Month: September 2015

Melbourne Fringe

Fringe Festival Review: Torte e Mort: Songs of Cake and Death

Published by

The biggest challenge one faces when they go and see a cracking Fringe Festival performance, is how do you talk about the show without actually giving away the best bits? It’s a bit like Fight Club – the number one rule is; you don’t talk about it… Channeling a gorgeous Marie Antoinette, Anya Anastasia, backed by Bec Matthews (aka ‘The Executioner’) on drums, kazoo, saw and more, delivered clever and catchy songs that took us at a rapid and humorous pace through the life, death and hereafter of the infamous French queen – from her hedonistic ‘let them eat cake’ beginnings through to her untimely end and beyond. The performance was rounded out with visits from prominent afterlife figures positioned throughout the show to add deeper, life lessons to the show which were packed with satire, wise-cracking puns and glow-in-the-dark paint. I actually was sort of sad when the show came to an end. If you are a fan of perfectly placed puns, don’t mind a little bit of intellectual humor balanced with gorgeous costumes, …

Channels Australian Video Art Festival

Published by

Channels Australian Video Art Festival,  Australia’s only biennial celebration of video art and culture kicks off with a bang this Thursday.  The 10-day curated festival will feature 60 artists in 21 events and will present the very best contemporary video practice from across the globe in Melbourne and in the digital sphere.  International festival guest Sam Smith’s new exhibition Slow Fragmentation will mark the launch of the event and the evening will screen  a selection of twelve video works from artist-run-initiatives in Australia and New Zealand at Screen Space. Other highlights include: Saturday 19th September, 4-6pm – opening event with drinks at Incu and Zambes. Selected by Project QUAD, seven video works are presented in non-traditional exhibition spaces including shopfronts, restaurants and hotels along one of Melbourne’s busiest laneways. Flinders Lane, CBD. Saturday 19th September, 10am – 5pm –  In the Epoch of the Near and Far opening. In the Epoch of the Near and Far features work by Petra Cortright (USA), Heath Franco (AUS), Marian Tubbs (AUS), Emile Zile (AUS/NL), Keith Deverell (UK/AUS) and Aaron …

chocolate festival

It’s Joy O’clock – Celebrate with Cadbury Chocolate.

Published by

From next Wednesday to Friday (16th – 18th September), Cadbury will take over Federation Square bringing joy to thousands of Melburnians! The festival will transform Federation Square into a purple inspired wonderland – with a live DJ, heaps of freebies and thousands of Cadbury chocolate products for visitors. Schedule it in to your calendars and reclaim a lost but treasured moment of the day – the afternoon break. The entertainment will kick off on Wednesday at 2pm, with a big reveal at 3:30pm to mark Joy O’clock. There will also be an oversized alarm clock which will be ticking down to something big… We’re excited! When: Wednesday 16 September – 8:00am-5.30pm (with Joy O’Clock surprise at 3.30pm), Thursday 17 September – 8:00am-5.30pm , Friday 18 September – 8:00am-5.30pm Where: Federation Square

Taste Festival

Taste of Melbourne (+ Win a Double Pass)

Published by

Prepare your stomachs. Taste of Melbourne returns to Albert Park this November for four days of foodie heaven. The festival will host over 10 of Melbourne’s latest, greatest and hottest restaurants serving up 50 bite sized dishes all in one unique location. Create your dream tasting menu from restaurants including Gazi, Movida, Supernomal, Royal Mail Hotel, Circa and the Prince. As well as all the delicious food and drinks there’ll also be live entertainment,  new interactive culinary masterclasses and shops from boutique producers. This is one garden party on the Melbourne foodie and social calendar you don’t want to miss. When: 12-15 November Where: Pelican Lawn, Albert ParkAlbert Park, Visit the website here.  WIN 1 OF 5 DOUBLE PASSES TO TASTE OF MELBOURNE. ENTER BELOW Terms and conditions here.  Competition ends midday, 2 November 2015. This competition is now closed.  Exclusive offer for We Know Melbourne readers: 2 x General Entry tickets for $45* (Save $15**). Book general entry tickets through Ticketek and enter FOODIE in the promotional code box to save OR 2 x Platinum Passes …

Royal Melbourne Show

Published by

The Royal Melbourne Show is the highlight of the Spring school holidays. Conducted annually by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), the show celebrates and promotes excellence in Victorian agriculture, attracting around 500,000 people over 11 spectacular days. Entertain the kids with rides, live shows, arts and crafts. Choose from over 350 showbags on over and get up close with the animals at the farm precinct: including cows, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, cats and dogs. When: 19- 29 September 2015 Visit the website here.

