US and the UK via independent Seattle label Sub Pop Records. That's the very same legendary platform responsible for first bringing Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney to your ears. Now, in between major UK festivals Blissfields (July 4) and Secret Garden Party (July 24-27), they're going to make a lightning-quick trip our way for just a couple of gigs — one at Sydney's Newtown Social Club on July 10 and the other at Melbourne's Northcote Social Club on July 11. After that, they're off to the US for an exhaustive tour that'll carry them clapping into September. And just in case you're wondering, the name has nothing to do with Bambi.
Bondi and Tamarama's popular beach volleyball areas are currently under review, following concerns raised by some members of the Waverley Council community. Following complaints surrounding the location of the volleyball courts and compliance with Waverley Council's rules of play, the council is reaching out to the community for feedback on the future of the courts. Both Bondi and Tamarama beach currently have designated areas for community games of beach volleyball. Under the current guidelines for volleyball on the eastern suburbs beaches, players must bring their own equipment including temporary nets in order to play free, non-commercial games. Bookings cannot be taken for games and soft volleyballs must be used. Bondi Beach has three spaces designated for the use of beach volleyball towards the south end of the beach, while four nets are permitted at Tamarama Beach. Waverley Council are currently running an online survey for local community members and beachgoers to provide feedback on the beach volleyball rules of play across the two beaches. The survey asks responders if they are supportive of the volleyball courts and requests feedback on elements such as the number of courts and their interactions with other beachgoers. Those looking to have their say can head to the Waverley Council's website and complete the survey up until Monday, May 17. [caption id="attachment_811275" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Alpha[/caption] "We are now reaching out to our community as we are keen to hear if people think the rules of play for volleyball on Bondi and Tamarama beaches are adequate, if players are complying with the rules and if the number and location of beach volleyball courts is sufficient or if it needs to change," a Waverley Council spokesperson said. While the council are not looking to ban beach volleyball as a result of the review, Mayor of Waverley Paula Masselos said the potential outcome of the feedback process was still unknown. "It is inappropriate to speculate on the potential outcomes of the consultation when the consultation hasn't been completed yet and a report is yet to come to Council," Masselos said. Bondi and Tamarama Beach's volleyball courts are currently under review. In order to have your say, head to the Waverley Council website.
Melbourne-based artist John Aslanidis has created an eye- and ear-bending series of works, miraculously merging line, colour and sound to send you spiralling through a warpy psychedelic matrix of infinities. Hosted by Gallery 9 as part of Art Month, Sonic Network no. 13 comprises 14 paintings spread over five rooms and is accompanied by a responsive and generative sound composition by his Berlin-based collaborator Brian May. Like walking from the bright outdoors into a dark room, it takes a while for your ears to adjust to May's omnipresent sound. It's hard to tell where it's coming from (an old Mac computer audio interface software hooked up to a subwoofer and some serious speakers in room 3). It feels like it's coming from everywhere. It feels like it's coming from inside your own head. Then you realise you are in your own head and your thoughts are a series of concentric circles like little planets riding on slinky orbits. In real life, the paintings do something that their internet photograph counterparts don't achieve. They move. The circles push against each other, throbbing alive, like atoms under a microscope, forcing your eye muscles to relax. Because there is no perspective — each circle is equally flat and overlaps to the point where you can't tell where one begins and the next ends — there is no focus point. What makes it even cooler is that these visual circular patterns are actually a secret language that corresponds to the patterns of sound you're listening to. The artists took a mathematical approach to achieve this effect: May used the structural elements within the paintings, the circular forms and colour, to represent the tonal language — a series of sine waves generated through an audio interface. The result is symbiotic. The paintings look like the music and the music sounds like the paintings, so it feels like you're looking at sound and listening to colour. An entire room is dedicated to the largest work in the series, Sonic Network no. 13 and generates the most engulfing experience. If you stand in front of it long enough, you'll probably have a spiritual epiphany.
We’ve all heard that old adage “what’s been said, can’t be unsaid”, most of us having experienced that feeling of dread about the night before at one time or another. When the booze is flowing freely, tongues tend to get looser as inhibitions slide away, but the damage cannot always easily be undone. This is the theme of Thirty Three, the latest play from Ray Cathode Tube , written by Michael Booth and Alistair Powning, on at TAP Gallery in Darlinghurst. In a terrace house in trendy Newtown, the beautiful Saskia is welcoming her friends to a low-key dinner in celebration of her 33rd birthday. However, the unexpected arrival of her estranged brother, Josh, throws a spanner in the works and things take a turn for the debaucherous. Suddenly what should have been a civilised evening is careening off in an entirely different direction, as the guests become increasingly intoxicated, and it’s not just alcohol being consumed. The volatile recipe for disaster is finished off with a couple heading for divorce, an uninvited narcissistic cokehead and a lesbian flower child. Underlying tensions and secrets are all revealed, but will they be able to pick up the pieces in the morning?
