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HIGHLIGHTS on land. This event is completely free to enjoy and a priceless chance to soak up the Australian culture and lifestyle. Manly Beach, Sydney www.australianopenofsurfing.com
Celebrate Chinese New Year
Whether you’re on the Gold Coast or in the far west, the Chinese New Year is celebrated with street carnivals, light shows and cultural displays nationwide. Surfers Paradise will see the Year of the Horse in with Chinese stalls of food and decoration, chopstick challenges and lantern making on 1st February, while Sydney lights up the city with the Twilight Parade and fireworks at Cockle Bay on the following day. Melbourne Parade also takes place on 2nd February in Chinatown, and Perth will experience Chinese lion dancing, firecrackers and martial artists in Northbridge on 9th February. Throughout Australia www.chinesenewyear.com.au
Take A Tour Dipped In Chocolate
Let’s face it, February is all about Valentine’s Day, and what would Valentine’s Day be without a load of chocolate? For even more romance, Chocoholic Tours organises a Chocolate Lovers Walk every Saturday all year round from 12pm in Melbourne. Take your beloved and feast your senses upon the delights at Haigh’s Chocolates, The Chocolate Box, Lindt Chocolate Café, Reader’s Feast and Koko Black – your tastebuds will be swimming in sweet, decadent chocolate in no time! Don’t worry if you’re single this month, because you can also take this tour alone or with a few friends.
Watch A Film
Beresford Summer Movie Nights have been a big hit since kicking off in October 2013, and February’s showcase looks set to keep the quality screenings coming. With love in the air for Valentine’s Day, The Beresford Hotel, Sydney, is proud to present ‘Love & Cheese’ – a celebration of the best love stories to grace the cinema every Monday night. From 7.30pm in the idyllic courtyard, audience members will be treated to ‘When Harry Met Sally’ on the 3rd, ‘Notting Hill’ on the 10th, ‘Dirty Dancing’ on the 17th and Baz Luhrman’s ‘Romeo + Juliet’ on the 24th. Pair this with $5 Happy Hour drinks from 5 – 7pm and $15 lasagna, and you’re set for one of the most romantic months of your life. Now all you need is to find someone to go with… The Beresford Hotel, 354 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, Sydney merivale.com.au
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Get Arty With Yoko
If you haven’t yet witnessed the work of Yoko Ono at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art, now’s your last chance before the exhibit closes on 23rd February 2014. War Is Over! (if you want it), is Ono’s expression on politics, humanity, world peace, loss and conflict, and takes on many forms including sculpture, written text and film, as well as the addition of spectator participation such as fixing broken crockery and placing peace stamps onto world maps. Entry to this eye-opening masterpiece is $19.90 per adult, or free with a MCA membership card. Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney www.mca.com.au
View The Surfing Pros
Whether you’ve got skills yourself or just appreciate the sport, anyone who’s interested in surfing should spend a day at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing in Sydney. From 8th – 16th February, Manly Beach will be taken over by the country’s most popular action sport and the youth of the area during a nine-day festival that also provides music, art and fashion. Watch world class athletes take to the waves, plus skateboarders and artists showcasing their talents
Images courtesy of Beresford Hotel and Chocoholic Tours
Stuck for something to do this month? Let us rid you of your boredom with these events we’ve plucked from our diary. You’ll be having fun in February in no time at all.
Meet your guide outside Haigh’s Chocolates in The Block Arcade via Collins or Elizabeth Street at 11.55am to begin this satisfying journey. chocoholictours.com.au
BEST OF BRITISH From traditional fish & chips to meaty pork pies and more, you can find all these British goodies right here in Australia, thanks to the British and Irish expats that brought them over. Check out our favourites below...
O’Connor’s Irish and UK Fish & Chips Where can you find British sauces, chocolates and bread alongside freshly cooked fish & chips? O’Connor’s Irish and UK Fish & Chips was born in September 2011, by Chris and Liz O’Connor, the same couple that brought Brisbane the Irish and UK store, Celtic Koala, in February 2010. The merging of the two has resulted in a haven for British and Irish travellers craving something from back home. At 229 Lutwyche Road in Windsor, Queensland, get your HP Sauce, Tayto Cheese & Onions Crisps and Yorkshire Tea, and pick up your fish supper as you leave. Whether you’re eating in or taking away, tuck into North Atlantic cod, home cut chips and curry sauce, or indulge in battered haggis or a battered Mars bar if you’re up for something more adventurous.
Wensley’s
From the bakeries of England’s Melton Mowbray to Queensland’s pubs, bakeries and butchers, plus their own stand at the farmers markets around the south-east, Wensley’s provides the best meat to some of the state’s most popular eateries. To this day, you can find Wensley sausages, pasties and Eccles cakes in establishments like Pig & Whistle in Brisbane, The Fox & Hounds Inn on the Gold Coast, and Wendland Olives Deli in Toowoomba. Tony and Maria Wensley learnt their craft before immigrating to Australia in 2004, where they make and sell their flagship product: scrummy pork pies. Hand-chopped pork, blended seasonings in a crust pastry and real bone stock jelly are all that goes into this traditional British delight, and are highly regarded by regular customers. This is hardly surprising with Tony’s history as Bakery Manager of the prestigious and renowned, Olde Pork Pie Shoppe, back in Melton Mowbray. On their market stalls, you can also find cherry bakewells, scotch eggs and sausage rolls, as well as four different varieties of sausage. www.wensleys.com.au for more info and nearest stockist.
Arriving in Australia in 2008, Liz and Chris both had experience in the food business, with her having worked in a fish & chip shop back in Jersey and him in his uncle’s fine dining restaurant. By sourcing the right ingredients, making everything from scratch and using traditional recipes, the couple can be sure to provide the best quality of British and Irish cuisine for their regular and new customers. With plans to set up other chippy-come-grocery stores in different locations around Australia, there may soon be one near you! 229 Lutwyche Road, Windsor, QLD www.oconnorfishandchips.com.au
The Irish have come to Australia in their droves, but they still crave the taste of home. As a result, Irish bakers, chefs and their recipes have come too, to supply the people with traditional Irish breads, pies and meats. A perfect example of this is Paddy The Baker, an established Irish bakery in Sydney since June 2010. Thanks to Paddy, aka Gerard Winston, you can purchase soda, potato and spotted dick bread, scones and cakes, baked fresh every day, and sit down to a meal of beef and Guinness pie or slow roasted pork sandwich, complete with Irish whiskey mustard mayo. A self-taught baker, Winston moved to Australia to escape Ireland’s recession for a better life down under, and set up Paddy The Baker with business partner, Wade Yonger, an experienced baker from Sydney’s Brasserie Bread. A belief that Irish food is what your mum cooks, only true ingredients are used, like the buttermilk from Pepe Saya for the soda bread and muffins. Due to this genuine baking, the warm aromas of bread fill your nose as soon as you step foot inside, resembling a bakery right in the heart of Ireland. The bakery in Miranda sells bread from 8am - 11am Saturday morning only (ensuring absolute freshness) or you can pick up your loaf of choice from several markets in the area, including Bondi Junction, Paddington and Marrickville. As the only traditional Irish bakery in Sydney, you won’t find a taste of the Shire anywhere else in Oz! 567 Kingsway, Corner Kiora Road, Miranda, NSW www.paddythebaker.com
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Images courtesy of O'Connor's Fish & Chips, Wensley's and Paddy The Baker
Paddy The Baker
The struggle of finding somewhere to eat past traditional lunchtime is something BBM knows all too well. To help anyone else that bends the rules on lunchtime, we’ve found the best places to spend your afternoon over a lazy late lunch.
The Sailors Club
Providing diners with round-the-clock hunger salvation from the lounge bar, The Sailors Club is situated in a stunning location at Rose Bay Pier on Sydney Harbour. The lounge is kitted out with light furnishings and soft leather, and from 12pm – late Wednesday – Friday, and 11.30pm – late Saturday and Sunday, you can sample the menu. The hamburger with beetroot relish, salad and fries is $24, but the duck liver parfait is particularly scrumptious at $14. The menu changes weekly, so make sure you order what you want at the time. Accompany the food with a cocktail or two (depending on your budget), and this is the perfect place to wind down after a day on the harbour. 594 New South Head Road, Rose Bay thesailorclub.com.au
Bishop Sessa
For full-on dining after the lunchtime rush, Bishop Sessa opens its doors to everyone from midday to late every day except Sunday. Whether you sit at the
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bar, devour a three-course meal or try a six-course degustation, you can enjoy it in a contemporary and casual urban environment. While the menu changes depending on seasonal ingredients and sustainable produce, the $18 scallop ceviche is Bishop Sessa’s signature dish that has stood the test of time, and should be tasted to appreciate why. For mains, you can expect whole cuts of beef, venison and pork, some of which has been butchered right in house for ultimate freshness. 527 Crown Street, Surry Hills bishopsessa.com.au
King St Brewhouse
The mains might be limited to lunch and dinner, but the snacks, share plates, salads and stacks at King St Brewhouse (pictured) are available from 11.30am – late. The Ploughman’s Board is stuffed to the edges with bresaola, Spanish jamon, salami, cheddar cheese, seeded mustard and much more at $25, while the Sydney Rock Oysters can be enjoyed in one of three ways for half a dozen at $16 or 12 at $32. Take your choice of brew out to the beer garden and watch the sun go down as day turns to evening. 22 The Promenade, King Street Wharf www.kingstbrewhouse.com.au
Clovelly Hotel
One of the most popular hotels in the area for its location, bars and dining experience, The Clovelly
Image courtesy of King St Brewhouse
SYDNEY A Delicious Afternoon...
Hotel is an easy choice if you missed normal lunchtime by a couple of hours! Serving food from 12pm – 9.30pm Monday – Thursday and til 10pm Friday – Sunday, their all-day menu is classic of pub grub. If you’ve had a long morning, the grill delivers fish, chicken, steak and salmon to choose from, while favourites like a beef burger ($20), chicken schnitzel ($23) and chicken parmigiana ($25) are sure to tempt your tastebuds. Whatever you fancy, it’s sure to be here, available when you are. You can relax after you’ve filled your belly, in the lounge or main bar, to head into the evening with drinks and friends. 381 Clovelly Road, Clovelly www.clovellyhotel.com.au
The Animal 174 King Street Newtown $19 Coal Roasted Suckling Pig
Beresford 354 Bourke Street Surry Hills Summer movies in the courtyard from 7.30pm Sugarmill 33-35 Darlinghurst Road Kings Cross Trivia from 8pm followed by DK karaoke
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Manly Wine 8-13 South Steyne Manly Free Wine Tasting Newtown Hotel 174 King Street Newtown Main meal and a ticket to any standard Dendy film screening for $20 OR free pool competition Establishment 252 George Street Salsa lessons at 8pm
The Soda Factory 16 Wentworth Avenue Surry Hills Dollar Dogs 5pm-12am
The Winery 285A Crown Street Surry Hills Cheeses from around the world The Porterhouse 233 Riley Street Surry Hills $10 Chicken Schnitzel with chips, salad and sauce Sweethearts 33-37 Darlinghurst Road Potts Point $5 cheeseburgers & $15 ribs 7pm-9pm (‘Supper Club’)
The Loft 3 Lime Street $5 bottled Peroni, $5 seasonal bellinis, $8 share plates
Bungalow 8 3 Lime Street $5 Drinks at 5pm
Friday Bat & Ball 495 Cleveland Street Redfern Fish & chips $12
Palace Hotel Corner of George and Hay Street Free oysters 5pm-6pm OR $4 schooners 4pm7pm
P.J. O’Briens 57 King Street Live music on Friday nights from 8pm $5 Rochdale ciders 7pm-10pm
Saturday Darlo Bar 306 Liverpool Street $20 Cocktail Jugs 6pm-9pm Four Ate Five 485 Crown Street Surry Hills Weekend pancake special
VIVO Cafe 388 George Street Light and cooked breakfasts with free range eggs and freshly squeezed juice
Sunday Tea Gardens Hotel 2-4 Bronte Road Bondi Junction Sunday Sessions with Dj G, SaxMan + Dj Drei
Kit & Kaboodle 33-37 Darlinghurst Road Kings Cross $5 house drinks & $7 premium back bar
Cargo Lounge 52-60 The Promenade $25 punch bowls
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The promotions in the calendar are subject to change at any point without notice. Please check with the venue/business that offers are still valid
Monday
SYDNEY
MARDI GRAS 2014
The Mardi Gras Disco Climb
If you’ve climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge previously, we can guarantee it wouldn’t have been an experience like this. From Monday 17th February – Thursday 6th March, this iconic bridge turns into a disco, complete with a dance floor, rainbow decorations, music and disco ball. Dance with friends and compete for the accolade of dancing king or queen, then pick up your eight-second video to remember the climb forever. This is a great way to celebrate Mardi Gras and at $235pp, really shows your dedication to the LGBTQI community! Sydney Harbour Bridge, 3 Cumberland Street, The Rocks
Sydney celebrates the LGBTQI community this February and March, as Mardi Gras returns for 2014. With festivals, art, parties and, of course, the parade, there is plenty on to welcome every individual from all walks of life. Join in the fun and soak up the atmosphere with these following highlights.
The Parade
Possibly the most lavish and colourful event in the calendar, The Parade along Oxford and Flinders Streets, sees 10,000 people march for LGBTQI equality. A spectacle of the most imaginative and fascinating, on Saturday 1st March men and women will dress up in costume upon extravagant floats to spread the message of love and joy. You can join in the fun yourself by registering a float, marching with a group or volunteering your time to make sure the parade goes off without a hitch. Support the LGBTQI community by appreciating this honest and artistic expression in the heart of Sydney. Oxford Street & Flinders Street, Darlinghurst
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Mardi Gras Film Festival
For its 21st year, the Mardi Gras Film Festival will be showcasing hilarious, sensitive, intense and surprising comedies, dramas and thrillers from around the world that will open your mind and your senses (Friends Of Dorothy pictured above). The complete program will take place between Thursday 13th February and Sunday 23rd February, exclusively at Event Cinemas George Street. Those that should be on your hit list include C.O.G, a dark comedy and a must-see for any fan of David Sedaris, and Born This Way, the honest approach to being gay in Sydney – and grateful for it. Germany will also be showcasing their own Brokeback Mountain, Free Fall, which is expected to get many audience members hot under the collar! With these, plus many more world premieres of queer and colourful material, it’s a fundamental portion of Mardi Gras that you don’t want to miss. Event Cinemas, 505-525 George Street, Sydney
The Death Of Kings
A witty yet thought-provoking take on 1980s Sydney during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, The Death Of Kings tells the story of four men facing prejudice, the struggle to survive and the devastation of their community. The story comes courtesy of interviews of a group of men who lived in Sydney during the time, and performed by four young men and a ringmaster painting the picture of a gay Sydney. This moving, endearing and bitterly honest telling of a community facing tragedy will be at Ginger’s at The Oxford Hotel in Darlinghurst on 13th, 18th and 19th February for $25 per ticket. Gingers at The Oxford Hotel, 134 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
Summer Camp 2014 Art Exhibition
A treat for the eyes, Summer Camp 2014 Art Exhibition will showcase the work of four Sydney artists. Between Sunday 23rd February and Monday 24th March, Luke Atkinson, Mark Coker, Scott Elk and Mulga, will throw an exciting exhibition of paintings, screen prints, photography and neon. Plenty of colour and energy, each one is different, with Atkinson’s free-flowing explorations of line, shape and colour, Coker’s dark yet sexy photographs with splashes of camp, Elk’s multidisciplinary talents in colour and paint, and Mulga’s large-scale paintings of bearded men. Not only an addition to Mardi Gras, the collections of Summer Camp 2014 are part of Sydney Art Month 2014, and well deserved of your attention. Bondi Pavillion, Queen Elizabeth Street Drive, Bondi Beach
Fat Tuesday
Otherwise known as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day, this is the perfect excuse to indulge and go a little bit crazy before lent, with food, wine and entertainment laid on throughout the evening. It’s also an excellent way to raise money for the community’s organisations. For $125, those in attendance can enjoy a threecourse dinner, drinks, canapés, and an exciting line-up of singers, dancers and cabaret acts. Head to Slide on 41 Oxford Street in Darlinghurst and help raise funds for Aurora’s charitable grants programs and projects across NSW. Slide, 41 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
Day For Night Exhibition and Party
Images Courtesy of Mardigras.org.au & Mardi Gras Film Festival
Performance Space, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2014 and Carriageworks have teamed up to present you with an elaborate, no-holdsbarred exhibition with Australia’s boldest queer artists. From 13th – 15th February, guests are welcome to experience Day For Night, roaming free at your own accord and encountering performances as you wish. The event becomes a party, and you are invited to dance and sweat with the artists, including burlesque supernova Lillian Starr and cLUB bENT veteran Dean Walsh. The exhibition is free, but the night party on the 15th costs $35. Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh
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SYDNEY Sonoma Bakery Company
Get your bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, almond croissant and a hot cup of seasonal blend coffee every day from Sonoma. With cafes throughout Sydney, including Woollahra, Bondi and Glebe, you can pick up many treats from as early as 6.30 in the morning. Throughout Sydney www.sonoma.com.au
The Lobo Plantation
The hottest joint to escape the heat, The Lobo Plantation lies in the basement of 209 Clarence Street and takes inspiration from Julio Lubo, the Caribbean’s last sugar baron, and his taste for the finer things in life. A rum bar with decadent cocktails, soft lighting and small, round chestnut-brown tables to gather round, it screams 1950s Cuba. Whether hiding in the corner on an intimate date or bringing every friend you’ve ever had to sample the bar, this is the place to enjoy good food, good service and very good cocktails. From the ice cold Napoleon to the more flaming variety, cocktails are celebrated and appreciated – no one made with any less precision than the last. Head to the bar and order yours ‘til 12am Monday – Saturday. 209 Clarence Street www.thelobo.com.au
Chur Burger
Since its humble beginnings in the backyard of the former Albion Street Kitchen, Chur Burger has gone onto take over the whole venue and increase the amount of burgers it sells tenfold (they used to run out by 1pm!). Now a year old, the menu is packed with flavour, from the grilled beef, cheese, tomato jam, mustard mayo and pickle; pulled pork, Chur BBQ sauce, red slaw and fennel mayo; and grilled lamb, mint sauce, feta, red onion and aioli – to name a few! Despite the indulgent ingredients, burgers are just $10 each, while you can double up your meat for another $3, and add $5 sides like sweet potato fries. This place gets ridiculously busy, so it’s a good thing they’re open Monday 11.30am – 5pm and Tuesday – Saturday 11.30am – 10pm. 48 Albion Street, Surry Hills like www.churburger.com.au
Hot Right Now
With plenty to sample in a city Sydney, here’s some of the best places to indulge in this February.
Newtown Hotel Cider Yard Pop Up
Celebrate the rest of summer at Newtown Hotel’s Cider Yard pop up. Located in the outdoor Tiki Garden, 15 different ciders from Kopparberg Elderflower and Lime to Dirty Granny will be made available while you marvel at the creation from local sculptors, Liam Kennedy and Adrienn Lord. Using the pre-existing ponytail palm as a blank canvas, they have used new and recycled materials to create branches, flowers and apples and pears, as a celebration of all things cider. Bringing something new to the beloved Tiki Garden, visit the Cider Yard before summer ends and it shuts up shop permanently in March. 174 King Street, Newtown newtownhotel.com.au
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The Record Store
For anyone that loves the sound of vinyl, The Record Store in Darlinghurst is a big two fingers up to the cold, over-processed format of mp3, stocking over 3000 classic, rare, rereleased and new titles on the beloved disk. From Drum & Bass to Jazz and Eclectic Wax, flick through the shelves while in-house music and street art inspire you. A whole lot more than just what it says on the tin, these guys provide DJ lessons, turntable services from a qualified technician and keep you up to date with all the best gigs in Sydney. Oh, and if you bring a six-pack of beer, they’ll welcome you with open arms. 255b Crown Street, Darlinghurst therecordstore.com.au
MELBOURNE Feeling Peckish? It’s happened to the most organised of us: you plan a morning of activities to be done by lunchtime, but time runs away from you and you find yourself tired, starving and struggling for somewhere to feed you at 3pm. Fear not, because we’ve found great restaurants, cafes and bars in Melbourne that are prepared to feed you whatever the hour. From cheap and cheerful to a little bit of luxury, one of these late afternoon joints is bound to suit your taste and budget.
