I’m currently listening to Merryweather Post Pavilion, the latest album by Brooklynites (now globally based) Animal Collective. There are so many bands ripping off this sound at the moment, but I guess that just reinforces the age old saying that from little things, big things grow.Animal Collective are here in December for the Meredith Music Festival, but if you missed out on tickets to that don’t worry because they’ve just announced solo sideshows! Say it with me now: “WOOOOO HOOOOO!!†Watch the video to My Girls and be thankful you’ve got four walls and some stable foundations, keep it real and shout out after listening to Brother Sport.https://youtube.com/watch?v=zol2MJf6XNE
If there’s a band I know well and have seen many times, it is ‘the juice’. I watched them 14 times last year when my band The Paper Scissors (plug!) toured with them so we've shared many a sweaty van, band rooms and bottle of booze. Seeing them this many times I have bared witness to the fact that they are a pillar of entertainment and musicality, every show putting on an amazing performance; they literally put their lives on the line (I have been concerned for Jake Stone’s safety watching him treat lighting rigs like monkey bars). You would have heard them a lot recently as their single Broken Leg has been like an ugly stadium-rock strongman in the way of every radio and video wave recently. Their album title track Head Of The Hawk takes the sound, size and vibe of Broken Leg and applies less irony, more drunk-guy choral vocals and Jerry Craib’s tasteful synthesizer work and jams it all into the radio friendly length of two minutes fourty four. The Juice have been up down and around Aus of late, playing Splendour and many many festivals and club shows, so they should be polished on their new songs and skipping routine when they hit Sydney to launch Head Of The Hawk. It would be an idea to get there early as the great young Sydney siders The Jezabels are opening.Seeing as this show is on Halloween, Bluejuice would like everyone attending to dress in the spirit of the holiday. Email photos of your costume after the event to be featured on their online gallery.https://youtube.com/watch?v=Fqnagz41NTU
For those unsatisfied with skiing double black diamond runs, or daring off-piste, then heli-skiing must surely be the final frontier. This October, the award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research (TGR) are bringing their newest skiing/snowboarding film extravaganza Re: Session to tour around Australia. Having gathered together the best of the best to tackle some of the world’s toughest terrain in Poland, Italy and the USA, TGR has captured their fearless antics on both 16mm and in glorious HD with the cutting edge RED camera. The trailer (below) is a mere hint of the sheer insanity of these extreme athletes. So, while spring may have sprung in Sydney, head on over to The Seymour Centre October 16 and 17 to experience a very different kind of winter wonderland.TO WIN ONE OF FIVE DOUBLE PASSES EMAIL YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS TO HELLO@CONCRETEPLAYGROUND.COM.AU WITH 'RE: SESSION' IN THE SUBJECT LINEhttps://youtube.com/watch?v=KWuPcbrKwzs
One World. One Week. One Festival. Cremorne’s charming Hayden Orpheum is the Sydney venue for this unique festival of short films and lots of numbers: of 428 entries from 36 countries, the ten selected semi-finalists will have their films screened 532 times in 173 cities across five continents. Sydneysider Sandy Widyanata is one of the lucky ten; her image-conscious short Plastic will compete against films from Europe, the UK, USA, Israel and Mozambique. Read more about the film in an interview with Widyanta here (and to avoid any hints of nepotism, interviews with the other semi-finalists can be accessed here).So to be part of the 100,000 strong worldwide audience voting for the winner, be at the Orpheum on September 20. The winner will be revealed from New York on September 29 and announced on the festival website.
“So many things I did.â€This whispered utterance from Valentino â€" as his moves through the racks of 45 years of couture â€" said with such simplicity and almost incredulity, perfectly encapsulates his brilliant career. And yet the Emperor was not without his entourage, as Matt Tyrnauer’s fascinating documentary so telling reveals. Indeed the film is almost evenly divided between the fashion and the business of Valentino â€" run (aside from the financiers) by his, “friend, lover, employee,†of some 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti. The pair are often captured bickering more like an old (un)married couple, than the creative and business brains behind a billion dollar fashion franchise. While the documentary is certainly celebration of Valentino’s illustrious career, it is also in part a reverent eulogy. The spectre of loss â€" in this case Valentino’s retirement from the dizzyingly detailed world of haute couture â€" hangs over the film. Every interview, every star studded conversation becomes a discussion of, “will he or won’t he?†And as the story builds to the climax of his 45-year retrospective, and the truly astonishing party at the ancient Temple of Venus, it all becomes poignantly apparent that once again the sun is setting on a Roman Empire.https://youtube.com/watch?v=Na05gIgZWfQ
The heartbeat is the blueprint for the oldest musical instrument - the drum - and since its discovery percussion has returned the favour; new beats and rhythms contort our bodies into dancing blurs, and even now in the jaded generations there's still a strong cord linking us back to our most primitive, tribal foot-thumpers.Fritz Hauser, the Swiss drummer par excellence, will reboot our souls with his solo piece Stillifes before reconnecting with his long-time collaborators, Sydney ensemble Synergy Percussion to present new work inspired by The Annunciation. Taking place in the blessed belly of the Old Newington Chapel, Hauser and Synergy's alchemical marriage weaves a plethora of sensual elements, from poetic artworks and seraphic lights through to gut-rubbing bass rhythms and extraterrestrial electronica.Definitely take this special opportunity to achieve enlightenment for one weekend.https://youtube.com/watch?v=iBiEw-5VdDQ
Gaia, the spirit of the Earth, has long rewarded her chosen children with gifts of green and brown. Of course, there are the lucky five in every generation who are granted rings of elemental power (...heart? What?) and Captain Planet as their pal, but for the rest of us there are the ultimately more wondrous essentials of... "BASIL!", "THYME!", "ROSEMARY!", "MINT!" and "SAGE!".With these powers combined you have: amazing pesto, great roasts, delicious salad dressings and a garbled Simon & Garfunkel ballad.As sustainability becomes the biggest issue facing our generation, join the green community down at CarriageWorks for the free launch of their Kitchen Garden project. Everyone is welcome to learn how to become their own herbaceous Planeteer and those who are quick enough can also check out the documentary The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.For those extra keen about their green, there will be an ongoing workshop project with strictly limited numbers - to get involved you MUST attend this opening info session.https://youtube.com/watch?v=-VHt5QchfdQ
Sounding like a crook’s name from Cluedo, or an 18th century lady killer, events space The Red Rattler certainly evokes an old-school charm. And so it should. Its ethos is outdated by some standards. Not for profit? Community based? Green? All of these things, in Sydney? Yes, they say – and what’s more, it’s here for good, which is something that a lot of other independent venues can’t promise. They’ve got a full calendar to prove it, with an end to fungiphobia, a tree-planting revolution, a provocative zoo and a sustainable craft market, all housed in a quaint, age-worn factory in Marrickville. And to clear up the name mystery, it’s actually a reference to the clinkety-clanking old dames of the railway, with some revolutionary red thrown on top. That’s probably more on the right track ...