Melbourne Fringe Festival

Melbourne Fringe Festival

Published by

If you’re into independent and creative arts, your time of the year has come. The Melbourne Fringe Festival kicks off on September 16 with over 400 events, performances and exhibitions popping up all over the city. We’d suggest you book your tickets to these events: Luminous “Enter the world of LUMINOUS, where blacklight body art and circus collide to tell neon-lit stories, create magic and form impossible illusions. Leave logic behind and experience a spectacle where hand-painted performers bring their bodies-as-canvases to life.” Opening Night Gala – Sept 18 Turn up the glamour at the Opening Night Gala. There’ll be performers from across the festival, dancing and all round good vibes. Shoot from the Hip Festival “Shoot From The Hip’ is a thrilling detective story, featuring a femme fatale and a private dick, classic 1940s fashions, a jazz-inspired original soundtrack, all in the licentious speakeasy atmosphere of the appropriately named Jury Room.” Torte e Mort: Songs of Cake and Death Enjoy the world premiere season of the darkly humourous, seductive and dangerously witty TORTE E …

Melbourne Arts Festival

Melbourne Festival

Published by

Celebrating 30 years of arts and culture, the Melbourne Festival returns to our city from 8-25 October. With a program filled with  dance, theatre, music, circus, visual arts, multimedia, outdoor and free events there is something for everyone. Some of our top picks include: Melbourne Art Trams Melbourne artists will showcase their art on Melbourne’s iconic trams. Now in its third year, Melbourne Art Trams is a vibrant celebration of a vehicle that has become an emblem of Australia’s premier arts city. “This year’s creative focus was conceived in association with MPavilion. We invited artists to take inspiration from Melbourne’s architectural landscape and design a tram that responds to how design and architecture define the character of the city.” Patti Smith’s Horses Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Patti Smith’s iconic debut album Horses, four of Australia’s best rock artists—Courtney Barnett,Jen Cloher, founding Magic Dirt member Adalita and The Drones lead man Gareth Liddiard will perform the album in it’s entirety. Artists in Conversation: Clint Mansell Sun 11 October, 4pm “Legendary film score composer Clint Mansell discusses the challenges …

Rustica Canteen

Published by

Melbourne CBD breakfasts just stepped up a notch with the latest opening of Rustica Canteen in Guildford lane. Setting up shop in the space that was formerly Utopian Slumps, their modern, warehouse space feels crisp, fresh and clean. All of the sourdough loaves are delivered from their Fitzroy bakery, Rustica Sourdough each morning and just like their sister store, their space is part bakery, part dining area, part “I’ll start my diet tomorrow” area. We’ll bet you won’t be able to  say no to dessert when you see their pastry display – some of the ones we drooled over include lime & coconut croissants, choc and peanut butter croissants and  salted caramel choux bombs, Their breakfast menu is filled with all sorts of mouth watering dishes. We tried the filled croissant with chilli scramble, jamon serrano and manchego cheese, and also the breakfast burger. Both delicious and satisfying! With Short Stop Coffee and Donuts, Krimper and Raw Trader just around the corner, Rustica are up against some tough competition. But we think it’s well worth the …

Vpremium Cinemas

Published by

Vpremium is the latest cinema concept to launch in Australia and if you love going to the movies as much as we do, you’re in for a treat. The larger coupled, leather seats are the perfect size for a date night or an extra cosy mate night, and come complete with arm rest, drink holder and table – No more awkward knocking over of drinks onto your movie date! To top off your movie date order a hot meal to eat in the cinema while watching the latest release. With an extensive hot food menu to choose from including pizzas, burgers, nachos and desserts, plus an alcohol list we don’t know how we’re ever going to watch a movie in the regular cinemas again. And in case you’re wandering what the difference is between Gold Class and VPremium is, (we also had to ask), Gold Class Cinemas provide the extra perk of a personal waiter service. Where: Village Cinemas, Jam Factory, South Yarra. Vpremium tickets are priced from $23. Visit the website here.