This article is sponsored by our partner, lululemon. Not only is yoga everywhere right now, so is that most stylish of yogi clothiers, lululemon athletica. Now the group who taught us that sports gear could also be fashionable is getting us psyched for the relaunch of their freshly renovated and revamped Bondi Junction store with a weekend of celebrations and festivities dubbed Shift Your Perspective. In the spirit of healthy living, the weekend will be kicked off at 5.30-6.15am on Saturday, June 1, at Icebergs for the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk, accompanied by the spine-tingling sounds of a local opera singer. Upon arrival at Bronte, revellers will keep the blood flowing and the heart pumping with some Chai tea and a 45-minute yoga session timed to coincide with the sunrise. The whole event is complimentary and includes a healthy serving of live music and eatable freebies, so there's no excuse for not donning your favourite yoga pants and getting involved. Of course, if early mornings aren't exactly your bag, head into Bondi's new Lululemon Athletica when it opens its doors on Friday, May 31, or check in on Saturday, June 1, when you can say g'day to the awesome Kid Kenobi as he performs in-store. Visit the new lululemon athletica at L04, Shop 4015, Westfield Shopping Centre, 500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction.
Since 2006, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) has been running initiatives in Greater Western Sydney to inject art into communities and businesses across the region of Sydney, all as part of C3West. This year's project is Being Together: Parramatta Yearbook, a large-scale photography installation that has popped up in Centenary Square until Monday, October 3. The exhibition sees the people, communities and stories of Parramatta surveyed through the portraiture photography of Cherine Fahd. Located on Dharug Country, Sydney's second city plays home to a rich and diverse kaleidoscope of residents and workers, with the area currently experiencing unprecedented urban development while also maintaining its place as an important cultural and culinary hub. The project captures hundreds of people, from Parramatta mainstays and local families through to unsung heroes of the area and passersby. Fahd's subjects were photographed through pop-up portrait studios set up between November 2021–July 2022 in bustling Parramatta locations including construction sites, Centenary Square and CommBank Stadium. Throughout the photos, you'll also find interactions between Fahd and the sitters, imparting a sense of authenticity and intimacy to the shots. "The Yearbook is a record of a people and a place at a particular time. The time is COVID-19, the place is the City of Parramatta," Fahd said. "While people stirred within the city of Parramatta's numerous construction projects, with new buildings emerging and not so old ones dissolving, local people came willing to talk and pose against the backdrop of scaffolds, cranes and abseiling window cleaners. Parramatta Yearbook shows you the moments leading up to, during and after a portrait is made. An assortment of cut-up images, bright colours and kindergarten shapes reveal the outtakes and minutiae." The exhibition is free to view in Centenary Square, and there will be a range of free events taking place during its two-month run. An opening ceremony will take place from 11am–12pm on Saturday, August 13. On Saturday, September 17, a Parramatta Yearbook photo walk will leave from Centenary Square at 3pm, taking participants on a tour of the suburb — registration is essential for this event with spaces on the walk limited. And, at 11am on on Saturday, October 1, a physical iteration of the yearbook will be unveiled with limited free copies available to take home. Images: Cherine Fahd, Being Together: Parramatta Yearbook(2021–2022), produced and presented by C3West on behalf of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in partnership with Parramatta Artists' Studios, an initiative of the City of Parramatta. Photo courtesy and © the artist.
North-west Sydney is often deprived of the wonders from gelato experts, Gelato Messina. Outside of the Church Street store in Parramatta, the area has limited access to the Sydney favourite and its neverending list of unique flavours. Luckily, hills district stalwart the Bella Vista Hotel is brightening everyone's lockdown with a pop-up Gelato Messina store in its car park. The neighbourhood pub has been running a range of exciting COVID-safe events throughout Sydney's extended lockdown including drive-thru food trucks and a pop-up Canadian Club bar. Now they're bringing all the wonders of Messina to the drive-thru. Head to the hotel 12–9pm Thursdays–Saturdays or 12–4pm Sundays and you'll find a revolving selection of some of Messina's best-selling flavours as well as its famed bake-at-home cookie pies. Both the fairy bread and OG choc-chip pies are on offer and each come with a one-litre tub of vanilla ice cream. If you opt for just a tub of gelato, the 500-millilitre tub will set you back $15.50. The pop-up is locked in for at least the next few weeks as lockdown continues. You can keep up to date with everything the Bella Vista Hotel has going on via Instagram.
