Come on Barbie, let's go party — at Sydney's one-night-only Barbie-themed shindig. Add this to the pile of events that never want you to grow up; if you've been to an adult Lego night, enjoyed Disney-themed shenanigans or gotten nostalgic with some So Fresh-soundtracked revelry, you'll know the feeling. Here, life in plastic, it's fantastic. So is pink as far as the eye can see. Also on the bill at Manning Bar from 8pm–2am on Friday, September 16: 'Barbie Girl' sing-alongs every hour, because what else is going to pump through the speakers? Actually, you can expect pop tunes aplenty. Amid the shape-making, attendees can also add some sparkle at the free pink glitter station. Drinks-wise, you'll be sipping Barbie-themed cocktails — think: 'Barbie juice', 'Ken's punch' and 'doll drank'. Free Chupa Chups and fairy floss are on the menu as well. Dressing up in Barbie-style attire, or pink at least, is clearly a must — and yes, you'll get plenty of chances to take snaps as part of your $29.10 ticket. And if you're wondering why this event even exists, the Barbie Party is getting in early to celebrate the Greta Gerwig-directed Barbie movie. So, channelling your inner Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling is on the agenda, too.
"Home means different things to different people. But to everyone in this book, Home means Redfern." That's the premise of a new book, Home: Mapping the Stories of Redfern — the product of a community writing project about the Redfern area, run by the Sydney Story Factory throughout 2013 and 2014. The Sydney Story Factory, a not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people modelled on Dave Eggers' NY project 826 Valencia, asked Redfern residents — young and old, long-time locals and newcomers — to contribute. The result is a compilation of stories of love and loss, kindness and sadness, visits to the playground and abandoned pianos given one last lease of life as an accomplished musician happens to pass by and pick out a tune. It's not a history of the place or a document of Redfern in the present moment. It's a "patchwork memoir", a giving-back to the community who gave them their stories. Get your own copy of Home at the Sydney Story Factory's Martian Embassy at 176 Redfern Street, Redfern, or online. Thanks to the Sydney Story Factory, we have five copies of Home: Mapping the Stories of Redfern to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and email us with your name and address.
On Wednesdays, you might wear pink — but breaking out your favourite not-quite-red shades on Tuesday, May 22 is going to be perfectly acceptable. You'll need to look the part at Made by the Hill's Mean Girls trivia night, after all. And the venue will be setting the mood by decking out the place in the right colour, right down to an 'On Wednesdays We Wear Pink' cocktail. Yes, not being there would be social suicide. Yes, revisiting the correct usages of 'fetch', 'grool' and 'ESPN' is just part of the fun too, as is channelling your inner queen bee. Yes, pretending it's the Spring Fling is encouraged. If all of the above means something to you, then this is your kind of event. Mathlete or plastic, if you're a fan of the now 14-year-old movie, then show your devotion by battling it out across five trivia rounds. It all kicks off at 6.30pm and entry is free, but registrations are essential.
100 years ago, May Gibbs first graced children's libraries with her adorable bush babies. The fantastical creatures — from Gumnut and Gum-Blossom Babies to the evil Big Bad Banksia Men — were inspired by her environmentalism and love of the Australian bush. Over the next few years, she crafted beloved characters like adventurous gumnut foster brothers Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, their best friend, orphaned gum-blossom Little Ragged Blossom, and their friends Mr Lizard and Mrs Kookaburra, who often saved them from danger. She even took them on adventures under the sea, where they met the greedy and devious John Dory and their kind saviour Ann Chovy. To celebrate Gibbs' life and her extraordinary contribution to Australian art and literature (and the lives of many children), the State Library of NSW is hosting an exhibition of her work. It will feature both original and reproduced illustrations from her books as well as her other art. And in a world rapidly succumbing to environmental destruction, there is perhaps no better time to heed Gibbs' warning to "be kind to all bush creatures". Image: Illustration for Gum-Nut Babies, 1916, May Gibbs, May Gibbs Archive at the State Library of NSW, © The Northcott Society and Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
Ultimo studio Design By Them is truly committed to showcasing Australian designers. The shop has been around since 2007 and was founded by industrial designers Sarah Gibson and Nicholas Karlovasitis. The duo are committed to selling bespoke products that are built to last. You'll find all original furniture here, along with lighting, homewares and accessories. Each design is created by a local designer, then produced in-house at the Wattle Street location. The curated collection doesn't just offer pieces for the home, either — Design By Them also caters to restaurants, hotels, universities, libraries and even airports, and has produced works for mega-brands like Facebook, Google, the Sydney Opera House and Louis Vuitton. Images: Pete Daly
The widespread popularity of paint and sip classes has arrived in Parramatta in the form of Pinot and Picasso — a BYO workshop that offers major bang-for-your buck fun in more than 30 locations. In Parramatta's Church Street shop, regular sessions rotate throughout the week. There's a wide range of subjects to paint here, from the northern lights, waterfalls and wildflowers to Yoda, Dobby and Frida Kahlo. For couples or friends, there's even a paint your mate night — which, depending on your skills and how many glasses of wine you have, could go one of two ways. As it's BYO, you're encouraged to bring food and drinks along with you, and the glassware is provided. Tickets range from $49–59 and include a blank canvas, acrylic paints, brushes, a table easel, an apron and the aforementioned vessel for your booze. Crack that bottle vino and whack that brush on the canvas — we see a wine-fuelled masterpiece in your future.
The underworld beckons: in 2025, hit musical Hadestown is set to take to the stage for the first time in Australia. Initially premiering as an indie theatre piece in 2006 in Vermont, then reaching off-Broadway in 2016 and Broadway in 2019, the show from musician and playwright Anaïs Mitchell plunges into the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Audiences at Theatre Royal Sydney will be able to see the production give the ancient Greek myth a new spin from February. The Harbour City will host the Aussie debut season of the musical that spent 2019 and 2020 collecting accolades after accolades. From 14 Tony nominations, it won eight awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. At the Grammys, it took home Best Musical Theatre Album. If you're new to the show – which has been seen by more than three-million people and streamed over 350-million times — two love stories get Hadestown's narrative burning. Orpheus and Eurydice share the spotlight with King Hades and Persephone, as Mitchell accompanies their intertwined affairs with a soundtrack of New Orleans-inspired jazz and American folk. Aussie audiences have Opera Australia and JONES Theatrical Group to thank for Hadestown making its way Down Under. "I'm absolutely thrilled that we're able to bring this incredible new musical to Australia for the first time, and I'm sure it will be as adored here has it has been overseas, finding a whole new legion of fans," said Opera Australia's Artistic Director Jo Davies. "Creator and writer Anaïs Mitchell is just such an amazing talent, I'm very much looking forward to working with her and her team to realise this production here," Davies continued. "Hadestown is one Broadway musical experience you remember forever. It is magical, bold, exciting, and full of love and promise," added JONES Theatrical Group's Suzanne Jones. "It transports the audience in a way that only great theatre can. JONES Theatrical Group is extremely excited to be bringing this incredible production to Australia with Opera Australia and can't wait for Australians to embrace it just as audiences all over the world have." Just like exact dates for the musical's inaugural Down Under run, there's no casting announcements for the show as yet, with open-call auditions happening in June — on Saturday, June 15 in Sydney and Sunday, June 16 in Melbourne. There's also no word as yet whether Hadestown will make a trip to any other Australian cities. Accordingly, if you're excited about descending into the local production, you might have a visit to Sydney in your future. Hadestown will open at Theatre Royal Sydney, 108 King Street, Sydney, from February 2025 — head to the musical's website for further details and to join the ticket waitlist. Images: Hadestown Original London Cast.
Wicker furniture, driftwood chairs, handmade jewellery, indoor plants and art sourced from local artists — Cronulla Living encapsulates the best of beachside interior design. While you're ogling throw rugs and decorative cushions, make sure not to overlook the practical essentials, such as cookware, that are also in stock. Located right next to South Cronulla Beach, a visit to Cronulla Living will have you inspired to recreate the seaside vibes at home. Images: Caitlin Morahan.
Every small town needs a touch of higher-end fashion, and this boutique definitely meets that niche for Cronulla. On the quieter side of Surf Street, Meet That Store has a chic aesthetic that ensures it isn't crowded with racks and racks of clothing. Instead, you'll find carefully chosen pieces with the demographic of the beachside locals in mind. With every item of clothing on the rack, there is a selection of matching accessories to go with it. If you have a special occasion coming up, Meet That Store is definitely your one-stop shop to look and feel a million dollars. Images: Caitlin Morahan.
George A Romero has been called "the father of the zombie film". The late, great director — the creative force who helped usher in a horde of shuffling undead-focused movies thanks to his iconic and influential Night of the Living Dead in 1968 — is also the father of a new zombie flick-loving filmmaker. When you're the daughter of the man who is also responsible for Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead and Survival of the Dead, and you're making your directorial debut, adding a new addition to the horror genre clearly just comes naturally. Tina Romero's Queens of the Dead is a horror-comedy about a Brooklyn warehouse drag party that gets overrun by a zombie outbreak. It's also the opening-night film at Sydney Underground Film Festival for 2025. That's how the event is kicking off its 19th year — with gore, glitter, and the no-longer-living terrorising the dance floor and eating flesh — with SUFF screening at Dendy Newtown from Thursday, September 11–Sunday, September 14. One year out from celebrating its next huge milestone, 2025's ode to wild, weird, wonderful, surreal and sublime cinema has anniversaries on the brain already. Marking 45 years of Xanadu is one big highlight, complete with a disco-themed afterparty at Bootleggers after the screening. Or, you can catch a 30th-anniversary session of Steve Buscemi (Wednesday)- and Catherine Keener (Joker: Folie à Deux)-starring indie comedy Living in Oblivion instead. Still on blasts from the past, SUFF is also heading back to the 80s with cult-classic UHF, where Weird Al Yankovic (The Naked Gun) plays a man who finds himself becoming the manager of a low-budget television station. You won't just be watching and hearing the picture, either — you'll also be smelling an array of scents due to the return of SUFF's scratch 'n' sniff experience, complete with cards giving you the full sensory treatment. Courtesy of the rest of the program, when audiences aren't checking into Japanese horror Tokyo Evil Hotel, catching Cheech & Chong's Last Movie or charting Butthole Surfers' career in documentary Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing But, then everything from Ebony and Ivory from An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn and The Greasy Strangler's Jim Hosking to dark comedy Snatchers and exploitation horror Pater Noster and the Mission of Light awaits. Plus, among SUFF's 2025 documentaries, Coexistence, My Ass! focuses on Israeli Persian actor-turned-activist/comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi, Yellow House Afghanistan explores life under Taliban rule, The Life and Films of Andy Milligan pays tribute to its filmmaking namesake, the Iggy Pop-narrated Exorcismo dives into Spain's "Clasificada S" cinema and Occupy Cannes is all about Troma's efforts at one of the world's most-prestigious film festivals. When it wraps up for this year, the festival is closing with the 16mm-shot Fucktoys, which takes inspiration from tarot's Major Arcana cards as it follows a hustler seeking salvation.
