Dig out those once-a-year novelty gumboots, Groovin the Moo has unveiled their 2017 lineup. Taking the large-scale music festival out of the city and into regional centres for another year, GTM will kick things off in South Australia before heading to Maitland on Saturday, April 29. This year's lineup sees local talent front and centre with triple j Hottest 100 list-toppers Tash Sultana and Amy Shark (#3 and #2, respectively) taking the stage, along with The Smith Street Band, Montaigne, Hayden James and Methyl Ethel. Most of the international talent comes from the UK this year, with The Darkness, 21-year-old Loyle Carner and The Wombats making their way to the Moo, along with Germans Milky Chance. Here's the full lineup. GROOVIN THE MOO 2017 LINEUP Against Me! (USA) Allday Amy Shark Architects (UK) The Darkness (UK) Dillon Francis (USA) George Maple Hayden James The Jungle Giants K-Flay (USA) L-FRESH The LION Loyle Carner (UK) Methyl Ethel Milky Chance (GER) Montaigne Northeast Party House Slumberjack The Smith Street Band Snakehips (UK) Tash Sultana Thundamentals Violent Soho The Wombats (UK) Image: Tao Jones.
There are few greater, more indulgent and Instagrammable weekend things to do than kicking back with a bubbly and judgementally watching dachshunds parade around in lifeguard costumes in a pub beer garden. Are there? Holler if so. But this is an actual thing you can do in Sydney, and could quite possibly be the greatest date idea you'll see today. Back by popular demand (of course it is) for a special Mardi Gras edition, the Beresford Dog Show is taking over the leafy Beresford courtyard with an afternoon of games, entertainment and a big ol' dog show. Aside from pups to pat and prizes to be given freely, there'll be bacon and egg rolls and coffee on offer — to complete the powerful triumvirate of requirements for a damn nec-level Sunday. Plus, there'll be a marketplace with stalls from Pup N Pussy, Monika's Doggie Rescue and more serving up tasty treats, funky toys and designer accessories. Entry is free, and registrations commence at 10am. If you can think of a more adorable thing to do on Sunday please let us know. No really. Comments are right there and no one is stopping you from holding a ferret festival.
It's the story of 82-year-old Ruth Flowers (aka DJ Mamy Rock) that helps form the basis of Lachlan Philpott's new play, M.Rock. After attending her grandson's birthday bash at a nightclub in London, Ruth took a liking to the DJ scene. Up until her recent passing, DJ Mamy Rock was releasing dance floor club hits like 'Still Rocking' and '69' and performing in late-night venues all over the world (even in Australia). In M.Rock, Philpott (Silent Disco, Truck Stop) and director Fraser Corfield start with a more Australian premise. Tracy (Clementine Mills) is an 18-year-old school-leaver whose gap year in Europe just turned sour. After she runs into trouble in Berlin and misses her flight home, Tracy's grandma — the knitting, piano-playing Mabel (Valerie Bader) — comes to the rescue and stumbles on a new nightlife hobby in the process. M.Rock is a testament to the fact that it's never too late to become a shades-on-always type of show-stopping DJ. Dance floors don't discriminate.
If your wine of choice is a riesling — or you're just as partial to a chilled drop on a hot summer day — this event will get your tastebuds going. Riesling Downunder, the triennial festival dedicated to one of the world's most diverse white wines, returns in 2018 — and this time it is bringing its Riesling Riot event to Sydney. Winemakers and lovers will gather at Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday, February 7 to sample the best, newest and most unique rieslings on the market. The event is presented by leading Australian Riesling makers Frankland Estate, Jim Barry Wines and Pike Wines. It will feature over 70 producers from around the world with winemakers from New Zealand, Germany, Austria and the US due to make the journey. The versatility of riesling is to thank for its surge in popularity Down Under; Australia now sits behind only Germany in plantings. Due to in part to innovations made by modern winemakers, the flavour profiles of a riesling-based drop range from crisp and citrusy to something sweeter. So in the eclectic mix of cuisines that make up the Australian food scene, pairing options are aplenty with this grape and Riesling Riot will give you the know-how to nail it every time. Tickets are available from for $60 (plus booking fee).
Sydney yacht rock dudes The Holidays will play a string of huge shows around Australia, following on from their wildly successful album release tour in March. Filling out venues from Sydney's Metro Theatre, Melbourne's Hi-Fi to Brisbane's Alhambra Lounge with hyped up Sydney electronic producer Thief, the threesome will also stop by Newcastle's Bar on the Hill on campus with indie pop maestro Pluto Jonze, Wollongong's Uni Bar with Sydney garage ratbags Step-Panther. The new Groupie Magazine-presented dates coincide with the release of third single 'Tongue Talk', taken from the outfit's super pop-fuelled second album Real Feel. Tickets on sale Wednesday 14 May, with more details on The Holidays' Facebook page. https://youtube.com/watch?v=aiHQLvAu2lg
Western Sydney's Parramasala Festival is back for another year, and it's set to be the most diverse yet. The free annual event, which celebrates and showcases Sydney's many cultures, will take place in Parramatta across three action-packed days. Expect a colourful combination of music, dance, food, film and theatre, all spread throughout Prince Alfred Park, the Parramatta riverbank and the Riverside Theatres. Highlights of the program include free performances by Thandi Phoenix, Remi and Sampa the Great the vibrant opening night parade, a Long Table Brunch, bellydancing workshops and a mini music festival. You can check out the full program of cultural and musical events here. The huge variety of food options on Market Street is another major drawcard and gives you an excuse to stuff yourself with curry, dumplings and gozleme. Whether you live in Parramatta or have been meaning to visit more, this is the weekend to get amongst it. Image: Salty Dingo.
Prepare your liver because Sydney Beer Week is back for its eighth year from October 26 through November 4. Once again run by the folks who started Dave's Brewery Tours, 2018's festival will see over 130 events span from the northern beaches all the way to Bankstown and at every craft-loving venue in between. It's all kicking off with the SBW Gala, with stalls from over 30 breweries and a tonne of local food trucks crowded into the Australian National Maritime Museum for opening night. This year, the festival hub will be located at Newtown's Uncle Hops — the craft beer den within The Bank Hotel. It'll be tapping the week's top hits and offering up beer-tasting training, so you can talk about craft brews like a pro. Other festival highlights include a massive Halloween bash at Frankie's; a kidult-themed laneway party at Wayward (expect a giant ball pit and bouncy castle); Nomad's beer-filled 'amazing race' around Manly; a Mario Kart competition at Hive Bar; Beer Olympics at Harts Pub; a sour beer festival at Batch Brewing Co; and giant board games in the Sauce Brewing beer garden. Plus, you can win Goose Island IPA for a year at a cornhole tournament (AKA been bag toss) or nab a limited-edition SBW burger at Bar Luca all week. And most of the events are free to enter, too. For a full lineup of events and to purchase tickets, head to the SBW website. Image: Frankie's, Katje Ford
Veganism is no longer a fad. One of your friends is probably vegan. Vegan eateries run rife throughout Sydney, no longer restricted to Newtown's King Street. With ethical concerns, breaking news stories about farming atrocities and climate change giving people more and more reasons to change their eating habits, there's a been a considerable rise in vegetarians and vegans — often meaning more likeminded buddies to survive pot luck dinner parties with. More and more people are 'waking up' to the realities of food production, primarily through reading Jonathan Safran Foer and watching groundbreaking, important documentaries like Food Inc. But this abrasive, slapped face strategy can turn a lot of potential vegans off. Marking its Australian premiere at a special Sydney event this Saturday, feature documentary 'Live and Let Live' attempts to enlighten without frightening; a thorough examination of our relationship with animals, the history of veganism and the reasons people go vegan (whether ethical, environmental or health-related). Produced by Marc Pierschel, the documentary checks in with six individuals who have decided to stop eating animals or animal products for their own reasons and assesses how veganism has impacted their lives. In addition to the premiere screening of 'Live and Let Live' guest speakers Dr Glenn Singleman (professional basejumper and doco maker) and psychologist Clare Mann will dig into the film's core topics. Sydney blues and roots festival favourite Jasmine Beth will revisit tracks from her eponymous EP in a smoky-voiced acoustic set, ahead of her first full-length album due for release later this year. There'll be tasty vegan treats on offer, including faux bacon, vegan chocolate, new types of vegan cheeses, aromatic herbal teas and a plant milk bar. And to top things off you can wander through art installations and bid in the silent auction aiding Peanuts Funny Farm Animal Sanctuary. https://youtube.com/watch?v=10MK7v6Mhjc