It's Groundhog Day The Musical — and it's finally making its way to the Australian stages ten years after it was first announced. Back in 2014, Australian comedian, musician, actor and writer Tim Minchin (Upright) revealed that he was making a song-filled onstage version of the Bill Murray-starring classic comedy. Then, the end result premiered in London in 2016. Next came Broadway in 2017, with 2024 marking Australia's turn. Prepare for plenty of déjà vu in Melbourne from January. Feeling like you've been there and seen this comes with the territory with this production, of course, given that that's what the story is all about. Obviously, you've probably seen the film. In fact, you've likely done so more than once. Still, when Groundhog Day The Musical hits Princess Theatre from Wednesday, January 24, this'll be Aussie theatregoers' first chance to catch the stage show on home soil. The tale remains the same, with Pittsburgh TV weatherman Phil Connors tasked with travelling to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day event — and none too happy about it, oozing cynicism as everyone else around him embraces the occasion. After a cantankerous day, he wakes up the next morning to find that everything is repeating again. And, that's how every day continues, no matter what he does or how he tries to tinker with the cycling routine. On the big screen (and on VHS and streaming queues since), the result proved hilarious, and also one of Murray's best-ever roles. For the stage iteration, Minchin teamed up with screenwriter Danny Rubin — who originally co-wrote Groundhog Day's movie script and won a BAFTA in the process — plus Minchin's Matilda The Musical director Matthew Warchus. Their theatre efforts earned Groundhog Day The Musical Tony Award nominations, as well Olivier Award wins for Best New Musical and Best Actor. Yes, Groundhog Day The Musical's Australian-premiere season runs across Groundhog Day itself, aka February 2. Yes, you can listen to Sonny and Cher's 'I Got You Babe' on repeat now to celebrate. And yes, like the musical version of Matilda, this'll likely return to the big screen at some point — but after the Melbourne season. Groundhog Day The Musical comes Down Under exclusive to the Victorian capital — and if you're wondering who'll step into Murray's (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) shoes, and Andie MacDowell's (Maid) as Phil's producer Rita Hanson, too, that'd be Andy Karl returning to the former after doing the honours in London, plus Elise McCann (Matilda The Musical) as the latter.
Winter is almost over, so it's time to start planning your next beach trip, lots of picnics in parks and partying outdoors in the sweet summer breeze. What's the best way to ring in the start of summer, you might ask? By celebrating daylight saving time — when days grow warmer and the sun sets later. To help you soak up as much warm weather as possible, The Glenmore Hotel, in The Rocks, is throwing a series of gigs, with the first one for the season falling on Sunday, October 6. Sundown Sessions will be a mammoth daylight saving bash, all going down on the pub's well-loved rooftop. The one-off dance party will see an impressive lineup of music acts as well as jugs of beer and cocktails from 4 Pines and Ketel 1 Botanical, respectively. To top things off, entry is free. Plus, you won't have to go to work the next day, thanks to the long weekend. Doors open at 11am, so you can enjoy the stunning Sydney Harbour views over some food, plus brews from the 4 Pines pop-up bar. Then, get ready to take things up a notch when the music comes on at 1pm. Kicking off the tunes is funk musician Harvey, followed by a slew of DJs before headliner DJ POOLCLVB takes the stage at 6.30pm. After Sundown Sessions, you can pop into The Glenmore on any given Sunday over summer for free (more chill) live acoustic gigs. The Glenmore Hotel's Sundown Sessions kick off with a huge daylight saving party on Sunday, October 6. Then, there will be Acoustic Sundays every week over the warmer months.