As a child, there is one animated series I was obsessed with above all others: The Mysterious Cities of Gold. Visions of ships sailing into storms, ancient Incan medallions and brightly woven ponchos have haunted my dreams to this day. Lost Valentinos were apparently fans of the series too. Their debut album, Cities of Gold, is filled with references to conquistadors, voyages of discovery, ancient technologies and undiscovered treasures. Dave Ma’s stunning video for the album’s first single, Serio, depicts the band gradually transforming into shamanistic creatures, dancing and drumming their way through a primordial forest. They’ve even minted a coin, a pure slice of Incan gold, which awards the possessor a chance at a trip to Peru when they register through their website, designed by the band’s own Patrick Santamaria. The album’s release is auspiciously scheduled for 09/09/09, but you can peer into Lost Valentinos’ elaborate world on August 1st before they embark on their Conquistadisco tour.https://youtube.com/watch?v=pYWno5wCG3s
Spain is full of exquisite buildings and women, dramatic landscapes, and strange characters who give you obscure clues and instructions in matchboxes, right? Jim Jarmush's new film is an exploration of perception, memory, reality and consciousness which marks something of a departure from his earlier work. The film lacks the refined potency of his brilliant Ghost Dog: The Way of The Samurai or his earlier New-York-new-wave classics (Down By Law, Stranger Than Paradise, Permanent Vacation), but it's a matter of giving in to the film's odd rhythm, which is enhanced by a striking aesthetic and vivid soundscape. Jarmush's casting is as exceptional as ever with the brilliant Isaach De Bankolé as the enigmatic outsider alongside fleeting appearances from the filmmaker's other favourites including Tilda Swinton, Youki Kudoh (who he last worked with 20 years ago on Mystery Train), Gael GarcÃa Bernal and Bill Murray. But the real star of the show is the cinematography by one of Australia's finest exports, Chris Doyle. His compositions and subtle camera work are what really transport us to the strangely focused but dreamlike state of this intriguing film. https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AUFMGAck6A
Another exciting gig to complete the August line-up at the Metro is Aussie band Faker who are touring with the JD Set throughout August. While Concrete Playground are always very excited to see successful Aussie bands, and Faker’s high rotation on Triple J is always a good sign of Australian success at least, we’re also secretly worried that they won’t be able to top their set that this writer saw at the Falls Festival in 2006. ‘Hurricane’ is one of the best songs. Ever. But hey, we can’t live in the past. Check out Faker at the Metro Friday August 7, 8pm.There are limited guaranteed entry, no door charge tickets available for this gig.http://www.metrotheatre.com.au/tickets/mtickets.php?gigid=1534
Sustain you. Sustain me. Sustain it for always. That’s the way it should be. Sustainability may be the buzzword du jour, but my, what an excellent thing to be buzzing about. Sustain Me: Contemporary Design is a group exhibition of Australian and international designers who are engaging with ideas of sustainability in their work. This involves designing objects from would-be landfill and the use of earth-friendly materials such as clay and natural fibres over less renewable alternatives. Karmic brownie points aside, these objects are also very easy on the eye and will have you wondering if you might be able to sneak one out the back door. Sustainability is a necessity nowadays. How wonderful to see it cha-cha with style and function.Sustain Me: Contemporary Design opens at Ivan Dougherty Gallery on Thursday 30 July at 6pm and is part of Sydney Design 09: 13th International Design Festival, running until 22 August.
Actors who announce, with much ado, that they have decided to work on such-and-such a film for free tend to get on my nerves: as if film stars who deign to play at make-believe pro bono deserve special veneration. And then along comes an actor like Anthony LaPaglia, in a film like Balibo.Director Robert Connolly’s unabashedly political third film is that rare feat of Australian cinema, one that manages to hold a mirror to some dark stain on our country’s past without setting audiences on the defensive. It plays out, in chilling detail, the fates of the now-infamous ‘Balibo Five’, the young western journalists who were murdered for covering Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor in 1975. But it also tells the story of a sixth Balibo journalist, who tried to investigate the men’s disappearances and was brutally killed for his troubles; as well as the story of our own country’s complicity.Both confronting and deeply human, the film’s potency lies in its conviction, in its integrity, and in its urgency. There are, of course, violent scenes, and there are times when it is tempting to turn away. But if nothing else, Balibo is a tribute of those who would not turn away.https://youtube.com/watch?v=EApB2ndekZg
You’ve heard of sit-ins. But what exactly is a knit-in? It too requires a bottom, a healthy handful of creative thinking … oh, and some 4mm knitting needles. Tied into the not-for-profit initiative Wrap with Love, and running in various venues for the whole of July, the knit-ins hope to generate enough knitted squares, and then wraps, to thaw the tootsies of those suffering from extreme cold the world over. So far, 184 000 wraps have been sent to over 75 countries. And yes, it’ll warm their hearts and yours a little too. Plus, if any waylaid naked hippies turn up, you’ll even have a modesty patch on hand.
This is really very exciting. It isn't often that a platform for collaborative thinking and making is given enough time to find its roots and address something specific. Too often 'collaboration' is ceremoniously trumpeted around as though it deserves praise as a word regardless of the activity it is meant to encompass. Edge of Elsewhere is different - this three-year (2010-2013) collaborative project will in fact produce some fruit. Organised to be part of the Sydney Festival, Edge of Elsewhere brings together artists from Asia, Australia and the Pacific to develop new work in Sydney. Specifically, the artists will address the city itself - the citizens, the geography and the various communities - enabling art to be responsive rather than premeditated. Among the many artists involved are the Korean text/net-based team YOUNG-HAE CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES, Australian image-architect Brook Andrew, as well as the Chinese anthropological video maker Wang Jian Wei. The Asia/Pacific Cultural Futures Forum will be held as part of Edge of Elsewhere at Capbelltownn Arts Centre on January 16 at 2.00pm, and the project is also taking place at Gallery 4A (181-187 Hay Street, Haymarket) from January 16 - February 6.