If ever your heart could be hugged by a live show, Tiny Ruins will leave yours well and truly cuddled. Following the release of their enchanting folk release Brightly Painted One, the native New Zealanders will head to Australia to crank out their softly spoken repertoire in a national tour. As well as giving their newest album a big ol' run around, Tiny Ruins will revisit tunes from their 2010 release Some Were Meant for Sea as well as their 2013 EP Haunts. Expanding her solo flight into a touring trio, Tiny Ruins' Hollie Fullbrook now hangs with bassist Cass Basil and drummer Alexander Freer as a trio. The threesome haven't had a holiday for quite some time, touring for the past few years through Australia, Europe and the US in highly coveted support slots for Fleet Foxes, Beach House, Joanna Newsom and Father John Misty to name a few. But now's no time for Tiny vacationing, with a national tour ready to kick off this July. The NZ folksters have plenty of Aussie radio feature albums, festival slots and critical accolades under their belts and have been gaining traction over the past few years with folk lovers worldwide. But Tiny Ruins are no stage hogs, inviting their buds Shining Bird and Aldous Harding along for the ride this time. Sydney favourites Shining Bird have spent the last year gaining high fives Australia-wide after the release of their debut album Leisure Coast gained the crew some serious festival appearances. Shining Bird aren't dudes to waste a touring opp, combining their support spot with their brand new 7" single. Aldous Harding is one of those Kiwi musical talents we'll casually be calling our own in a few years. You may not have heard much from her yet, but this Christchurch folk queen is just about to drop her debut album and counts this support slot on her first tour of Australia. Be sure to check her out — by all accounts, she's killin' it across the Tasman. Her self-titled debut so far has just the one single, 'Hunter', with the rest to be released on July 25. These shows are sure to be a very chilled affair — perfect for red wine, big jumpers and melodious swaying. Words by Shannon Connellan and Meg Watson. https://youtube.com/watch?v=jnqc4falhGk
While we Southern hemisphere-bound folk have been digging out our cosy coats and clinging to our winter warmers, Fremantle's San Cisco have been blitzing the UK and the US, inspiring sun-kissed comparisons from the critics. The Guardian's Paul Lester introduced them as the 'New Band of the Day' on November 1, 2012, with "meet the new beach boys and girl." And if you've haven't heard, they've been signed. As in, to a major label. Fat Possum has picked them up in the US and they're with Columbia in the UK. 'Awkward's domination of the Aussie pop charts and 4 million+ YouTube hits may have had something to do with that. The good news is that San Cisco is home, to spend May and June on their nationwide The Beach Tour. Their first Sydney gig (May 31) is already sold out, but tickets are still up for grabs for a second show on June 9. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ukNOaKeUEQY
2013 is the year organisers were promising Future be their "biggest festival lineup yet", and after rifling through the massive line-up pinata, it seems they have indeed delivered. After an already big 2012 outing, Future Entertainment has topped that with a bill straddling nearly every sub-genre of pop or dance, ensuring they'll draw not only a larger but a more diverse crowd. 2013's Day of the Dead-Set Awesome will be headlined by English electronic dance commanders The Prodigy, grime MC Dizzee Rascal, indie rockers Bloc Party and reformed rockers The Stone Roses, making it more of a Brit-fest than a Mexican one. Other exciting acts joining the bill include Harlem femcee Azealia Banks, Rita Ora, electro house mainstay Steve Aoki and our own The Temper Trap. And PSY will also be there, just in case you feel like contracting a South Korean virus without actually paying for a ticket to his own upcoming show. Thanks to the Jack Daniel's Barrel House, we have a double GA pass (valued at $350) to the Future Music Festival to give away. To go in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au.
Nuanced, enigmatic and thought-provoking, Young & Beautiful, the latest film from renowned French director François Ozon (Swimming Pool) is a portrait of 17-year-old Isabelle, a Parisian student. Set over a year and divided into four seasonal chapters, the film chronicles Isabelle's sexual journey from the awakening of her desires to embarking on a secret life. Driven by a transfixing performance from the incandescent Marine Vacth, Young & Beautiful is both psychologically probing and unerringly graceful in its nonjudgmental restraint. It fuels our emotions, captivates our intellect and leaves us wondering whether our motivations can ever truly be known. Young & Beautiful is in cinemas on May 1, but we're offering 60 competition winners the chance to see it with a friend at an exclusive preview screening we're hosting together with Incu on Wednesday, April 30, at 7pm at the Palace Verona (17 Oxford Street, Paddington). To enter, click here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=cnaIFp_KrB4
Blam-blam-blam! That's the sound of Belvoir, Sydney's 'other' major theatre company, lining them up and knocking them down. They've announced a 2013 season that's filled end to end with heart-starting productions, each one either a loved text, starring theatre's leading lights, directed by powerhouse Simon Stone, or some combination of the three. Perhaps the centrepiece of the season is Angels in America, Tony Kushner's seven-hour, two-part play that's an icon of the queer canon but also became the most watched TV cable movie in the US in 2003. Directed by Eamon Flack and starring, among others, Robyn Nevin, Paula Arundell, and Mitchell Butel, it will play in repertory as two separate, full-length shows, which you'll have the option to see back-to-back on Saturdays and Sundays. For durational performance fans, it's a theatre marathon to relish. Meanwhile, Simon Stone, the company's resident director (who's created The Wild Duck and Strange Interlude there already) will direct Jacqueline McKenzie and Ewen Leslie in Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Toby Schmitz, Emily Barclay, and Robyn Nevin in Shakespeare's Hamlet. He'll also be adapting August Strindberg's Miss Julie for Leticia Cáceras to direct and Brendan Cowell to star in (both of 2011's unforgettable The Dark Room), a compelling release of control after his string of successes directing his own dramatic rewrites of classics. On the funnest note, the season kicks off in the early days of January with Peter Pan, a perfect fit for this festive time of year. Under the eye of artistic director Ralph Myers, the ensemble cast will rescue the original JM Barrie text from the saccharine clutches of Disney. Also in the Upstairs Theatre will be two Australian-history-inspired new works: from Love Me Tender writer Tom Holloway, Forget Me Not (directed by Anthea Williams), a fictionalised take on the very real tragedy that befell some 7000 Forgotten Australians who endured forced child migration that separated them from their families, and a co-production with Ilbijerri, Coranderrk that pays tribute to an 1881 inquiry in which the people of Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve campaigned for their self-determination. Downstairs, much-performed playwright Lally Katz (Neighbourhood Watch, Smashed) has written a thing she's actually not keen to hand over to actors for interpretation and will step onto the stage to deliver herself. Zaniness is guaranteed, touching humanity expected. Other new works featuring Downstairs are The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe, documentary theatre that communicates hardship, survival, and celebration, and Kit Brookman's Small and Tired, a story ripped from Greek mythology, now sitting in a bar. Belvoir again and again works with Australia's favourite theatre-makers in an environment where collaboration and conversation flow freely. The fruits of this approach can be seen in their solid plans for season 2013, which we'll be savouring piece by piece. Full information and subscription packages are available from the Belvoir website.
