Heads up Australia, Aldous Harding is one of those Kiwi musical talents we'll casually be calling our own in a few years. You may not have heard much from her yet, but this Christchurch folk queen is just about to drop her debut album and head out on her first tour of Australia. Be sure to check her out — by all accounts, she's killin' it across the Tasman. Starting her career from the ground up, Harding has dominated the pub scene of Lyttelton — a port town just south of the Christchurch CBD. Full of rural charm and enchanting melodies, her acoustic folk is definitely telling of her roots. Like New Zealand's answer to Julia Stone, her music is rich in character and story. Her self-titled debut so far has just the one single, 'Hunter', with the rest to be released on July 25. And she's making her way to our shores just one week later, so you better get acquainted with it quickly. Touring Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne alongside fellow Kiwis Tiny Ruins the shows are sure to be a very chilled affair — perfect for red wine, big jumpers and melodious swaying. Better yet, she's throwing in a couple of free gigs for punters in Sydney and Melbourne. Staying true to her pub roots, Harding will be hitting up Midnight Special and Public Bar on her lonesome. Cruise by, pick up a pint and take a chance on the new girl. It'll pay off in a few months when she's the next Lorde. Tour dates: Tuesday, July 1 – Black Bear, Brisbane Wednesday, July 2 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney Thursday, July 3 – Midnight Special, Sydney Sunday, July 6 – Public Bar, Melbourne Tuesday, July 8 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Love a party? How about one filled with drag queens, dance-worthy tunes, copious snacks and ice-cold bevvies? Then, surely you've been to The Imperial in Erskineville? Ever since it reopened its doors, with nods to its Priscilla, Queen of the Desert glory days, it's been the inner west's go-to for flamboyant fun. And now, brightening up the bar even more, is a one-off party by Jägermeister and Aussie designer Poppy Lissiman, who is known for her avant-garde (and very fun) accessories. Celebrating the pair's recent collaboration, this shindig is going to be one colourful, glitzy and OTT evening. It's all going down on Thursday, February 13, from 6.30–11.30pm at The Imperial Basement — the pub's live performance and dance space. There'll be plenty of boogying, with DJs, including New York artist Lord Fascinator, playing a range of fabulous tracks, as well as drag queens strutting their stuff, modelling the new range of extravagant Poppy Lissiman x Jägermeister sunglasses. So expect a wild, wonderful night ahead of you, should you get your mitts on this prize. Not only will you and your crew get into the exclusive party, but you'll also get Jäger-based cocktails, plus select wines, beers and cider as part of the deal. And, to keep your stomach lined, there'll be a 'Gothic grazing board', featuring charcuterie, cheeses, spicy chicken, dips and breads. For sweets, think doughnuts, cakes and Jäger truffle balls. Best of all? You'll cop a sweet pair of Poppy Lissiman x Jägermeister sunnies. If you miss out, don't despair — we've got prizes for four runners up, too. You won't cop a new pair of shades, but you will get into the party with five of your mates, plus booze, snacks and boogie times galore. Wanna check it out? See details below to enter. [competition]757579[/competition]
When you think of Brisbane, the words 'world-class public transport system' probably aren't the first things that come to mind. But the Queensland capital isn't doing too badly on the PT front, especially if the new Brisbane Metro turns out like the draft plans intend. Brisbane City Council has today revealed the Brisbane Metro draft design report, which sets up the plan to deliver a new high-frequency 21-kilometre system connecting Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street and St Lucia to Herston via 18 stops and 11 interchanges. The project was first announced back in 2016, and, is set shake up the city's transportation network, particularly around the CBD. But along with more frequent services — which will run every three minutes in peak periods and every ten minutes at a minimum — and a plan to close a major bridge to cars, the report also includes a says that service will run all night on weekends. Yep, all night — from 5am Friday right through until midnight Sunday. Now, this won't exactly be happening soon — construction isn't slated to start until 2019 to 2022, and services won't commence until at least 2023. But, still, it shows that Brisbane City Council is willing to commit to a 24-hour model, much like the one that Melbourne trialled and then permanently instated last year. Fingers crossed Sydney can beat Brisbane to the punch. For now, Brisbane's draft design report is currently open for public comment until May 25, with information sessions taking place between April 28 and May 18. From here, the council will draw up detailed specifications to gain final approval and funding.
Walking and Facebooking saves you time but severely angers fellow strutters you've meandered into with your nose in your status update. In a bold attempt to make the city's infrastructure suit the times (and save some pedestrian lives), the Chinese city of Chongqing has opened a dedicated lane for smartphone walkers, separate from their regular walking path. Inspired by Washington D.C. — the smartphone-heavy capital worked with National Geographic's Mind Over Masses show to open the first version of the footpath in July — the design sees with one lane for smartphone using pedestrians (or 'phubbers', the technical term made for 'phone snubbers') and the other for people actually paying attention on their walk. Installed as another safety experiment for NatGeo, the 'Foreigner Street' lane is drawing attention to the high risk texting pedestrians pose to themselves and their fellow commuters. Australian cities could benefit from this not-so-ridiculous-sounding idea, with smartphones and tablets increasingly discovered as causing a significant number of pedestrian injuries and deaths around the country. After the Pedestrian Council of Australia conducted spot tests in specific Sydney areas, they found one in ten pedestrians were using their mobile while wandering — sometimes not even looking up. You've done it. We've done it. This woman did it. Via Gizmodo and Tencent. Images: Tencent.
People dream of finding someone who looks at them they way that Michael Fassbender looks at Alicia Vikander in The Light Between Oceans. A World War I soldier turned lighthouse keeper, Tom Sherbourne (Fassbender) has swapped the horrors of combat for the routine and simplicity of his new life — and he never glances anything less than adoringly at Isabel Graysmark (Vikander), the woman who'll become his wife. In a film that is unashamedly a weepie, his stare tells a sometimes heart-swelling, sometimes heartbreaking story, and silently speaks of the ups and downs of life that everyone wants to weather with someone by their side. An intimate tale working with big, sweeping feelings as well as notions of guilt and forgiveness, The Light Between Oceans is a melodrama through and through. Not that that's a bad thing, necessarily. This adaptation of Australian author M. L. Stedman's 2012 novel is not what might derisively be labelled merely a chick flick. Yes, it may tug at the heartstrings, and focus its plot around marital life and motherhood, but the sentiments this period-set romantic drama stirs up remain unflinchingly real. The aforementioned couple meet, wed and forge a life together in and around Janus Rock off the coast of Western Australia. They're the only inhabitants living off the mainland, though it seems they'll be joined by the pitter-patter of tiny feet until tragedy strikes on multiple occasions. Then, a lifeboat — or a rowboat, to be exact — brings them a lost baby girl. Keeping her will help them become a family. But unbeknownst to them, it will also tear the child's real mother (Rachel Weisz) apart. After exploring the complications of romance in the raw and resonant Blue Valentine, and pondering the ties between parents and children in The Place Beyond the Pines, writer-director Derek Cianfrance combines the two in The Light Between Oceans, as though he's been building up to this all along. It may not be the strongest of the three features, but it's as astute in matters of the heart as it is picturesque. Indeed, as far as the latter is concerned, Australian cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, who gave the recent version of Macbeth such an icy, compelling gleam, will have you gazing at the soft, glowing, frequently pink-lit images in the same way that the film's characters gaze at each other. Cianfrance provides ample space for Fassbender and Vikander to flesh out their loving but troubled characters. There's no mistaking the actors' chemistry, or the hard-earned range of emotions they cultivate, often in no more than their expressions. He conveys Tom's doting affection as well as the war-inspired melancholy he can't quite hide, while she paints Isabel as vibrant and determined, both in happiness and in pain. Even when the film's efforts to evoke tears are a little too evident, Fassbender and Vikander ensure that everything feels, and looks, utterly genuine. [competition]598626[/competition]
The Argentinian barbecue masters at Surry Hills' Porteño are flame grilling for a serious cause this month. The group is hosting a big ol' fundraiser in the form of one massive four-hour feast. The charity dinner will be held at the OG Porteño venue on Cleveland Street (now Porteño Events) and honours the group's suppliers — many of whom have been affected by Australia's recent catastrophic bushfires. While the menu has not yet been revealed, you can expect a range of Porteño's signature charcoal-grilled meats, delivered directly from the open barbecue and custom-built woodfired oven by chefs Ben Milgate, Elvis Abrahanowicz and Elvis's dad Adan. Think morcilla, chorizo, suckling pig and wagyu steaks, all served alongside fresh salads and paired with wines aplenty. That drinks list, created by owner Joseph Valore, will include heaps of local producers — including Frankly Bob Wines, Jilly Wines and Mallaluka Wines, plus wine distributors Franc About Wine and Puncheon Bottles. And all drinks are included in the ticket price, too. It'll go down on Monday, January 13 from 6.30pm and cost $195 all up (including booking fee) — and every cent will be donated to the charities involved in the crisis. For those who are unable to attend but still want to donate, the Porteño group recommends Red Cross, Vinnies, Salvation Army, NSW Rural Fire Service or WIRES. For fans of the space, this degustation is also one of the last dinners being held at Porteño Events before the group gives up the digs for good. Just one more reason you should grab a ticket already.
When an actor adds new movies to their resume quickly — popping up in new flicks every couple of months or so — there's a chance they might run out of worthy on-screen opportunities. The one actor that'll never apply to: Nicolas Cage. He's prolific, he stars in far too many terrible films, and yet he always has something interesting around the corner. Across his now four-decade on-screen career, the inimitable actor has made many a must-see. Sometimes his films are simply excellent all round, or he's flat-out fantastic in them. Sometimes his movies are pure cinematic chaos, and his performances as well, but they nonetheless demand to be seen. But one of the next flicks on his slate really does promise to plunge him into new territory — because he'll be playing and parodying himself. By now, we've seen Cage break out of Alcatraz, sing Elvis songs, run around the streets convinced that he's a vampire and let his long hair flap in the wind. We've watched him voice a version of Spider-Man, drive fast cars, swap faces, fight space ninjas steal babies, too. In just the past six months, he's shouted expletives from Netflix, battled demonic animatronics and teamed up with one of Japan's most out-there filmmakers. Sometime in the near future, viewers will learn what happens when he dons Joe Exotic's blonde mullet. Staying in his own shoes stands out, though. The film in question: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Due to hit the cinemas in America on April 22, 2022 — with release details Down Under yet to be confirmed — the movie will follow the on-screen, fictionalised Cage as he accepts an offer to attend a super fan's birthday. He needs the money, but he's also recruited by the CIA along the way. Yep, that sounds about right. As well as Cage playing Cage — not to be confused with his work in Adaptation, where he played two characters — The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent will feature Pedro Pascal (Wonder Woman 1984) as the aforementioned Cage devotee, Tiffany Haddish (Like a Boss) as the CIA operative, and also Sharon Horgan (This Way Up) and Neil Patrick Harris (It's a Sin). Are We Officially Dating? filmmaker Tom Gormican sits in the director's chair, because if there's anything this story needs, it's the director of a Zac Efron and Michael B Jordan-starring rom-com pivoting to total Cage worship. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent doesn't have a trailer as yet but, in the interim, here's the Adaptation trailer if you'd like to see twice as much Cage as usual in one frame: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is set to release in the US on April 22, 2022. Australian release details haven't yet been revealed — we'll update you when they are. Via: Deadline. Top image: Wild At Heart
To quote David Suzuki, "Some of the ingredients in beauty products ain't that pretty". In fact, of the 82,000 or so ingredients commonly used, about one in eight is nasty. As in, a proven pesticide, carcinogen, reproductive toxin or hormone disruptor — or a combo of the above. It's not uncommon to toss a surfactant, degreaser or plasticiser into the mix. Consequently, more and more consumers are opting for organic and chemical-free products. DIY's on the rise, too, but doing anything more complex than sticking cucumber slices over your eyes and kicking back can get pretty messy pretty quickly. The good news is, a Milan-based company has come up with a system to make the process much smoother — more like the science lesson you wish you'd had at school than a cooking class gone horribly wrong. The Teardrop DIY kit is a "phytocosmetic lab" made up of beakers, burners, measurers and jars. Fundamentally, it's a distillation system via which you can extract the beneficial qualities of plants and create a 100 percent natural herbal water, which can be transformed into safe cosmetics. The kit comes with a bunch of recipes and info regarding the properties of various herbs and flowers. So you can work it successfully without a PhD in chemistry. Via PSFK.