Along with death and taxes, having a lip balm with us at all times is one of life's certainties. One choice of this essential bit of kit is Dermal Therapy lip balms. And we're not alone in thinking so. Search for them on TikTok and you'll be scrolling for hours. Because it's summer, the team at Dermal Therapy are popping up at Bondi Beach on Saturday, November 29, from 12–3pm to remind us all that slip, slop, slap applies to our lips too (care of their iconic SPF 50+ lip balm). The fun-filled pop-up is taking place on the last weekend before summer officially arrives in Australia, ideal timing to snap up a whole host of summery freebies. There will be free popsicles, a live DJ bringing the vibes, fun summer props to pose with, and the chance to win a $5,000 Sunshine Coast holiday. To enter now, head to Dermal Therapy's Instagram and check out their pinned post. Why does one product need such a big celebration? The Dermal Therapy Lip Balm SPF 50+ takes everything you love about the cult-favourite original lip balm and adds one essential upgrade: high-performance sun protection. You'll still get the same clinically proven formula that nourishes and soothes dry lips, but also with broad-spectrum SPF 50+ (UVA and UVB) to shield your skin from the harsh summer sun. The best part is you won't taste any notes of sunscreen on your lips — and it's less than $7 at your local chemist or supermarket. Dermal Therapy Lip Balm 50+ is the only holy grail lip multitasker you'll need this summer for hydration, repair and UV defence. To discover the rest of Dermal Therapy's effective, not expensive range, visit their website. For your chance to win a Sunshine Coast holiday, head to their Instagram.
Turning 30 is a big occasion — for people, and for entertainment groups. And while reaching 31 doesn't normally get as much love, celebrations or parties, Ministry of Sound has never been one for sticking to expectations. Behold, its huge 31st birthday party, aka the return of Ministry of Sound: Testament — A Warehouse Experience at this year's Vivid. If cutting loose in a warehouse in The Rocks for three nights sounds is your ideal way to mark absolutely anything, this returning event is just the solution. As it did in 2021, Ministry of Sound has also found just the right way to celebrate the June long weekend, thanks to this huge multi-room event that'll have you making shapes to 90s, 00s and recent bangers. More than 70 DJs will be hitting the decks between Friday, June 10–Sunday, June 12 — and enticing you to hit the Campbell's Stores dance floor, obviously. It's a choose-your-own-adventure type of party, so fans of old-school tunes can dance to 90s house, rave, trance and garage tracks on Friday, and lovers of 00s electro and breaks can head along on Saturday. Finishing things up on the Sunday night: all the recent techno and house songs — and EDM anthems — that've been getting a spin lately. As a result, each evening will see different DJs working their magic, with big names on the bill across the entire lineup. Nik Fish vs Jumping Jack, Sugar Ray, Jade, Ming D, Abel, Lorna are among the 90s highlights, while Plump DJs, Krafty Kuts, Kid Kenobi, Bang Gang Deejays, Hoops, Midnight Juggernauts, Riot in Belgium, Kate Monroe are on the decks on Saturday night — before Anna Lunoe, Northeast Party House, Oliver Huntemann and Hydraulix head things up on Sunday. Each evening runs from 7pm–2am — and, ticket-wise, you'll need to book per night. MINISTRY OF SOUND: TESTAMENT — A WAREHOUSE EXPERIENCE 2022 LINEUP: Friday, June 10: The 90s RAVE Jade Lorna Clarkson Ming D vs Abel Nik Fish vs Jumping Jack Phil Smart Sugar Ray HOUSE Annabel Gaspar Antonio Zabarelli Declan Lee Kate Monroe Nick Law Simon Caldwell Tim McGee BACK TO MINE BizE Gemma Johnny Seymour Sveta ANTHEMS Alan Thomson Cadell Chip John Ferris Johnny Gleeson Sally Sound Trent Rackus Saturday, June 11: The 00s ELECTRO Bang Gang Deejays Hoops Jace Disgrace Midnight Juggernauts (DJ set) Riot in Belgium Starfuckers PROG Anthony Pappa Kasey Taylor Michelle Owen Robbie Lowe Sean Quinn Trent Anthony ANTHEMS Goodwill Kate Monroe Kyro Mark Dynamix Minx Sam La More Seamus BREAKS A-Tonez Kid Kenobi Krafty Kuts Phil Smart Plump DJs Ritual Sunday, June 12: The Now HOUSE Anna Lunoe Dave Winnel Little Fritter LO'99 Mell Hall Northeast Party House (DJ set) Stacie Fields LATIFA TEE PRES Baschoe Cabu Honey Point Isa Latifa Tee Sollyy Willo TECHNO Hoten Jebbi Manu Neves Oliver Huntemann Oliver Schories EIGHTY-SIX Eighty-Sixers b2b Artinium Heimanu Hydraulix Interupt Mincy SOL WA-FU Ministry of Sound: Testament — A Warehouse Experience will take over the Campbell's Stores warehouse in The Rocks from Friday, June 10–Sunday, June 12. For further details, and to buy tickets, head to the event website.
To get some of the best views along the Central Coast, head out on an 8.5-kilometre hike (one way) on the Bouddi Coastal Trail, boasting beaches, boardwalks and lots of birds. Start from Putty Beach and wind your way along the stretch of coastline past lookouts and stretches of sand, ending up at MacMasters Beach. Pack your snorkelling gear and explore one of the beaches — we recommend heading to the sheltered Lobster Beach and keeping an eye out for dolphins. This relatively easy hike will also take you through shady parts of rainforest and picnic-perfect spots, too. [caption id="attachment_764514" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Central Coast Tourism[/caption] Top image: Destination NSW
Books: Blood and Thunder Rozelle's Blood and Thunder was originally put together by Kernow Craig, Leigh Ragozzi and Mickie Quick (who is also involved with the Big Fag Press). Ragozzi is more in the background these days, editing Blood and Thunder's eponymous Anthology. Blood and Thunder tends to run commissions for larger organisations like the Perfomance Space, or commission books under their own imprint. Publishing is their love, but they pay the rent with design. As well as owning a two-colour Riso machine, the studio can spit out etched or foiled covers from their Heidelberg, letterpress, offset proof printing and more. It's an interesting time to be a small printer right now, according to Craig. "If we were a large print company we'd be having a lot of trouble now. But we're not. We're a design studio that has a very specific and precise way of coming about its designs. [In] many ways that death of print or the death of the publishing industry is what makes this [niche of ours] possible. So, it's the most interesting time to be a very small organisation." One of the competitive advantages for Blood and Thunder is the difficulty of the printing process. They learned their trade through trial and error, and help from former printers. As well as giving them pretty solid printing skills, it means that as designers they're able to tailor their designs to the strengths and weakness of their printing machines, which they operate themselves, printing on the Riso, the offset or producing foils (gold and silver inks) and die-cut pages on the Heidelberg as necessary. Apart from their book imprint, they very rarely put their name on their work. As a consequence, says Craig: "Often we'll get clients bringing our work to us, saying We really like this. Could you do something along these lines?" Blood and Thunder usually does work for cultural organisations, the public sector, fashion and small business. They also publish books as co-publications or collaborations. They can be contacted via their website. < Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next >
To the dismay and disbelief of some (and to the giggles and chuckles of others), the recent Anthony Weiner sex scandal in American politics is producing some very interesting coverage. For instance, today's New York Post headline has created plenty of controversy as it brazenly proclaims 'Obama Beats Weiner'. The headline relates to President Obama's comments about Weiner's resignation, and while many are growing tired of the constant double entendres others are enjoying watching how far the joke can be pushed. The House Majority Leader, John Boehner, made comments earlier today calling for Weiner's resignation. Potential suggestions from Twitter for tomorrow's headline include 'Boehner Hard On Weiner'. While some suggest that this kind of childish joke-making is degrading American politics, it is hard not to laugh when you consider other recent political news. Fox Business host Eric Boilling yesterday remarked "What's with all the hoods in the hizzy?" after President Obama hosted rapper Common and Gabon President Ali Bongo at the White House recently. Boilling later apologised for "getting a little fast and loose with the language" but not for his comments about Obama "chugging 40s". And of course who could forget Sarah Palin, who continues travel around the United States on her One Nation tour, obviously inspired by her Australian political counterpart Pauline Hanson's One Nation party. Let's just hope the entire presidential campaign continues to be this much fun. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0XnLjDaREXs
At this stage in the pandemic, we're no longer spending all of our time at home. That doesn't mean we can't treat ourselves to impressive desserts when we are just staying in and kicking back on the couch, though. After serving up plenty of tasty specials during 2020's lockdowns, Gelato Messina is still tempting everyone's tastebuds with its limited-release sweet treats — and, if you've enjoyed its big Iced VoVo, Viennetta-style, choc-hazelnut and cremino tubs in the past, you're going to want to try its new basque cheesecake version. Initially, the gelato chain made a small batch of this dessert hybrid for Sydney's Firedoor; however, now it's scooping a heap more into tubs and making it available across the east coast. The catch: like all of its specials, it'll only be on offer for a short period. Wondering what exactly Messina's basque cheesecake tub entails? It combines basque cheesecake gelato, naturally, then tops it with a slice of toasted basque cheesecake. In other words, it's the ideal option for when you can't pick between gelato and cheesecake — a choice that no one ever wants to make. The latest release in Messina's new 'Hot Tub' series, the basque cheesecake tub can only be ordered online at 9am on Monday, May 17, with a one-litre tub setting you back $30. You can then go into your chosen Messina store — other than The Star — to pick up your tub between Friday, May 21–Sunday, May 23. Gelato Messina's basque cheesecake tubs will be available to order at 9am on Monday, May 17, for pick up between Friday, May 21–Sunday, May 23 — keep an eye on the Messina website for further details.
Wandering around Manly on a Sunday is a cute idea but everyone knows that going on foot is just something bikeless losers do. If you don't already possess a set of wheels, Manly Bike Tours have you covered with a wide range of bikes for hire including cruisers, road bikes, kids' bikes and tandems. There are a number of tracks suitable for all skill levels — including the scenic 'Sydney Harbour National Park Explorer', the more strenuous 'Mountain Bike Manly Dam' and the stunning 'Bike the Beach' ride. You'll be equipped with a map, and then you're free to ride along at your own pace. Also, because you're not part of a larger guided tour, you can stop any time for snacks or a break, or to just take in the view for as long as you like.
What do Borat, Nicole Kidman, Homer Simpson and the creepy 'Red Light, Green Light' doll from Squid Game all have in common? At different points over the past year or so, they've all popped up in Sydney in a big way. First came giant statues and giant billboards, which is all well and good and normal. Now, The Rocks is temporarily home to a 4.5-metre, three-tonne recreation of Squid Game's eerie animatronic figure with laser eyes. If you've seen the hit Netflix series, you'll know why this towering short-term addition to the city is so unnerving. If you've noticed what time of the year it is right now, you'll know why it has set up shop now, too. Yes, it's just your ordinary, everyday, super-unsettling Halloween installation — one that recreates a savage South Korean TV show about people competing in childhood games and getting killed right by Sydney Harbour. Already donning your finest green tracksuit? (Or your best red number, if that's what you'd prefer?) You'll find the doll at Circular Quay W, The Rocks, from today, Friday, October 29, through until Monday, November 1. And yes, this IRL version is animated and moves — its head even turns — for maximum effect. You will need to be double-vaccinated to add some Squid Game chaos to your Halloween weekend, and the pop-up is only for over 16s. Patrons are asked to play safe, not to run and to abide by the one person per two-square-metres density rule — or they'll be eliminated. This isn't really Squid Game, though, so you'll just be asked to leave. Maybe steer clear of anyone playing ddakji in a train station on the way there and back, though. And if you decide to get caught up in a game of tug of war or marbles, that's on you. Find Squid Game's 'Red Light, Green Light' doll at 4 Circular Quay W, The Rocks, from Friday, October 29–Monday, November 1.
