Brisbane

A curious race of flight-obsessed creatures has crash landed in the remains of the Red Hill Skate Arena, just outside the Brisbane CBD. Eager to get back to “upground”, the Gremlins have thrown open the cabin doors, inviting passengers to join them as they take to the skies with their budget airline Airlinius Hippopotamus. Please…

Irish theatre group Fishamble are bringing their hit romantic comedy Swing to the Brisbane Powerhouse as part of a ten venue Australian tour, slated to play the Brisbane River venue in late May. Following the tale of Joe and May, the show tells the story of two strangers who meet at a swing dance class. Swing…

After a successful run at the Brisbane Powerhouse during last year’s Brisbane Festival, raucous disco cabaret VELVET made a triumphant return to the River City, taking over the Cremorne Theatre at QPAC. Once a huge fan of the standard cabaret fare, the borderline offensive humour and the sexy-but-kinda-weird acts offered by shows like Club Swizzle, Absinthe, and La…

On Thursday, Anywhere Festival opens in Brisbane, for another month of innovative and independent performance, taking place just about anywhere except a theatre. With so much going on, us good folks here at the AU Review have decided to make things a little easier for you and compiled a list of the top 5 shows you’d…

“Empowering through the arts.” That’s the motto of Melbourne based group the School of Hard Knocks, who aim to engage and encourage people through performance, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, boosting their confidence and offering them a place in a welcoming community. This year, the school’s International Singers Festival, already a success in Melbourne, will, for the first…

In 2010, a family of green-skinned creatures crash landed at Woodford Folk Festival and, for the past six years, have been trying to get back in the air. After appearances at the Adelaide Fringe and Cairns Festival, Anywhere Festival has invited the Gremlins back to make another attempt at taking to the skies, and Brisbane…

If you’ve been partaking in this month’s Bavarian Brewfest at participating Bavarian Bier Cafés in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, as well as Munich Brauhaus in Sydney and Melbourne, you’ll be happy to know that the month of welcoming a range of new craft and seasonal beers isn’t quite over just yet, and there are…

We headed to Brisbane to taste test the burgers from around the city. We’ve tasted some pretty incredible burgers and now we’re delivering to you our five favourites, in no particular order. FaB Fish and Burger Grill These burgers are so damn good! Delishiously filling, and the best things? They don’t fall apart! Keep things simple…

Recently opened at the UQ Art Museum, ephemeral traces: Brisbane’s artist-run scene in the 1980s is a sister exhibition to their 2012 offering Return to sender, exploring the work of a select group of Brisbane artists during the mid 1980s. Where Michele Helmrich’s Return to sender focused on the artists driven out of Queensland by the conservative John Bjelke-Petersen government, ephemeral…

The first weekend of April saw the inaugural Rock And Roll Writers Festival take over Brisbane music venue The Brightside for two days of discussion and debate, devoted to the strong relationship between music and literature. A coup for the Brisbane arts scene, festival organisers Leanne de Souza and Joe Woolley brought together a killer line-up of…

We return domestically with an East Coast capital city service from Virgin, who have kicked things up a notch in recent times to compete with Qantas more aggressively on the domestic market. Airline: Virgin Australia Route: Sydney-Brisbane, VA931 Seat: 7A (Window) Aircraft: Boeing 737-800 Flight Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes On Schedule? Yes, departed aircraft…

As a card carrying feminist, my secret desire to be (and, let’s face it, be with) Indiana Jones always felt like something I had to suppress. Not because I didn’t want to get chased by giant boulders or offer up some great one-liners or have someone write “LOVE YOU” on their eyelids (I’ll win the…

Chelsea Lane opened at Mercure Brisbane last month. The new venue space situated between The Mercure and Ibis Hotel, adds a stylish, urban alfresco environment to a laneway once used for taxi and bus drop-offs and pick ups. With a budget tipping $200k, Chelsea Lane has been transformed into a hip, retro industrial styled venue, ensuring a relaxed…