Do you wish you could mix up an Old Fashioned like Don Draper? Do the words "Tiki Safari" make your mouth water in anticipation of the magical Mai Tai? Do you spend your days weighing up the pros and cons of gin and vodka or pondering how tequila can break free from the shackles of salt, lemon and shot glasses? Whether you answered "yes" to all of the above or whether you just like to enjoy the odd cocktail, you will probably be excited to hear about Bar Week. The formerly trade only drinks show is now throwing its doors open to the thirsty public after a decade of showcasing the best in brews, bottles and fancy garnishes to industry professionals. Sunday, September 23 is when the week's flagship event will be staged in the form of Drinks Fest (tickets $25 for either the morning or afternoon session). Amongst those happenings stirring up connotations of the word "seminar" are a pre-noon Tiki Safari, an Irish Whisky Tasting, masterclasses on libations ranging from Cuba's Mojito to Don's Old Fashioned and a hands-on lesson in creative mixology intended to break rules and introduce cocktails back into Aussie households. Many of the day's events are aimed at breathing new life into spirits commonly brought down by false stereotypes. A class called 'Why Everyone Should Love Tequila!' will take skeptics on a taste-test south of the border. To celebrate the broadening of mind and palette, the day will culminate in a sunset BBQ at Cruise Bar next door, offering free entry to all ticket holders. Concrete Playground has 10 double passes to give away to Drinks Fest. For a chance to win, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au Sydney Bar Week will run from 22 to 25 September 2012. For the full timetable of Bar Week events visit www.barweek.com.au/timetable
Bill and George has closed down. Not long ago, during the Surry Hills Festival, the former artists' workspace and sometime venue held its farewell party, a week after a jumble sale to get rid of everything it's former residents couldn't take away with them. Earlier artist space Lanfranchi's famously closed with a bit of a bacchanal. Bill and George's last party was vivacious, but a bit more low key. What working artists will do without inner city spaces like her former workspace is a big deal, according to writer, artist, creative director and space-runner Bek Conroy. At the end of her time in Bill and George, Concrete Playground chatted with her about the history of the space, as she hands back the keys and closes the door for the final time. What is the life of a creative space? For Bill and George, five years. The space occupied a Redfern warehouse loft, around the corner from Prince Alfred Park. Walking up a fire escape staircase you'd find yourself in a welcoming, but off-centre, space that encompassed artist workrooms, a kitchen and a long central common room/sometime performance space. Out the back, at the other end of this industrial complex, is a light-filled central courtyard ringed by terraces of cheap accommodation. Like most artist spaces Bill and George had originally faced a dilemma: fringe properties are cheaper and the vagaries of cheap real estate give you a bit more leeway. (Lan Franchi's saw the upside of thus: "A regular landlord would not have put up with the kind of stuff we were doing.") But since artists are part of the gentrifying wave in a city, their presence bumps up the price. So they, in turn, get bumped out by the rising rents. Or — as was the case for Bill and George — they find themselves staring at starkly more expensive options at the end of a five year lease. Artists bring the vibe that brings investors. Because of this, government funding should be helping artists, says Conroy, talking about the recent TAFE funding cuts to art, because there's a return for the investment: "If anything, an intelligent city would be increasing funding around investing in it because they're precisely the areas that are going to bring lucrative accumulation of wealth." Bill and George has seen good times and rockier ones in the time since it opened. It's been a vibrant art space occupied by working artists and other arts professionals from around Sydney. The space wasn't on the radar unless you moved with a certain crowd, went to the right festival or knew one of the artists. But it's been an icon among its generation of art spaces. When it first opened, the South Sydney Herald wrote about Bek Conroy — the charismatic and loquacious woman who, more than anyone, became synonymous with the space — as a "veteran" of an art scene that had then recently "lost a number of artist-run initiatives like the Wedding Circle and Pelt in Chippendale, Space 3 and Lan Franchis". When I talked to her five years later, in a now-empty corner office of the same space, she was downbeat about letting go of the work that the collective had put into maintaining and improving the site. "It's sad that we have to leave behind all of our collective labour." When the gallery signed a five year lease in 2007 it was in a pretty different state. "It was dark, because there was no electricity. It was just disgusting. There were dead cats, dead rats. There was about a ten centimetre layer of pigeon shit." It took five men seven days to clear the pigeon shit. Then they installed a kitchen, cleaned the walls, refitted the empty bathrooms, installed their own security grills reconnected the water and started building partitions. Five people were central to founding the space: Conroy, Mark Taylor, Caitlin Newtown-Broad, Clare Perkins and Hosannah Heinrich. They started looking for a location in April 2006 and signed the lease in 2007. "We came in here and it was pretty much love at first sight." says Conroy. They borrowed $25,000 to cover renovation, and the bond. The directors also put in a month's rent each, as starter money. To begin with, they used the space as a venue. Kaz Therese curated Kiss Club, Heinrich ran tango milongas and the second Imperial Panda Festival staged the Ballad of Backbone Joe. But the decision to fly under radar came at a cost. For the third Imperial Panda Festival, Bill and George was due to host local stars the Brown Council, but was tipped off that the council knew that they were running a "multifunction art space". The City of Sydney was one of Imperial Panda's sponsors. Twelve days out, they had to cancel. The cease-and-desist letter came soon after. So they started hosting smaller, semi-private events. An Ampersand launch (Alice Gage had been running Bill and George's small press library until Ampersand got off the ground). Meet the artist. Bedtime stories fundraisers. Kiss Club moved offsite. The space had actually been in the process of lodging a DA. It was, eventually, left unsubmitted. They couldn't get all parties on board. Running unofficially had been a simple decision. "If you can get away with not doing it, you're much better doing that. Once you start having to comply with stuff, then you actually are set up so, if you don't comply, you get penalised. Whereas doing it without a DA, you only risk getting penalised. I mean, you get penalised either way." Conroy reckons that to have run it completely legally would have cost them up to $100,000. Four times their starting budget. Alcohol licenses, public liability: these were similar issues to those overcome with difficulty by contemporary (performance) space the Red Rattler. During its lifetime Bill and George's reach was pretty wide. Interviewing Conroy for this piece, the space began to seem omnipresent. As well having met Conroy through mutual friends, I found I knew one of the current residents and two more of its founding members. One of these, Taylor, I knew especially well via the Sydney Latin American Film Festival. I'm sure other people have found themselves similarly entangled with the space. It's not an unpleasant feeling. What's happening to the former tenants? Some are looking for new workspaces. "Alex, one of the artists here," says Conroy "He's moving to a new warehouse in Marrickville. People are temporarily setting up. People are storing their stuff at their parents' house. I mean, these are mid-career artists who are doing this shit. I mean, this is terrible." And, like other professionals working around the city, it gets worse when you ask about where people live away from the workplace. It's not just a few who lack a reliable residence. According to Conroy, almost none of them do. "No one here has a reliable place to live. There is one artist who's recently acquired property. One. He inherited it." And on the end of Bill and George? "I think it will definitely leave a hole. I think it will be replaced. The turn over happens. We accept that. That's part of the changing landscape. But the worry for us, and for every artist in Sydney, is the pace at which that is happening. [The end of a space] fragments the community. Every time. It haemorrhages resources. It haemorrhages people. "The wealth of the city is heavily contingent on creatives remaining in the city. You can't buy in that sort of organic culture. Land value has to come down in the CBD. Otherwise, we are going to lose artists. They're just going to leave. They are already leaving the city. And that's the position I'm in. I'm looking toward moving to Detroit." So that's what's next for Conroy, the CBD, Marrickville or Detroit? "Yeah." she says.
Talk about taking your own advice to heart. Since releasing their debut album Quiet Is the New Loud in 2001, the Norwegian folk-pop duo have been keeping things a little too low-key for their legions of fans around the globe, going on a three-year hiatus pretty much immediately afterwards and taking another five-year break after 2004's Riot on an Empty Street. In the last three years they've played less than 10 live shows. Not surprisingly, then, their appearance at the Sydney Opera House this February will also be their Australian debut, despite the fact that many of us have been familiar with their sound for over a decade. Most folk-anything acts nowadays are characterised by soothing vocals and fragile guitars, but Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe's stuff produces a zen sensation similar to what I imagine might happen after taking Class A drugs. Even electronic ears aren't immune, with Four Tet, Ladytron and Röyksopp all clamouring to remix the duo's acoustic jams. Kings of Convenience's Opera House performance forms part of the contemporary music program Music at the House that also includes performances by Rodrigo y Gabriela, First Aid Kit, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Dead Can Dance, Sarah Blasko, Neil Finn and Paul Kelly, and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Concrete Playground has three double passes to give away to see the Kings of Convenience at the Sydney Opera House on February 7. To be in the running, make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. https://youtube.com/watch?v=OczRpuGKTfY
This is one of those moments where you think "how did I not think of that?". With the infiltration of advertising on, uhh, everything, it's with little surprise that some clever cookie in Dubai clicked that drinking coffee and reading the newspaper often go hand in hand (literally), and so why not combine the two? Genius. With the brief prescribed by Gulf News to gain subscribers and increase web traffic, Y&R had the innovative thought to to turn a coffee cup sleeve into a social media opportunity. The resulting 'Headline News Cup Sleeve' is now printed using a special printer at the point of sale. It pulls tweets from the Gulf News Twitter account and so not only are you reading the news with your coffee, it's fresh and individualised content. With the general/cynic's consensus being that printed news is jumping the shark a bit, this definitely stands out as a novel way to keep the printed word fresh. And while normally we are against being bombarded with advertising and mass media, there's something in the personalisation of this that is fun and novel.