Republica
The Yorkshire Hotel
An old fashioned pub with plenty of charm, the exposed brickwork and open fireplaces make for a cosy atmosphere, but on a warm day, you can’t beat the beer garden. It even has its own menu separate from that of the dining room, offering nibbles and share plates to grilled meats and fancy dishes. If there’s a group of you, order the $19 Charcuterie cold and cured meats alongside the $20 Portarlington blue shell mussels, and you won’t be disappointed. Best of all, the emphasis here is all day eating, so you can stay to your heart’s content. 48 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford www.theyorkshirehotel.com.au
Bimbo Deluxe
Naked For Satan
Emulating a Basque bar with warm colours, recycled timber and vodka-speciality cocktails, Naked For Satan is perfect for a late-afternoon escape from the bustle of the city. While the rooftop restaurant serves main meals, it’s the ground floor Pintxos that are on everyone’s lips. The idea is that you get to relax with a drink and sample small bites of finger food. From the cold stocked on the bar, to the hot coming out of the kitchen, diners can enjoy chorizo croquet, spicy lamb meatballs and smoked salmon. Just pick what you like, then when you’ve had your fill, take your toothpicks to the bar and pay. Enjoy these tasty delights for just $1 each from 12 – 4pm Monday – Friday, and 4pm – late Monday – Wednesday ($2 at other times), at the only Pintxos bar in Melbourne. 285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy www.nakedforsatan.com.au
If it’s a quick snack and back on the road you’re looking for, Bimbo Deluxe are serving delicious gourmet pizza and deluxe hot dogs every day of the week, and for $4 each, it’d be rude not to! Monday – Friday, 12 – 4pm sees these delectable delights go down a treat, with a mixture of toppings and lashings of sauce. A range of beer, wine, spirits and cocktails are to be enjoyed on the rooftop courtyard, making it pretty difficult to get up and go. So why not stick around for something sweet with the dessert pizzas? Strawberries, mascarpone, white chocolate and strawberry sauce on a doughy base – it will be your new favourite. Cnr Brunswick Street and Rose Street, Fitzroy bimbodeluxe.com.au
Marios Cafe
Marios is the creation of Mario Maccarone and Mario De Pasquale, two waiters who met in Melbourne’s restaurant industry in the early 1980s. With an aim to serve those with less conventional working hours like artists, actors and cab drivers, Marios is open 7am – 10.30pm, serving all day breakfast and switching to a dinner menu at 5pm. The Italianinfused dishes keep coming and lunchtime specials change weekly, so whether you fancy spag bol for $14.50 or poached egg muffins at $15.50, you can always find a warm welcome from either Mario – they’re pretty proud of their coffee, too! 303 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy marioscafe.com.au
Image courtesy of Republica, Naked For Satan and Marios
A focus on enjoying the outdoors whenever possible, Republica on St Kilda Beach (pictured) serves up a laidback dining experience. With uninterrupted views of the iconic beach like no other venue, the a la carte menu is a welcome read to any eager eater, available ‘til late. Freshly shucked oysters start from $3.50 each, or dig into the $28 slow cooked beef for something more substantial. When you’re full and satisfied, relax on the swinging bowl chairs sipping a cocktail or, after your meal’s gone down, take part in the beach volleyball from 6pm. St Kilda Sea Baths, 10-18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda www.republica.net.au
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MELBOURNE The Quiet Man Irish Pub 271 Racecourse Road Flemington Irish Set Dancing Night from 8pm
Temperance Hotel 424 Chapel Street South Yarra $20 Workers Lunch
Glenferrie Hotel 324 Burwood Road Hawthorn $14 burgers of Wagyu beef, chicken or crumbed barramundi
Tuesday
Bimbo Deluxe 376 Brunswick Street Fitzroy See You Next Tuesday for a beer with your mates & $4 pizza 12pm4pm & 7pm-11pm Metropolitan 36-42 Courtney Street North Melbourne $16-$18 Express lunch menu Republica St Kilda Baths 10-18 Jacka Boulevard St Kilda $12 fish & chips
Wednesday Turf Bar 131 Queen Street Hit The Turf It’s Bedlam from 7pm $6 pints/vodka/ wine, $5 pizza, $10 burgers, $10 fish & chips, free pool and darts
Station 59 59 Church Street Richmond Open mic comedy from 8pm
The Thornbury Local 635 High Street Thornbury $15 jugs ‘til 11pm & $15 chicken parma
Thursday The Dan O’Connell Hotel 225 Canning Street Carlton $1 Tacos with any drink purchase OR $15 jugs of sangria Lucky Coq Cnr Chapel Street & High Street Windsor Free Range Funk Jazz Soul and Funk tunes 9pm-3am
Friday
The Precinct Hotel 60 Swan Street Richmond Past To Present live music to make you sweat
Melbourne Public 11 Dukes Walk South Wharf $1 Oysters The Evelyn Hotel 351 Brunswick Street Fitzroy $2.50 Carlton $5 vodkas
Saturday Ding Dong Level 1 18 Market Lane Chinatown Midnight Run Discotheque
29th Apartment 29 Fitzroy Street St Kilda $8 Nachos, $20 Beer Buckets, 12pm-7pm
Retreat Hotel 280 Sydney Road Brunswick Taco of the week 1-$5, 6-$26, 9-$40
Sunday The Penny Black 420 Sydney Road Brunswick Live music and beer garden BBQ with pulled pork and roast beef Richmond Club Hotel 100 Swan Street Richmond All Day Sunday Roast $18.50 plus live acoustic sets The Carlton 193 Bourke Street All Day Sunday New York Cats Burger Bar with $12 Chicky Boom Boom, $12 The Esco Burger & $14 Beyoncé Booty Burger
Los Barbudos 95 Smith Street, Fitzroy $10 Cuba Libra
The Pancake parlour Don’t let your pancake cravings go unfulfilled this Shrove Tuesday! While Australia may not be renowned for its sweet treats, where better to devour some hot, batter-based cakes than at The Pancake Parlour? Born in Melbourne in 1965, there are now 11 restaurants dotted around the city to serve up this childhood favourite. Inside every parlour are creations of Whimsical Wonders. Made from discarded scrap metal in all shapes and sizes, the Ladies Pancake-Tossing Race mural was brought to life, as well as the Snake Boy Mix Machine and The Granny Plane. Mirrored glass of reverse paintings decorate the windows (including the LOVELY! Lady) and the Quaint Characters adorn the walls to welcome diners. Once you’ve got past the colourful introduction, it’s time to dive head first into the menu. From sweet to savoury, pancakes are the base of almost every dish, whether you opt for the Country Breakfast, Scotch Fillet Steak or Chocolate Jubilee. The classic lemon and sugar just as you remember from home is served with vanilla ice cream for $14.50, or smother two pancakes in caramelised walnuts, maple syrup, a dusting of cinnamon and ice cream for $19.30. Savoury offerings are something different, and a great chance to go against your instincts. The cheese and potato pancake is unbelievably moreish at $19.40, or try the Tabriz pancake melt with a fried egg, including ham, melted cheese, two buttermilk pancakes and Tabriz sauce, served with a side salad, for $25.80. The team at The Pancake Parlour will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday with the annual Ladies Pancake Tossing Race and Gentleman’s Pancake Eating Competition, while they aim to break the world record for the most pancakes tossed! You can take part in the activities yourself by registering on their website. Pancakes and games – this might just beat Christmas. The Pancake Parlour, throughout Melbourne pancakeparlour.com.au
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The promotions in the calendar are subject to change at any point without notice. Please check with the venue/business that offers are still valid
Monday
Forklift at Arts Centre Melbourne
Between Wednesday 12th and Sunday 16th February, Australian performance art company, KAGE, presents a dance-circus of unbelievable proportions and contortions! Featuring aerial acrobatics, atmospheric lighting and music, and one of most ambitious stage sets brought to life, Forklift involves the story of three women finding themselves in an industrial wasteland at night, and having to work around a moving 2.5 tonne forklift. Tickets are between $30 and $39 with a limited number of seating, so purchase yours now to witness the spectacle. 100 St Kilda Road artscentremelbourne.com.au
Nieuw Amsterdam
What was Irish pub Pugg Mahones is now a swish New York-style bar This bar-come-eatery is pouring out uber-sophisticated drinks and serving beautiful dishes including The Nieuw Chocolate Bar at just $10. 106-112 Hardware Street www.nieuwamsterdam.com
Hot Right Now Melbourne is a cosmopolitan metropolis full of unmissable opportunities. Before you do anything else, check out this lot for your next outing...
Northcote Social Club
One of the hottest gig venues in Melbourne, Northcote Social Club provides up-and-coming bands and established singer-songwriters a stage to show off their talents. Former performers have included Johnny Marr, Daniel Merriweather and Snakadaktal, and present booked acts look to be just as exciting and highly anticipated. February alone sees American singer Autre Ne Veut, Australian musician Lilith Lane and Melbourne five-piece The Delta Riggs take to the stage, as well as Mick Turner’s album launch and a third date for The Kite String Tangle, due to popular demand. 301 High Street, Northcote northcotesocialclub.com
SO:ME Space
A unique concept, SO:ME Space provides a retail outlet for upand-coming and established designers to showcase and sell their products to the South Melbourne population. Located in South Melbourne Market, it has become a prominent fixture for giving brands an opportunity to see what their own stores were to look like. Stalls include Bakerlite (bicycles, skateboards and scooters), Kreel (furniture, kitchenware and lifestyle products), and Creatures of Comfort (footwear and accessories). There are also regular pop-ups for designers to see their products on display temporarily, for which applications are always welcome from the website. Open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 8am – 4pm, and Friday 8am – 5pm, why not see what you can find? South Melbourne Market, Cnr Conventry & Cecil Streets, South Melbourne www.somespace.com.au
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PERTH A Spot Of Late Lunch?
Pancakes at Carillon If you didn’t already know, Pancake Day is steadily approaching for 4th March and Australia knows how to make them just as well as their British and American cousins. In fact, Perth’s original pancake restaurant has been standing since 1983 and has seen a renovation with fresh and vibrant colours and added pancake dishes to the already delicious menu. To provide these indulgences to perfection, the chefs here have over 10 years’ experience in pancake-making and have been making them at Carillon for over half a decade. Pancakes are served at breakfast and dessert-time, from a.m. to closing. Until 11.30am, diners can enjoy Pancakes Aussie Sunrise – a plate of fried egg, grilled banana and pineapple, bacon or chipolatas and, of course, pancakes – for $15.50. If you prefer bread to batter, you can swap your pancakes for two slices of toast.
The idyllic weather, sandy beaches and endless things to do can distract visitors to Perth from eating at usual hours. Once the hunger pangs are realised, finding somewhere to eradicate them can be tricky when restaurants and eateries close between lunch and dinner. Fortunately, these venues stay open throughout the afternoon, and are more than willing to serve you a late lunch to your liking.
Soda Cafe
On the coastal suburb of North Beach lies Soda Cafe, blessed with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and an all-day menu guaranteed to be the saviour of any late-afternoon eater. Open until 5pm Sunday – Tuesday and ‘til 10pm Wednesday – Saturday, Soda Cafe has a simple, standard menu that makes it easy to choose. Appetisers include $12 buffalo wings, $16 crab sticks and $14 chorizo empanadas, perfect for a group of friends to share. Sizeable options include hands-on pitas, burgers and sandwiches, pastas and meat-based dishes, so you should find something to your taste and budget. If you have time, a relaxing drink at your table to enjoy your surroundings is highly recommended. 251 West Coast Drive, North Beach www.sodacafe.com.au
The Stables Bar
A sophisticated converted horse stable, you are welcomed by warm colours of chocolate, walnut and chestnut, and an all-day grazing menu. Don’t be fooled: these may not be on main serving plates, but they certainly do the job when you haven’t eaten since breakfast. From grilled vegetable sourdough at $6 to The Stables Board – cured and pressed meats – at $16, there’s plenty of choice and quality available. Pick from three or four dishes if there’s a few of you, or have one all to yourself. There’s maximum flavour with minimum fuss, thanks to the in-house baked bread, smoked meats and created condiments. Venture to the outside bar for a cheeky cocktail and a view of the city skyline. 888 Hay Street, Perth www.thestablesbar.com.au
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Coco’s
Served every day from 11.30am – 5pm (from 12.30pm Sundays), Coco’s provides a grazing menu of modern Australian cuisine, with each dish at $24.90. There are substantial offerings of pasta and meat, with an emphasis on seafood due to its ideal location on the Swan River and access to local produce. The Seafood Grazing Platter is a generous helping of crispy fried king snapper and baby squid, served with chips and tartar sauce. There’s also King Prawn and Avacado Focaccia and King Prawn Tempura, as well as risotto, Cape Grim Sirloin, and salads that sell at different prices based on your choice of small or large. 85 The South Perth Esplanade, South Perth www.cocosperth.com
Cicerello’s
A statement of Fremantle’s Fishing Boat Harbour, Cicerello’s (pictured) is a fresh take on traditional fish and chips, with oysters, mussels, crabs and crayfish also on the menu. Open every day except Christmas Day from 10am ‘til late, the restaurant is serving throughout the day so you can settle at a table, watch the harbour and devour whatever takes your fancy. If you’re feeling extra peckish, the Seafood Tray includes fish & chips, two prawns, five squid rings, crab stick, pineapple, lemon, tartar sauce and coleslaw. A feast for the eyes and the tastebuds, you can even wash it down with champagne at the water’s edge – that’s one classy chippie! 44 Mews Road, Fremantle www.cicerellos.com.au
You can’t pay a visit to the restaurant without devouring a dessert pancake. From the simple to the outright ridiculous, an explosion of flavours and naughtiness awaits. The Choc Chip Indulgence is just that at $13.50, with two chocolate chip buttermilk pancakes topped with macadamia nuts, cream, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and icing sugar. Those craving something simpler will enjoy the choice of short, regular and long stacks with maple-flavoured syrup, and the possibility of adding cream, ice cream, blueberries, chocolate or caramel fudge and fresh strawberries. Using only free-range eggs and the most local suppliers available, celebrate Pancake Day at Carillon this year.
The Refusal Of Time at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
Opening on Thursday 13th February and running until Sunday 27th April, The Refusal Of Time is an incredible five-channel video and sculpture exhibition exploring the nature of time. This 2012 piece of work by William Kentridge is coming to Perth for the first time, and incorporates drawing, music, film, dance and animation. Visitors are invited to learn about the history of colonialism and industry through time and territory, and commit themselves to the projections that envelope them and the dominance of the central wooden kinetic sculpture. 51 James Street, Northbridge www.pica.org.au
Hot Right Now You might have found your favourite hangout or store in Perth, but if you don’t try something new, you could be missing out. Here are our picks of the month that we think you should explore...
Station Street Market
One of the most varied markets in Australia, at Station Street Market you can get your weekly fruit and veg, before receiving a tarot card reading or relaxing with a massage. Not just a market, there’s also a beautiful garden courtyard with food from around the world and entertainment to while away the hours after browsing for jewellery, pottery and candles. Open Friday – Sunday 9am – 5.30pm, get your meat from Stockmans Choice Butcher, apples from TR & TR and pick up a bonsai tree from Chen’s. 44 Station Street, Subiaco subiacomarkets.com.au
The Classroom
The Classroom aims to recreate when learning was fun. From the lunchboxes to the chalkboard and the canteen, you are invited to sit on a stool at your desk and give your order to the teacher, or relax in the private school library. The canteen serves a lot more choice than you would find back in the day, from $16 Buttermilk Chicken Wings to $22 Cider-braised Rabbit Tortellini, and you can even order Breakfast After Dark – a naughty take on the morning meal. Cocktails are a chemistry experiment like no other – the technicians are seriously good. Stay ‘til late Tuesday – Sunday, or book your own private class on Monday. 356 Charles Street, North Perth www.theclassroom.com.au
Sherbet Cafe & Bake Shop
If you like to indulge your sweet tooth, this tasty little eatery is inspired by the bakeries renowned in New York – sweet, gooey treats with fondant centres and dough lighter than air. From birthday cakes made to order to a quick bite of a cupcake in the cafe, the varied range is unbelievable, making it extremely hard to choose which one to devour. From traditional cakes like éclairs and vanilla slices, to unique creations of chocolate honeycomb layer cake and raspberry, rhubarb and white chocolate muffins, all are delicious and perfect for personal consumption or a special gift – if you can stand to give them away! 206B Whatley Crescent, Maylands www.sherbetbakeshop.com.au
The Brisbane Hotel
Have dinner or an entire night at The Brisbane Hotel to discover why it earned the accolade of WA Hotel of the Year at the Australian Bar Awards last month. From a business meeting to drinks with friends, the interior is light and comfortable, but the beer garden is truly unbeatable. 292 Beaufort Street, Highgate www.thebrisbanehotel.com.au
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IN FOCUS
HOW TO IGNORE VALENTINE'S DAY For those of you who are single, or just do not care about Valentine’s Day, fear not as we’ve got your back on that one. If you want to spend the day ignoring dribbling pathetic couples and smug girls walking around with crappy love heart chocolates and roses, here’s a few ways to make sure you have the best non-Valentine’s Day ever.
Go Go Karting
Open every day of the week from 9am til late, Eastern Creek Karts is the perfect place to forget about Valentine’s Day with all your single friends – and relish your freedom! There are a number of options depending on your budget and how long you want to drive the circuit for, from Arrive & Drive hire to your own Grand Prix. 13hp karts are available at $55 for 15 minutes, or $85 for 30, but the Mini Grand Prix or Reduced Grand Prix guarantee hours of fun. From $150pp, drivers can enjoy heats, a grand final and an awards presentation, great for large groups between seven and 20. Take the step up to Enduro and race against other teams over six hours to complete the most laps. Decide your strategy, pit stops and changeovers and drive! 50 Peter Brock Drive, Eastern Creek, NSW www.easterncreekkarts.com.au
Volunteer At An Animal Shelter
Let’s face it; you’re likely to get more love from a furry, four-legged friend after a few hours of your time than from an actual human, so spend it wisely this month by volunteering at an animal shelter. There are countless homes for dogs throughout Australia, and they’re always looking for help, from washing beds to taking their residents for walks. All you have to do is meet the criteria (most require you to be 18 years old or over, have a recent police check and provide proof of identity), apply your interest and attend a training session. From Dogs’ Refuge Home in Perth to The Lost Dogs Home in Melbourne, you could make someone’s day just with a trip to the park and a ball. Dogs’ Refuge Home, 30 Lemnos Street, Shenton Park, WA www.dogshome.org.au The Lost Dogs Home, 2 Gracie Street, North Melbourne, Vic dogshome.com
Cupid’s Undie Run
So this one might not be ignoring Valentine’s Day, but it’s not exactly celebrating it either. On 9th February, from midday to late, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney will hold this fun run to raise money for The Children’s Tumour Foundation. What makes it a fun run? You have to do it in your pants. Whether you make up a team and jog together or do it on your own to meet other runners, you can run in boxers, French knickers or tutus. You can be single or taken - either way it beats trying to make small talk with your man/woman/pet/auntie/delivery boy. Bungalow 8, 3 Lime Street, Sydney Watermark Docklands, Tenancy 9/800 Bourke Street, Docklands, Melbourne The Caxton, 38 Caxton Street, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane au.cupidsundierun.com
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Visit the Museum of Human Disease
Is there anything less romantic than looking at diseaseridden, preserved human tissue? The University of New South Wales holds 3000 specimens of infectious, genetic and developed diseases in the Samuels Building. For just $10, you can see the $2,000,000 collection of diphtheria, HIV, lung cancer and gangrene of foot, and their effects on the specific body part. If that doesn’t whet your appetite enough, the examples have either been removed surgically or remain on the tissue obtained at autopsy – not for the faint-hearted! Open Monday – Friday, 10am – 4.30pm to the public, open your mind and increase your knowledge of the deadly and disgusting diseases of the human body. Samuels Building Ground Floor, The University of New South Wales, Corner of High & Botany Street, Kensington, NSW medicalsciences.med.unsw.edu.au
TRAVEL
Hang Gliding In Australia Soar over the most stunning gorges, forests and beaches Australia has to offer...
With this exhilarating sport, you are launched facing the wind and remain airborne, taking advantage of the turbulence. Unlike other airborne extreme sports, you are really given the opportunity to take in the panoramic vista, gliding through the sky and leaving your troubles miles below you. Tandem Hang Gliding is the way forward for beginners; otherwise you’re in for a nine-day course, which just prolongs all the fun. We’ve found the best places around Australia to fly by the seat of your pants!