The inaugural Rock & Roll Writers Festival takes over Brisbane’s Brightside on the first weekend of April. With events staggered across the two days, you won’t have to miss a single moment of the action, but just in case you need a beer break in between all the sex, drugs, and rock and roll, here’s our…

The new 368-room hotel Ibis Styles opened its doors to guests in Brisbane yesterday. The hotel, located on Elizabeth Street, will compete in the premium economy accommodation space, offering guests with rooms fit with SmartTVs, hip modern furnishings and spectacular views of Brisbane city. Mat Finch, the hotel’s general manager said he was happy to welcome guests to the hotel after months…

Time for the 1% to get their hands dirty!  The fifth annual OzHarvest CEO CookOff is back again on 7th March, and it means 50 of the country’s top chefs, alongside 150 business leaders, will feed 1,300 homeless and disadvantaged people from Sydney and, for the first time ever, Brisbane.  The events will take place at The Cutaway…

Once a month, Fortitude Valley’s New Globe Theatre plays host to the antics of Ruckus Slam, an open mic poetry slam, where first timers and experienced poets alike are judged by a tin foil robot with dinosaur score cards. No, really. That’s what happens. February’s event showcased work from Singapore based poets Stephanie Dogfoot and Deborah…

Doughnut Lovers rejoice! The Doughnut Bar has opened in the Wintergarden, Queen Street Mall, a welcome addition to their current locations at Eat Street Markets and Edward Street. Regarding the opening of the new location, owner Leigh Devlin says, “I feel that what makes us special is that we are small and detailed in what we do.  So, in order to best…

Brisbane’s South Bank Parklands will come alive again from 16th – 17th July with the return of the Regional Flavours Festival, singing the praises of Queensland’s freshest produce, local fare and fine wine, alongside indulgent treats (like gourmet brownies) and a range of food trucks The city’s signature free food and lifestyle event will bring festival-goers an opportunity to…

A towering monument on the Brisbane River, the Park Regis North Quay has become a go-to destination for Brisbane bound travellers (be it for business or tourism) since the 24 floor hotel opened in 1998. We stayed for two nights in a 1 bedroom apartment overlooking the beautiful Brisbane River – blessed with similarly kind…

As of mid-December, last month, Ipswich near Brisbane has welcomed a new German restaurant with big, big difference. Named Heisenberg Haus, this hub of schnitzels and biers has been inspired by none other than Vince Gilligan’s masterful television series Breaking Bad. Opened by The Fechner Family, this addition to Ipswich’s dining scene is part of…

Brisbane and Adelaide, you’re in luck. SUPANOVA have just revealed two of your favourite  magical, sci-fi characters will be joining an already huge line up of stars for this years highly anticipated event. And the celebrities are *drum roll please* Matthew  Lewis and Star Wars veteran actor Peter Mayhew!  That’s right,  Neville Longbottom and Chewbacca ,…

Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinemas are returning this month to kick off its country-wide tour in Brisbane, with a season of incredible films screening from September 28 until November 9. The Openair Cinemas also bring with them a range of live music acts, with each Sunday hosting Ben & Jerry’s Sundae Sessions. Each Sundae Session will include live music…

Richie Sambora and Orianthi played their first ever show together down in Australia for a Soundwave 2014 sideshow at The Tivoli on Thursday night. Photos by Gwendolyn Lee.

As last year’s Future, Good Vibrations 2009 and Global Gathering 2008 proved for many, horse racing venues, continuous rain and hordes of people don’t mix very well. It’s practically a repeat scenario this time, Future Music 2011 welcoming the underdressed punters with dismal weather and gravy-thick mud. Upon entrance, I give myself a mental high-five…

A week before they launched their mini-Australian tour alongside the 2010 Splendour in the Grass Festival, I sat down in Sydney with Luke B and James of Brisbane’s Violent Soho. Signed to Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace label, the band has been setting North America alight with an extensive tour over the last year or so….