Photobombing is an art attempted by many, yet perfected by few. Ruining somebody's photo in the most humorous way possible takes impeccable timing and swift movement. Now, photobombing experts will have their work cut out for them as software company Scalado look set to release their new Remove technology. As the name suggests, Remove allows you to erase unwanted objects from those precious picture moments. When a photo is taken, Remove actually takes a lightning-quick succession of snaps, and detects moving objects within the lens. It then gives you the option to simply remove any moving objects, leaving the regular background unscathed. If you're a little vain and a strict perfectionist, Remove will be right up your alley. Not only will you be able to erase immature friends who sneak into your photos, but you also won't have to worry about flying birds, speeding cars or annoying pedestrians. Taking the perfect picture for your bedside table has never been so easy. No word on when it will be available to the public, but we're guessing that plenty of teenage girls will be eager for this one. Check out the video below and see how this technology works. https://youtube.com/watch?v=flNomXIIWr4 [Via Mashable]
The art world's love affair with Andy Warhol has lasted far longer than 15 minutes. Australia's fondness for the iconic artist definitely hasn't been fleeting, either. In 2023 alone, not one, not two, but three different exhibitions Down Under have showcased or are about to celebrate his work; however, only the just-announced Instant Warhol is solely dedicated to his skills with a polaroid camera. On the Gold Coast in autumn, Pop Masters highlighted Warhol's pieces alongside works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. In Adelaide around the same period, Andy Warhol & Photography: A Social Media honed in on the artist as a shutterbug. Obviously, Instant Warhol has the same idea as the latter, but it will only be filled with polaroid portraits — 59 of them. [caption id="attachment_906816" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andy Warhol self-portrait in drag, 1980. © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Artists Rights Society [ARS]/Copyright Agency, 2023.[/caption] This time, Warhol's work is headed to Ballarat, displaying from Saturday, August 26–Sunday, October 22 at the Art Gallery of Ballarat during the Ballarat International Foto Biennale. The regional Victorian photography festival is never short on things to see, but Instant Warhol is quite the drawcard for the biannual event. The original snaps that Warhol himself took — when he wasn't painting Campbell's soup cans and images of Marilyn Monroe, of course — will be on display. Even if you haven't seen them before, some should be familiar. One of the reasons that the artist captured polaroids, other than loving them, was to turn some of the famous faces he snapped into his screen prints. [caption id="attachment_906817" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Top image: Andy Warhol, Sylvester Stallone, 1980. © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Artists Rights Society [ARS]/Copyright Agency, 2023.[/caption] Drawn from the thousands of photographs he took with the instant cameras between 1958–87, this selection of pictures will also feature images of Warhol himself. They're all coming to Australia thanks to The Brant Foundation, with founder Peter M Brant one of Warhol's early patrons, then a friend, and also the the producer of Warhol's films L'Amour and Bad. "Warhol had an unparalleled ability to chronicle the visual culture of his time. The Brant Foundation is delighted to share our collection of portraits including celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Liza Minnelli for the Australian public to discover and enjoy," said Allison Brant, The Brant Foundation's current director. 'These original polaroids captured a moment in time and went on to identify our culture, our art form, our view of celebrity. Warhol was the inventor of the 'superstar' and it's fascinating to take a moment to absorb these tiny snaps within our fast and furious scrolling world," added Vanessa Gerrans, CEO of Ballarat International Foto Biennale. [caption id="attachment_906823" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Platon, Cate Blanchett, November 2004.[/caption] As revealed earlier in May, 2023's event will also feature People Power — Platon, which'll span 120-plus portraits by photographer Platon, including images of everyone from Cate Blanchett to the snapper himself. Also already announced: a showcase of Yvonne Todd and Erik Johansson's work, with Todd's The Stephanie Collection making its Australian premiere, and a suite of Johansson's surreal landscapes and optical illusions world premiering in Ballarat. [caption id="attachment_906824" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Erik Johansson, Above All, C-Type, 180 x 135cm.[/caption] Instant Warhol will be on display at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, 40 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat, during the Ballarat International Foto Biennale from Saturday, August 26–Sunday, October 22, 2023 — head to the festival's website for further details. Top image: Photograph of Andy Warhol taking a polaroid picture while sitting with Jack Ford and Bianca Jagger on the Truman Balcony, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library via Wikimedia Commons.
Your phone rings unexpectedly. A gravelly voice asks "do you like scary movies?". If you live in Sydney right now, it's a great time to answer in the affirmative. Horror film buffs know that the above is a scene straight out of the Scream franchise, which kicked off in 1996 and just keeps having another stab at cinemas — including 2023's Scream VI, which is showing now. Scary movie fans also need to know that eerie event fiends Haus of Horror are playing the OG Scream at Parramatta Gaol for one night only. This event collective just loves showing classic horror movies in spectacular locations, with its Scream session following a past The Exorcist night in the same spot — and also Beetlejuice in Camperdown Cemetery, too. Unsurprisingly, all these movie events are proving popular. And what better film to show next to Sydney's horror aficionados than one that screams "Sidney" (Prescott, Neve Campbell's character, that is) over and over? Once again, the idea is for the night — which has been dubbed 'Scream in a Haunted Gaol' — is to be as immersive as possible. Parramatta Gaol already hosts ghost tours, and is reportedly haunted by its former inmates if you believe in that kind of thing. So, if you dare, that's where you'll be watching Scream — aka the story of a town and its teenagers terrorised by a mask-wearing psychopath who really does adore scary movies. Directed by late, great horror director Wes Craven, it became an instant classic by smartly blending slasher scares and self-aware laughs. And, from Campbell (Scream, the 2022 version), Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) and Rose McGowan (The Sound) to Courteney Cox (Shining Vale), David Arquette (Quantum Cowboys), Matthew Lillard (Good Girls) and Skeet Ulrich (Riverdale), it boasts one helluva cast. Haus of Horror's Scream screening takes place at 6pm on Saturday, April 15, and includes two hours for attendees to explore Parramatta Gaol's morgue, cell blocks and showers. Whether or not you'll see Ghostface slinking around is yet to be revealed. Also on the agenda: a bar serving beer and wine, vegan and non-vegan bites to eat, a live DJ spinning tunes while the sun sets. The movie will play at 8pm on a grassy field inside the site, showing outdoors under the stars — and picnics are welcome. Tickets cost $39, or $59 if you'd like to book a large bean bag to sit on.
If you’re the forgetful type and your keys often go rogue then this new technology may be the solution for you. KeyMe is a cloud-based key management platform where you can now store your keys digitally so you no longer need a physical key in order to make a copy. KeyMe’s newly launched free mobile app which scans a copy of your key and generates a set of instructions that you can give to any locksmith to create a new key from scratch instead of bringing in a physical key to make the copy, very handy when you’ve misplaced the original. KeyMe can even mail you a key within two to three weeks if you’re not in a rush. The app also allows you to share your digital keys and create digital key chains to share with flatmates or overnight guests, but be wary of you who trust with your digital keys, once shared you can’t revoke them. Currently only available in the USA, this technology will be a saving grace for the almost 90 million forgetful folks who get locked out of their homes each year. Now just makes sure you don’t lose your mobile phone with your keys. [via mashable]
Vanfest will be back at Forbes Showgrounds on the May for a cracking weekend of music, food and glamping. Expect to see the chart-topping Golden Features, electro-pop pioneers Pnau, UK singer, songwriter Example and New Zealand duo Broods — and that's just to name a few. This two-day extravaganza is the ultimate way to escape the city, soak up that fresh country air and enjoy some good local music. Grab your mates and get the road trip playlist ready — it's a five-hour drive. But what awaits you is well worth the journey. Expect a weekend jam-packed with entertainment, market stalls, great food, pop-up beach bars and more. Wow Tents is kitting out the campground with a centralised common area for you to kick back and relax with your mates. You can opt to BYO tent, or book a pre-pitched tents — basic two-man tents start at $50, and glamping goes up to $380. Vanfest 2019 will be a cashless event, so all food and drinks will be paid for using tap-and-go wristbands which can be topped up at any of the event's top-up tents.
When it's winter in Australia's southern states, Hamilton Island couldn't be more gorgeous. If you like the cold, a midyear trip to Tasmania might be high on your holiday list. Or, perhaps you're dreaming of a Byron Bay getaway, a vacation to Australia's best beach for 2023 on Kangaroo Island, an excuse to head to the outback or a date with the Red Centre. Whichever of the above applies, Qantas has a sale flight to fit during its latest batch of discounted domestic fares. The Australian airline is serving up more than a million one-way flights across a whopping 100-plus routes — covering everywhere from Queensland's tropics to the Apple Isle's cities, and from Perth to Sydney, too, as well as all the other state capitals, the Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour, Mt Gambier, Broken Hill, Kalgoorlie and more. Get ready to explore your own backyard, with discounts around 30-percent below the normal year-round price on each route. The cheapest, as tends to be the case on all flight sales, is the Sydney–Ballina route, which'll get you from the Harbour City to Byron Bay from $99. The Melbourne–Launceston fare also comes in at $99. While the options from there do crack $100, more than 40 routes on offer during the sale boast flights under $150. That includes heading from the Gold Coast to Melbourne, or vice versa, from $135; from Melbourne to Sydney from $139; from Brisbane to Hamilton Island from $149; and from Perth to Sydney from $309. The sale runs until Wednesday, May 3, so you have some time to get a bargain. That said, if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. And, inclusions-wise, the sale covers fares with checked baggage, complimentary food and beverages, wifi and seat selection. Qantas' Australia red tail sale runs until Wednesday, May 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.
Just started thinking about where you'll get lunch today? Well, if you're in the CBD, you'll be happy to know that you don't have to settle for that poke bowl you've eaten a thousand times by now — OzHarvest's food truck has pulled up in Martin Place to save you from the same old. For today only — Thursday, January 30 — the truck will be selling a selection of paninis for a reasonable 12 bucks. Get there between noon and 2pm and you'll have three options: the porchetta with kale, green apple and brown butter mayo; one with pickles, hot sauce and a panko-crumbed egg; and another filled with charred greens, smoked onion sauce, aquafaba aioli (and provolone unless you want it vegan). This is of course made all the sweeter because all the sandwiches have been made with food that would have been wasted otherwise. OzHarvest rescues excess food and redistributes it to people who need it around the country. A dollar from each panini will be donated directly to OzHarvest, which helps deliver two meals.