Australia's border rules are changing, allowing Aussies to embark upon international travel again. So, you've probably stopped dreaming about all the overseas destinations you'd like to visit — because you've already started planning your next global getaway. But there's one destination closer to home you still might want to consider, with the Scenic Rim region in southeast Queensland just named one of the best places to visit in 2022 by travel publication Lonely Planet. The only Aussie spot to make the list — which is broken down into the countries, regions and cities — the Scenic Rim placed eighth among the top ten areas to head to in the Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2022 guide. Back in 2020, Lord Howe Island ranked fifth on the same list, but this time it's an Australian destination without beaches that caught the publication's eye. The Scenic Rim was named for its "diversity of attractions" — with the guide pointing out its rainforest adventures, "the misty slopes of Mount Tamborine town packed with cafes, cellar doors and galleries" and "hatted restaurant Homage, which specialises in creative paddock-to-plate fare". It also called attention to Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm, Summer Land Camels, and the area's "epic landscapes and charming country towns offering a tasty slice of rural life, with cracking Queensland hospitality in plentiful supply too". [caption id="attachment_830275" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] On the top regions list, the southeast Queensland spot is in impressive company. Westfjords in Iceland took out first place, West Virginia in the US came second and China's Xishuangbanna placed third. Next came Kent's Heritage Coast in the UK, Puerto Rico, Shikoku in Japan and Chile's Atacama Desert — while Canada's Vancouver Island and Burgundy in France closed out the rundown. While the Scenic Rim is the only Australian location to make the 2022 guide, Auckland in New Zealand topped the list of the ten best cities for 2022 — with Lonely Planet noting that [NZ's] "biggest and most diverse city has always been beautiful, but one unpredicted consequence of COVID-19 has been the blossoming of Auckland's cultural scene, putting a fresh spotlight on exciting local creativity". Other cities named include Taipei in Taiwan, Freiburg in Germany, Atlanta in the US and Lagos in Nigeria — as well as Nicosia/Lefkosia in Cyprus, Dublin in Ireland, Merida in Mexico, Florence in Italy and Gyeongju in South Korea. On the list of best countries, Cook Islands took out the number one spot, followed by Norway, Mauritius, Belize, Slovenia, Anguilla, Oman, Nepal, Malawi and Egypt. So, there's 30 places all up to add to your must-visit list. For more information about Lonely Planet's full Best in Travel 2022 lists, visit its website.
There's the naturalism you know, and then there's the immersive, mythic, sensorial and heady naturalism of Abdellatif Kechiche's Blue Is the Warmest Colour (known in its native France as Adele: Chapters 1 & 2). The director boldly sticks his camera in the face of actor Adele Exarchopoulos and lets it linger there for three hours, watching intensely as the ingenue lives and loses her first love, while several years roll by. It's an extreme viewing experience that garnered high praise in Europe and won the most prestigious independent film award on the planet, the Palme d'Or. Since winning, the film has encountered controversy, but nothing can dampen the phenomenal performances of leads Exarchopoulos as Adele and Lea Seydoux as her worldlier girlfriend, Emma. Adele is from a plain, working-class household, and her world opens up when she meets art student Emma, who floors her from across the street with her blue-streaked hair and white-hot insouciance. Their love is explosive, total and immensely physical. But first loves don't often last, and that's probably a good thing. Captured in extreme close-up, Blue Is the Warmest Colour lets you feel the beauty and the pain of it, really feel it, for a few blessed minutes. Blue Is the Warmest Colour is in cinemas on February 13, and thanks to Transmission Films, we have five double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, 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 Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au. Read our full review of Blue Is the Warmest Colour here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y2OLRrocn3s
Everyone has at least one piece of IKEA furniture in their house. Let's be honest: we all have more than that. And, when deciding which items to buy from the giant Swedish retailer, we've all consulted its thick printed catalogues that come out every year and give us all a big list of things that we suddenly want — and convince ourselves that we need — to purchase. From 2021, however, flicking through the weighty tome will no longer be a part of browsing through and buying the company's flatpack wares. After a whopping 70 years in circulation, the publication is being retired. The reason? IKEA says that both customer behaviour and media consumption have changed, its online sales increased by 45 percent worldwide in 2020 and its website received more than four billion visits over the same period. Given that the world spent more time at home last year — likely browsing the chain's website to look for ways to liven up our homes in the process — that's hardly surprising. Seven decades is a hefty run, and that only captures part of the IKEA catalogue's history. When it was first printed in 1951, there were 285,000 copies — all made available only in the southern part of Sweden — and the publication had just 68 pages. Jump to 2016, the biggest year in the tome's lifespan, and 200 million copies of the much thicker text were distributed — in 69 different versions, 32 languages and to more than 50 markets. The company will still be releasing a book in-stores in 2021 that'll allow customers to get ideas for furniture purchases and interior decoration choices — and to celebrate the old catalogue's history, too — but it won't be the printed guide that everyone currently knows. If you're not quite ready to farewell the publication, the chain's US branch has actually released its 2021 catalogue as a podcast, which you can listen to below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foNEPnmUAdU&list=PLk5L7f7HqQ7HAvWFx_Zd-h-iIkwc9p7QM IKEA will stop printing and distributing its catalogues from 2021. For more information, head to the Swedish retailer's website.
Not that you need any extra incentive to do your bit for the environment, but here's a fun one anyway: your mates at Victoria Bitter have just started a new program that lets Aussies swap their excess solar energy for beer. Under the VB Solar Exchange initiative, locals can turn the power bill credit earned by their home's solar panels into a few icy cold brews, rather than simply selling it back to the grid. Specifically, VB is offering participants in its program a slab of beer for every $30 worth of energy credits they rack up. And, those brews will be delivered straight to your door, too. Of course, not just any old beer lover can get involved — and there are a few tight eligibility requirements to meet. First, you'll need to already have solar panels and be connected to the grid as a residential customer in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria or South Australia. You'll also have to switch over to VB's chosen energy retailer, Diamond Energy. And you'll obviously need to be over the age of 18, so you can properly enjoy the spoils of your solar swapping. If you do tick all the boxes, you can register your interest over at the website and then sit back and wait to hear if you've been accepted into the program. Once in, you'll earn yourself a VB for every $1.25 of credit generated — and a slab once you've clocked up enough for 24 beers. Participants can track their progress as they go, with beers delivered to your door quarterly. That said, VB's producer CUB is only accepting 500 people into the program. It's also only handing out a maximum of 30 slabs per person each year, with debit cards sent out to cover the remaining credits. So if you're keen, don't wait too long to sign up. CUB is set to reinvest the solar credits back into the Solar Exchange program, as well as using a portion to hit the company's broader sustainability targets. The program is the latest in a suite of initiatives by CUB's parent company Asahi Beverages, as part of an ambitious sustainability program. It's committed to being powered by 100 percent renewable electricity by 2025. Registrations for the VB Solar Exchange are open now. Head to the website to check if you're eligible and to sign up.
Melbourne's avocado aficionados are either in for a serious treat, or are the butt of an elaborate breakfast joke (or both), with this week's revelation that a smashed avo and music 'festival' is coming to town. The event, announced via Facebook, looks set to take over a secret location in Docklands on Saturday, May 19. Apparently, festival-goers will get to revel in a bunch of 'amazing avocado-based activities' — like avocado and spoon races, and smashed avo masterclasses — while enjoying 'avocado and activated almond cocktails', and the unique works of some 'brunch-based' performance artists. Those last two points had us thinking this was an elaborate brunch-based hoax, but organisers have confirmed the legitimacy of the event and tickets are very much on sale. If you fancy heading along to indulge your smooshy green desires, the first round of tickets can be bought for for $20. Sales for 'ripe' tickets begin on April 23. And it's not just about the green stuff, either. To help you dance it all off, there'll be a locally focused music program headed up by Melbourne DJ legend Spacey Space — a diehard avo fan himself, they say. Smashed Avo will take place at a yet-to-be-disclosed location in Docklands from 2pm on Saturday, May 19. You can buy tickets here.
It's the kind of coastal getaway everyone dreams of: ocean views as far as the eye can see, decadent suites climbing 48 storeys into the sky, and five on-site restaurants manned by world-class chefs. Throw in an Asian street-style food market, a rooftop open-air cinema, more than a couple of bars and even karaoke, and it's shaping up to become Australia's new must-visit place to stay. Meet the Gold Coast's next drawcard, and Australia's first six-star beachfront hotel. The as-yet-unnamed site is slated to join the Queensland tourist spot's abundance of accommodation options, with Aquis Australia lodging a development application with the local council for the $440 million project. If approved, construction is slated to start in 2018. Taking over the space at 3464 to 3466 Main Beach Parade, Surfers Paradise, and designed by architects Woods Bagot, the new hotel will also include 580 rooms, an atrium lobby spread over three levels, and a $2.5 million custom art installation. And, if swimming somewhere other than the adjacent seaside takes your fancy, it'll boast a glass bottom pool that can be viewed from within the hotel. Plus, it's the only new, large-scale south-east Queensland hotel that isn't linked to an integrated resort or casino. And yes, we know what you're wondering — just what makes a six-star hotel so special? It's a fair question, particularly given that anything above five isn't officially recognised; however the key is the level of indulgence on offer. "Our goal was to create a hotel that would become a destination in itself, something that is instantly recognisable and synonymous with luxury," says Aquis Australia chairman Tony Fung. "We will be targeting travellers that want to experience the best restaurants, the best beaches, the best accommodation away from the hustle and bustle".
Sydney, are you ready to bounce? Monster Jump is popping up again from Saturday, September 27, until Sunday, October 12, and there are two locations to choose from this time. The kid-friendly giant inflatable obstacle course is back and running daily from 10am to 4pm this spring school holidays. For the first time, Monster Jump will be popping up at The Crescent in Parramatta Park, offering Western Sydney families the chance to experience the adrenaline of the colossal 280-metre inflatable obstacle course, packed with over 30 unique challenges. Monster Jump will also be returning to the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park. It's here you'll be able to play at the Monster Sports Jam Inflatable. This arena adds another layer to school holiday fun and features basketball shootouts, jousting battles, a wrecking ball challenge and more thrill-inducing games. Kids and adults alike can slide, climb, hurdle and race across the bouncy obstacle courses during the school holidays — perfect if your kids (or kidults) need to get some much-needed outdoor activity. It's a win-win. Sessions run in two-hour blocks from 10am-12pm, 11am-1pm, 12pm-2pm, 1pm-3pm, and ending at 2pm-4pm. Tickets start from $30 per person, plus spectators can enter for free. Tickets are known to be snapped up quickly, so pre-book now to ensure you don't miss out on the school holiday fun. Tickets to Monster Jump Sydney are available on the website now.