GRAPHIC Festival — with its melange of comics, animation, illustration, music, multimedia and storytelling — puts on some of the most new and daring events in the country. In past years, the program has included Gotye's live animated album preview for Making Mirrors and Elefant Traks' Dr Seuss-inspired concert. The headliners are here in abundance in 2013, and they're mainly drawn (ha) from the world of comics. The man most credited with introducing comics as a 'serious' medium and Pulitzer Prize winner for Holocaust-themed Maus, Art Spiegelman, will present a hybrid of slides, talk and music in a performance specially commissioned for the festival. The event, called WORDLESS!, will see Spiegelman share his own history while expounding on the depth comics are capable of. The writer and cartoonist sneaks so much emotion and revelation into humble, scratchy packaging that this special, premiere event should be no less than spectacular. Sydney-based New Yorker Phillip Johnston provides the music, bringing his experience scoring silent films such as The Adventures of Prince Achmed to Spiegelman's inspiring imagery. Art Spiegelman's WORDLESS! with Music by Phillip Johnston in on at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, on Saturday, 5 October. Thanks to the Sydney Opera House, we have three double passes to giveaway. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
This post is presented by the All New Toyota Corolla Sedan. There's plenty of fun to be had in this city each week, but there's only a small handful of truly fresh urban adventures to be had. We've partnered with Toyota to find the very best of these shiny-new experiences in Sydney. Presented by the All New Toyota Corolla Sedan, these are our picks to put you on the road to a life of goodtimes. Now your only challenge is getting to them all. This week is all about being a glutton for chicken, loitering till late at Sydney's favourite garden estate, seeing the sun float in the harbour and picnicking in total style. Eat: Fat Bubba's Chicken Wednesdays Building on the popularity of their insanely valuable Dollar Dawg Tuesdays, Sydney favourite The Soda Factory has launched two new evenings of cheap eats, sure to add spice to your week and keep dollars in your pocket. Wednesdays will celebrate all things chicken, with Fat Bubba's Chicken Wednesday bringing with it outrageous $1 hot buffalo wings, plus a $10 bucket of fried chicken that'll give Colonel Sanders a run for his money. You can also get your hump day groove on, with live retro swing tunes from the Soda Factory resident bands. Thursday's Late Night Soda Social has a '50s vibe and $5 diner specials. 16 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills Drink: The Potting Shed The Grounds of Alexandria is expanding, with The Potting Shed, a late-night bar and eatery, set to open on Monday, March 24. In what is sure to be another outstandingly popular move by the team, the Potting Shed will be an extension of the unique Grounds experience, mirroring the impressive design aesthetic and staying true to its comfortable charm. There's a lot still in the works before opening, but what we do know is that the bar will be open 11am till late (later than the CBD lockouts? That remains to be seen), seven nights a week. Expect to see the fresh herbs and produce-driven techniques specific to the Grounds experience reflected in the cocktail list. Building 7A, 2 Huntley Street, Alexandria See: Madama Butterfly Yes, that is the sun floating in Sydney Harbour. It's just part of the no-holds-barred set-up for Madama Butterfly, this year's Handa Opera on the Harbour. The night is a sensation whether you love opera or can't fathom it, which is why each year it brings in a huge audience of opera newbies. There's so much to enjoy: the transporting music, the lively choreography, the larger-than-life costumes, the themed pop-up bars and that eternal fail-safe — the outlook over the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and other wonders of Sydney Harbour. If your thoughts wander away from the action on the stage, it's to drink in the sense of occasion and feel immediately intoxicated. March 21 - April 12; Mrs. Macquaries Point , Fleet Steps Do: Lost Picnic For many of us, the festival season's been plagued by cancellations and hot chips that are actually cold. Thankfully, the clever Simon Beckingham and Wade Cawood are lifting the game with their new boutique festival. Appropriately named Lost Picnic, the Centennial Park event will begin a new festival tradition of gourmet eating this Sunday, March 23. While you graze on the hampers on offer, local musos — including singer-songwriter Megan Washington, alt-rockers The Rubens, Emma Louise, Dustin Tebbutt and Sons of the East — will make for a more bohemian alternative to the festival season. The gourmet hampers are put together by renowned chefs Martin Boetz from The Keystone Group and Maurice Terzini from Icebergs and the Cherry Kitchen. March 23; Centennial Park
It's possible that after directing the pastoral idyll that was the Olympic Opening Ceremony, Danny Boyle felt the need to dirty things up. That would explain Trance (view trailer), a gangster/heist movie that takes a turn into the unexplored psychosexual corridors of Inception. James McAvoy stars as a young art auctioneer, Simon, who gets mixed up in some bad business. Charged with hiding the most valuable artwork on the auction block in the event of a heist, Simon cops a severe bump on the head after Franck (Vincent Cassel) and his men breach the building. He now has amnesia and doesn't know what's what. It's soon made clear to him, however, that this was an inside job of his orchestration, and that he's the only one who knows — knew? — where the painting is hidden. In an attempt to retrieve the buried information, Franck sends Simon to a hypnotherapist, Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson), who soon inserts herself into the gang. Things get crazy from here on in. Concrete Playground has teamed up with 20th Century Fox to present a private screening of Trance at 7pm on Wednesday, April 10 at the newly renovated Dendy Newtown. To go in the running to win one of 100 double passes, you just need to complete the Concrete Playground reader survey below and register your email address at the end. Loading... Read our interview with Danny Boyle and the cast of Trance here and our full review here. Trance is in cinemas this Thursday.
Envision the music of Bach in dance form and what you get is probably not a nine-headed b-boy crew pulling off head spins and power moves. But that's what artistic director Christoph Hagel and choreographer/mastermind Vartan Bassil have done with Red Bull Flying Bach: an explosive streetdance driven by the music of the visionary 18th-century composer. The dancers are Berlin-based breakdance crew Flying Steps, formed by Bassil and Kadir 'Amigo' Memis almost 10 years ago. While their moves are normally driven by urban sounds, this time head spins are inspired by piano keys and b-boy freezes by Bach's fuges. Though that might be putting it too simply; what they're really doing is interpreting Bach's music rather than dancing to it. Different dancers represent different notes, and electronic beats fuse the gaps between the two disparate worlds without at all bastardising the original score. If there was any way Bach could have seen this coming 300 years ago, he'd no doubt approve. We have two double passes to give away to Red Bull Flying Bach in Sydney on March 8 and Melbourne on March 15. To be in the running, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven't already) and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
There's a new mistress commanding King Street and she's serving up hearty southern fare that'll warm the deep south of your soul. Step off Missenden Road in Newtown and be transported to a pseudo-Louisiana where Miss Peaches and her Soul Food Kitchen are waiting. The spacious brick bar has old-school Southern charm with plenty of comfy booths, a balcony overlooking the hustle and bustle of King Street below, plus a blues-infused vinyl collection to get any feet dancing. The menu is the antithesis of all diets and not for the faint of heart. Think cornbread sliders filled with deep-fried mac and cheese, chicken or beef short rib (3 for $18), crispy tater tots with maple bacon ketchup ($8) or flaky crawfish pies ($12). The blackened fish ($15) is spiced up nice and jerky and a real standout of the menu. If you're in need for a full feed, however, get a big ol' bowl of okra jambalaya ($16), a traditional Southern spiced rice and vegie dish. Win dinner for you and a friend at Miss Peaches Soul Food Kitchen — we have one $100 voucher to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven't already) and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
If you’re a fan of all things Mexican, you might want to visit the Cantina del Sol pop-up. For just one weekend, Villa Bar & Kitchen in Potts Point will be transformed into a Mexican cantina by interior designer Ally Bercich, inspired by the vibrant artwork of artist Frida Kahlo and the Mexican spiritual holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). There will be Sol beers, colourful cocktails decorated with fresh fruit and authentic Mexican cuisine. Fans of roaming taqueria-on-wheels Al Carbon will be happy to learn they will be catering the event, treating guests to their sharp, spicy street food. And, really, who can resist a charcoal barbecue? DJs, musicians and other creative types will keep the crowd entertained, including Balmain independent artist Skullavera whose hand-crafted ceramic skulls — also inspired by dia de los muertos — are spookily awesome. The Cantina del Sol is open on the October long weekend, from October 4-6, at the Villa Kitchen and Bar, 1 Kellett Street, Potts Point. You'll be able to grab lunch between 12.30-3.30pm and dinner between 5.30-9.30 pm.
At various points, the past has promised that by now we’d have robot servants, flying cars, men on Mars, time travel, teleportation and designer babies (of the genetic kind). But whilst those ideas are still slowly chugging through the endless pipeline of human dreams, many more exciting possibilities have come to light. The International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA) descends on Sydney this month to present some of the most exciting new ideas in science and technology as thought of by some of the world’s leading contemporary artists. Here are five places to go to see amazing art for free while it's still in town. 1. Souped-up holograms Venue: COFA Remember holograms? Those stickers you put on your year five school diary that were eyes opening and closing or planets rotating depending on what angle you looked at them from? Well. Welcome to 2013, the land of computer-generated laser holograms, digital holographic prints and stereoscopic animations. Holoshop: Drawing and perceiving depth showcases collaborative holographic and stereoscopic video artworks developed by Associate Professor Paula Dawson in collaboration with the Holoshop research team. Do your eye muscle exercises before attending because this will be a journey of lush optical candy. Image: Paula Dawson, 2013. Production still for digital holographic print, created using Holoshop haptic interface. 2. Robots, for real Venue: Artspace There are two cool awesome sick things happening at Artspace. The first is a suite of projects focusing on robotics. Artists Petra Gemeinboeck & Rob Saunders (Sydney), Mari Velonaki (Sydney) and Simon Ingram (Auckland) all present works that consider the material structures, functions and alterations that automated machines can generate. This is, like, even better than Furbies. The second cool sick awesome thing happening at Artspace is This Is Video curated by Stephen Jones, which charts a history of video art in Australia, pulling together archival work used in a 1981 exhibition titled Video Art from Australia and topping it up with some more contemporary gems. Check out the website for exhibiting artists. Image: Simon Ingram, Drunken walk machine, 2008 (detail) 3. Interactive Introspection Venue: 107 Projects There is actually so much going on at 107 Projects that you might need to bring along an extra brain. If A System Fails In A Forest… is curated by COFA PhD candidate and academic Scott Brown and explores the ubiquitous systems that shape and govern our lives. A host of interactive artworks by local and international artists will reveal what these systems really look like, how we subliminally interact and communicate with them, and whether we can even exist without them. Also at 107 Projects is Electrolapse a video art exhibition about video art(!) presented by Electrofringe that addresses themes of system failure, manipulation, distortion and opportunity. Image: WildPark by Yiwon Park and Peter Wildman 4. Viewing images, not with your eyes Venue: Kudos Gallery Where does the virtual world end and the real world begin? When your fingers swipe the screen and transfer electromagnetic pulses into digital actions, are you temporarily a virtual entity, too? Depends on your Point of View, also conveniently the title of this exhibition going down at Kudos Gallery. Curator Volker Kuchelmeister has selected works that use electronic media to investigate the limitations that traditional ocular optics put on our perception of mediated imagery, while also exploring and exploding the boundaries of the cinematic image. Image: Lightbridge (Machines Studies) by Chris Henschke. Photo of screen, courtesy of the artist. 5. Building, not with our hands Venue: Tin Sheds If 'art-chitecture' was a word, then this is where it would belong. Three major projects will be exhibited at Tin Sheds, forming part of the Emercen/City urban interventions and research project. DisSentience, curated by Lian Loke, speculates on a future where digital technology has pervaded all aspects of daily life, infiltrating even the most mundane and intimate of domestic rituals. The Generative Freeway Project by Matthew Sleeth is a self-generating sculptural installation that populates itself over the exhibition period by way of a prototype 3D printer. It is part robot, part performance and part durational installation. And Transpotage by Spanish architectural duo Selgas Cano is a moveable and translucent garden, the second phase of the ongoing laboratory-project aimed at transferring new technologies borrowed from other disciplines into the sphere of architecture. Image by Matthew Sleeth (courtesy of Claire Oliver Gallery, New York) Honourable Mention Also check out the Electronic Art at The Rocks Pop-Up.
