This article is part of our series on the 17 most unique things to have come out of Japan. Check out the other 16. Australia sure could take a leaf out of Japan’s book on the parking front. As we circle around the inner city, seeking out a spot that lasts more than an hour but costs less than $40, Japanese drivers simply drive onto a platform, jump out and watch their car disappear into an enormous garage. Japan is home to some of the most sophisticated, space-smart and convenient parking on the planet. Their automated garages are structured like multi-storey car parks, in the sense that they provide space for hundreds of cars stacked vertically. But the difference is that, instead of driving in (and round and round), you deposit your car at the entrance and then leave it to be parked automatically. The beauty of this system is that no space is wasted. There’s no need for ramps, lanes, walkways and staircases, and ceiling height is kept to a minimum. And it’s not just cars getting such good facilities. Bicycles have their own automated parking, too, with some big enough to hold as many 6,000. To access the parking regularly, bike owners must register and pay $24 per month. It’s a pretty small price for not having to worry about the hassle of finding a spot or guarding against theft.
A smart, self-effacing send-up of the entertainment industry, Top Five, like most of Rock’s best material, feels at least partly autobiographical. Rock plays Andre Allen, a comedian turned Hollywood superstar and recovering alcoholic, best known for his role in the million-dollar Hammy the Bear franchise. Unfortunately, Allen’s funny bone has been blunted since going sober, and his first attempt at a ‘serious’ film — playing Haitian slave revolutionary Dutty Boukman — is shaping up to be a box-office bomb. Even more out of control is his upcoming televised wedding, to Kardashian-esque reality star Erica Long (Gabrielle Union). Enter Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson), a sardonic, whip-smart writer for the New York Times, who’s been assigned to profile Allen over the course of a single day. Although initially suspicious of Brown and the Times, whose resident film critic has made a career out of tearing his movies to shreds, Allen soon finds himself opening up to the writer, as the pair begin to trade stories while walking around NYC. Top Five (©2015 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.) is in cinemas on March 12, and thanks to Paramount Pictures, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address. Read our full review here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
Suckers for good selvage will dig this one. Denim fans and jeans enthusiasts should squeeze into their skinnes and get to The Grounds of Alexandria on Saturday, July 12 for a one-off exhibition of jeans owned by famous peeps. Check out Anthony Kiedis' painted pants, the baggy straight-legs of Adam Sandler and the unfathomably tight pants of the now presumably pantsless James Franco. Strutting into The Grounds as part of Jeans for Genes Day (Friday, August 1), the exhibition will also include the denim favourites of Eric Bana, Gene Simmons, Maroon 5 and the previously paraded pants of those wonderfully abominable Kardashians. Keeping on the yearly tradition of donating a dollar and donning your denim, the Jeans for Genes Denim Exhibition is raising some sweet moolah for Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) — dedicated to finding out why one in 20 children worldwide is born with a birth defect or genetic disease. Kiedis' jeans mark the cornerstone of the exhibition, donated by the Red Hot Chilli Pepper himself and glorified by Australian artist Kathrin Longhurst. “What an absolute treat to be given Anthony Kiedis jeans to paint this year. My artwork is really a collaborative effort — part of it is not mine. The man himself creates the portrait on the right leg of the jeans," says Longhurst. "Anthony is a great philanthropist himself, giving charity concerts and donating time and money to many good causes." Jeans for Genes will auction off celebrity jeans at a big ol' gala event later this year, where the denim delights are expected to fetch up to $25,000. Not bad for a pair of jeans. The Jeans for Genes Denim Exhibition runs 9am - 3pm on Saturday, July 12 at The Grounds of Alexandria, 2 Huntley St, Alexandria.
Vivid Ideas festival director Jess Scully is a winner of the FBi SMAC Award for best person in Sydney (okay, officially it's 2012 'SMAC of the Year'), so we knew there was no one better to ask to contribute their thoughts for our column on the city's best places, spaces and hidden treasures. The festival she founded (as Creative Sydney in 2009) has risen to meet the demand from Sydney's growing cultural sector — or, looked at another way, is part of what's prodded that sector into being. "In the past five years I think we've seen an explosion in cultural events, particularly talks events," she says. "The growth in pop-culture has also been major, loads more temporary art spaces and events. I've also noticed a huge growth in start-up and tech culture, and more interesting co-working spaces like Fishburners, Your Desk and HUB Sydney." Sydney's busy lifestyle does have something like a downside. "It has assured that I have stayed single and able to work all the time. Ha! Srsly though, there's a great energy and enthusiasm for new events, places and ideas in Sydney that is truly inspiring. I travel a lot and I have to say today Sydney really does stack up against other global capitals." This year Vivid Ideas is colossal; looking at its program is not unlike looking up at the sky and trying to comprehend where it ends (our ten top picks, of Vivid, not space, can help with that). Though its smorgasbord of zeitgeist-defining conversations is broad, there's a common strand of seeing "how we can work together to create a more inspiring, sustainable and inclusive future." Jess found time in her hectic last days of Vivid 2013 organising (today it's apparently included radio training and giving a presentation to hotel concierges) to share her five favourite spots in this city that inspires us. 1. Jack Mundey Place, The Rocks This is a beautiful cobblestoned lane that you could easily miss in The Rocks — I spend a LOT of time down this end of town working on Vivid Ideas, and in the past on SOYA and other projects. It is home to my favourite cafe in The Rocks (shout out to Fine Foods!) aaaaand it is named after a union activist who, along with lots of other amazing activists in the 1970s, actually saved so many of the buildings and suburbs that give Sydney character — from The Rocks to Potts Point to Erskineville to Woolloomooloo. 2. Carriageworks/Eveleigh Markets A great arts venue (with free wi-fi! I spend a LOT of time working in their lobby on weekends because I'm super cool like that) that is home to my favourite Saturday markets. I love seeing Carriageworks transformed by exhibitions like Song Dong's Waste Not or last year's Rage exhibition. It's great to have flexible spaces like this and the amazing Pier 2/3 which can remain big, empty boxes to be filled by creative imaginations. 3. Redleaf harbour beach/Woollahra Library I love this little harbour beach in the summertime — I do love a Euro-style concrete-lined beach, like Clovelly — and the stunning Woollahra Library perches over the top of it, providing an awesome place to work on my work-from-the-cloud wanderings. I save this place for when I need a dose of serenity in my roaming work days. 4. Fish Markets, Pyrmont Seafood! I need to take at least partial responsibility for the decimation of fish stocks cos I eat a hell of a lot of the stuff. I love riding down to the fish markets for yum cha or a slab of sashimi or sometimes even just a frozen chocolate banana. It's the ugliest, grittiest bit of the harbour and I love it. 5. White Rabbit Gallery I love the ambition and generosity of this place. It's so amazing that this is an act of philanthropy, and it brings a bit of class to cute li'l Chippendale. I love popping in and just drifting through here whenever I can — it's brilliant to be able to get an insight into Chinese contemporary culture through this connector. I like to imagine it is the shiny cousin of little kids' plans to dig a hole through the earth to China.