If you're not already an excited fan, what you may know about Kaki King is that Rolling Stone named her a "Guitar God" in 2006, and that most live reviews could be filed under: 'guitar tech drool dream'. I'm not kidding. She plays acoustic, she plays electric, she plays lap steel, she does something called tapping, and another thing called fanning. And when she tires of those things that I do not understand, she plays the piano. What no review seems to mention is that, ok, so she's a bonafide guitar god in that bordering-on John Fahey way, but hoo doggy does she have a pretty voice. So when she played in Sydney Festival's Spiegeltent a few years back, I was crushed when she didn't sing the whole time. But then she did that thing with the fanning and the tapping and I was happy once more, just like the rest of the sold out audience. Since then she has collaborated and toured with The Mountain Goats, Foo Fighters, and contributed to the soundtracks of Into the Wild (Golden Globe nomination) and Twilight (don't hold that against her), as well as releasing a handful of new EPs and — critic's favourite alert! — 2008's Dreaming of Revenge LP. See her because you understand those noodler's terms I used in the first paragraph and want to pray at the alter or whatever it is you do – or see her because you're a sucker for a pretty voice, but do see her.
Now, I know what you're thinking: mind readers are full of shit. British mind-reader Phillip Escoffey does not want you to believe that he's a psychic, in fact he's a cynic. Obsessed with the human mind and its eagerness to be swayed, Escoffey has developed a beguiling act that questions the foundations of mental manipulation while astounding audiences with the acuity of his revelations. What makes Escoffey so appealing is that he tells his audience how the trick is performed...and then still gets away with it. Couple this with a dash of James Bond debonair, and Six Impossible Things Before Dinner begins to sound more like a mass seduction than a night of light entertainment. http://www.thegreyman.com/
Hanging for some peyote-infused psychfolk, tinged with communal love vibes and the sounds of the desert winds as interpreted by swirling organ tones? Turns out you don't have to go to New Mexico, because New Mexico is coming to you this autumn, thanks to Mistletone. A collective based in NM's rural mountainscape, headline band Brightblack Morning Light are all heavy love, a bevvy of shaman showmanship rooted in the bliss out zone of washed out sunset rock. For this tour, Brightblack will be a trio consisting of founder Nathan Shineywater aka Nabob, Danielle Stech-Homsy of Rio En Medio and the percussionist Cannupa Luger. Sounds like a fully formed meditational tripod to me. Their most recent album, Motion to Rejoin, was one of the very best of 2008, its slow unravelling of a mix of complex orchestrations and simpler, feathery atmospheric jams forming a beautiful and cohesive record for a midsummer night's dream. For those wanting more, I recommending reading an interview they did with Trinie Dalton for the much missed (in print) Arthur Magazine, available online. It's just as exciting that Rio En Medio is touring, Stech-Homsy's folk offerings deserving of a double-headline tour. Having released a debut record on Devendra Banhart's Gnomonsong label, this solo project has the ethereal sound of a feathered dreamcatcher and the fixed confidence of an Ojo de Dios. Between them, Brightblack Morning Light and Rio En Medio have performed with Os Mutantes, Vashti Bunyan, Joanna Newsom and Grizzly Bear, amongst many others. To win one of two double passes to see Brightblack Morning Light, just visit our Facebook page, click 'Suggest to Friends' then confirm your entry by leaving a comment on the wall. Winners will be contacted by DM on Wednesday morning. https://youtube.com/watch?v=F0vgBbuG5E8 https://youtube.com/watch?v=wGJBXc5o-YU
Two years ago Contemporary Dance wunderkind Shaun Parker astounded Sydney Festival audiences with his show This Show Is About People. It cleverly blended contemporary and classical dance with operatic singing and acrobatics to make a story about ordinary people stuck in a mundane transit lounge feel exhilarating. The show won the Australian Dance Award for Best Independent Production and was nominated for four Green Room Awards. This year he’s back with his follow up Happy as Larry. It explores the "9 archetypal personality types" and debuts at the Parramatta Riverside as part of Sydney Festival with a score composed by Nick Wales (CODA) and Bree van Reyk (Holly Throsby/Darren Hanlon).
I can’t believe the Severed Heads are playing Sydney Festival’s Becks Bar. It’s mental. How did that even happen? I'm sure that somewhere deep within the bowels of the Sydney Festival H.Q. there’s an acid casualty candy-raver giggling hysterically into their Hello Kitty backpack. Most people would remember Sydney based Severed Heads from their seriously terrifying single Dead Eyes Opened. It featured on Triple J’s Hottest 100 back in 1994. It was their only commercial “hitâ€, but they’d already been using lo-fi analog computers and loops to make uncompromising and extraordinary electronica since 1979. They broke up in 2008 and now they’ve reformed, John Farnam style, just for this one gig. Supporting them are another awesome 80’s band, The Reels, who’s song Quasimodo's Dream was voted by APRA as one of the Ten Greatest Australian Songs of All Time. Just like Dead Eyes Opened, that song also gives me the willies. Prepare yourself for a spooky night. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Mj6_IGjTUA0
The Rev is in town! When I was a sad and creepy 16 year old the only way I could deal with a particularly harsh break-up was to lock myself in my bedroom and listen to Simply Beautiful and How Can You Mend A Broken Heart on repeat. As cheesy as he may be, Al Green's smooth soul has helped many of us through the hard times. The man’s a phenomenon. Now he’s hitting Australia for the first time ever! He’s also playing all his old hits, which is a nice change to some has-beens who come over here and expect us to politely sit through their sub-par new work. (I’m looking at you Elvis Costello.) Tickets are a little pricey but I’m determined to see him. I expect to either sell a kidney or else you'll find me with my ear pressed to the back door of the State Theatre, clutching a tear-stained year 10 formal photo to my chest.https://youtube.com/watch?v=QUrghxZpVSw
Confucius thought that everything had it but not everyone could see it; for Kant it was located in our faculty of judgment; for Monet it was to be found in nature; Keats thought it was truth; and plastic surgeons earn money from it. What else could it be but that alternating and persistent obsession known as beauty. Kitagawa Utamaro (c1753-1806) was not inactive on the subject either; a master of Ukiyo-e (woodblock prints, or 'pictures of the floating world'), this mysterious artist illustrated scenes from history, theatre, nature, domestic life, hobbies, and sexual pleasure. To coincide with the exhibition Hymn to Beauty: the art of Utamaro at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, a symposium has been organised with international and local speakers examining Utamaro and his world. This world was late eighteenth–century Edo (now current day Tokyo), and Ukiyo-e was at the centre of an active and flourishing consumer market — perhaps similar to the intensity and engagement in which Manga (or 'whimsical pictures') is today. Renowned for his depictions of women, space, and subject matter, as well as his influence on Western artists (especially the impressionist gang), Utamaro's contribution to beauty is sure to be an intriguing and revealing reminder of how this subject both remains and changes through history. Food and fluid is also supplied! Or, if the symposium isn't attractive, Hymn to Beauty: the art of Utamaro runs from 13 February to 2 May 2010.