One of the most strenuous undertakings of summer is deciding how best to allocate your funds to Sydney's music festival calendar. This year doing so has proved especially draining to both brain and bank balance what with all the excellent new boutique festivals cropping up alongside the mainstays, but hopefully you've remembered that the best lineup is often painstakingly kept on the d-low until well into spring. After weeks of teasing Twitter followers with inscrutable clues St Jerome's Laneway Festival has finally released its lineup and, duh, it's an indie-dense doozy. Headliners Bat for Lashes, Yeasayer and Nicolas Jaar help comprise the exciting international contingent, alongside plenty of budding artists you'll be hearing a lot more of before 2013. In alphabetical order, the St Jerome's Laneway Festival 2013 Lineup: ALPINE ALT-J# BAT FOR LASHES CHET FAKER CLOUD NOTHINGS DIVINE FITS EL-P FLUME HENRY WAGONS & THE UNWELCOME COMPANY HIGH HIGHS* HOLY OTHER JAPANDROIDS# JESSIE WARE JULIA HOLTER KINGS OF CONVENIENCE THE MEN MS MR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD NICOLAS JAAR## NITE JEWEL* OF MONSTERS AND MEN* PERFUME GENIUS POLICA POND REAL ESTATE# THE RUBENS SHLOHMO SNAKADAKTAL TWERPS YEASAYER St Jerome's Laneway Festival 2013 dates: Brisbane RNA Showgrounds Friday 1st February Sydney Sydney College of the Arts (Subject to Council approval) Saturday 2nd February Melbourne Footscray Community Arts Centre (Subject to Council approval) Sunday 3rd February Adelaide Fowler's Live and UniSA West Courtyards Friday 8th February Perth Perth Cultural Centre Saturday 9th February 2013 Presale tickets start 9AM, Wednesday 3 October. See full details on the Laneway website. https://youtube.com/watch?v=iqkLWlZx7A4
It has taken almost four decades to summon a Beetlejuice sequel; however, if a third film was to follow in the poltergeist bio-exorcist franchise, the initial two flicks have already told us what it should be called. First came 1988's Beetlejuice. Next arrives this year's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. So, only Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will do if the Juice gets loose again sometime in the future. For now, cinemagoers have simply Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to look forward to. Calls for this followup have been echoing since the 80s, with the sequel finally locked in in 2023, then dropping its first teaser earlier in 2024 and now unveiling its full trailer. And saying its eponymous figure's name three times is a part of this sneak peek, as Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder, Stranger Things) warns her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega, Miller's Girl) against doing. Of course, that advice isn't followed, and so in pops Michael Keaton (The Flash). In the first film, the ghost with the most turned life into chaos for the Deetz family — and for his big-screen return 36 years later, with the movie releasing in September, he has more mayhem to unleash. This time, for another dance with the trickster demon, there's three generations of Deetz women in Winter River. Schitt's Creek's great Catherine O'Hara (Argylle) is also back as matriarch Delia. Filmmaker Tim Burton also sits in the director's chair again, on what marks his first feature since 2019's Dumbo. He's no stranger to revisiting to his past work, as seen when he made two Batman movies in the late 80s and 90s, and when he adapted his short Frankenweenie into a full-length flick. He also loves collaborating with the same talent again and again, such as bringing in his Wednesday star Ortega. You don't need a Handbook for the Recently Deceased in your ghostly hands to get excited about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, but you might spend time with folks with one, which is what happened with the original flick's Barbara and Adam Maitland (GLOW's Geena Davis and Dr Death's Alec Baldwin). In that movie, viewers also saw what happened when that pair started to suspect that they're no longer alive, a new family moved into their house and they decided they needed a bio-exorcist. In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Keaton, Ryder, O'Hara and Ortega are joined by Justin Theroux (White House Plumbers), Monica Bellucci (Mafia Mamma), Arthur Conti (House of the Dragon) and Willem Dafoe (Poor Things), all newcomers to the franchise. Behind the lens, Burton is working with a screenplay by Wednesday's Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, with Seth Grahame-Smith (The Lego Batman Movie) coming up with the story by Gough. If you say "Beetlejuice" three times, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice won't arrive in cinemas quicker — but it is hitting the silver screen before the musical version of the first film finally makes its way Down Under in 2025. Check out the full trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice below: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will release in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice images: © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Think that Uber has completely transformed the idea of getting a ride from A to B? Actually, that's just the beginning. Airbus has just announced plans to start building a new kind of short-distance transportation that'll really make catching a cab completely different. Given that the company specialises in building aircraft, the fact that they're taking taxis into the sky shouldn't be that surprising. Yep, where their proposed helicopter-like vehicles are going they don't need roads — or, in a turn of events that might thrill or frighten you depending on how adventurous you are, they don't need drivers either. Their battery-powered CityAirbus will be designed to ferry about both passengers and small parcels without anyone at the helm, and will be booked and ordered via smartphone apps. The project is aimed towards easing urban congestion, particularly in some of the world's largest, most crowded cities. Of course, given that everyone is just getting used to concepts such as driverless cabs on the ground and slurpees delivered by drone, Airbus will have plenty of hurdles to scale before their futuristic technology becomes available to the masses, legal issues included. That hasn't deterred the industrious company, however, who continue to look onwards and upwards. Work started in February this year, test flights of the first protoype are slated to take place in 2017, and Airbus has stated the end product might be zooming about in as little as ten years, so watch this space — or the skies, more accurately. It seems that the world of flying cars that science fiction efforts like Back to the Future, The Fifth Element and even The Jetsons have been promising us for years might soon be a reality. Image: via Airbus.
The 86 has always been Melbourne's coolest tram line (go on, prove us wrong), so dedicating an entire festival to the iconic route isn't strange or unfounded; it's a matter of course. From Monday, October 23–Tuesday, October 31, Melbourne's northern suburbs will buzz with electricity and the sound of music of all ilks thanks to The Eighty-Six festival. Running all along High Street, from Westgarth to Preston, the festival promises to be one hell of a party. Oh, and did we mention it's free? Just be sure to register for your ticket online as it's a first-come, first-served affair. The main event, Super Saturday on October 28, will be a 22-hour music odyssey spread across 40 venues along the 86 tram route. Expect a smorgasbord of live music and parties featuring over 200 artists including established names, emerging talents, and international guests. Okay, let's talk pasta. The folks at 1800 Lasagne are spicing things up with a dog-friendly street party complete with food, drinks and tunes. There's even going to be a pooch parade and costume competition to raise money for Pets Of The Homeless. Whether you dip in for an event or two, or try to ride out the full 22-hour marathon, one thing will be certain — Melbourne's vibrant, multifaceted music scene will be on full, proud display. This is a festival for everyone, from nonnas to toddlers, and everyone in between. See ya on the 86. Head to Visit Melbourne for the full rundown and to check out what else is happening in Melbourne this spring.
To celebrate Bastille Day, the 223rd anniversary of Parisian insurgents storming the seat of royal power in France, the Argyle are letting loose an evening of wine, dancing, costume and music. On the morning of July 14, 1789, around 1000 rebels attacked the medieval fortress and prison the Bastille and paved the way for a new era in French history, one of human rights away from the tyrannous monarchy. One of the main events at the beginning of the French revolution, the battle is a symbol of pride for the European nation, and thus is celebrated all over the world. With a program of events including free wine, table tennis, cycling competitions, make-up stalls, French food, and can-can shows, the celebrations will run long into the night.
Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby was, as we all knew it would be, better as a trailer than a movie. It's hard to forget the first time I saw that beautifully designed gold art deco logo in the first ad, the dark beat of Jay-Z and Kanye's 'No Church in the Wild' and the shimmying of African-American flappers drinking champagne in a convertible. Gatsby's mansion looks every bit like the epic party hub described in the book, and though the film fails on the level of emotional depth and pace, visually it's spectacular. As becomes clear in this before-and-after video, by Gatsby's VFX supervisor Chris Godfrey, that mansion, in fact, never existed: green screen computer-generated effects make up even more of the set than you might expect. Let Lana Del Rey's irresistibly transfixing 'Young and Beautiful' take you through the digital construction of Gatsby's opulent world.
Brewskies, two-up and commemorating our brave veterans, our fallen and their descendants; it's a day of tradition of celebration, reflection and copious amounts of Tooheys Old. Anzac Day is likely to leave you with a fair hangover and empty pockets, so to make things easier on the wallet and the social planners, let Concrete Playground help you plan it out. Here's our round-up of the ten best things to do in Sydney this April 25, which at both the going down of the sun and in the morning, you will remember. 1. WAKE UP FOR THE ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE An Anzac Day tradition, Australians have been rising early since 1916 to commemorate military servicemen in the Dawn Service. Set your alarm and wake up early to commemorate both fallen and serving military men and women in the Anzac Day Dawn Service. Be at the Cenotaph in Martin Place before the 4:15am ceremony commencement; there's nothing like paying your respects as the bugle brings up the sun. 2. HEAD TO THE ANZAC DAY MARCH(ES) Medals are shined up and proudly donned as veterans, their descendants and serving personnel march through Sydney’s CDB for the annual Anzac Day Parade. Commencing at 9am sharp, the march will begin in Martin Place at Pitt Street, then head down George Street, turn at Bathurst Street toward Elizabeth Street before reaching the War Memorial (here's the map). The Last Post will ring out over Hyde Park at the commemorative services kicking off at 12:30pm beside the Pool of Remembrance. Right after the main Sydney march, Sydney’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders are holding the eighth annual Anzac Day March and Commemorative Service in Redfern. With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people having served in the military since the Boer War, the Redfern Anzac Day March honours Australia’s unsung war heroes, beginning right after the Sydney march at 1:45pm. Commencing from Redfern Park, the march will head down Redfern, Lawson and Eveleigh streets to the Redfern Community Centre. 3. PLAY A NATIONAL SPORT: TWO-UP Take advantage of one of only two days a year where this national sport is legal and squeeze into one of many Sydney pubs hosting this beloved Anzac Day tradition. Make sure you convert those notes into gold coins, place your bets and watch those sacred two-up coins fall. We recommend hitting up one of Sydney's best pubs in The Rocks, Surry Hills or the Inner West for a spirited crowd and local craft beers on tap. Here's our picks for two-up hubs: The Rocks: The Morrison, The Glenmore or The Argyle. Surry Hills: The Forresters, The Norfolk or The Beresford. Eastern Suburbs: Watson's Bay Boutique Hotel. Balmain: Dick's, The Exchange or The Balmain. Newtown: Newtown Hotel or The Courthouse. Or save it all up for Sydney's biggest two-up game, further down our list... 4. WATCH A NATIONAL SPORT: NRL After a few Paddington brewskies, head to Allianz Stadium, Moore Park to watch the NRL's traditional Anzac Day clash between St George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. Cheering on these sporting warriors as they crash into each other for 80 minutes, channelling the Anzac spirit is a straight-up riveting way to spend the public holiday afternoon. 5. BUSH OLYMPICS AT FREDA'S Australia Day Bush Olympics at Freda’s (107-109 Regent St, Chippendale) proved to be such a hit that it’s happening all over again, in honour of the diggers. From 4pm, there’ll be true blue “Barnsey to Farnsey” ozploitation from live band Bad Jeep (pictured), original tunes from Newcastle underdogs These New South Whales, DJ sets from Smokey La Beef and Wild Sunset, $5 VB tinnies and two-up in the laneway. Turn up with a mullet and you’ll score a beer on the house. Really. Entry is free. 6. HEAD TO THE SUNSET SERVICE If you're not an early riser and want to pay your respects (or you want to add some symmetry to your day by ending it as it began), there's a sunset Anzac service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place. Make your way there for the 5pm start and the going down of the sun. Image credit: Greg O'Beirne 7. EAST SIDE MEETS WEST SIDE PARTY AT EASY TIGER If you’re looking for an alternative to the ubiquitous Tooheys and two-up, head along to Easy Tiger (106 Oxford St, Paddington) for an East Side meets West Side party, kicking off at 5pm. Young Henry’s Real Ale on tap will quench all thirsts while a locally-sourced live music programme is sure to instil a touch of national pride in punters. There’ll be sets from The Owls (pictured), Spirit Valley, Civilians and Steve Smyth, as well as vinyl DJ sets. All for free. 8. FOLLOW THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM AT STRICTLY BALLROOM I want to dance with you. I want to dance with you your way at the Pan Pacifics. Is there an Australian alive in the '90s who doesn't know the meaning of those immortal words? That paragon of multiculturalism, suburban sparkle and following your dream, Strictly Ballroom, not only launched the career of writer-director Baz Luhrmann but also implanted itself in our national consciousness as few films have. Now the team behind the movie have brought it to the stage as Strictly Ballroom: The Musical, and the big surprise? It's actually pretty damn good. Celebrate solid Australian talent at Lyric Theatre this Anzac Day. 9. KICK BACK AT THE MOVIES If you woke up early enough to make the Dawn Service, you might well be ready to kick back and spoil yourself at the movies by the afternoon. For those who find themselves thinking about international relations on Anzac Day, there’s Chinese Puzzle. On the other hand, for the more (sort of) patriotically inclined, there’s Captain America. 10. THE INNER WEST'S BIGGEST TWO-UP GAME – THE VIC To be part of the biggest two-up game in the inner west, hit The Vic (2 Addison Rd, Marrickville). Furnace and The Fundamentals, Handsome Young Strangers and Jay Katz will soundtrack your wins and your losses. Plus, if all that tossing works up an appetite, you’ll be more than provided for with a spit roast and Anzac biccies. Entry is free and diggers receive a complimentary drink. ONE MORE THING, TAKE A MINUTE'S SILENCE While you can hold your own moment of reflection to pay respects to the diggers, you could also help the RSL out. In a moment of performance art meets respectful fundraising, the RSL's Anzac Appeal this year are selling minutes of silence. An actual recording of soundless contemplation time, the Minute of Silence is raising funds to help returned service men and women. You can buy the recording by telephone, and even the cost of the call will help toward the RSL. To buy the Minute of Silence, phone 1902 250 414 for Victoria, 1902 250 415 (NSW & Qld), 1902 250 416 (Queensland), 1902 250 417 (South Australia & NT), 1902 250 418 Western Australia or 1902 250 419 (Tasmania). Or alternatively, text the word SILENCE and your home state to 1999 1234. Either way, make sure you take a quiet moment to remember amidst the brewskies and coin tossing. Words by Matthew Watson, Jasmine Crittenden, Rima Sabina Aouf and Shannon Connellan.
