First came the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Art After Hours series. Then the City of Sydney's Late Night Library evenings, and the cavalcade of gourmet all-hours food trucks. Now it seems Sydney has a new witching hour institution. The MCA's response to the city's craving for grown-up late nights is ARTBAR, a slate of talks, installations, screenings and one-off performances programmed by guest curators on the last Friday of the month. The all-you-can-eat combo of drinks, DJs, live art and harbour views has proved a winning one: the nights continue to sell out. All these civilised small bars and intelligently curated nights are worlds away from the smokey, brawling pubs and tepid 7-Eleven meat pies of the old city's nightlife. Perhaps Sydney really is growing up. ARTBAR's guest curator this month is artist Daniel Boyd. His night, titled the Up in Smoke Tour, will be a musical and informative journey into the age of enlightenment. It includes video works, a performance from the Crayons, a Dreamtime Ink Australia tattoo parlour, and a panel discussion with the humdrum title 'When I die bury me inside the Gucci store, I don’t want to end up in a museum'.
Roku Gin has come together with Three Blue Ducks to create an event that showcases the spirit of shun: A Taste of Bellingen. And we have 15 double passes to give away. Having opened in July 2023, The Lodge in Bellingen has been celebrated for its new menu, which features bold flavours and fresh, seasonal produce. It's bringing its Japanese-inspired menu to the Rosebery location for two seatings: dinner on Friday, November 10, and lunch on Saturday, November 11. The celebrated Three Blue Ducks chef Darren Roberston crafted the limited-run Japanese-inspired menu and will be on-site to host diners as they journey through the four courses (which symbolise the four seasons) — each served with a special cocktail made with Roku gin to further bring the concept of shun to life. Some of the dishes on the menu include oysters with ginger and cherry blossom, salt and pepper squid, grilled asparagus with spanner crab mayo and gyokuro togarashi, barramundi with fragrant dashi, sencha furikake and sea greens and for dessert, diners will get to enjoy a yuzu tart with soft meringue and creme fraiche. Tickets to the bespoke event cost $120, but we have 15 double passes so you and a friend can enjoy the culinary stylings of Roberston and the Three Blue Ducks team for the Friday dinner session. Images: Jude Cohen, Rob Palmer (images of Darren Robertson) [competition]921568[/competition]
With its shadowy aesthetic and soundscape of screeching and whispering, Deliver Us from Evil immediately displays all the typical horror trappings — and its familiarity only continues. Writer/director Scott Derrickson and his frequent co-scribe Paul Harris Boardman may adapt Ralph Sarchie and Lisa Collier Cool's non-fiction tale Beware the Night, yet the history of the frightening on film is just as influential. Think: flickering lights, difficulties with children and animals, creepy incantations, mental institutions, and even an off-putting jack-in-the-box. Add: literal manifestations of obvious themes, with no subtlety necessary. New York City detective Sarchie (Eric Bana) prowls the streets with his partner Butler (Joel McHale), their undercover operations drawn to particular calls by intuition. One instance links to other unusual reports: a domestic violence case connecting to a woman who threw her baby into a lion's den and then a family living in fear of ominous happenings in their basement. Their otherworldly elements are easily dismissed until Sarchie teams up with Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez), a Castilian priest well versed in the occult, sparking a battle of beliefs on multiple levels. Try as the feature might to capitalise upon a pedigree that includes a true story about a lawman turned demonologist, plus a filmmaker experienced in both the paranormal (as helmer of Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose) and procedural (as writer of Devil's Knot), everything about Deliver Us From Evil dwells in by-the-numbers territory. As the narrative lurches through a convoluted web of grim discoveries in alleyways, it remains a predictable pastiche of the genre. Indeed, the blunt audio and visual cues that smack viewers in the face at the outset prove the lesser of the film's sins, evoking an on-edge atmosphere that is instantly let down by the uninspired content. Derrickson and Boardman divide their time between two odd couplings with care for neither, each character — the brooding cop, his wisecracking off-sider, and the solemn man of faith — constrained by broad categorisations. The same cursory treatment is given to Sarchie's unhappy wife (Olivia Munn) and precocious daughter (Lulu Wilson), with both mere emotional fodder. That the majority of performances are similarly rote is unsurprising, though Ramirez stands out as the sole source of texture among the blandness. When the moment everyone has been waiting for finally comes after too much mood-building filler, Deliver Us from Evil dispenses an impressive and extended exorcism scene; however, the flash of sound and fury might not bring too little, but it is too late to erase the film's unremarkable bulk. The dreariness of its derivation just can't be overcome, nor does the film seem to want to. Instead, it wallows in suspension-of-logic, check-the-box horror of the flimsiest order. https://youtube.com/watch?v=eDZaImYSvm0
Infusing your life with Butter's much-loved trinity of fried chicken, champagne and hip hop is about to get even easier, as the Sydney favourite heads east for a three-month pop-up at Mrs Sippy. Descending on the Double Bay spot from Wednesday, August 7, the pop-up's set to serve up that unique Butter magic, reworked with a few twists to match its new temporary digs. The signature fried chicken will be flying hot and fast, nightly from Wednesday to Sunday, as well as for a special series of weekend brunches. The pop-up's menu will be packed with Butter classics, including that legendary ramen, along with a few new limited-edition dishes. The pop-up's bottomless brunches are making the move east, too. On offer from noon each Saturday and Sunday, they'll see you sitting down to a shared fried chicken feast, with a Hennessey cocktail on arrival followed by bottomless bubbles. Match brunch with unlimited Chandon sparkling for $89pp, or splash out on free-flowing Veuve Clicquot for $150pp. Meanwhile, the Butter crew has created a custom sneaker art installation to hang from the ceiling, DJs will playing on weekends, and the bar's serving a limited-edition Hennessey-fuelled cocktail menu. You'll find sips like the Hennessy Ginger Mojito and the ever-popular Cherry Cola slushie. The Butter x Mrs Sippy pop-up will be open from Wednesday–Thursday 5pm–midnight, Friday–Saturday 12pm–midnight, and Sunday 12pm–10pm.
Next year, Carriageworks will make its debut as a Sydney Biennale Major Venue Partner. The former railyard is well suited to presenting large-scale, site-specific works, having been recently expanded to over 12,000 square metres. Mathias Poledna from Austria, Henry Coombes from Britain, and Yael Bartana from Israel are some of the artists who will take over the space next March as part of the 19th edition of the art fair. The highlight of the program will be the premiere of a new work by Tacita Dean. Dean is one of the Young British Artists (YBAs), a super group that emerged in the late 1980s in London that went on to change the trajectory of contemporary British art. The space will also house a large-scale installation by Dutch artist Gabriel Lester that will respond to the architecture of the building in an exploration of the idea that cinematic and multimedia art is the 'new readymade'. Carriageworks' participation in the Biennale is just one of a really exciting list of upcoming events in the newly renovated space. Director Lisa Havilah explains, "in 2014, Carriageworks unveils an artistic program that is ambitious, risk taking, and above all is artist-led and unrelenting in its support of artists. We remain committed to delivering distinctive, high-quality urban cultural experiences to our audiences". Image: Henry Coombes, I am The Architect (2012)
The latest exhibition at Paddington's Stills gallery features images that take you inside iconic Australian artists' studio spaces — not to mention inside the mechanism of early photography. Robyn Stacey creates her art by turning entire rooms into camera obscura, which, for those who didn't study photography at school, is a dark box with a lens that projects the outside world onto a screen inside, except upside down and back-to-front (much like how our eyes project images onto the retina). Stacey boards up the windows of the spaces she photographs, leaving only a ray of light. Then, for a few hours in the day, an image of the outside world is projected onto the opposing wall, and Stacey photographs this at the perfect moment of light and clarity. This exhibition features photographs of a number of artists' spaces she used this technique on, including Wendy and Brett Whiteley's library, the National Art School and the Rose Seidler House (which was designed by Harry Seidler for his parents, Rose and Max Seidler). You can also step inside rooms that Stacey has turned into camera obscura — one in the gallery and another (for two weeks only on 8-9 and 14-15 October) at the Courthouse Hotel in Darlinghurst's Taylor Square. The exhibition opens at 3pm on Saturday, October 8 with a talk from Wendy Whiteley, or head to the gallery on Saturday, October 15 at 3pm for the artist talk. Image: Robyn Stacey, Inside Wendy & Brett Whiteley Library, Lavender Bay, 2016.
Hamilton isn't the only hit musical from the past few years that took a few cues from historical events, paired a well-known chapter of history with toe-tapping tunes and made on-stage magic. Another theatre show that did just that: SIX the Musical. First premiering back at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, then jumping to London's West End, this hit takes inspiration from one of the most famous sextets there's ever been — because even if you don't know much about Britain's past kings and queens, you likely know that Henry VIII had six wives. The Tudor monarch's love life has inspired plenty of pop culture content over the years — including 00s TV series The Tudors and 2008 movie The Other Boleyn Girl — but this one takes the pop part rather seriously. It's presented as a pop concert, in fact, with Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr all taking to the microphone to tell their stories. Each woman's aim: to stake their claim as the wife who suffered the most at the king's hands, and to become the group's lead singer as a result. Winner of 2 Tony Awards, including Best Original Score, SIX the Musical has become a global phenomenon — its studio album has racked up more than 500 million streams across all platforms worldwide and over 3 billion views on TikTok. The electrifying production is returning to Sydney for the second time this year due to overwhelming demand, following a record-breaking 15-week run at Sydney Opera House over summer. You can catch the encore for a strictly limited five-week run from Friday, August 26–Saturday, October 1 at Theatre Royal Sydney. Hitting the stage: Kala Gare (Rent) as Anne Boleyn, Loren Hunter (Strictly Ballroom: The Musical) as Jane Seymour, Kiana Daniele (Dirty Dancing) as Anna of Cleves, Vidya Makan (Green Day's American Idiot) as Catherine Parr, Phoenix Jackson Mendoza (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Catherine of Aragon and Chelsea Dawson (Shrek the Musical) as Catherine Howard. Tickets for this encore run are available to purchase directly from the venue here — you can also save with a four-ticket bundle offer for selected shows, which you can book here.