Dance and photography often make for a troubled marriage: one lives for motion and temporality while the other is bent on freezing movement and time. In an attempt to reconcile the differences between the two, Hamish Ta-mé's new series of images of urban dancers captures simultaneous stillness and movement, fleetingness and permanence, weightlessness and powerful athleticism, elevation and coming down. Harnessing a technique that is somewhere between photography and video, he built a special lighting rig that allowed him to shoot bursts of 40 still frames in 4 seconds. The images have been composited into large format prints and video works, which will be on show at Depot Gallery from Tuesday night under a collective title that refers to post-orgasm melancholy.
Oh friends, there is a storm brewing down in Sydney and its thunder-clapping clouds paint the sky in shades of blue. That’s dark blue, like the southern gothic tones growled by Johnny Wishbone, lead singer of Sydney act The Snowdroppers.Born on a stage reeking of burlesque bodices, this rag-tag band blends raw blues with a smirking theatricality. Their live shows have sold out both here and in Melbourne, and now they’re about to explode with the launch of their first album, Too Late to Pray.Dress up like your favourite razor gangbanger, then stomp and dance as the boys spit tunes of whiskey, blood and grave dust across the stage.Baby No More (Live at The Vanguard) from Tenderloins on Vimeo.
While the title might invoke images of men in pin-stripe suits tapping toes slowly to the beat of a double bass in a dingy smoke-filled bar, A Night at the Jazz Rooms has a bit more to offer. This incarnation of the series of jazz nights will be hosted by Sydney’s coolest jazz club, The Basement, and the talent on offer will explode with more funk, soul, and ‘Afro-Latin Brasil Boogie’ than you could possibly know what to do with. This is a regular event that Russ Dewbury has brought over from London, so get a taste this time and see if it's one to add to your diary.
Entering Drew Bickford's Mongrel, a collection of intricately executed illustrations, is like, as one observer put it, "arriving at the gates of hell". Yet it is a sweet hell. A hell from whose gates you may not wish to be turned away.Humanity's obsession with the mongrel and monster is evident in all cultures, although it manifests in various ways. Bickford contends that this is "a world that embraces monstrosity only as a spectacle to outrage and appall", and so he brings delicacy and beauty to the contorted creatures that underlie the spectacle of this exhibition. The illustrations are oddly sensual even while the subjects are ghastly and horrific. Mongrel's illustrations embrace the deformed and the grotesque, while the exhibition embraces the detailed order of display in a gallery space. This marrying of deformity and order casts the mongrels in a gentle light. Where monsters so often signify chaos, Bickford renders them eerily calming. Mongrel is most certainly worth casting your eyes over.Image: Drew Bickford: Who am I here?, 2009, ink on paper
When he "killed" at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival earlier this year, New York based funnyman Jamie Kilstein was called the "Richard Dawkins of standup." Make no mistake, he would probably take this as a compliment. Jamie's brand of comedy is sharp, sarcastic and stimulating in the vein of Bill Hicks, Allen Ginsberg and Henry Rollins. And like Dawkins, he is merciless in his takes on religion, politics, and â€" his favourite target â€" God.Whether it's because you like your laughs served with a side of smarts, or just because you want to see one of the newest talents on the international comedy circuit, make sure you get down to the Comedy Store to catch his Sydney shows.TO WIN ONE OF FIVE DOUBLE PASSES EMAIL YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS TO HELLO@CONCRETEPLAYGROUND.COM.AU WITH 'JAMIE KILSTEIN' IN THE SUBJECT LINEhttps://youtube.com/watch?v=2aozWGWdC6o
More inclined to pet a black cat that crosses their path than break out in heebie-jeebies, artist duo We Buy Your Kids have long been fascinated with the darker side of the astral plane and its ad hoc ethos. Having built up a comprehensive body of illustrative work that has been prominently displayed in Sydney's streets and record collections for the past four years, Biddy Maroney and Sonny Day have carved a niche of fantastical imagery. Their work has graced countless tour posters — recently for Deerhunter, Dappled Cities, often appearing in limited handscreened editions at concerts, much to the delight of fans and bands. WBYK have also made album art for the likes of Youth Group, Paul Dempsey and The Holy Soul, and created incredibly detailed clips for local darlings Washington and Belles Will Ring. In short, there's probably a piece of their work in your house right now.But what of those recurring themes held closest to their (black) hearts — bad luck, nogoodniks and occultish vibes? They spill out across the walls of Monster Children gallery in Trials: Posters-Screenprints-Negativity. Incorporating pulp and DIY printing aesthetics, WBYK have channelled their fascinations into a new series of screenprinted works. Step under a ladder before you view the exhibition just to get the full sensation.