Underbelly Arts is the festival weekend that’s a fortnight, that’s a biennial. Starting out in 2007 as an arts festival that let you get behind the scenes before you saw the shows, Underbelly Arts has gone through various incarnations and locations before settling in at Cockatoo Island to become its other resident art festival, alternating with the Biennale. Last year, Underbelly Arts took its first year off to try to become a year-on, year-off festival. This year, it’s on. And with its program just launched, we get to see whether the wait was worth it. The festival is divided into two crucial parts. The second part — the Festival weekend — consists of two days of performances, art and adventure for the visiting public. But the public are also invited to the first part — the Lab — where they can see the artists put their work together, workshop, test and reassess their ambitions for the festival itself. The Lab runs July 24–31 and is free. The Festival is ticketed, and early bird tickets have just popped up, on sale until July 3. The Festival sold out last time around and, all in all, it looks like a pretty promising line up for 2013. Over one weekend in August, the Art Workers make reference to Chaplin’s Modern Times in Art Work and Abdul Abdullah and brother Abdul-Rahman explore their past Bankstown digs in Project HOME. Art Month 2013 co artistic curators Penelope Benton and Alexandra Clapham will unpack Tableau Vivant, the latest incarnation of their ongoing art dining projects, Applespiel will weave alternative takes on the idea of 'history', the adjective 'true' and the place 'Cockatoo Island', while Andrew Burrell and Chris Rodley channel Jonathan Harris for Everything is Going to Be Okay :) Brixels revitalises the idea of Breakout, as well as the idea of playing Breakout on a wall, Nothing to See Here reshapes the city’s landmarks with ideas from an unbuilt Holocaust memorial, while the Lot engage with Cockatoo Island’s landmarks in Mammoth: the Anti-Artifact Project. Not enough? Artist Warren Armstrong is also offering to print out your brain. Read more about eight pioneering Underbelly Arts projects in our feature. Top image by Dylan Tonkin, second image by Prudence Upton.
Tickets are now on sale for the sixth annual March Into Merivale Food and Wine Festival. The eight-week feast will include over 60 gourmet events across Sydney, offering everything from pastry classes to wine tastings to mafia-themed Italian feasts. This year's theme is 'Born to Cook', with Merivale's super chefs concocting culinary delights based on their earliest and fondest food memories. You can celebrate the festival's kick off on Wednesday, February 12, by heading along to the 3000 guest-strong launch party at Ivy. There's live entertainment and the chance to meet and sample the wares of Merivale's favourite chefs, sommeliers and bartenders. Pricing is actually pretty reasonable, with a $35 ticket getting you entry, plus eight food and drink tokens to redeem at the various stalls. During the festival you might be tempted by 'Things on Sticks' at Ms G's — an eight-course banquet of food on sticks with a cocktail thrown in for good measure. Or the urban barbecue party at Ivy presided over by Manly's Papi Chulo. Palmer & Co will be running several mixology classes (canapes and cocktails included) and the Beresford's doing a beer tasting. Those fortunate enough to still be able to stomach tequila can experience El Loco's tequila tasting and Mexican snack event, whilst fancier folk can take high tea and champagne at Est. There's also $33 meal deals across all 11 Merivale restaurants to take advantage of. The festival runs from February 12 to April 11. Tickets can be purchased at the Merivale website, and booking in advance is a must. You can check out the full events listing here.
Get your fill of vintage classics, or let loose your best Olivia Newton John. The folks at Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinema have reached into the archives, assembling a program of quintessential movies from the course of the past 30 years. Included in the retro lineup are a trio of '80s favourites. Do detention with The Breakfast Club, climb The Cliffs of Insanity in The Princess Bride and have ‘The Time of Your Life’ with Dirty Dancing. You can also spend Valentine’s Day with Amelie, or journey into Jim Carrey’s subconscious in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Of course, not everyone is content to just sit back and watch. That’s why Openair Cinema will also be hosting a pair of Sing-a-Long sessions. Belt out ‘Greased Lightning’ at a screening of Grease, and then ‘Let It Go’ with Frozen the weekend after. We make no apologies for the musical ‘talents’ of the Idina Menzel imitator sitting next to you.
The two shows on now at Stills Gallery are by established, mature photographers creating their own dreamworlds and representing fantasy and identity in ways that provoke enthusiasm as childlike as their mysterious subjects and a Lacanian freak-out. Mark Kimber's All That Glisters series is framed in smoothly finished black and mounted deep under immaculate glass. The 40x40 prints themselves are of — deep breath — seagoing outer-space rock-star Victoriana collectibles in diorama. They're shiny, with little glitter-encrusted gold men in them and glossy fires and glassy waters in the tableaux, light reflecting off the hermetically encapsulated domes. It's like he's made snow globes of images from exploits imagined for a grown-up future then photographed them in a grown-up way, making fun of the images but preserving them as complete and inviolable. Inscrutable rather than impenetrable, the creature-masked children of Between Worlds almost seem to be superimposed on Polixeni Papapetrou's crisply coloured landscapes. Captured in motion, engrossed in an adventure, the pictures' ornately vintage-costumed inhabitants don't evade or deflect scrutiny but seem unaware of it. The larger-proportioned animal heads situate them in a 105x105 fairytale and subvert the usually authoritative gaze of the observer. Stuck in the Symbolic order, the viewer is confronted with a staging of Imaginary they may conceive of but cannot properly enter. It's beautiful, but a bit like not being invited to play.
The MCA's Anna Davis has curated this survey exhibition of leading Australian artist Jenny Watson, which features works from the 1970s up to the present day ranging from her early realist drawings and paintings to several series of works on fabric. Evidencing Watson's naive, unaffected style, The Fabric of Fantasy showcases her special ability to blend autobiography and psychology with imagination, wit and deadpan delivery to explore her dreams and desires. Based in Brisbane but an avid traveller, Watson often incorporates textiles purloined during her adventures into the surface for several of her paintings — which could be anything from sequins to horsehair to magazines. Influenced by punk and the feminist movement, a significant part of Watson's work involves self-portraits or alter egos — think longhaired Alice in Wonderland-like figures in dresses, ballerinas, rock guitarists, plus the odd horse or cat — and often uses hand painted text alongside distilled imagery to bring to life an unusual interior world. Whether you're a fan or not, don't miss this chance to see over four decades of work from a truly fascinating conceptual painter. Image: Jenny Watson, 'The Pretty Face of Domesticity' (2014).
Future Music have popped the line-up piñata, revealing what they promised would be their "biggest festival lineup yet". 2013's Day of the Dead-Set Awesome will be headlined by English electronic dance commanders The Prodigy, grime MC Dizzee Rascal, indie rockers Bloc Party and reformed rockers The Stone Roses, making it more of a Brit-fest than a Mexican one. Other exciting acts joining the bill include Harlem femcee Azealia Banks, Rita Ora, electro house mainstay Steve Aoki and our own The Temper Trap. Having set the standard with 2012's hefty bill, the Future Music organisers have really confirmed the festival's pulling power this time around. And PSY will also be there, just in case you feel like contracting a South Korean virus without actually paying for a ticket to his own upcoming show. Future Music Festival 2013 dates: Brisbane – Saturday March 2 Perth – Sunday March 3 Sydney – Saturday March 9 Melbourne – Sunday March 10 Adelaide – Monday March 11 https://youtube.com/watch?v=i3Jv9fNPjgk
Do you enjoy open-air cinema, a few coldies and good company? We certainly do and we want you to join us. It was only a matter of time before we sought out such activity and we're in luck. Let us present to you Summer Movie Nights at the Beresford. Every Monday from October 2012 through to March 2013, the Beresford are inviting you to free screenings of cult, rom-com and comedy classics. Set in the venue's outdoor courtyard, we're most certainly feeling the joy of the cinema outdoors. During the featured film (7 – 9pm) you can also snag $15 pasta dishes and $5 Heinekens. Yes please. And for all those 'tache fiends out there, we'd definitely recommend heading the Beresford's way for their own version of Movember. With a line up including Brewster's Millions, Shaft, The Artist and The Bird Cage we wish you a joyous time gazing at the upper lip art on the leading men in these films. Visit the Beresford’s website for monthly screenings.
