Fan-boys-and-girls unite: The Australian Movie and Comic Expo is coming to Melbourne this October! The unique event is a must-attend for all self-confessed ‘movie-geeks’ and pop culture aficionados. An expo for the whole family, the event will encompass everything from live events to unforgettable exhibitions.

Every year, a roster of international and local entertainment figures take part in a movie and comic expo like no other. Formerly known as the Armageddon Expo, the organisers have always done their utmost to ensure proceedings are engaging and entertaining. And this year looks set to be one of the best yet.

Expo organisers will be honouring the ‘Back to the Future’ film trilogy, cult 60’s TV series ‘Get Smart’ and comic icon ‘The Flash’ with a series of guest appearances and Q&A events. Guests will gather to discuss the social impacts of these important pop-cultural milestones, as well as in-depth investigations on the art and methods behind creation.

So far, several high profile guests have been announced. These include voice-over couple Hal Rayle and Maggie Roswell (known for their work on The Simpsons), local comic book artist Tristan Jones (who recently completed a Mad Max: Fury Road adaptation) and comic legend Dean Rankine. Also in attendance: 80’s screen heartthrob and Stargate actor Lou Diamond Phillips and Marty McFly’s original girlfriend, the actress Claudia Wells.

In addition to these standout events, organisers have also sought to provide a diverse array of entertainment options. The Back To The Future DeLorean and the 1966 Batmobile will be on display, and guests are encouraged to enjoy live demonstrations, cosplay competitions, a unique ‘Lazer Tag’ arena and a LEGO Brickvention designed for the event.

In this new Golden Age of comic-book heroes and villains, there are plenty of good reasons to re-fuel the flux capacitor and head out to the Australian Movie and Comic Expo!

What: The Australian Movie and Comic Expo 2015
Where: Melbourne Showgrounds, 276-318 Epsom Road, Flemington VIC 3032
When: 17/10/2015 to 18/10/2015
For booking and more information visit: www.ticketek.com.au

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The historic NSW town of Berry will host a brand-spanking-new festival this December. The Fairgrounds Festival looks set to thrill guests with its fantastic line-up of independent artists and hip cultural events. Located just a couple of hours outside of Sydney, along the sunny South Coast of the state, the Fairgrounds Festival is set to be one of the highlights of the summer!

Accessible by train, the music festival will take place in the picturesque Hazelberry Park. For the entire weekend, the town will entertain visitors with cultural events designed to spark in-town tourism. Accommodation options are plentiful, and on-site camping is also available; organisers suggest visitors make the most of the weekend away by enjoying the other festivities on offer.

The beguiling tones of lo-fi folk sensation Jessica Pratt will no doubt enrapture audiences, as the up-and-coming American singer/songwriter is going from strength to strength. Similarly, the soulful groove of Unknown Mortal Orchestra has captured the hearts and minds of a wide fan base, and for good reason; their live show is famously appealing and entrancing.

Brooklyn electronic duo Ratatat will perform cuts off their new album, and Sydney darlings Royal Headache are set blow minds with their unique, high-energy blend of soul and garage rock. Also along for the ride is 90’s indie sensation Mercury Rev (whose albums were produced by famous Flaming Lips / Tame Impala board man Dave Fridmann).

With a free moonlight cinema, local food market, several events tailored for families and children and so much more, the Fairgrounds Festival is sure to please even the most discerning lover of all things ‘hip’. Visit the festival website for ticket information and a run-down of events on offer!

What: The Fairgrounds Festival
Where: Berry, NSW
When: Saturday, 5th of December, 2015
For more information visit:http://fairgrounds.com.au/

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The St Jerome’s Laneway Festival has become one of Australia’s leading alternative music festivals, offering major cities a generous line-up of local and international talent. Organisers recently announced the 2016 program, which features some truly amazing musical talents including Flume, Chvrches, Grimes, Hermitude, Beach House and Thundercat.

Next year, EDM legend Flume will be rocking the festival with his unique blend of futuristic genres. The producer spoke to Triple J about working at the festival in his younger, less famous days. “I actually volunteered at the 2010 Laneway … I was carrying bottles of water between stages and all that,” Flume told triple J. “I walked past The xx [playing on stage]. I kind of stopped; I put the box of water down and watched the whole set. Got in heaps of trouble.”

Other major acts include indie-rock darlings Beach House, bass playing supremo Thundercat, live-wire electronic act Grimes and acclaimed singer-songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr. Rapper Vince Staples and Odd Future-related crew The Internet will bring their unique talents to Australian crowds, along with Chvrches, Hudson Mohawke and Hermitude. Local favourites will include Violent Soho, Big Scary, The Smith Street Band and Japanese Wallpaper.