When a sentence starts with the words "Nicolas Cage plays", there's no bad way to end it; however, one option is better than all the rest. Cage has given the world quite the range of different characters, including ex cons, con men, heartbroken lumberjacks, a version of Spider-Man, lonely paramedics, kooky dads milking alpacas, John Travolta, Elvis obsessives, himself — the list goes on and on, gloriously — but Cage playing Dracula is a next-level idea. Fans of 1988's Vampire's Kiss, rejoice: this is the part Cage has clearly been working towards for 35 years. All those decades ago, the actor played a man who thought he was a member of the undead, so much so that he ran around the streets shouting "I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire!" (as you do). Now, Cage is playing the most famous bloodsucker of them all — although Renfield, which has just dropped its first trailer and hits cinemas in April, actually focuses on Dracula's minion and his toxic relationship with his boss. Giving audiences two Nicks for the price of one, Renfield boasts The Great's Nicholas Hoult as titular character, who is getting unsurprisingly tired of doing his master's bidding. Catering to a vampire's every whim for centuries, even when you're given considerable powers in return, is losing its bite for the literary offsider — who, like the Count himself, does indeed hail from Bram Stoker's iconic horror novel. But ending that relationship isn't going to be easy in Renfield, as this sneak peek makes plain. The film's namesake is already doubting his allegiances to the Dark One and the Lord of Death when he crosses paths with traffic cop Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and sparks fly — just as his employer does. Accordingly, in a first glimpse that goes big on camp, Renfield mixes up its horror-comedy by giving its lead a love interest. And, if you're feeling shades of Hugh Grant in Hoult's performance, you're not alone. Filmmaker Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie) sits in the director's chair for Renfield, working with a script by Rick and Morty writer Ryan Ridley based on an idea by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman (an idea straight from everyone's dreams, too). And, joining Cage, Hoult and Awkwafina on-screen is a cast that also spans Ben Schwartz (The Afterparty) and Adrian Martinez (The Guilty). Check out the trailer for Renfield below: Renfield releases in cinemas Down Under on April 13.
Music festivals can happen almost anywhere — or so contends the crew behind Wine Machine, Snow Machine and Dream Machine. Tunes amid the vineyards? Yes please. Dancing in alpine climes between skiing and snowboarding? That's a winter treat in both New Zealand and Japan. Hitting a scenic resort for a huge party soundtracked by big music names? That's on the agenda as well — including in 2024. Dream Machine started in 2022 at a secluded beachside resort in The Whitsundays, after initially planning to go ahead in 2021 but getting waylaid by the pandemic. Then, in 2023, it moved to Nusa Dua in Bali. That's where it's returning next year, complete with a packed roster of talent. The dates: Thursday, May 30–Monday, June 3, 2024. The lineup: it starts with Genesis Owusu, Snakehips and Hayden James leading the charge. They'll be joined by everyone from The Jungle Giants and Kimbra to Poolside and Cosmo's Midnight, plus Cub Sport, Miami Horror, Lazywax and more. So, if you've been longing to hear your favourite tunes while surrounded by your friends and also taking a trip to a beachside resort in Indonesia, this fest has you covered — again. 2024's Dream Machine will take place over a five-day, four-night once more, too, for a party-forward good time. Other activities promised, apart from the music, include a 500-person long-table lunch on the sand and a poolside conga line. If the simple activity of grooving to tunes in tropical surroundings, including by the pool and ocean, isn't enough motivation for you, festivalgoers have ten resorts to choose from among the fest's ticketing packages — at The Grand Hyatt and other spots to slumber that are connected to the main site via a beachside path, such as The Laguna, Kayumanis Villas, Mercure Nusa Dua, Novotel Nusa Dua and The Grand Bali. Keen to treat yo'self to a waterfront stay? You can add that to your itinerary. Enjoying kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skiing and waterside cocktails is usually available as well. Unsurprisingly, this isn't a cheap festival to attend, starting at $799 per person. Accommodation, transfers and festival tickets are all included in the fest packages; however, you do still need to buy flights on top. Folks feeling particularly flush can also upgrade their tickets to gain VIP access, which includes a welcome party, plus VIP areas to catch the tunes that come complete with table service and access to private toilets — and start at $299 per person on top of your ticket. DREAM MACHINE 2024 LINEUP: Argonaut Cosmo's Midnight Cub Sport Dice Genesis Owusu Hayden James Jimi the Kween The Jungle Giants Kimbra Lazywax (DJ set) Leisure Mell Hall Miami Horror (DJ set) Old Mervs Poof Doof Poolside Shouse Snakehips Y.O.G.A Dream Machine 2024 takes place from Thursday, May 30–Monday, June 3, 2024 at Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, with pre-sales from 12pm AEDT on Tuesday, October 31 and general sales from 12pm AEDT on Wednesday, November 1 via the festival's website. Dream Machine images: Danny Clayton / Khan Ong. 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.
You might normally associate the rockstar lifestyle with big boozy nights and sure-fire hangovers, especially when you're talking about a band that actually owns a bar. But Peking Duk are completely bucking that trend with their latest project — the electro duo of Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles have just released their own booze-free brew, dubbed the Fake Magic Lager. Named after one of the ARIA Award-winning band's hit tracks, the new beer has been crafted in collaboration with the experts at First Nations non-alcoholic drinks company Sobah Beverages. "We've been riding the non-alcohol wave for a while now — especially when we're on tour and want to have a few pre-show drinks, without the headache," explained Styles in a statement. It's this lifestyle shift that inspired the pair to team up with Sobah, which has set out to destigmatise the art of socialising sober. Not only has it got some additional healthy connotations thanks to an infusion of lion's mane mushroom, but the limited-edition canned sip will be helping a great cause, with all proceeds going straight to supporting Sobah's work promoting First Nations' arts, culture, language and history. [caption id="attachment_874695" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peking Duk with Sobah's Dr Clinton Schultz[/caption] If you're keen to try the booze-free beer, you've got just one place to head. The lager will be available exclusively via the new ING Good Finds Market — the banking company's new online store dedicated to social enterprises that are committed to doing good in the world. Think: The Social Outfit, TABOO Period Products, Juluqarly Art Group, Two Good Co, Kua Coffee and stacks more. Profits from all products sold on the site will be funnelled right back into the organisations' various causes and initiatives. It's designed to make it a whole lot easier for Aussies to shop from and support businesses with a conscience. Running across four Saturdays from October 29–November 19, the Good Finds Market will be launching three other exclusive collaboration products over the coming month. That includes a new limited-edition collection by Good Citizens Eyewear featuring all-recycled frames crafted from plastic bottles. Find the Fake Magic Lager exclusively online at the ING Good Finds Market from Saturday, October 29. It'll cost you $19 for a four-pack of tinnies, with a 24-pack coming in at $92.
Do you sometimes lack confidence, or luck? Do you feel like you try more than you succeed? Do you seesaw between hoping things will go well and avoiding anything that could turn out badly? Of course you do — and so does Charlie Brown. For 65 years, the main character in Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip has captured the routine struggles of everyday life, acting as everyone's cartoon surrogate through life's eternal ups and downs. His troubles often involve kicking a football and flying a kite, but they're the kind of average antics anyone can relate to. That's one of the reasons why Peanuts has remained a comic strip favourite — and why a new big-screen outing has been eagerly anticipated. The makers of Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie know this, and they've acted accordingly. Their film might bring this ordinary boy, his beagle and their buddies into the 21st century, but it doesn't stray far from all the things that have made Peanuts such a cherished property for decades. Story-wise, that means a raft of scenarios fans will instantly recognise, and even the most casual of Peanuts readers or viewers probably will as well. Charlie Brown doesn't just tussle with his preferred outdoor activities, but with getting the attention of the Little Red-Haired Girl. His pals all continue to hang around, including his little sister Sally, best buddy Linus, the opinionated Lucy and tomboy Peppermint Patty. Back at home, mischievous pooch Snoopy dreams up a novel involving his World War I pilot alter ego, his girlfriend and his nemesis. If you're buzzing with not only nostalgia, but déjà vu, that's understandable. With Schulz's son Craig and grandson Bryan among the film's writers, The Peanuts Movie was always going to tread gently in its predecessors' footsteps. In what amounts to a series of interlinked vignettes, the film tells fond and familiar tales about beloved characters, with a tone of adoration more important than offering up any surprises. Indeed, consider the first Peanuts flick in 35 years a best-of compilation or a greatest hits package. The affectionate tribute that results comes complete with gorgeous 3D CGI animation that mimics pen strokes, a score that's appropriately jaunty, and the smart use of children instead of famous actors as voice talent. And while the movie's episodic nature means that some segments soar above others, when they do, they're something special. Charlie Brown's attempts to read War and Peace and his reaction when his classmates brand him a genius aren't just earnest and endearing — they're easily the film's highlights. Director Steve Martino (Ice Age: Continental Drift) might not be able to sustain the Peanuts magic for 88 minutes, but he certainly whips up a couple of memorable chapters. Of course, adapting comic strips into movies is a tricky task, even with ample material to call upon. Gags that work so well over four illustrations don't always translate to the cinema, particularly when pieced together and stretched out to feature film length. Accordingly, The Peanuts Movie is as slight and patchy as it is sweet, charming and amusing. When it all comes together though, it fittingly serves up another lesson about taking the good with the bad.