Whatever holiday plans you had for 2023, they're changing. Apologies to whichever island trips or European jaunts you'd been dreaming about — you're now going to Japan. That's the only way to react to Jetstar's latest flight sale, which is solely focused on visits to two cities and two cities only: Tokyo and Osaka. Even better — whichever you decide to fly into, the Australian carrier's new special will bring you home without bothering your bank balance. Yes, Jetstar is doing one of its big 'return for free' sales. In fact, it's the first time in four years that the airline has launched a Japan edition of this popular excuse to buy airfares and lock in getaways, and you've got just three days to snap up tickets. Running for 72 hours from 12am AEDT on Tuesday, February 28–11.59pm AEDT on Friday, March 3 — or until sold out — it really is as straightforward as it sounds. Whatever flights you opt for as part of the sale, covering direct flights from Cairns or Gold Coast, plus connecting flights out of Sydney, Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Brisbane, you'll get the return fare for nothing. You do need to nab one of Jetstar's starter fares, and you'll then get a free return starter fare for zilch. Also, you'll have to fly in and out of the same arrival and departure port — either Narita in Tokyo or Kansai in Osaka. Plus, as is usually the case with Jetstar, checked baggage is not included. Still, expect the flights to get snapped up quickly when they go on sale. If you're a Club Jetstar member, you'll get the jump on the special via access from 12pm AEDT on Tuesday, February 28 until midnight. Wondering when you'll be travelling? Dates vary per route, but there are a few windows, including from late April through to late June, and again from early October to mid-December — all in 2023. Jetstar's Japan 'return for free' sale runs from 12am AEDT on Tuesday, February 28–11.59pm AEDT on Friday, March 3 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Tempted by all your friends heading to Europe this winter, but cost of living got you down? If it's time for an interstate getaway that's not going to set you back a couple of months' rent, Victoria has delivered a swathe of brand spanking new hotels with all the luxe vibes of a southern White Lotus. Warm weather not guaranteed. Here are three of the best new openings in Victoria right now – from a converted Rolls Royce showstopper in South Yarra, to an interior designer's dream in Ballarat. THE ROYCE Following a two-year renovation of their gorgeous heritage building, The Royce has opened in the most understated way possible – which is perfectly befitting the luxury hotel, formerly a Rolls Royce showroom but now aimed at high-end business clientele and weekend travellers looking for impeccable service, generous rooms and luxe amenities. Speaking to Nick McLennan, General Manager at The Royce, he tells me they're not looking for a packed roster to fill their 94 rooms and suites – but rather a repeat customer who values discretion and design detail in equal parts. And the detail really has been carefully considered here; everything from the second bathroom in the two-level suites that repurpose the old mechanic's workshop offering a guest option for in-room meetings that ensures no awkward moments, to the separated lounge areas ensuring the bed is out of mind, and out of sight, when a client pops in for a nightcap. Breakfast in the Parisian glass conservatory is a treasure trove of Instagramable moments – particularly as you wander through the hand-painted chinoiserie frescos, matched perfectly to sorbet velvet armchairs, evoking the building's art deco bones without any of the pomp. The elegant Showroom Bar delivers sophisticated, but classic, dining almost all day and night, with an impeccably detailed marble staircase leading up to a mid-sized ballroom for any dramatic event moments in mind. The Royce is delightfully decadent, but never garishly so – and its spot on St Kilda Road in South Yarra delivers city fringe convenience with excellent location amenity for those keen on a morning run around The Tan or a late night cocktail on Chapel. Their press release may have described the "capacious lounge" adorned with a 2-metre wide chandelier and a 14-metre curved marble fireplace, but this is certainly no Burberry tote housing fold-up ballet flats. HOTEL VERA Tucked away behind the façade of a quiet heritage townhouse on Ballarat's main drag is an interior designer's dream. As you enter through the front door, Hotel Vera's masterclass in colour theory unfolds before you – the inspiring result of owners David Cook-Doulton and Martin Shew's impeccable taste. With only seven spacious suites on offer, Vera's focus is on a personalised experience that translates into easy-going hospitality, long chats over breakfast, and a fascinating tour of their 19th-century mansion – now transformed into a contemporary, lovingly-crafted modern guesthouse. Each room has its own unique flavour: individual two-tone wall colours are complemented by textured, sculptural design choices, original artworks and locally-sourced decorative pieces; a pet friendly suite offers a private courtyard and convenient, separate shower bench for dog washing; and an accessible suite redefines what is often an afterthought, featuring gorgeous interior touches that allow for easy use. As Cook-Doulton leads me through the building, pointing out intricate historical details that they have weaved into their contemporary renovation, it's clear that this is a heartfelt project lovingly brought to life. As custodians of the history they've inherited, Cook-Doulton and Shew clearly understand that their properties (they also run Hotel Ernest in Bendigo) can offer modern amenities whilst still respecting the unique fabric of the regional towns they reside in. And Hotel Vera is just that: a quietly luxurious home away from home – with repeat visitors who request specific suites they've come to love – that also embraces its historical context. Add a table for the night at the 14-seat, intimate in-house restaurant Underbar, helmed by Michelin-trained chef Derek Boath, and you've got the ultimate weekend getaway on your hands. That it offers a treasure trove of interior inspiration for anyone looking to update their own space back home? Well, that's just a bonus. LE MERIDIEN MELBOURNE Walking into Le Meridien on a Friday night straight from the office, the day after their rollicking Parisian-themed opening launch (featuring a sparkling champagne tower), is admittedly not quite as glamorous – but still enjoyable nonetheless. Positioned at the top end of Bourke Street and occupying the former Palace Theatre site, the Melbourne iteration of Mariot Bonvoy's five-star brand is smack bang in the middle of the theatre district. So, with its film-themed fine diner Dolly downstairs, and movie concession-style ground floor café Intermission, it takes its cues from its own rich creative history on site. Now a 12-story building featuring 235 rooms tucked behind a heritage art deco façade, its design encompasses the performing legacy of previously hosting a theatre, cinema, nightclub and live performance venue at various times in its 180 year history. And although there are many subtle nods (like an incredible popcorn-flavoured bomb Alaska desert at Dolly, and the restaurant's name itself referencing – no, not Parton, but an obscure camera technique), its presentation is thoroughly modern. With rooms and suites overlooking either Parliament or the city – with a view to the chic pool deck below – there really isn't any bad room on offer, although the lower-pricepoint rooms are admittedly on the smaller side. Its selling point for weekenders is definitely Le Splash, a poolside dining offering featuring a small selection of cocktails and luscious lobster rolls delivered straight to your deckchair, with a view to Parliament House. Outdoor pools are a rarity in Melbourne, for obvious reasons, but when you get the weather just right, this is the place to be. Images: supplied.
When autumn arrives, it doesn't just bring a reprieve from summer's sweltering weather. The change of season also kicks a new round of holiday pangs into gear. Been craving a cosy getaway, a break from the nine-to-five grind or just a chance to relax? Feel like your Christmas break was ages ago? We hear you — and, if you're eager to make a trip to South Australia before winter hits, the SA Government hears you as well. As it's done a few times already, the South Australian Government is giving away travel vouchers to make your next trip to SA even more enticing — and cheaper. Up for grabs are 60,000 $100 and $200 vouchers that can be used on experiences and tours. So, you'll still need to pay for travel and accommodation (or get comfy in a friend or family member's spare room), but you'll get something fun to do while you're there. As part of SA's Great State Vouchers scheme, the vouchers are available to Aussies nationwide, but they're only on offer until 5pm ACDT — so 5.30pm AEDT and 4.30pm AEST — on Wednesday, March 9. You'll need to enter a ballot to win one, and you can only apply for either a $100 or $200 voucher, not both, but that's still some free travel money coming your way if you're successful. Wondering about the different values? The 57,500 $100 vouchers are for half-day and one-day activities, while the 2500 $200 vouchers are for multi-day tours and experiences that also include at least a one-night stay. And if you're curious about what you can use them for, options include yoga and wine retreats, a session at gin school in the Barossa, kayaking and meditation classes, wine-tasting, a trip to an oyster farm, and a brewery tour and lunch. There's also a Handorf walking tour, heli-camping, farm stays, outback tours and an e-cycling wine safari. If you get lucky in the ballot, you'll be allocated your preferred voucher at random, and informed via text message and email on Thursday, March 10. After that, you can then use them book between Thursday, March 10–Thursday, March 31 for visits between Friday, March 11–Sunday, May 31. There are a few caveats, unsurprisingly. As well as only being able to enter the ballot for one voucher, you might have to also spend some of your own money to use it — to make up the shortfall in price for your chosen tour or experience, if there is one — as well. But, if you received a voucher in prior rounds, you can definitely still enter. And, again, accommodation isn't covered, either. The idea is that folks heading to SA from interstate will then pump some cash into the economy by paying for hotels — and flights, food and drinks — while they're there. For further details about South Australia's Great State Vouchers scheme — or to enter the ballot for one before 5pm ACDT / 5.30pm AEDT / 4.30pm AEST on Wednesday, March 9 — head to the voucher scheme website.
Dylan Thomas gave his dying father a heartbreaking poem. John Lennon gave his Mum Julia a song. Architect Harry Seidler built his parents a house. The Historic Houses Trust looks after that house these days, and has preserved its pioneering mid-century designs as though the fifties never left. The original colours are on the wall and the Eames chairs sit around intact. Every year the Historic Houses Trust brings the fifties back extra strong for a day, with a Fifties Fair that celebrates the fashions, bands and vibe of the era, erring more on the side of the rockabilly than a Mad Men aesthetic. This year's Fifties Fair offers to coif you up with a period hairstyle, the better to push into the Fair's best dressed competition, which Candice DeVille will judge before expounding on the history of the fashions themselves. Meanwhile, live music from Paulie Bignell and the Drey Rollan Band will entertain you between dips into the stalls of fifties swag, classic cars that will be on show and wide-eyed stolling through the house itself. Image by Jody Pachniuk.
When your relationship kicks off with a flashed nipple and an injured dog, it clearly doesn't start smoothly. When Colin From Accounts returns for its second season, the romance between Ashley (Harriet Dyer, The Invisible Man) and Gordon (Patrick Brammall, Evil) is set to continue as it began. The titular canine is still a key part of their connection — and they're trying to get him back — but so is couple banter about each others' past, and just the general kind of chaos that rom-coms can bring. It was back in 2022 that Colin From Accounts won audiences over as quickly as a cute pooch, and became one of that year's best new TV shows. When it debuted, Colin From Accounts had everyone bingeing their way through a tale of an awkward but memorable meet-cute, which began when a medical student and a microbrewery owner crossed paths in Sydney, then went from strangers to pet co-owners almost instantly. The series starts dropping its second season from Thursday, May 30 — but this time, however, it will be releasing its episodes weekly on Binge instead of in one batch. If you're new to Colin From Accounts, which won Best Narrative Comedy Series at the 2024 AACTAs and a trio of Logies — Most Outstanding Comedy Program, Most Outstanding Actor and Most Outstanding Actress — in 2023, it's the latest collaboration between real-life couple and No Activity stars Dyer and Brammall. Story-wise, the first season of Colin From Accounts charted what happened after Gordon was distracted by Ashley one otherwise ordinary morning, then accidentally hit a stray dog with his car. The pair took the pooch to receive veterinary treatment, then committed to look after him — and, yes, named him Colin From Accounts — causing their lives to intertwine. In season two, Ashley and Gordon are now living together, which brings its own mess — including the quest to get Colin From Accounts back from his new owners. A heap of fresh faces are joining the series for its second date, such as Celeste Barber (Wellmania), Virginia Gay (Mother and Son), Justin Rosniak (Wolf Like Me), Lynne Porteous (Frayed), John Howard (Bump) and Aunty Donna's Broden Kelly (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe). Check out the trailer for season two of Colin From Accounts below: Colin From Accounts season two will stream via Binge from Thursday, May 30, 2024. Read our review of season one. Images: Lisa Tomasetti.