The Laneway Festival is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and welcoming vibe. With a smattering of other wonderful festival attractions and an overwhelmingly good line-up, don’t miss out on next year’s Laneway!

The 2016 St Jerome’s Laneway Festival Line-Up includes:
•    Banoffee
•    Battles
•    Beach House
•    Big Scary
•    Chvrhces
•    DMA’s
•    East India Youth
•    Flume
•    Grimes
•    Health
•    Hermitude
•    High Tension
•    Hudson Mohawke
•    Japanese Wallpaper
•    Majical Cloudz
•    METZ
•    Purity Ring
•    QT
•    Shamir
•    Silicon
•    The Internet
•    The Smith Street Band
•    Tobias Jesso Jr.
•    Vince Staples
•    Violent Soho

Tickets go on sale September 30.

When/Where:

• Friday 5 February: Harts Mill, Port Adelaide (16+)
• Saturday 6 February:  Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (16+)
• Sunday 7 February: Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney
• Saturday 13 February: Footscray Community Arts Centre And The River’s Edge, Melbourne
• Sunday 14 February: Esplanade Reserve and West End, Fremantle

For more information visit: http://lanewayfestival.com/

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A good thing gone bad…

Sydney’s 2015 Corroboree Festival has been cancelled, after it was revealed the event’s organisers were involved in a funding stoush with the Liberal Government. The indigenous cultural event entered an indefinite hiatus after Destination NSW, the State’s tourism and events authority, signalled it would not be meeting the request to increase funding for the festival.

Festival organisers claim the event could not go ahead without a significant boost to their bottom line. Artistic director Hetti Perkins told the Sydney Morning Herald that the decision was difficult, but principled. “There was not the appropriate amount of funding for this year to allow the festival to be financially sustainable nor to build on the successes of 2014 and to meet the KPIs set by DNSW,” she explained.

Ms. Perkins insisted that the lack of funding speaks to a wider attitude towards indigenous culture. “We’re just fed up with begging for scraps from the table,” she noted. “Where’s the support for Indigenous culture? The collective statistics tell the story of a festival which went from attendances of 35,000 in year one to almost 50,000 in year two – a significant uplift in just 12 months.”

Additionally, the experienced organiser expects the local indigenous community to be affected by the drastic decision. The local arts and cultural scene makes the most of the annual festival, and this year many will feel its absence. “There are many stakeholders who are impacted by this outcome, however it is not possible to continue the festival without adequate financial backing,” Ms. Perkins said, before launching into criticism of the state government’s tourism priorities. “Junk tourist shops – is that the best Sydney can offer?” she asked. “Is that all we’ve got to say to people when they come to Sydney?”

Destination NSW spokesperson Rhys Haynes refused to admit any funding had been withdrawn, adding (somewhat disingenuously) that the authority could not guarantee an increase in funding. “Destination NSW supported the approach of changing Corroboree Sydney to a biennial event but was not able to meet the requested significant increase in funding,” he said.

But somehow, we think that argument does little to explain how the state lost one of its most vibrant and culturally important festivals.

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An annual event, this year, the festival’s theme is ‘Stories, Love & Tales’ reflecting the history, colourful culture, diversity and creative energy of Surry Hills. Events on the day will range from live music and a speaker’s corner to street food and a puppet show. Funds raised will go towards vital community projects run by the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre.

Performing on the day are the likes of hypnotic dream pop pioneers Noire and soulful singer-songwriter Leah Flanagan, whilst two-piece surf rock outfit The Stiffys and the dynamic indie-folk trio Sons Of the East will provide the stomping good vibes. Other acts are yet to be announced and program also includes acts from the Australian Institute of Music, with a specially curated AIM pop up stage, showcasing a wide variety of Sydney’s emerging artists.

If you want to explore the suburb, why not follow the Surry Hills Creative Trail which will take you around the streets of the suburb to meet the neighbourhood’s most talented creative and get a glimpse of their work spaces? After wandering the streets, you’ll likely work up an appetite, so in addition to the wonderful array of cafés, restaurants and bakeries spread across Surry Hills, there will also be stalls and stands selling street food and other locally produced goods.

There’s also plenty of opportunities for you to get involved or even learn something new. Across the festival will be workshops and talks that cover a range of topics from photography classes to salsa dancing and craft beer tasting to sketching tutorials. The event is also family friendly so if you’re a parent (or a big kid at heart) there’s lots of kid-friendly activities too.

This is a really great way to get to know one of Sydney’s most diverse, exciting and creative suburbs and is definitely worth popping by if you’re around. It’s also a free event – so you have no excuse!