The 2009 Italian Film Festival is already well under way at the Palace Cinemas in Sydney. Alongside the great line-up of new releases (including Michael Winterbottom’s much anticipated Genova) the festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary by screening a collection of past favourites. However the pièce de résistance of this anniversary year has got to be the closing night film, La dolce vita. Federico Fellini’s Palme d’Or winning masterpiece is returning to the silver screen ahead of its own 50th birthday next year. Experience Marcello Mastroianni’s seven-day romp around Roma as it was meant to be seen. Not to mention that fountain scene: Anita Ekberg’s seductive dip in la Fontana di Trevi is surely one of cinema’s most iconic moments. Sunday 11th October: sign up for a taste of the sweet life. https://youtube.com/watch?v=PHL2jTCjQLY https://youtube.com/watch?v=dzFe-iz8jM8
Sydney indie rockers Red Riders have been churning out hits and whipping the kids into frenzys for years now. They have been keeping themselves busy of late, touring with Little Birdy and also putting out their second album Drown In Colour. The two singles so far have seen a bit of a change in their sound, with Alex Grigg taking the writing reigns and indulging in more of a jangly Go-Betweens influenced style after the loss of co vocalist and songwriter Adrian Deutsch (who has swapped the scruffy jeans for smart suits and is putting out a solo album October 9th). The Vines guitarist Brad Heald (who I'm convinced doesn't remove his Greek fisherman hat ever) joined the band on guitar to take a break from Craig Nicholls' screaming in his ear, and to help make RR second hook laden LP. Latest single Ordinary, which Grigg calls on their website "pastoral post-punk", is a slice of effortless pop with Grigg's lazily delivered vocal atop a marching beat and tasteful guitar lines. They are stopping by to feel the sea breeze on their pallid indie-rocking faces at The Beach Road with help from Lions At Your Door.https://youtube.com/watch?v=XtBY7_3gj6o
During a visit to his ancestral home in Ireland, David Clarkson was awestruck by a land that he'd often visited in his dreams. He began to think of a world with many overlaid, where the ghosts of our ancestors are with us now and we dwell in their dreams in the past. As above, so below; endless reflections of a united, eternal life.Thus was born the third installment in Stalker's triptych of shows about The End. MirrorMirror, developed by Clarkson and choreographer Dean Walsh, is an aerial poem written in flesh that ponders the question: "Is there ever an end, or does our mortality forever cavort across all space and time?"Join the crowds who flocked to MirrorMirror's sold out premiere in the Netherlands and experience The End at what may be its final, soul-tingling conclusion.Photo by Pierre Borasci https://youtube.com/watch?v=1vLUUGe4kvs
The pint sized NYC rapper Nas has existed at the fore of the East Coast rap scene since his debut Illmattic in 1994. Whilst he has never exploded like your Kanyes or Jay-Zs, he has turned out consistently great albums. 2006's Hip Hop is Dead, his first album with Jay-Z's label Def Jam was seen as Nas' best work since his early albums, with a debut at number 1 and great reviews. The album saw the always outspoken and opinionated Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (he sticks with just the first syllable for his MC name) yearning for hip hop's glory days, with a cynical view on its trajectory. He lamented for simpler times on the title track "Went from turntables to MP3s/From Beat Street to commercials for Mickey D's''. Last year he released an album with the intended title Nigger, but because of the controversy surrounding the use of the racial epithet â€" with many American social commentators voicing their disapproval (including Jesse Jackson) â€" the album was finally released untitled and went on to do well on the charts and just lost the Best Hip Hop Album Grammy to Lil' Wayne.One of the West Coast's finest rappers Chali 2Na, best known for his deep baritone work as a member of Jurassic 5, is main support for the show, with jams that are much more party than controversy.Also on the super-bill is a battle set from Dj Qbert and MC Supernatural. Supernatural is an astounding freestyle MC, who attempted to set a new world record by freestyling for over 9 hours, but just fell short of a UK rapper's 10 hours.https://youtube.com/watch?v=84uWGVAcKR4
I saw the film that Wolf & Cub are named after once, Lone Wolf and Cub. It was one of those random gems that you sometimes stumble across on SBS. It tells the story of a single father Samurai who trains his infant son to take vengeance on their sworn enemies. It is pretty bad ass. The Adeladians are more known for their two drum kit live show than their sword skills or parenting. But they do it very well - live shows turning into freak outs with drum sticks brandished on their drums like they've been training in their rehearsal room dojo for yonks. Their second album Science and Sorcery, released earlier this year, imbued an electronic element into their rhythm-based psychedelic sound, aided and influenced by Chris Colonna from Bumblebeez on production duties. Hearts is their latest single from the album â€" a downbeat groove that hints at Primal Scream and then doubles back into an organ driven mess of beats and melodies. Wolf & Cub are touting this at OAF next week, with help from The Vasco Era (those Melburnians that put out dirty poppy blues, with a bit of 90's grunge in the mix). Brisbane 2 piece DZ start the party early with their thrash-dance-punk.https://youtube.com/watch?v=UsaOr8J6WDo
Everyone keeps asking me what I am doing for New Years Eve... Last year I was in Egypt with my parents, before that it was at the hotel bar with a few cocktails and some complimentaty nuts. This year, I plan to celebrate with a little more enthusiasm. Always good option for NYE, the three day music and arts driven Peats Ridge Festival has scheduled theatre, cabaret and comedy programs, as well as a children's festival, dozens of free workshops, and a masquerade ball for the night of the 31st! Peats Ridge is also the only Australian festival that runs entirely on renewable energy.This year's line up includes recent ARIA winner Sarah Blasko along with Dappled Cities, Jack Ladder, Telepathe (US), Passenger (UK) and so many more.
Brian Clough: The greatest manager the England team never had. Being a football fan is by no means a prerequisite to enjoy Peter Morgan’s brilliant biopic The Damned United. Adapting David Pearce’s novel in what looks to be a fairly generous, even romanticised take on the life and career of Brian Clough, Morgan has reteamed with his Frost/Nixon and The Queen star Michel Sheen. Together the pair absolutely relish in the arrogance, the belligerence and the remarkable ambition of their subject. Cutting backwards and forwards between 1968 and 1974, The Damned United traverses Clough’s heady rise at Derby County as well as his spectacular fall from grace at Leeds United. It also tracks Clough’s competitive obsession with beloved Leed’s manager Don Revie (Colm Meaney) alongside the fruitful and fractious partnership Clough shared with his assistant manager Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall). Morgan seems to flirt with romantic comedy conventions, setting up a quasi-love triangle amidst the politics, money and muddy terrain of premier league football. The result is a provocative, darkly funny and particularly damning character study of hubris couched in idealism. Sheen’s performance is worth the price of admission alone, however Spall, Meaney and even a grouchy Jim Broadbent also impress, as does the production design, wonderfully framed shots and incisive dialogue. For all his superciliousness, Clough expounds the model of a football team as a family, an analogy that is clearly evident in the ongoing success of Morgan and Sheen’s filmmaking partnership. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LYzsswqPk6s https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xp_0ITy8nrk https://youtube.com/watch?v=dYBj_qAJtRA
Why hasn't Australia heard of the Topp Twins? We're famous for nabbing New Zealand talent and claiming them for our own (think Russell Crowe, Crowded House's Neil Finn and Jane Campion), so how these charming sisters, their humour and their musical activism haven't crossed the pond boggles the mind. Fortunately Leanne Pooley's delightful documentary has, bringing the remarkable story of Jools and Lynda Topp to Australia's belated attention.Structured around a self-styled This Is Your Life type evening, Jools and Lynda tell their tales and sing their songs to an audience of friends and family, many of whom are also interviewed. Learning about these lesbian, activist, yodeling farm girls is never dull, as their effusive energy and buoyant spirit captivates. Their music needn't even be to your taste to warm to their simple, funny songs and remark at just how much the pair has achieved. From gay rights, Maori Land Rights and nuclear disarmament, to (bravely!) storming a Springboks vs. All Blacks match to protest apartheid, these indefatigable Topps have managed to get their message heard while simultaneously establishing a place for themselves (and their alter egos) in Kiwi popular culture. However at least a few Aussies are already clued in to the Topps. They toured with Midnight Oil (as well as Billy Brag and Split Enz), John Clarke (another poached Kiwi) affectionately calls them "two very very naughty girls," while there is little doubt Kath & Kim were influenced by the twins' small screen antics.The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls is the essence of a great documentary; an entertaining, rewarding and informative look at the fascinating lives of these two women. And as they were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2008, so too do they deserve success on the silver screen in 2009. It is a true delight to spend 84 minutes in Topp company. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HtSDaOscM_I https://youtube.com/watch?v=sQ6XYYH0E9I
If you are predisposed to crazy dancing, mega pop hits, golden oldies and banging electro remixes, then going to a Girl Talk (producer/DJ Gregg Gillis) show is probably the most fun you will ever have. There will be nudity, there will be classic hits (Elton John) mixed with crazy new jams (Lil Wayne), there will be sweat flying, and there will be girls. Loads of girls. Gillies also understands that music lovers sometimes don't have much cash to spare, and so allows free downloads of all of his records from online record label Illegal Art. Nice guy! It is actually kind of crazy that he is performing at Big Day Out with a solo side show at the Enmore; The first Girl Talk show I went to was in a teeny room with about 50 people. At that show Gillies went absolutely nuts behind (and eventually on top of) his DJ equipment — and with that in mind I expect seeing him at the Enmore, with a lights show and a huge crowd, will totally blow our minds!