From the stings of damaged guitars to the fingers of laptop-musicians comes The NOW now: a festival offering experimental, impulsive and improvised music to ears that desire sounds and behaviors not usually found in the glistening world of popular music. I must be clear however that such a sentiment should not imply that this shiny and choreographed world is not as valid or entertaining as its experimental counterpart, rather I wish to express the rather obvious fact that our ears (and subsequently brains) have great potential to digest and react to a vast and varied spectrum of sound, whether it be ‘popular’ or not. With this in mind, The NOW now festival brings together a busy three-day schedule in with over 50 musicians to the Blue Mountains, including The Splinter Orchestra, the Norwegian tenor saxophone and trumpet duo Streifenjunko, Quintet Experimenta from Argentina, as well as S.I.M.S Project, who incorporate SMS (Short Messenge Service) into their compositions. For more details and the full program see the website.
This free yoga for wine lovers class is all about balancing life's pleasures and truly nurturing your body and mind. On an autumn evening, this ying yoga class will help you relax in a restorative, extended two-hour practice and then unwind further with a glass of wine post savasana. Hosted by Manly's The Yoga Space, the class focuses on the idea that everything is good for you in moderation — we certainly can't imagine anything more relaxing than meditation followed by a cheeky glass of wine. The fact that this soul-nourishing goodness is free is just the cherry on top of a relaxing evening.
The Pope of Trash is back, he's here to have a lively chat and you won't see anything quite like it this year. We're talking about John Waters, of course, with the cult filmmaker, queer icon and all-round pop culture legend heading to Sydney for a divine evening of revelatory reflections, eye-opening anecdotes and shameless secrets from a life spent making cinematic trouble. In fact, Make Trouble is the incredibly apt name of his live show. Waters is the rare auteur who doesn't just craft vivid, transgressive, larger-than-life movies such as the notorious Pink Flamingos, big-budget hit Hairspray and black comedy Serial Mom — he's also as lively and fascinating as you'd expect based on his incredibly distinctive filmography. (And, he has a killer pencil-thin moustache.) Expect to dive into his 50-plus years in the business, hear about his time spent working with everyone from Mink Stole and Divine to Kathleen Turner and Patricia Hearst, and get an earful of insights into his opinions about today's chaotic existence. There'll be more topics of conversation, too; if there's one thing that Waters knows about, it's everything. You'll laugh at his gleefully filthy tidbits (in fact, you might even cry from giggling so hard), and you'll also soak up the best kind of devilish yet worldly wisdom, all while spending an evening in the company of a talent like no other. Timed just after the release of his latest (and ninth) book, The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth Elder, John Waters hits the Sydney Opera House stage on Tuesday, October 15. Pre-sales start from 9am on Tuesday, June 11 and general tickets available from 9am on Friday, June 14. Image: Prudence Upton.
Two hospitality heavyweights who previously collaborated at ARIA have teamed up to open a restaurant in Hunters Hill. One is chef Simon Sandall and the other restaurateur Susan Sullivan. Both spent 17 years at Matt Moran's MorSul Group, where Sandall was executive chef and Sullivan general manager. Their new eatery Boronia Kitchen is devoted to fresh produce, house-made ingredients and a relaxed atmosphere. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are on offer, as is a cornucopia of takeaway dishes for people too tired or busy to cook. With them in mind, Sandall prepares a daily round of savoury pies, salads, free-range rotisserie chickens and house-smoked salmon. If you have time to take a seat, drop by at brekkie for toasted brioche with ricotta, figs and honey or baked eggs with spinach, tomato and chilli on sourdough toast. Come lunchtime, offerings include a roast porchetta baguette with tomato, sage, rosemary and crackling; and salad of lamb with cauliflower, quinoa, chickpeas and pomegranate. At dinner, the menu changes altogether. Start with seared scallops with wilted chard and XO sauce, followed by duck confit with a duck croquette, peas, almonds and mint, then a native-infused dessert, such as baked cumquat with wattle seed clafouti and vanilla ice cream. "As much as possible we have stuck to the ideal of home-made ingredients – from the chutney in our sandwiches to the to the tomato sauce served with our pies," said Sandall. The wine list, curated by sommelier Luke Sullivan, focuses on small-batch producers who express their region. There's a mix of classic Australian varieties and international drops. Boronia Kitchen is now open at 152 Pittwater Rd, Hunters Hill, from Tuesday–Sunday, 8am–10pm.
Many of us have been waiting patiently for Doug Aitken's first exhibition in the southern hemisphere — and finally his boundary-pushing work is open at the MCA. And, to celebrate the museum's 30th birthday, the Museum's major partner Telstra is helping you see this highly-anticipated and immersive exhibition — as well as its other incredible permanent exhibits — for free. On Thursday, November 11, the MCA is inviting you to celebrate three decades of damn good work with free art, delicious drinks and more at this cultural institution's 30th birthday bash. The event will kick off at 10am with a Welcome to Country from Gadigal Elder and MCA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group Member Uncle Ray Davison, followed by a performance from the renowned Koomurri Aboriginal Dance Troupe. Mini art lovers can get involved in the birthday celebrations by joining the art play session on the lawn featuring interactive toys, loads of art making supplies and inspiring books. Every good party needs delicious refreshments so the MCA cafe will be serving up tasty treats courtesy of Fresh Collective, including free cupcakes (limited stock), as well as refreshing birthday bellinis for $6 until the celebrations wind down at 9pm. [caption id="attachment_829780" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Doug Aitken, Underwater Pavilions (installation), 2017, installation view, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2021, 3-channel video installation (colour, sound): 3 projections, 3 aluminium and MDF screens. Image: Dan Boud[/caption] Want to help celebrate 30 years of incredible art at the MCA? Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia on Thursday, November 11 to join in the birthday fun. For more information and to book, visit the website. Top image: Doug Aitken, 'migration (empire)' (still), 2008, image courtesy of the artist, 303 Gallery, New York, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich, Victoria Miro, London, and Regen Projects, Los Angeles. © the artist.
When warm weather arrives, the Snowy Mountains transform into an adventurer's playground. Lakes you wouldn't dip a toe into during winter become dazzling, sun-kissed visions, perfect for windsurfing, sailing and fishing. Walking, cycling and horse riding trails buried in snow thaw out, allowing you to wander through twisted snow gum forests, across wildflower meadows and along majestic mountain ridges, surrounded by incredible panoramas. Here are ten ways to spend time in the Snowies during the warmer months — from paddling the legendary Snowy River to catching trout in Lake Eucumbene to camping by tranquil Thredbo River. [caption id="attachment_659671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW.[/caption] WINDSURFING AND SAILING ON LAKE JINDABYNE Whether you're completely new to windsurfing or a seasoned expert, peaceful Lake Jindabyne, one of the highest lakes in Australia, offers escapades a-plenty. Winds are pretty steady (yet gentle) and there's not too much traffic, so you don't have to continually stress about bumping into someone else. What's more, the mountainous scenery is stunning. There's a bunch of windsurfer hire spots about, including Sacred Ride and Snowy Mountains Holidays. Alternatively, you could consider a sailboat. If you're looking for fellow sailors, check out Lake Jindabyne Sailing Club, which runs a busy program from November to March. [caption id="attachment_659673" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jon Armstrong / Destination NSW.[/caption] PADDLING THE SNOWY RIVER Starting on Mount Kosciuszko's slopes and flowing into the Bass Strait in Victoria, the Snowy River's 352 kilometres provide ample opportunities for paddling. That said, there are rapids and tight spots a-plenty, so, unless you're experienced, it could be a good idea to find a guide. Alpine River Adventures runs adventurous, yet suitable for newbies day trips and multi-day expeditions through the ancient Byadbo Wilderness. Expect to meet platypuses and brumbies, to journey through steep gorges and to rush down grade-three rapids. [caption id="attachment_661863" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] HORSE RIDING IN THREDBO VALLEY Unencumbered by snow, Thredbo Valley is a picturesque garden of pretty snow gums, towering mountain gums and open plains, with the wild Thredbo River running through. To find out what The Man from Snowy River was all about, experience it from a horse's back. Thredbo Valley Horse Riding has been running trail rides since 1993. For a taster, book a one or two-hour ride, or to spend a bit longer in the saddle, go for a half-day adventure. All rides include gear and basic instruction. If you're interested in a multi-day trip, get in touch with Cochran Horse Treks. CAMPING ON THREDBO RIVER It is, of course, possible to camp in the snow, but you've got to be tough and well-prepared. In the warmer months, pitching a tent is a lot more comfortable. There are stacks of stunning campgrounds in the Snowies and one of the loveliest is Thredbo Diggings. Perched right on Thredbo River, this gorgeous spot surrounds you with snow gums, backdropped by mountain ranges. Spend your days lazing about, going for dips, trying your luck at fly fishing and strolling or cycling on the Thredbo Valley Track. If you're in need of a nightcap, Wild Brumby distillery's warming schnapps, made with local fruit, are just up the road. Another camping option along Thredbo River is Ngargio Campground. [caption id="attachment_661864" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] TROUT FISHING AT LAKE EUCUMBENE You won't have any trouble finding a spot to throw in a line at Lake Eucumbene; it's the biggest lake of the many created by the Snowy Hydro scheme. At full capacity, it's nine times the size of Sydney Harbour and 30 metres deep on average. Plus, a total of 145 kilometres of shoreline gives you lots of room to explore. Before getting started, be sure to pick up a NSW Recreational Fishing Licence, usually available at servos and caravan parks. If you don't feel confident fishing on your own, then consider a visit to Eucumbene Trout Farm, where gear and guidance are provided, as is a barbecue for a post-fishing feast. VISITING A WATERFALL There are several waterfalls in the Snowies that'll capture your imagination. One of the easiest to access is found along a walking track that leaves from Kosciuszko Education Centre, about 12 kilometres west of Jindabyne. The six-kilometre loop passes through an impressive diversity of scenery, from heathland dotted with wildflowers to giant granite boulders to mature gum trees. Keep an eye out for echidnas, wallabies and kangaroos along the way. When you reach the waterfall, be sure to wander onto the viewing platform for some beautiful sights. [caption id="attachment_659669" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Sinclair / Destination NSW.