What: Surry Hills Festival
Where: Surry Hills, 2010
When: Saturday 26^th September
More Information: http://www.surryhillsfestival.org/

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The famous town plaque…

The idyllic Queensland city of Toowoomba is once again preparing for its nationally famous Carnival of Flowers. For locals and visitors from abroad, the festival is one of the highlights of the year. With private and public garden exhibits, floricultural workshops and the Grand Central Floral Parade, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is an event like no other!

From Friday the 18th to Sunday the 27th of September, Toowoomba comes alive as thousands of tourists flock to the quaint city. Located just outside of Brisbane, Toowoomba is a short trip by car or by bus. For 66 years, the festival has attracted lovers of gardening and floriculture, as well as other locals and tourists who happen to be in the region. Each year, more than 50,000 participants line Toowoomba’s streets to see the famous parade march through the downtown area. This year, celebrations are expected to be bigger and better than ever.

At this year’s Australian Tourism Awards, the festival was awarded the Gold medal for the Festivals & Events category. For those who’ve been, it’s easy to understand why: the city comes alive with hundreds of parks and thousands of blooms coming into season, colouring the small city in an inimitable way. Visiting the famous Ergon Energy Flower, or ambling through the crowds at the Food & Wine Festival, one gets a sense for old-world Australia and its many serene charms.

There will be plenty of family-friendly events, free live music, organised tours and delectable eating options, along with street artists, live theatrical performances and community events designed to engage with the locals. All in all, it’s a wonderful event brimming with life and Australian character – so be sure not to miss out!

What: The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
When: Friday the 18th to Sunday the 27th of September, 2015.
Where: Toowoomba, 125km west of Brisbane, Queensland.

For more information visit http://www.tcof.com.au. There you’ll find detailed maps, visitor’s guides and a program of the major events on offer.

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The unique Alice Desert Festival

Australia is a culturally diverse country, brimming with an array of wondrous sights and activities. But there’s no better way to get a unique insight into Australian culture than to attend one of our many fascinating festivals. Boasting everything from scrumptious delicacies to unique musical offerings, here are four favourite festivals for the second half of 2015!

The Margaret River Gourmet Escape
When: 20th to 22nd November, 2015
Where: Margaret River, WA

The Margaret River Wine Region is world renowned for its much loved wine varieties and fine food experiences. As such, the Gourmet Escape Festival is a food and wine lover’s paradise. With events planned across the three days, visitors and guests are treated to a roster of food talent from places as diverse as Russia, Chile, Thailand and elsewhere. With food-based events, free entertainment and plenty of wonderful food stalls, the Margaret River Gourmet Escape Festival is a must-attend culinary delight!

The Taste of Tasmania Festival
When: 28th December, 2015 to 3rd January,  2016
Where: Hobart, TAS

With news of Tasmania’s world-conquering produce industry hitting the headlines, the Taste of Tasmania Festival 2015 is sure to be one of the year’s best food events! Held across a series of venues in the historic Hobart waterfront area, the festival promotes the quality of Tasmanian produce and highlights the very best in fresh food and other goods. With numbers of visitors reaching well into the hundreds of thousands, the festival takes advantage of the end of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. So consider it the perfect addition to a refreshing end-of-year holiday!

The Brisbane Festival
When: 5th to 26th September,  2015
Where: Brisbane, QLD

A major international arts festival, The Brisbane Festival is undeniably one of the state’s premier arts events. The September event is a family friendly and truly refreshing festival of all things artistic, bringing together the best in music, dance and circus ! Since 2009, the Brisbane Festival has enlivened the world-famous city with its eclectic mix of the uplifting and the challenging- so be sure not to miss out on this year’s fun!

The Alice Desert Festival
When: 27th August to 6th September,  2015
Where: Alice Springs, NT

A characteristic and charming Aussie festival, the Alice Desert Festival is the best way to acquaint yourself with the nation’s exotic, desert-based cultures. Boasting a line-up of local and international artists, the festival also offers many community based events and opportunities for family outings.

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The iconic interior of Sydney’s Town Hall…

Over the next three months, Sydney’s iconic Town Hall will offer locals and visitors the chance to get up-close-and-personal with one of the city’s most famous attractions. Inside the majestic Town Hall building, visitors will find the Grand Organ. Over a series of free lunch-time concerts, the Town Hall Organ recital program will allow guests to hear a unique instrument in all its true glory.

An integral feature of the Town Hall since 1890, the Grand Organ was once the centrepiece of a stately, world-class town hall building. When it was first commissioned, the instrument was hailed as the finest in the world. Hundreds of years later, replacing the organ would now cost an estimated $20 million. Today, it continues to inspire music lovers the world over.