Since late in 2019, when Disney launched its own streaming platform, fans of its animated classics, beloved hits and many, many super-popular franchises have been able to binge their way through the Mouse House's back catalogue from the comfort of their couch. At the end of March and throughout April, however, movie buffs are being asked to leave their houses to check out a selection of the company's famed titles — all thanks to the pop-up Disney+ Drive-In that's returning to Sydney. Yes, a streaming service is running a drive-in. Or, to put it another way, a product designed to get everyone watching on small screens at home is now endeavouring to lure viewers out to watch its flicks on a big screen from their cars. That's a very 2020–21 situation, with Disney+ first teaming up with Openair Cinemas to make it happen last year, and now bringing it back again. The drive-in will arrive in Sydney — at the Northern Private Carpark of Bankwest Stadium, to be specific — on Wednesday, March 31, screening films every night until Thursday, April 29. As for what'll be screening, the Disney+ Drive-In is working through the Mouse House's hits, screening single features each night. It's also drawing upon movies from the streaming platform's new Star expansion, too. On the bill: throwback titles like 10 Things I Hate About You, Mrs Doubtfire, Freaky Friday and The Devil Wears Prada; crooning tunes to The Greatest Showman and The Rocky Horror Picture Show; and Taika Waititi's Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok; and Leonardo DiCaprio in both Titanic and Romeo + Juliet. If you really love your Disney movies, you can also expect animated versions of Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as sing-along Moana, The Little Mermaid and the first Frozen film. Plus, Marvel fans can look forward to Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool. Popcorn, snacks and drinks will be available onsite — or you can bring your own. It's strictly a no-alcohol affair, though. And, ticket-wise, you'll be paying per car; however, prices vary depending the number of people in your car.
If you're looking for new activewear from a local brand, look no further than Active Truth, which is offering big promotion as part of the Boxing Day sales. The Aussie retailer is offering $50 off your shop when you spend over $200, or $100 off when you spend over $300. If you order now you'll also nab free express shipping, so you'll have your activewear at your doorstep and be ready to hit the gym in no time. Active Truth is accessible to gym-goers of all shapes and sizes, with a wide range of activewear from XS to 3XL, as well as a selection of active maternity wear and swimwear. The brand is also committed to sustainable business practices, including using locally sourced Merino wool. The promotion will run up until Wednesday, December 30. Jump onto the Active Truth website to browse the catalogue and score an end-of-year deal to help motivate you to stick to your 2021 fitness regime. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Dust off your sombreros, amigos. The latest international excuse for a good time to reach our shores is Cinco de Mayo — a celebration of all things Mexican (which, if we’re being nit-picky, is really more of an Americanisation than anything but shh, let us party). In celebration, the folks at Corona and Beach Burrito Company Fortitude Valley are putting together a fiesta, complete with face painting by local street artists and the first ever Taco Time Trials Eating Contest. For the less competitively inclined but equally taco-happy, Cinco de Mayo falls conveniently on a Tuesday, and Beach Burrito Co’s regular $3 taco deal applies, so your pesos’ll stretch further. With what you’ve got left, you can sip salt-rimmed margaritas, down trays of tequila shots (not recommended) or share a bucket of ice-cold Coronas. And, of course, come prepared to smash and whack your way to glory, because they wouldn’t be doing Mexico right without pinatas.
Crusaders for saving Sydney's nightlife Keep Sydney Open have issued the battle cry once again, announcing another large-scale rally in Sydney on Sunday, October 9 starting from Belmore Park. And, they'll have company. More than 15,000 Sydneysiders turned up back in February; however this weekend's protest will see more than a few high-profile names join the fold. Known for his loud voice behind a mic, Jimmy Barnes joins the lineup of artists keen to help urge the NSW Government to rethink the state's controversial lockout laws, as well as Justice Ian Callinan's (honestly pretty general) liquor law review, which was released this week. He'll be joined by Urthboy and The Jezabels lead singer Hayley Mary on the speaking front, as well as City of Sydney Councillor Jess Scully and KSO's own Tyson Koh. Fighting a suffering live music scene with some ace live music is also on the agenda, thanks to a performance by the One Day Crew, aka Joyride, Horrorshow, Spit Syndicate and Jackie Onasis. With DJs Touch Sensitive and Ariane also on the bill, as well as Paul Mac with Stereogamous, the rally will demonstrate the city's vibrancy and variety — things that are at risk of fading under the lockout regime. "We're excited to bring this line up together and to unite such diverse genres of music, and eras in Sydney's cultural history, and we're proud to bring this to Sydney's streets for everybody to enjoy on Sunday," said Koh. "It has never been clearer that the lockouts are the wrong answer to the question of how to create a safe, fun and vibrant city," he continued. "Keep Sydney Open will march in the streets to call on the state government to let Sydney have the same, world class late-night culture we all know this city is capable of having." By Shannon Connellan and Sarah Ward.
Those masters of dark yet joyful surf rock are back with a one more album and one less band member. After weathering a near-breakup, this newly downsized dup are returning to Australia for a full national tour to usher in the lazy summer months. If one thing's for sure, fans will get something different from what they've seen before. The band's new album Encyclopedia is a blunter, simpler take on their classic sound. The Drums' own brand of misanthropy is more persistent and when paired with their characteristic whistling and hand clapping give the band a new eerie quality. In the face of original member Connor Hanwick's desertion earlier in the year and a fan base that seems to have gradually forgotten their favourite kings of the summer roadtrip soundtrack, The Drums have come back with a new kind of emotion behind the same sound. Get set for a new incarnation of The Drums, clapping their hands and shaking their fists. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nWc4mZoGK2k
In breaking-stop-everything-tell-your-friends news, The Barber Shop is making things a little more extravagant for the single gentlemen of Sydney. Australia’s first barber shop/bar and the 2014 Bartender Awards' Bar Operator of the Year, the Barber Shop has teamed up with Chivas to celebrate their very first birthday, and the romantic among you reap all the rewards. If you take a Tinder date to the party, you'll get a free cheese board. FREE. CHEESE. BOARD. Part of a flurry of birthday pampering options created especially for the occasion by Chivas and the Barber Shop — whisky tasting flights, cocktail-paired haircuts, hot shaves, face scrubs, acid jazz — the bar has created a special menu for the second half of the evening: over 40 gins to choose from, sharing plates by David O'Brien (ex-Merivale). But the pièce de résistance for us? When you're booking your table, tell 'em you'll be on a Tinder date and they'll throw in a cheese board for zilch — served with cornichons and baguette. But hold up. There are a few factors at play here, most only dependent on how much you care about strangers' opinions of you. Firstly, if you get a cheese board without being on a Tinder date, you're going to look like you're on a Tinder date anyway; a kind of Scarlet Letter sitch where you're branded with the cheese plate. So if you're one to get shuffly about everyone knowing you're on a Tinder date, maybe take it to Shady Pines for the free peanuts. Next, are you going on Tinder to specifically to get a free cheese board? In which case, should you be up front with your date about this? Should you be changing your profile deets to not mislead poor, innocent Tinder users who thought you were here because you liked their holiday selfie? You monster, using people for delicious, delicious cheese. This is serious, people. If you're going to score a free cheese board, you'd better know what's up or innocent people are going to get hurt. Don't run any birthdays now. Find The Barber Shop at 89 York Street, Sydney. The birthday sitch? The Chivas Ultimate package is $125 and includes Chivas signature cocktail, haircut, hot towel shave, face scrub and Chivas Whisky Tasting Flight (12yr, 18yr and 25 yr). The Chivas Experience is slightly less at $98 and includes Chivas signature cocktail, haircut, and hot towel shave. (All appointments from 2pm receive complimentary White Rabbit White/Dark Ale, MOAR freebies). Bookings essential via 9299 9699 (or website). And remember to tell them it's a Tinder date if you're after that cheese board.
The acquisition of good vintage clothing can be a difficult feat. Much like the metaphoric fog, sometimes you have to sort through a whole bunch of crap until you find something good. Fortunately for us, the guys behind Foe, Like The Enemy have trawled through Asia and the Americas to source the best vintage clothing they could get their hands on. After a wildly successful first pop-up instalment, Foe are holding their second pop-up store in Regent Street, Redfern from September 24 - October 8. For a limited time you can walk into a real-live shop and try on vintage clothes in an actual changeroom — we're talking Jurassic Park denim details, well-worn flannos, as many retro sunglasses as you can predict to lose at a music festival. Every killer pop-up needs a killer launch party — and the first Foe shindig was an epic hootenanny in Fouveaux Street with Catcall and Phondupe spinning tunes aplenty. This time around, there'll be plenty of free drinks courtesy of Havana Club. But to fuel your shopping spree vibes, there'll some very special sets from some of Sydney's best including Embassy, Brudo and Hux, Collarbones' Marcus Whale and FBi Radio's Adi Toohey. That's some serious Sydney talent behind the decks for a launch. To gear you up for tonight, FBi Sunset DJ Adi Toohey has created a brand new beats-laden minimix — just the thing to make your Wednesday that little bit more top notch. Last time around we brought you a mix from Phondupe, which you can find here after you've cranked this crispy morsel: Launch night runs from 6.30pm, Wednesday, September 24. The pop-up shop is open until October 8. Check out the Phondupe minimix for the first pop-up here. Words by Natalie Freeland and Shannon Connellan.