[/caption] CYCLING COOMA TRAILS On the outskirts of Cooma lie 80 hectares of land known as North Ridge Reserve. Speckled with granite boulders, basket grass and bright wildflowers, including native bluebells, everlasting daisies and black anther flax lilies, it's a great spot for mountain bike riding. There's a variety of trails, offering something for everyone, from beginners to pros. And, if you're not keen on cycling, you can always walk. Whichever way you travel, the views are breathtaking — over Cooma, east towards the coast and west towards the Snowy Mountains. If you're looking for a coffee or a bite to eat in Cooma afterwards, head to The Lott Food Store. [caption id="attachment_659675" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW.[/caption] WALKING THROUGH YARRANGOBILLY CAVES The oldest of these limestone spectacles, found in the northern section of Kosciuszko National Park, was formed millions of years ago. Several are accessible by self-guided tour, including the biggest, South Glory, where a 500-metre trail passes vast chambers like the dazzling white Ice Age Chamber, stunning rock formations and a natural skylight 55 metres above the ground. Other caves to check out include Jillabenan, covered in delicate cave coral, stalactites and helictites, as well as Jersey Cave, whose extraordinary grey and black flowstone was created by bushfires thousands of years ago. Round out your visit with a swim in Yarrangobilly thermal pool, which is a toasty 27 degree celsius all year round. [caption id="attachment_658614" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Facebook / Heli Fun.[/caption] TAKING A SCENIC FLIGHT IN A HELICOPTER Regardless of whether you've skied, snowboarded, hiked, cycled or paddled the Snowy Mountains, a scenic flight will give you a whole new perspective. Heli Fun will take you soaring above Australia's highest peaks, including Mount Kosciuszko, Mount Townsend and the Ramshead Ranges — make sure you look out for wild brumbies and familiar landmarks, such as Thredbo ski fields as you're flying high. Choose between 30-minute and 60-minute trips or a speedy ten-minute swoop over Lake Jindabyne. For an even more exciting adventure, book a wilderness picnic. Your pilot will take you on a one-hour jaunt, before leaving you in the middle of nowhere with a gourmet picnic and bottle of sparkling. [caption id="attachment_659674" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW.[/caption] GOING WINE (AND BEER AND SCHNAPPS) TASTING The Snowies' wines might not be as well known as those of the Yarra Valley or McLaren Vale, but there's no shortage of decent drops to try. If you're into beer, get started at Kosciuszko Brewery at the Banjo Paterson Inn in Jindabyne. From there, head to Snowy Vineyard Estate in Dalgety, where Dalgety Brewing Company serves up a variety of ales, including pale, golden and red, as well as a selection of wines. On the other side of the mountain lies Tumbarumba cool climate wine region, which specialises in chardonnay and pinot noir. It's easy to spend an afternoon in the lush, Italy-inspired grounds of Tumbarumba Wine Escape and Courabyra is worth a visit, too. Discover all that the Snowy Mountains has to offer outside of winter months, from jam-packed adventures to culinary excursions and so much more.
It's no secret that tequila goes hand-in-hand with good nights out with the crew, particularly come summertime. It's the time of year when you want to get out and see what's happening in Sydney, kick back with a cocktail at a harbourside bar and go out for a decadent feast with friends. To help you celebrate Sydney summer this year, tequila slinger Patrón has popped up across the CBD, meaning you can have a cheeky afternoon margarita at the Argyle, kick back at an outdoor pop-up bar at the MCA after seeing an exhibition or opt for a summery tequila tipple at Quay Bar before settling in for a long, lavish feed in the evening. But, with all these fun times (and cocktails), your wallet may start to feel the pinch. That's why we're giving you the chance to score dinner for you and your best mates — or take the fam for extra brownie points — at one of the CBD's top Mexican restaurants and tequila bars: Bar Patrón. Better yet, it's worth a cool $500. The sleek restaurant and bar by Patrón and Rockpool Dining Group is a temple of tacos and tequila. Food-wise, you'll be tucking into dishes like beef empanadas, chicken tostadas, spicy king prawns and tacos topped with lobster, fried fish or al pastor with pineapple. For drinks, tequila is the main go-to, from your standard margarita to twists on old classics — old-fashioned or espresso martini — made with tequila. So, expect to leave satisfied, and suitably soused. To be in the running, enter your details below. [competition]753606[/competition]
Redfern Surf Club's weekly trivia is getting the heat turned up with a special r-rated edition to mark the most loved-up day in the calendar. With the weekly test of knowledge falling on Valentine's Day, the Botany Road bar is spicing things up with an evening that's promised to turn a little NSFW. The trivia is open to all — not just couples, so whether you're looking for something fun to do with your long-term partner, venturing out on a V-Day first date or just getting your best buds together for a Tuesday-night bev, it's a must-attend if you're keen to flex your horny energy and competitive spirit. On top of saucy questions flying at you as part of this special Valentine's Day trivia, there will also be cocktail specials and the regular cheap Tuesday meal deal which includes a classic burger from the bar's menu plus a side for $15. The trivia is free to play and there will be prizes for the winners, just make sure you book a table to ensure you nab a spot. Plus, the neighbourhood bar is dog-friendly so you can bring your four-legged pals in case there's any questions about boning. [caption id="attachment_684554" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patrick Stevenson[/caption]
Home to plenty of Sydney's craft brewers, the city's inner west is now also home to a trial that will allow microbreweries to open as bars. In good news for outfits such as Young Henrys, Wayward Brewing, Malt Shovel, Grifter Brewing and Batch Brewing Company, a new type of liquor authorisation will be available to craft brewers in the area from September. Applicable across a range of boozy beverages — beer, spirits, liqueurs and cider — it'll enable them to serve drinks as if they were a small bar. They'll have to abide by a patron limit of 100 people per establishment, as well as a requirement to make food available. "Microbreweries don't neatly fit into traditional liquor licence categories, so there's a need to develop a new model suited to them," said New South Wales Minister for Racing Paul Toole. "The rising popularity of boutique and craft beers, ciders, spirits and liqueurs is creating new demand for enjoying drinks produced on the premises. A lot of people like the concept of being able to sample high-quality locally made drinks and speak directly with the passionate experts who produce them." If the trial is successful over the next 12 months in the Inner West Council area, it could be rolled out across the city and the state. The area was chosen because it boasts the highest density of microbreweries not only in Sydney, but in Australia. Via Sydney Morning Herald.
Want to experience a slice of Jamaica in Sydney? There's a rum-fuelled adventure happening in Sydney over November and December you should lock into your diary. Fine purveyors and makers of rum for over 265 years, Appleton Estate have launched The Appleton Trail in Sydney, three weekends of rum-tasting, storytelling and celebration of Jamaica's long-loved spirit. After Paddington's Village Inn and before the final stop at Taylor's Rooftop in the city, the final stop of The Appleton Trail will be at Sweethearts Rooftop Barbecue in Kings Cross. Like the other stops on the Trail, expect a Jamaican-themed pop-up hideaway with specially-created rum cocktails, paired with Jamaican food, and hosted by a Jamaican dancer — all to make you feel like you’re finally on that well-deserved island holiday. There'll even be a Jamaican music DJ on both nights, who'll be accompanied by a steel drum player on the Friday night. You'll be able to try the Appleton Estate Signature Blend – the original Appleton Estate rum — alongside the Reserve Blend, Rare Blend 12 Year Old, 21 Year Old Jamaica Rum and 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum – the world’s oldest barrel-aged rum. Plus, Appleton have taken it upon themselves to create four signature cocktails for the event. If it’s refreshment you’re after, try The Grand Discovery with Appleton Estate Signature Blend, white peach, fresh lime and almond flavours. For something a little more berry-infused, The Trail Less Travelled combines Appleton Estate Signature Blend, pomegranate and cranberry juice, with fresh lemon and cherry. As well as the cocktails, Sweethearts will also have some additions to their menu just for the occasion — think Jamaican jerk chicken burgers and jerk chicken wings — so arrive hungry. The event will start on Friday at 6pm and 4pm on Saturday for those looking to maximise tropical rum times.
A teenager runs away with her best friend. Her distraught parents search for her. A retired detective lends a hand — and the situation he uncovers is both quite ordinary and a little bit odd. If there's one thing that Looking for Grace recognises, it's that daily life can be equally routine and strange. A tense scenario can have a lighter side. Stress can turn to laughter. In dramatic circumstances, people don't always know how to behave. No one — not the eponymous Grace (Odessa Young), her pal Sappho (Kenya Pearson), mother Denise (Radha Mitchell), father Dan (Richard Roxburgh) or former cop Tom (Terry Norris) — really knows what they're doing, particularly after the girls and a secret stash of cash goes missing. Trekking across Western Australia to attend a concert, Grace is happy flirting with a charismatic traveller (Harry Richardson), though Sappho is less content being the third wheel. At home, Denise tries to remain calm, while Dan is distracted by the affair he's been trying but failing to have with an employee (Tasma Walton). Their individual tales are offered up in chapters, splitting the broader narrative into separate but interlocking strands. Some details are revealed early, with Grace's section served up first, while other inclusions — the brief segment focusing on truck driver Bruce (Myles Pollard), for example — only become significant once all the pieces have been put together. Such fragmentation may help extend an otherwise slight effort, but it proves the least convincing aspect of the film. Thankfully, the feature's structure also highlights its strengths: the characters, the multitude of realistic reactions to their various predicaments, and the fine-tuned performances of the actors who play them. Indeed, Looking for Grace works best both as a series of character studies and as a showcase for the talents of its key cast. Writer/director Sue Brooks fleshes out the former more than the slender story might seem to indicate, and benefits from the latter, especially where the trio of Young, Roxburgh and Mitchell are involved. Young sells a crucial mix of confidence and restlessness, while Roxburgh ensures his troubled everyman never comes across as pathetic, even when Looking for Grace veers into suburban parody. Often caught between the two, the pitch-perfect Mitchell proves the feature's standout player, as well as a weathervane for its mood and fortunes. When she's hitting the mark, so is the film. Elsewhere, Brooks continues the love affair with the Australian landscape she started in 1997's Road to Nhill and furthered in 2003's Japanese Story. In fact, cinematographer Katie Milwright's dusty visuals provide the perfect counterpoint to the helmer's fondness for stylisation, with Looking for Grace also an exercise in contrasts. Brooks frequently layers conflicting elements over the top of each other, such as jaunty music over sparse images, to ensure the clash of the usual and the not so is always apparent. The movie veers in tone as a result, sometimes jarringly so — but just like life, it works much more often than it doesn't.