If it's a feast of weird, wild and wonderful movies that you're after, then one Australian film festival has been delivering for 16 years now: the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Dedicated to strange and surreal cinema, it screens the kinds of flicks that don't usually turn up at your local multiplex — although, this year, the event itself is making the move to one such venue. 2022 marks a huge milestone for SUFF in two ways. Firstly, it's the fest's return to a physical event for the first time since 2019, thanks to a couple of pandemic-affected years. Secondly, SUFF is shifting to a new location. Accordingly, come Thursday, September 8–Sunday, September 11, Sydneysiders will want to flock to Event Cinemas George Street to watch everything from hilarious Pete Davidson-featuring horror satires through to the latest and greatest genre shorts. And if you're not in Sydney, the fest's online program will return from Monday, September 12–Sunday, September 25 as well. For those keen on an in-person experience, I Love My Dad will open the fest, telling a tale about an estranged father (played by Patton Oswalt, Gaslit) who catfishes his own son in an effort to reconnect. From there, highlights include new releases by a few mighty impressive filmmakers: closing night's Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, the latest from A Girl Walks Home at Night's Ana Lily Amirpour, and Something in the Dirt, by The Endless and Synchronic's Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. And, of course, there's the aforementioned Bodies Bodies Bodies — which not only features The King of Staten Island's Davidson, but also Dear Evan Hansen's Amandla Stenberg and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Oscar-nominee Maria Bakalova. They star in a film that turns a party game into a slasher onslaught, and tears into not only its characters, but Gen Z and today's always-online world. Also on the in-cinema bill: Dual, the Aaron Paul (Westworld) and Karen Gillan (Avengers: Endgame)-starring new deadpan comedy by The Art of Self-Defense's Riley Stearns; On the Count of Three, Jerrod Carmichael's (Rothaniel) feature film debut as a director; and documentary I Get Knocked Down, about Chumbawamba singer Dunstan Bruce. Or, you can see the world premiere of horror flick Pig Killer, which is inspired by a true story; catch Norway's Sick of Myself, which also screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival; and check out a charity screening of Rhino by Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. For those watching at home around the country, SUFF's online program includes queer Canadian drama Compulsus, horror/sci-fi film LandLocked, and an impressive range of documentaries — such as F@k This Job, about Russian TV channel Dozhd and its founder Natasha Sindeeva; Girl Gang, which follows a 14-year-old London influencer; the self-explanatory Nightclubbing: The Birth of Punk Rock in NYC; Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters, about the Hellboy creator; and Circus of the Scars, about sideshow performers. Plus, SUFF's dedication to the most out-there shorts the fest can compile will also hit screens in-person at Event Cinemas George Street and via the virtual lineup. Sydney Underground Film Festival will screen at Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney, from Thursday, September 8–Sunday, September 11, then head online from Monday, September 12–Sunday, September 25. For further information, or to buy tickets, head to SUFF's website.
One won't stop cracking wise. The other prefers to say as little as possible. Naturally, they're about to become the Marvel Cinematic Universe's favourite big-screen odd couple. The former: Deadpool, as played by Ryan Reynolds since 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The latter: Wolverine, the X-Men hero that's been synonymous with Hugh Jackman for almost a quarter-century. The movie: Deadpool 3, which'll hit cinemas in 2024. Jackman has already busted out the adamantium claws in nine movies, starting with 2000's X-Men and running through to 2017's Logan, which was poised as his swan song in the role. But when you've been playing a part for that long, in that many flicks, what's one more go-around? After a non-Wolverine gap spent starring in The Greatest Showman, The Front Runner, Bad Education and Reminiscence, Jackman is clearly ready to get hairy again. [caption id="attachment_611846" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Logan[/caption] The news came via a social media video hosted by Reynolds, who notes that Deadpool 3 has been in the works for a while now. "I've had to really search my soul on this one. His first appearance in the MCU obviously needs to feel special," said Reynolds. "We need to stay true to the character, find new depth, motivation, meaning. Every Deadpool needs to stand out and stand apart. It's been an incredible challenge that has forced me to reach down deep inside. And I... I have nothing. Yeah, just completely empty up here. And terrifying. But we did have one idea," he continues. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman) "Hey, Hugh, you want to play Wolverine one more time?" Reynolds then asks, with Jackman strolling past in the background. "Yeah, sure, Ryan," Jackman replies. (And to answer a question you really should have instantly: yes, this announcement came with a throwback soundtrack, because that's the Deadpool way.) [caption id="attachment_611105" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Deadpool[/caption] The other huge news is that Deadpool 3 will form part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, bringing both Deadpool and Wolverine into the ever-sprawling comic-to-screen realm that's been going since the first Iron Man flick and will likely never ever end. The two characters have always been Marvel characters, but because of rights issues behind the scenes, they've stayed in their own on-screen sagas. But when Disney (which owns Marvel) bought 20th Century Fox (which brought the X-Men and Deadpool movies to cinemas so far), those business issues disappeared. Deadpool 3 will arrive six years after 2018's Deadpool 2. It'll also mark a reunion in another way. Behind the lens: director Shawn Levy, reteaming with Reynolds after Free Guy and The Adam Project. It's clearly far too early for a trailer for Deadpool 3, but you can check out the Deadpool 2 and Logan trailers below in the interim: Deadpool 3 will release in cinemas Down Under on September 5, 2024.
Go on, give yourself a holiday — or gift your loved ones a getaway as a present. It's peak season for flight sales, thanks to Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas. After dropping two big rounds of discounted fares in November, then, Jetstar is in festive mode with its latest batch. Prices start at $35 for domestic trips and beginning at $149 if you're holidaying internationally, and there's 140,000 cheap seats on offer. This time, you have a few days to grab a bargain — until 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, December 15. As always, the cheapest route within Australia is Sydney to Byron Bay and Ballina, which is where the $35 price comes in. Overseas, that $149 fare will get you from Perth to Singapore. And yes, these dollar amounts will be familiar if you were scouting airline discounts just last month. Prices obviously vary depending on where you're flying from and to, as per usual, but other domestic options include Melbourne to Hobart from $49, Brisbane to the Whitsunday Coast from $54, Sydney to Uluru from $94, Melbourne to Hamilton Island from $114, Sydney to Busselton Margaret River from $139 and Perth to Melbourne from $174. Going global, overseas bargains span Darwin to Bali from $164, Sydney to Nadi from $199, Brisbane to Seoul from $269 and Melbourne to Phuket from $275, Brisbane to Tokyo from $329 — and plenty more. You'll be travelling within Australia from mid-January to early April 2025, and from late-January to mid-September 2025 if you're booking an international fare. The caveats: all prices apply to one-way fares; checked baggage is not included, so you'll want to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase; and dates vary according to the route. If you're a Club Jetstar member, you can score even more discounts, starting with Sydney to Byron Bay and Ballina from $29. Jetstar's 2024 Christmas sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, December 15 — or until sold out if prior. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
It's with vibrant detail that Coco bursts onto cinema screens. A tale of following your heart while honouring your family, Pixar's latest effort is both a colourful sight to behold and an exuberant journey; a film exploding with dazzling visual and emotional fireworks. Within frames heaving with intricacy, there's never a dull moment as the movie sashays from modern-day Mexico to the Land of the Dead during the country's Dîa de los Muertos celebrations. Often it's the little things that stand out, from the grain of the many flowers never far from view, to the weathered skeleton bones that literally dance through the streets, to the melancholy look on an old woman's face. That's the animation studio's forte, of course. It's the reason their talking toys filled us with joy, that their rodent chefs charmed us, and their feelings with feelings left us in tears. As Toy Story, Ratatouille and Inside Out all demonstrated, their films might paint with pixels rather than living people, but they vibrate with the texture of reality. Coco fits the mould perfectly, at once a lovingly realised venture into several new worlds and a familiar mosey through Pixar's usual terrain. What if the dead had feelings is just one of the questions it asks. What if we confronted our own feelings about death is another. Helmed by studio veteran Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) with writer and first-time co-director Adrian Molina at his side, Coco takes its name from the grandmother of 12-year-old Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez). While she sits quietly through the last phase of her life, still yearning for the father she lost when she was a girl, he dreams of being a musician, but is forbidden by his music-hating family. Their reasons for this stem from personal tragedy, but it's not enough to stop Miguel from strumming his guitar. His desperation to retrace the footsteps of his entertainer hero (Benjamin Bratt) eventually leads him beyond the mortal coil, on a quest to find his great-great-grandfather and win his musical blessing. If Alice in Wonderland had followed a Mexican boy chasing his dreams, or if Marty McFly had taken the DeLorean through the barrier between life and death, Coco might very well have been the end result. The spirit of these youthful adventures seeps through this film, in a manner that proves delightful rather than derivative. Indeed, this is a story about remembering your past even as you step into the future. As well as following Pixar's own tried and true template, the script weaves its influences into a moving escapade bearing the expected touches, but never failing to surprise. That remains true even if you've seen The Book of Life, the outwardly similar 2014 animated effort that also sees its characters frolicking through the Mexican afterlife. It mightn't be the first family-friendly feature to play in this territory, or the first to explore the conflict between ambition and responsibility. Nevertheless, Coco enchants with warmth and authenticity from start to finish. In fact, as bright as its images shine, as high as its heartfelt emotions soar, and as perfectly as its voice cast fill their roles — including Gael García Bernal stealing scenes as a dead prankster — it's the film's embrace of its setting and culture that truly makes it sing. This isn't Pixar playing tourist south of the border, but paying tribute: to people, songs, lives and beliefs. The gorgeous detail that infuses every frame is a testament to seeing what others often don't, and it couldn't encapsulate Coco's beauty better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DIm1PyBSwc
It was true when Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope hit cinema screens more than four decades ago, and it's still true now. If there's one thing everyone knows about the sci-fi world created by George Lucas, it's that it doesn't reveal its secrets quickly. All these years later, viewers are still watching the space opera saga's twists and turns in episodic big-screen instalments (and will soon be doing so on the small screen, too). If you've been keeping an eye out for news about Disney's new dedicated Star Wars theme park zones, it's been a somewhat similar process. Of course, the force is strong with this overall idea. Yes, we've definitely got a good feeling about it as well. From 2019, Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World in Florida will both boast dedicated Star Wars-themed zones, called Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. With the two set to open between the middle and the end of 2019, Disney has started sharing a few details about what fans can expect — including what its main attractions will be. Earlier this year, Oga's Cantina was announced. It's a boozy watering hole that'll be part of both spaces, bringing alcohol to the California park for the first time. Now, Star Wars aficionados can also look forward to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The former will put you in the driver's seat of Han Solo's beloved ship, while the latter will see you caught in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order. Disney has also unveiled a sneak peek of both, with the video for Rise of the Resistance shot in the attraction itself according to the Disney Theme Parks Blog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssgGCjpFP4Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSxE-b2YDAQ Yep, prepare to say "punch it" a whole heap — and hopefully become best buddies with a loveable wookiee. You'll also be able wander around the outpost of Batuu, which is a hive for smugglers and rogues (naturally); drink blue milk at the cantina; and hop onto a star destroyer. And, while you're enjoying your time in this galaxy far, far away, you'll be listening to new Star Wars music by the man behind its iconic tracks, aka Oscar-winning composer John Williams. Galaxy's Edge was first made public back in 2015, will span 14 acres at each site and will prove the biggest single-themed expansion the respective parks have ever seen. The guiding concept behind both spots is to "transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port and one of the last stops before wild space where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life." More details are certain to come to light before Galaxy's Edge opens, but expect both zones to tie into all ten Star Wars movies to date and to feature an array of beloved characters roaming around. Expect to be able to buy plenty of merchandise at the gift shop as well. Eventually, visitors to Disney World will also be able to spend a night or several in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel too, although construction hasn't started yet and an opening date hasn't been announced either. That said, Disney has just revealed that a visit to the hotel will involve boarding a launch pod and taking part in "a fully-immersive, multi-day Star Wars adventure aboard a luxury starship", with high-end dining and cabins that apparently have a space view all part of your stay. Via Disney Theme Parks Blog.
Josh Niland has had a busy few years. He opened his new Fish Butchery takeaway eatery in Waterloo, and announced that he will be taking over The Grand National Hotel while moving his signature restaurant Saint Peter into the space. Plus, he was named in the world's top 100 best chefs, won the James Beard Book of the Year Award and was listed among the world's 50 best next-generation hospitality leaders. If all this wasn't enough, he's still got time to do adventurous pop-ups around Sydney. His latest is a collaboration with Scotch whisky brand Talisker. Across two days in October, Niland will be heading up a culinary pop-up at a picturesque view-heavy North Head boathouse. The Taste of Talisker series will take two forms across the two days — and the first will see Niland pull together a three-course meal paired with selections of whisky from 5.30pm on Friday, October 21. On this exclusive menu, you'll find salt and vinegar garfish paired with kamut sourdough and yoghurt-cultured butter, coal-fired calamari, yellowfin tuna salami, and butterflied King George whiting complimented with finger lime and tapioca sauce. Tickets for the dinner will set you back $195 per person and are limited. The next day, on Saturday, October 22, there will be a $100 guided whisky tasting experience at the pop-up, accompanied by a range of paired bar snacks from Saint Peter. The lineup of bites hasn't been announced yet, but they're sure to feature Niland's signature brand of sustainable seafood delights. "I wanted to capture the wild spirit of the sea paired with key aromas of Talisker — smoke, spice and a sense of sea salt spray in the morning after a storm," said Niland. "Years of maturation made by the sea has lent a full flavour to this bold dram and this menu celebrates Talisker's rich flavours while honouring the sea in a sustainable and ethical way." Josh Niland's Taste of Talisker will pop up in North Head between Friday, October 21–Saturday, October 22. You can purchase tickets to either the three-course menu or the Made by the Sea whisky experience via Moshtix.