How do you define a classic album? Is it sales figures, popularity over time, how influential it is, or something completely indefinable? We've all got our personal favourites, but with countless great LPs throughout the history of music, at some point you need to ask the experts. Luckily, Sydney has a number of peerless record stores, all staffed by helpful and knowledgeable enthusiasts keen to share the sounds they love with you. In partnership with LEGO Art, which has paid tribute to The Beatles' The White Album in its latest range, we spoke with five record store owners about the albums that make them tick and what, in their own personal view, makes a record worthy of the term 'classic'. Read on to find out what made the cut. BEATDISC RECORDS: 'DOUBT SEEDS' Parramatta institution Beatdisc Records will soon celebrate its 25th anniversary, and owner Pete Curnovic is keeping it local with his classic album selection: Doubt Seeds, the swansong LP from Sydney alternative rockers Bluebottle Kiss. "They knew it was their final album so they went all out," he tells us. "It was all recorded analogue in Leichhardt and it's never been pressed on vinyl." Curnovic says the band's foray into experimentation and improvisation is why it's topped his personal list, as well as the memorable show at Manning Bar around the time of the album's release. Fourteen years since it hit the shelves, Doubt Seeds is still on Curnovic's playlist at least once a month. Find Beatdisc at Queensland Arcade, Church Street, and check out what's in store, here. [caption id="attachment_782971" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] THE RECORD STORE: 'FRANCIS INFERNO ORCHESTRA PRESENTS VERANDA CULTURE' "The perfect album at one point isn't a perfect album at another point," says The Record Store's Stephan Győry. The Surry Hills store owner eventually settled on Francis Inferno Orchestra Presents Veranda Culture, a 2017 release that's as suitable for "losing your mind on the dancefloor", says Győry, as it is for "chilling out on the couch on Sunday at 3am". He says, "It's my go-to when I'm on the doof island." The Record Store continues to buy and sell new and second-hand records, as well as a range of equipment for vinyl enthusiasts. Find The Record Store at 34/277 Crown Street. Its online store has free shipping within Australia for orders over $100. [caption id="attachment_716226" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] COTTONMOUTH RECORDS: 'ILL AT EASE' Cottonmouth Records' label and store boss Zach Williams firmly believes the albums you love in your formative teenage years can shape your entire musical identity, and the Enmore-based store owner picked Ill At Ease, the 1995 release from Adelaide metal mainstays The Mark Of Cain, as his classic album pick. "I was angsty and it was the most raw record I'd ever heard," says Williams, who puts much of the record's impact down to the production from hardcore punk icon Henry Rollins. Williams also played in a band that covered a handful of The Mark Of Cain tracks as a teenager, so his connection to the record runs deep. Find Cottonmouth Records at 182 Enmore Road, or visit its online store to stock up on vinyl. [caption id="attachment_736386" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] REPRESSED RECORDS: 'FUN HOUSE' Fun House, the second album from The Stooges, is often held up as one of the most influential records in punk's history, and Repressed Record's Nic Warnock certainly agrees. "It drew a line to the things I like now," he says, before adding that a new live album of the band from the time has recently been released and, even though it "kind of sucks", it makes him love the record even more. "It's part of being human," he says, noting its messy recording, and the rich lineage that makes punk such an important and enthralling subculture. Find Repressed at 413 King Street, Newtown, or shop for records, books and CDs from its online store. [caption id="attachment_736384" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] DESIRE BOOKS AND RECORDS: 'THE STONE ROSES' The Stone Roses' eponymous debut "oozed all the cool and swagger that had been brewing in Manchester [in the 80s] into some sort of defining crescendo," says Desire Book's & Records owner Tim Barber, who chose an album that shaped his teenage years, and celebrated the scene known as 'Madchester'. Barber says, "Pop music always moves on, very few records get remembered and even fewer become classics". But, in the eyes of many, over 30 years on, The Stones Roses has truly stood the test of time. Find Desire Books & Records at 3/3 Whistler Street, Manly. Discover more about the new LEGO Art range, here. Top image: The Record Store, Kitti Gould
In The Boys, wins and chaos are rarely far away from each other. Something goes right for its characters — its namesake group fighting corrupt caped crusaders, or vice versa — and then something often goes pear-shaped. Fans of the series are in that situation themselves right now, with season four about to start streaming from Thursday, June 13, 2024, but showrunner Eric Kripke freshly revealing that there's only one more season left after this. The Boys was renewed for season five back in May, before season three hits, but now Supernatural alum Kripke has advised that it'll be a last hurrah. "The Boys season four premiere week is a good time to announce: season five will be the final season! Always my plan, I just had to be cagey till I got the final okay from Vought. Thrilled to bring the story to a gory, epic, moist climax," he tweeted. #TheBoys Season 4 Premiere Week is a good time to announce: Season 5 will be the Final Season! Always my plan, I just had to be cagey till I got the final OK from Vought. Thrilled to bring the story to a gory, epic, moist climax. Watch Season 4 in 2 DAYS, cause the end has begun! pic.twitter.com/3p7Wt4jGA6 — Eric Kripke (@therealKripke) June 11, 2024 Since first making the jump from the page to the screen from Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's comics series of the same name in 2019, The Boys has told of a version of earth where caped crusaders are real, as are superpowers, and a group called The Seven are placed above all superheroes. But, digging into the dark side of the scenario, not everyone thinks that should be the status quo. The series has always stood out as an antidote to narratives about powerful folks who are supposedly better than most, by both satirising and questioning that very idea. Here, superheroes work for Vought. They're still the main form of entertainment, but they're real, the most-famous celebrities there are and inescapable in daily life. While The Seven are the absolute top talent, most are hardly role models when the public isn't looking. Yes, that has made quite the change from the usual cinematic universes as the Prime Video show has kept notching up the seasons. The Boys has never been afraid to splash OTT violence — gory carnage, too — across its frames along the way, or to parody reality within its superhero tale. The same proved true in 2020's second season and 2022's third, and also in college-set spinoff Gen V, which arrived in 2023 and has been renewed for a second season as well. In the cast: Karl Urban (Thor: Ragnarok), Jack Quaid (Oppenheimer), Antony Starr (Guy Ritchie's The Covenant), Erin Moriarty (Captain Fantastic), Claudia Doumit (Where'd You Go, Bernadette), Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl), Jessie T Usher (Smile), Laz Alonso (Wrath of Man), Tomer Capone (One on One), Karen Fukuhara (Bullet Train), Colby Minifie (I'm Thinking of Ending Things) and Cameron Crovetti (Boy Kills World) — with Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead), Susan Heyward (Hello Tomorrow!) and Valorie Curry (The Lost Symbol) joining for season four. There's obviously no trailer for season five yet, but check out the trailer for The Boys season four below: The fourth season of The Boys starts streaming via Prime Video from Thursday, June 13, 2024. Read our reviews of The Boys season three and Gen V. Season five doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced.
Does Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick) only have one more mission left in him? The title for the eighth Mission: Impossible film might just point in that direction. Viewers won't know until the movie hits cinemas in 2025, but the flick that was initially called Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two is now named Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: spending until May wondering if audiences are about to see the last of Ethan Hunt. It was back in 2023 when Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One hit cinemas and left viewers wanting more, by design: when it wrapped up its 163 minutes of espionage antics, everyone already knew that a second part was on its way. Originally, the latter was meant to arrive in June 2024, less than a year after the first film. But amid Hollywood's strikes last year, the film was pushed back almost 12 months. Its release date Down Under: Thursday, May 22, 2025. It was also rumoured at the time that the movie would get a new moniker, so The Final Reckoning isn't a surprise in that regard. But the 'final' part of the title — and a just-dropped trailer that focuses on how every step leads you down a specific path, complete with the tagline "every choice has led to this" — wasn't as expected. "I need you to trust me one last time," Cruise also utters. The film's first teaser trailer traverses everywhere from snow and sky-high heights to under the sea and frozen in ice — and, as always, features plenty of Cruise running. Story details are sparse, however, but of course the film's star is seen hanging off of a plane. Viewers can expect world-hopping intrigue, explosions, chases and fights, though, as regularly occurs when Ethan Hunt and his Impossible Missions Force team return. Also back: a cast including Simon Pegg (The Boys), Ving Rhames (The Wild Robot) and Hayley Atwell (Heartstopper), Vanessa Kirby (Napoleon), Esai Morales (Crescent City), Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Henry Czerny (Zombie Town), Angela Bassett (9-1-1) and Shea Whigham (Lawmen: Bass Reeves) — and, behind the camera, director Christopher McQuarrie helms again after doing the same on Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation, Mission: Impossible — Fallout and Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. On-screen, Holt McCallany (The Lincoln Lawyer), Janet McTeer (The Old Man), Nick Offerman (Civil War) and Hannah Waddingham (The Fall Guy) feature as well. Check out the first teaser trailer for Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning below: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning will release in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Read our review of Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. Images: Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
After heading our way for Laneway Festival earlier in 2023, Japanese Australian singer-songwriter Joji is finally giving his Aussie fans the chance to catch a glimpse of him at his own headline gigs when he returns for a run of arena shows. The viral hitmaker is making his way Down Under fresh from a US run of gigs, including bringing the Pandemonium tour to Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on Thursday, November 16. Joji's debut headline Australian shows have been a long time coming. After fostering a cult following on YouTube, he pivoted his talents to music in 2017, releasing three studio albums across the following six years. The entire trio of albums has spawned Top 40 hits in Australia, New Zealand and the US, and Joji is one of only a handful of artists that can claim to have multiple songs with over a billion streams on Spotify — with 'Glimpse of Us' and 'Slow Dancing in the Dark' both passing this impressive milestone. Concertgoers can expect the heartfelt emotions of Joji's ballads alongside a sprinkling of humour, with his live shows receiving online notoriety for the performer's onstage hijinx between and during songs. Scottish dance producer and singer Sam Gellaitry is on supporting duties alongside rapper SavageRealm, who also opened for Joji on his North American tour.
The Freshwater Butcher's free-range beef and lamb is grass-fed with no grains, hormones or chemicals. Pork comes from an ethical farm located just outside of Ulladulla on the South Coast, while organic chickens are also from free-to-roam farms. In winter, you'll find golden-crusted, house-baked, family-sized pies, and the butchers also stocks essentials like bread and milk. It also does regular specials, be it a French-style pork fillet roast stuffed with cranberries and chestnuts, wrapped in bacon with prunes on top, or a rolled lamb loin packed with a fig and pistachio stuffing. No time to pop into the butcher? Locals can also make use of the free home delivery service. [caption id="attachment_776628" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leigh Griffiths[/caption]
Approaching at 128 BPM, Stereosonic will take over the Sydney Olympic Park for two heated, fist-pumping days of electro, techno and house music. Maybe 'getting shredded' isn't an idea you subscribe to, but good techno and house music is. Luckily, aside from the buzz headline acts like Calvin Harris, Tiesto, Steve Aoki and Skrillex, promoters have placed an emphasis on local acts — and there's no shortage of genuine talent. After presiding over the official Grammys afterparty in LA (as you do), Alison Wonderland is coming back to Australia for Stereosonic alongside Sydney project What So Not (Flume and Emoh Instead), triple j presenter and DJ Nina Las Vegas, electronic dance regulars The Aston Shuffle, and UK power duo Disclosure (for a DJ set only). Porter "boy genius" Robinson is adding the Australian sweatfest to his list and punters will get to see NYC's RL Grime, who has worked epic wonders with artists as diverse as Big Sean and How To Dress Well. Let the summer festival season begin. Tickets are still available via ticketmaster.com.au. $149.95 for Saturday/Sunday tickets only or $234.95 for a two-day ticket.