Fresh from winning the 2020 Australian Music Prize for their latest album, The Avalanches are hitting the road and bringing the acclaimed sounds of We Will Always Love You to Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. Between late April and the end of May, the beloved Australian electronic act will be touring the east coast and doing one of the things it does best: filling live music venues with its inimitable sample-based tunes. If you haven't seen Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi do their thing live, you're in for a treat. If you have, you'll know what you're in for. Either way, you'll hear tracks from the group's latest record — which features MGMT, Rivers Cuomo, Denzel Curry, Johnny Marr, Neneh Cherry, Perry Farrell, Karen O, Mick Jones, Sampa the Great, Tricky and more, and released last December — and, obviously, tunes from 2000's iconic Since I Left You and 2016's Wildflower, too. The tour kicks off in Melbourne on Friday, April 23, which isn't actually new news. In fact, that show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl — The Avalanches' first live gig since releasing We Will Always Love You — is basically sold out, with just private deck tickets still available. If you're in Brisbane, though, you'll want to mark Friday, April 30 in your diary. And, for Sydneysiders, you'll need to block out Thursday, May 27. The Avalanches will play the Brisbane Riverstage in the Queensland capital, and Enmore Theatre in NSW — with pre-sale tickets going up for grabs from 10am local time on Wednesday, March 24, and general public sales hitting at the same time on Thursday, March 25. If you now have perhaps the biggest and best Australian-made earworm of the past two decades stuck in your head — that'd be 'Frontier Psychiatrist' — that's understandable. Expect it to live there for at least a few days. And if you're now looking forward to a big live gig after a lean year for music fans, that falls into the same category. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvZpn322LxE THE AVALANCHES 2021 EAST COAST TOUR DATES Melbourne — Friday, April 23 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl Brisbane — Friday, April 30 at the Brisbane Riverstage Sydney — Thursday, May 27 at the Enmore Theatre Pre-sale tickets for The Avalanches' Brisbane and Sydney shows go on sale at 10am local time on Wednesday, March 24, with general public sales hitting at the same time on Thursday, March 25. Visit the tour website to sign up for pre-sale and for further details. Top image: Grant Spanier.
It's harvest time at Urban Winery Sydney, and owner Alex Retief is inviting locals to get in on the wine-making action. Every Saturday and Sunday, from March 9–31, you'll be able to help the newly picked grapes begin their transformation into wine by joining on the grape stomping. Jump right in to big tubs of the stuff and get your hands (and feet) dirty — the way European winemakers have been doing it for centuries. Apart from the main stomping event, the day will also include a tour of the facility, accompanied by a guided wine tasting of drops served directly from tanks and barrels, showcasing different stages of maturation. There will also be a charcuterie and cheese grazing platter to share, and each guest will take home a bottle of wine by Retief, too. We reckon the complete package makes the $100 ticket price worth it. The 90-minute sessions will take place at 11am and 1pm every Saturday and Sunday during the four-week harvest season. To book, head to the Urban Winery website.
It doesn't get much better than sinking a few tinnies with your mates on a long weekend, just a stone's throw from the harbour. Plus, if each bevvy only sets you back a gold coin, you'd be absolutely laughing. The folks at The Australian Heritage Hotel are here to ensure you have a good time this upcoming January long weekend. The longstanding Sydney pub will be slinging $2 VB and Hawke's Lager tinnies from Saturday, January 25 to Monday, January 27. All you have to do is make like a magpie and swoop to the bar whenever you hear the bell, as the offer will be up for grabs for 15 minutes only, each time it rings. If VB and Hawke's doesn't tickle your fancy, never fear, as The Aussie has more than 130 craft beers on offer, plus Pimm's on tap all weekend. There'll also be a 4 Pines terrace, where you'll find giant Jenga and five of the brewery's beers on tap. And, to line the stomach, a range of food specials will be on offer as well as the pub's usual fare. Entertainment-wise, you can catch the Australian Open matches on huge outdoor screens across the three days. On the Saturday, Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown will be blaring throughout the pub, while on the Monday, you can celebrate your extra day off by kicking back to some live tunes. [caption id="attachment_757569" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] Images: Steven Woodburn and Alana Dimou.
Taking over the Red Rattler on Friday, August 14, multimedia performance art show Transductions is a convergence of some of the "nerve centres of energy arts". The finale of the Energies in the Arts conference taking place at the MCA and UNSW Art & Design, it brings together Berlin-based UK artist Martin Howse and local performers Pia van Gelder and Peter Blamey, in a creative investigation of the misuse of technology and its connections to the earth and the human psyche. At the artistic vortex of 'psychogeophysics', Howse's work receives and extracts hidden information from the earth and fungal matter through DIY circuits and chemical reactions. "Synaesthetic manipulator of micro-currents" Van Gelder opens up custom-built and common devices to perform in new ways, while Blamey reinterprets everyday technologies through mystical hacking and earth circuits. In layperson's terms, that all translates to a lot of spooky visuals, eerie experimental soundscapes, and a bridging of the divisions between the organic and the digital. Get your tickets on the door. Open to all the curious.
After attracting more than 10,000 visitors to its first edition at Barangaroo last year, Blak Markets' National Indigenous NAIDOC Art Fair is back. This time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from all over Australia will take over Circular Quay's Overseas Passenger Terminal for two days with a visual feast of paintings, sculptures, textiles and accessories. Expect to see artworks representing more than 20 remote centres — from the Tiwi Islands' Munupi Arts to Tjungu Palya Arts of South Australia's Nyapari Community. Throughout the weekend, more than 30 stalls will be peddling artworks, jewellery, gifts, homewares and Indigenous food and drinks. In between wandering the stalls, try some authentic bush tucker from Indigenous food stalls including paperbark-smoked blackfish from Mirritya Mundya and kangaroo pie from Meat Brothers. You can also immerse yourself in the creative process at one of many workshops and demos. There'll be bush tucker cooking with Aunty Beryl Van Oploo (Gardeners Lodge Cafe) and Jody Orcher (Shared Knowledge), mesmerising weaving collaborations with some of Australia's most skilled weavers and Albert Namatjira-style watercolour demos with the Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre. Plus, Warmun artist Marika Riley will share her skills in the medium of ochre, demonstrating how to grind and mix it into paints. In keeping with the 2018 NAIDOC theme of 'because of her, we can', the fair will be soundtracked by an epic all-female lineup of live musicians. Listen out for The Stiff Gins, Mi-Kaisha, Maddison Lyn and Rebecca Hatch (2017 Triple J Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative Winner). Plus, there will be performances by Wagana Aboriginal Dancers and Redfern Dance Company, with a closing ceremony with Ngambaa Dhalaay. The National Indigenous NAIDOC Art Fair will take place between 10am–5pm on Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1. Free entry for all visitors. For more info, visit the website. Image: Lyndsay Urquhart
Since Australia's COVID-19 restrictions started coming into place, everyone's weekend brunch plans have changed significantly. If you're still hankering for cafe-style smashed avo on toast, though, Sydney's Sonoma Bakery is here to help — all thanks to its new 'smashed avo at home' brunch packs. Teaming up with Australian Avocados, the bakery and cafe chain's packs come with a half-loaf of Sonoma's signature miche bread, two avocados and one small tub of spicy seed mix. You've had smashed avo enough to know what you need to do next — and you can now do just that in your own kitchen. The packs cost $15, and can be ordered via Bopple, with Sonoma open from 7am–2pm every day over the Easter long weekend. If you spend $20 in total on your order and you live within four kilometres of one of Sonoma's bakeries in Alexandria, Bondi, Leichhardt, Manly, Rose Bay, Waterloo and Woollahra, you can get it delivered for $10, too. Otherwise, you can also head in and pick up your brunch staple. While we all know what you'll be getting out of Sonoma's 'smashed avo at home' brunch packs (it's right there in the name), your purchase will also help support Aussie avocado farmers. Usually, they'd have no trouble supplying their fruit to the restaurant and cafe industry; however with folks now staying home and eateries only open for takeaway and delivery — if at all — that's definitely not the case at present. For further information about Sonoma Bakery's 'smashed avo at home' brunch packs, visit the chain's website. CORRECTION: APRIL 14, 2020 — This article previously stated that delivery of Sonoma's smashed avo at home packs was free, this is incorrect. Delivery is $10 and available within a four-kilometre radius. The above article has been updated to reflect this. If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
Spend a cruisy Saturday evening listening to acoustic songs and staring at Sydney Harbour thanks to Cockatoo Island's sunset sessions. Every Saturday until May 26, you'll be able to listen to music as well as stories from the performing artists. Venue 505 has curated the lineup, so you know you're in for an ace run of talent. Sets start at 5.30pm, but we recommend heading over to the island early to take a walk through the Biennale of Sydney. You don't want to miss Ai Weiwei's huge inflatable installation. And, if the combination great music and gorgeous views gets your stomach grumbling, Don Tapa from the island's pop-up hotel Contained will be on-hand with snacks.
The members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs really do get around. It appears that every single one of them has a slew of side projects under their belts, throwing your own talentless musical fumbling into stark relief. Now, for this year’s Sydney Festival, one third of the YYYs, guitarist Nick Zinner, bring his latest and most ambitious project, 41 Strings, to the Sydney Opera House for all to envy. In response to the 41st anniversary of Earth Day in 2011, Zinner composed what is one part classical concerto and another part rock and roll, complete with a generous dosage of drums and synths. The piece, which premiered in New York last year, takes inspiration from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, following the flux and change of the year’s seasons in both brooding and ecstatic measures. The Australian premiere sees Zinner joined on stage with co-collaborators, Hisham Akira Bharoocha and Ben Vida, both of whom form the experimental New York-based duo Soft Circle. The string ensemble is rounded out with members of the Australian Youth Orchestra, and will be accompanied by visuals projected onto the roof of the Concert Hall from video artist Daniel Askill. 41 Strings will also be played alongside a companion piece IIII, a drum circle also based on the Four Seasons, lead by Bharoocha who will be the centre of a thunderous twenty drummers.