Every meal is a happy meal at Queenies. But returning next month is the happiest meal of all: Queenies' Annual Stoner Dinner. The second such dinner in as many years, it's themed 'MacQueenies' and pays homage to that ever-reliable late-night institution that we will always have a soft spot in our hearts for: McDonald's. For $50 a pop, you'll forget what munchies even are with a finger-lickin' good seven-course MacMenu, including an obligatory double dessert (!!). The kitchen is putting a highly creative spin on your Golden Arches faves, serving up courses like Ditched Pickles with mustard salt and cheese fondue, a Little Big Feast, a Rib Mac Patty made from jerk pork parts and 'Smoked Chicken Nuggets' with "all the sauces". But how can Queenies beat Macca's desserts? With French Fries Ice Cream shot through with cookie swirl, that's how. And, leaving the Granny Smiths at home, the MacQueenies Deep Fried Pie combines drool-inducing guava, custard apple and jerk custard. Promising more satisfied bellies than ever, Queenies' Stoner Dinner is a tradition you'll want to make a habit. Give in to your wildest cravings and book it. MacQueenies takes place on Thursday, October 16. $50 a head — bookings essential. To reserve a spot email bookings@queenies.com.au or call (02) 9212 3035.
Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard are an unlikely but very compelling band of environmental radicals in Night Moves, from director Kelly Reichardt (Meek's Cutoff). The trio collaborate in an intense operation to blow up a dam in Oregon, as a protest against industrialism and resource exploitation. Night Moves is a suspenseful thriller that explores the concept of political radicalism and the consequences of your actions, despite good intentions. The film has had some great reviews since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival last year, currently sitting on 85 percent certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Night Moves is in cinemas in Brisbane and Melbourne on September 11. Thanks to Curious Distribution, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=4OQ7jjkY3tE
The winning artwork of the latest Kaldor Public Art Project has been announced, and it's no small feat. Winner of KPAP's 45th anniversary project competition, 'YOUR VERY GOOD IDEA', local Indigenous artist Jonathan Jones will create a full-scale replica of the Garden Palace in Sydney's Botanic Gardens — a structure which burned down under suspicious circumstances in 1882. The forthcoming work, entitled Barrangal dyara (skin and bones), will be a temporary installation consisting of the bare structures of the forgotten building. And, though the work seems minimalist and unobtrusive, the ideas it represents evoke something much larger. Though the Garden Palace was only standing for three years, it contained a great deal of significant Indigenous artefacts. Part museum, part gallery, the Palace was a proud home to much of Australia's early colonial history. Though the source of the fire was not known, rumours circulated that wealthy local residents could be involved due to their complaints the building blocked their harbour views. "It would be like someone torching the art gallery, the MCA and the Mitchell library today," the artist told SMH this morning. With the history of the site, the conceptual implications of Jones' artwork are more than clear. A melancholy monument to cultural erasure, Barrangal dyara has a deep resonance with the nature of Indigenous history at large. In fact, though the work was this morning compared to Christo and Jeanne-Claude's 1961 Kaldor project Wrapped Coast, it has stronger similarities with more overtly political pieces like Sophie Calle's Detachment series. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Calle travelled around newly-reunited Germany documenting the sites where various GDR monuments had previously stood. Photographing the now empty spaces, Calle asked local residents to narrate their memory of the space as it had once been. Exploring the swift political change and cultural erasure of the time, Calle's artworks stood as testament to the ever-present nature of memory. While similar in concept, it's telling that Jones' work won't have such intimate narration. The people who witnessed the structure burn are now long gone, and those who were affected by it have long been rendered voiceless. The white bones of the Palace will no doubt offer a stark reminder of this — the skeletons we like to keep hidden in our national closet. Barrangal dyara (skin and bones) was unanimously chosen as the winning artwork by a panel of judges this morning. The project is scheduled for completion in 2016.
Who can get everyone in a crowd to take one piece of their clothing off and 'smash it in the air'? Hilltop Hoods can. It's a measure of the respect and adoration they've come to command in the local hip-hop scene (and, let's face it, the Australian music industry more generally). It's not for nothing — they have a persistent, infectious, unbridled energy that comes across in their epic live shows, and they're constantly giving to their fans. Nothing shows that more than the massive 21-date national tour they're setting off on right now. The Cosby Sweater Australian Tour comes off the back of their seventh studio album Walking Under Stars, the second instalment of an ambitious three-piece project that started with previous album Drinking from the Sun and will culminate next year with something big and as yet top secret. Will the reign of these undisputed kings of homegrown hip-hop never end? Expect heaps of new tracks alongside those old crowd favourites. Advice is, wear multiple pieces of clothing. https://youtube.com/watch?v=X6G2fzPTwOA
Whether you're a kitchen whiz or meal-improv-aficionado, nobody can deny the simple pleasure of eating a meal made with your own hands. If you're lacking culinary skills and wish to change that, a great place to start is Sydney Seafood School. Located in the famed Sydney Fish Market, this all-inclusive cookery academy offers masterclasses in the realm of prepping, cooking and serving damn fine seafood dishes and has a spring cooking class series ready and waiting for eager students. There's a class for every skill level, from total beginner to self-acclaimed expert. Each class is led by an (actual) expert chef who is passionate about sharing their craft. This goes beyond showing how to perfectly pan-fry a salmon fillet. You could learn how to slice sashimi flawlessly, how to fillet a whole fish, the secret to cooking live crabs and much more. There are also classes themed around seafood specialties from all over the world, with Korean, French, Middle Eastern, Spanish, Italian, Singaporean and First Nation recipe-focused classes all making appearances in the program. Take a look, and you'll see there really is something for every kind of seafood lover. Sydney Seafood School offers classes every Saturday and Sunday. For more information or to book a class, visit the website.