In the breakout movie of 2022, Michelle Yeoh was everything and everywhere. Multiverses are like that. Now, the Oscar-winner voices a space-robot peregrine falcon in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and viewers should wish that this only existed in Everything Everywhere All At Once's kaleidoscope of realities. Alas, in this very realm, the newest Transformers film is indeed flickering through projectors. The toy-to-screen series it belongs to is now seven live-action entries in and — apart from 2018 spinoff-slash-prequel Bumblebee — largely still as dull as a smashed headlight. Set in 1994, the current instalment is a sequel to the last 1987-anchored franchise flick, which focused on the yellow-hued mechanised alien that can morph into a car, and also a prequel to 2007's saga-spawning Transformers. It draws upon the Transformers: Beast Wars animation, comics and video games, too, and feels in every frame like a picture that purely exists to service intellectual property that does big box-office business (2011's Transformers: Dark of the Moon and 2014's Transformers: Age of Extinction each made over a billion dollars). Michael Bay, Hollywood's go-to director for maximalist action carnage, might've been enthusiastic about Transformers when he started the silver-screen series nearly two decades back — the Ambulance filmmaker was definitely devoted to crashing together pixels replicating chrome in all five titles he helmed, including 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight — but these movies can't be anyone's passion projects. They show zero feeling, and seem to keep rolling out because the saga assembly line has already been established. New faces and a new guiding force behind the lens can't dislodge that sensation with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. The five-person team responsible for the script give no signal that they even wanted to. The feature's latest two leads do resemble people better than most flesh-and-blood characters in the Transformers world, welcomely, although one gets a sick-kid backstory and another a bad boss. Were the Transformers themselves asked to write the most cliched screenplay they could? Anthony Ramos (In the Heights) and Dominique Fishback (Swarm) are Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' prime living-and-breathing figures, running, chasing and palling around with Autobots as Shia LaBeouf (Pieces of a Woman), Megan Fox (Good Mourning), Mark Wahlberg (Uncharted) and Hailee Steinfeld (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) all have before them. Ramos plays former solider Noah Diaz, who has that ailing younger brother (Dean Scott Vazquez, also an In the Heights alum) and massive medical bills to prove it. Fishback is archaeology intern Elena Wallace, whose vapid boss (Sarah Stiles, Billions) constantly cribs from. Both of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' on-screen stars are excellent actors — Ramos was in Hamilton's debut Broadway cast, while Fishback has a BAFTA nomination for Judas and the Black Messiah — and the film benefits from their presence. Still, even the best thespians can only do so much when they're primarily tasked with rushing around and peering upwards at CGI chunks of walking, talking metal. That dashing and staring, and befriending extra-terrestrial machines in general, is the result of doing things that neither Noah nor Elena are meant to. They're strangers with Brooklyn in common, and soon trying to save existence as well. He gets light-fingered for a payday, attempting to steal a Porsche that's actually the Autobot Mirage (voiced by Pete Davidson, Bupkis). After hours, she's examining an unusual artefact with intriguing markings, which happens to be a key that lets the Transformers warp between different worlds, including back to their own. That discovery sets off a beacon in the sky, earning the attention of Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen, whose time in the role hails back to the OG 80s animated TV series) just as Noah and Mirage are getting acquainted. Also paying notice: Scourge (Peter Dinklage, Cyrano) from the nefarious Terrorcons, who wants to use the pivotal device to bring the planet-devouring (and -sized) Unicron (Colman Domingo, Fear the Walking Dead) to earth. The mission: fend off those evil shapeshifting droids, protect the gadget at all costs and, gratingly, talk about it while mentioning Autobots, Terrorcons and the transwarp key as much as possible. Director Steven Caple Jr (Creed II) endeavours to give Ramos and Fishback more character-building moments than their franchise predecessors, but they're always saddled with spouting rote, jargon-laced dialogue that somehow needed The Flash's Joby Harold, BMF's Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters, and The Meg's Erich Hoeber and Jon Hoeber to write. Given the hefty cast list, there's a wealth of talent reciting bland lines, including Ted Lasso's Cristo Fernández, Loot's Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Poker Face's Ron Perlman among the Transformers. The latter voices Optimus Primal, the gorilla-esque leader of the Maximals, aka the animal robots that the movie's title references — and just one of the moves that the film makes to create a Hasbro Cinematic Universe. As plenty of franchises are woefully guilty of recently — see: the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania for one of the worst examples — Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has its focus on the future over polishing up its current instalment. Indeed, too much that's meant to give this robo-battle personality is lazily sprinkled in, such as the hip hop needle drops because it's the 90s (cue: A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, the Notorious BIG and LL Cool J) and pop-culture references (such as Super Mario Bros on Game Boy). A self-aware mention of Marky Mark leaving the Funky Bunch for acting falls flat, as does calling out Indiana Jones while aping that franchise's cave-searching adventure plots in Peru. In fact, namechecking Mario when it's been given the big-screen treatment again in 2023, plus Indy when that series' latest picture hits cinemas the same month as this, just reminds viewers that they might want to be watching other films. Much of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts incites that reaction anyway, especially its visually uninspired special effects and action sequences that look about as appealing as throwing household electronics in a bin. When they're undisguised junk for the eyes, every aspiring and actual blockbuster that follows Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse this year will spark one question: why is this live action? When animation can look as astonishing as all things Spider-Verse do, and when CGI can be as dreary as it is here, surely these space robots should go back to their cartoon roots. Thankfully, with 2024's Transformers One, they are. Unlike The Transformers: The Movie managed to score, no future animated flicks will ever boast Orson Welles among its voice cast, though — he loaned his tones to Unicron in that 1986 effort — but they also can't be as tedious as Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Underground inner west rave cave Tokyo Sing Song has reopened its neon-lit dance floor, running events every Friday and Saturday. Hidden underneath Marly Bar, the King Street club has enlisted the help of Sydney party crew Picnic. If Picnic's name rings a bell, the team of dance music enthusiasts has been behind dance floors at the likes of Picnic Social, Fellr's Pop-Up Seltzer Bar and CC:Disco's show at the Roundhouse, as well as international tours from Peggy Gou, Jayda G and DJ Harvey. For these weekly events, Picnic is always dipping into Sydney's trusty community of local DJs — lining up the likes of Tornado Wallace, Bria, Deepa, Isa, Kato and Ben Fester — as well as pulling in special guests from interstate. For each week's lineup, head to Picnic's website where you can see all their pop-up raves and parties. Ticket prices vary depending on the night but are generally between $15-40, with free entry before 11pm for some events. [caption id="attachment_828929" align="alignnone" width="1929"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Top image: Katje Ford
It's been home to David Lynch's eerie filmscapes, Yayoi Kusama's infinity and obliteration rooms, Gary Carsley's projected jacarandas and Patricia Piccinini's forest of flowers that aren't quite flowers. It has also welcomed a riverbed, a snowman and a suspended installation that visitors can climb through, too. Marvel has taken over the place, and European masterpieces from The Met have graced the walls as well. But a labyrinth of red and black wool? That's about to completely transform Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art this winter. Yes, GOMA loves an immersive installation. It loves this one in particular — and yes, it should sound familiar. Originally, Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles was announced as part of the gallery's 2020 lineup; however, we all know how that year turned out. So, it's coming Brisbane's way as an Australian exclusive from June 18–October 3 this year instead. The eye-catching exhibition will showcase the Berlin-based Japanese artist and her work over the past quarter-century, coming to Brisbane after premiering in Tokyo back in 2019. And while it won't sit 53 storeys up or come with panoramic views of the city, like it did in Japan, Shiota's string-heavy installations are certain to garner more than a little attention. Fashioned from millions of strands, they resemble weaved, maze-like webs and take up entire rooms. The Soul Trembles is the largest-ever solo exhibition by the artist — and although GOMA hasn't revealed just how much of the Tokyo lineup is coming to Brisbane, art lovers can expect an array of sprawling installations, sculptures and video footage of Shiota's performances, as well as photographs and drawings. Highlighting her fascination with intangible concepts, such as memory, anxiety, dreams and silence, the ticketed display is Brissie's big art date for the winter. [caption id="attachment_750700" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Chiharu Shiota. b.1972, Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Uncertain Journey (2016/2019). Courtesy: Blain | Southern, London/Berlin/New York. Installation view: Shiota Chiharu: The Soul Trembles, Mori. Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019. Image courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. Photograph: Sunhi Mang.[/caption] The Soul Trembles will take over GOMA once the 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art wraps up at the end of April. Also doing the honours this year: a blockbuster summer showcase called Air, which'll follow on from Water back in 2019 and 2020. Running from November 26, 2002–April 23, 2023, it'll feature works by Ron Mueck, Anthony McCall, Dora Budor, Jonathan Jones, Dr Uncle Stan Grant Sr AM, Carlos Amorales and Tomás Saraceno, all diving into air in a cultural, ecological and political sense — with further details to be revealed later in the year. Before that, though, Transitions will showcase historical Aboriginal bark paintings and contemporary Indigenous works from August 20, 2022–April 10, 2023, with pieces hailing from Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA's collection. And, over at QAG, Knowledge: Queensland Contemporary Art will run from August 13, 2022–January 22, 2023, complete with new commissions and recent work by Robert Andrew, Burchill/McCamley, Megan Cope, Archie Moore, Ethel Murray and Ryan Presley, as well as Obery Sambo, Vanghoua Anthony Vue, Rosie Ware, Jenny Watson, Warraba Weatherall and Justene Williams. From August 27, 2022–January 29, 2023, QAG will also present the first major museum survey of work by Queensland-born painter Joe Furlonger. In other words, get ready to spend a whole lot of 2022 — and much of 2023, too — in a Brissie art gallery. [caption id="attachment_677208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gallery of Modern Art, exterior, south and east face, James Turrell artwork.[/caption] QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY AND GALLERY OF MODERN ART 2022 PROGRAM: The 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art at GOMA — until April 25, 2022. Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles at GOMA — June 18–October 3, 2022. Knowledge: Queensland Contemporary Art at QAG — August 13, 2022–January 22, 2023 Transitions at GOMA — August 20, 2022–April 10, 2023. Joe Furlonger at QAG — August 27, 2022–January 29, 2023. Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles displays at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane from June 18–October 3, 2022. For further details — or to find out more about the gallery's full 2022 slate — visit its website. Top image: Chiharu Shiota b.1972, Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. In Silence (2002/2019). Production support: Alcantara S.p.A. Installation view: Shiota Chiharu: The Soul Trembles, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019. Courtesy: Kenji Taki Gallery, Nagoya/Tokyo. Image courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. Photograph: Sunhi Mang.
When Normal People became the streaming sensation of the pandemic's early days, it made stars out of leads Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, and swiftly sparked another Sally Rooney adaptation from much of the same behind-the-scenes team. It wouldn't have been the hit it was if it hadn't proven an exercise in peering deeply, thoughtfully, lovingly and carefully, though, with that sensation stemming as much from its look as its emotion-swelling story. It should come as no surprise, then, that cinematographer Kate McCullough works the same magic on The Quiet Girl, a Gaelic-language coming-of-age film that sees the world as only a lonely, innocent, often-ignored child can. This devastatingly moving and beautiful movie also spies the pain and hardship that shapes its titular figure's world — and yes, it does so softly and with restraint, just like its titular figure, but that doesn't make the feelings it swirls up any less immense. McCullough is just one of The Quiet Girl's key names; filmmaker Colm Bairéad, a feature first-timer who directs and adapts Claire Keegan's novella Foster, is another. His movie wouldn't be the deeply affecting affair it is without its vivid and painterly imagery — but it also wouldn't be the same without the helmer and scribe's delicate touch, which the 1981-set tale he's telling not only needs but demands. His focus: that soft-spoken nine-year-old, Cáit (newcomer Catherine Clinch), who has spent her life so far as no one's priority. With her mother (Kate Nic Chonaonaigh, Shadow Dancer) pregnant again, her father (Michael Patric, Smother) happiest drinking, gambling and womanising, and her siblings boisterously bouncing around their rural Irish home, she's accustomed to blending in and even hiding out. Then, for the summer, she's sent to her mum's older cousin Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley, Extra Ordinary) and her dairy farmer husband Seán (Andrew Bennett, Dating Amber). Now the only child among doting guardians, she's no less hushed, but she's also loved and cared for as she's never been before. Clinch is another of The Quiet Girl's crucial figures, courtesy of a downright exceptional and star-making performance. If you were to discover that she was a quiet girl off-screen, too, you'd instantly believe it — that's how profoundly naturalistic she is. Finding a young talent to convey so much internalised, engrained sorrow, then to slowly blossom when fondness comes her way, isn't just a case of finding a well-behaved child who welcomes the camera's presence. Clinch makes Cáit's isolation and sadness feel palpable, and largely does so without words: again, this is The Quiet Girl in name and nature alike. She makes the comfort and acceptance that her character enjoys with the instantly tender Eibhlín feel just as real, and kicks into another still-composed but also visibly appreciative gear as a bond forms with the tight-lipped Seán. Pivotally, Clinch plays Cáit like she's the only lonely girl in Ireland, but also like she's every lonely and mostly silent girl that's ever called that or any country home. That astonishing performance, and the empathetic and absorbed gaze that beams it into the film's frames, tap into the lingering truth at the heart of this soulful picture: that overlooked and disregarded girls such as Cáit rarely receive this kind of notice on- or off-screen. The warm way that the movie surveys her life, and is truly willing to see it, is never anything less than an act of redress — and, even with dialogue sparse, The Quiet Girl screams that fact loudly. It gives the same treatment to loss, which is an unshakeable force in Eibhlín and Seán's home despite remaining unspoken. "There are no secrets in this house," Eibhlín tells Cáit, but that doesn't mean that the type of pain that defies speech doesn't haunt the place, as it does the lives lived in it. Grief, too, is usually pushed aside, but The Quiet Girl sees how it persists, dwells and gnaws even when — especially when — no one is talking about it. The Quiet Girl, and Bairéad and McCullough with it, sees everything with attentive eyes: chaos at home, bullying at school, and uncertainty mixed with relief when Cáit cottons onto why she's taking such a long drive with her dad, for starters. It watches as the girl's summer getaway teems with promise and wonder — on the farm, in its woods, in the gleaming rainwater well, simply watching Eibhlín in the house or shadowing Seán outside — and as her relationship with her surrogate parents has the same fantastical allure. It spots the tentative curiosity that Cáit has about the train wallpaper in her new bedroom, as well as the boy's clothes she's given to wear. And, it can't avoid the gleeful gossiping-slash-interrogating by neighbour Úna (Joan Sheehy, End of Sentence), when she gets her chance to spill Eibhlín and Seán's past, and also grill their new charge about their present. Viewers peer on intently as well; using the Academy ratio, the almost-square frame that was once the cinematic standard, has that effect. That stylistic choice can say more than words when a character feels boxed in or trapped — see Happening and The Tragedy of Macbeth — which The Quiet Girl uses to its advantage in its earliest scenes. The tighter canvas also hones focus, which is this film's entire purpose anyway. Thanks to the straightforward but nonetheless riveting narrative, and the emotional journeys that it charts, Bairéad didn't need to restrict the movie's visuals so blatantly. The Quiet Girl would've captured its audience's undying attention anyway. But a closer look begets a closer look, both at otherwise-shunned children and at the minutiae they only start to spy themselves when their lives get cosier and kinder, yet also bigger and more assured. When it premiered at the 2022 Berlin International Film Festival, The Quiet Girl made history as the first Gaelic-language film to compete at the prestigious event, and also won an award in the process. When it reached Irish cinemas midyear, along with those elsewhere in the UK, it broke box office records for Gaelic-language movies, too. Small things, big impact: that's this wonderfully heartrending, deeply resonant, exquisitely fleshed out feature over and over, within its poetic images and beyond.