It seems we cannot get enough of the world's most famous inflatable yellow duck. After wowing Sydney Festival-goers at the turn of the year, the 16.5 metre giant then sailed into Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour. When it suffered from a minor deflation, the internet went into overdrive. Now Florentijn Hofman's colossus has become the victim of Chinese censorship after an edited image of the notorious 1989 'tank man' picture emerged this week, mocking Chinese censorship of the June 4 Tiananmen Square massacre. We are electing to call this controversy 'Duckgate'. Whilst the photoshopping may seem like a joke and draws a laugh worldwide, it is actually representative of the primary form of protest that internet activists can take against Chinese censorship of that day. The events of that tragic day are unsearchable in China on Weibo, the nation's most popular microblog, with the Chinese Communist party (CCP) having banned searchable number combinations associated with the events. They also blocked any other words even remotely associated with the Tiananmen Square massacre, including simple adverbs such as 'tomorrow' if one searched on June 3 and 'today' on June 4, the 24th anniversary of the tragedy. 'Big yellow duck' swiftly joined the censored list on Tuesday afternoon as Weibo became aware of the new 'duck man' image, joining 'lego tank', which was banned after this artwork surfaced. The censorship is all due to the CCP fearing a threat to their legitimacy, because apparently pretending that something never happened does not threaten your legitimacy at all. Protests like Duckgate are thus important stances taken by online users to circumnavigate censorship and commemorate that day and those who stood up for what they believed in, even if China would have you believe that nothing happened. Images: Twitter/weibo.com/weibolg
Art Month 2013 returns for a fourth year of art, and this time around it's rocking some alternative credentials. Art performance duo Penelope Benton and Alexandra Clapham — best known for their papery, dinner party concoctions — have gone from side dish to chef, co-artistically directing this year's extravaganza of art, performance, and exploration. It's a long table of artistic talent that they've laid out, running from returning favourites Art at Night and Two-Wheeled Tours to new-addition adventures west and behind-the-scenes at local art schools. Not to mention all the galleries running shows on the side. It's a big, broad, and city-spanning program. Sampling the whole menu could be the business of a month in itself, so to help you out, Concrete Playground has picked out 10 of the tastiest morsels for you to sink your teeth into. 1. Precinct Nights Gallery-hopping is always more exciting in the romantic half-light of evening, wouldn't you agree? Similar to Art at Night last year, Precinct Nights offer you the golden opportunity to enjoy a spate of art venues open late, transforming your art viewing into an after-hours adventure trail. Participating precincts include Paddington/Woollahra, Alexandria/Waterloo, Surry Hills, Chippendale/Redfern, Rozelle, and East/Darlinghurst. Rozelle's night also features some performance events that have caught our eye: for example, dLux MediaArts presents DTV, an outdoor screening of single channel artworks in the Artereal Gallery car park. 2 & 3. MOST and LOST Open Studio Trails In 2011 Marrickville jumped onto the Art Month bandwagon with the Marrickville Open Studio Trail (MOST), and 2012 saw Leichhardt jump in with the Leichhardt Open Studio Trail (LOST). Both got you close to artists in their natural habitat: galleries and studios. This year, both suburbs have opted in, which makes for two weekends of sanctioned, behind-the-scenes art nosiness. MOST will run tours over the weekend on every type of transport you set your foot to: pedal (Saturday and Sunday), bus, foot, or expert, as Match Box Projects return to run their tours of local ARIs. Open spaces include eclectic warehouse space the Red Rattler, MEKanarky descendants Tortuga Studios and Salmagundi, and a new micro space, the Marrickville Garage. There will also be a citizens-meet-street-artists street art forum. LOST, meanwhile, gets in on the Art Cycling and opens the doors to spaces like Art Est, house-size Pseudo Space, the Mosaic Art School, School of Footwear, the Kinema space, and Higher Ground. MOST (map and guide) runs 11am-4pm, March 9 and 10. LOST (map and guide) runs 10am-3.30pm, March 23 and 24. 4. Tours: East Sydney Street Art Tour We love street artworks, because they enliven the built environment for jaded city dwellers. And we love cocktails, because they too enliven the built environment for jaded city dwellers. The guided tour East Sydney: Contextualising Art in the Streets cleverly marries the two, as artist, curator and publisher Joseph Allen Shea of Izrock Mixed Business helps you bespoke-drink your way through the small bars of Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, and Chinatown, discovering local commissioned street artworks and mingling with the creative minds who executed them. Works to be viewed include Reko Rennie’s Always Was, Always Will Be in Taylor Square, Jason Wing’s In Between Two Worlds in Chinatown, and more. 4-7pm, March 16. Places are limited (book) and drinks are $10 each. 5. Debate: Is Contemporary Art a Joke? There are few topics more polarising than contemporary art, and so the fiery debate rages on. For the Love of God: Is Contemporary Art a Joke? provides the perfect forum for experts to sound off about competing scales of value when it comes to judging the creative work of our peers and contemporaries. The relevance of the ready-made, Damien Hirst, and the fundamental question of whether any of it has any meaning are all fair game, and even hecklers will be indulged. This illuminating ideas throwdown will be adjudicated by artist Frances Barrett, and the well-appointed debaters include arts writer and curator Chrisoula Lionis, writer and performer Eddie Sharp, art critic Andrew Frost, artist and Firstdraft Depot co-founder Connie Anthes, COFA lecturer Dr David McNeill, and performance artist Matte Rochford. 6-8pm, March 16, at Alaska Projects (book). It's free. 6. Tours West As well as leading you around the inner city's art highlights, Art Month takes you on two easy jaunts outside the city centre. Go West hits most of the major Western Sydney cultural institutions on a single free bus trip led by artist Tom Polo. From Create to Space — A Parramatta Tour is a guided look at Pop Up Parramatta, Parramatta's answer to the Renew Newcastle model. The tour is led by Sydney cultural nexus Jess Scully, a recent SMAC of the Year, the curatorial powerhouse behind Vivid Ideas and probably the single person with the broadest overview of Sydney's creative second life. Go West runs on March 10 (book) and From Create to Space runs March 16, (book via studios@parracity.nsw.gov.au or 9687 6090). Both are free. 7. Celebrating Women in the Arts Several Art Month events focus in particular on the mark made by notable women in the arts. First up, the discussion Make a Mark: Celebrating Women in the Arts, hosted by Radio National's Janne Ryan, profiles the brilliant, bold strokes made by art world heavyweights including Carriageworks director Lisa Havilah, artist Deborah Kelly, gallerist Roslyn Oxley, writer Tess Allas, and architect Penelope Seidler. If Not, Why Not? Feminisim in Contemporary Art, meanwhile, gathers an intergenerational group of artists and academics who will share their views on issues surrounding the relevance of feminism in contemporary art. Finally, the Women in Sport Forum offers two days of discussion panels complementing Casula Powerhouse's intriguing group exhibition Onside. Make A Mark takes place 3-5pm on 9 March at Carriageworks (book). If Not, Why Not? is 2-5pm on 23 March, at Artspace 23 (book). Women in Sport Forum runs 15-16 March at Casula Powerhouse (call 9824 1121 for reservations). All are free. 8. Drawing with Scissors: A collage masterclass for adults Collaging is a unique art form — something that we all did without inhibition as kids but have probably neglected to develop further as adults, despite the undeniable fun of hacking into visual materials and reconfiguring them to suit our own bizarre and beautiful visions. Enter the hands-on workshop Drawing with Scissors: A collage masterclass for adults, piloted by conceptual artist Oli Watts. The workshop will commence by reviewing historical collaging methods pioneered by the greats, including Matisse and Picasso, then progress into a fully interactive opportunity to click your own shears. Let the inner child out to play, and see what emerges — chances are, there's no way to predict the end product, as your subconscious dabbles in creative free association. 2-5pm, 3 March at Chalk Horse. Free (book); materials provided. 9. Exhibition: Speculative Spaces What is the psychological draw of the miniature? Smallness has its own ineffable appeal, and the artists in this exhibition curated by David Eastwood explore their own attraction to miniature models, with petite dioramas and maquettes, and with other expressions across varied media, from oil paint to clay to perspex to video to plywood. Featured artists include Kylie Banyard (Galerie pompom), Anna Carey (Artereal Gallery), David Eastwood (Robin Gibson Gallery), Eugenia Ivanissevich (Robin Gibson Gallery), Col Jordan (Mossenson Galleries & Peter Pinson Gallery), Mark Kimber (Stills Gallery), Amanda Marburg (Olsen Irwin Gallery), Rob McHaffie (Darren Knight Gallery) and Peter Nelson. The show is also open late on March 22 as part of the Precinct Nights schedule. Runs March 2 to March 26 at Robin Gibson Gallery. 10. Exhibition: SCREAM Multiple media collide in SCREAM, the latest high-octane offering from European hyper-creative collective Chicks on Speed. Fresh from their residency at ZKM Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany, for this exhibition the Chicks have hatched an interactive app that lets spectators participate in the artwork. A combo of live performance and technological mayhem, SCREAM centres on a huge sculpture that plays canvas to the iPad-controlled whims of the viewer, who can pick and mix the audiovisual elements that are projected into the space. The work is a logical progression from the Chicks' Objekt Instruments, which landed here during Mardi Gras. Colliding art, fashion and music, you can see them firsthand at the Red Rattler on March 8. SCREAM runs March 13 to April 21 at ArtSpace. By Shirin Borthwick and Zacha Rosen.