While his name may sound more like a cartoon character thought up to teach you about the birds and the bees, Rupert Bunny was an incredible Australian artist celebrated for his series of Impressionist works created during his many years in France. His portraits portray a romantic vision of glamorous and beautiful women in early twentieth century Paris. Alongside an exhibition of his paintings Rupert Bunny: artist in Paris, the Art Gallery of NSW is also presenting a series of films inspired by Bunny's works, depicting the many bohemian visions of Paris created by directors throughout the last fifty years. See the art and then watch a film — get hopping.All films are free.Casque d’or (Golden Marie) 1952Wednesday 25 November 2pm & 7.15pmSunday 29 November 2pmMadame de… 1953Wednesday 2 December 2pm & 7.15pmSunday 6 December 2pmPot-bouille (House of lovers) 1957Wednesday 9 December 2pm & 7.15pmSunday 13 December 2pmLe rideau cramoisi (The crimson curtain) 1952Wednesday 16 December 2pm & 7.15pmSunday 20 December 2pmCamille Claudel 1988Wednesday 6 January 1.30pm & 6pmSunday 10 January 1.30pmChéri 2009Wednesday 13 January 2pm & 7.15pmSunday 17 January 2pmCoco avant Chanel 2009Wednesday 20 January 2pm & 7.15pmSunday 24 January 2pmFrench can-can 1955Wednesday 27 January 2pm & 7.15pmSunday 31 January 2pmMoulin Rouge 1952Wednesday 3 February 2pm & 7.15pmSunday 7 February 2pmCamille 1936Wednesday 10 February 2pm & 7.15pmSunday 14 February 2pmAn American in Paris 1951Wednesday 17 February 2pm & 7.15pmSunday 21 February 2pm
Finders Keepers is a dangerous place to be. Hell for those unable to exert willpower over their need to possess objects both locally and delightfully made. Hell for those escorting said shoppers who have run out of cash and look to you with puppy dog eyes. Aside from that, it’s absolute heaven.Perfectly timed for holiday season shopping, the Finders Keepers Spring/Summer markets will be held on December 4th and 5th at CarriageWorks. This independent market event showcases some of Australia’s best young art and design in a festival atmosphere with live music, a café and a bar.Some of our favourite picks from this season’s markets include TMOD’s interactive scratchie cards, KeepCup, the world’s first barista standard reusable coffee cup, and up-and-coming fashion labels Secret Squirrel and Limedrop. We’re also a fan of the instant photography fun of Inaninstant Photography.Remember, 'Finders Keepers, Losers… Suck.’ The old primary school rhyme will definitely ring true if you miss out on these Sydney-grown markets.Photo: Prue Upton
Though he both arrived and exited his life in Victoria, it was Paris in which this much beloved Australian artist flourished. Between 1885 and 1933, Bunny lived in France, for the most part with his wife Jeanne Morel who appears regularly in his lovely paintings. Of course, the word 'lovely' often carries connotations of subtle inoffensiveness but that definition doesn't align with the work on display in the AGNSW's new exhibiton, Rupert Bunny: artist in Paris. His work is lovely, jawdroppingly so.Capturing the Belle Epoque in pastel and jewel tones, Rupert Bunny's work focusses largely on women (particularly Jeanne) in their languid, pre-war leisure pursuits, and later evolved into more textural landscapes of the French and Australian countryside. Often considered a second generation Impressionist, Bunny's renderings of women with their relaxed smiles and full lips make it almost impossible to keep a safe distance, you'll want to kiss or befriend them.With a tendency to pull from his childhood love of Greek mythology, his work has a dreamy haze attached to it which will envelope this exhibition of more than 100 works. Watch you don't get lost.
Can a photograph somehow visually capture the essence of an auditory experience? With a lens that has perforated rock concerts, festivals and intimate gigs around the world, photographer Cara Stricker takes us on an inside journey, capturing the global music scene with raw immediacy. In Dancing on my bed, Stricker explores a visual landscape of sound, effortlessly infusing rhythm, melody and movement into a series of images that urge you to "dance with your eyes closed and lose yourself in the shadows." Dancing on my bed will run for six weeks at the Absolute stairwell gallery, and will also showcase two new mural walls from artists Numskull and Roach. Opening night will feature music by Strickmachine, Nicky Night Time and Holiday Sidewinder. Not reason enough to brave Sydneys mentally unstable weather? Free Absolute cocktails for all on arrival.