In case you missed it last year, Sculpture at Scenic World is an annual, stunning art exhibition that takes place in the Blue Mountains. Each year a group of artists create sculptures that sit in the depths of the region's rainforest for a month, and every year it's the perfect opportunity to go on an Autumn weekend away and experience everything that the Blue Mountains has to offer. Now in its sixth year, Sculpture at Scenic World will showcase artworks from 35 local, interstate and international artists along the Blue Mountain's 2.4 kilometre Scenic Walkway—Australia's longest elevated boardwalk. You can walk along the trail and immerse yourself in a stunning rainforest setting while looking at some impressive sculptural art from artists including Tully Arnot, Claire Becker, Chris Bennie and Jennifer Cochrane. The unique pop-up outdoor exhibition runs for 30 days from April 7 to May 7. To visit, you'll need to buy a ticket to Scenic World, which is home to the Scenic Railway, Skyway (which hangs 270 metres above a gorge and offers panoramic views of Katoomba Falls and The Three Sisters) and Cableway that all take you high above the mountains for scenic views of the region. A $39 ticket includes unlimited rides on all three, plus entry to the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre in town. [caption id="attachment_561929" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Elyssa Sykes-Smith A Canopy of Thoughts (2015)[/caption] Not just exclusive to the rainforest, the exhibition extends to include an indoor exhibition named Sculpture Otherwise that takes place at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, as well as other outdoor artworks situated at various locations around the upper Mountains region. A full public program, including workshops and guided tours, will be released closer to the event. A short drive away from Sydney, this is the perfect excuse to go on a weekend away. If you're keen to turn your day trip into a sleepover, Scenic World have partnered with a range of accommodation providers in the region, from the stunning Hydro Majestic Hotel to the luxurious Carrington. As if there weren't enough reasons to spend a weekend in the Blue Mountains. Head to Sculpture at Scenic World to purchase exhibition tickets and sort out your accommodation. Top image: Lang Ea KA-BOOM! (2016)
There 'aint a whole lot new about Antoine Fuqua's The Magnificent Seven. The iconic Western was previously an American TV series running from 1998-2000, which itself was based on the 1960 movie of the same name, which in turn was based on Akira Kurosawa's 1954 epic The Seven Samurai. The story, of course, is always the same: when a big bad man runs riot through a small, peace loving town of good and decent god-fearing folk, the survivors turn to a lone vigilante and offer their every last possession in the hope of driving the evil away. In Fuqua's version, that vigilante is Denzel Washington's Sam Chisolm. As seen in recent Tarantino fare Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight, the African-American lead cowboy has become a popular choice for the 'neo western', and Washington, as always, is outstanding. His silky-soft voice, penetrating stare and wily smile are so perfectly suited to the genre, it's extraordinary to think it hasn't happened sooner. Washington is joined in this adventure by a motley crew of historical and cultural juxtapositions: the exiled Comanche and the Scalper, the Confederate and the Yankee, the Mexican outlaw and the Irish gambler (whose grandpappy died at the Alamo). They should all hate each other, but they don't, and while it's a fun crew to camp with, the total absence of tension between them is as baffling as it is clearly a missed opportunity. All the same, the ensemble cast – Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Byung-hun Lee, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Martin Sensmeier – play nicely off each other, and support Washington as best they can. On the direction front, Fuqua is no fool when it comes to high-end action, having helmed previous heart-thumpers such as Southpaw, Shooter, Training Day and The Equalizer (the latter two both with Washington in the lead). Here in The Magnificent Seven the gunplay feels impressively fast and frantic, if also wildly generous in the range and accuracy of the old-time six-shooters. It's also surprisingly gore-free despite the extreme body count, which makes for a welcome change and contributes to the old-school western vibe. In all, while The Magnificent Seven is far from perfect, it's undeniably fun, and that has to count for something. It's a western, with good guys, bad guys, gunplay and grit, and thanks to Fuqua and Washington, you get more than enough bang for your buck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-RBA0xoaWU
Darling Harbour hotspot Bungalow 8, which underwent a $3 million reno last year, is welcoming the cooler months with the return of Rhythm and Brunch. Head along on the first Sunday of the month for two hours of bottomless drinks, tasty eats and nonstop R&B, all backdropped by dazzling harbour views. For $89, you'll be sipping on endless cocktails, wine and beer. The cocktail menu is dedicated to a trio of refreshing spritzes: Aperol, limoncello and a peach, wild berry and hibiscus serve. On top of that, you and your mates can graze on a generous share platter, loaded with smoked salmon finger sandwiches, Thai-style chicken wings and grilled corn on the cob. You'll also be treated to sweet bites like mini danishes and fluffy scones. Providing the soundtrack will be a series of DJs spinning R&B tunes, including plenty of sing-along-able hits. When the bottomless drinks finish, you can stick around for an after-party that'll go well into the night.
Jim's Cellars never disappoints in the alcohol department — whether you're after a classic bottle of red for your next dinner party or a magnum of bubbly to celebrate a win at work. The staff are trained in what they sell, so it's always worth asking for wine tastings or what's on offer. Jim's Cellars is a family run, independent store and curates a diverse collection of bottles. It's known in the neighbourhood for stocking locally produced spirits from the likes of Archie Rose, Poor Toms and Manly Spirits, alongside speciaity spirits like aquavit. You'll also find local and international vinos, and an exciting selection of craft beers by Balter, Pirate Life and more. Sneaky local tip: keep an eye on the website for deals so you know when to stock up on your favourites. Images: Trent Van der jagt.
Being named the world's best gin producer for two years running, selling half of its business to beer behemoth Lion and opening a Sydney bar in the middle of the pandemic — they're just some of reasons that Four Pillars has had a big couple of years. The Australian gin company is in for a hefty 2021, too, especially at the Healesville site it calls home. Over the next 12 months, it's undertaking a $6 million redevelopment, which'll enable twice as many juniper spirits-lovers to head to the Yarra Valley and enjoy its tipples. Come December 2021, you'll be able to visit Four Pillars' Lilydale Road address and check out a much larger setup. New hospitality, production and bottling facilities will be part of the revamped site — including the company's sixth German-designed Carl still — as will an events space. The latter will be able to house 250 guests, and there'll also be a retail space and something that Four Pillars is calling 'a special sensory surprise', should you want to do more than just taste its gin. Giving the site an eye-catching new facade designed by Breathe Architecture, the new works are taking place adjacent to Four Pillars' existing distillery, and are designed to blend the two together seamlessly. So, if you're fond of the current setup — as around 100,000 people were in 2019 — it's sticking around. When the new addition opens, however, the Healesville facility will be able to welcome more than 200,000 visitors per year. [caption id="attachment_799170" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Artist's impression of Four Pillars' distillery redevelopment. Breathe Architecture/Neverstop.[/caption] "When we began making Four Pillars, the Yarra Valley was always intended to be our home — and when we found our original site, we couldn't believe our luck," said Four Pillars co-founder Cameron Mackenzie. "When the opportunity came to buy the land next door, we simply had no choice but to roll the dice and back our Yarra Valley dream to the hilt." Four Pillars' current distillery and hospitality space will continue operating as normal while the new works are taking place, and continue serving up the brand's award-winning range — which includes barrel-aged, bloody shiraz, rare dry, spiced negroni, Christmas, overproof, olive leaf and summer-inspired gins. And, if you've made the visit since the Healesville spot reopened over the summer, only to find queues snaking outside, that's one of the things the big revamp is designed to address. Four Pillars' revamped distillery will open at 2–6 Lilydale Road, Healesville, in December 2021. The company's existing site at the same address is still open as usual during the redevelopment.
Calling all Sydney bookworms, scholars and lovers of literature. What would you give to have a drink with your favourite author? Your life savings or maybe a limb? Well, you can hold onto your life savings and all remaining appendages because Dymocks is offering up the chance to grab a drink with one or all of them. That is the thinking behind Books in Bars, an initiative from Dymocks designed to connect authors with their readers over drinks and nibbles at Soultrap Bar and East Village Sydney. First up is Benjamin Stevenson, author of Everyone on This Train Is A Suspect. This book blends comedy and crime with a meta lens on the massively popular genre of murder mysteries. He'll be in conversation with Amy Lovat, writer, editor and founder of Secret Book Stuff on Tuesday, October 17 from 6.30pm. Next on Wednesday, October 18 is TikTok creator Esmé Louise James, author of Kinky History — an irreverent and provocative history of intimacy. She'll be joined by Elfy Scott, the award-winning journalist, presenter, podcaster and author of The One Thing We've Never Spoken About. On Monday, October 23, Holly Ringland, author of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart will be joined by returning co-host Amy Lovat to discuss her new book, The House That Joy Built. It explores the transformative joy and power of creativity and how those who struggle with creativity can find the spark. The next starring author is on Monday, November 13 — famed food journalist and TV presenter, the iconic Matt Preston. He'll be discussing Big Mouth, his newly published memoir that outlines his journey from adoption to being a household name. Drinks and nibbles are included, and there will be a book signing at the end of the night. This particular evening will take place at East Village Sydney instead of Soultrap Bar. Finally, on Tuesday, December 5, will be Karina May, author of Never Ever Forever. This delightful rom-com asks if 'never ever' has to be forever on a journey of a lifetime. Books and Bars will be running from Tuesday, October 17 to Tuesday, December 5. Use these links to book tickets for Benjamin Stevenson, Esmé Louise James, Holly Ringland, Matt Preston or Karina May.