NSW
Sydney Hang Gliding Centre has a wealth of experience - 30 years in fact - and their sense of adventure and fun is infectious. You can take a tandem flight, including a Hang Gliding Federation membership and inflight photos for $245 on any weekend or public holiday. The tandem flight gives you a real safety net; with the specially designed flyer, you can drift through the sky with an instructor. Starting your flight at the iconic ‘Bald Hill’, you are launched into the sky and remain airborne for 25 – 30 minutes, where you can see the beautiful Illawarra Escarpment. This is the most natural way to observe such a stunning landscape, with no engine, no noise, just the whistle of the wind. www.hanggliding.com.au
Victoria
Based in the Trawalla area, Dynamic Flight School offers instructional tandem flights for $250 with well-experienced pilots. Before you head to the sky, you are briefed and shown how to control the aircraft. Once everything is checked, you are towed 1,000 feet above ground before experiencing the heart-pumping freedom of flying. The amount of control you take of the journey is completely dependent on how you’re feeling; you can take complete control or allow the instructor to command the vessel. This is the closest you’re ever going to come to feeling like a bird. To really make a weekend of it, you can stay with these guys at their bungalow-style accommodation for $20 a night, including breakfast. www.dynamicflight.com.au
Queensland
Flying off the Gold Coast Hinterland Mountains, Hang Gliding in Queensland is a picturesque journey of exhilaration and exploration. Dedicated to making your flying experience once in a lifetime, South East Queensland Hang Gliding offers an innovative approach to this sport. The tandem flights here are around 15 -20 minutes, starting at Mount Tamborine. Previous experience is not essential as you are accompanied by the professional instructors, taking you on a flight you will remember for the rest of your life. For $275 you are taken on an unforgettable journey through the skies of the Gold Coast, gliding gracefully and looking down on the tiny people on the beach. All-in-all you’ll need about two hours for equipment set-up, pre-flight instruction, pack up at landing and retrieval back to launch. www.hangglidequeensland.com.au
By Lucie Potter
Take to the skies, soar like an eagle and get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful landscapes of Australia with the purest form of flight. If you’ve got a head for heights and a sense of adventure, then experience the thrill of plunging into the majestic world of Hang Gliding.
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TRAVEL
Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef Explore the wonders of Western Australia. If you're stationed in Perth, travel north to take in the beauty and wonder of Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef. Be inspired and explore all that this beautiful part of Australia has to offer. Some 1270km north of Perth, the picturesque coastal town of Exmouth is a world away from city living.
glass bottom boats tours, swimming trips, and fishing charters, or simply grab some snorkeling gear and make it your own adventure.
Situated along the stunning Coral Coast, Exmouth is one of Western Australia’s premier holiday and tourist destinations as the gateway to the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef.
Ningaloo Reef is home to the world’s largest fish, the Whale Shark, which visits between April and June. Their docile nature makes swimming with the 12 metre long, 21 tonne creatures an amazing experience you won’t forget in a hurry.
There’s plenty on offer for adventurers and holidaymakers, including pristine coral reef, striking beaches and spectacular gorges to explore; as well as snorkeling and diving, where you will come faceto-face with a kaleidoscopic seascape of marine life.
Popular Tourist Attractions
Located 40km from Exmouth, Cape Range National Park is an explorer’s dream. With its rocky limestone ranges, deep canyons and 50km of unspoiled beaches, the Park covers over 50,000 hectares and is home to a variety of birds, emus, wallabies and red kangaroos.
Stretching for 260 km, Ningaloo Reef is one of the world’s largest fringing reefs and is the only large coral reef positioned close to the shore, with its nearest point within just 100 metres of the coastline.
There are an estimated 630 species of flowering plants in the Park, as well as over 700 caves to be explored. A small fee is required and there are camping facilities available at the Park.
Visitors should head to Ningaloo Marine Park, a natural reserve in which guests can experience
Vlamingh Head Lighthouse is located 17km out of Exmouth. Overlooking Lighthouse Bay, the
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lighthouse is over 100-years-old. Between July and November it is a great place for spotting Humpback Whales during their migration. Here you can also view the wreck of a 1907 cattle ship, the SS Mildura, from the Lighthouse.
Tours Of The Area
Ningaloo Safari Tours offers visitors the opportunity to view the spectacular natural wonders from the comfort of an air conditioned four wheel drive, with day tours operating around Ningaloo Marine Park and Cape Range National Park. The nocturnal wonders of the North can also be seen during a night tour of the Park. Ningaloo Reef is one of Western Australia’s most popular destinations for game fishing, so it’s no surprise that professional charter boats depart daily for half and full day trips. Beach and reef fishing trips are also a great way to get out on the ocean. If you would rather see the Whale Sharks up close and personal, day tours for snorkeling depart from Exmouth daily. All snorkeling gear, food and
beverages are provided, but it’s important that you are a confident swimmer to snorkel on the reef before heading out to find the Whale Sharks. Glass bottom boat tours are a brilliant alternative if you don’t fancy getting wet. Tours depart from Exmouth daily, and are skippered by an experienced tour guide, who will let you in on many fascinating marine secrets.
Where To Stay
There are plenty of places to stay in Exmouth, whatever your budget. From camping or staying in hotels and hostels there are plenty of options in this region. Perched on the beachfront, Novotel Ningaloo Resort offers a wide range of options, including motel style rooms, apartments and penthouse living. Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as entertainment and an outdoor cinema every Sunday evening.
If you’re thinking of staying a little longer or need somewhere to park your caravan, Exmouth Cape Holiday Park is the ultimate destination for accommodation variety, with deluxe studio apartments to budget rooms available. There is also backpackers’ accommodation and powered camping sites. If you’re travelling by caravan, another great place to stay is the Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort, which offers a wide range of accommodation options from luxury spa chalets, caravan and camping sites and backpackers accommodation. Located in the grounds is the popular Pinocchio’s Italian Restaurant. Visitors will also find a range of places to shop, eat and drink in the town centre,
including a supermarket, bakery and a number of cafes and restaurants, making self-catering an easy option.
How To Get There
Exmouth can be reached by road and is a 13-14 hour drive north of Perth; or a much shorter flight from Perth to Learmonth Airport. If you are driving from Perth, take the Brand Highway to Geraldton, and then the North West Coastal Highway to Carnarvon. Turn left onto the Minilya Exmouth Road, which is 150km north of Carnarvon, and it is 200km to Exmouth. SkyWest Airlines operates a daily flight to Exmouth, and Qantas operates a service three times a week. Learmonth Airport is located 36 km from Exmouth. For a fee, Exmouth Bus Charters will take you to your accommodation in Exmouth. Car hire is also available at the airport.
Words by Bec Sorby, Images courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.
Situated closest to the Ningaloo Marine Park, Golden Chain Sea Breeze Resort contains just 28 self-contained studio apartments, a great place for couples seeking privacy. If you’re looking for a more laid back palce to stay, Ningaloo Lodge has a range of budget rooms available, as well as outdoor kitchen and BBQ facilities.
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TRAVEL
Explore Australia By Rail
So you’ve sunbathed on Bondi, climbed the Bridge and you’re wondering what’s next? The rest of Australia is there for you to explore at a budget-friendly price! A Rail Explorer Pass gives you unlimited travel aboard The Ghan, Indian Pacific and The Overland trains, which pass through the most spectacular parts of the country. Passes are available for travel until 31 March 2015 and cost $495pp for a two-month pass or $595pp for a three-month pass. With a Rail Explorer Pass, you can explore every corner of the continent and experience a real Aussie adventure far beyond city limits. Use your pass to travel from the cultural mecca of Melbourne to Adelaide, the South Australian capital city renowned for its pristine beaches, award-winning food and wine and buzzing March festival atmosphere. From there, you can board The Ghan for an Outback adventure through the heart of Australia. Explore the iconic town of Alice Springs, discover ancient indigenous rock art at Katherine’s stunning Nitmiluk Gorge and come up close to some friendly crocs in tropical Darwin. You can even choose to break your journey aboard The Ghan to spend a few days at Uluru.
The pass provides accommodation in Red Service – a comfortable economystyle mode of travel where your spacious, reclining day-nighter seat is positioned for your best view of the ever-changing landscapes outside. Relax and meet new friends in the Matilda Café where food and beverages are available for purchase. If you’re looking to travel soon, point-to-point backpacker Readyrail Backpacker fares could be just the ticket. Available for bookings from 12 January 2014 to 31 March 2014, these fares are valid for travel up to 30 June 2014. For $169pp, you can travel between Sydney to Adelaide or for $199pp, take the trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs or Alice Springs to Darwin (or vice versa). For further information, visit www.greatsouthernrail.com.au or call 13 21 47.
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Images courtesy of Great Southern Rail.
Alternatively, board the Indian Pacific train to cross the breathtaking Nullarbor Plain stretching across the country’s west. Visit an authentic desert ghost town and immerse yourself in monster truck paradise at the gold mining centre of Kalgoorlie before arriving in cool and cosmopolitan Perth, capital of Western Australia.
Monta na Magica Lodge, Chile Climb to the height of luxury at this outstanding hotel in the depths of Chile... When you imagine travelling from country to country, with just a backpack and a strong pair of walking boots, the image is not particularly luxurious and saving money is paramount wherever you go. However, there is accommodation that is not only out of this world, but also surprisingly affordably. Take the Montana Magica Lodge as an example - a unique hotel set in the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve of Chile. The design is something out of a fantasy novel, with a window-edged, flora-smothered mountain sitting within the magic of the forest and a wooden footbridge to reach the lobby from the treetop walkway. Local, raw timber wood makes up the interior of the hotel, resembling a very impressive tree house by the most talented of craftsmen.
The hotel truly comes to life with the addition of the waterfall, pouring out of the roof and tumbling between the windows throughout the day. If you can drag yourself away from the wonder of the hotel, the location has plenty to offer. From mountain biking to white water rafting and riding snowmobiles, the mountainous landscape intertwined with rivers and waterfalls is an active enthusiast’s dream. A special trip comes courtesy of the Hua-Hum ferry, travelling 26 kilometres over the inspiring Pirihueico Lake and to the thermal baths for a relaxing soak. If you want to experience this incredible lodge for yourself, you can make a reservation with Huilo Huilo Department of Tourism and Booking. All rooms for foreign tourists have to be paid in US dollars; per night, standard rooms are just $200US ($229AUD) for one person, $270US ($310AUD) for two, and suites are $225US ($260AUD) for one, $300US ($345AUD) for two. This is an amazing price for such an irreplaceable experience, so make sure you discover what’s available. Let’s face it; travelling should be about new experiences, and what better than a mountain hotel with a rooftop waterfall? For more information visit www.huilohuilo.com.
Words by Charlotte Mellor. Image courtesy of Huilo Huilo Department of Tourism.
Inside the hotel, visitors can enjoy a suitablysized standard room or suite with a cosy double or twin bed and private bathroom, perfect for two people sharing. A buffet breakfast and welcome drink are also included in the price. The suites are five extra square metres and provide a bath tub for utter relaxation. All this and there’s still space for a reading room, sauna, bar and restaurant, serving delectable evening meals to wind down the day.
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TRAVEL
Chiang Mai, Thailand Getting ready to leave Australia and travel to exotic lands, or just fancy a holiday that isn’t a million miles away - from jungles to markets, and stunning temples, we explore what Chiang Mai, Thailand has to offer...
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You’ll really get a feel for the community and score some delicious cheap roadside eats. Bizarrely, the Thais seem to have infinite access to vintage Levi clothes so if you’re lucky, you’ll come across an old second-hand clothes shop and be able to pick up some cool plaid shirts or jeans. You’ll notice Chiang Mai has a bountiful amount of ridiculously beautiful “Wats” (temples). Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (pictured) is the one to see, as it is an ornate Buddhist temple still oozing in splendour. Situated on a mountainside, it grandly overlooks the city and is open to the public, for approximately a 30 baht entrance fee. Many catch a Songthaew (pick-up truck taxi) up the huge winding hill, but if you’re feeling daring (and you can’t drive a scooter), take a bicycle on the Songthaew and have a white-knuckle ride back down to the city.
Chiang Mai, also known as “The Rose of the North” is Thailand’s fifth largest city and is elevated
at 316 metres with a surrounding of dense green jungles and mountains. It could only be accessed by river or by elephant until the 1920s, and this remote location enabled its authentic charm to be retained. The historic walled city is still surrounded by a square moat and the old crumbling brick gates on each side of the compound city still exist. Little “Sois” (laneways and alleys) criss-cross the old city allowing plenty of exploration, and you’re unlikely to get lost as the moat and gates provide a sort of navigation. Friendly locals fill the Sois, going about their everyday business, so the top thing to do as soon as you arrive is hire a 50 baht bicycle (be prepared for some pretty vintage designs) and get rolling about.
Songthaew taxis are in abundance in the city and are the best and cheapest way to get around. The red ones wander the streets with no particular routes, picking randoms up who flag them down. Just don’t forget to haggle! Chiang Mai is plentiful with things to get up to in the city. Take a walkabout in the bustling Night Bazaar that is on nearly every night. It’s a popular pull for tourists and it’ll feel like you’ve walked for miles with stalls upon stalls selling goods! It’s great for picking up gifts, but the stalls begin repeating themselves after a while. Every Sunday there’s the Sunday Walking Night Market where you can see crafts and try some fantastic food that can be so authentically spicy, it will truly blow your face off. The market is popular with Thai tourists who are wrapped up in scarves and hats as it’s considerably cooler than the south, but to us Brits (who are used to arctic UK weather), it will still feel positively balmy. Be prepared to find some seriously cheap street food. Not only is it delicious and healthy, but authentic and pure. Who can argue with a noodle soup for 30 baht ($1)?! Afterwards, head up to THC
Rooftop Bar. Blindly feel your way in the darkness
until you reach the top where there’s glow-in-thedark graffiti adorning the walls. Good food, cheap beer, birds-eye-views of the market, cushioned floor seating – it’s a great place to drink and kick back. There’s no raucous partying like in the South of Thailand, so quiet places with good music are where most people head to. For more information on all markets visit www.visitchiangmai.com.au.
If you’re not in the mood to relax, head to Kalare Boxing Stadium to watch Muay Thai boxing,
where you will witness some of the most intense organised fighting in Asia. matches are some of the most intense fighting you’ll witness in Asia and mustn’t be missed on your trip! You can find Kalare Boxing Stadium behind the Night Bazaar and take place every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday starting at 9:30pm for four hours (400-600 baht) – that is if you’re not squeamish!
The great thing about Chiang Mai is its abundance of hostels. Dorms are rife and very cheap, which is a nice alternative to Bangkok/the South’s plethora of guesthouses. They make great places to meet new travelling buddies too! Same Same has some excellent dorms and rooftop toilets, but has great vibes and hammocks to lie back on in the midday heat. However, Julie Guesthouse is the place to try and get a bed. Not only does it have a great communal space, but it’s well trusted in the travelling community to give the best prices for worthwhile Hill-Tribe treks and night buses/trains out of Chiang Mai. It’s a hostel in high demand, but even if you don’t get a bed, they’ll welcome you for dinner and games of pool. Visit www.julieguesthouse.com for more information. If you do crave a little luxury, Puripunn Baby Grand Boutique Hotel provides a lavish but comfortable
stay, without risking culture or history. The 30 guest rooms, café, lounge and swimming pool resonate the Lanna-Oriental architecture from Chiang Mai’s colonial time, and are just as stunning, while the serving of traditional high tea in Punna Cafe and an aroma massage in Sala Spa are welcome additions to any traveller. Other wholesome activities include Thai cooking classes, the Zoo (PANDAS!!), Elephant Parks, topnotch massages and sunbathing on straw mats with locals in the city’s grassy parks. It truly lives up to its nickname, and this “Rose of the North” is merely a taster of what beauty the North of Thailand possesses.
By Sophie Saint
As soon as you step off your night bus or train, and take your first breath of the fresh clean air of Chiang Mai, you’ll practically feel the Zen-like calmness sink into your bones. Thankfully, this city won’t push oppressive humidity and heavy smog down onto you like Bangkok, so it truly feels like you’ve emerged into the old historic Thailand that time forgot.
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TRAVEL
Folkestone, UK Offering a clear blue coastline beside inspiring creativity to entice even the most experienced traveller, we explore this little Kent coastal town.
The Creative Quarter is as close to art on the sea as you can get. Inside the attractively restored buildings lies a creative community of artists, designers and musicians, from college to international companies, perfecting their skills. The retail units have provided an outlet for the artists to showcase their products, the streets are filled with the hum of new works and vibrant energy, and the Quarterhouse enables visitors to witness performance, dance, music and comedy that express the entire area. This is complimented by the coffee houses, independent and unique boutique shops, and brand-name fashion that will appease any shopper’s appetite! Look out to the shore and visitors will not only see the clearest water to surround the British Isles, but also be able to spot France, just a 35-minute journey in the distance through the Eurotunnel. Take a ride on the Leas Lift, a water balanced funicular that has remained intact since 1885, to get to the Lower Leas Coastal Park, where a picnic or BBQ is recommended. When the sun is out and the sand is warm, Folkestone’s very own Sunny Sands Beach is just as inviting as the name suggests. Away from the coast, the Folkestone Downs are part of the untouched countryside, great for long walks or cycling – just beware of grazing livestock and steep muddy slopes after bouts of rain!
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Dining opportunities are just as varied as those in the country’s capital, and you can certainly see its influence. Chefs that have honed their craft in London’s restaurants have brought beautiful cuisine to Folkestone, including Blooms @ The 1/4, serving Mediterranean food with seasonal specials in a contemporary and stylish atmosphere. Those looking for a different style of eating can venture into El Cortador Tapas Bar for their traditional pinchos with wine, but anyone in search of traditional yet sophisticated fish & chips won’t be disappointed. The Smokehouse serves as much locally caught fish as possible, in a glass-fronted harbourside restaurant, while The Rocksalt is a lavish venue of dark timber tables and green leather banquettes, an outside terrace and four boutique bolt holes to escape for the night.
antique buyers and military and literary enthusiasts alike. From its cobbled streets with decorative shop windows to panoramic views of the English Channel, Folkestone has protected its history and natural beauty, but reinvented itself to keep up with trends and tastes, making it the perfect getaway from the crowds of London.
This quaint but lively town has plenty of places to stay. From welcoming guesthouses to enormous hotels on a cliff top, accommodation only adds to the Folkestone atmosphere and experience. The exterior of The Relish, sitting within August Gardens, may be of a certain period, but the interior has been updated to a contemporary, comfortable taste. For a warm welcome, Rob Roy Guest House is just a 15-minute walk from the beach, with en suite bedrooms, breakfast and evening meals available. Folkestone has lots to discover and is infused with plenty of character in such a small space, but if the urge to explore the rest of the southeast takes over, travellers will be in the perfect location to do so. The towering White Cliffs of Dover are just 20 minutes by car or a two-hour round journey by bike for utter exploration; the wetlands of Romney Marsh and the small market town of Hythe lie to the west; and the nearby seaside village of Sandgate is great for
Images courtesy of Visit Kent
In the southeast of Kent lies one of the most idyllic coastal towns in the UK – Folkestone. This old ferry port has transformed drastically, with the historic buildings filled with bustling chic eateries and art galleries of the Creative Quarter contrasting with the peaceful cliff-top promenade of The Leas. As so, this isn’t any old seaside town, and attracts plenty of visitors looking to head out of London, just a 50-minute train ride away.
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS Each month we bring you the best in travel essentials that we’ve tried and tested. From reading aids to delivering the soundwaves here’s our pick of the best this month!