Groundbreaking theatre productions, revamped movie masterpieces, acclaimed hip-hop artists and the occasional drag-queen are all ready to set the Sydney Opera House alight this summer with the announcement of another ambitious program from Australia's premiere live entertainment venue. The 2012-13 Summer At The House season is jam-packed full of local and international superstars who will showcase all of the things we love about the Sydney Opera House, from cutting edge and genre-defying entertainment to stadium spectaculars that will have the heart racing and the spine tingling. After performing in front of sell-out crowds in London, Paris, Berlin and Bangkok, the enthralling international dance spectacular, Blaze, is heading to Sydney. The show combines a host of acclaimed hip-hoppers, entertaining pop-and-lockers as well as acrobatically acute breakers with the work of extravagant set designer, Es Devlin, who has decked the halls for the likes of Kanye and Lady Gaga. Under the direction of legendary West End director and choreographer, Anthony van Laast, who has sellout's like Mamma Mia! and Sister Act under his belt, Blaze is a surefire winner for the whole family. Continuing the summer of entertainment is La Soirée, a mélange of shocking and awe-inspiring acts from a range of eccentric circus-folk that is sure to leave you giggling, gasping and even a little bit titillated. From scantily-clad contortionists to graceful aerialists and beguiling performers, La Soirée promises to be a mystical world of incredible charisma and skill. For those who prefer their entertainment a little more gender confused, check out the Opera House's adult's-only panto, Little Orphan TrAshley. Australian theatre's jack of all trades, Trevor Ashley (often described as the 'busiest man in Australian show-business') plays 10-year-old little orphan Fannie, who journeys to find her birth parents in order to receive her much-yearned-for gender reallocation to make her truly female. Complete with evil alcohol-dependent matrons, sexy multi-millionaires and an ex-sniffer dog called Bullshit, this Christmas panto promises to be as hilarious as it is outlandish. For those in search of more X-rated performances, My First Time is hitting the stage in Sydney, fittingly, for its first time. Four actors explore a whopping 40,000 stories of people's first sexual encounters taken from an online forum of the most hilarious, unbelievable, adventurous, cute and ridiculous ways Americans have lost their virginity. Don't miss out on this side-splitting 90-minute play fresh from its highly acclaimed New York run. Another must-not-miss theatrical performance this season is the ferociously feline drama performance, Meow Meow. Three time winner at the 2012 Helpmann Awards and title winner of the top ten 'Best of Cabaret' by Time Out NY, this show is evidently doing something right. With its unique blend of post-modern cabaret and exotic performance, Meow Meow has had even the fiercest of doubters swept up in its bizarre and beautiful world. Sitting somewhere between Bob Dylan and a "one-man Mumford and Sons" (The Guardian), Swedish singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson aka "The Tallest Man On Earth" is set to light the Opera House Concert Hall on fire. With his stadium-friendly vocals, lilting guitar melodies and arrestingly passionate stage presence, The Tallest Man On Earth has rapidly garnered a reputation as a consummate performer. For those in search of danceable, intelligent pop music, the Opera House Concert Hall will also play host to the New York quintet The Dirty Projectors and their irresistible combination of funky, off-kilter rhythms, operatic vocal harmonies and stomping Afro-pop beats. In what has become an Opera House staple, this summer will see a cinematic masterpiece come gloriously to life with the help of the Sydney Symphony and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. In what promises to be an astounding audio-visual spectacular, Stanley Kubrick's mind-altering, time-bending classic 2001: A Space Odyssey is being given the Opera House treatment combining a giant screen with a sumptuous live soundtrack. Critically acclaimed Australian artist, Sarah Blasko is returning to the stage after the release of her fourth album, I Awake, and she too is using the backing sounds of an eminent orchestra to support her enchanting vocals. The International Sydney Orchestra will accompany this double ARIA and Triple J Album of the Year-winning singer to create a spellbinding musical performance at her first ever headline at the House. By Sean Robertson and Greta Mayr
Michael Fassbender's papier mache head scurried around Newtown today. Well, a damn good copy. Dendy Cinemas pulled a top notch marketing ploy by dressing up a denim-clad punter in the head of Frank — from the soon-to-open film of the same name. Stopping for a drink at the Newtown Hotel, Frank was a little late to yesterday's Coldplay party. Discovered via tweeting 'razzis using the film's official hashtag #FindFrank, the mysterious Frank was seen scurrying around King Street ahead of the film's post-Sydney Film Fest opening night this Thursday. FRANK is out and about on King St! #FindFrank pic.twitter.com/ttuIKUWE6Q — Dendy Sydney (@DendySydney) June 18, 2014 SPOTTED: Frank is fashionably late to the @coldplay King St party! #findfrank @MadmanFilms pic.twitter.com/5x0M4AI4xH — Joseph Gubler (@JosephGubler) June 18, 2014 FRANK's just stopped in for a quick drink at @NewtownHotel #FindFrank pic.twitter.com/Vt82VwPEMm — Dendy Sydney (@DendySydney) June 18, 2014 Check out Sarah Ward's review of Frank over here.
Free rides, demented circus performers, spooky light shows and a killer program of Australia's best beatmakers will take over Luna Park this Halloween, as the Big Top hosts its first ever Ouija Beats party. It's the product of FBi Radio, The Music and LPS putting their heads together for a contemplation of the paranormal. The Halloween action will kick off at 6pm, with every rollercoaster, dodgem car and white-knuckle experience in the joint providing partygoers with free thrills for two hours. Then you can trick or treat your way to nine of Australia's hands-down best electronic artists playing sets all night long across two stages in the Big Top. Leading the charge is Cosmo's Midnight, who inspired a rush of hero worship following the official release of their remix of Flume's 'Sleepless' and have lately played support for XXYYXX, Cashmere Cat and Tokimonsta. Then there’s Basenji (his neighbours call him Sebastian Carlos) who likes 'eating almonds and riding his bike' and has been hitting playlists all over the place with his quirky, dynamic percussive adventures. At the more ethereal end of the electro spectrum are Panama, who've been partaking in some substantial jetsetting of late, selling out rooms in London, New York and LA along the way; Twin Caverns, who, in just one year of music-making, have graced the pages of NME and appeared on stages in the company of The Kite String Tangle, Husky and Thief; and the infectious, airy yet gritty duo Willow Beats. Rounding out the bill are Melbourne's Northeast Party House, Olympic Ayres (whose 'Magic' made the FIFA 2014 soundtrack), Moonbase Commander and the Astral People DJs. By the way, you should start on your costume sooner rather than later, for two reasons. One, there’ll be prizes (like epic home entertainment systems) going to the most inventive, bizarre and creepy couture of the night. Two, the door charge includes $40 Uber credit, so you can ride in style without doing any damage to your get-up. Tickets on sale September 9 via Luna Park.
A whole meal, made up of desserts. Best Monday news ever. A whole meal, made up of desserts, absolutely sold out. Worst. Monday. News. Ever. The purveyors of iced confection artistry, Gelato Messina, are running a degustation of just desserts, an entire menu with 20% savoury, 80% sugary goodness (with matching cocktails). Scheduled for Thursday, August 21 at The Stables Sydney, Royal Randwick, the whole 'Mega Dega' ticket thing was over in about 45 minutes after Messina posted their long-teased link this afternoon around 4pm. Entirely sold out by 5pm, many sweet tooths will now have to make their own Messina degustation imitations at home. Perfecting the balance of savoury to sweet with a 20:80 split, Messina have quite the feast in store for lucky ticket buyers. Messina's ratio will be "just enough 'sensible' to clear your conscience and enough dessert to sufficiently whet the palate," according to the team. With two savoury dishes balancing out the stream of Donato Toce's sweet, gastronomic feats, each dish will be paired with a cocktail by Jason Williams and non-alcoholic palette cleansers. While the actual menu is still clouded in mystery, the night is scheduled to run for two and a half hours of sweet feasting (for a cheeky $199 per person). Messina have run a degustation like this before, teaming up with the Shangri-La in June for an eight-course evening run by ex-Bathers Pavilion pastry mastermind Anna Polyviou (who helped Serge Dansereau with those super popular cookbooks The French Kitchen, Summer Cooking and Seasons cookbooks). Adriano Zumbo 'grammed the whole thing, a DJ played tunes paired to each course, while Messina owner and chef Donato Toce teamed up with Polyviou and their combined nine chefs to create eight killer courses. This was the menu last time 'round: Now you're adequately and irreversibly saddened, there's never been a better excuse to drown your missed-out sorrows in Messina scoops. DIY degustation y'all. Image credit: Not Quite Nigella.