The world ‘ma’ is a Japanese word meaning ‘interval’ in a spatial or temporal sense, which is not usually used on its own. When it is, it retains the implication that the space it refers to is between two (or more) things, its existence is dependent on the other objects. Yuria Okamura’s delicate artworks depict the spiritual realm of a physical space, the dimension that we detect with our intuition and imagination rather than our eyes and hands. The works are made with the use of diluted acrylic and ink in washed out, almost shadowy colours. The shapes Okamura draws bear a resemblance to architectural models of buildings made of fine paper, stretched out over the canvas. Upon reflection, one realises that as models, the shapes are geometrically incongruent, an inherently impossible space. The shapes seem to be suspended in mid-air, which creates a quietening effect as the mind traverses the ins and outs of them. Okamura draws inspiration from Japanese Zen gardens, which depict nature in an abstract manner using simple rocks. The gentle staining technique she uses creates a sense of stillness that emanate from these ‘gardens,’ with ghostly animals included to personify the spiritual presence. The interpretation of the work depends on the viewer’s physical proximity to it, their own location in space. Up close, the works are merely two-dimensional, highly detailed patterns and figures; as one moves further away they slowly take shape into something more tangible, the patterns themselves creating illusions. Through the exploration of the perception of space and the combination of naturalistic and abstract elements, Okamura attempts to communicate the oneness of the physical and metaphysical world. She believes we exist in the duality of the worlds, the space in between. Based in Melbourne, Yuria Okamura is a Japanese artist. Her first solo show is ‘Ma: Spaces between here and there,’ which is currently being exhibited at The Japan Foundation as part of the ‘facetnate!’ series, a support program for emerging artists.
Best Coast was the band on everyone's lips when they released their first album in 2010, Crazy For You, with Popfrenzy Records. Whack their CD in your player and the speakers will radiate pure, golden sunshine. Their upbeat indie sound is laced with surf rock, with Bethany Cosentino's fantastic voice (she backs herself as well) carrying each song to glorious, summery heights. The lyrics may at times seem simple but they communicate honest sentiments that are often darker than the happy melody indicates. "I Want To" perfectly captures that sexy feeling of summer when you're longing for someone so god damn badly that you can't have. They are currently working on their second album with producer Jon Brion, which according to Cosentino will be slower and a little more emo. This means you will more than likely get a sneaky preview of some of their new tunes. I doubt they'll ever take themselves too seriously if their video to "When I'm With You" is anything to go by, thankfully. After spending the last two years playing gigs around the world and collaborating with Johnny Marr, Weezer, Vampire Weekend and Wavves the duo, Cosentino and Bobb Bruno, will this time be playing as a four piece at Big Day Out 2012 as well as doing two sideshows. Catch them in Sydney at Manning Bar on January 25, otherwise you might miss out seeing them in summer; in July just wouldn't be the same. Win a double pass to see Best Coast, courtesy of Popfrenzy Records.
Antidote — the Sydney Opera House's festival of ideas, action and change – will return for its fifth year with an entirely online program of talks and panels. This year's program, curated for the final time by Head of Talks and Ideas Dr Edwina Throsby, will champion inspiring conversations and creative solutions during a continually challenging time. Livestreams will run throughout Sunday, September 5 — featuring talks on solutions to climate change with New Yorker staff writer and Pulitzer prize-winning author Elizabeth Kolbert; alternatives to capitalism with Greek economist, politician and author Yanis Varoufakis; and the future of Indigenous rights and the Uluru Statement from the Heart with three of its writers: Megan Davis, Pat Anderson AO and Thomas Mayor. Elsewhere on the lineup, you'll find Korean American poet and Pulitzer Prize finalist Cathy Park Hong in conversation with Benjamin Law and Beverly Wang on the #StopAsianHate movement; a discussion of morality in Australian politics between Sydney Morning Herald columnist Jacqueline Maley, fellow Herald columnist and host of ABC TV's The Drum Julia Baird and Schwartz Media's head of audio Osman Faruqi; and an a panel on anti-Arab racism in Australia since 9/11 curated by Western Sydney-based literary movement Sweatshop's director Michael Mohammed Ahmad. Sweatshop is also partnering with Antidote to launch an emerging writers mentorship program for First Nations and culturally diverse writers. Applications for the program are now open, with successful applicants receiving $1000, a pass to Antidote, feedback on their writing and up to 25 hours of mentorship. Antidote tickets are $15 for a single live stream, $60 for a festival pass if bought before Sunday, August 1 and $75 for the festival pass if purchased from Monday, August 2. Passes for the Uluru Statement of the Heart talk are free — and limited in-person ticket may go on sale closer to the event if public health orders allow crowds to attend. [caption id="attachment_819911" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Antidote 2020 by Prudence Upton[/caption] Top image: Daniel Boud