Mini-Marks Travel Bookmarks Reading and travelling simultaneously can be a nuisance, especially if you lose your page in your favourite novel or travel guide. Instead of folding the corner down like a Neanderthal, why not try these handy mini magnetic bookmarks? Not only do they provide great inspiration, with images including the Statue of Liberty and hot airballooning, they also hold your page for you with a precise grip, and make it easy for you to find your place when you can return to reading. $5.50 available from www.amazon.com
Gimble Travel Book Holder The Gimble Travel Book Holder is the perfect reading companion for either lounging on the beach or following a recipe. It handily keeps your book open and will stop the wind turning your pages unwantedly or your book snapping shut when following instructions. The Gimble Traveller comes in pink, white or grey and stretches to suit the size of your book. $7.40 available from www.amazon.com
Sshhhh! Ear Plugs Don’t get bogged down with loud neighbours, noisy traffic or screaming kids nearby while reading BBM – invest in a pair of Sshhh! Ear Plugs instead. With soft-touch hypoallergenic silicone and a handy base to store them in, you can read on the train or take a cheeky little nap, but be completely undisturbed in your own private world. Sshhhh! Ear Plugs are comfortable and convenient for whenever you want to escape the noises of the world! Get them in white, hot pink or grey. $14.85 available from www.handyideas.co.uk
Bluetune Bean The Bluetune-Bean is a nifty little device for social music on the go. With Bluetooth connectivity and the added carabiner, you (and everyone else) can listen to your favourite tunes on the move as it hooks onto your belt or backpack. In such a compact design, the sound quality isn’t the best, but it’s the portability of the speaker that makes it a winner. That, and the bonus of a built-in microphone and speaker for unbelievably cool and convenient hands-free calls! When your mobile starts ringing, there’s no need to worry about disconnecting the device and answering the call on your phone, just push the phone icon on the speaker and you will be instantly connected to the person on the other side – no fuss and no missing important calls! (Let’s just hope it’s not your mum asking why you haven’t been in touch for three weeks). So whether you’re in the park, on the beach or on the road, you can always feel connected to your friends and family, while enjoying music with the ones you’re with. Get yours now in black, blue, white, pink, red or yellow. From $46.65 available from www.amazon.co.uk
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TRAVEL
Tour of THE tribes
From the depths of Africa to the mountains of Mongolia, discover the native tribes that keep ancient traditions alive and live in harmony with nature’s ways.
Goroka Tribe, Papua New Guinea The indigenous people of Goroka live in the small highland villages of Papua New Guinea, but due to intertribal warfare and the intimidating landscape, each one is isolated from the next and individual languages have developed with distinction. As a result, residents live simply but fully, with good food, tightknit families and a respect for the natural wonders of the world. Make-up and decoration are used to impress the enemy, often seen at the cultural Goroka Show where travellers can witness tribal music, dancing, showing-off and rituals.
Maori, New Zealand The indigenous people of New Zealand, Maori have been traced back to the Eastern Polynesia islands, their journey from which involved a number of voyages by canoe or ‘waka’, suggesting their natural sense of navigation. Maori people are defined by their art, sense of community and the Haka, their ritualistic dance of war. Ta moko is the traditional permanent marking of the body and face, different to tattoos because a chisel carves the skin, rather than a needle puncturing it.
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Himba People, Namibia
Very much an umbrella term for all the tribes inhabiting the far north-eastern Indian state of Nagaland, Naga people have very similar cultures and traditions away from the far more westernised states in India. There are 16 officially recognised Naga tribes in the state, although there are many more beyond the border. You can witness the celebration of all the tribes at the Hornbill Festival, or at several individual festivals, complete with singing, dancing, food, sports and colourful performances, or explore the natural and Government-developed hotspots of Nagaland.
Naga, India
The Himba people, a nomadic group of herders from the Kaokoland area of Namibia, live a life of simplicity with basic necessities. Wearing only a loincloth around their waist, they smother their bodies with red ochre to protect their skin from the sun, giving it a rich red colour, and the women decorate their bodies with intricate hairstyles and jewellery. Despite the threat of war and drought in the 1980s, of which 90% of their cattle suffered, the Himba people are considered to be extremely resilient, rebuilding their herds, working alongside international activists and taking control of the wildlife and tourism on their land.
Kazakh, Mongolia
An estimated one million Maasai people live in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, but numbers based on the national census aren’t considered reliable as some often purposefully miscount. The Maasai region includes the Serengeti and Maasai Mara, which are popular areas with tourists for their conservation and wildlife viewing. Western ideas are said to have affected traditional tribal leadership and the herding of livestock through the introduction of formal schooling; all of this is considered to be forcing the Maasai people out. The Maasai people are known for their great hight, jumping skills and intricate jewellery.
Descendants of Turkic, Mongolic and Indo-Iranian tribes, Kazakhs now roam the mountains of western Mongolia, hunting with eagles and living by the supernatural forces of good and evil spirits. Family is extremely important, a result of the tradition that one must not marry anyone related within nine generations. They rely strongly on the eagles given to them as young boys, which in the winter months, fetch their kill to share with their master. Kazakhs wear thick furs when riding horses in the cold mountains, and decorate their houses with intricate wall hangings.
The Akha, China, Thailand, Vietnam
Originally from Mongolia, Akha people have migrated to China, Thailand and Vietnam due to civil unrest. They have strong beliefs in the spirit world, warding off evil with wooden carvings outside their houses and on the borders of their villages. From their own travel into more populated areas and an increase of tourism, it’s only the oldest generation that wear the traditional clothes on a daily basis, while youths will wear them for special occasions. The poorest of the Akha have taken to using their origins to make money in tourism, including selling their craftwork and giving photo opportunities.
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INTERVIEWS He’s been making music since the early ‘90s, and now he’s heading out to Australia alongside Defected boss, Simon Dunmore… MK is the magic man when it comes to remixes, and has championed the remix of Storm Queens’ ‘Look Right Through’ as well as remixes with Sam Smith’s and Le Youth’s brand new tracks… and we, for one, can’t wait to see what he spins out next. Here, we speak to MK, also known as Marc Kinchen from his home in LA and find out about some of his finest moments over the last 20 years… Hi Marc, so how has 2014 been treating you so far? So far it has been awesome…
Sounds nice! You’ve worked with everyone from Beyonce to Blondie, Snoop Lion and Rihanna; what’s been one of the most memorable collaborations or remixes that you’ve ever done and why? Actually, I would have to say the most memorable is when I worked with Snoop because we were working around the time that Biggie and Tupac were shot, so I had to have an undercover policeman with me at all times and when Snoop would get to the studio, the place was crawling with security. I am telling you there must have been twenty guys protecting us. It was even more surreal than it sounds because we were in Nashville of all places, not exactly “the hood”, if you know what I mean. It was an experience, that’s for sure.
what can we expect from your set? I am still planning things out, but I will definitely be playing a lot of MK music, stuff people might know and then definitely some new surprises that I have up my sleeve. Are you looking forward to traveling over to Australia? Will you get a chance to do anything else whilst you’re over there? Yes, I am really excited about the tour, I have never been to Oz and I have a lot of friends there. Just a couple of weeks now. I hope I will get to see a few touristy things, but I think I will probably be in the studio working on my record. You’ve had a really successful career since the early ‘90s with remixes of tracks such as Nightcrawlers ‘Push The Feeling On’; how does it feel to still be in the thick of it and putting music out there after so long? It feels really, really great, it is extremely gratifying to come back and be welcomed with so much warmth and enthusiasm. I am a very lucky guy. Everyday is a “pinch me, is this really happening day.”
“Everyday is a “pinch me, is this really happening?” day”
So your remix of Storm Queen’s ‘Look Right Through’ dropped at the end of 2013; the track has been around for quite a while, how did the remix come about? - It’s great by the way! It came about through me doing a remix for Simon Dunmore almost as a favour, we are good friends and I heard the track and said “yeah I like this, I will remix it”, so I gave him the first remix and people were really liking it, but now that I DJ out all the time, I am able to test things and tweak them as I go on, so I ended up doing two more versions of the remix, but when it came to my Remix 3, I knew it had to go all the way, so I kept it through the summer. My managers told Simon that I had a September surprise for him and that was that and it started growing and growing from there. I just knew it, I could feel it. You’ll be heading over to Australia soon and will be opening the first party of the year at Pacha,
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What’s the most rock star moment your career has ever thrown at you? You may have gathered that I spend a lot of in the studio, so people usually don’t recognize me but now forget it, that is no longer the case... I came to that realization when I was in Dublin recently and four girls screamed “Yo you’re MK”, I got really embarrassed, I didn’t know what to do so I just yeah and I took pictures with them. It’s nice that people want to say hi and tell you that they like what you do. It’s really different from being the anonymous producer guy in the studio. Also, that same trip, I walked by a bus shelter and there was a giant
picture of me. That was a first also... I didn’t know what to do... it was a shock. Haha! Tell us, what’s it like being with Defected Records? They’ve got some great names on their books such as Noir, Osunlade, Chocolate Puma - the Defected family sounds like the coolest family in the world is it? Defected is a great label and they are definitely a wonderful bunch of people. They are really just kind of like a big family. I really enjoy working with them… Simon Dunmore got you back into creating Dance music with the release of House Masters, why did you take a step back from it in the first place? Sometimes you just need a break and step back, the time away enables you to recharge and be newly inspired. Are you looking forward to touring alongside Simon? Yes I am, it’s almost royalty time, so I need to keep him close at all times so he does not spend all that Storm Queen money on shopping for designer manpurses. I promised his wife I would an eye on him. What’s the usual antics you guys get up to whilst on the road? Well, if I told you what we were planning it would ruin the surprise.
MK Tour Dates:
Sun 9th Feb 2014 - Summer Series with MK at Revolver Upstairs / Melbourne. Fri 14th Feb 2014 - Rekidz Full House feat. MK at The Met / Brisbane. Sat 15 Feb 2014 Defected in the House at Pacha Sydney with MK and Simon Dunmore at Ivy Pool / Sydney
By Hannah Shakir
Have their been any stand out moments? I would have to say that anytime I am spending more than two weeks at home and in the studio whilst sleeping in my own bed makes for many standout moments indeed and it has been a great way to start the New Year.
We Are Defected With its 15-year history, we take a look at the brainchild of Simon Dunmore, Defected Records. There aren’t many labels that can say they’ve been as big a part of music as Defected has to House. Since Simon Dunmore gave up the restrictions of major companies like EMI and Universal and created his own vision 15 years ago, Defected has gone from a number eight debut single in the UK charts with Soulsearcher ‘I Can’t Get Enough’ to celebrating its 15th birthday at Ministry Of Sound in London on New Year’s Day 2014. “We popped a few bottles of champagne and there were a few sore heads for a few days after.” The party certainly ended the year on a high, with MK receiving his silver disk for his number one remix of Storm Queen ‘Look Right Through’, and the label looking forward to 2014 releases by Henrik Schwarz and Gotsome and working with producers Sonny Federa, Dennis Ferrer and MK. So, what has determined the success of the UK’s most recognised House label? To “have new blood and keep things interesting”, Dunmore’s own unique ability to “hear records really early and know what they will mean to people” and “the ability to discover new music.” Unlike many label heads, Dunmore recognises the Internet as being good for music: “Dance music is the most social genre… The Internet is a massive social meeting ground, and Dance music has flourished because of that.” It is the social aspect of what Dunmore and his artists create that is so powerful. The shows and events like Defected In The House, their work with Ministry Of Sound, and of course, eight seasons at Pacha, Ibiza, have cemented the label as one to see live, bringing the likes of Sam Divine, Noir, Flashmob and Kenny Dope to wow audiences around the world. “It’s an experience that you can’t download. You’re there, in the moment, the euphoria, you’re meeting new people and it’s a social experience. It’s a massive part of our culture.” It’s good news for any fans of Defected residing in Australia, because on 15th February, Dunmore will be heading to Pacha Sydney for the first event of what’s expected to be a very successful tour. Bringing MK with him, this pool party will be “fun and enjoyable… We hope to put a lot of smiles on people’s faces.”
Whatever happens to House music, live music, music production or DJing, you can be sure that Defected will be there every step of the way. Because they’ve been here for 15 years, and that’s something to be “pretty proud of.” Read our full interview with Simon Dunmore at bbmlive.com/celebrity-interviews.
By Charlotte Mellor
There’s no doubt Dunmore has passion for what he does, and his belief in what music can do has not been damaged in the slightest. “Music should come from people’s souls, it’s an emotional thing and it can take you on a journey to make you happy or sad, and just because you can make a track on your laptop in an afternoon, you shouldn’t be so easily satisfied with that. These are human emotions – you don’t get that from a computer.”
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INTERVIEWS
The Young Punx The Young Punx are the most unconventional duo in Dance music today, mixing vintage sounds from the ‘30s – ‘90s with Electronica, to create fresh and exciting music that’s addictive to the ears. With the release of their third album, ‘All These Things Are Gone’ on Velco, Hal Ritson and Nathan Taylor are steering away from the mainstream and have made a product for themselves. We caught up with Ritson to discuss their awesome work ethic and their exciting collaboration with Dutch illustrator, Han Hoogerbrugge. Read the full interview online.
“What the fuck, let’s just do it.” What have The Young Punx been up to? Well, we made an album, which is a remarkably large amount of work! Everyone underestimates how hard it is to really get through the body of work it takes to make an album. That’s why I think most Dance people work on EPs because you can get it out while it’s still fresh. It just takes forever! But it’s the third one we’ve done and in some ways it’s similar to the ones we’ve done before, in terms of taking different types of music and mashing them up with modern Electronic sounds. Was it more experimental at the beginning? When we started, it was done in a bedroom, with no sense of experience, so it had that level of freshness, and then when you make your second album, you’ve got expectations: should it sound like the previous one? Should it move on from the sound of the previous one? Is it going to be as successful as the previous one? It’s a very highpressured thing. We’ve enjoyed doing the third album now because we’re just doing stuff for fun and we don’t care if people really like it or not, and you tend to make the best music by not caring if people are going to like it or not. You said you started off in a bedroom, did either of you have a background in music? I’ve been making music all my life – I started my first band when I was seven with a little Casio keyboard, the drummer had drumsticks and some Tupperware, we were saving up for an electric guitar! Wow! What were your inspirations at that age? Well, what’s interesting is people can really patronise children for their musical tastes and if a child likes it,
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it’s kind of a novelty thing. But Pop music has been driven by 10 - 16-year-olds over history and I was listening to Police, Depeche Mode, Jazz and Blues because of my parents, New Wave music. What can fans expect from third album, ‘All These Things Are Gone,’ compared to the previous two? We’re a bit more chilled out and taking more risks with this one, so we’re doing things just because we think it would be hilarious. On ‘Kowloon Kickback’ we’ve done a full 1930s big band track, which isn’t that unusual because people are making ElectroSwing music, but they tend to just go and sample an old record, we’ve properly scored the whole thing and done a three-minute drum solo like you’d get if you went to a live gig. And, with the title track, it’s 14 minutes long and travels through several styles. It’s a bit more, “What the fuck, let’s just do it.” The subject for the title track is deep and thought-provoking, but the video is almost like black comedy. It makes you feel a bit uncertain watching it; was that the intention? Definitely, and this is characteristic of (Dutch illustrator) Han Hoogerbrugge. We’ve always worked with him and I was drawn to him on the first album because I thought there were certain things he has imbedded into his way of working that we share in the way we’re working, where there’s a question of: is this high art or is this pop culture? You can’t tell with him because he’s doing cartoons with jokes in but he’s also a very respected artist and you can see the same thing in some of our tracks: is this a deep track or a party track? Is it an artistic statement or something you put on in a club? There’s a duality between what is serious and what is humour, and something that Hans and The Young Punx always want to challenge is that it has to be one or the other.
Do you have much input yourselves as to what goes into the videos? Not really. Our relationship with Han is one where we do pay him, but we can’t afford to pay him what his work is worth, so the payoff is that he has creative control. Sometimes I say “this is commercial and it needs some barriers, like it must be able to be shown on television”, because some of his work is quite extreme. But for the stuff we’re not paying him, he says “you can’t see it until I hand it in” and we’re fine with that because we trust what he does. Away from The Young Punx, you produce for really mainstream acts (the studio is plastered with disks by the likes of Jessie J, Rizzle Kicks and Bruno Mars), what are you going to be working on this year? To be honest, things just come in week by week, but this week I’m doing something for DJ Fresh, and Duke Dumont and Axwell, but it’s really a conveyor belt of people calling up and saying “I’m making this track, I need a choir on it or this Disco thing recording or can you write a song over the top of this backing track?” but I’ve got no idea week to week. How do you pick and choose what you’ll work on? Almost no musician can make a living out of just being an artist, even someone that looks like they’re successful from just being an artist; they’re probably making it from being a celebrity. A lot of musicians can do their own creative statement, but then also do someone else’s project and be the craftsman behind it. When I’m working on other people’s records, I take no claim on it, it’s someone else’s statement, I can either like it or not like it, if they ask me to do it I’ll try and help them make it a record. I don’t really ever say no to anything – it’s my job!
By Charlotte Mellor
Hi Hal, how are you? Good, thank you.
Damien Dempsey
The Coronas
Damien Dempsey is heading out to Australia in March to croon away his soul fulfilling music. Here we catch up with him and find out a little bit more about what the Irish singer’s been up to...
One of the most influential bands to come out of Dublin, Ireland, we talk to The Coronas ahead of their Australian tour this February.
Hi Damien, how has 2014 been treating you?
I’m off alcohol and on a diet, the nights are long but the mornings magical! That takes discipline! You’re due to release new album, ‘It’s All Good – The Best of Damien Dempsey’; what can we expect from it? Will there be new and old tracks on it? Any special collaborations? It’s all the best songs from my six studio albums with a couple of newbies thrown in and a collaboration with Glen Hansard on a Brendan Behan song called ‘The Auld Triangle’. I give insights to where the songs came from on the inlay as well. The artists you quote as inspiring you are very opinionated individuals, including Sinead O’Connor and Morrissey, and you aren’t afraid to approach subjects like politics and society; why do you think subjects like these are often used in music, and music is often the greatest medium to get them heard, yet they still remain controversial? I think some artists care about them issues, and some couldn’t give a toss. Thankfully there’s both these type of artists and it’s not all one way traffic, there’s room for everyone, and if you can put some wisdom and message and meaning into a song it can go into people’s consciousness and they don’t even realise it’s going in because they’re enjoyin’ the melody and harmony and rhythm. You’re celebrating the album’s release with an Australian tour in March, have you felt a constant support base from the country over your career? Australians seemed to get me from the off, them and the Scots embraced me quickly, it took other lands a lot longer… What can we expect from the gigs? Will there be music from all six albums? Songs from all six yep, and lots of communal singing. It’s almost like a spiritual experience, some folks say they’re high for days after a good show - naturally high! How will you be celebrating St Patrick’s Day? Do you have a favourite pub or venue that you like to pay a visit to when you visit Australia? I’ll be playing in the most isolated city on Earth - Perth! We done the Sydney Opera House last Paddy’s Day, the bar ran out of alcohol half way through… I was thirsty!
Hey guys, how are you? Great thanks. How has 2014 been to you so far? Really cool, we had a busy enough December and we were gigging on New Year's Eve so it was nice to have a couple of days off before we came back to London and back to finishing off the new album. We're really excited about it… hopefully it will be out by September. We haven’t seen you over in Australia for almost four years! What have you all been up to? We've been busy recording, touring, promoting our last record. We've been hoping to come back for ages and we're delighted we could finally make it happen. What’s the reason behind the Australian tour in February then? Did you miss us? Yeah we had a great time last time there and we haven't toured the ‘Closer To You’ album there yet. Your debut album, ‘Heroes or Ghosts’, was unbelievably successful, beating the likes of U2 and Snow Patrol to Album Of The Year at The Meteor Awards in 2008. After such an achievement, was there added pressure heading back into the studio and making a second album that everyone would compare to its predecessor?
Heroes did really well for us, but we knew as soon as we started to tour it, we had another one in us.
We were writing loads and thankfully, our follow up ‘Tony Was An Ex-Con’ did amazingly for us. How do the four of you work together? Do you each have an input into lyrics, music and melodies? It's usually different for each song. For the most part we all write the music, I would do most of the melodies, and myself and Dave will do lyrics together. But as I say this changes from song to song. We're lucky that we've a very honest relationship, which makes it easier to write together.
If you could put together a group of yourself and three others singers/ musicians, who would you choose? Phil Lynott on bass, Jimi Hendrix on lead, John Bonham on drums, that’d be some after show… Jaysus!
You’ve supported the likes of Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake and Pink; does the range of acts speak for you as a band, to not box you into one genre? Yeah I suppose we don't really pay too much attention to what genre we fit into. I think one thing that the three acts you mentioned have in common is they all write great songs and are amazing live (we'd like to fit into that genre!).
Besides the release of ‘It’s All Good’ and the adjoining tour, what plans do you have for the near future? My plan is to try to enjoy the rest of my time here and help out where I can and pass some wisdom onto the kids and give them a good example, and keep writing songs that help people through…
Are any of those you’ve supported live been direct inspirations to you? Yes Macca especially, we all grew up listening to The Beatles and seeing those songs live was incredible. We've also been lucky enough to work with The Script, and those boys inspired us with their live show, songwriting and work ethic.