If you're a well-off manchild who's ever defiantly moved out of home all grown up-like, stole all your mum's tupperware and turned your old room into a storage space because you're great and responsible and have your own Medicare card, Bondi Hipsters' new Old Spice ad will strike a few chords. The Australian follow-up to the bang-up hilarious viral 'Mom Song' brought out by the deodorant branding geniuses in January this year, 'Old Spice Man Song' (or Mahn Song) has been crafted by Bondi Hipsters for our own market. Both focused on the fact that Old Spice apparently makes you an immediate Man, the 333-riders have put less focus on freaky couch-dwelling, son-clingy mums and more on dudes who move out of home and think they're big ol' grown ups. Bondi Hipsters Dom and Adrian play two dudes breaking the news to Dom's possibly North Shore-looking mum that he's moving because he's a mahn with a cool leather wallet and a Swiss-made watch, whose beard grows quicker and chest hair grows thicker because of Old Spice. Of course it does, you've seen what happened to this guy. Watch the Bondi Hipsters' Old Spice ad here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=TuiKdWz6IKo Then revisit the US-version 'Mom Song', just for kicks. https://youtube.com/watch?v=JEbpbNTkIdk Via Junkee.
A mega new art event has got everyone talking. That much is clear. But if you're out there thinking 'What is it?', 'What can I do there?', 'Does it have food?', 'Does it have Ferris wheels?', 'Is it blue?', 'Does it fit in a station wagon?' and so on, we've got the breakdown for you. And the answer to the ultimate question — 'Should I go?' — appears to be 'yes'. What is Sydney Contemporary? Sydney Contemporary is a biennial art fair in its inaugural year to be held in the newly expanded Carriageworks. Put simply, an art fair is a no-holds-barred, flat-out, art-buying frenzy. Galleries set up in booths under one roof and vie for the attention of collectors. They're like incredibly cool, high-end trade fairs and they're terrific fun. At Sydney Contemporary you'll be able to flit from stand to stand, seeing works from each gallery's stable of artists, chat to the gallerist and check out the incredible lineup of programs, guided tours and workshops on offer. Kelly McDonald, assistant curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Sydney Contemporary panelist explains, "Sydney Contemporary affords the opportunity to make the work of Australian artists available en masse within the context of international galleries. It's fantastic that visitors can come and see the broad spectrum of artists working today and hopefully be introduced to the work of artists they may not otherwise have encountered". Who will be there? Sydney Contemporary is shaping up to become one of the more influential art events in Australia. The exhibitor list is impressive, with many of Australia's top commercial galleries participating. Roslyn Oxley9, Olsen Irwin, Anna Schwartz Gallery, Alaska Projects, Firstdraft, Sullivan + Strumpf, Tolarno Galleries, Sophie Gannon Gallery, Art Equity, Michael Reid, and Annandale Galleries will be some of the many highlights of the Fair. There are also a slew of international galleries winging their way Down Under to take part including Sundaram Tagore Gallery (New York, Hong Kong, Singapore), Nature Morte (Berlin, Gurgaon, New Delhi), Everard Read (Cape Town), Paragon (London) and Starkwhite (Auckland). de Sarthe Gallery (Beijing, Hong Kong) will be bringing with them works by Chen Zhen, Jenny Holzer, Gilbert & George, Richard Long and Zhao Jinhe. Who else? Notable gallerists, artists, collectors, curators and everyone in between will be rubbing shoulders at Carriageworks come Thurday, 19 September. A range of talks will be held throughout the weekend with speakers including actor Rachel Griffiths, Sue Cato, Glenn McGrath AM, Akira Isogawa, Lisa Havilah, Bianca Spender, Kylie Kwong, architect Nick Tobias, Sydney Contemporary director Barry Keldoulis and artists Del Kathryn Barton, Nell, Quilty and Island 6. We strongly recommend coughing up the extra dosh for an opening night ticket. In terms of people-watching opportunities, it will be up there with airports and your therapist's waiting room. Can I buy art? If you're thinking of dipping your toe in the art-buying pool, Sydney Contemporary is a good place to start. You can get a really solid overview of what's on offer in a more informal setting than the traditional gallery back room. Prices will vary dramatically from gallery to gallery, but at the lowest end you probably won't walk out with much change from $1000 for a work. If you're a seasoned collector, you'll be au fait with the ins and outs of purchasing works, but if you're new to collecting, use the fair as an opportunity to suss out which galleries are showing art you like at a price range within your budget. Art fairs are designed to encourage impulse buying, but you shouldn't panic and feel you need to purchase on the day. Chat to the gallerist and ask what else they have that isn't on display. They will be more than happy to arrange an appointment for you to go to their gallery to see more works. The golden rule of art buying? Remember that galleries will almost always negotiate on the price of a work. What can I do if I can't buy art? The fair promises to cater to everyone from the art novice to the most seasoned connoisseur. Even if you're not looking to buy, the weekend will be a wonderful opportunity to see the most exciting contemporary art being produced at the moment. There is an incredibly rich range of public programs, tours, talks and workshops to participate in. Join industry leaders Alexie Glass-Kantor (curator and director of Gertrude Contemporary), Firstdraft directors, and Jane Gillespie (arts administrator at Arts NSW) for daily tours around the fair. Hear Art Pharmacy founder Emilya Coliver's advice on how to engage with contemporary art and follow Sebastian Goldspink of Alaska Projects around as he highlights works by younger, emerging artists. And if, after a long day of art viewing, the dreaded gallery fatigue sets in, you can cool your heels at award-winning restaurant Longrain's pop-up. Sydney Contemporary opens on the evening of Thursday, 19 September, and will then run from 20-22 September at Carriageworks. Tickets are $15-$60. To get you in the mood, Concrete Playground and Sydney Contemporary are giving you the chance to win a bold, hand-signed Perspective scarf by Ai Weiwei and Third Drawer Down. Enter here to win.
If Justin Gignac's success in selling garbage as art is anything to go by, doing something (and doing it well) because others thought you couldn't, actually works. Gignac's New York City Garbage is just that, except packaged nicely in transparent cubes and sold as art. Selling between $50 online and $100 at selected stores in the U.S, the handpicked NYC Garbage has owners in 29 countries, according to Gignac's website. The New York City-based artist and entrepreneur has been selling garbage since 2001 and has said he wanted to prove packaging could sell anything. Gignac has also sold commemorative editions of NYC Garbage cubes including St. Patrick's Day in Ireland and President Obama's inauguration. It sounds ridiculous but you’ve got to love a guy who can make a profit out of garbage at a time where newspaper sales are declining. Image: nycgarbage.com
Even the most bitter of Valentines Day dissidents will find it hard not to get a little gushy about the late summer romance between Cake Wines and Tropfest. This month the two are getting pretty serious, with Cake named an official partner for the short film festival, and they're putting on another of their excellent pop-up bars to celebrate. Cake was founded in 2011 with the goal of cultivating those things that make the world a more interesting place. One of those things is wine, which is too frequently overcomplicated and marketed toward owners of sports utility vehicles, and one of those things is art. Cake gives 25 cents from each bottle to FBi Radio in Sydney and 4ZZZ in Brisbane, commissions artists to make the labels all pretty, and devised Australia's second most prestigious art prize — the Archi-bottle. One time they even made you a mix tape. This newest partnership is a natural extension of Cake's ethos (Tropfest is a grassroots cultural event) and the brand's rapidly escalating rep (Tropfest is also the largest short film festival in the world). As another testament to the latter, Cake has managed to secure some prime real estate in the form of a historic underground sandstone bunker in The Rocks. This they'll fill with seven varietals of South Australian deliciousness and 15 days of cultural goodness in the form of presentations, art, film, food, and music events. Highlights of the program include the Tropfest film night on February 7; the Dumbo Feather Conservation series led by Tropfest creator John Polson; a session of deep, soulful electronic music by Ze and aBillion; and the always popular Lovebombs dance party. Metro Screen are also putting on a speed networking event for film producers, and your favourite online culture portal (us) will be presenting Culture in the Rocks on February 9. Head to the Cake Wines calendar app on their Facebook page to see the complete list of events. You can also get access to priority tickets and complimentary wine. Go into the draw to win a Cake Wines picnic for you and five friends this Tropfest. You'll get to sit in the priority picnic area, enjoying catered food and Cake Wine. To be in the running, visit them on Facebook, 'like' their page, and share it with your friends.