Just imagine it: Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, U2’s The Edge and The White Stripes’ Jack White are on a soundstage, their electric guitars within reach. It will get loud, there’s no doubt about it.Academy Award winning documentarian Davis Guggenheim brought producer Thomas Tull’s brainchild to life in this extraordinarily energising love letter to the electric guitar. Guggenheim traces the creative backstories of these three incredible artists and the three distinct generations in which they came of age. This takes the director and his subjects on journeys of self re-discovery, as each return to significant locations from their musical upbringing and ponder the love, tenacity and serendipity that buoyed their voyages into the heady seas of rock ‘n roll. Yet the documentary also unites these very different artists in a common past swimming against the tides of the musical status quo. This lead to the Edge and his ear for effects, Page’s self taught mastery embracing the beginnings of punk and White’s tenacious, almost antagonistic adherence to discovering the laid bare aesthetic of the blues. Respecting the past while carving out your place in the present became a calling card of each musician. It Might Get Loud is not a self-indulgent fan-boy romp, nor is it a warts and all fetishisation of the rock‘n'roll lifestyle. Instead what Guggenheim presents is a revealing investigation into the creative spirit. Through intriguing intertitles, brilliant archive footage and excellent pacing that climaxes in the group jam session, the film ponders what it is to create, and what it means to pursue artistry. Consequently you don’t necessarily need to be a rock aficionado to really enjoy this documentary. Much like his Oscar winning film An Inconvenient Truth, Guggenheim manages to bring wide appeal to a seemingly boutique topic. The result is an insightful, captivating tribute to creativity as experienced by three virtuoso musicians and one wonderfully talented documentarian. https://youtube.com/watch?v=5sBLir8H2zM
Jona Bechtolt must not sleep. He could just be one of the most prolific humans on the planet. Over the last 6 years he has released countless records under the nom de plume YACHT, and recently signed to the DFA label, home to LCD Soundsystem (also its label owners), Hot Chip, The Juan Maclean and a handful of other electronic music visionaries. He has managed to squeeze releases between starting one of the more popular U.S blogs Urban Honking, making music as a member of The Blow, being commisioned to do art projects, and generally being one of those people that you hate because they are over-achievers. His releases plow through genres but take root in an pop/electronic sound with dabblings into Krautrock, punk and more straight up rock â€" often sharing beds with early 80's American New Wave bands like Tom Tom Club or Devo. On YACHT's latest album See Mystery Lights Claire Evans was added as a permanent member, with her dead pan vocals further invigorating Bechtolt's jams. The duo will recruit you into their "belief system and business" on December 15th at Oxford Art Factory with a live show that promises to bring some serious dance floor action and general good times.https://youtube.com/watch?v=_NF2JfHng20
Michael Moore’s latest rant-cum-documentary has Washington squarely in its sights. Surely it was only a matter of time before the agent-provocateur filmmaker produced his missive on America’s sub-prime catastrophe and the compounding global financial crisis. Moore, however, is not content to merely rail against the divide between rich and poor and the injustices levelling the American working class, instead he wants to strike a mortal blow to the capitalist system. As ever, Moore grounds his story in the working class; juxtaposing those American battlers worst hit by the crisis with the big banks coming cup-in-hand to Washington to receive the 700+ billion dollar bail out. It’s a powerful, incensing comparison, one compounded by shocking stories of real-estate 'vultures’, ‘dead peasant’ corporate insurance policies, juvenile ‘delinquents’ feathering the nests of privately run detention centres and the abysmal pay of airline pilots (earning less than a manager at Taco Bell).Shock and disgust are no doubt Moore’s motives here. His methods aren’t always sensitive, but his stunts are certainly sensational. Citizens’ arrests, crime-scene tape and an armoured car all feature to humourous and pointed effect. His religious overtures, however, are rather problematic. As in every battle, it’s best to have God on your side, but Moore’s continuous religious appeals come across as his most manipulative stunt yet.More successful is the inclusion of the striking workers at Republic Windows and Doors. “Republic cares nothing for us,†says one tearful employee; a truth as seemingly evident of the US Government as it is their bankrupted company. Indeed, the Congressional conspiracy theories, back room deals and the history of Roosevelt’s unfulfilled second Bill of Rights are similarly eye opening. So while Moore’s tactics are a bit hit and miss, and may ultimately prove too shrill to be convincing, his treatise does make one point abundantly clear:Capitalism is not the Messiah; he’s a very naughty boy.https://youtube.com/watch?v=-YuxAYnX_jY https://youtube.com/watch?v=af9EHtQMMc4
There are some great bands coming out of Brisbane at the moment. Not sure what it is, perhaps the fact that they have a healthy but small live scene with a few good venues in Fortitude Valley (hello Sydney City Council, can you help us out and match this?), and that fact that the locals attend shows and are very supportive of their local bands. A few of these acts have done well for themselves, such as The Grates, I Heart Hiroshima and Yves Klein Blue, to name a few. John Steel Singers are one of the next wave of Brisvegas rock'n'rollers, amongst the likes of The Rocketsmiths, The Cairos and Last Dinosaurs. JSS have put out a string of singles and EPs, with one such single Rainbow Kraut â€" released by Levi's short lived record label Levity â€" being heavily spun on JJJ and all over national radio. The band are a breath of fresh air in the somewhat 'meat and potatoes' rock environment in Australia, the six-piece add horns and raucous jam sessions to their music, which always has a fun element. They are just about to release their debut album, produced by fellow Brisbanian and Go-Betweens legend Robert Forster. By the way, Brisbane City Council just renamed a bridge The Go-Betweens Bridge (again, looking at you Clover, how about an INXS bridge?).Masochist is the first single and this show will be its first outing in Sydney. The wonderful and whimsical Brisbane band Little Scout support.https://youtube.com/watch?v=MpeqfsfH2b4
With delicious food, great drinks and the chance to sit back and soak in some gorgeous scenery, what's not to love about brunch? It's certainly one of our favourite summer activities — and we know that it's one of yours, too. That's why we partnered with Henkell to host our very own luxe brunch and invited a bunch of you to join in on the bubbles and fun. To bring this special occasion to life, we chose one of our favourite hidden gems in Sydney, inner-city bar Since I Left You, and turned its courtyard into a brunching paradise, filled with fairy lights, balloons and greenery. Our guests were treated to a welcome cocktail — Henkell Trocken, vodka, lime juice and orange bitters — before moving on to free-flowing Henkell sparkling wine. Shared Affair supplied all of the food, which included cheese and antipasto, finger sandwiches, savoury waffles, salmon blinis and mini quiches. And let's not forget the sweet treats — a doughnut wall and brunch towers overflowing with choc-raspberry brownies and strawberry and watermelon cakes. DJ Sarah Corry kept the vibe going throughout the morning shindig, and everyone received their very own bottle of Henkell to take home, personalised with a handwritten message from our on-site calligrapher. It was certainly a brunch to remember, so take a look through the best bits in this gallery. And if you need some inspiration for other summery events that pair perfectly with a glass of sparkling, head this way. Images: L&A Social.