Get your fill of vintage classics, or let loose your best Olivia Newton John. The folks at Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinema have reached into the archives, assembling a program of quintessential movies from the course of the past 30 years. Included in the retro lineup are a trio of '80s favourites. Do detention with The Breakfast Club, climb The Cliffs of Insanity in The Princess Bride and have ‘The Time of Your Life’ with Dirty Dancing. You can also spend Valentine’s Day with Amelie, or journey into Jim Carrey’s subconscious in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Of course, not everyone is content to just sit back and watch. That’s why Openair Cinema will also be hosting a pair of Sing-a-Long sessions. Belt out ‘Greased Lightning’ at a screening of Grease, and then ‘Let It Go’ with Frozen the weekend after. We make no apologies for the musical ‘talents’ of the Idina Menzel imitator sitting next to you.
This gorgeous apparel and lifestyle boutique unbelievably started out as a sneaker concept store in 2003. Gifted with the talent of curation that seems effortless, owners Karin Kuok and Phil Koh thankfully branched out into apparel, homewares and more, creating a destination boutique that is both adored by Sydneysiders and incredibly difficult to categorise. Footage only works with labels that have 'stories', and focuses on sustainability and quality design and craftsmanship — every item it sells needs to be, in one way or another, special. Expect to find everything from skincare made from native plants, organic chocolates and locally crafted ceramics to ethical fashion labels. This is the type of place that will make you want to hide your credit card from yourself, so be prepared to fall in love over and over again. With its focus on supporting quality suppliers in mind, Footage also runs an after-hours 'meet the maker' series, in partnership with the City of Sydney, which invites local producers to discuss their craft and industry, before taking part in an intimate Q&A session. Keep an eye on Footage's Facebook page for news on upcoming events. Image: Trent Van der jagt.
You know those pub debates you have about the believability, continuity and just plain awesomeness of your favourite movies and TV shows? Now you can sit and watch the professionals go at it instead. The Stickler is a new format of show at the Giant Dwarf which features comedians and experts debating the finer points of a beloved cinematic endeavour. In the first edition, The Castle will be picked apart in front of one of its writers, Santo Cilauro, who will also reveal tidbits and trivia you never even knew you were dying to know. The former President of the NSW Court of Appeal The Hon Keith Mason AC QC will cover the legal side of the Castle equation, explaining the nebulous legal concept that is 'the vibe'. Movie buffs Mark Sutton and Zoe Norton Lodge opine, while 'lapsed lawyer' and MC Julian Morrow negotiates the discussion (and the price of the jousting sticks).
Thanks to a wave of passionate Sydneysiders, Keep Sydney Open's offline petition received well-over 10,000 signatures and is being debated in the NSW lower house today. The debate is open to the public which means you can show your support of the cause directly to Parliament — an event worthy of an afternoon sickie. From massive rallies to a crowdfunded documentary, a large portion of Sydney's community has really defended the nightlife of the city we know and love. Clearly, the uproar hasn't been heard on deaf ears, with a review under way by the Independent Review board and now a full-on political debate. For those truly dedicated to the cause, this is a rare chance to not only show your support but also find out if politicians have really been listening. You'll have to take it down a notch though, as campaign t-shirts and banners are not allowed in Parliament. Immediately following the debate, Keep Sydney Open is organising a meeting in Martin Place for a group photo-op and discussion around the campaign's progress. The schedule: 4:00pm: Arrive at Parliament and go through security at public entrance.* 4:15pm: People to be seated in chamber. 4:30pm: Debate starts. 5:00pm: Gather for a post-debate photo at the top of Martin Place *Note that campaign t-shirts and banners are not allowed in the Parliament. Looks like the government will finally be forced to openly consider the closures of music venues and the major hit on Sydney's night-time economy and vibrant nightlife. Keep Sydney Open believes there are many alternative means to keep the city safe at night without shutting it down — and they clearly have a lot of local support behind them. RSVP here to attend today's debate. The debate will happen today, May 12 from 4pm to 6pm at NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney. Image: Kimberley Low.
Does Bradley Cooper wish he worked in music, rather than cinema? If the Nightmare Alley and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 star's work as a director is any guide, perhaps. When he first jumped behind the camera just a few years back, it was for the latest take on A Star Is Born, in which he also cast himself as a rocker and sang with Lady Gaga. Now, he's following that up with Maestro, a biopic about famed American composer Leonard Bernstein. Yes, Cooper also plays the conductor, as well as helming — and co-writing the screenplay with Spotlight, The Post and First Man's Josh Singer. The focus isn't just on Bernstein's immense career, but also on his relationship with his Costa Rica-born actor wife Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. Slipping into the latter's shoes: Carey Mulligan (She Said). As the just-dropped first trailer for Maestro shows, audiences can look forward to Cooper picking up the baton, as well as a snapshot of all the acclaim that came Bernstein's way. There's certainly plenty to cover — seven Emmys, two Tonys, 16 Grammys, the music for West Side Story, and being considered one of the greatest conductors of all time all included. But scenes of the Bernstein making music magic aren't the main part of this first sneak peek. Instead, moments that navigate Leonard and Felicia's romance dance prominently through the teaser. Maestro hails from Netflix, with the film hitting the streaming service on December 20. Given that it's being poised as a prime awards contender for the 2024 Oscars, it'll also get a run in select cinemas from November 22, as the streaming platform tends to do with its starry end-of-year flicks. Before all of that, it'll premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September. As well as Cooper and Mulligan, Maestro's cast includes Maya Hawke (Asteroid City), Matt Bomer (Magic Mike's Last Dance), Sarah Silverman (The Bob's Burgers Movie) and Michael Urie (Shrinking). And among the producers? Just a couple of folks who know a thing or two about grand, lavish filmmaking: Martin Scorsese (The Irishman) and Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans). Check out the trailer for Maestro below: Maestro will release in select cinemas on November 22, and hit Netflix on December 20. Images: Jason McDonald/Netflix.
Thirty-four-metres long, more than twice as big as a regular hot air balloon and ripped straight from Patricia Piccinini's inimitable mind, Skywhale might just be one of Australia's most recognisable recent pieces of art. It's a sight to see, and the largest-scale example of the artist's fascination with the thin line that separates nature and technology — and it's about to meet its match. In 2020, the National Gallery of Australia will unveil Piccinini's new Skywhalepapa, which is designed to form a family with Skywhale. They'll both float through the Canberra skies from March, with the second bulbous sculpture commissioned as part of the gallery's Balnaves Contemporary Series. In total, the pair will take flight from a site near the NGA eight times during the nearly three-month Skywhales: Every Heart Sings exhibition, with the exact launch dates yet to be revealed. [caption id="attachment_751759" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Skywhalepapa, 2019/20 (artist's sketch), Patricia Piccinini. Courtesy of the artist.[/caption] Just how big Skywhalepapa will be is also yet to be announced, but given the impressive size of its companion, expect it to be hefty. If you can't make it to Canberra to see the growing Skywhale clan, they will also tour the country for an NGA touring exhibition, with locations and dates to be confirmed at a later date. While both Skywhalepapa and the Skywhales: Every Heart Sings exhibition will be big Canberra drawcards for the NGA next year, that's not all that the gallery has in store. In fact, it'll also welcome another incredibly famous artwork before the year is out: Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers. The 231-year-old piece will arrive in November 2020, displaying during the four-month-long Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London exhibition. In total, more than 60 works from European masters will line the NGA's walls, including Rembrandt's Self-portrait at the age of 34 from 1640 and Johannes Vermeer's A young woman seated at a virginal from 1670 — and most of them have never before travelled to Australia. [caption id="attachment_751757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sunflowers, 1888, Vincent van Gogh. National Gallery London; Bought, Courtauld Fund, 1924.[/caption] Art lovers can also look forward to Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now, which'll shine a spotlight on the nation's female creatives across more than 150 works; Belonging: Stories of Australian Art, a major collection of 19th-century Aussie pieces; a six-month focus on Chinese artist and activist Xu Zhen; and The Body Electric, a showcase of works by female-identifying creatives that are all about sex, pleasure and desire. Or, you can ponder the evolution of contemporary art with The Shock of the New and see a large-scale installation by the Tjanpi Desert Weavers. Skywhales: Every Heart Sings runs from March 7–May 30, 2020 at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes, ACT. For further information about the NGA's 2020 lineup, visit the gallery's website. Top image: Skywhale, 2013, Patricia Piccinini. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Gift of anonymous donor 2019, Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Around the same time Stan Lee was helping to invent half the superheroes that dominate today's box office, comic-maker Robert Crumb was helping to invent the alternative. Crumb didn't draw superheroes. He drew unsettling comics with id-driven characters who often gave in to their darker passions. Now emerged from the underground, Crumb is this year's star of the Opera House's Graphic Festival. Riding high on last year's success, it returns to bring you a fresh sampling of local and overseas comics and animation. Gotye will premiere his new album live to images, while comics luminaries like Eddie Campbell and Scott McCloud will be taking to the stage to explain to you their words and pictures, and spaces in between. McCloud wrote Understanding Comics, the famous guide to comics panels and gutters used by Shaun Tan to ferment The Arrival. Tan's Oscar-winning short will also screen. The Talking with Gods documentary will examine author Grant Morrison, who emerged with a dadaist run on Doom Patrol before moving on to mainstream success in more familiar series like the X-Men and Superman. Spy vs Spy illustrator Peter Kauper — famous for strong, wordless stories — will lead a masterclass, while the free Oz Comics panel will have locals like Mandy Ord and Matt Huynh bring you up to speed on the Aussie comics scene. And as you loiter in the foyer in between these stellar sessions, take the chance to play the best in indie, sometimes subversive games. Update: Robert Crumb has cancelled his appearance.
They're sticky, cinnamon scrolls, drenched in glaze and famous all across the USA. And now, at last, they're headed Down Under. Yep — Seattle-born bakery chain Cinnabon is landing in Australia, with sunny Brisbane marked for the location of its first local outpost. Family-run Queensland company Bansal Foods has announced it's scored the Aussie rights to Cinnabon, with plans to open the first stores here by the end of 2019. If the name sounds familiar, that's because this is the same crew that brought Carl's Jr to our shores, opening six local outposts of the US burger chain in the past 12 months. The plan for Cinnabon is to launch its first two Aussie stores in southeast Queensland this year — one in September and one in October — with another to follow in Sydney later and further expansion slated for 2021. Word is, we could see as many as 50 stores across the country within the next three years. Cue easy access to indulgent treats like the Classic Roll, miniature BonBites, Cinnabon Stix and (hopefully) the super-popular Chocobon. One of Cinnabon's big pulls is the freshness factor, with new batches of scrolls apparently cooked in store every half hour. Cinnabon is slated to open its first two Australian stores in southeast Queensland in September and October 2019. Updated: May 9, 2019.