What began as the bustling backdrop to a thriving port has, over the past years, been transformed into a touristy dream - a place to buy commemorative fridge magnets and designer handbags. Despite the rich colonial setting, there’s was something not quite right about The Rocks in days gone by. But initiatives like The Rocks Pop-Up Project are fixing that, and the precinct has once again become a hub of progression and development. Four of Sydney’s most beautiful heritage buildings will, for the next 6 months, become home to Sydney’s most creative, vibrant and innovative businesses. The opportunity will be extended to a selection of artistans - from retailers to musicians, artists to designers - providing a variety of spaces that can be utilised by different businesses including office space as well as event space for small-scale performances and happenings. The hope of the project is to re-energise The Rocks as a business district, attracting a cast of boutique designers who have traditionally found a home in the Eastern Suburbs. The first crop includes fashion designers Mae & Pearl, Magdalena Duma, Son of a Master Tailor, artist Ping Lian Yeak, and collectives The Red Room Company and Gaffa. The space will evolve over the next six months, offering something new every time you visit.
Newtown's ultimate pub crawl is back for its third year. On Sunday, September 10, 40 venues between Missenden Road and St Peters Station will welcome over 100 music acts through their doors, for a day-long party in the inner west. Participating in this year's event is a motley lineup of Newtown favourites, from bars and pubs to restaurants and cafes, plus record stores and venues that specialise in live music. And despite the name, it's not just King Street that gets to have all the fun, with stalwarts on Erskineville and Enmore Roads getting in on the action too. As for the entertainment, expect a who's who from the local music scene, with the likes of Abbe May, The Tamborine Girls and World Champion, amongst many others, set to play.
If pastel wasn't already part of your gig-going wardrobe, it will be at Australia's newest music festival, with Client Liaison's Expo Liaison touring the country in August. Announced back in May, the seven-hour event will hit Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane across August 18–26, and the headlining duo will have quite the company. Alongside a roster of eight other acts, the duo's own set will also feature John Farnham. Alice Ivy, Ken Davis, Kon, Luke Million featuring KLP, No Zu, Rainbow Chan and Total Giovanni are all on the bill, plus John Howard doing a DJ set. Whether that's John Howard the former prime minister, John Howard the Aussie actor or just some other guy called John Howard, well, your guess is as good as ours — but Triple j are reporting that it's the former. As for the kind of vibe that's in store, the curated event has fest badged "a multimedia, multi-city, multiversal experience" in its promotional material, as well as a "once-in-a-lifetime event". They're the kind of descriptions that plenty of gigs and fests throw around, but Client Liaison have a track record of delivering more than just the usual shows — or fashion lines or music videos, for that matter. Tickets are currently on sale across all four cities, and if you're keen to hear the duo's own thoughts on the festival, check out the Expo Liaison trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgSsrdVHnh0&feature=youtu.be Expo Liaison heads to Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on August 18, Sydney's Parramatta Park on August 25 and Brisbane's Victoria Park on August 26. Head to Client Liaison's website for further details and to buy tickets.
Unfortunately for many Sydneysiders, the defining aspect of theatre is not the spellbinding performances but the daunting price tag. With tickets for Sydney's big theatre venues sometimes costing towards the three-figure mark, Sydney theatre, unlike its more government-subsidised European counterparts, can be derided as a middle-class luxury. Yet fear not oh beleaguered theatre buff, as the Sydney Theatre Company is doing their little bit to make Sydney's top-line theatre more accessible. The company announced today that, thanks to a new partnership with Suncorp, they are now offering $20 tickets to every show. That includes Cate Blanchett's highly anticipated return to the Sydney stage in The Maids, the pairing of Tim Minchin and Toby Schmitz in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Hugo Weaving and Richard Roxburgh for Waiting For Godot. This initiative has been a labour of love for STC's co-artistic directors Blanchett and Andrew Upton, who have spent their five-year tenure searching for a sponsor to make theatre tickets more affordable. The partnership is set to run for two years, with the Suncorp Twenties tickets going on sale each Tuesday at 9am for the following week's performances. There is no transaction fee and tickets are sold in twos. The first lot of tickets will go on sale on May 14 for Joanna Murray-Smith's STC-commissioned family drama, Fury. For other sources of discounted theatre tickets, see our complete guide.
When the Bondi Short Film Festival started in 2001, creator Francis Coady thought it was pretty insane that his young filmmaker friends had missed out on entering other film festivals in Sydney because the films had already screened in other Australian states. He was right! Indie film watchers don’t care if what they’re seeing has already screened in Perth or Melbourne, they just want to experience something thought provoking, poignant, hilarious and beautiful, or that has Ryan Gosling in it. Twelve years on the Bondi Short Film Festival continues to screen cinematic Australian gems that fulfill almost all of these criteria and, while the power of the collective continues to endorse babeliciously quirky actors as the marker of a feature-length film's watchability, the quality of a BSFF one is determined only by captivating storylines and cinematography, brilliant music and set design and some of the best young acting talent in this country. The only restrictions the festival places on filmmakers is that entries must be less than 15 minutes long, making it a two-hour melting pot of powerful drama, quirky comedy, thought-provoking documentaries and stunning animation. Judging entries this year are Noni Hazlehurst, Christiaan Van Vuuren, Jessica Tovey, Kristy Best, Dr Ruth Harley, and Andrew McFarlane. All of these things will take place under the waterfront Bondi Pavilion, making the festival one of the finest ways to see in the summer. Concrete Playground has five double passes to give away to the matinee session of the Bondi Short Film Festival. To go in the running, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au.
It has been 64 years since Godzilla first rampaged across through Tokyo, and the super-sized creature isn't done wreaking havoc. Like comic book characters and Star Wars, the king of the monsters is a cinema mainstay — and it's asserting its place atop the kaiju food chain in the trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. If you haven't kept track of the Japanese figure's many, many screen appearances, this is its 35th. It's also the sequel to the last American-made Godzilla film, which hit screens back in 2014. Featuring an all-star cast of Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance and O'Shea Jackson Jr, the movie explores humanity's efforts not only against Godzilla, but against the huge critter's own beastly enemies: Mothra, Rodan and the three-headed King Ghidorah. Godzilla: King of the Monsters is due in cinemas on May 30, 2019 — and it'll be followed by another monster mashup in 2020's Godzilla vs. Kong. If the title didn't make it obvious, the latter also acts as a sequel to 2017's Kong: Skull Island. Starring Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler and Demián Bichir, and filming now, it's partly being shot in Queensland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LzbZMCJiLo&feature=youtu.be Image: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Vivid Sydney is in full swing, and while you're planning which talks to see, figuring out where to catch a glimpse of the lights and checking which gigs still have tickets going, you're probably figuring out a strategic drinking and dining plan too. The bulk of the light installations will again be set up around Circular Quay, which, with the addition of the Gateway dining precinct, has a much richer food situation this year with Chat Thai, Popina, Messina and an actually decent food court. And just to ensure you don't go hungry, a market dedicated entirely to desserts has popped up. After launching last weekend, the Milk 'n' Sugar market will return this Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 for revellers craving something sweet during Vivid. Opening up from 6pm in the Overseas Passenger Terminal, the market will be hocking kurtosh ice cream cones, Nutie's gluten-free doughnuts, glow in the dark fairy floss, 'waffle pops' from Sugar High Desserts and more. You should probably skip dinner. The market will run as part of The Artistry Festival, which will combine live art and music. The Milk 'n' Sugar market will take place in the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay on June 2 and 3 from 6–11pm. For more information, visit the theartistryfestival.com.
On March 9, (in)famous American filmmaker John Waters will make the Opera House his stage and allow Sydney audiences a glimpse into his witty, sometimes seedy, frequently outrageous take on popular culture. This Filthy World Vol. 2 is a one-man show covering a smorgasbord of topics including childhood memories, fashion lunacy, sexual deviancy, exploitation film and Catholicism. The Sydney date comes on top of his already announced Adelaide Festival appearance on March 6 and his Melbourne stop on March 10. Once christened 'The Pope of Trash' by William S. Burroughs, the Baltimore-native proves quite the raconteur. Reviewing his live show, the LA Times noted he "never seems to tire of wallowing in the dregs of pop culture, but his love of campy sex and tabloid mayhem is married with an intense appreciation for literature, history and high art". Unfamiliar with Waters and his trademark pencil moustache? He became a cult figure in US indie cinema for his notoriously subversive, filth-embracing 1972 film Pink Flamingos. By the late '80s he entered slightly more commercial territory with Hairspray, later remade into the 2007 film starring the somewhat less subversive, filth-embracing Zac Efron (although, you never know). Waters himself says, "It’s hard to offend three generations, but it looks like I’ve succeeded.” Want to join the offended hordes? Tickets go on sale on Monday, November 18, at 9am. This Filthy World Vol. 2 is on at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House on Sunday, March 9, at 5pm.