Christmas might be over and the arrival of 2019 might feel like yesterday's news now, but that doesn't mean that boring old adult life awaits. If you're still in kidult mode (or still want to be), this time of year is perfect for indulging your inner child. Just head to the movies. With the school holidays in full swing for the summer, the big screen is the place to find a whole heap of family-friendly flicks that are tailor-made for kidults and actual kiddos alike. Animated delights, nostalgic throwbacks, comedies based on true tales — they're all here. Specifically, they're all on the IMB Bank Sunset Cinema program which has taken over North Sydney Oval till Saturday, March 30. Think bean bags, beers and bubbles for adult viewers and a lineup of movies for audiences both young and young at heart. There's your next night out all planned — and to make things even easier, here are five all-ages flicks to watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCWHr6AUxwI INSTANT FAMILY With more than a dash of the Daddy's Home and Bad Neighbours films as inspiration — not to mention two of their stars — Instant Family features Rose Byrne and Mark Wahlberg as a thirty-something couple who decide to become foster parents. They bring three siblings into their home and navigate quite a steep learning curve — hijinks, of course, ensue. But the movie's real basis comes from real life, and from the story of filmmaker Sean Anders. The writer behind Hot Tub Time Machine and We're the Millers, as well as the director of Horrible Bosses 2, he drew upon his own experiences becoming a carer for children in need. Showing: Saturday, February 16 and Thursday, March 14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMe7hUb3TpI MARY POPPINS RETURNS 2018 was a great year for Emily Blunt. She tried not to scream in terror — all while her pregnant character gave birth — in A Quiet Place, and then picked up an umbrella and floated in a completely different direction in Mary Poppins Returns. In both, she's fantastic. In Poppins in particular, she's a treat in the most delightful way. Stepping into Julie Andrews' shoes is no easy feat, but the English actor nails the job, and so does this five-decades-later sequel to everyone's favourite childhood film. Heading back to Cherry Tree Lane to revisit the now-adult Banks siblings (Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer), as well as the next generation, the charming affair has future classic written all over it. Showing: Friday, February 15, Saturday, February 23 and Friday, March 22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=a5BhAw-2peo STORM BOY Mr Percival flies again in the latest homegrown film to hit cinema screens. If you went to an Aussie primary school in the past four decades, you'll know what that means. Initially, a short children's novel by Colin Thiele, Storm Boy became a beloved local film back in 1976 — and now it's back in new 2019 packaging. The core tale remains the same, focusing on a pre-teen boy (an astonishingly naturalistic Finn Little) who lives with his reclusive fisherman dad (Jai Courtney) on the South Australian coast and takes in three pelican chicks when their lives are threatened by hunters. The original David Gulpilil-starring flick has remained a classic for a reason, and this version follows in its footsteps. Afterwards, if you'd like a pelican for a best friend, that's understandable. Showing: Friday, February 22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay2fTiEi-RY RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET It's been more than eight decades since Walt Disney Animation Studios made its first full-length movie, saying "hi-ho, hi-ho" to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. All these years later, it's still delivering hits — including Tangled, Frozen, Moana and Wreck-It Ralph in the last nine years alone. Now the latter gets a sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, which jumps from bringing to life retro arcade games to visualising what the online world might look like. Once again, the titular character (voiced by John C. Reilly) is our guide through this bright and lively adventure — though, his small offsider Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) steals the show this time around. Showing: Friday, February 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_tYYwQbzvs HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD Since first premiering back in 2010, the How to Train Your Dragon films have been hugely successful — but now they're coming to an end. The third and final movie sees the plucky Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) now chief of his village and happily overseeing a town where vikings and dragons live in harmony. With the entire series acting as a coming-of-age story, Hiccup's next chapter involves making tough decisions to do what's best for both humans and their fire-breathing companions. The voice cast also includes Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Jonah Hill and Kit Harington, and if you're after a dose of animated spectacle, the film delivers in both soaring flight scenes and a colourful finale. Showing: Friday, March 1 and Friday, March 15. Sunset Cinema will take over North Sydney Oval from Thursday, January 17 to Saturday, March 30. Check out the full film program and book tickets here.
Just because your bank account is looking a little empty, doesn't mean you've got to resort to sad, uninspiring lunchtime fare. At least, not this week, with food app Ritual dishing up tasty meals for just $1 a pop. Having launched in Sydney late last year, the mobile order and pay app is offering a very sweet deal to tempt CBD workers, from now until March 29. It's dropping the price of over 200 of its menu items to just $1 a pop. In this budget-friendly lineup you'll find feeds from some of your favourite CBD vendors, which normally clock in at around $15. We're talking the sesame salmon bowl from Nama Poke, Dutch Smuggler's famed mi goreng toastie, Thai Riffic Noodle Bar's signature pad thai, barbecue chicken banh mi from Bun Me and even a schnitzel plate from Schnitz's MLC Centre store. There's coffee too, from well-known spots like Black Sugar, Regiment and Boss — and bubble teas from Chatime. [caption id="attachment_630917" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Regiment by Kimberley Low.[/caption] Download the app and you'll be able to tap into five of these $1 deals over the two weeks the offer is running. Which means a few mornings of extra shut-eye, thanks to not having to whip up lunch yourself. You'll also get to road test some of Ritual's nifty features, including a 'skip the line' function that allows you to order ahead and avoid queues, and 'skip the trip', where you can group together multiple orders from the one office to save everyone from making the same trek. Ritual is offering five $1 meals or drinks per user through its app until Friday, March 29.
A trip to the local two-dollar shop takes all my restraint. Blinded by colour, kitsch and bargains, I strip my overflowing basket back to what I really need: a wacky shower curtain, a bumper pack of Allen keys and a novelty piggy bank make the cut. I'll start saving tomorrow. Inspired by the technicolour lure of such shopping experiences, Bargain Garden, the latest theatre work at Performance Space, explores our consumerist society, our shopping-mad culture and lifestyle. The work brings together performance troupe Theatre Kantanka (Missing the Bus to David Jones) together with contemporary music collective Ensemble Offspring. The result is a fusion of performance, live sculpture and music, with plenty of trinkets for good measure. The premiere of this new work forms part of Exchange, a collection of works exploring the way we shop, share and trade at CarriageWorks this month. Get down there and join in the frenzy. Image by Heidrun Löhr.
At the Syndicate Gallery at Danks, photographers Digby Duncan and David Smyth use the power of darkness to tell stories, their very different techniques bringing their subjects to life. Digby Duncan’s series of photographs, which were taken during her time as artist-in-residence at the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing, chronicle life in a small Chinese village on the outskirts of the city. The area has been marked for demolition to make way for modern development, meaning the community’s residents will soon have to move out. Her images capture moments in the area's lively nightlife, giving us a feel for the people and the spirit of the place For his world, David Smyth has chosen the abandoned tram sheds in Glebe, where the decommissioned trams are also patiently awaiting their own destruction. As their home falls down around them, these much loved and much visited vehicles have been adorned with graffiti over the years, transforming their character. Under his careful eye these relics of a bygone era are brought to life, creating vibrant, yet almost sinister scenes, evoking a ghostly theme park.