The entrancing instrument has 26 speaking stops, nearly 9,000 pipes and a unique 64 foot pedal stop. It remains the largest organ ever constructed with tubular pneumatic playing action.

According to the City of Sydney, the organ has significant cultural and musical value. “Built by William Hill and Son of London, the organ was also the biggest in the world at the time, with 126 speaking stops, nearly 9,000 pipes and a unique 64 foot pedal stop. It is still the largest organ ever constructed with tubular pneumatic playing action,” declared the City of Sydney website. For lovers of all kinds of music, these are must-attend events.

Over the last few years, the City of Sydney has had the Grand Organ restored by local specialists. But they’ve also been busy putting together specialist recitals so as to take advantage of the world-famous instrument. For those regularly in the CBD area, it might make for an extra special mid-day delight!

For more information visit https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/sydney-town-hall-organ-recitals. For a brief program, see below:

Monday 10 August
University to Town Hall
Amy Johansen (Sydney University)

Monday 28 September
Fanfares & Fantasias
Robert Ampt

Monday 2 November
Organ & Bagpipes
Robert Ampt with Richard McGregor and Donald McKay (Bagpipes)

Wednesday 30 December
Young Organist’s Day
Featuring the talented young prize winners from the 2015 Sydney Organ Competition.

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Take part in your local NAIDOC Week celebrations…

NAIDOC Week 2015 is nearly here, with people all across the country preparing themselves for a week of Indigenous themed festivities and cultural events. No matter where you are in Australia, NAIDOC Week is a unique celebration worth exploring and enjoying. There’s plenty to see and do, and also a lot to learn.

This year’s festival revolves around a riveting central theme: We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate. The central concept relates to the centrality of the land and the sea across the spectrum of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Correlating with this theme, NAIDOC Week’s organisers have attempted to bring together those artists and activists who honour the land and seas through their efforts. Additionally, the celebration will discuss the importance of culturally significant places within Australia’s indigenous communities.

NAIDOC (or the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) has been in existence since the 1920’s, and today its raison d’être remains the same: to increase awareness of the wider Indigenous community and to boost Indigenous peoples’ status within modern Australia.

Traditionally held in the first week of July, several major Australian cities host unique cultural and social events that involve the wider Australian community in a discussion with modern indigenous Australians. The end result is a week long festival of all things Australian, whilst also enabling a broader consideration of the challenges and difficulties facing many of Australia’s first peoples.

In Sydney, events cater to a range of different guests ranging form the young to the old. The annual showcase event ‘NAIDOC in the city’ is a popular drawcard, as is the NAIDOC Flag Raising Ceremony. Other arts based events are informative and entertaining, so check online for more details.

If you’re a visitor or a local, NAIDOC Week is a truly Australian celebration of one of the world’s oldest and most storied cultures. So be sure to make it along!

What: NAIDOC Week 2015
Where: Locations across Australia.
When: 5-12 July, 2015
More information: http://www.naidoc.org.au

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The iconic Fringe Festival…

For those interested in the business of tourism, today’s big news came out of Adelaide. According to organisers of the famous Fringe festival, the event delivered a staggering $68.8 million worth of business to the state’s coffers!

Festival chairman David Minear discussed the overwhelming success of the event with the ABC. “It’s up quite significantly, it’s almost 7 or 8 per cent [higher] and our aim is to be regarded as the best fringe in the world,” he explained. “These sorts of numbers can echo around the world to other fringes, other festivals and underline just exactly what has been achieved in 2015.”

Organisers say that this year’s Fringe saw an improvement in ticket sales and crowd numbers. Sales were up by a solid 21 percent, and a staggering 541,000 people attended ticketed events! With such incredible numbers, the festival is proving that little ideas can blossom into big things. Originally a grass-roots festival, Fringe has grown into its role as the state’s biggest and most attended event.

“The people of South Australia will tell us if we get too big,” Mr. Minear suggests. “Right now growth is coming in consistently year-on-year. We’re very mindful of the situation of our audiences and I think our growth in the future will probably come from more interstate and overseas [visitors].”

As part of an attempt to attract a wider and more sophisticated crowd, the Adelaide Fringe is shaking things up by announcing a new creative director. After five glorious years, the celebrated Greg Clarke will be replaced by Heather Croall, the internationally renowned producer behind the Sheffield International Documentary Festival.

For the state government, the Fringe Festival is a much-needed economic booster. With receipts creeping towards the hundred million dollar mark, the tourist-friendly event is just what the state auditor’s ordered. For other Australian cities considering greater investment in local tourism, it proves that the sky really is the limit.

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