Damien Dempsey Tour Dates
THE CORONAS Tour Dates
Thurs 13th March 2014 – Mick O’Malleys, Brisbane Fri 14th March 2014 - Prince Bandroom, Melbourne Sun 16th March 2014 – The Metro Theatre, Sydney Mon 17th March 2014 – Capitol Theatre, Perth
Thurs 20th February 2014 – The Hi Fi, Melbourne Fri 21st February 2014 – O’Malleys, Brisbane Sat 22nd February 2014 – Hi Fi, Sydney Sunday 23rd February 2014 – Capitol, Perth
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INTERVIEWS
Ben Pearce Manchester-born Ben Pearce is one of the hottest new producers to come out of 2013, following the epic success of single ‘What I Might Do’. We speak to the man himself ahead of his Australian tour this February and the release of his EP ‘Lego’ on his record label Purp & Soul.
What attracted you to the Dance genre, and could you tell us more about your musical influences - do you play any instruments? I played some when I was younger, full of regret for not carrying it on, I was at the Northern College for Music when I was really young. I got into the genre just from going to clubs and having a silly good time. I’m going back to a few instruments now so hopefully be back to playing them soon. Your signature tune to date, ‘What I Might Do’, gained much commercial success following its re-release in October 2013, peaking at number seven on the UK singles chart; was this a surprise as an underground DJ? Massive surprise, it was a surprise it even got signed. I don’t think much of myself, so I never thought that it would’ve happened. I guess it was timing and the way House music is going in the UK, there’s a lot of chart success for previous underground artists now.
You’ll be bringing your DJ skills to Australia for the first time in February; why is now the right time to tour? I’m hoping because there’s some people that want to see me? I’m really excited about it. Definitely! We’re excited to see you over there! How would you describe your sets?
is everything, I can’t imagine living without it, the power it has over people is incredible. There’s so much amazing music out there to be enjoyed.
Not only are you a producer and DJ, you also have your own label, Purp & Soul; what ideas do you have for it and the sound it will produce? I don’t really have any premeditated thoughts about the sound. We put out music we like and mostly that our guys are making, that could be any genre really. We’ve got some slower more song-structured stuff coming out, I’m hoping it’ll grow into a great label but we’ll see.
What are you most looking forward to doing whilst you're in Australia? Have you been out there before? I’ve never been, so it’s all new! I’m looking forward to just about all of it, since starting to read Bill Bryson’s travel books I’ve had a newfound appreciation for just people watching or wandering around new places. I’d welcome any suggestions on Twitter from people recommending things to do, I think most of my time off will be in Melbourne.
How do you go about discovering new music and new talent? I suppose like everyone else these days, the interest is so amazing for it. Soundcloud and Facebook mostly, we get sent a lot of demos that we listen to. We’re not constantly looking to sign artists but we’re always listening to new stuff.
Quick fire round, let's get to know Ben Pearce a bit better... If you're sitting on a beach, listening to the slow strum of a ukelele what drink is in your hand? Ohhhh that’s hard, I really like a good mojito with nice aged rum. On that tip just Rum if it’s good is great… I’m quite a beer enthusiast if that’s the right word, but on a beach we have to be on a cocktail tip don’t we?
You have a small number of artists on your roster; what can you tell us about them and why we should be checking them out? They’re all immensely talented, mostly young guys who are very keen and motivated. Some of the music they’re making is so good, I’m really excited to put it out either on our label or otherwise. Mark Wells has an EP forthcoming on Pete Tong’s FFRR label, UNKNWN are writing an album and their next single is unbelievable, Harry Wolfman & Jouhl are collaborating on a ridiculously good Techno project. There’s a lot going on.
If you're tearing it up on the dance floor and getting a sweat on... what song is playing? Not any of mine!! Haha, erm I don’t know really, I suppose it wouldn’t be a song particularly, the last time I really tore a dancefloor was Ricardo Villalobos and Zip at Fabric’s Birthday.
You’ve re-posted some great music onto your Soundcloud, including the extraordinary sound of Kwabs and King Thing, what music are you listening to at the moment? Right now? Biffy Clyro… I listen to a lot of stuff. I was listening to a lot of Sun-Ra and Aphex Twin today. I mostly listen to bands but dip into Electronica, Hip Hop, Jazz, Classical… the list goes on. Music
If you can remember one episode of Friends off the top of your head, which one is it? Hahaha great question, would have to be the one where they’re getting the couch up the stairs… PIVOT! I’ve seen them all so much but still watch them when they’re on, it still staggers me how they got it SO right.
“would have to be the one where they’re getting the couch up the stairs… PIVOT!”
You’re yet to release an album; is this in the works at the moment? What ideas do you have for it at present? Not in the works, I know it’s something that people see as a natural progression but I have some big ideas for an album that won’t materialise for a while now. I’m enjoying what I’m doing right now and when I’m ready to make an album I will do.
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Eclectic to say the least, I like to genre-hop and chuck surprises in. I always read the crowd and adapt to what’s going down well, so I’m hoping people will enjoy it.
If you could have a theme tune for your morning routine what would it be? Something like Slipknot - People = Sh*t, I’m in a bad mood in the morning! Haha, not a morning person at all!
Visit www.bbmlive.com for tour dates.
By Charlotte Mellor
Hi Ben, how have you been? Very well thanks! Enjoyed some time off this month and getting back to regular gigs now.
MUSIC NEWS
Album Reviews
Metronomy - Love Letters
She’s only 21, but Sky Ferreira finally arrives with her much-delayed debut album, ‘Night Time, My Time’ – a collection of grungy Pop songs retelling the personal tales of ordinary issues like love, heartbreak and identity.
From ‘Love Letters’ album artwork it can be seen Metronomy are presenting an element of soul with their latest release. The band mix synth sounds with old and authentic styles to create an IndieElectronic wonder.
‘Night Time, My Time’ sees Ferreira experimenting with a Grunge-worship sound that says goodbye to the Dev Hynes’ production of her last single “Everything Is Embarrassing”, which was more of a blippy Pop song. In its place we see Sky Ferreira pushing her soft, raspy vocals towards a more powerful live experience and drawing her attitude from past female Pop icons (think Debbie Harry). The production, thanks to Grammy-winning producer Ariel Rechtshaid, effortlessly fuses ’80s motifs of vocal hooks, video game samples and tinkering synth melodies (‘Love in Stereo’, ‘I Blame Myself’).
The follow up to 2010’s ‘The English Riviera’ opens with ‘The Upsetter’. “I’ve gotta beam a message to ya,” sings Joseph Mount to a simple beat and building synths chords, keeping true to Metronomy’s loved style.
‘Nobody Asked Me’ sees Ferreira demonstrate her confidence as a singer, competing with grainy and distorted guitar samples. The track ’24 Hours’ is a beautiful ’80s Disco party-starter that could give 1984 Madonna a run for her money and sees Ferreira croon over a heavy-synth instrumental.
On the title track a jazzy style is adopted as smooth brass sounds promising at the songs opening, its legato notes crescendo into a group of girls vocals and honky-tonky piano. The 1920s Jazz Age is brought into the realms of modern Indie-Funk. ‘Month of Sundays’ follows a similar soulful feel with bluesy guitar scales thrown into the mix with tinkering symbol beats.
‘Night Time, My Time’ enhances her immaculate style and versatility with Electro-Pop dreamwaves and unadulterated harmonies and lyrics. The record definitely takes the listener on a departure from the Pop roots Ferreira’s known for towards a more natural, coarse sound.
It reaches out towards the brilliance of Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’, with its bizarre style and creates something strangely captivating. ‘I’m Aquarius,’ features a funky female chorus group singing, “Shoop-doop-doop-ahs,” on an endless loop which feel quirky and upbeat. A track filled with a soulfullness.
With ‘Love Letters’ Metronomy adhere to their loved original sound, they yet get creative and add a sprinkle of Jazz, Soul and Funk into the mix at a great success.
The Young Punx – All These Things Are Gone English-based Electronic Dance music duo, The Young Punx, return with third album ‘All These Things Are Gone’. On the new release, Hal Ritson and Nathan Taylor concern themselves with the lost eras of culture and music and destroying the boundaries of genre. Once again, the alternative pair challenge club culture’s standards of the norm. The album revolves around the ideas and themes of its almost 14-minute title track. The lyrics list lost items of culture, such as: “pagers”, “cigarettes at work”, and “Top Of The Pops”, as well as more personal anecdotes, like “my virginity and “my first wife”. Its words are a poetic and thought-provoking social commentary on things that have passed, but their delivery, ‘90s Dance influence and robotic vocals (not to mention the video!) provide a dry humour that make it quite awkward to listen to and watch. The feeling of uncertainty is exactly what The Young Punx have aimed for – and they’ve succeeded. Ritson and Taylor delve successfully into the past, taking vintage sounds and mixing them with Electronic beats. Opener, ‘Harlem Breakdown’, is a sample-inspired track playing with elements of ‘70s Jazz Funk, while ‘Kowloon Kickback’, experiments with a 1930s big band, and and ‘Girls Like Disco’ featuring Los Angeles music man Birdee, explores the ‘80s Disco beat with fast-paced and funky Electronic sweeps.
By Emily Schofield and Jordan Schepley
Sky Ferreira – Night Time, My Time
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MUSIC NEWS
Single Reviews Fickle Friends - Swim
From the far reaches of coastal town Brighton, UK, emerges the new wave outfit Fickle Friends. After beginning their musical venture in 2012 the British quintet have just released their new single ‘Swim’ which has a sound reminiscent of 80s pop sensation Cyndi Lauper mixed in a blender with Lily Allen. Lead Vocalist for Fickle Friends Natassja Shiner carries the song with her soulful voice and avid lyric, displaying immense potential for the bands future.
Jason Herd and Stafford Brothers feat Sherry St Germain - Wicked Child
After a fanatical run of successful main stage performances at the 2013 Stereosonic Festival and a string of national tour dates, Australia’s leading DJs the Stafford brothers have come together with UK’s House and Electronic kingpin Jason Herd to create a new club collaboration ‘Wicked Child’ which features the ever impressive Sherry St Germain on vocals. ‘Wicked Child’ is a rhythmic joy ride with plenty of grooves and synth hooks to satisfy a vast number of house/electronic aficionados.
Reverend And The Makers – The Only One
The Sheffield heroes are back with a brand new single from their fourth studio album, entitled ‘The Only One’. With plucky guitar riffs with attitude, the beat rolls evenly throughout the track. A very catchy chorus and John McClure’s punchy yet echoing vocals staying strong from start to finish, it’s not the most exciting comeback, but it is likely to be a radio pleaser when it is released on 10th March 2014.
Top Podcasts, Radio & Sets Meat Transmission Radio Station
Meat Mission in London’s Hoxton Market present their own radio station and on demand available shows. Shows from Vibenation’s Reggae and Dubstep shows, to Choice Cuts’ House tunes, means there is something for everyone. The station goes live Thursday through to Sunday. Tune in and discover your new favourite radio show. Available on Mixcloud www.mixcloud.com/MEATtransMISSION/
Dazed Digital Playlist
This February, Dazed and Confused fill their playlist with girl power. Plug your ears into new tracks from various female artists. The track list includes the likes of bands such as Dum Dum girls and Savages, to San Francisco House DJs. Check out some talented females in the music world. Available online at www.dazeddigital.com/music/
The NME Spotify App
Keep informed on NME’s latest finds. Stay in the loop with the latest upcoming acts with the ‘New Bands We Love’ section. Check out the ‘NME Recommends’ segment and discover the album releases of the month you’ve got to get your ears around. Just pop it into your Spotify search bar. Available on Spotify
Do It Yourself Podcast
Ben Pearce - Lego
Electronic and Deep House, British DJ and producer, Ben Pearce returns to follow up from 2013’s popular dance floor filler ‘What I Might Do’ and last year’s sweeping and atmospheric mixes of ‘Just Enough/Nobody’s Fool’. ‘Lego’ opens not in Pearce’s trademark tranquil, whirling and building way, but with a pleasantly surprising sonic wall of noise. A soulful voice singing ‘Let it go!’ is technically tampered with to give it twice the life, over dirty wobbles and fast beats. A mover from the first second, this Deep House number is one to get you on your feet. The simple three words repeated with energetic persistence, tells its listener to relax, let loose, and shake free any worries by moving around to this solid House track. The next track ‘GBH’ beholds just as much, if not more energy. Deep synthy bass lies sure to create that fantastic, funny, reverberating feeling in your chest when it’s heard through powerful speakers. A deep robotic voice interjects over the computerized creativity, yet its words are not understandable, in a way that perplexes the listener and has their ears stand on end. The third and final instalment ‘The Rain Is Coming’ creates a funky vibe, with quirky synth patterns that sound spacey and tantalizing as they climb and drop. At seven minutes you are swept into a gliding flight of softer distinctive sound, before dropping and crashing into the songs majestic heavier feel once again. The EP is out on the 17th of February on his own label Purp & Soul.
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Ibiza Spotlight Podcast
Ibiza spotlight podcasts bring you all the Dance and House sounds you could ask for. From international artists, to label promos and live sessions, you can catch a weekly fix. DJs and mixers include the likes of the talented Greg Pidcock, and resident of two massive clubs (Space and Ushuaï), Paul Reynolds. Available at www.ibiza-spotlight.com/night/podcasts_i.htm
The Noise Pop Podcast
A monthly series presenting the latest underground and independent music, The Noise Pop company originally began as a small music venue in San Francisco, expanding later as a music festival. Check out the sounds a top music event can’t get enough of. Listen and follow a journey of musical discovery. Available on iTunes
By Emily Schofield & Daniel Morley
EP Review
A podcast ran by Manchester’s Zach Roddis, a performance poet, music writer and enthusiast. In a true punk ethos, Roddis informs the world on the best D-I-Y bands for 30 minutes each week, from his bedroom, via Mixcloud. Tune in and you might find that you discover your new favorite punk band. Available on Mixcloud www.mixcloud.com/DoItYourself/
Ones to watch Royal Blood
Brighton boys, Royal Blood, are already making waves in 2014. This heavy and hefty Rock duo are being watched on their rise to shake things up. After Arctic Monkeys’ drummer Matt Helders wore a Royal Blood t-shirt, at his band’s Glastonbury set last summer, a catalyst was caused. ‘Just who are Royal Blood? ‘ onlookers asked, as many journalists and music industry professionals puzzled over the unheard-of band name. ‘And why is a big Indie-Rock star so keen to promote them?’ The pair, which consists of Mike Keer on electrifying bass and Ben Thatcher on thundering drums, only joined forces in early 2013, but the result of a year’s work is spectacular. Keer and Thatcher team together to create a sound as colossal (if not even more so) as Rockduos before them, such as The Black Keys and The White Stripes. Their two single releases are an example of Grunge-Rock at its finest. ‘Out Of The Black,’ features moody and striking vocals from Keer, along with hammering guitar chords and bellowing drum beats. It opens with staccato chord strums and drum face bashing, as piercing as bullets firing from a gun. ‘Come On Over’ has such weighty sounds it equals to the likes of Queens Of The Stone Age or Foo Fighters. A Nirvana-esque punk angst seems reincarnated. With more releases to come, Royal Blood are set to take Arctic Monkey’s support slot at Finsbury Park in May. And this February the rockers are off on their own UK tour, to demonstrate their mindblowing volumes live.
GEORGE EZRA
George Ezra, Bristol singersongwriter, has blossomed through the nurturing of the BBC, from playing Glastonbury’s BBC Introducing Stage to finishing as 5th in 2014 BBC Sounds List. The Indie, Folk and Rock ‘n’ Roll singer and guitarist began his interests in music as a student in 2012. Having played in numerous band arrangements, he realised his dreams would be easier and more achievable if he were to go it alone, so he jumped on the open mic circuit of Bristol. With him, he brought his talented vocals as an owner of a deep and soulful voice, with guitar work and lyric writing just as capable to match. From putting on shows with promoters in Bristol and pestering his friends to come down and see him live, to playing a Glastonbury stage, George Ezra has swooped into the limelight. Despite having never played a festival before, at Glastonbury, Ezra stunned a tent into admiration and almost silence, other than those unable to avoid the temptation to sing along to his soothing and harmonious melodies. Used to travelling the country via train, with him only having himself and his guitar to pack, George has several dates across the UK set this year. He also has dates lined up in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. He currently has just the one EP released, ‘Did You Hear The Rain?’, varying from ballad-like and woeful ‘Budapest’, to the happy and humorous ‘Benjamine Twine’, which tells the tale of Ezra and his best friend stealing a car. His latest track, and taster from his next EP, vibrant Rock ‘n’ Roll feeling ‘Cassy O’, has achieved Zane Lowe’s ‘Hottest Record Of The Week’. George is currently working on his debut album, which he says uses inspiration from travels in Europe.
East India Youth Electronic music man, East India Youth, was snapped up by The Quietus’ John Doran at a Factory Floor gig. Why? Because, the 22-year-old Wiliam Doyle was wearing a really nice floral shirt, which struck up a conversation between the pair. Doran took such an interest in the unique and creative Electronic act, he created his own label to put out East India Youth’s early recordings. January 2014 saw the release of his debut album, which ticks all the boxes, from Pop and Indie to Techno and Dance. ‘Total Strife Forever’ (a clever pun on Foals album title ‘Total Life Forever’) is easily the first significant album release of the year. It’s filled with experimentation with technology as impressive as Brian Eno’s creations, such as David Bowie’s ‘Low’. His work is as vibrant as his patterned clothing. The debut release features tunes from colorful Indie Dance meets Pop, ‘Dripping Down’, to ‘Heaven How Long’, which has Doyle with a meaningful and moody tone utter, “There’s something clinical about me”, as his poetic lyrics float above a tinkering and tantalising fast beat.
By Emily Schofield
Live, East India Youth adopts a modest confidence, as his crescendo of sounds bewitch you. Early February will see the Electronic sensation hit Liverpool, Bristol, London and Brighton. William Doyle is not just a producer, skilled at playing with sounds on his Mac, but also an expressive lyricist, talented guitarist and fast-fingered pianist. The Bournemouth boy turned East Londoner left behind work with Indie band Doyle & The Fourfathers to focus on his own bedroom-made music. And it is amazing to think one lone man is behind such sonic sounds. He is a multi-talented genius, a musician and an artist in a digital age of recording.
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MUSIC NEWS next time you’re getting lost in heavy bass lines, jumping beats and insane drops on a Saturday night. In 2013 alone, collaborations included Borgore, Waka Floka Flame and UK singer Paige on ‘Wild Out’, as well as Yolanda Be Cool, Starving Yet Full and Fritz Helder on a sleazy remake of Ace Of Base’s ‘All That She Wants’. And 2014 looks set to follow suit, with the release of Steve Aoki’s collaboration with Linkin Park, plus new signings Uberjak’d and Garmiani on the scene.
DIM MAK... The party LABEL Since its inception in 1996 by Grammy-nominated Electro House producer Steve Aoki, Dim Mak has proven to be a brand that’s a force to be reckoned with.
It is the energy and direction of Dim Mak that has seen Dance music not only take off in America for the first time since Fatboy Slim, but remain a permanent fixture of radio, TV and digital platforms.
Releasing track after track of groundbreaking music, every artist that has ever been on the roster has been individually selected to represent the belief in raw talent, whether they be of the Punk-Rock genre or producing thick club beats of Electronic music.
For those that have been living under a rock and are unfamiliar with the label, these are the guys that in nearly 20 years have brought you Bloc Party, The Kills, Mystery Jets, Dirtyphonics and Coone, plus many more, so you should really thank them the
Dim Mak may be revolutionary in terms of music, but it’s certainly not limited to it. From throwing the biggest parties and events on the planet, to designing a clothing line, there’s no stone left unturned as to where the brand can make its mark. Performances at TomorrowLand and TomorrowWorld, as well as their very own pool party at Miami Music Week and weekly Dim Mak Tuesdays in Los Angeles (where Daft Punk played without their masks – for the first time ever!), have cemented them as one of the must-watch live shows of the 21st Century, bringing with them dozens of their signed artists, bands, DJs and MCs to show you what they’re made of. With a criteria for potential signings simply “just don’t be boring”, Dim Mak is a creative wave that once has hold of you, won’t ever let you go – and there are many with the tattoos to prove it. To get a whole lot more, read our interview with Dim Mak’s label manager Lee Kurisu on www.bbmlive.com.