In January, Australia scored a brand-new local airline, with low-cost carrier Bonza finally hitting the skies after first being announced in 2021 but only securing regulatory approval this year. The fresh face in the Aussie aviation scene isn't just about cheap tickets, but also opening up routes to more of the country's regional destinations, flying 27 routes to 17 locations. And, it'll fly to some of those spots from Melbourne from the end of March. Bonza boasts two bases: the Sunshine Coast, where it's been soaring out of since January; and Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, which joins the list in autumn. Planes departing from the Victorian HQ will fly 12 routes to 11 destinations, with a trip between the airline's two main sites the first to take off from Melbourne on Thursday, March 30. Yes, if you're heading out of the Victorian capital — or to it, depending on where you're departing from — your 2023 getaways just got cheaper. One-way fares start at $49, which will get you from Melbourne to Mildura, with flights now on sale. Among the other options, flights to Tamworth cost $59, or you can get to Port Macquarie from $69. The fare from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast comes in at $79, as does a trip to Toowoomba. And, there's a heap of destinations available for $89: Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay and Rockhampton. Different legs will enjoy their maiden voyages from Melbourne on different dates throughout March, April and May. At present, flights are on sale right through to the end of October. To book, you'll need to download the airline's app. For travellers who have already done so, the carrier advises that you will need to delete it and then reinstall the latest version to get access to reserve flights. App-only reservations are one of Bonza's points of difference, unless you're booking via a registered local travel agent. Another: an all-Australian in-flight menu, spanning both food and craft beer. Passengers will get soaring in planes given names as Aussie as the carrier's itself: Bazza, Shazza, Sheila and Malc, with the latter based in Melbourne. The quartet are taking passengers to places they mightn't otherwise been able to fly to, too, with Bonza noting that 93 percent of its routes aren't currently served by any other airline — and 96 percent of them don't presently have a low-cost carrier. The airline has launched with the backing of US private investment firm 777 Partners, which also has a hand in Canada's Flair Airlines and the Southeast Asian-based Value Alliance. Bonza's fares don't include baggage and seat selection, which you need to pay extra for — and it is cheapest to do so when you make your booking, rather than afterwards. Bonza will start flying from Melbourne on Thursday, March 30, with flights on sale now. For more information, and to buy fares, head to the airline's website, or download its app for Android and iOS. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
When The Afterparty arrived on Apple TV+ in 2022, riding a wave of revived murder-mystery comedy love that Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building had helped wash over screens big and small, it made one big risky move. Throwing a motley crew of characters together, then offing one? Tried, tested and a favourite for a reason. The ensemble cast attempting to sleuth its way through a shock death? Flawless. The genre-bending setup that saw each episode in the season parody a different style of filmmaking? Perfectly executed. Having the words "how great is this party?" uttered over and over again? That's what could've proven dicey if The Afterparty wasn't in fact great; thankfully, it very much was. There's a reason that phrase kept being uttered, because superfluous detail isn't this show's style: as in all great whodunnits, everything happens, is mentioned or can be spotted with cause. Creator Christopher Miller and his fellow executive producer Phil Lord, a duo with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street, and The Lego Movie on their resumes as co-directors, know the format they're working with. Crucially, they know how carefully their audience will scrutinise every clue and element. And, in the show's first season and now the just-arrived second season — which streams from Wednesday, July 12 — they also know how to equally honour and spoof. Fittingly, The Afterparty feels like a murder-mystery comedy party as a result. Affectionate, adoring, irreverent, willing to get loose and shake things up: that's the vibe and approach. In season one, the series' title was literal thanks to a high-school reunion with fateful post-soiree hijinks. In season two, a wedding brings a disparate group together — and, following the nuptials and reception, The Afterparty's moniker comes into play again. To the horror of the returning Aniq Adjaye (Sam Richardson, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) and his ex-classmate, now-girlfriend Zoe Zhu (Zoe Chao, Party Down), another body then puts a dampener on the festivities; however, this second go-around doesn't get a-solving just in one night. Aniq and Zoe have recovered from their last confrontation with a killing at a celebration by diving into their romance, but it's the latter's younger sister Grace (Poppy Liu, Dead Ringers) who's getting hitched. Her groom Edgar (Zach Woods, Avenue 5) sports both family money and a cryptocurrency-aided bank-balance boost, he's an all-work-no-play socially awkward type as a result and, when he's alive, he's more fond of his pet lizard than most humans. Then he's found face down after the afterparty, plus his reptilian friend as well. Experiencing a hefty case of déjà vu — season two's episode, which focuses on him, is even called 'Aniq 2: The Sequel' — Aniq calls in the also-returning Danner (Tiffany Haddish, The Card Counter). His plan: to get his now former-cop pal to help him find the culprit before the real police arrive. This season's suspect pool spans another murderers' row of talent. Liu is distraught as Grace, but perhaps not as upset as one might expect in the circumstances. Elizabeth Perkins' (Barry) Isabel is standoffish and snobbish before her son is dead, and doesn't improve amid her gin-sipping afterwards. As Edgar's adopted sister Hannah, Anna Konkle (PEN15) plays the family eccentric — and as his business partner Sebastian, Jack Whitehall (Jungle Cruise) trots out a charm offensive. On Grace's side, Vivian Wu (Irma Vep) and Ken Jeong (Community) dote as the elder Zhus, and also worry about their baobing business. John Cho (Cowboy Bebop) plays absentee uncle Ulysses, and Paul Walter Hauser (Bupkis) a pining ex. All could have motivation to help shuffle Edgar off this mortal coil. As is The Afterparty's template, all have different perspectives on his demise, as well as the events leading up to it and then following his next-morning discovery. Miller has set himself a trickier task with season two, since The Afterparty's debut run took most of the obvious genres, worked in a murder-mystery and got lampooning. Aniq's new dedicated chapter is a rom-com follow-up, which the cast and writers alike have a ball playing with. From there, everything from Wes Anderson flicks, period romances and black-and-white gumshoe noirs to Hitchcockian suspense, Jane Austen romances and melodrama get a spin. The perceptive thinking behind the show's gimmick remains astute, demonstrating how differently each and every one of us sees not just shared events, but our overall lives. The Rashomon effect, cycling through varying takes on the same incident, also muses cleverly on cause and effect. And the execution largely remains smart and savvy; having to dive deeper with its genre homages only sometimes dulls the series' usually sharp writing. Swapping and hopping between stylistic filters has helped The Afterparty counteract the threat of formula and familiarity, too. Each batch of episodes takes place in one setting, after all, and retraces the same death again and again. Even if flitting between erotic thrillers and heists (and more) wasn't on the agenda, season two's main players would be a treat together — and most make the utmost of their stint in the spotlight. Cho scores a glorious 'Careless Whisper' dance, Hauser is a comic delight in his hard-boiled spoof, and Konkle makes certain that following in The Royal Tenenbaums' footsteps doesn't feel like a social-media meme or AI copy. Still, as the mismatched duo going all Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings, Richardson and Haddish are the show's MVPs — and hilarious. Odd-couple detectives are a sleuthing staple, but when they're done this well and with such fine-tuned performances, including in a caper comedy with Miller and Lord's penchant for mile-a-minute gags, they're the scaffolding that everything else hangs off. Richardson plays Aniq as sincere yet shrewd, fretting over impressing the potential future in-laws and doing everything he can to get in their good graces — and the Detroiters, Veep, Ted Lasso and I Think You Should Leave star is indeed the life of this party. Haddish's timing never falters, nor her pace and energy, nor her ability to ensure that Danner is never a stock-standard inspector in any way. Death at a Funeral has already been done, and twice, but a must-attend bash awaits however and wherever Miller reteams his two leads for a hopefully soon-to-be-greenlit third season. Check out the trailer for season two of The Afterparty below: Season two of The Afterparty streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, July 12. Read our full review of season one.
According to Dean Sewell — Moran Prize winning photographer and part of the Oculi collective — there was this duffel bag. Inside it was a banner a hundred foot long, decorated with two words. This was on the maiden voyage of the Sydney to Hobart ship, the Spirit of Tasmania. There was strict security. Four passengers waited to get on as that security looked at the huge lump of canvas inside their bag. It was a spinnaker for a yacht, claimed the four men, and time consuming to fold back up. The security guards considered if it was worth unrolling for a closer look, squeezed it a little, and let it through. As the ship pulled out, most passengers and security wandered upstairs. Amid empty decks, the four men clipped themselves onto the boat, jumped over the side and unfurled their banner. The four had spent months preparing for the stunt, doing photo recon on the boat and practicing abseils down the side of a car-park at the University of New South Wales. They had even made sure the banner's font matched the writing on the side of the ship. And as they unrolled the result, Dean Sewell was across the harbour on a water taxi taking photos for the Sydney Morning Herald. He had been covering these men, part of the activist group the Lonely Station, since the previous year. A highly-skilled successor to BUGAUP, the group would meticulously rework ads into satire, leaving a much more political message in their place. As time went on Sewell became involved in the group's actions, and his photos form the basis of a new exhibition at the Museum of Sydney, Culture Jammers. Dean recently sat down with Concrete Playground to talk about the Lonely Station, photography and the usefulness of good rope skills. What happened after the banner dropped? They ripped the four Lonely Station guys off the boat. A police launch met up with the pilot launch, took 'em back and processed them. They wore a $6,000 fine for it. Who were they? The Lonely Station was a pretty loose collective of artists, environmental activists and legal minds, about 2004 to 2007. I think it was really born out of the environmental movement. A couple of them were arborists, highly skilled abseilers. So that allowed them to pull off all these actions. You can search globally for culture jamming, you'll be hard pressed to find anything the size of the works these guys were doing: they were hanging off building tops, off boats, all sorts of things. I think they were just looking at giving people a moment of pause. Being that circuit breaker. The spin cycle was in overdrive and they just really wanted to stop it, if only just for a moment in time, to let people recalibrate. Did you have a go at it? I did partake in some things. I think there were times when I was behind the camera, and other times I was taking an active role in producing work. What sort of things were done? One my favourites was a Vodafone billboard at Kingsford Smith Airport. They used that now infamous image from Abu Graib. They climbed up in early hours of morning, abseiled off, put it on, even had ropes dangling off the fingers. It looked very authentic. There was a sub quote under the main slogan, How are you? Underneath that they wrote "Liberated!" They got to hammer the telco company, and at the same time send a message straight to Canberra. It was on the evening news on Channel Ten. Vodafone got hauled over the coals. Vodafone had pulled a stunt, maybe twelve months earlier, where they'd had a guy arrange secretly to run onto a football match naked in New Zealand. It was great. So, the question put to them was "Is this a stunt you guys did? Because if so, it's in really poor taste." You've said that, as a photographer you look for 'the extraordinary in the ordinary.' For me that's the challenge in photography. Exacting something special out of the mundane, ordinary situations. A lot of people think that photographers chase around incredible things. We do sometimes, fantastic and incredible situations. But also it's the ordinary that attracts us. So becoming a full time paparazzo doesn't appeal? The interesting people are real people. The people living out in the middle of nowhere. Living quite humble lives, just in suburbia. Mostly no-one ever hears of these people. You go sit in a pub in outback Queensland or go up to the Corner Country. That's where you find really interesting people. They're normally not in front of you walking a red carpet. One of the images I got, I was just coming back from Cockatoo Island with my friends. We went to the Biennale on Cockatoo Island. And I took a picture on a the ferry. I won the Moran photographic prize with that. You'll see a lot of photographers take flight, chasing this and that. "Oh, it's too boring here, nothing happens here." And they want excitement or thrills or something. I just think I have a certain level of responsibility to document the issues here. You got these interesting, cosmopolitan suburbs of bustling, thriving places. They've got character. You know, you go to Auburn: where all these enclaves of culture exist. And for me, the most interesting cultural scene here is the Inner West, Marrickville, those areas. All the artists collectives. Underground stuff. It's thriving. Leading image of Dean Sewell (c) Tamara Dean. Images Spirit of Tasmania and Helping You Communicate Better (c) Dean Sewell.
Gracing pages for almost a century — plus screens big and small for decades — Winnie-the-Pooh has done many things in his time. Ever since AA Milne first conjured up the honey-loving, walking-and-talking teddy bear back in the 1920s, Pooh has enjoyed plenty of adventures, usually involving Christopher Robin and his Hundred Acre Wood pals Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga and Roo. And, of course, the cuddly critter's efforts to eat as much of his favourite foodstuff as possible have also earned more than a little attention. We've all seen the cartoons — and the toys — and watched films such Goodbye Christopher Robin and Christopher Robin in recent years, too. So far, so adorable. That said, Winnie-the-Pooh's next outing is set to prove anything but. Called Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, it's a slasher film. Yes, really. And, it'll turn Pooh and Piglet into serial killers — and carve into everyone's childhoods in the process. No, the idea that Pooh might turn murderous hasn't ever crossed anyone's minds before — he's a honey-fiending teddy bear who doesn't wear pants, after all — but that's changing thanks to director Rhys Waterfield. And if you're wondering about the tone of the film, other than horror, the filmmaker's other upcoming titles include Firenado, Sky Monster and Rise of the Loch Ness. Yes, viewers will clearly be in B-movie territory here — as the premise makes plain as well. The setup: after seeing their food supplies dwindle as Christopher grew up, Pooh and Piglet have spent years feeling hungry. They've turned feral, in fact, even eating Eeyore to survive. So when Christopher returns, it sets the pair on a rampage, which leads to them a rural cabin where a group of university students are holidaying. We've all seen what usually happens from there, even if this is the first time that it'll involve an iconic kids character. The phrase you're looking for: "oh bother". Whether Winnie-the-Pooh exclaims those two words is yet to be revealed, but you could probably put money on them getting uttered at some point. Exactly when Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey will reach screens Down Under, and where, also hasn't yet been announced — and the film's release date in the US and UK is also yet to be set at this point. Wondering why something that's usually so sweet and innocent is being given the creepy, bloody, eerie horror treatment — turning Winnie-the-Pooh into a killer, no less? It's because the character has just entered the public domain in America. Disney no longer holds the copyright, and no one can now hold the exclusive intellectual property rights over the character, opening the door for wild interpretations like this slasher flick. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when further details are released. Images: Jagged Edge Productions.