Don't feel like you're managing to see enough stuff at the Sydney Festival? The mammoth event takes over most of the month of January, but siesta too long and you'll miss it. Here's one rather ambitious way to optimise your schedule — set out at dawn and don't go home till the Festival Garden evicts you. Some of the best bits of the festival are only on during the day, and one of those at the very moment day breaks. 5.45am Dawn isn't just for Anzac Day and the elderly. Crowds gather to hear Russian horn player Arkady Shilkloper greet it regularly throughout the Sydney Festival on his giant alphorn, serenading the sun as it peeks over the horizon. Dawn Calling moves locations each day, but you can't beat seeing it on a beach, such as Manly. 8am Head to Mosman to experience Sir Harrison Birtwistle’s extraordinary electronic work Chronometer, which has recently been rediscovered and remastered for the digital age. Best of all, you can listen to it from the comfort of a beanbag while overlooking the city from Georges Heights Lookout. 10am A short stroll away is Megan Heyward's site-specific artwork Notes for Walking, which takes you on a GPS and augmented reality tour of Middle Head Reserve. Your smartphone is your compass for this fun experience that'll have you exploring underground mazes and traversing the headland in search of short video notes. 1pm Head across the bridge to the Sydney Theatre for a Secret River matinee session, where you'll often find better seats than at night. It's only a matter of time before this play becomes a national icon. Andrew Bovell's adaptation for the stage matches Kate Grenville's novel with full force, and Neil Armfield's direction delivers a powerful blow to the gut. It's the arresting story of William Thornhill, an English convict sent to Australia, and an example of the clumsy and ultimately brutal 'settling' of Aboriginal land. 5pm Festivities in the Famous Spiegeltent kick off early and with a bang. Head to Hyde Park North to hear some sweet, sweet sounds from the likes of indie/classical virtuosos yMusic or the intimately confessional Perfume Genius. 7pm Hungry yet? Stop in at one of the festival’s restaurant partners for a Fast Festival Feast. Restaurants such as Ananas and Sake in the Rocks are getting into the festival spirit by offering two select courses for $55, while others like Sweethearts Rooftop BBQ and the Newtown Hotel offer a signature main for $30. 9pm Refuelled, kick on to Paradiso at Town Hall. The 10-night pop-up takes its name from the iconic Amsterdam rock venue, and it sits in the 125ish-year-old Town Hall. But aside from one detour in a Hot Dub Time Machine, the vibes are geared towards Sydney circa now. Bands play from 8pm, and an expertly curated selection of DJs host post-headliner dance parties until 2am. If it's a school night, the free-entry Paradiso Bar on the terrace is a prime spot for an after-work/pre-show drink. 11pm Wrap things up with a nightcap and a dance at the Honda Festival Garden to fully soak up the sweet summer night. (Alternatively, night owls, this your starting point. When the sky starts turning cobalt, it's time to kick on to Dawn Calling.)
Looking for the perfect way to sport your mo in spirit of Movember? Grand Royal Barbers (locations in Darlinghurst, Taylor Square, and the City) will give your mo style and flare for a $10 donation to Movember. They hope to raise $5000 for the cause so they need 500 'mo bros' to help out. And as an added bonus to your new and stylish moustache, every participant will receive an American Crew pack of products and a $10 shave voucher for your next visit to Grand Royal Barbers. Be sure to check out their Facebook page here for more pictures of mo styles, plus details about the Movember charity drive and giveaways. Concrete Playground has 5 gift packs and 5 haircut/shave vouchers (valued at $130) for Grand Royal Barbers to give away. To go in the running, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au
New Zealand-born writer-director Andrew Dominik has amassed a stellar crime thriller line-up for his latest offering, Killing Them Softly, which opens in cinemas October 11. Brad Pitt heads up the the film's brutal 'heist movie gone wrong' plot alongside the best of small and silver screen bad guys: Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini (aka Tony Soprano) and Ben Mendelsohn, to name just a few. From the director who brought us Chopper and The Assassination of Jesse James, Killing Them Softly sees Pitt play Mafia hitman Jackie Cogan, who is called in to 'fix' the upset caused by a couple of amateurish criminals when they hold up an illegal card game. In an America on the verge of political and economical crisis, the 'enforcer' navigates between his indecisive bosses and the lowlifes behind the heist in order to maintain the status quo of the criminal underworld and take back control. Thanks to Hoyts Distribution, Concrete Playground has ten double passes to giveaway to see Killing Them Softly. To go in the running, just subscribe to Concrete Playground's weekly newsletter (if you haven't already) then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
The brainchild of cosmic Melbourne trio Midnight Juggernauts, Siberia Records plays host to a swag of electronically-grounded, eclectic artists worth giving a significant damn about. For their highly-anticipated Vivid label party Siberian Nights they're bringing Mancurian electronic wizard Andy Stott and his formidable bass/vox fusion to The Studio on May 23, alongside Sydney threesome Black Vanilla, Forces, Cassius Select (Guerre), DCM and Four Door. Plus, the Middy Juggs will be jamming as well, bringing their fully immersive experience AERIALS to psych everyone out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8RCyVFdkbgk
One of the beautiful things about living in the inner city is that you really don't need a car. Fundamental amenities are within a foot's pace and any other goodies - friends, parties and shows - tend to be within the grasp of public transport. So why are there so many damn cars choking our town? Reclaiming the Lanes is an effort to stop the clock and remind everyone that the world was a wonderful place before the Model T. Communities condense when their reach falls into walking distance, and this is exactly what will happen to Newtown on Saturday 13th. Expect mobile music factories, roving minstrels, dancing neighbours, lots of smiles and NO CARS. To get involved, gather at the Hub from 2pm and reconnect with the secret laneways of the inner west. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2WtS05WhqP4
A trip to one of Sydney's beaches can be akin to a pilgrimage. For many those sandy strips are symbolic of all things Australian - whatever that really means - and almost everyone reading this can share a memory of getting the golden grain chafe in their special place. But it is not just here that the beach holds sway over people. All over the world can be found the majesty of waves pounding against the shore, rendering rock into sandy butter. TaikOz have tapped both this tidal heartbeat and local beach romance in their new project, Shifting Sand, which has its world premiere here in March. World-class taiko drummers, TaikOz have blended a particular Australian sensibility with the ancient Japanese tradition, a mix that has granted them many successes over the past twelve years. Combining exceptional physical prowess with energetic sounds, Shifting Sand will also be the first time that TaikOz presents entirely original music outside of collaborations. Image by Keith Saunders https://youtube.com/watch?v=9hu3ehgLxQM
The Big Apple has been dominating America's music output lately with a slew of amazing bands making music that is both challenging and progressive. But it seems on the West Coast, the city of big cars, out of work actors and Mexican food has gotten off the Devil's dandruff for a bit and started delivering the world a bunch of really good bands like Local Natives, Silversun Pickups, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Warpaint and many more. Health are one of these bands and they stand out thanks to their noisy, abrasive, minimalist punk, often built on the foundations of disco beats. They sound a bit unhappy, the vocals a monotone drawl obscured by screaming synths and guitars. They have developed a serious buzz in the US and UK on the back of a handful of 7 inches and cassette singles and last years self titled debut. They are visiting us 'down under', as Americans say, to play the Perth Festival and are swinging our way shortly after. Expect a really frenetic and noisy show. Pack your earplugs. https://youtube.com/watch?v=_ETG3OAWv2k
An atheist and a (insert deity-worshipping faithful here) walk into the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. They each take their seat, peer into their bag of convention goodies, and then look at the program of speakers for the days ahead. At this point the atheist leans in to her partner and says, "If God actually existed, he'd be speaking at Semi-Permanent". Now in its eighth year, Australia's premier design conference promises yet another festival of creative ideas for Sydneysiders. Reflecting the diverse application of design, the 2010 line-up of speakers is impressive in its breadth. There are the graphic artists, such as Melbourne's Tin&Ed, typography queen Jessica Hische and slick Jasper Goodall. Next are the photographers, including photo-journalist Ashley Gilberston and the healthy glow of Jill Greenberg. And, as the brand evolves in 2010, Semi-Permanent will also introduce cultural commentators such as t-shirt aficionados T World and zeitgeist gazer Craig Schuftan. Intelligent designer or not, you'll certainly be rewarded in this life if you jump in and grab early bird tickets for Semi-Permanent 2010. We're partnering with Semi-Permanent and will be giving away 5 passes to the conference. To win, email hello@concreteplayground.com.au and tell us why you want to go in one sentence. Image by Jasper Goodall.