If you haven't already heard, Sydney will play host to the first Global Cities After Dark forum, held in collaboration with the Electronic Music Conference and Amsterdam Night Mayor Mirik Milan this November. Now, the one-day event's inaugural speaker lineup has been announced, promising a thought-provoking program led by night culture specialists from across the globe. The invite-only forum, to be held on November 28, will give local leaders and planners the chance to score valuable insights from international experts, which in turn will hopefully instigate some positive changes to Sydney's own troubled nightlife culture. Global Cities After Dark will feature inspiring keynotes from five overseas visitors, with Mirik Milan joined by the likes of Lutz Leichsenring of Berlin non-profit The Creative Footprint, who'll discuss indexing the artistic landscape of urban spaces, and consultant psychiatrist and CEO of Global Drug Survey Adam Winstock, who will chat about health and wellbeing in night culture, and striving for zero harm. Meanwhile, a Sydney at Night panel discussion led by guests from City of Sydney and Create NSW will explore new initiatives in development. There'll also be a range of expert sessions hosted by the likes of Icebergs' Maurice Terzini, Animals Dancing's Andee Frost and SLAM's Helen Marcou, which will delve into specific aspects of night culture, including food and housing creativity. Describing his involvement in the event as 'a dream come true', Milan explains that "by sharing ideas for a safe and vibrant nightlife, it empowers bottom-up initiatives after dark that contribute to and strengthen creative cities around the world". You can read our chat with Milan on how to build a nightlife-friendly city here. The forum will return to Sydney each November for the next three years. GLOBAL CITIES AFTER DARK 2017 LINEUP Adam Winstock, Global Drug Survey Andee Frost, Animals Dancing Andreina Seijas, Harvard Graduate School of Design Anne Loxley, C3 West Anne Malloch, City of Melbourne Baby Guerrilla, Artist Barrie Barton, Right Angle Studio Brett Robinson, Icebergs Group Chris Raine, Hello Sunday Morning Clare Holland, FBi Radio Declan Lee, Gelato Messina Dr Caitlin Hughes, National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre Emily Collins, Music NSW Glen Cassidy, Cake Wines Helen Marcou, Bakehouse Studios / Save Live Australia Music (SLAM) Jemma Cole, Soft Centre Jess Scully, City of Sydney Joel Edmondson, Q Music Kate Becker, Office of Film & Music City of Seattle Kees Dorst, UTS Kevin Nuttall, Waterfield Kirsty Rivers, Creative Victoria Libby Harris, City of Sydney Lutz Leichsenring, Berlin Clubcommission/The Creative Footprint Marie-Louise Theile, James Street Initiative Maurice Terzini, Icebergs Group Mirik Milan, Night Mayor of Amsterdam Sarah Barron, MCA Simon Shaw, Capstone Collective Tyson Koh, Keep Sydney Open Image: Yaya Stempler.
Each year as the end of January rolls around, there's one important decision that must be made: Where are you going to listen to the Hottest 100? Whether you get fully wrapped up in the countdown or you're just tuning in to complain about how it was better back when you were 18, the annual day-long journey of the year's democratically-anointed best songs always ends up providing a great backdrop to whatever you're up to. While backyard cricket and poolside beers are often the go-to accompaniment for the day's tunes, one Sydney venue is suggesting a different setting — The Taphouse's bright and bustling rooftop bar. Formerly a more serious watering hole dedicated to craft beers and Sunday roasts, The Taphouse reopened in 2023 under the guidance of Applejack Hospitality (RAFI, Forrester's, The Butler) with a fresh fit-out and nostalgic menu that takes inspiration from classic suburban Chinese restaurants. As part of the rejuvenation, the rooftop bar was also given a facelift, returning as a breezy hangout spot. And that's where The Taphouse will be hosting its Hottest 100 party on Saturday, January 27. Snag a spot up above the streets of Darlinghurst and enjoy a roster of moreish share plates and refreshing bevs as Triple J rolls through the hits of 2023. You can pair countdown entries from Kylie Minogue, Royel Otis, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo with salt and pepper oyster mushrooms, roast duck plates, wok-fried mud crab and barbecue pork buns. Craft beer enthusiasts will be pleased that despite its new owners, The Taphouse still has a hefty roster of brews on offer, including Mountain Culture Status Quo, Grifter Serpents Kiss, Hawke's Patio Ale and long necks of Tsingtao. There will also be frosé and frozen gin coladas available on the daily, alongside the venue's usual roster of wines and cocktails. Even better, $1 for every cocktail purchased on the day will be donated to Headspace — so you can feel good about ordering a Szechuan margarita or miso old fashioned. Top image: Steven Woodburn
Home to an enviable beachfront view, North Bondi Fish is bringing back its legendary Bondi Bottomless sessions as the sunny days stretch into autumn. From this stunning vantage point perched just above the shore, a sun-soaked feast is on the agenda every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm. Expect fresh seafood, free-flowing drinks and crowd-pleasing DJ beats. [caption id="attachment_993297" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Priced at $95 per person, on the menu at this boozy long lunch are tantalising options like salted fish fritters, baked scallops, XO butter, Hibachi market fish skewers, and calamari and chips. Then, bottomless house beer, wine and prosecco will go down a treat, as you soak up your front-row seat to the iconic Bondi Beach. If you're keen to take this weekend get-together to the next level, you're invited to upgrade to the cocktail package for an extra $30pp. Spanning classic and creative cocktails, your 90-minute feast gets even better with classic and spicy margaritas, minty-fresh mojitos and a seasonal spritzes that change from session to session. [caption id="attachment_993296" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Of Oliver[/caption] Top image: Of Oliver
Over the past six months, Fleabag picked up six Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes, becoming the most-acclaimed TV comedy of the past year. Sadly, that isn't enough to inspire Phoebe Waller-Bridge to make more episodes of the hit show — but for everyone lamenting the Fleabag-sized hole in their lives, the multi-talented Brit has a new project landing soon. She has a couple, actually. Waller-Bridge helped write the script for upcoming Bond flick No Time to Die, which is no small feat. If you're keen to see her on-screen, however, then you'll want to add Run to your must-watch pile. Waller-Bridge executive produces and pops up among the cast, with Vicky Jones — the director of her Fleabag stage show, and a script editor on Fleabag's first TV season — writing and producing the series. Hitting HBO in the US in mid-April, with release dates Down Under yet to be revealed, Run spends time with ex-lovers Ruby Richardson (Unbelievable's Merritt Wever) and Billy Johnson (Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker's Domhnall Gleeson). They dated in college and, 17 years ago, they made a pact. First, one of them has to text the word 'run' whenever they feel like it. Next, the other has to respond the same way. After that, they both have to drop everything, step away from their everyday lives and meet at Grand Central Station, then travel across the America together. For Ruby, that means escaping her monotonous existence and leaving her husband (Mad Men's Rich Sommer) at home. As for what happens next, the just-released first trailer gives a sneak peek. Expect plenty of chatty train trips, as well as both tension and laughs — with HBO badging the series as a romantic-comedy thriller. And if you're wondering about Waller-Bridge, she plays Laurel, a woman who Ruby and Billy meet on their journey. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=_jwEiXdJGKM&feature=emb_logo Run starts screening in the US from Sunday, April 12, with air dates Down Under yet to be announced — we'll update you when local details come to hand. Image: Ken Woroner/HBO.
In Tammy, what you see is what you get — even if you have seen it all before. A road-trip odd-couple coming-of-age comedy, Melissa McCarthy's latest effort drives down familiar routes in search of revelations and raucousness but does little more than warmly ride through the usual cliches of its genre. McCarthy's titular character is a picture of immaturity, escaping her blue collar, Middle America problems after a day from hell that leaves her car wrecked, her employment terminated, and her husband (Nat Faxon) with another woman (Toni Collette). Despite protests from her mother (Allison Janney), she takes to the highway with her fun-loving, Cadillac-owning grandmother, Pearl (Susan Sarandon). Mismatched travelling companions with individual scores to settle, they set out on a jovial jaunt, but find more than frivolity on their journey. Tackling troubles en route to a far-flung destination has been the premise of many manchild-focused movies, as recent features Due Date and The Guilt Trip have shown. While Tammy appropriates typically male traits in a gender role reversal, even its central swap is absent originality. Indeed, McCarthy's own Identity Thief followed the same formula barely a year ago. Alas, in Tammy, McCarthy's seeming ambition to ape Zach Galifianakis' similar output continues. Even when writing her own roles — here with director Ben Falcone — she copies stereotypes rather than carves out her own niche. Her aims in broadening the representation of women on screen are admirable; her methods are less so. Despite her slapstick skill, she rarely serves up anything other than the same imitative effort. Tammy's derivation doesn't stop there, nor does its squandering of its cast. With Sarandon involved, the girl's own gambit also borrows from Thelma and Louise as it ambles through a checklist of cartoonish tropes. Tammy and Pearl cycle through liaisons with men (Gary Cole and Mark Duplass) they meet along the way, fall afoul of the law, and reunite with long-lost relatives (Kathy Bates and Sandra Oh). Of the supports, Bates makes the best of scarce opportunities in an offering that's as much McCarthy's passion project as it is her star vehicle. And yet, though the comedy and characters clearly spring from all that has come before, the feature sparkles with sincerity. Missives of the self — esteem, worth and discovery — are as common as most of the film's content; however, Tammy never feels anything other than earnest. First-time filmmaker Falcone may assemble everything together in tonally bland and comically mistimed packaging, his visuals devoid of texture and his scenes lingering too long, but his affection for his lead and narrative shines through. In its generic compilation, Tammy may lack its desired humour, but it does boast customary helpings of heart and hopefulness. https://youtube.com/watch?v=K8a3TOhVA3c
Broadway Sydney, previously known as the place students go to kill time between classes, has undergone a $55 million redevelopment. The part of the shopping centre that has been hidden behind scaffolding for the past twelve months (level two), is open for business as of this morning, and it's set to transform the centre into a city shopping destination. Big retail names including H&M, Sephora and Victoria's Secret will appear alongside a new food court and a new focus on public art throughout the centre. Specialty coffee joint The Dutch Smuggler will appear, as will the famous handmade pork dumplings from Din Tai Fung. All the food court usuals like Guzman and Gomez, Grill'd and Chatime will be there too. [caption id="attachment_584874" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Dutch Smuggler[/caption] An exciting part of the re-development opens mid-September. Merchants of Ultimo, an Italian marketplace inspired by New York's Eataly, will feature a pizza station by the team from Da Mario, a dessert bar by an ex-Rockpool chef and a speciality coffee bar. The centre has also partnered with Art Pharmacy to introduce some local art to level two, and transform the space into an "open art gallery". An eclectic mix of modern Australian art will be permanently showcased inside and outside the Broadway building - from artists including illustrator Kate Banzai, furniture designer Vincent Buret, textiles artist Victoria Garcia.