Firework envy? Australia? Never! Not until now, that is. For the first time ever, the Brits have something we don't for New Year's Eve — the world's first smellable, taste-able firework display. When Big Ben hits midnight on December 31, the sky over South Bank on the River Thames will explode with not only the usual sounds and colours but a cascading fruit salad made up of strawberry flavours, banana confetti, peach snow and enormous 'zesty Spanish orange' bubbles. The brains behind the operation are culinary spectacular experts Bompas & Parr. This month, their epic gingerbread reconstruction of London's "lost and unbuilt architecture" has had crowds dropping jaws around Selfridges’ Oxford Street windows. Bompas & Parr have described their NYE plans as a “massive responsibility”. “The closer we get to it, the more we realise the scale of what we’re doing,” they said. “Hopefully, what we’ll be doing, is giving people the best night of their life.” Given that revellers are bound to be fighting for a spot at South Bank, event partner Vodafone has organised a synchronised augmented reality experience that will be streamed internationally. Plus, in another first, London’s original New Year’s Eve fireworks app will go live at midnight, with the download available 24 hours before. Via PSFK
After a huge 2011 - a new album and a year long world tour, the Arctic Monkeys landed in Australia post-Christmas. The band is back in Sydney this week to perform two sold-out shows and, lucky for us, the perfectly coiffed and sonorous toned lead singer, Alex Turner, took time out to chat to Concrete Playground's Rachel Fuller about counting down to 2012, Sydney and his current obsession - motorbikes. Hey Alex, thanks so much for chatting to me today and lovely to meet you. Hey Rachel, no worries. You too! I was down in Tassie for Falls and saw you guys play on the 30th, thanks for a great show! Yeah, it was a great festival, a great couple of days. We hadn't played for a while so we were a little rusty but it was good to get back into it. And you brought in the New Year at Lorne? What song did you go with? Yeah, well it was a bit of a fucking mess, it was all a bit confused. We were meant to go off and we thought there was going to be a countdown. But it was ok, we went off and then came back on and we played Fluorescent Adolescent and it was fine. Everyone was drunk and having fun – us included – so it really didn't matter in the end. My friends and I were talking about the logistical nightmare in getting all the bands from Tassie to Lorne and vice versa. Was it total chaos in the time-space continuum? Or are you guys just used to the back to backs? Sure, I mean, we flew the morning after the show and then had to get a coach from Melbourne to Lorne. It was a bit of a drive. And did you get to walk around the festival at all and see some other acts? Not really. We saw Aloe Blacc. No one else. But the kids were loving it. The kids! You must be totally exhausted after such a huge year of touring. After all this time have you perfected some sort of balance between the highs of performing and finding down time? Yeah, well we had a great year and we are really enjoying playing live. On top of that we have had a good response to the new record so we are having a buzz. But how do you sustain the buzz? Well, when I say buzz I mean internal buzz. We have got into a good rhythm and a good place this year. Really, we have hit our stride. And we have really been enjoying playing in the States; we have played there a few times this year. And you are heading back in a couple of months? Yeah, we will be supporting the Black Keys and we are huge fans of theirs. You are obviously a really talented songwriter, Alex, do you ever imagine yourself branching out and writing longer pieces, away from music? No, I don't think so. I don't think I am really capable of writing anything else. I'm happy with the song. And lastly, since you guys have been to Sydney quite a few times, is there anything you are really looking forward to getting up to whilst you are here? Yeah, well we have had loads of good times, too many to mention, Rachel. I had my birthday there once, down at the beach. I think we are just really looking forward to playing. I might try surfing, I keep saying that, but now might be the time. One thing we will be doing will be going to this place called Deus Ex Machina, they have this thing on. That's cool, I know the guy that runs Deus. Oh yeah? What's his name again? Dare Jennings. That's right. And he started Mambo, right? Yeah. So I am guessing you have a motorbike? Yeah. And Deus pretty much has the coolest bikes in the world. Yeah, the coolest! Well, you have fun Alex and best of luck for your Australian shows over the next couple of weeks. And thanks for your time! Thanks Rachel, we will, catch you round.
When the pandemic first hit, binge-watching movies about contagions, outbreaks and infections became everyone's go-to pastime. Some were eerily prophetic (yes, we're talking about Contagion, obviously); however, even when flicks in the genre didn't resemble our reality, they still lured us in. There's a sense of comfort in watching these worst-case scenarios. We watch for the same reason that we watch horror movies, because seeing these things play out on-screen helps us confront our fears in a safe space. The dystopian genre looks a little different through our weary eyes now, of course, but we're still viewing away. The next thing to add to your streaming queue: Y: The Last Man, the long-awaited TV adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name. On the page between 2002–8, the comic book series stepped into a post-apocalyptic world where an eerie illness wipes out everyone with a Y chromosome, humans and other mammals alike. And yes, it does all sound a little like a reverse version of The Handmaid's Tale and Children of Men — with a few twists, clearly. In this fictional scenario, only Yorick Brown and his Capuchin monkey Ampersand manage to survive — alongside the planet's women, all of whom are now endeavouring to find a new status quo. So, that's what the Y: The Last Man TV series will chart, as teased in its trailer. Brian K Vaughan and Pia Guerra's graphic novel has actually been slated for the TV treatment for more than a decade — and before that, a film version was even floated but it didn't eventuate — and now the television series will start hitting Australian streaming service Binge from Tuesday, September 14. Ben Schnetzer (Pride, Warcraft, The Grizzlies) plays Yorick, and he's joined on-screen by Diane Lane (Let Him Go) as his mother — and the new US President — plus Olivia Thirlby (Goliath) as his sister. The cast also includes Amber Tamblyn (The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret), Ashley Romans (NOS4A2) and Elliot Fletcher (The Fosters), while The Killing and Animal Kingdom's Eliza Clark is on writing and showrunning duties. Check out the trailer below: Y: The Last Man starts streaming in Australia via Binge from Tuesday, September 14.
2023 was huge for women's soccer in Australia. 2024 mightn't boast the World Cup rolling out Down Under, sadly, but with the Matildas competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics, it's still a massive year for fans of the country's national squad. 2023 also brought documentary Matildas: The World at Our Feet to streaming queues, too — and 2024 is following suit there as well thanks to Stan's Trailblazers, which was announced earlier in the year and now has a Tuesday, June 4 release date. While The World at Our Feet chronicled the current team's path to the 2023 Women's World Cup, Trailblazers is taking a broader look at the Tillies' story and also at women's football in Australia, as the trailer for the doco makes plain. Sam Kerr, Steph Catley, Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter, Katrina Gorry and Teagan Micah all feature as interviewees — but chronicling the Matildas' journey before their current success is also in the documentary's remit. If your obsession with the Tillies started in July 2023, this is your chance to dive into the first FIFA-recognised game in 1979, the team's 2015 strike for equal pay and its fortunes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics — and to reflect upon the the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, plus the squad's qualification for Paris. So, you'll hear from and about earlier players, such as first-ever Matildas captain Julie Dolan, alongside Kerr and company. The Matildas' first Indigenous female player Karen Menzies also features among the discussions, as do fellow past players Melissa Barbieri, Kate Gill and Moya Dodd. Tommy Sermanni, who coached the Tillies from 1994–97 and 2005–12, similarly gets chatting. And, so does ex-Socceroos captain-turned-commentator Craig Foster. Stan is dropping Trailblazers not only in the lead up to the Paris Olympics, which take place from Friday, July 16–Sunday, August 11, but also just after the Matildas play two warmup friendlies in Australia on Friday, May 31 (in Adelaide) and Monday, June 3 (in Sydney) against China. Behind the scenes, Maggie Miles (Dare to Be Different) and Maggie Eudes produce, write and direct the documentary — aka your next chance to revel in all things Tillies. If you want to wear green and gold while watching, or the recently released (and soldout) purple Mackenzie Arnold goalkeeper kit if you got your hands on one, that's up to you. Check out the trailer for Trailblazers below: Trailblazers will stream via Stan from Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Whether you can't get enough of split atoms and quantum physics or wish to undo all the damage done by some excruciatingly dull high school science teacher, here's the remedy. Sydney Science Festival is back for 2017 and it's all about making science relevant, interesting and fun. The two-week-long program is absolutely massive, packed with talks, tours, performances, exhibitions, parties, food and drink, so we thought we'd make your life easier by picking out a few tip-top events. We've narrowed it down to five, covering off everything from a night celebrating ridiculous theories, to an exploration of the science involved in turning plants into booze. So go forth and prosper knowing you've got 13 days of exploration, experimentation and enlightenment ahead of you. LIFE ON MARS: THE 2020 ROVER MISSION For decades now, sci fi novelists, David Bowie fans and certain misanthropes have been dreaming about an alternative existence on Mars. And now, what was just a fantastical idea is now looming as an incredibly possible reality. In 2020, NASA will send robots to the Red Planet to have a good, proper look for signs of life. Their mission is two-fold: on one hand, they'll be checking out the likelihood of humans ever being able to live there, and on the other, they'll be seeking evidence of previous creatures. In fact, there's even a theory developing that life on Earth might have actually started on Mars. To find out all about the mission, head to the Opera House for this panel discussion led by Dr Graham Phillips (ex-Catalyst) and featuring four geniuses of outer space, including Aussie geologist Dr Abigail Allwood from NASA's jet propulsion lab, physics professor Paul Davies from Arizona State University, Dr Mitch Schulte, who's working on the NASA Mars 2020 rover mission program, and Professor Martin Van Kranendonk from UNSW. Sydney Opera House, Thursday, August 17, 8pm. BOTANY DISTILLED There's never been a better excuse for a cocktail. This event calls on you to have a wee tipple in the name of science education. In between sampling wines from Tyrrell's and handcrafted spirits from the Central Coast's Distillery Botanica, you'll learn all about the vital role plants play in the production of alcohol — from the grapes that make up our favourite wines to the importance of well-mixed botanicals for a perfect gin. You'll be in good hands with Tyrrell's, which has been making wine in the Hunter Valley since 1858 and has taken home some 5,000 trophies since 1971, as well as with Distillery Botanica, whose international award-winning distiller, Philip Moore, uses a 1,000-year-old technique to get the purest possible perfume out of his botanicals. Immersed in the idyllic surrounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens Restaurant, as you sip your way around the science of a good drop, you'll wish science class had been more like this. Royal Botanic Gardens Restaurant, Thursday, August 17, 6.30pm. BAHFEST BAHFest was a quick sell out last year, so it's back for another run. For the uninitiated, BAH stands for Bad Ad Hoc Hypotheses. Created by Zach Weinersmith from webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, the event is based on a pretty simple formula: individuals with crazy, creative, funny, yet plain wrong scientific theories present their somehow logically defensible ideas to a properly qualified panel. At the end of the night, this panel and the audience decide together who'll take home the coveted BAHFest trophy. Hosting the shenanigans this year will be Rae Johnston of Gizmodo and triple j fame, while Ruben Meerman, aka The Surfing Scientist, will deliver a keynote speech. Meanwhile, on the judging panel, you'll find Tilly Boleyn, curator at MAAS, astrophysicist Dr Lisa Harvey, James Colley of The Weekly, and Leigh Nicholson, the mighty winner of BAHFest 2016. Powerhouse Museum, Friday, August 18, 7pm. MAAS DIY DAY Creators, makers and breakers, this one's for you. Sydney's creators and innovators will converge at the Powerhouse for one epic day of DIY and science. These makers will also be showcasing the latest innovations in digital fabrication, technology, food design and craft. There'll be stalls, talks, tours, workshops and demos, among which you're free to choose your own adventure. See how new technologies are being used alongside traditional craft techniques. Have a few broken electronics collecting dust? Take them to The Bower's Repair Cafe, and watch and learn as the experts fix and repair. Wondering how modern-day woodworkers combine brand new technologies with old-fashioned techniques? Catch them in action. You can also book into one of the workshops like the Change Makers: Sydney's social and sustainable creatives talk. Hear from Sydney's makers, creatives and entrepreneurs who are working to solve some prominent issues, from social inequality to environmental sustainability. Then, join their efforts and expand your knowledge even more at one of the festival's many events dedicated to sustainability, health and the future. Powerhouse Museum, Saturday, August 19, 10am. LATEST FINDINGS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM This short course in all things astronomical at Sydney Observatory launches in the best way imaginable: with a trip, in 3D, through the solar system. If you haven't been keeping up with science news lately, prepare to be gobsmacked by how much we've discovered — and how many more mysteries we've yet to wrap our heads around. Your travels will be in the excellent hands of Paul Payne, who's been inspiring Observatory visitors since 1984 with his high-tech presentations. Along the way, expect to catch up with Cassini, a people-free space craft that NASA sent from Earth in 1997 that's been hanging around Saturn since 2004, exploring the planet's rings and satellites. Plus, you'll catch a good look at Saturn and Jupiter through a mega-powerful telescope. Sydney Observatory, Sunday, August 20, 3pm. Sydney Science Festival is part of National Science Week, which runs from August 8 to August 20. The festival is led by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) and the Australian Museum, in partnership with Inspiring Australia. See the full program of events here.