Father's Day is a time to treat the father figure in your life. Whether you're celebrating with your dad, the father of your kids, or a treasured paternal figure — you don't want to roll out the same grooming kit or funny socks for yet another year. Usually, you could take your dad to a nice restaurant and make his day with a tasty meal and a drink of choice, but this year, with Sydneysiders stuck inside, it's time to get a bit more inventive. We've put together a list of all the tasty treats you can order for your dad to replicate a top-notch meal out this Father's Day, because even though you can't celebrate in person, you can still put a smile on his face. FEASTS If your dad loves a big meal, there are plenty of options on hand to surprise him from fine dining to solid pub feeds. For the father that's a connoisseur of French cuisine, CBD bistro Restaurant Hubert is offering luxe at-home banquets featuring some of its most popular menu items. Spoil dad with pork terrine wrapped in pastry, roasted snails with XO butter and confit mushroom with peppercorn sauce. Josh Niland's sustainable Fish Butchery is also serving up next-level lockdown meals. For Father's Day, you can order coral trout with Café De Paris butter and chips alongside corn polenta and a salad of grilled fennel, gordal green olives, green garlic and anchovies. Be quick as they're both sure to sell out. If yum cha is a Father's Day tradition in your house, Palace Sydney isn't letting lockdown stop you from sending dad all his faves. The Sydney institution has a far-reaching menu including a huge yum cha selection available for takeaway and delivery throughout Sydney. If the dad in your life is more of a roast man, luckily, The Taphouse are continuing their famed Sunday roast every weekend during lockdown which comes with either roast beef, crispy pork skin or a vegan loaf, as well as gravy and yorkshire pudding. Beloved burger joint Pub Life Kitchen has just reopened too, offering pub classics like steaks, schnitzels and chilli prawn spaghetti, as well as, of course, burgers. You can even send your dad a DIY Pub Life burger box so that he's still the grill master this Father's Day. [caption id="attachment_823489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Renata Brak[/caption] HAMPERS Treat dad with a hamper full of all of his favourite things. Chippendale's Handpicked Wines will pair a selection of wines and cheese and send them out with same-day delivery available to anyone within 25-kilometres of Sydney's CBD. If you're looking for a meatier hamper, Polart Sydney has put together The Hunter's Feast, a collection of Polish smallgoods including veal parowki, kransky sausages, bigos, bread, mustard and chocolates. Or, if your dad likes to get a little fancy, the Sheraton Grand is delivering at-home high tea and charcuterie packages packed with tomato mushroom arancini with truffle aioli, Moreton Bay bug quiches and scones, or cured meats, cheese, pickles, dried fruit and dips. SWEETS If you come from a household of sweet tooths, Sydney's got plenty of sugary treats on-hand for Father's Day. Black Star Pastry has taken the hard work out of deciding what cake to get dad with its All Star Tasting Box featuring a selection of its best cakes. It's also just dropped a collaboration with cocktail bar PS40 with a set of cake-inspired cocktails perfect for the dad that's partial to both a sugary dessert and an old fashioned. Koko Black is also coming prepared for Father's Day with a range of chocolate-heavy gifts tailored for dads, from chocolate-covered almonds and hot cocoa plus Koko Black's own chocolatey beer. Or, for a quick takeaway drop-off treat, swing past Lukumades in Windsor or Chippendale for some tasty Greek doughnuts. COFFEE If dad's been scraping at the bottom of the same jar of instant coffee for months now, maybe it's time you help him level-up his coffee game. Plenty of local roasters have their own beans so you can get your dad a thoughtful gift while supporting small businesses. Campos is offering the Superior Father's Day Blend. The limited-time coffee is just the brand's popular Superior Blend but with a dad joke on the packet and a free stubbie holder, so we very much approve. Sydney cafes Circa Espresso, Mecca and Single O all have their own ranges of beans, grinds and pods with fast delivery on offer to Sydneysiders, and Sample Coffee has a coffee subscription service so you can ensure dad's stocked up on caffeine all year round. Plus, Mecca has a whole range of coffee gear including Aeropresses, grinders and a potable pod coffee maker with Mecca pods. BOOZE Celebrate dad with a bottle of champagne, a bottled cocktail or a nice craft brew. P&V Merchants has a huge range of natty wines, local beers and small-batch spirits. Introduce your dad to Philter's new hazy pale ale, Sigurd's red blend wine or Range Life's fizzy pet nat if he's a bit more adventurous. Even better, P&V offers same-day or next-day delivery to Sydney locals in case you've left your gift-buying until the last minute. Those looking for something slightly more orthodox can turn to Winona Wine and Annandale Cellars who both have free delivery services for Sydneysiders, or award-winning cocktail bar Maybe Sammy, which is delivering 500-millilitre bottles jasmine negroni, eucalyptus gimlet and chamomile martini. Top image: Nastia Gladushchenk
A month-long food, drink and arts festival is taking over Surry Hills throughout November, pulling together beloved venues like Mille Vini, Dove & Olive, Yulli's, Dead Ringer, Four Pillars Laboratory, Gogyo, The Clock and Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney for 30 days of pop-ups, activations and special deals. The aim of Heart of Surry Hills: showcasing what the suburb's businesses do best, and celebrating its chefs, sommeliers, cocktail creators, hospitality personnel, local beverage producers and more, all while making the most of the parklands — and throwing in art and music. Highlights of the festival include Murder Most Foul, a series of walking tours through Surry Hills focusing on the dark underbelly of the suburb's past; a vintage market day and a two-day festival at Shannon Reserve, the latter featuring tunes from Stereogamous and The Dollar Bill Darlings, food trucks and pop-up bars; and an after-dark tour of the suburb that includes stop-offs at Brix Distillers, Four Pillars and the Shakespeare Hotel. [caption id="attachment_868624" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Clock, Maria Boyadgis[/caption] On top of this, you'll want to check the Heart of Surry Hills website if you're heading to the city for a drink or bite to eat, with a heap of top venues offering special November deals as part of the festival. The Dove & Olive will be offering a craft beer paddle and spicy American-style chicken wings for $20 throughout the month, Mille Vini has put together a $35 tasting plate that comes with a paired wine, and Dead Ringer is serving up $12 martinis between 5–7pm each day. Plus, Refettorio, the collaboration between OzHarvest and Massimo Bottura, will be hosting two neighbourhood dinners. These public meals help to raise money so that the restaurant can those experiencing food insecurity with free lunches Tuesday–Friday each week. There's even more happening during the festival, so make sure to check out the full program. Top image: Mille Vini Kitti Gould
Dragging yourself off the couch on a Sunday isn't always easy, but you'll feel a little more inspired with Since I Left You's Slow Sundays. Launched this month, the dog-friendly event series celebrates the simple joys of a lazy Sunday. Expect hands-on workshops, market stalls, rejuvenating food and drinks, and an ambient soundtrack to lift your end of the week. Held Sunday, February 23 at 1pm, the first edition is all about gardening. Pocket City Farms will bring its urban farming expertise to the table through two interactive workshops. You'll learn the ins and outs of propagation to help you grow free plants, while there's also a pickling class, so you can turn those gross veggies in the back of the fridge into a tasty treat. Meanwhile, Petersham's Wattle & Bee will be swinging by to present a talk on Houseplant First Aid – perfect for those who struggle to keep even the heartiest plants alive. Throughout, a downtempo and ambient soundtrack by the Closed Circuits DJs will strike the ideal vibe for a laid-back Sunday session where you can put your green thumbs to work. Tickets are just $20, come with a cocktail or gourmet toastie on arrival, and include a furry plus-one.
Word Travel's literary laboratory Story-Fest is set to return to Sydney this month. Between October 19–21, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks and other venues around the harbour will host wordsmiths from across the globe as they take the stage to share their vocal art. The annual festival celebrates eclectic creatives with three jam-packed days of provocative poetry slams, talks, live literature and monologues. Artists expected to make the journey include celebrated Canadian poet and novelist Kaie Kellough, who will host both a discussion and an experimental language workshop, and Singapore's Deborah Emmanuel. Emmanuel will take to the stage at Customs House to perform her new solo work Alien Flower in Fundamentalist Fields for the first time. She will also join ABC Radio National audio documentary maker Belinda Lopez and Laurie May for the multilingual performance, Leaving Home, Coming Home, which explores the concept of what is, well, home. Those wanting to stretch their creative muscles can take part in poetry zine making and haiku workshops, the latter of which ends in a precariously named 'Death Match' — don't worry, it's just a battle of the spoken word. This expansive line-up culminates in the festival's main event: the Australia Poetry Slam National Final, taking place at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday evening. Kellough will start the night with a unique vocal performance, then the comp will kick off. During the slam, members of the crowd will be randomly chosen to play the role of judge. Last year's winners Solli Raphael and Jesse Oliver will also perform before handing over their (figurative) crowns. The winner will get a golden ticket to literary festivals around the globe, from Singapore to Montreal. Whether you're a hidden poet, like to experiment with a haiku or two, or just want to sit back and watch some damn emotive speech, this event will be sure to unleash some real feels from within. Tickets vary from show to show and range between $10–58. Or, if you get in quick, you can snap up a Festival Pass for just $35 (there's only 35 of these available — so poetic). If you're strapped for cash, the event is also running a free Performing Writers Forum, where you can still experience the best of this dynamic community.
Walking around Brisbane is a great way to enjoy your own backyard, see the local sights and get in some exercise. For a 17-day period between Friday, March 12–Sunday, March 28 in 2021, doing just that will also allow you to engage with a series interactive installations. They're called 'curiocities', and they're part of the returning Curiocity Brisbane festival, which focuses on the interaction of science, technology, innovation and the arts. Spread around town — across a 6.8-kilometre circuit that links the City Botanic Gardens, South Bank, the Cultural Precinct and the Brisbane CBD, in fact — these hubs will serve up both physical and virtual experiences. One, Platonic Volumes & Cosmologies by Bits to Atoms, is a large scale-translucent matrix of recycled plastic beams, while another, Evanescent by Chimera Atelier and Pineapple Design Studios, will use colour-changing film that'll make it look like a huge bubble. Or, you can check out two augmented reality works, either venturing back to Brisbane on the day prior to First Settlement or working with other folks to build a digital ecosystem. Also on the bill: a chat-fuelled program called Curious Conversations, where Benjamin Law will host a range of speakers to talk about the future; a giant vertical kaleidoscope in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens; and The Party Button, an interactive artwork on the Goodwill Bridge that plays party tracks and turns on flashing lights when pressed. And, a number of other big events fall within the program also — such as World Science Festival Brisbane and GOMA's Up Late sessions as part of its new motorcycle-focused exhibition.
Have you ever felt the urge to cover a yacht in mirror tiles? Artists Zoe Walker and Neil Bromwich did, and the result was the boat Celeste. The pair have sailed this mirror-ball vessel along the British coast, collecting and transmitting local sounds along the way from the boat itself. The boat for the Sydney incarnation of Celestial Radio is newly made — Celestra is doing the sailing duties — but its sister vessel's modus operandi remains intact. Taking inspiration from pirate radio of the 60s, the artistic pair have put music from Sydney musician James Brown together with Sydney sounds and words into an hour's loop of radio, broadcast from the yacht 24 hours on 95.9FM. During the day the yacht will flit between bridge and Opera House, occasionally brushing up to the MCA itself to schedule, reflecting Sydney back to itself in borrowed light and sound. Visitors without radios can borrow FM headsets from the Celestial Radio booth outside the MCA. A film on the adventures of the Celeste off the Isle of Skye will be screened at the MCA the night of March 29.