If you're a vegetarian, worshipper of eggplant or just a keen home cook, chances are Yotam Ottolenghi has had some impact on your life. In fact, we bet you've got at least one of his bestselling cookbooks in your cupboard. In 2023, you'll be able to learn a few more tips and tricks from the renowned Israeli chef as he heads to Down Under for a speaking tour. The trailblazing chef, author, TV personality and restaurateur whose name has become its own cooking style is touring the country off the back of his book Ottolenghi Flavour, which builds on his love for innovative vegetable-based recipes — and his new Ottolenghi Test Kitchen title Extra Good Things, too. And yes, this'll sound familiar, as he was planning to head Down Under in 2021 and at the beginning of 2022, but we all know what got in the way. Yotam Ottolenghi — Flavour of Life will hit ICC Sydney for two shows at 3pm and 7pm on Sunday, January 22. As well as dishing up a few spicy secrets behind his mouthwatering hits (his miso butter onions and spicy mushroom lasagne are always favourites), the show will provide an opportunity to hear directly from the man himself about his influences and experiences. It also promises to delve into Ottolenghi's experience as the owner of famed London restaurants Nopi and Rovi, how he approached home cooking during the COVID-19 pandemic and how you can dial up the flavour in your own kitchen. And, chatting with author and broadcaster Alice Zaslavsky, expect Ottolenghi to discuss food pairings, next-level cooking methods and more. Plus, Ottolenghi and Zaslavsky will get cooking, using ingredients selected by each show's audience. Have a stash of burning questions for the chef? The speaking events will end with a Q&A.
Sometimes the weeks just fly by (is it almost April already?). But sometimes the work week can be a real slog. So, having a way to celebrate hitting the halfway mark is just what you need. And we've found just the thing. Woolloomooloo's longstanding waterside destination Otto Ristorante is teaming up with Tanqueray for a one-off fine dining experience celebrating all things botanical. The dinner will take place in the luxe Italian restaurant on Wednesday, March 27 from 6.30pm. Guests can enjoy four courses, each paired with a specially crafted gin cocktail. The degustation menu has been designed by Otto's bar manager Lukas Hardy and head chef Richard Ptacnik. Gin, and many other ingredients, will be used liberally in both the eats and the libations in order to provide a seamless culinary experience. You can expect to sip the likes of grapefruit-infused Tanqueray No. 10, the four-botanical London Dry Gin, the zesty Flor de Sevilla and the lime-based Rangpur. To start, there's a canapé of gnocco fritto (deep-fried Italian bread) served with salumi and a green olive sgroppino — an Italian-style cocktail featuring Flor de Sevilla Tanqueray, prosecco, green olive sorbet and charcoal salt. Next up, expect gin-cured salmon with caperberries and green olives served with a wet martini made with London Dry Gin, dry vermouth, fino sherry, orange bitters and more caperberries. For the main, you'll dig into herbed salt-crusted kingfish with two salads, paired with the Herbaceous Gimlet: olive oil-washed Tanqueray No. 10 with edible flowers, verjus (unripe grape juice), herbs and botanicals. And dessert is a passionfruit curd served with gin jelly and topped with coconut and gin ice cream. Finish off your meal with a specialty Tom Collins, which combines toasted coconut-washed Tanqueray Rangpur, lime leaf, passionfruit and sparkling coconut water. This lavish dinner will cost $175 all up, and bookings are essential. To book, head here. Image: Kitti Gould.
What is taught at schools, and how it's tested, is oft a topic of debate. A quick Google search will tell you that everyone from Richard Branson to Mark Wahlberg, Shannon Bennett to Aretha Franklin either failed at or dropped out of school. So, does the current system really work for all kids — or just those who are academically minded? At this Vivid Ideas talk, five of Australia's great minds will deep dive into the topic: are schools and society fostering or stifling imagination? And they're doing it in honour of another great mind: the great, late Australian journalist Mark Colvin. During Colvin's four-decade career he worked at the ABC Radio, Four Corners, Double J and Triple J and reported from pivotal events across the globe, including the Iranian hostage crisis and the aftermath of Rwanda's genocide. In the spirit of Colvin's unbridled curiosity, songstress Megan Washington, screenwriter and columnist Benjamin Law, Guardian Australia senior editor Lucy Clark — and author of Beautiful Failures: How the Quest for Success is Harming Our Kids — Professor Robyn Ewing AM and TV presenter Julia Zemiro will take to the stage to debate the current schooling system. It's rumoured that Washington, who'll be discussing how she found her voice through music, might even perform a song or two. The lively debate will be held at the City Recital Hall on Sunday, June 3 at 11.30am. To purchase tickets, head to the website.
He wrote, directed, financed and starred in the best worst movie ever made, showed up as himself in the enormously funny making-of dramatisation of his biggest flick, and re-teamed with his best-known co-star for a two-part comedy-thriller based on their friendship — and now, like he was always destined to, Tommy Wiseau is saying "oh hi" to space. Once again working with The Room and Best F(r)iends' Greg Sestero, the distinctive Wiseau has loaned his voice to animated sci-fi series SpaceWorld, with the pair playing rival intergalactic bounty hunters. If you're naturally thinking the obvious, the company behind it has already made the blatant comparison, with Octopie calling the show "what happens when you merge The Room with Star Wars". In SpaceWorld's nearly six-minute pilot episode, Wiseau's TX battles it out with Sestero's Drogol, who — continuing a trend across their work together — happens to be his lifelong nemesis. Created by Brock LaBorde, the debut clip is suitably bizarre, even with its clear self-referential tone. As Wiseau's career just keeps proving, that's just what happens when he pops up. LaBorde is no stranger to Wiseau's orbit, having produced, co-written and starred in the 2011–12 series The Tommy Wi-Show — where Wiseau was abducted by aliens, shuttled off to a base on the mood and made to play video games. In addition to his better-known work, including his involvement with The Disaster Artist, Wiseau is no stranger to on-screen weirdness either. If you've ever come across his 2014–16 sitcom The Neighbours, which is set in an apartment building and combines the exact storylines you'd expect with his inimitable style, then you'll know exactly how odd his work can get. Whether SpaceWorld will progress beyond its pilot is yet to be seen, although it's definitely not the worst thing on Wiseau's resume. Check out the first episode below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAv4ceFJH3U SpaceWorld is distributed by Octopie, and is currently available via its YouTube channel.
It wasn't just a Twitter thread — it was the Twitter thread. Whether you read Aziah 'Zola' King's viral 148-post stripper saga live as it happened back in October 2015, stumbled across the details afterwards as the internet lost its mind or only heard about it via Zola's buzzy trailer, calling this stranger-than-fiction tale a wild ride will always be an understatement. Its instantly gripping opening words, as also used in Janicza Bravo's (Lemon) savvy, sharp, candy-hued tweet-to-screen adaptation, happen to capture the whole OMG, WTF and OTT vibe perfectly: "you wanna hear a story about how me and this bitch fell out? It's kind of long, but it's full of suspense." In the film, that phrase is uttered aloud by Zola's eponymous Detroit waitress (Taylour Paige, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom). Still, the movie firmly embraces its origins. For those wondering how a filmmaker turns a series of tweets into a feature, Bravo handles the task with flair, energy, enthusiasm and a clear understanding of social media's role in our lives. Much of the phrasing that the real-life Zola used has made its way into the conversational script, which was co-written by playwright Jeremy O Harris. Each time that occurs, the film echoes with tell-tale swooshes, whistles and dings. But those words and alerts are just the starting point; as Zola's chaotic narrative unfurls, it comes to life with a mix of the hyperreal, the loose and the dreamy. It doesn't merely tell a tale taken from the tweetstorm to end all tweetstorms, but also uses every aesthetic choice it can to mirror the always-on, always-posing, always-sharing online realm. The other person that Zola refers to in her initial statement is the cornrow-wearing, blaccent-sporting Stefani (Riley Keough, The Lodge), who she serves at work, then joins on a jaunt to Florida. They immediately hit it off, which is what inspires the invite to head south — a "hoe trip" is how Zola describes it — however, what's meant to be a girls' getaway for a stint of lucrative exotic dancing in Tampa soon gets messy. The drive is long, and Stefani's boyfriend Derreck (Nicholas Braun, Succession) quickly dampens the mood with his awkward, try-hard schtick. Then there's X (Colman Domingo, Candyman), who, while introduced as Stefani's roommate, is actually her pimp. Trafficking Zola into sex work is the real plan of this working holiday, she discovers, but she's ferociously adamant that she won't be "poppin' pussy for pennies". As the woman both relaying and riding Zola's rollercoaster of a story, Paige is fierce and finessed. It's a tricky part; making the dialogue sound authentic, and also like it could've just been rattled off on social media with a mix of emojis and all caps, requires a precise tonal balance, for starters. So does ensuring that Zola always feels like a real person, especially given the tale's ups and downs. That said, Paige is guided by Bravo at every turn, with recognising how things play online and how they pan out in reality — and the frequent disconnection between the two — one of the filmmaker's biggest masterstrokes. That's exactly what a flick that's based on a Twitter thread should offer, rather than just mining posts for punchy content that's already proven popular. Using the platform as source material definitely doesn't equal an endorsement here. Instead, it sparks a brash and bouncy feature that interrogates its inspiration and the mechanism that turned it into a whirlwind, rather than serves up a cinematic retweet. Zola also draws upon David Kushner's Rolling Stone article 'Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted', because 148 tweets can't cover everything. Nonetheless, plenty of the film's success emanates from its almost-surreal 16mm imagery and its airy, eerie-scored atmosphere, too. Its namesake's early words aren't misleading: this is a narrative filled with suspense. The waves it surfs in its mood and stylistic decisions cause just as must jitteriness, though — in a fantastic way. Zola hangs together immaculately, and it constantly feels as if Bravo, cinematographer Ari Wegner (The Power of the Dog), editor Joi McMillon (If Beale Street Could Talk) and composer Mica Levi (Monos) could go anywhere. That's a powerhouse lineup of talent, after all, with the latter trio's resumes spanning some of the killer films of the past decade: Lady Macbeth, In Fabric, True History of the Kelly Gang, Moonlight, Under the Skin and Jackie all included. Alongside Paige, Zola's cast is equally impressive, even if it initially appears as if a few might simply stick to type. Keough could've stepped off of American Honey's set and onto this one, and not just because they're both road-trip movies, yet adds another tricky yet memorable performance to her filmography. Written into her character, and conveyed in her portrayal as well, is a dissection of cultural appropriation. Stefani acts like she's Black in lieu of forming her own identity, is wilfully ignorant of that fact while being openly racist, and provides a pinpoint-precise portrait of oblivious, exploitative, all-devouring whiteness. Similar ideas bubble through Braun's work as the gangly and bungling Derrek — a twist on his acclaimed Cousin Greg persona, but with far less cash — and the concept of adopting a part and facade also lingers in Colman's scarily compelling and icily charming efforts. These are layered performances, befitting the rich and multi-faceted film they're in. Nothing in any movie is ever just one thing, but Zola demonstrates that notion with commitment and command. It's there in the feature's bold approach, including its eagerness to unpack its genesis on several levels. It's there in the film's gleaming yet never glamorous appearance as well, which almost pitches itself into the world of fantasy while steadfastly recognising that nothing about its story is seductive or alluring. And, it echoes in the tiniest of choices. Take an early moment, in a bathroom, where both Zola and her new pal take a leak. Shot from above, this is the smartest peeing scene you're ever likely to see, and expresses so much about its central duo purely by peering at their urine. Turning tweets and piss into a must-see movie? That's cinematic alchemy.