Embrace your inner hula girl for The Tiki Two, a duo comprising old Sydney lads Con Tiki and Mr Mai Tai, (the delicious duo whose remix of Ella Fitzgerald's and Duke Ellington's 'Caravan' sold out in two weeks) who will be at OAF on Australia Day spinning more musical genres then you could throw a coconut cocktail at. Their incredible collection of 60s go-go, vintage rock and surf-a-billy will blow up your grass reeds and set your lei on fire. Joining them on the decks will be Sydney's very own Graz whose TARDIS awaits to take you back and forth through all time with his rockin tunes. Hulas and limbo competitions await, as do prizes for the best dressed.
Jacques Audiard serves up another searing character study of crime with his taut portrait of A Prophet. Following up the beautifully realised The Beat My Heart Skipped, Audiard journeys into the bowels of the French prison system with an illiterate young Arab, Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim). Condemned to a six-year stint for an unnamed crime, Malik falls in with Corsican gangster César Luciani (Niels Arestrup) and pushed to increasingly violent ends in order to survive. Audiard's ferocious and fearless filmmaking is being recognised with several award nominations (including a Grand Prix win at Cannes) as well as ubiquitous and prestigious comparisons with The Godfather. A Prophet is 150 minutes of claustrophobic and clawing reality that tears strips off any semblance of 'rehabilitation.' As a companion to Jean-François Richet's epic biography of Jacques Mesrine, Audiard adds a further layer of brutality to the nature of gangsters and the harrowing existence of incarceration. Email your details to hello@concreteplayground.com.au with A Prophet Giveaway in the subject line for your chance to win one of 20 double passes to a preview screening on Feb 8, 6.30pm at Dendy Newtown. https://youtube.com/watch?v=l69ARbQt-Ko
In order to feel incredibly grateful to our early ancestors you only need to think about their persistent curiosity and hazardous experimentation with food. How many lives, throughout the history of the human family, must have been lost to determine which mushrooms are poisonous and which varieties are safe? Imagine the process of sorting out which berries cause the belly to swell and explode and which ones satisfy the desire for sweet nourishment. This trial and error process lies at the heart of collaborative projects, where the measurements of others must be shared with a range of other measurements also taking place. For information we must allow for formation. Open Fields is an "inaugural academic camp" inviting researchers, academics, artists, practitioners and idea-enthusiasts to partake in a cross-pollination event occurring at both the University of Technology and Serial Space, Sydney. The ambition here is to present a range of proposals, prognostications, ideas and works in a multi-disciplinary feast. Catch the full program of performances, presentations, installations, exhibitions, screenings, Wednesday's opening night festivities and Friday night's live zine printing and assembly. To win one of two conference passes to Open Fields click 'Suggest to friends' on our Facebook page, tell some of your peeps about Concrete Playground, then confirm your entry on the wall.
This show has such a curious mix of reggae greats and amusing pop artists. You have on one hand Sly & Robbie, who are absolute legends of the genre who in the 80's imbued the sounds of reggae into some seminal pop albums, producing for Grace Jones, Peter Tosh and even Serge Gainsbourg. Then you have Shaggy who has penned the awful yet amusing pop gems Mr Boombastic and It Wasn't Me (I bet you've got that one stuck in your head now). You have to wonder about the target market. The biggest draw card could be the fact that Lauryn Hill is appearing with Sly & Robbie. Hill has somewhat fallen by the wayside since her days in The Fugees (Wyclef Jean is also appearing solo) and her amazing solo debut The Miseducation Of, so it will be interesting to see her return to our shores. The show is split over two nights, so if you like your skank and you've got some cash to cover the astronomical cover charge choose your night, or go to both if you want to fork out $242. https://youtube.com/watch?v=dE6Qcc6VDo8
Deerhoof is a troupe of glorious daytrippers, big smiles and off-the-wall styles. At this point, they are the longest-standing musicians signed to iconic record label Kill Rock Stars, and their longevity is something we should be thankful for every day. Especially when it comes to tour time, because this band are one of the few that if I had to choose between seeing them live once or owning their entire back catalogue, I'd be asking for the ticket. Having evolved over the years, losing and gaining members with seemingly amicable grace, Deerhoof is currently comprised of four members and, from all reports, are in pretty fine live form, having spent the last year touring their excellent record Offend Maggie. Their sound, according to Wikipedia, fits into the following genres: alternative rock, art punk, avant-garde music, experimental rock, garage rock, indie pop, indie rock, J-pop, noise, noise pop, noise rock, pop music, post-punk revival, post-rock, post-modern music, progressive rock, psychedelic pop, rock music, twee pop, 21st century classical music. Which is to say, about 20 more than most other bands. Similar in spirit are their support band Tokyo drifters, Tenniscoats. A duo who have been making music together since 2000, their live temperament is meditative and a little offbeat. Tenniscoats and Deerhoof have been involved collaboratively recently, so it's a special thing to see them both on one bill. Dreamers rejoice.
Echo & The Bunnymen, Jane's Addiction, My Bloody Valentine, Duran Duran, Rage Against The Machine, The Pixies Happy Mondays... The last few years have seen more reformations than you can poke a stick at, promoters dusting off the old rockers like crazy. The results have been mixed, but Faith No More should yield better results than most, as they are still young enough to put on an amazing show without looking like parodies of their younger selves (did anyone see Devo at Splendour a few years back? Flower pots on old guys equals creepy and stupid not quirky and inventive). FNM had a 11 year hiatus and apparently "decided to sit down together and talk about it" (check out the press release on their website, it sounds like they had a therapy session ala Metallica). Well talk they did, and they decided to do what they do best -tour like mad men all over the globe and shred like monsters. So if you can't handle all the rest of the metal at Soundwave, rock down to The Hordern.
Memory is the ghost of the senses. When the light of that summer day has long vanished, its traces hide amongst the folds of your brain, stirring the chemicals to action. And the tragedy is that memories never actually fade - they transform, grow stagnant, horrific or cruelly idyllic. Nothing is more haunting than the memory of light. Here, in the aftermath, can be found Alexandra Harrison's first solo work, Dark, Not Too Dark. A twelve-year veteran of theatre and dance, Harrison has devised and toured work across Australia and internationally with companies such as Legs on the Wall, B Sharp, National Theatre of Scotland and Branch Nebula. She is joined here by the creative mastery of Bob Scott (music), Richard Manner (light) and Kate Davis (design).
Some days life is pretty shit. You've lost your job, your partner smells like another person's genitalia and your children/pets would rather eat your leg than show you some love. There's also bills to pay, medical problems to sort out/ignore and the whole world is, apparently, drowning or drying up, or something. A lesser person would grab a gun and climb up a clock tower so as to sew lead into innocent bodies. A better person would grab a puppet. Inspired by ye olde anger management Punch and Judy shows of the 19th century, writer/director Brent Thorpe and music director Billy O'Riordan have put together an adult pantomime that'll cure your modern woes. As Australian in taste as Vegemite and yum cha, this show blends burlesque, grotesque, vaudeville and political incorrectness to just the right, gooey consistency.
Apparently Jesse Willesee is going somewhere. Before he does though, there’ll be one last show: YOU PUT A SHIRT ON A HANGOVER AND CALL IT A DAY. And, despite being a self-professed ‘failed poet’, the artist will be launching his debut book of poetry. It is an art show and book launch with performance, interactive installation and poetry. All on a Tuesday night. What’s more, it’s happening at The Coachman, that amazing dusty den of decadent Russian kitsch, where anything might happen - I once saw the most amazing bogan bride standing by the door, in a too-white polyester meringue, boobs overflowing, fag pressed between her lips. Art, Poetry, Vodka, Borsch ... I’m sorry are you still looking for reasons to attend? Come, crush a cup of wine.
Gymnasts and circus-people are freaky. So are beatboxers. And drummers. It's all that weird coordination that they have going on. The Tom Tom Crew out-freaky the freaky by combining all of the aforementioned into a single show. It's Aussie hip-hop meets Aussie circus minus the mopey-looking elephants and bearded ladies. The crew - world renowned percussionist Ben Walsh, mix-master Sampology, beat-boxing whiz-kid Tom Thum, graduates of Australia's famous Flying Fruit Fly Circus - Ben Lewis, Daniel Catlow, Shane Witt - and elite gymnast Karl Stock - are fresh from an international tour, including an off Broadway debut and 21 sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. If you didn't catch Tom Tom Crew during their run at the Opera House, they will be performing alongside some of Australia's best hip-hop, street art and skate talent at the Dulwich Hill hybrid retail/art space, Westsyde Connection, at a subcultural extravaganza this Friday.
Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize winning novella is a personal, epic poem about a father and son clinging to their humanity in a post-apocalyptic world. Suitably, a lyrical director John Hillcoat (The Proposition) has brought the story to the screen, capturing the stultifying bleakness and depravity in which the last tendrils of hope still remain. Reuniting with The Proposition scribe Nick Cave, and star Guy Pearce, Hillcoat brings his own, confident eye to the tale; casting Australian newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee (Romulus, My Father) alongside Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings) as the leads Man and Boy. This is a sparse, disturbing and evocatively precise film. Screenwriter Joe Penhall, cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe and production designer Chris Kennedy have done a remarkable job recreating McCarthy's harrowing dystopia (just what caused the world's demise is provocatively left untold), while Mortensen and Smit-McPhee generate beautiful chemistry in what is a captivating love story between father and son as well as a brutal right of passage. The overuse of Cave's muscular music sullies the experience somewhat, however Hillcoat succeeds in creating his unflinching apocalypse, while quietly shepherding his film towards a faint, fading mirage of hope. We have 5 double passes to give away, just email your details to hello@concreteplayground.com.au with THE ROAD TICKET GIVEAWAY in the subject line for your chance to win. https://youtube.com/watch?v=i4aNZGniOG4
The twentieth century was a time for joyous speculation, when many minds envisaged future utopias of married technology and cultures. Back then, our future was filled with flying cars, friendly aliens, food pills and zero gravity sexbots. And everyone wore silver foil, because it was awesome. Sadly, successive decades of very bad behaviour have corrupted our future visions, and now all we can hope for is that our poisoned bodies develop a kind of tumour that allows us to breath underwater. Sydney artist Kenzie Larsen is fighting that grim vision with a return to all things bright, shiny and low budget. Channelling the sci-fi films of old, Larsen has created a sculptural and print playground for those wanting to explore the grand frontiers of forgotten space. Photo by James Brown
George Clooney has been making a habit of anthropomorphising himself this summer. First he played a fox in Wes Anderson's spell-binding Fantastic Mr Fox and now, in Up In The Air, he plays an entirely different kind of predator. “We are not swans,” his character Ryan Bingham says to a room full of business associates, “We’re sharks. The slower we move, the faster we die.” And when Clooney says it, with his gleaming white teeth and dead eyes, you believe him. The role is a perfect fit. Clooney, who’s always been chilled out, has never looked this cold-blooded or at ease before. Perhaps Oceans 11 comes close, but unlike that film, Up In The Air is about something. Ryan Bingham is a “career-transition counsellor”. His job is to fire people from large corporations and he spends almost all his time jetting across America to different failing companies. He lives in a sterile limbo of faux geniality, pillow mints, mini bars and no emotional connections. When someone asks him where he’s from he says “I’m from here” gesturing to his business class seat. The movie is directed by Jason Reitman, son of Ivan Reitman, who made Ghostbusters (yay!) but also Junior (boo!). Unlike his dad, Reitman Jr isn’t afraid to put a bitter coating on a sweet pill. The movie is as hip and glib as you would expect from the man who made Juno, with awesome comedic cameos from Zach Galifianakis, and J.K. Simmons. But it also features heartbreakingly raw scenes featuring non-actors who were actually made redundant. There aren’t that many mainstream directors who have the courage to allow you to indulge in slick Hollywood escapism but are also prepared to pull the rug out from under you when you least expect it. The two supporting actresses Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick are also excellent, as is Jason Bateman as Clooney's smug boss. Up in The Air is an hilarious and ultimately chilling film about modern alienation. Like a Rom Com version of American Psycho. We have three double passes to give away, thanks to Paramount Pictures. Email your details to hello@concreteplayground.com.au with UP IN AIR GIVEAWAY in the subject line for your chance to win.
Right up there with "yeah, baby!" from Austin Powers, or Jerry (I haven't even seen the damn movie but I know this line) Maguire's "show me the money", Taxi Driver's "you talkin' to me?" is a movie quote I need NEVER hear again, except if it's Robert DeNiro in a state of manic panic in front of his bathroom mirror. In which case — because nobody puts baby in a corner — I'll be first in line for a ticket. Following the glam bloodbaths of the Dario Argento festival, the Chauvel Cinema is hosting a month of Scorcese Fridays. Despite the fact The King of Comedy isn't screening (boo), the line-up is worthy of you putting every session down in your diary right now. In pen, even. What I'm saying is, it's time to get organezized. O-R-G-A-N-E-Z-I-Z-E-D... Friday 26th March 8:30pm Mean Streets (1973) Power, love, loyalty and a smoking gun in Little Italy. Friday 2nd April 8:30pm Taxi Driver (1976) Yes I'm talking to you, you should know what this '76 Palme d'Or winner is about already. Friday 9th April 8:30pm Good Fellas (1990) This ain't your mum's Sopranos. Well, actually it is. This has more bada bing than Bada Bing. Friday 16th April Raging Bull (1980) Best boxing film ever made, end of story. If that's not enough, it inspired one of the best scenes in Waiting For Guffman.
Enough with the lawns and gardens – outdoor cinema could do with some dirtying up. Taking over Parker St in Chinatown for one night only, Gallery 4a's Cinema Alley is presenting a double-bill with An Estranged Paradise (1999), a feature-length film by one of China's leading contemporary artists, Yang Fudong, and The Cowboy's Flute, an early 1960's animation by Te Wei of the Shanghai Animation Studio. Known predominately for his photographic irony and short art films, Fudong's An Estranged Paradise was his first feature-length film, taking him seven years to complete. The film is centered on Zhuzi, a young man complaining of a general malaise eventually deduced to be only intense boredom. Estrangement and aimlessness play out in this psychological drama on the uneventfulness of happiness with all the poetry and power for which Fudong is renowned. The Cowboy's Flute is a key water and ink-wash short animation from the Shanghai Animation Studio. Unmistakably Chinese, the story unfolds without dialogue, emphasising the animation's art, and the soundscape. This year's Cinema Alley is a celebration of the collision of contemporary and traditional concerns in Chinese art. Tickets are free but limited so pre-book early. As part of the program Gallery 4a is also running an animation project where audience members can submit short animations with selected works to be screened the following year (contact the gallery for details). https://youtube.com/watch?v=Z60qEocUYAg
With their visceral and deceptively simple sounds, the Mess Hall are loved for their attitude laden blues, heavy on guitars and stripped back to the bare bones. The two piece kicked around for a long time, impressing audiences and doing sporadic but good things for years. Since a drummer change in 2005, and signing to Ivy League in 2007, the band has stepped on the accelerator and have gone from strength to strength. The real run of success started when they won the Australian Music Prize in 2008 with their second album Devils Elbow, which amassed much critical acclaim. On the back of the album they toured non stop, here and overseas, and even opened for rock giants Foo Fighters last year. Their third album For The Birds sees the band splash a bit more pop into the mix. No glittery sparkles, but some definite added layers that bring the songwriting of Jed Kurzel to the fore. These embellishments can be heard on first single 'Bell' with its errant shakers and organ driven riff that Kurzel deadpans over "well I feel like Adam when you shot me from a cannon". Its lazy drum rolls and slightly twisted guitar solo almost hint at early Beck, but the vocal is all snarl. In March the Mess Hall embark on a huge tour with special guests Bridezilla and Cabins, taking in a few regional spots along the way. Tickets go on sale January 11 and they will hit home soil March 6 at Manning. TOUR DATES MARCH 2010: Thur 4th: Wollongong Uni, Wollongong Fri 5th: Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle Sat 6th: Manning Bar, Sydney Thur 11th: Neverland Bar, Gold Coast Fri 12th: Joes' Waterhole, Eumundi Sat 13th: The Zoo, Brisbane Thur 18th: Republic Bar, Hobart Fri 19th: Hotel New York, Launceston Sat 20th: Corner Hotel, Melbourne Sun 21st: Karova Lounge, Ballarat Thur 25th: Mojo's, Fremantle Fri 26th: Rosemount, Perth Sat 27th: Jive Bar, Adelaide We're giving away 5 double passes to see the Mess Hall play their Sydney show on March 6th. To win, just email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with "Mess" in the subject line and approximately ten words on why you want to go. https://youtube.com/watch?v=evaQHIcGkkM
It's anyone's guess what went down in Dizzee's dome to make him start doing rave tunes and drinking champagne in the tropics with scantily clad women. Maybe too much sun for the London boy made him go troppo. It's a big change from the teenager who shot into our peripheries with the grimey, naive yet tough as nails sounds produced at his East London high school on his debut Boy In Da Corner, which featured the huge tunes I Luv U and Fix Up Look Sharp. I'm not so convinced on his new direction - collaborating with UK electro producer Calvin Harris and dropping tunes about holidays on white sand islands and cash cash cash - but I suppose it's just a prodigiously talented twenty something flaunting his success. He is one of the drawcards at The Big Day Out and will stop by the Enmore Theatre while he's here. Let's just hope he delves into some of his back catalogue to balance out the new new neon party anthems.