Summer has just begun, and with it comes plenty of lazy days spent at the beach and park — and plenty of sunshine that warrants having drink in hand. With months worth of outdoor occasions to come, the usual cider, beer and chilled rosé might not cut it. That's where batched cocktails come in. The trend has only continued this year and makes classy sipping all too easy. At your next picnic, pick up one of these batched cocktails and make all of your mates jealous. [caption id="attachment_700587" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @bittersandtwists[/caption] THE BROADSIDE SALT AND PEPPERBERRY NEGRONI BY WEST WINDS If you've had enough of the classic negroni and want to bring something a little different to the picnic, grab a can of West Winds' salt and pepperberry negroni. The Margaret River distillery takes the classic Campari and sweet vermouth and combines it with West Winds 'Broadside Navy Strength' salted gin, then adds two Tasmanian pepperberries before canning. All you need is ice, and an orange for zesting if you're feeling especially fancy. Plus, the antique-looking can adds a bit of old world class to the occasion. Available exclusively online, with each can priced at $10 a pop — and, if you order six, you get a complimentary vintage can opener to bring along to the party. How much? $10 for a 110ml can. Available online. [caption id="attachment_701670" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gareth Sobey Photography[/caption] MARTINI BY THE EVERLEIGH BOTTLING CO. The Everleigh is a Melbourne institution, and, lucky for us, the bar brings a bit of its sophisticated speakeasy vibes up to Sydney — and into your glass. The Everleigh Bottling Co is dedicated to batched cocktails, all of which come in sleek glass bottles. The core range includes a martini, negroni, old fashioned and Manhattan, while the Bartender's Choice collections change regularly. At the moment, we're most keen on the martini ($17 per bottle) — a 'wet' take on a martini, with a gin to vermouth ratio of 2:1. It's best served chilled, poured it into a frozen cocktail glass and garnished with a lemon twist or an olive. Apart from online, The Everleigh range is available in some Sydney bottle shops, including Kent Street Cellars, The Henson, The Australian Wine Centre, David Jones Bondi Junction and Le Pont Wine Store in Milsons Point and Clareville. Gift sets and mix-and-match packages are also available, so you can get plenty. How much? $17 for a 90ml bottle. Available online and at select bottle shops. (NEW) OLD FASHIONED BY STARWARD WHISKY Melbourne's Starward makes tonnes of ace whiskies, but they're also slinging a classic batched cocktail with a twist. The (New) Old Fashioned is a collab between the bartenders and distilling teams and starts with Starward's signature craft whisky, which is then combined with bitters and wattleseed demerara syrup — both made in house. To top it all off, the cocktail is then matured in Australian red wine barrels before being bottled and sent off to you. It's designed as a barbecue favourite and just needs ice to complete. Get it online here, with free shipping on all orders, or in Dan Murphy's around Sydney. It's $49 per 500ml bottle, so is ideal for sharing, too. How much? $49 for a 500ml bottle. Available online and at select Dan Murphy's. AUSTRALIAN NEGRONI BY P&V WINE AND LIQUOR MERCHANTS The negroni's revived popularity shows no sign of slowing, and we think it's a must-have at pretty much every summer gathering. Newtown's boutique bottle-o P&V Wine and Liquor agrees, and it offers a batched take on the negroni all year long. The P&V Australian Negroni combines Poor Toms gin, Italian bitter orange aperitif by Adelaide Hills Distillery and sweet vermouth by Maidenii. The batch sits on the check out bar in large glass demijohns, which gets bottled per order into 375ml or 750ml wine bottles ($30 and $60 respectively) — with BYO glass bottle for filling encouraged. Ice, orange wedge, and the drink is complete. How much? $30 for a 375ml bottle. Available at P&V Wine and Liquor Merchants, Newtown. ANTICA FASHIONISTA X TEN PIECES BY MAURICE TERZINI AND BAR AMERICANO Restaurant entrepreneur and fashion designer Maurice Terzini is skilled at bringing Sydneysiders venues that fulfil our batched cocktail needs — whether it be at the bar at Bondi Beach Public Bar and or in The Dolphin's bottle shop. The latter is about to launch a whole new menu of batched cocktails for takeaway, and these include the Antica Fashionista, a designer's take on the old fashioned. It's a one-off collaboration between Terzini's fashion label Ten Pieces and world-class bartender Matt Bax of Melbourne's Bar Americano. It's available in 200ml ($35) and 500ml ($69) sizes at both The Dolphin and online. Add ice and an orange twist and you're good to drink. How much? $35 for a 200ml bottle. Available online and at The Dolphin, Surry Hills. Top Image: The Everleigh Bottling Co's core range by Gareth Sobey Photography.
Thanks to a plan to turn Sydney into a 24-hour city, its laneways, streets and car parks are being transformed into al fresco dining havens. Following the City of Sydney's announcement of this outdoor dining scheme, precincts around the CBD have begun spilling out onto the streets. First up was The Rocks, and now Darling Harbour has been given the al fresco treatment. This community recovery plan aims to reactivate the CBD and other local precincts by making it easier than ever for venues to offer outdoor dining, late-night trading and live music. A whopping 22 venues are participating in the al fresco dining pilot across Darling Quarter, Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay. Those include fan favourites like craft brew bar Bucket Boys, soba specialists Iiko Mazesoba, Shanghainese restaurant Lilong, ramen joint Hakata-Maru, the longstanding Pumphouse, Korean fried chicken shop Arisun and sushi spot Umi. The much-loved Dopa by Devon is getting in on the action, too, offering up half-priced dessert specials alongside its outdoor dining (weekdays 3–5pm, second dessert only). Then, over at The Gardens by Lotus, there is bottomless yum cha every weekend for $69 each. [caption id="attachment_790302" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lilong by Dallas Kilponen[/caption] A few of the restaurants have also set up summery activations in their newly expanded outdoor spaces. At Planar, there's a picnic-style dining area, complete with a floral swing installation, cushioned bench seating and $10 pomegranate spritzes during happy hour (3–6pm daily). Cyren Bar Grill Seafood has its own summer-themed space, and Braza Churrascaria has reinstated its Brazilian dancers for outdoor entertainment. Even more live entertainment is on the docket across Cockle Bay, Darling Quarter and along the Harbour, with acts on every Thursday through Sunday from 5–9pm. To achieve this al fresco goal CBD-wide, the government bodies are working together to cut red tape for businesses to easily reclaim outdoor space. Soon enough, you'll begin to see many more parking spots, traffic lanes and footpaths turned into outdoor dining — with activations across Pitt, Barrack and Crown streets, and Tankstream Way and Wilmot Lane all currently in the works. For more information about the al fresco dining plan, head to the Darling Harbour website.
When it comes to sourcing unique ingredients for culinary adventures, supermarkets have admittedly come a long way. But every now and then, there will be one or two mystery items that throw the whole recipe into mayhem. Pontip opened over two decades ago and remains a Campbell Street institution for professional chefs and home cooks alike. The grocery specialises in ingredients that form the foundation of traditional Thai recipes including fresh Asian produce, herbs, spices and noodles. If you're on the hunt for a hard-to-find exotic fruit or veg, venture into the rainbow bonanza that is Pontip.
Before Stranger Things returns for its fifth and final season sometime in 2025, Finn Wolfhard has some slasher things to deal with. Movie lovers in Sydney can see how that pans out at Fantastic Film Festival Australia's 2025 run. With Hell of a Summer, the actor also turns co-director and co-writer with his Ghostbusters: Afterlife, When You Finish Saving the World and Saturday Night co-star Billy Bryk, with the pair giving the summer-camp masked-killer horror subgenre their own spin. Helping out on-screen: Gladiator II and The White Lotus' Fred Hechinger, plus Reservation Dogs' D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai. That's how Fantastic Film Festival Australia is opening this year, with a meta horror-comedy. From there, this celebration of boundary-pushing pictures has 26 more features on its lineup, 16 of the rest brand-new and then ten others must-see classics. Sydneysiders can get their fix from Thursday, April 24–Friday, May 16 at Ritz Cinemas, Randwick. If you haven't been to FFFA before, the event is marking its fifth iteration in 2025 — and one of its hallmarks, the nude screening, is back for the occasion. Get ready to say "yeah, baby" to watching a movie sans clothes, with Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery this year's flick to watch while wearing nix (following on from past sessions of nudist camp-set comedy Patrick, The Full Monty, Zoolander and The Naked Gun). Another highlight of 2025's program: the retrospective dedicated to Scottish writer/director Lynne Ramsay. Her filmography might only span four features since 1999, all of which are showing at FFFA, but it's a resume that any fellow helmer should envy. For audiences, getting the chance to see Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar, We Need to Talk About Kevin and You Were Never Really Here on the big screen — whether for the first time or as a revisit — is a cinephile's dream. Among the fest's new fare, The Second Act hits the lineup after opening the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, with Rubber and Deerskin's Quentin Dupieux enlisting Léa Seydoux (Dune: Part Two), Louis Garrel (Saint-Exupéry) and Vincent Lindon (The Quiet Son) for his latest absurdist satire. Or, catch Tár's Noémie Merlant in The Balconettes, which she co-wrote with her Portrait of a Lady on Fire director Céline Sciamma; see what happens when The Wild Boys and After Blue's Bertrand Mandico combines two film essays in one split-screen presentation in Dragon Dilatation; and head back to 1999 while journeying into teen antics 3000 light years away in Escape From the 21st Century. Viewers can get a dose of eerie puppetry via Monkey's Magic Merry Go Round, too, then watch Crispin Glover (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) as a magician in Mr. K and undergo a unique animated musical-comedy experience with Spermageddon. Back with FFFA's 2025 blasts from the past, John Woo's (The Killer) gun-fu great Hard Boiled is the festival's closing-night pick, including screening in 35mm in Sydney. If you're keen on a movie marathon, Umbrella-Palooza will get you watching three films about technological nightmares, all courtesy of Australian distributor Umbrella Entertainment — starting with 2002's Cypher, then heading back to 1990's vision of cyberpunk in Hardware, before the OG Japanese Pulse unleashes its presence. Supporting homegrown efforts, the fest has 1977 psychological thriller Summerfield among its retro component, alongside four newcomers: the Super 8-shot A Grand Mockery; the Pedro Almodóvar (The Room Next Door)-inspired Salt Along the Tongue; Pure Scum, which is set amid Melbourne's private-school culture; and Sword of Silence, as shot completely under a full moon. Aussie talents are also in focus in the Sydney Shorts screening.