Many Hands (previously named Popup Ethical) will be launching their new concept on May 9 with a nasties-free pop-up restaurant at the Paddo Uniting Church. For one evening, you can forget all about unknown supply chains and unethical manufacturing practices. That's because everything you'll see, taste, smell and hear will have been handcrafted, handmade and/or organically grown. The event is promising a truly multisensory experience, with tapas created by chef Steven Zielke, tunes from muso Sten Pittet and live art conjured up at the hands of Sally Reynolds. Plus, there'll be an array of photographs, bespoke fine jewellery, ceramics, textiles and floral arrangements. The Many Hands team is bound by a love of "entertaining and ethical gourmet food" and have been bringing their magic to various Sydney pop-ups, including two sold-out evenings at Good Food Month. $20 will buy you two tapas plates and the freedom to wander as you wish, while $50 will purchase a five-course sit-down feast and a beverage of your choice.
The fly in the soup has finally been noticed, the question uttered: is experimental music as boring as bat shit? We're familiar with both sides of the problem. On the one hand we feel it in our gut, it's bodily, it cleaves the ears from the head, it leaves us feeling impatient/annoyed/uninformed/conservative/hungry. On the other hand, it offers a spontaneous surge of attention/appreciation — it's that very rare, very unexpected experience that suddenly opens the world like a can; irreversibly illuminating. Part of Serial Space's NEXT NEXT: Mini-Festival of Exploratory Sound and Music, The Great Music Debate is the 5th edition in the reputable Great Debate Series. Assembling informed and poised sides, together with performances/case studies by Potato Masta, Kusum Normoyle, Lucas Abela & DJ Hot Balls, the event promises to be revealing, informative, and anything but boring.
Keep your eyes peeled for Hendrick's Gin's hot air balloon flying over Sydney today. The floating gin bar, which offered free gin-filled balloon flights late last year, will be taking off as part of a fleet of balloons from Parramatta and floating across Sydney the city throughout today, Monday, March 15. The flight is part of a week-long series of activations Hendrick's is running across the city titled the Week of Wonders that will see free G&Ts offered up throughout the week. Unfortunately, Hendrick's isn't offering free flights in the balloon this time around, but if you catch glimpse of the hot air balloon and manage to snap a pic, you can take that picture to select venues in Parramatta and the city and exchange it for a free gin and tonic. The participating venues include Potts Point Hotel, Frisco Hotel, The Tilbury, Hotel Palisade, Glenmore Hotel, Nick & Nora's and Heritage Lounge. If you miss out on seeing the balloon, there are plenty more chances for free gin throughout the week, too. A pop-up gin bar will be residing at Campbells Cove, The Rocks between Thursday, March 18 and Saturday, March 20. The pop-up will be open 2–8pm each day and will be serving up free cucumber sandwiches and G&Ts. Between 4–7pm from Wednesday, March 17 and Saturday, March 20, you may also see Victorian-era characters riding around the CBD on penny-farthings. If you approach the riders, they'll offer you a cucumber which you can redeem for a Hendrick's Gin cocktail at a selection of Sydney venues including PS40 and The Barber Shop. More information will be available throughout the week via the Hendrick's Gin Facebook page. Hendrick's Gin's 'Week of Wonder' runs from Monday, March 15 until Saturday, March 20.
Warm, cosy, rosy, charming, feel-good: typically when a film spins its story during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, none of these words apply. But with Belfast, Kenneth Branagh has made a movie set in its eponymous city when the Protestant-versus-Catholic violence was a constant sight, and also helmed a feature that's about a childhood spent with that conflict as a backdrop. It's an approach that only works because Branagh draws from his own experiences — the film isn't a play-by-play memoir, but it's also clearly personal. Here, it's 1969, when the actor-turned-filmmaker would've been nine years old. The movie's protagonist, Buddy (first-timer Jude Hill), is that exact age, in fact. And with the beginnings of a three-decade-long sectarian fracas bubbling and boiling around him, he navigates the usual age-appropriate antics, such as school, crushes, doting grandparents with ailing health and a potential big move. The Troubles are a constant sight in the largely monochrome-hued film, too, and the reason Buddy's that parents are contemplating relocating to England, something they wouldn't have dreamed of otherwise. Pa (Jamie Dornan, The Tourist) already spends most of his time working there as a joiner, leaving Ma (Caitríona Balfe, Outlander) at home with Buddy and his elder brother Will (Lewis McAskie, Here Before) — with assistance from the boys' Granny (Judi Dench, Six Minutes to Midnight) and Pop (Ciarán Hinds, The Man in the Hat) — and he's been offered a new job that comes with a house. The violence swirling through Belfast has already made it to the family's street, to their hounded Catholic neighbours and, when Pa refuses to join the fray, put them on their fellow Protestants' hit list. Shifting to London (or perhaps further, to Sydney or Vancouver) would provide a new start and a safer future, but leaving all they've ever known isn't a simple decision. Belfast's adult characters are only known as Buddy would know them, such is Branagh's commitment to seeing this story, time and place through a child's eyes as he once did. And, while there's much debate to be had between Pa and Ma about whether to go or stay, the film is filled with its young lead's joys and worries — with the prospect of never again seeing the Catholic classmate he swoons over high among the boy's concerns. Belfast isn't short on context, however, though there's zero chance that it could be mistaken for a meaty interrogation of The Troubles. Branagh weaves in examples of how the push-and-pull of the conflict that's inescapable in his neighbourhood every day, Molotov cocktails, broken windows, blazes, riots and all, puts Buddy and his family in the middle. Still, a magical view of childhood remains, including when Buddy gets thrust into the thick of the fray — where, after he returns home with looted supermarket wares, his mother marches him back to return the stolen products amid the chaos. Branagh also indulges in an origin story, perhaps inspired by his stint in the Marvel Cinematic Universe directing the first Thor film back in 2011 (Buddy is even seen reading a Thor comic). Escaping The Troubles as much as anyone can in Belfast, the writer/director's on-screen surrogate adores seeing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and A Christmas Carol also features — scenes that come to life in colour, unlike the bulk of the picture around them. In the process, Branagh helps trace the early steps of his own desire to become a thespian and filmmaker, which has led to everything from Shakespeare adaptations such as Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet, to doing double duty in front of and behind the lens with Hercule Poirot duo Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. He's played Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' Gilderoy Lockhart, helmed Disney's live-action Cinderella, gotten villainous in Tenet, and of course, enjoyed an applauded on-stage career as well, all stemming from those first rapturous experiences watching when he was growing up. You could also call Belfast Branagh's Roma moment, after Alfonso Cuarón also gave cinema a black-and-white vision drawn from his own childhood, although that comparison fades quickly — even with Oscar love likely to come this film's way, in nominations at least, as it did for its predecessor. Here, the Dutch angles have it, with one of Branagh's go-to stylistic moves visually reinforcing Belfast's skewed perspective. Everything that viewers see is gorgeously lensed by his regular cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos (a mainstay on everything except All Is True since 2007's Sleuth), and also fondly nostalgic as cherished memories of formative years always are, with the lean firmly towards Buddy and his subjective view. As often set to a Van Morrison soundtrack, there's no doubting that this is a portrait of the big and small moments remembered and given a tender glow far more than it's about matters of politics and religion. As carefully and sentimentally conjured up and constructed as it is, Belfast's message remains timely as it gazes five-plus decades back. Horror and conflict stalk Buddy's working-class turf, his routine and life are shaken and upended, but hope — and the reality that life does go on — shines through. The opposing forces of comfort and change jostle around him, and this boy and his loved ones endeavour to make their way through it. Indeed, it should come as no surprise that this was Branagh's pandemic project, or that he peers back with such affection. In one of the movie's least successful touches, he even finds a way to convey that process on-screen, starting with a glossy shot of Ireland today, then literally peeking beyond a wall to venture into the past. Branagh's best choice: his magnificent cast, although an actor who also directs guiding marvellous performances out of his key players also doesn't surprise. What's especially glorious about Hill, Dornan, Balfe, Dench and Hinds is how much their portrayals tell us about their characters in the beats between dialogue, with wide-eyed enthusiasm radiating from wonderful newcomer Hill, and Dench and Hinds perfecting Granny and Pop's world-wise lived-in dynamic, for instance. Dornan and Balfe are also exceptional; whether bickering heatedly about tax debts and far-off places or taking to the dance floor — or, in Dornan's case, belting out a big-hearted rendition of 'Everlasting Love' to give his Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar crooning a companion — they're a picture of that unceasing emotion that Branagh infuses into every element of the film. Yes, as its showcase number trumpets, that's love, which leads to a sweet, neat and light but still vivid and soulful snapshot of growing up amid swelling uncertainty. Image: Rob Youngson / Focus Features.