Future Classic are on the ball, often touring producers before they are too well-known, which means you can see them in smaller more intimate venues instead of at mega-summer-fluro-festival-stadiums. The latest guest Future Classic are bringing to our shores is UK born, Californian based producer Simon James. He turns out softly rolling gems of spaced out disco with sprinklings of baleric and sleazy house under the pseudonym Woolfy, and will be selecting songs at the latest of Future Classic’s monthly label parties at the Civic Underground this Saturday night. Presale tickets are available from Resident Advisor now. Plus, Future Classic are also hosting a DJ mix from Woolfy through their website so you can prepare your best moves and murder the dance-floor Saturday night!
“Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.†(Amanda Cross)Thursday evening, Hugo’s Lounge: Leanne Carroll of El Cee's Designs will be launching her new line of vintage inspired millinery and fashion accessories Queen of HeArTS, with Nadia Garcia’s hand-making bespoke couture. The sparkling headwear will include fascinators and top hats, which will be shown alongside hand-beaded accessories and gowns; not to mention free cocktails on arrival and $5 pizza all night.
This play one that you are never quite sure you want to watch until you do – and then you wonder how you could have considered missing it. A sole actor occupies the stage for one taut hour, conveying the story of a German woman’s attempt to survive the occupation of Berlin post-WWII. What makes it so frightening is that it’s a true story, written by an anonymous woman who was only identified after her death. The stage, however, is startling in itself: a pure white page, with a single line of the protagonist’s diary scrawled across it. Against this bleak landscape, Meredith Penman is uncomfortably honest in her role. It is not a happy story, filled with loss, fear, confusion, rape and despair, but the strength that Penman expresses encourages warmth and empathy on the audience’s part. Image: Nick Bowers.
Let’s take a minute to talk about love. As one of the most powerful yet overused four-letter words in the English language, next to “fuck†and “cakeâ€, love at times feels dangerously close to overexposure.Like many before her, Charlyne Yi wanted to uncover the truth behind the word. In Paper Heart, she travels across America with camera crew in tow, speaking with couples, singles, children and the elderly in an attempt to understand love. Along the way, she befriends actor Michael Cera and a romance blossoms.What saves the film from triteness is that Paper Heart is actually following a script. In a clever twist on what we’ve come to expect from indie documentaries, Yi and Cera play themselves in a film about their fictional romance, while Nicholas Jasenovec, the film’s actual director, is played by actor Jake M. Johnson.Occasionally Yi and Cera’s awkwardness grates, and the ending is a little haphazard, but the film doesn’t pretend to draw any grand conclusions or teach any profound lessons about love. Paper Heart’s message seems to be that figuring everything out, in love and in this film, can kill the magic. Instead, just enjoy the ride.https://youtube.com/watch?v=xkdrdSCBZmk
If you’re after sparkling, sexy new disco, New York label Italians Do It Better is for you. Label head (and one of disco's best advocates) Mike Simonetti is in Sydney this weekend, playing at La Campagna thanks to Resident Advisor. Simonetti was last in Sydney mid 2008 and turned out an incredible performance; hours and hours of hypnotic grooves journeying through pop, disco, new electronica and rock. Support comes from the gorgeous lady of the night Kali, Ksubi main-man Dangerous Dan, Modular’s Magic Happens, and Ro Sham Bo party-starter Spruce Lee. Dance into Spring.
There is no 5 in Ben Folds. Just a man, described by Spin as "incapable of mediocrity," a piano and a slew of unique, slightly left-of-centre pop rock tunes. Ben's been a busy boy since last he graced our shores in 2006, selling out a record four shows with the Sydney Symphony orchestra. He released 3 albums this year alone. Stems and seeds landed in stores in February, followed by Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella! And the latest, Way to Normal, which has earned many a rhapsodic review. "Nary a weak link to be found" says PopMatters "more than anything, Way to Normal is simply Folds' way of showing us that, at 42, he's still doing this piano-power-pop thing better than anyone else around." Placing himself in an in-the-round scenario for two shows only at Sydney's Opera House, Ben will perform tracks from the new album and his extensive archives.
On Delphi, long ago, the Oracle sucked the vapours of secret herbs and split the wall of time so as to forewarn mortals of what the Gods decreed. Since those Hellenic days, the seer has remained as the ultimate purveyor of mystic reference. Always of its era, the Oracle takes many forms, speaking every language and hopefully, though not often, heeded just in time.Meryl Tankard, one of the finest choreographers in the world, now summons her Oracle, award-winning dancer Paul White, to the Sydney stage. Forming visions inspired by the works of Odd Nerdrum - a painter gifted with the greatest name ever known - The Oracle delivers a cloaked message to those who seek it. And for those who don't, there are the urgent melodies of the Kronos Quartet and Nijinsky's The Rite of Spring to crack the shell of your everyday.There will be a pre-performance talk given by Meryl Tankard on September 20th at 4pm.
Contained within a museum–like cage and existing on a diet of images, videos and sound files is Artefact H10515, the digital offspring of Australian artist Craig Walsh and his trusty helpers Steven Thomasson and Lawrence English.Soon to be inhabiting the Powerhouse Museum, this gastronomic chameleon digests digital matter dispatched from a website that has access to a number of public and private collections, including that of the Powerhouse Museum. The result is a breathing heaving mass that morphs, moves and changes colour in response to its last meal of art à la carte.Audiences can watch this transformation happen before them or step into the driver’s seat and upload their own content to the website. The title of the work harks back to the original object registration system of the Powerhouse Museum where items of unknown origin or purpose were given an ‘H’ prefix followed by the next available number. If our metabolism was as immediate and transparent as this, the old adage ‘you are what you eat’ would be far more frightening. Three cheers for blissful ignorance. Cheezel anyone?
Why is it that so many new German plays are being performed in Australia? Obviously, it's because we share a border with Deutschland and speak a dialect of its language - oh wait, that's Austria. Tut mir leid.So, having eliminated the easy answer, that still leaves the jolly, lederhosed elephant squatting in the corner of the theatre. Are there any parallels to be drawn between Australian and German culture, or do we even need to find similarities in order to enjoy another country's creative fruits? Perhaps the answer can be found in the large numbers of German travellers who grace our beaches every year, or in the firm-chinned declaration by many an Australian that they "want to live in Berlin while it's still cool". Somehow, though I hang my head in shame to admit it, maybe ours is a love affair consummated in the throes of stein passion during Munich's Oktoberfest.All stereotypes aside, if you are keen to uncover the solution to this mystery, book a ticket for the August 27th performance of Under Ice and you'll be able to attend the German Forum organised by the Griffin Theatre.
I find it hard to sleep the night before a big trip. Knowing that I have to wake up at 5am never helps the sheep-counting, but even so, I'm full of too much excitement to relax. Imagine then, the state I'd be in were tomorrow's trip the beginning of a six month stint in a warzone.Matthew Newton writes, directs and acts his way through such a dilemma, introducing us to three naval officers who want to spend their final night in Sydney as lasciviously as possible. Newton's definitely pulled in a strong supporting cast for his second feature, with appearances from Barry Otto, Jacki Weaver, Bud Tingwell and Pia Miranda, and has chosen well with Toby Schmitz, Ewan Leslie and Gracie Otto as his fellow headliners.This is a compelling film dotted with clever punches, though at times Newton's need to conjure an "average Australian male" clunks off the reel. Similarly, Hugh Miller's constant use of unsteady cinemtatography goes beyond a sense of realism and into the dimension of seasickness; effective for making me feel like a queasy ensign, but definitely overstaying its welcome.Three Blind Mice has a limited release at the Chauvel Cinema, Paddington, running every Friday night for the general public from September 11.https://youtube.com/watch?v=of_koHUq0Rc