Pick Of The Promos From BBM’s Dance Music Podcast
Spanish genius of House music production, David Penn, debuts his comeback to Toolroom Records with bass line-heavy ‘A Different Story’, featuring remixes by D.Ramirez, Simon Doty, and PACT. In its original format, ‘A Different Story’ brings forward a pattern of dark, thick bass lines with some mesmerising old school female vocals, alongside shifty synths that lead up to a crisp breakdown bringing some nostalgia feel to the ears. The soulful vocals bubble repeatedly over the DJ’s innovative and skilled production skills. Leading the batch of remixes is the bouncy edit by D.Ramirez, mixing in some funky tasteful base lines and switching the vocals to male whilst keeping to the organic structure of Penn’s creation. Simon Doty kicks it up a notch with another strong remix that sees him transform rolling bass lines into Tech House, that gradually leads into an addictive breakdown. The last remix by PACT infuses elements of UK Garage and completely flips Penn’s original mix on its head.
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Rico Tubbs – The Return (TJH87 Remix)
Finnish Electronic music duo TJH87 takes the helm of reworking Rico Tubbs latest track, ‘The Return’. Tubbs, the Finish bass-heavy music creator since 2006, goes back to his roots with this sound. The producer infuses booming fidget House with classic Garage, alongside a wobble bass and falsetto vocals, which we all know and love Tubbs for. The reoccurring dirty wubb-wubb beat augments an element of the recognisable grime feel. The four minute and seven seconds track takes the form of a thumping House and dreamy Techno sandwich, but TJH87 takes it up a notch with their remix by adding some funky Disco Groove and sound system fx that make for a hypnotic storm of Electro-dazzling and melodic sonic confusion. Robotic sounds and voices add a futuristic and utopian aspect to the soulful track, creating a funky contrast. The remix edges away from the bass line-heavy original - think LCD Soundsystem meets Daft Punk.
Just Kiddin – Diamond
This British based Electronic music duo, compromised of Lewis Thomps and Laurrie Revell, have seen big things with their music. After creating remixes of Usher and Theophilus London, they were propelled into the Dance scene with credibility. Just Kidding have placed no limits on their sound and know how to break the boundaries. Seductive melodies and crisp upbeat House rhythms showcase their approach to music that makes for both the perfect relaxing beach vibes and dance floor partying. The Electro-pair seem to construct a sound which is upbeat and enticing, yet calming. New track ‘Diamond’ is filtered with spacey synths and stark percussion, with a Deep House bass that will take your dance floor from sublime to thumping. The track slowly builds in sweeping and sonic vibrancy - its cooling mood could make the perfect nighttime driving song. With producers like Bondax, Boyz Noize and Russ Chimes speaking highly of them, these guys definitely have a buzz about them and are a duo to watch out for in 2014.
By Jordan Shepley
David Penn – A Different Story
FUNNY NEWS Here we help translate the literary treats published by the wonderful celebrities that grace the Twittersphere with their presence...
Celebrity Happenings... Just to keep you in the general loop of what celebs have been up to... here it all is in bitsize chunks... we leave the judgement up to you. The child is currently out of control and heading for Britney2007ville; egging his neighbours house, letting his mate take the rap for it, spending $75,000 in a strip club, and now this little nobhead has a mugshot after being arrested in Miami for driving under the influence, drag racing, and resisting arrest. Petitions are now circulating to have the wreckless teen deported back to Canada. We think it’ll be pretty unanimous.
Justin Bieber -
- Liam Payne - @Real_Liam_Payne
What I gotta do to please you bastards I’m a 20 year old just living life as you did when u where twenty but in extraordinary circumstances - Stand on the ledge of a
Sinitta - Was caught flying first class and leaving her kids in economy. Mum of the Year Award for sure.
building and then actually jump off of it? That would be a start. - Jessica Simpson - @JessicaSimpson
Madonna - At present is super confused as to why some people were angry that she referred to her white son as a ‘n*gga’, posing with guns, oh, and those bloody ridiculous arms. Get off the ‘roids, Madge, and go and eat a pizza.
Doesn’t she just have the most FASCINATING life and opinions ever?
Robin Thicke -
- Kim Kardashian - @KimKardashian
Naomi Campbell - At the National Television Awards – did she get lost? How the flip did this happen?
I love it when my hoops come through my hair - talking about her earrings.
Anyone notice we glammed out our interview backgrounds? They are different marbles now! So fab right! A good change from the colored squares - No Kim, we were
too busy looking at your enormous arse. - Mariah Carey - @MariahCarey Do you want my heart? - but then won’t that make you a heartless bi-ohhhh
Caught making out with a woman that didn’t look at all like his wife generally being a dirty, sleazy bugger these days.
Charlize Theron - Is strangely with Sean Penn? He looks like a testicle that’s been left out in the sun, meanwhile she is a Goddess amongst us mere mortals – we really are quite baffled on this one. Plus Madonna’s left overs... gross. Kim Kardashian - Still alive & breathing in a very vacant state. That is all. Joan Rivers - Insulting every celebrity on Earth and then explaining that she’s a “comedian”, and that FACE. BBM’s Dad’s arse is better looking.
- Yoko Ono - @yokoono
Helen Flanagan - Vegitating somewhere up north on the Internet, she Tweeted about being home alone when her boyfriend, footballer Scott Sinclair, was out of town and resulted in being burgled. She is also still pouting like a deformed duck suffering a stroke. Bless her.
affecting Yoko.
Nigella Lawson - Won’t be getting convicted for her drug use, according to Scotland Yard it’s ok if you rub butter on your nipples on TV for a living.
If the butterflies in your stomach die, send yellow flowers to your friend with a note of love. - We see the ‘60s are still
- Katie Price - @MissKatiePrice
Yahoo uk ireland im in sulted you saying I’m having a surgery body make over you couldn’t be further from the truth - We
Taylor Swift - Living down the embarrassment after the Grammy’s when she thought she had won a Grammy, but Daft Punk scooped up the award. She never seems to have the best luck at these things, does she?
wish we could explain this one, but unfortunately we’re not fluent in idiot.
Doggy Style In The Driving Seat
- Shia LaBeouf - @thecampaignbook I AM NOT FAMOUS ANYMORE - when were you, man whose name no one is sure how to pronounce?
Officers were called to a veterinary clinic in Oklahoma when a vehicle was spotted in a ditch last month.
In possibly the worst excuse we’ve ever heard for trying to get out of a breathalyser test, two drunk men in Oklahoma told officers their minivan crashed because their dog was driving.
how the f do you turn off spell check?!?! -
When the owners of the gold minivan, William McDonald, 65, and Steven Schofield, 42, were asked how the accident happened, McDonald first told police he and Schofield had pulled over because they were tired, and when they tried to turn around, the van became stuck.
James Blunt - @JamesBlunt
“I asked who was driving the vehicle and both of them denied even driving the vehicle,” said officer Thomas Donnell. “McDonald stated that the dog was driving the vehicle and that was why they had gotten stuck.”
- Miley Cyrus- @MileyCyrus
You don’t, you learn how to spell BTW.
Correct. I am indeed hung like a pony. @ jazz_mazz: James Blunt is ja auch eher so ein one trick pony oder?
We had no idea you spoke German so well!!
Donnell said both men smelled of alcohol, had trouble standing without assistance and had poor hand-to-eye coordination. Both liars were immediately detained.
By Esther Anyakwo
Celebrity Tweets
As for the dog, it was taken to a local animal shelter, but the son of a bitch has so far refused to say whether it was behind the wheel.
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FUNNY NEWS Smoked Out Of The Closet
A nutjob neuroscientist reckons he’s proved that smoking and drinking during pregnancy can turn your baby gay and stupid. So if Lindsay Lohan ever gets up the duff, she’ll give birth to the next Perez Hilton. Oh the irony. Dr Dick Swaab (stop sniggering, it’s his real name) – professor of neurobiology at Amsterdam University (Amsterdam? That explains it) – claims that drinking, taking drugs or living in an area with high pollution levels have an impact on the development of foetuses, sexuality and IQ. “Pre-birth exposure to both nicotine and amphetamines increases the chance of lesbian daughters,” said Dr Dicky. “Pregnant women suffering from stress are also more likely to have homosexual children of both genders because their raised level of the stress hormone cortisol affects the production of foetal sex hormones.” It’ll certainly make you think twice the next time you hear a pregnant lesbian say she’s having a fag. And Swaab doesn’t stop there. Apparently, the more older brothers a boy has, the more it is thought to increase his chance of being gay. The study claims this could be because the mother’s immune system develops stronger responses to male hormones with each son that is born. We’ve just checked and Tom Cruise doesn’t have any brothers, so the jury’s still out on that one. “Although it’s frequently assumed that development after birth also importantly affects our sexual orientation, there’s no proof of this whatsoever,” Dicky writes in his book, ‘We Are Our Brains’. “Children brought up by lesbians aren’t more likely to be homosexual. Nor is there any evidence at all for the misconception that homosexuality is a ‘lifestyle choice’.” If nothing else, Dicky’s findings are sure to stir up some controversy. We can’t wait for his next book: “Obama’s America: How taking heroin makes you more left wing”.
The Smell Of Addiction
cooking in the kitchen, I have one in my drawers, I have one when I’m sleeping, I keep some in my trunk, I keep some in my pocket book,” the psycho explained enthusiastically. Apparently, the 22-year-old hoards dirty diapers from both friends and strangers and takes them with her everywhere she goes. We’re not sure what’s more unbelievable, the fact that she enjoys shoving piss-stained nappies into her gob or the fact that she actually has friends. “You know when you’re walking into a room and you smell a strong smell like food and you kind of taste it?” she said. “That’s what it’s like. The heavier ones that have more pee smell better.” What a freak. Seriously, BBM can’t write about this anymore, it’s making us feel unwell. Excuse us while we go next door and masturbate into our neighbour’s kettle. That always calms us down.
Rio Gets The Thumbs Down From Above
Poor old Brazil. Stadiums collapsing, riots in the streets and now, in the clearest indication yet that God is seriously pissed off with their Samba stylings, the iconic statue of Jesus overlooking Rio de Janeiro has had one of its thumbs blasted off by a bolt of lightning. Now if that’s not the equivalent of the Lord giving you the finger, we don’t know what is. Either that or Thor, the Norse God of thunder, is sending a message.
Site caretaker Father Osmar Raposo said the giant concrete figure of Christ the Redeemer that juts from the mountaintop some 710 metres above Rio’s beaches, would undergo repair this month. We’d be surprised if he can claim insurance as if anything qualifies as an act of God, then surely it’s this. It is understood that Brazil’s social services may step in to remove Jesus from God’s custody if the abuse continues.
Sweet Idea Proves Racist
Sweden and Denmark have stopped selling racist sweets after complaints from customers - and no we’re not talking about Minstrels. Or Black Jacks. The sweets, part of Haribo’s Skipper Mix salty blend that has been on the market for years, are in the shape of ethnic masks or facial representations that resemble primitive African, Asian or Native American art. “We decided that we could keep the product while removing the parts that certain consumers found offensive,” Haribo Sweden head Ola Dagliden said. They depicted what “a sailor who travelled the world” in days gone by would have brought home, Mr Dagliden said. “It wasn’t something we saw as having negative connotations.” It’s believed Haribo, a German company, will replace the sweets with candy Swastikas and an anti-Semitic piece of liquorice.
Alcoholism Is Just A Walk In The Park Back in the days before currency was invented and when capitalism was just a glint in a morbidly obese American’s eye, people used to barter for services and goods. If you did a good week’s work, your boss would give you a buxom virgin or something. We saw it on the History Channel so it must be true. Actually, come to think of it, it was the sci-fi channel and it was a movie called ‘Emanuelle’s Erotic Journey Through Time’. Still, the point remains. This ancient custom has been brought back to the modern world thanks to some smart-thinking government chiefs in Holland. Working on a system of “you do something for us, we’ll exchange it for something you want”, a group of alcoholics in Amsterdam are being paid five cans of beer a day in return for cleaning the city’s streets.
We all have our little addictions. BBM’s next door neighbour, for example, is addicted to having a coffee every morning before she leaves for work. And BBM is addicted to sneaking into her house after she’s left to sniff her underwear. Both addictions are harmless, cost very little and can lead to immense sexual gratification.
The private, but government-funded, Rainbow Group Foundation, employs two groups of 10 men who work three days a week picking up litter.
But spare a thought for Keyshia from Queens, New York, whose oddball habit makes us want to vomit into a child’s crying face.
“Yes, of course, in the park it is nice weather and you just drink a lot of beer,” he explained. “Now you come here and you have something to do. I can’t just sit still. I want to do something.”
Keyshia has become addicted to sniffing and chewing on urine-soaked nappies and says “the more pee the better”.
Programme director Gerri Holterman, from the Rainbow Group Foundation, said: “I think we are already successful, when we get them to drink less during the day. This is a start to go towards other projects and get maybe another kind of job.”
“I love it, it just tastes amazing. I have one when I’m
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Each day they get paid €10 and are given one hot meal, half a packet of cigarettes and five cans of beer. Karel Slinger, 50, said he used to spend his days in a nearby park getting drunk. Now he picks up litter while he’s at it.
SPORTS NEWS Let’s Get Physio With Ronaldo
Let’s face it, if Lionel Messi hadn’t been crocked for big chunks of last year, Real Madrid mincer Cristiano Ronaldo would never have won the Ballon d’Or title. So in want amounts to a slap in the face to his biggest rival, Ronaldo promised to celebrate his victory by buying each of Real Madrid’s team of physios a car of their choice. Because as we all know, there’s nothing like a show of needlessly lavish spending to prove how classy you are. It was a promise that, a few months back, would have seemed fairly unlikely to need keeping. After all, Ronaldo trailed both Franck Ribery and Lionel Messi in the list of bookies’ favourites. But a flurry of goals for club and country this season - culminating in a hat-trick against Sweden to send Portugal to the World Cup - changed all that, and the suspiciously camp star got the nod. Apparently, the promise was made during one of the many long sessions that the Portuguese star was being treated on the physio table. If he was getting a happy finish at the time, we can understand why he did it – BBM has said all kinds of crazy things while in the throes of ecstasy. Things like “no, of course I don’t care that you haven’t shaved your legs” and “No, I promise you won’t have to wear the Cheryl Cole mask next time”. It’s unclear if Ronaldo will give each member of the staff their own car or if they’ll have to carpool with one. In the past he has reportedly rewarded their contributions to keeping him fit and ready for underwear photo shoots with mobile phones, iPads and watches.
Cool Runnings Gets Real-Life Sequel
There’s been a fair whack of controversy surrounding the Winter Olympics, with most of it centred around the fact it’s being held in a country that thinks homosexuality is a form of Satan worship. Frankly, we find it odd that Vladimir Putin should be so opposed to gay people when he’s always being pictured with his top off and wrestling other men. Does the lady doth protest too much? Sounds like he might be a friend of Dorothski to us. But heads of state who are in the closet aside, the question remains: is it right to follow and support an event in a country with such a backwards policy on the rights of a large number of its population? Thankfully, that difficult question was ruled irrelevant last month when we found out the Jamaican bobsled team had qualified. Huzzah! Who cares about gay rights when we’ve got Cool Runnings to look forward to? Winston Watts and Marvin Dixon became Jamaica’s first bobsled team to qualify for the Games since 2002. There’s just one slight snag – they might not have the funding or sponsorship to actually get to Sochi. Where’s John Candy when you need him?
Stuffing his face with hamburgers in heaven, no doubt. “It all depends,” said Dixon. “Our families need to be taken care of first. If there’s no funding, who knows? But, I’m one of life’s optimists. I put my heart on the line for this. Any British companies out there interested in sponsorin’ us? Hopefully, the Jamaican Olympic Association will step in and support us now we’ve qualified.”
Warning: male readers of a sensitive disposition should stop reading this now. Ruano was challenging for the ball when (brace yourself) he overstretched and burst some veins in his testicle. We’ll give our male readers some time to wince and squirm uncomfortably in their seats. Finished? Good. The 28-year-old was taken away on a stretcher in the 36th minute. Getafe boss Luis Garcia filled everyone in on the gory details after the final whistle. “Alexis has a testicle like this,” he told reporters while gesturing the size of a ball. “Some veins were broken. When I entered the changing room, I was scared, but it’s not serious. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Sadly, BBM has seen something like it – it was shortly after Cheryl Cole found us hiding in the bushes outside her house and responded by booting us in the bollocks. It was worth it though. Ruano ‘s injury not the first case of a ruptured ball bag in a game. Blackburn fans will remember how Scott Dann ruptured one of his sweet meats during a match in December 2011. Disturbingly, he said the incident was “more painful than it sounds”. “Our physio, Dave Fevre, is very experienced and he’d never seen an injury like it before,” Dann said at the time. “It was not a pretty sight. I overstretched and clashed with the goalkeeper, Ben Foster. I was in severe pain and couldn’t run.”
Even if they manage to get there, there’s another potential problem for all the bobsled teams on the horizon. If Putin is so keen to jail gay people, what do you think he’ll do when he sees two men in lycra hugging each other tightly from behind?
Challenging For The Ball
When it comes to football injuries, we’ve all winced at pictures of shin bones bending in ways they’re not supposed to. As far as we’re concerned, only porno actresses should be able to contort their legs into such unnatural positions. But spare a thought for Getafe defender Alexis Ruano, whose gruesome injury in a game against Barcelona last month put such bone-bothering antics to shame.
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SPORTS NEWS An Ashes Victory For Barcelona
Barcelona have created a mausoleum where fans can pay to have their remains stored – presumably after they’ve been bored to death watching the side’s tiki-taka, don’t-shoot-just-pass brand of football. There we’ve said it. Eat that Craig Foster! Initially there will be a space for 500 urns at the cemetery of Les Corts, opposite the Nou Camp, but the plan is to incorporate it into a modernised new stadium in the future which will have room for 30,000 urns. “This is in response to the historical demand from members who want their remains laid to rest at the stadium,” said the club’s director of facilities, Josep Ramon Vidal-Abarca.
Teens Stumped By Ruthless Veteran
Whether it’s smashing your girlfriend in straight sets at tennis, humiliating your eight-year-old nephew at bowling or hammering your granddad 14-0 at FIFA 2014 on the Xbox, there’s something deeply satisfying about showing those weaker than you who’s boss. It’s the reason we’ve been banned from competing at Sports Relief with disabled kids. And it’s great to see we’re not alone in this approach to sport, with a former first-class cricketer in New Zealand smashing 307 off 115 balls against a team of schoolboys - despite repeated pleas to retire. Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association chief executive Craig Findlay mercilessly flayed the demoralised teenage bowling attack of St John’s College, with the latter’s captain, James McNatty, claiming he first asked the 42-year-old to quit after 23 overs of the 45-over affair “because it was really getting out of hand”. Ruthless Findlay, however, batted on, as he hit 27 sixes against the team of mainly 15 and 16-yearolds on his way to his triple century for Napier Tech Old Boys – much to the outrage of parents and onlookers. Far from being apologetic, Findlay, who played for Central Districts Stags in the ’90s, was positively proud of his knock. “To create champions you have to be tough,” said Findlay, shortly after sledging a crying 15-year-old. “I’m not allowed to play and I have others telling me where I can bat and when not to play.” Brilliantly, he then went on to reminisce over the highlights of his knock. “It was coming off alright,” he told Eurosport. “I was dropped early though by some poor young fellow when I was on about 40. My favourite six was probably one that sailed over the sightscreen.” Asked if he would be as pitiless if he was playing against his ten-year-old son, Findlay replied: “I tell you, I also won’t be cutting him any slack.” If only BBM’s dad had been so inspirational, maybe we’d be playing first-class cricket instead of hiding in bushes outside Cheryl Cole’s house.
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throughout their entire Six Nations campaign in 2013, but was rested for the summer tour of Argentina. “To lead your country is a massive honour, but I am fortunate to have a group of players and leaders who support me in that,” waffled Robshaw, who led the side in last year’s autumn internationals against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand. “We want to kick on from the autumn internationals and we can’t wait for the challenge ahead, starting with a tough away match against France.” By the time you’ve read this, England should have already lost in Paris on 1st February, before beating Scotland at Murrayfield a week later.