This year, NAIDOC Week is taking place from July 3–10 with the theme of 'Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!'. Kicking off the week is a celebration and showcase of First Nations music at Barangaroo Reserve featuring a lineup of popular and rising contemporary Indigenous musicians. The fire pits will be lit and trees illuminated at the Walumil Lawn, which sets the stage for a dreamy winter gig in front of Sydney Harbour. Mo'ju and Ziggy Ramo will headline the night alongside performances from Aya J, Tessa Thames and Cloe Terare. Across the five sets, the audience will be treated to sets traversing genres including pop, hip hop, RnB, neo-soul and electronic music. Picnics are encouraged, or if you're not organised enough to pull together a spread, there will be food trucks on-site from Burger Head, Urban Pasta and Walkabout Coffee. Archie Rose will also be running its own restricted bar area at the park so you can treat yourself to a gin and tonic. Entry is free and music will start from 7pm. Top image: Emma Pegrum
Darlinghurst's much loved Lankan Filling Station is bringing one of Sri Lanka's famous national dishes to Sydney with its Crab Curry Sundays. The restaurant will serve up its special spicy crab curry brunch on the last Sunday of every month, and you should book into April immediately. Apart from all the crab, diners can expect upwards of ten accompaniments and side dishes. Think chilli devilled eggs, onion relish sambol puffs, asparagus rolls, organic heirloom tomato red rice, dhal and papadums — to name a few. You can check out the full sample menu here. All this will cost $60 per person, not including drinks. There are two sittings — at noon and 2.30pm — and the only way to reserve a table is by emailing this booking form to info@lfsfood.com.au. If you're happy to risk it, the restaurant also accepts some walk-ins on the day. If you miss out this month and simply cannot wait until the next round, the East Sydney restaurant also offers a Sri Lankan-style brunch menu every Saturday (12–4pm) and Sunday (10am–4pm) — expect mango and cardamom lassi, sambol-stuffed milk buns and spicy bacon roti sandwiches, among other dishes, on offer. Crab Curry Sundays sittings are at 12pm and 2.30pm. Image: Parker Blain.
Spring is here, and with it comes longer, warmer days that are perfect for catching up with mates at the pub — with a cocktail in hand, of course. Luckily this October, the Paddo Inn is delivering the spring vibes in spades, with flowers taking over the pub's usual sleek interior. The seasonal transformation is thanks to Paddo Inn's collaboration with Hendrick's Gin to give you a taste of spring — and its new floral gin, Midsummer Solstice. And, to match its new look, the pub's got a new name: Paddo Ginn. This 'Floral Universe', it's running for the entire month of October and is like stepping into a beautifully strange and extremely colourful wonderland, created by local flower artist Dr Lisa Cooper. As you kick back in this one-of-a-kind installation of blooms, bows and feathers, you'll be sipping on Hendrick's new of new limited release gin, too. So, you can expect plenty of fun, floral frivolity. You'll be sipping on top-notch Hendrick's cocktails, with Paddo Ginn shaking and stirring up a bunch of gin-based concoctions. You can elevate your go-to G&T with a nip of Hendrick's new small-batch gin or opt for the Midsummer Solstice Spritz — a specialty blend of gin, sparkling wine and tonic water. Plus, throughout the month, there'll be a bunch of events in and around the pub to celebrate the collaboration, including pop-up bars and roving Victorian-inspired performers at William Street Festival on Saturday, October 19.
Feeling a little chilly, Sydneysiders? If you're not now, you will be soon. But it's not just the usual wintry temperatures that's about to make the city shiver — rather, it's a particularly frosty cold snap that's set to spark Sydney's coldest day of the year. While the mercury has been lingering around the 17–20 degree maximum mark all week, that's due to change on Sunday when it won't exceed 14 degrees. Sydney, Penrith and Liverpool will all experience the drop, which comes as part of a cold front across the east coast. In some areas, temperatures are predicted to hit their coldest point in two years. To put the dip in context, 17.8 degrees is the month's average maximum temperature to date, while 11 degrees is the minimum. In fact, 17 degrees is the usual June average historically, according to data spanning from 1859 to 2016; however the city has already endured a 15.1-degree day so far this year, on June 5. Across the state's ski resorts and alpine regions, the cold burst is also expected to bring snow of up to 50 centimetres over the weekend. If you're not too keen on the extra dose of chilliness, temps are forecast to hit the average range again from Monday, with maximums of 17–18 predicted for the rest of the week. Still, we can stop saying that 'winter is coming' — yep, winter is definitely here. Via Sydney Morning Herald / News.com.au