The second phase of the project is to build a larger mausoleum in the stadium where fans can buy large ceramic slabs decorated in Barcelona memorabilia behind which family members’ remains can be stored. “Memorial Space FC Barcelona aims to be a link with the club forever, a tribute to those who wish to be bound forever to the club,” said Santi Bach, the chief executive officer of Giem Sports, who are partners in the project. Barca isn’t the first club to offer grave-side tickets to games, with FC Schalke opening a cemetery which overlooks the Veltins Arena in 2012. Schalke were quick to establish that they would make no money from the move. Barca, however, are charging from between €3,000 to €6,000 to buy a space for 50 to 99 years. So the next time you see Lionel Messi waltzing past five defenders before calmly slotting the ball in the bottom corner, remember he’s been bought and paid for with the corpses of dead Catalans. It’s a far cry from the club that refused to have shirt sponsor for years before finally selling out. At least Real Madrid get their money the old-fashioned way - by racking up vast sums of debt. It’s a footballing tradition.
More National Disappointment On The Cards
Let’s All Go to Nando’s
You can hear the Man Utd fans serenade him from the Stretford End, with a chorus of “Let’s all go to Nando’s” Adnan Januzaj is 18-years-old, a footballer and on £30,000 a week in wages so you’d think that any girl going on a first date with the lad would be wined and dined. That wasn’t the case for 25-year-old Melissa McKenzie, who had spent £30 getting herself ready for her date with the football ace. When talking about the Man Utd starlet Melissa stated, “I’ve never met anyone so stingy in my life,” “I expected him to come to me in a flashy car, but I ended up driving him about in my old blue Fiesta and I was left to pay and display. Then he said he was taking me to Nando’s – my face fell.”
With Ashes humiliation behind us, and World Cup humiliation just around the corner, it’s time for England’s rugby team to fill the void of national embarrassment with which we’re so familiar.
McKenzie tells how she had to pick up Januzaj from a street corner where his mother had dropped him off and she was let down by the way he dressed, turning up in a tracksuit and cap.
Yes it’s the start of the Six Nations this month, and England have a great chance of finishing second. Or third. Hurrah!
Fair play to Januzaj he did have the common decency to pay for the bill, never mind that it came to an eye whopping £18 and even took the time from his romantic meal to take photos with fans before asking to get driven home by McKenzie by 9pm.
And the man to lead them to mediocrity will be Chris Robshaw, who has been named captain again after his sterling efforts in ensuring England stay rigidly away from the top of the rugby rankings. “Chris is in the team on merit as a player but he has also shown himself to be an outstanding leader,” said England head coach Stuart Lancaster. Robshaw drew criticism for his captaincy in 2012 after he elected to kick a penalty at goal when a late try would have secured victory over South Africa. Despite the setback, the Quins skipper led England
CRYSTAL BALLS
Horoscopes CAPRICORN
Capri-porn more like. Seriously, you need to use the internet for more than just looking at dwarfs having sex and Germans pooing on each other.
TAURUS
While struggling to erect a hammock you bought at Aldi for $99, you somehow manage to create a time machine instead. Gobsmacked at your achievement, and with the wonders of the ancient world at your fingertips, you decide to travel back in time to Jamaica in the 1970s, where you grab a ready-made hammock from a backyard in Kingston before quickly heading back to the present day without anyone catching you. What an adventure!
GEMINI
Well, you’ve gone and done it this time you sick, sick son of a bitch. For censorship reasons we can’t print the exact details, but you come up with a Tweet that is racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, xenophobic and will also upset the victims of Operation Yew Tree. We’re not sure whether we should be disgusted or impressed that you managed all that in 140 characters.
PISCES
Piss off, Pisces - my old fuck buddy George Clooney has just invited me to the Oscars, so I don’t have time to do your prediction. I can’t wait to see George again - it’s been ages since I had a good rimming.
AQUARIUS
I could do your horoscope, or I could go to the pub instead.
VIRGO
Watching the latest series of Girls does not immediately make you cool. Especially if you’re a non-gay man.
CANCER
SCORPIO
You buy a second-hand hammock on Gumtree which comes with the blurb “one previous owner, good condition, has the ability to travel through time”. Sure enough, when you get inside, it whisks you back through the ages. Fleeting images of the evolution of man, the rise of civilisation and the first moon landing flash before your eyes before you eventually land in 1990s Jamaica, where you are spotted by an angry man and a young boy. Sensing danger, you hop back in the time machine and fiddle with the controls, but the young boy is like lightning. There must be 100 metres between you and he, but he makes up the distance in no time and just before you can press the big button marked “Go”, he grabs you by the arm. He explains his father knew that one day a time-travelling hammock stealer would return to Jamaica and that he had trained his only son to sprint as fast as possible to catch him – but while he’s talking, you shove him in the face and disappear back to the modern day. As you leave, you hear his parting words: “I’ll catch you one day or my name’s not a young Usain Bolt!” Can it be true that your time-travelling hammock had a role in the development of the world’s fastest man? What an adventure!
SAGITARRIUS
Concerned friends and family stage an intervention to put an end to your growing use of phrases like “don’t go there sister”, “who da man?” and “fo shizzle”. After an intense two hours, in which you use the phrase “yo bitches need to be respect’n me!” no less than 14 times, you break down and become the person you always were: a slightly camp sociopath with OCD tendencies. Hurrah!
LIBRA
We all know that the constellation of “Libra” was named in ancient times after the great Mexican wrestler Nacho Libre, who looked a bit like Jack Black and fought mighty Zeus in a cataclysmic cage match in the heavens which is now forever etched in the stars. All Librans, therefore, feel the pull of wrestling at some stage in their lives, and this month, it’s your turn. Donning a black mask with silver patterning, you decide to enter a local tournament under the name Chilli Tacos. In your first match-up, you shatter your knee, break your pelvis and have half your ear chewed off in one of the most onesided contests since the Harlem Globetrotters took on Stephen Hawking in the basketball ring.
Pub Quiz Facts From puberty to death, the average male produces sperm cells to theoretically repopulate the Earth about 405 times.
“Where is the love?” asked the Black Eyed Peas in their 2003 hit ‘Don’t Phunk With My Heart’. And if your antics this month are any kind of indicator, “the love” can be found inside your girlfriend’s mum’s knicker drawer, where you spend a good bit of time shoving your face in her slightly soiled underwear every time you’re asked round for tea.
The Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z and Busta Rhymes attended the same high school together.
ARIES
An obese man fasted for 382 days and lost 275 pounds with no ill effects on his body.
While staying at a friend’s house, you decide to test out the hammock they’ve just bought from Aldi and, hey presto, you’re magically transported back in time. In the blink of an eye you see the pyramids being built, the druids worshipping at Stonehenge and the birth of Christ. Eventually, you land in 1980s Jamaica where an angry man accuses you of stealing his hammock 10 years previously. Quick as a flash, you dive back into the time machine and are transported to the present day. What an adventure!
LEO
It’s Valentine’s Day soon and love is in the air. Unfortunately, so is your body odour. Your chances of pulling while you stink like a tramp’s hairy anus are zilch. Get some deodorant smelly, and brush your teeth while you’re at it.
Our Sun is only one in 300-thousand-billion-billion stars in the observable Universe. In the Republic of Albania shaking your head no means yes and nodding your head yes, means no. Confusing, no? In 1942, a Mississippi man known as the Phantom Barber, broke into people’s houses at night and cut their hair. A male Adelie penguin will offer a stone to a female. If the female accepts the stone, they will mate. Odontophobia is the fear of teeth.
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ASK CRYSTAL & JOKES
Ask Crystal Dear Crystal,
Dear Ben,
Dear Sally,
My girlfriend regularly shoves various fruit and vegetables up her nether regions. She claims it counts towards her five-a-day but I’m not so sure. What do you think?
Have you ever been on a night out when some hot young girl hands you a flyer to a night club, starts flirting, winks at you and tells you she’ll see you in there? Well, oddball religions like Scientology, Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses work the same way: all tits and short skirts on the outside, but once you’re in the building, it’s just a bunch of ugly old people ranting about weird stuff. My advice is to play her at her own game, tell her you’re thinking of joining but you’re waiting for “a sign” to show you the way. Then she’ll give you either a handjob or a blowjob to seal the deal – and it’s at that point that you should pull your jeans up and walk away, otherwise you’ll be getting bummed by Tom Cruise in a year’s time.
It’s simple really, just give your boyfriend herpes and if your ”friend” gets cold sores on her face – busted.
Yours, Dan
Dear Dan, I think your girlfriend is a saucy minx with a learning disability. Still, there’s no harm in what she’s doing – just don’t buy her a watermelon.
Dear Crystal, I’m interested in this really hot girl I’ve met recently, and I think she’s interested in me, but the problem is she’s a scientologist and won’t go out with anyone who isn’t. All religion is nonsense if you ask me, but I’d be willing to become a scientologist if it meant I could bang her. What do you think? Will I have to dress up like an alien or something? And I thought all scientologist men were gay, you know, like Tom Cruise and John Travolta?
Dear Crystal, I started having wet dreams about my dog last week and this morning I woke up with a massive hard on. The only way I could think to get rid of it was to rub myself on Benji. I surprised myself by not feeling too bad about it afterwards, but I got him in a right state and can’t get him clean. Any advice? Sincerely, Roger
Dear Roger, Dear Crystal, I think my boyfriend may be cheating on me with one of my so-called friends, but he’s a crafty git and I can’t tell for sure. How do I catch them out? All the best, Sally
Shove him in on a hot wash for 40 minutes with fabric softener and then spin him dry. Should do the trick.
If you’ve got a problem, remember you can usually find Crystal in and around Kings Cross, or just email us at reporters@ bbmlive.com and we’ll pass on your problem!
Ben
Jokes The local slag told me she’d only have sex if we’re engaged. “Okay, okay,” I said, locking the door on the pub toilet. “Happy now?” Andy, Woollongong Off to the pictures with my wife tonight to see, ‘Twelve Years a Slave’. It has got me out of a spot of bother with her as it reminded me it was our twelfth wedding anniversary. Ed, Melbourne “I’ve done some digging, mate,” I said to my best friend. “Your wife has been cheating on you for the past two weeks.” Confused, he said, “But she died three weeks ago.” “I know,” I replied. “I just told you I was digging.” Dylan, St. Kilda My mate asked me how things were going with the new girl I’d been seeing. “We’ve split up” I said. “She was too old fashioned when it comes to sex.” “Like making you wait?” “No” I replied. “She had a really hairy minge.” Harry, Newcastle In hindsight, when the cops pulled me from the wreckage of my car, and asked if I was drunk I probably shouldn’t have said “Of course, do you think I’m a fucking stunt driver!” Larry, Bondi I wish I was a shark. Nobody gives them any hassle for circling schools, picking out the weakest looking specimens and satisfying their appetite. Tom, Adelaide News: Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Attempted Bombing of U.S. Plane. I give them 9/11 for their efforts. Sonya, Sydney
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Did you hear about the Mexican train killer? They say he had locomotives. Alex, Richmond “You know how sometimes you get a song stuck in your head and can’t get it out? Ok, now imagine the song is a tumour.” said the Insensitive Doctor. Ellen, Melbourne Don’t you just hate it when you get a pubic hair in your mouth or stuck between your teeth? I should stop doing my drugs off pub toilet seats in all fairness. Steve, Kings Cross The boss came over to my desk and said ‘Can I have that report I asked for?’ ‘Ah...’ I started to reply - ‘Don’t tell me you haven’t done it!’ he yelled, ‘Ok’, I replied, ‘I won’t, but you’re going to find out sooner or later!’ Olivia, Perth After going to the trouble of buying dinner for two, wine, flowers and chocolate, I would have thought that a getting a blowjob would be least I could expect. Apparently not, and the checkout girl even called the manager. Luke, Fremantle I told my mate, “I’ve got the 7 year itch.” He said, “you’re not even married, Dave. “ “I know, but remember when I shagged your sister back in 2007...” Jamie, Perth I always give women a good time in the bedroom. Well, it’s a good time by 100m sprint standards. Rich, Bondi I often wonder if we ever get visited by aliens and they look to talk with intelligent life, will they think that we are taking the piss if we send in Stephen
Hawking? Nigel, Surfers Paradise Today I was just putting some bread into the toaster when unexpectedly my wife walked into the kitchen in the sexiest outfit imaginable. Instantly, I threw her over the table and we had the most incredible sex of our marriage. It was more than sex, it was as if we were combined together by love and lust, we became one being, one identity, one incredible energy. For the first time in our lives we just let loose, we cast the shadows of our past behind us and forgot our troubles, we were happy. We had lost ourselves in the passion. Then, I returned to the toaster just in time for the bread to pop and offered her some toast. Zack, Melbourne Two little boys return to school and are sitting in their classroom when their new French teacher walks in. “Cor, she’s gorgeous, I wonder how old she is?” whispers the first boy. “If we could get hold of her knickers, we could find out.” says the second. “How do you work that out?” “Well, in the back of my pants it says ‘6-8 years’.” Jake, Surry Hills
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT Step Back In Time... From jazz-playing whiskey bars to uber cool backstreet dens, vintage bars have a mind of their own and no two are the same. Whether you’re looking for something a little edgier to wind down in after a hard week, or want to find your new hotspot for a Saturday night, these venues will transport you into another decade’s escapism.
Uncle Ming’s Bar
Eau De Vie
Since opening in January 2010, the Eau De Vie name has gone from strength to strength. With a venue in Sydney and Melbourne, this discrete and intimate speakeasy won the accolade for New Bar Of The Year in 2010 and Bar Of The Year in 2011, and aims to transport you back to the 1940s, when men wore suits on a Wednesday and cocktails were new and exciting. Infused with Jazz and super cool and highly skilled bartenders, you can sit back, relax and enjoy a Noble Experiment; one of the Favourites on the menu, bartenders don gloves and goggles to serve up this ice-cold martini (courtesy of liquid nitrogen) with vermouth, bitters, brine and garnish on-request, for $20. 229 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, Sydney 1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne www.eaudevie.com.au
The Croft Institute
One of the only bars that gets away with being set up like a school, the three floors of The Croft Institute in Melbourne is nothing like hard work. The ground floor encompasses an old school science lab complete with curious glassware and classroom stools. The first floor is where you’ll find the toilets and the second floor contains the gymnasium with a turf bar, which opens on the weekends to party people dancing to the DJ’s tunes. Drinks are a concoction of boutique wines, cold beer and unique cocktails – so unique that each one is made to the customer’s taste. However, a classic invention was the Rebecca Mae, created by the head bartender as a tribute to his girlfriend, and consists of gin, aperol, lime and white cacao mix. 21 Croft Alley, Melbourne www.thecroftinstitute.com
Room 60
If you like live music, cult movies and erotic novels, you’ll love Room 60. The coolest joint in Brisbane for anyone cultured and creative enough, this cosy venue promises a non-pretentious vibe from the interior to the staff and the simple menu of pizza and fish & chips, so you can relax on the warm 1970s-style lounge couches and enjoy everything on offer. The new year brings fresh ideas for artistic expression, with comedy and trivia nights, set within the exposed brick walls. This is all to not distract from the centrepiece: deconstructed cocktails. Whether you drink all of the ingredients together or individually, we recommend those with a sweet tooth to opt for the Tanqueray gin, Japanese lychee marble drink and organic dark chocolate – so smooth, it’s the Barry White of beverages. Shop 22, Carraway Street, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane www.room60.com.au
1907
Below the 1907 restaurant lies the cocktail bar, where the bubbling atmosphere simmers just beneath the surface. A venue where indulgence is mandatory, you can expect to hand over $20 a drink, but the experience is priceless. Sit upon designer Italian lounge chairs and choose from homemade liqueurs, infused syrups and tantalising sorbets from the lit up bar, or splash out on some of the rarest whiskies, cognacs and rums in the world from the liquor cabinet; whatever your tipple, you’ll feel like Marilyn Monroe or James Dean once the old Hollywood glamour gets into your veins. A perfect place for a special occasion, 1907’s cocktail bar is fresh and contemporary, with the class and manner of the early 1900s. 26 Queen Street, Perth www.1907.com.au
By Erin Selendyne
Come inside and let Uncle Ming satisfy your cocktail and dumpling cravings. This bar is inspired by the opium dens of Asia, and is a no-holds-barred celebration of the distinct charm of 1920s Shanghai. Cocktails are a mix of classic and Asian, with an emphasis on true flavours and fresh ideas, and served in a single glass or teapot for sharing – the Mr. Sparkle is particularly awakening with a hit of zesty lemon. The whiskey menu is just as, if not more extensive, with labels from Scotland, Ireland, America and Japan. Try the Suntory Kakubin, the favourite in all of Japan, as a highball with soda and lemon – you won’t be disappointed. So come in, settle on bar stool beneath the hanging lanterns and let the guys at Uncle Ming’s treat you to a tipple. 55 York Street, Sydney www.unclemings.com.au
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ADVERTISE HERE
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TRAVEL NEW ZEALAND & FIJI
Things to do in New Zealand
SKYDIVING
SKYDIVE LAKE WANAKA LTD 14, Mustang Lane Wanaka Airport State Highway 6 Wanaka, South Island NZ Tel: +64 3 443 7207 or FREEphone 0800 786 877 info@skydivewanaka.com www.skydivewanaka.com NZONE ‘THE ULTIMATE JUMP’ Queenstown & Rotorua Tel: 0800 376 796 skydive@nzone.biz www.nzone.biz SKYDIVINGNZ.COM New Zealand Skydiving School FREEPHONE: 0800 NZSKYDIVE Email: info@skydivingnz.com
RAFTING
RANGITATA RAFTS Peel Forest RD20 South Canterbury, NZ Tel: + 64 3 696 3534 New Zealand Freephone: 0800 251 251 info@rafts.co.nz www.rafts.co.nz
JET BOATING SHOTOVER JET
The World’s Most Exciting Jet Boat Ride, and the only company permitted to operate in the spectacular Shotover River Canyons.
Shotover Jet Beach, Gorge Road Arthurs Point, Queenstown, New Zealand Free Phone (NZ only): 0800 SHOTOVER Phone: +64 3 442 8570 Fax: +64 3 442 7467 reservations@shotoverjet.co.nz www.shotoverjet.com
GLACIER GUIDING FOX GLACIER GUIDING 44 Main Rd, Po Box 38, Fox Glacier, NZ Ph: +64 3 751 0825 Freephone (NZ only): 0800 111 600 info@foxguides.co.nz www.foxguides.co.nz
Take a breathtaking guided trip on the West Coast’s longest and less crowded glacier amidst fascinating ice formations with NZ’s most experienced glacier guiding company. Offering a full range of trips to suit all fitness levels.
RIVER BOARDING
MAD DOG RIVERBOARDING 37 Shotover Street Queenstown New Zealand Ph: +64 3442 7797 www.riverboarding.co.nz
ACCOMMODATION CHRISTCHURCH
CITY OASIS 180 Peterborough Street, Christchurch, NZ Ph: + 64 3366 9531 cityoasis@xtra.co.nz www.kiwi-backpackers.co.nz COKER’S BACKPACKERS 52 manchester Street, Christchurch, NZ Ph: + 64 3379 8580 enquiries@cokers.co.nz www.cokers.co.nz
BAY OF ISLANDS
BAY ADVENTURER BACKPACKERS & APARTMENTS 28, Kings Road, Paihia, Bay of Islands, NZ Ph: +64 9 402 5162 Info@bayadventurer.co.nz www.bayadventurer.co.nz
KAIKOURA ADELPHI LODGE Main Street, Kaikoura, NZ Ph: + 64 3319 5141 Fax: + 64 3319 6786 adelphilodge@xtra.co.nz www.kiwi-backpackers.co.nz
QUEENSTOWN
AUCKLAND
BUNGI BACKPACKERS 15 Sydney Street, Queenstown, NZ Ph: + 64 3442 8725 Fax: + 64 3442 8729 www.kiwi-backpackers.co.nz
NOMADS AUCKLAND 16-20 Fort Street, Auckland, NZ Freecall: 0508 NOMADS Phone: +64 9 300 9999 bookings@nomadsauckland.com nomadshostels.com $5 off first night (min 3 night stay) if you mention this ad
SOUTHERN LAUGHTER LODGE 4 Isle Street, Queenstown, NZ Ph: + 64 3441 8828 southernlaughter@xtra.co.nz www.kiwi-backpackers.co.nz NOMADS QUEENSTOWN 5-11 Church Street, Queenstown, NZ Freecall: 0508 NOMADS Phone: +64 3 441 3922 info@nomadsqueenstown.com nomadshostels.com Queenstown’s brand new flashpackers, now open with rave reviews.
FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER CHATEAU FRANZ 8 Cron Street, Franz Josef Glacier, NZ Ph: + 64 3752 0738 www.kiwi-backpackers.co.nz
NOMADS FAT CAMEL 38 Fort Street, Auckland, NZ Freecall: 0508 NOMADS Phone: +64 9 307 0181 bookings@nomadsfatcamel.com nomadshostels.com $5 off first night if you mention this ad.
WELLINGTON
NOMADS CAPITAL 118 Wakefield Street, Wellington, NZ Freecall: 0508 NOMADS Phone: +64 4 978 7800 info@nomadscapital.com nomadshostels.com Central city backpackers with FREE MEAL every night.
GLOW WORM COTTAGES 7 Cron Street, Franz Josef Glacier, NZ Ph: + 64 3752 0172 glowwormcottages@xtra.co.nz www.kiwi-backpackers.co.nz
Fiji ACCOMMODATION
THINGS TO DO
BEACHCOMBER ISLAND RESORT Mamanuca Island Group Ph: + 679 6661500 Fax: + 679 6664496 info@beachcomberfiji.com www.beachcomberfiji.com
ROBINSON CRUSOE ISLAND Fiji budget accommodation Ph: (679) – 6281999 (679) – 6282901 robinsoncrusoe@connect.com.fj www.robinsoncrusoeislandfiji.com
THE BEACHOUSE Coral Coast, Fiji Islands Fiji phone: 679 6530500 Free call (within Fiji): 0800 6530530 Australia info line: 07 55320412 info@fijibeachouse.com www.fijibeachouse.com
THE UPRISING BEACH RESORT 679-345-2200 Beach RoadPacific Harbour P.O.Box 416 Pacific Habour Fiji Islands enquiries@uprisingbeachresort.com www.uprisingbeachresort.com
SMUGGLERS COVE BEACH RESORT * HOTEL P.O.Box 10409 Nadi Airport. Ph: (679) 672 6578 or 672 4578 Fax: (679) 672 0662 reservations@smugglerscove.com.fj www.smugglersbeachfiji.com, Skype name: Smugglers Cove HORIZON BEACH RESORT Wailoaloa Beach, Nadi Bay, Fiji Ph: +679 672 2832 or 4578 Fax: +679 672 0662 www.horizonbeachfiji.com
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NADI BAY RESORT HOTEL Wailoaloa Beach Road Private Mail Bag NAP 0359, Nadi Airport Ph: (679) 6723599 Fax: (679) 6720092 nadibay@connect.com.fj www.fijinadibayhotel.com/ NADI BAY DOWNTOWN BACKPACKERS Nadi, Fiji Islands Ph: [679] 670 0600 pacvalley@connect.com.fj
SKYDIVING
SKYDIVE FIJI 11 Zahoor Road, Nadi, Fiji Isalnds Tel: +679-6728166 Fax: +679-6721415 admin@skydivefiji.com.fj www.skydivefiji.com.fj ‘Incredible views of Fiji’s Islands and Reefs; Beach or Resort landings’
SCUBA DIVING
SUBSURFACE FIJI ADVENTURE DIVING & WATERSPORTS Subsurface Fiji Adventure Diving and Watersports Beachcomber, Treasure, Malolo, Walu Beach, Funky Fish and Musket Cove Island Resorts, Fiji Tel: +679 6666 738 info@subsurfacefiji.com www.subsurfacefiji.com
Things to do in Australia SKYDIVING
SYDNEY SKYDIVERS 745 Picton Road, Wilton, New South Wales, Australia 2571 Ph: 1800 805 997 admin@sydneyskydivers.com.au www.sydneyskydivers.com.au SUNSHINE COAST SKYDIVERS 1 Pathfinder Drive, Caloundra Airport, Sunshine Coast, QLD Ph: 07 5437 0211 Mob: 04 18 776 775 bookings@sunshinecoastskydivers.com.au www.sunshinecoastskydivers.com.au
A J HACKET BUNGY JUMPING McGregor Road, Smithfield, QLD, 4878 Tel: 07 4057 7188 Free: 1800 622 888 cairns.reception@ajhackett.com www.cairns.ajhackett.com OCEAN RAFTING WHITSUNDAYS The Jetty, Coral Sea Resort, Airlie Beach, QLD Ph: 07 4946 6848 oceanrafting@airlie.net.au www.oceanrafting.com.au
SOUTHERN SKYDIVERS Busselton Regional Airport, Bussleton, WA Free: 1300 449 669 skydive@southernskydivers.com.au www.southernskydivers.com.au
STAND UP PADDLE SURFING 3 Graham Colyer Drive, Agnes Water, QLD Ph: 07 4974 7874 / 07 4962 0210 Mob: 0422 806 235 info@1770sup.com.au www.1770sup.com.au
SKYDIVE BYRON BAY Hanger 1, Tyagarah Airfield, NSW, 2481 Ph: 1800 800 840 or 02 6684 1323 info@skydivebyronbay.com www.skydivebyronbay.com The ultimate skydive experience Australia has to offer!
MULGAS ADVENTURE 4 Traeger Avenue Alice Springs, NT, 0871 Ph: 08 9521 545 www.mulgas.com.au
SKYDIVE COFFS HARBOUR P.O. Box 351, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450 Ph: 0433 254 438 info@skydivecoffs.com.au www.skydivecoffs.com.au Beach landings in the heart of Coffs SKYDIVE THE REEF CAIRNS 51 Sheridan St, Cairns, QLD, 4870 Ph: 1800 800 840 info@skydivethereefcairns.com.au www.skydivethereefcairns.com.au SKYDIVE JURIEN BAY 36B Bashford St, Jurien Bay, WA, 6516 Ph: 0438 441 239 www.skydivejurienbay.com
SCUBA DIVING AUSTRALIA
NINGLAOO WHALE SHARK & DIVE CENTRE Located inside reception at the Exmouth Cape Holiday Park: 3 Truscott Street, Exmouth, WA Ph: 1800 224 060 www.ningaloowhalesharkndive.com.au THE SCUBA CENTRE Port Douglas-Cairns-Airlie Beach, 230 Sugarloaf Rd, Whitsunday Ph: 07 4946 1067 whitscub@gmail.com www.scubacentre.com.au
GHOST TOURS LANTERN GHOST TOURS Melbourne & Goldcoast Ph: 1300 390 119 www.lanternghosttours.com enquiry@lanternghosttours.com Experience the multi award winning Lantern Ghost Tours, offering small group tours of Australia’s most haunted locations.
ADVENTURE TOURS
GOIN SOUTH Four days, two famous Aussie icons, one awesome tour Ph: 1800 009 858 www.facebook.com/goinsouthtours TEMPATION DOLPHIN SWIM Marina Pier, Holdfast Shores Marina Glenelg, SA, 5045 Ph: 0412 811 838 info@dolphinboat.com.au www.dolphinboat.com.au
SURF & SUN AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURES Ph: 1800 786 386 / 08 8212 0211 info@surfandsun.com.au www.surfandsun.com.au BLUE MOUNTAINS ADVENTURE COMPANY Ph: 02 4782 1271 bmac@bmac.com.au www.bmac.com.au WAYOUTBACK AUSTRALIAN SAFARI Ph: 1300 551 510 / 08 8952 4324 reservations@wayoutback.com.au www.wayoutback.com.au CAVERSHAM WILDLIFE PARK Whiteman Park, Whiteman, WA, 6068 Ph: 08 9248 1984 sales@cavershamwildlife.com.au www.cavershamwildlife.com.au MINISTRY OF PAINTBALLING L4, 362 Kent St, Sydney, NSW, 2000 Ph:1800 646 478 Ph: 02 9262 2362 www.ministryofpaintball.com BRIDGE CLIMB SYDNEY Ph: 02 8274 7777 www.bridgeclimb.com BUNYIP TOURS 570 Flinders Street Melbourne Victoria, 3000 1300 286 947 info@bunyiptours.com www.bunyiptours.com PENRITH WHITE WATER RAFTING Ph: 02 4730 4333 booking@penrithwhitewater.com.au www.penrithwhitewater.com.au BALLOON SUNRISE PO Box 229 , Yarra Glen, VIC, 3775 Ph: 03 9730 2422 Free: 1800 HOTAIR (1800 468 247) info@hotairballooning.com.au www.hotairballooning.com.au
TRAVEL AUSTRALIA
KITE SURFING
KITESURF 1770 IKO Certified Kiteboarding school/Centre 3 Graham Colyer Drive, Agnes Wate, QLD Ph: 07 4974 7874 / 07 4962 0210 Mob: 0422 806 235 info@kitesurf1770.com.au www.kitesurf1770.com.au KITE REPUBLIC 10-18 Jacka Blvd. St.Kilda Sea Baths Complex, St.Kilda, 3182, Melbourne, VIC Ph: 03 95370644 Mob: +61 418583233 info@kiterepublic.com.au www.kiterepublic.com.au
SURF SCHOOLS
MOJO SURF 2/9 Marvell St, Byron Bay, 2481, NSW Ph: 1800 113 044 reservations@mojosurf.com www.mojosurf.com GREAT OCEAN ROAD SURF TOURS 55B Surf Coast Highway, Torquay, Victoria, 3228 +61 3 5261 3730 info@gorsurftours.com.au www.gorsurftours.com.au GET WET SURF SCHOOL Ph: 1800 438 938 www.getwetsurf.com SURF SHACK Ph: 03 5155 4933 www.surfshack.com.au GO SURFING BYRON BAY Ph: 02 6685 7099 gosurfingbyronbay@gmail.com www.gosurfingbyronbay.com LETS GO SURFING Ph: 02 9365 1800 www.letsgosurfing.com.au SURFING AUSTRALIA Ph: 07 5599 3800 www.surfingaustralia.com Marine Charters ADVENTURE BAY CHARTERS 2 Jubilee Drive, Port Lincoln, SA, 5606 Ph: 04 8842 8862 info@adventurebaycharters.com.au www.adventurebaycharters.com.au KANGAROO MARINE CHARTERS 9 Chapman Terrace, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA Ph: 0427 315 286 www.kimarineadventures.com ADVENTURE KAYAKING 7 Hastings Street, Glenelg South, SA Ph: 08 8295 8812 bookings@adventurekayak.com.au www.adventurekayak.com.au JET SKI SAFARIS Birth 56, Jetty Sea, Mariners Cove, Waterways, QLD Ph: 07 5526 3111 Mob: 0409 754 538 info@jetskisafaris.com.au www.jetskisafaris.com.au
PARADISE JET BOATING Jetty ‘C’ Mariners Cove Marina, Seaworld Drive, Main Beach Qld 4217 Ph: 1300 JET BOAT (1300 538 262) thrills@paradisejetboating.com.au www.paradisejetboating.com.au
BIKE RIDING TOURS
ESCAPE GOAT Adelaide, SA Ph: 08 8121 8112 Mob: 0422 916289 info@escapegoat.com.au www.escapegoat.com.au
ZORB BALLS
OZ BALL GOLD COAST (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) Go Zorbing with Oz Ball. Ph: 07 5547 6300 info@ozball.com.au www.infomaps.com.au/attractions_listings/ozball
WINE AND BEER TOURS
PRIME MINI TOURS Melrose Park, SA, 5039 Ph: 1300 667 650 info@primeminitours.com www.primeminitours.com
HIDDEN SECRET TOURS Melbourne CBD Ph: 03 9663 3358 tours@hiddensecrettours.com www.hiddensecretstours.com CARLTON & UNITED BREWERY TOUR Cnr Thompson & Nelson Streets, Abbotsford, VIC Ph:(03) 9420 6800 www.carltonbrewhouse.com.au BIG NIGHT OUT Surfers Paradise Every Wednesday and Saturday Night www.GoldCoastBackpackers.net FROG & TOAD BAR HOP Cairns Every Wednesday and Friday Night Mob: 0418 184 646 partyincairns@bigpond.com www.partyincairns.com
BOWLING
STRIKE BOWLING Nationwide Ph:1300 787453 www.strikebowling.com.au PADDO BOWLS 2 Quarry Street Paddington NSW, 2021 Ph: 02936 1150
TRANSPORT
MIGHTY CAMPERS Nationwide Ph: 1800 670 232 www.mightycampers.com.au GREAT SOUTHERN RAIL Nationwide Ph: 1800 703 357 www.greatsouthernrail.com.au TRAVELLERS AUTOBARN Nationwide Ph: 1800 674 374 www.travellers-autobarn.com.au
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ACCOMMODATION LISTINGS NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY
WORLD SQUARE HOSTEL 2/640 George St, Sydney NSW 2000 (02) 9267 5616 worldsquarehostel.com.au SYDNEY BACKPACKERS 7 Wilmot St Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9267 7772 1800 88 77 66 (Free Call) info@sydneybackpackers.com www.sydneybackpackers.com CLOVELLY HOTEL 381 Clovelly Road Clovelly Ph: (02) 9665 1214 office@clovellyhotel.com.au www.clovellyhotel.com.au CRITERION HOTEL 260 Pitt Street Sydney (crn Pitt & Park Streets) Ph: (02) 9264 3093 patk@criterianhotel.net.au www.criterionhotel.net.au JOLLY SWAGMAN BACKPACKERS HOSTEL 27 Orwell Street Kings Cross, NSW 2011 Free: 1800 805 870 Ph: 93586400 skype: jolly.swagman.backpackers stay@jollyswagman.com.au www.jollyswagman.com.au BONDI BACKPACKERS 110 Campbell Parade Bondi Beach NSW 2026 Free: 1800 304 660 Ph: (02) 9130 4660 bookings@bondibackpackers.com.au www.bondibackpackers.com.au OXFORD COURT ACCOMMODATION Bondi Junction Mobile 0412547840 Cafesbs@bigpond.net.au Clean, affordable and friendly backpackers. Rooms for 1 to 4 people. Close to bus, train and shops. Rooms have TV, fridge, toaster, microwave, kitchenette, cutlery, crockery, sheets supplied. Laundry, internet and BBQ facilities. Prices range from $190 to $130 depending on the number of guests. THE GLOBE BACKPACKERS 40 Darlingurst Road Kings Cross, Sydney NSW 2011 Free: 1800 806 384 Ph: (02) 9326 9675 info@globebackpackers.com www.globebackpackers.com CITY RESORT HOSTEL 103-105 Palmer St Woolloomooloo, NSW 2011 Ph: (02) 9357 3333 bookings@cityresort.com.au Skype: City Resort Hostel www.cityresort.com.au Show this ad for $5 off!
(Valid for new guests only. Min. 3 nights stay.)
WEST END BACKPACKERS 12 Pitt St Sydney NSW, 2000 Ph: 02 9211 4588 Free Phone: 1800 013 186 bookings@westendbackpackers.com www.nomadsworld.com/westend BOUNCE SYDNEY 28 Chalmers Street, Sydney 2010 Free call 1800890897 Ph (02) 9281 2222 book@bouncehotel.com.au www.bouncehotel.com.au LORD WOLSELEY HOTEL 265 Bulwara Rd Ultimo, Sydney 2007 Ph: (02) 9660 1731 info@lordwolseleyhotel.com.au www.lordwolseleyhotel.com.au
PORTERHOUSE HOTEL 233 Riley St Surry Hills NSW 2010 Ph: (02) 9211 4454 info@porterhouse.com.au www.Porterhouse.com.au BIG HOSTEL Single and double & Dorm rooms available Max 4 bed dorms. 212 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills Sydney NSW 2010 Ph: (02) 92816030 Free: 1800 212 244 reception@bighostel.com www.bighostel.com O’MALLEY’S HOTEL 228 William Street, Kings Cross Sydney, NSW 2011 Ph: 02 9357 2211 admin@omalleyshotel.com.au www.omalleyshotel.com.au SYDNEY CENTRAL HOSTEL 428 Pitt Street Sydney 2000 Ph: (02) 9211 7323 stay@sydneycentralhostel.com.au www.sydneycentralhostel.com.au THE ROYAL HOTEL 370 Abercrombie St, Darlington, NSW, 2008 Ph: (02) 9698 8557 info@royal.com.au www.royal.com.au KANGA HOUSE BACKPACKERS 141 Victoria Street, Kings Cross, Sydney Ph: (02) 9357 7897 www.KangaHouse.com.au
SYDNEY NORTHERN BEACHES
SYDNEY BEACHOUSE - YHA 4 Collaroy St, Collaroy, 2097 Ph: +61 2 9981 1177 mail@sydneybeachouse.com.au www.sydneybeachouse.com.au Guaranteed jobs/work all year. Cheap weekly rates by the beach with free Surfboard, Bodyboard & Bike hire
SYDNEYS SOUTHERN BEACHES
CRONULLA BEACH YHA Level 1, 40 -42 Kingsway Cronulla Sydney, 2230 Ph: 02 9527 7772 enquiries@cronullabeachyha.com www.cronullabeachyha.com www.yha.com.au
PORT STEPHENS
MELALEUCA SURFSIDE BACKPACKERS 2 Koala Place, One Mile Beach, NSW 2316 Ph: (02) 4981 9422 Mobile: 0427 200 950 melaleucabackpacker@bigpond.com www.melaleucabackpackers.com.au HUNTER VALLEY Hunter Valley YHA 100 Wine Country Drive Nulkaba, Hunter Valley, NSW Ph: 02 4991 3278 huntervalley@yhansw.org.au www.yha.com.au
KATOOMBA
KATOOMBA MOUNTAIN Backpackers Lodge 31 Lurline st Katoomba, NSW Ph: 04782 3933 stay@katoombabackpackers.com.au www.katoombabackpackers.com.au BLUE MOUNTAINS BACKPACKERS HOSTEL 144 Bathhurst Road, Katoomba, NSW 2780 Ph: 02 4782 9630 www.bluemountainsbackpackerhostel.com.au
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BYRON BAY
AQUARIUS BACKPACKERS 16 Lawson Street Byron Bay NSW 2481 Ph: (02) 6685-7663 Free: 1800 028 909 info@aquarius-backpackers.com.au www.aquarius-backpackers.com.au NOMADS BYRON BAY 1 Lawson Lane, Byron Bay, NSW 2481 Ph: 02 6680 7966 Free: 1800 766 673 bookings@nomadsbyronbay.com nomadshostels.com ARTS FACTORY LODGE 1 Skinners Shoot Road, Byron Bay, NSW Ph: 02 6685 7709 info@artsfactory.com.au www.artsfactory.com.au An essential part of your journey
LAKE TABOURIE
LAKE TABOURIE TOURIST PARK Princes Hwy, Lake Tabourie, NSW 2539 Free call: 1300 559 966 tabourie@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au www.holidayhaven.com.au/tabourie
QUEENSLAND BRISBANE
BASE BRISBANE UPTOWN 466 George St, Brisbane City, Qld 4000 Ph: (07) 3238 5888 Free: 1800 24 2273 uptown@stayatbase.com www.stayatbase.com Free Tinbilly Limited Edition T-shirt With presentation of this BBM Ad THE DECK 117 Harcourt St, New Farm Brisbane QLD 4005 Ph: 0433 777 061 the_deck@live.com.au Designed with the working Traveler in Mind. Minimum 2 week stay BASE BRISBANE CENTRAL 308 Edward st Brisbane QLD 4000 Ph: 07 3211 2433 brisbane@stayatbase.com www.stayatbase.com BUNK 11-21 Gipps St, Fortitude Valley, Qld, 4006 Ph: +61 7 3257 3644 Free: 1800 682 865 info@bunkbrisbane.com.au www.bunkbrisbane.com.au BRISBANE CITY YHA 392 Upper Roma St, Brisbane QLD 4000 Ph: (07) 3236 1004 brisbanecity@yha.com.au www.yha.com.au
GOLDCOAST
TREKKERS BACKPACKERS 22 White Street, Goldcoast, QLD, 4215 Ph: (07) 55915616 Free : 1800 100 004 info@trekkersbackpackers.com.au www.trekkersbackpackers.com.au AQUARIUS BACKPACKERS 44 Queen Street Gold Coast, Queensland Ph: 07 5527 1300 Free:1800 229 955 info@aquariusbackpackers.com.au www.aquariusbackpackers.com.au SURFERS PARADISE YHA AT MAIN BEACH Mariners Cove, 70 Seaworld Drive Main Beach, Surfers Paradise 4217 Ph: (07) 5571 1776 surfersparadise@yha.com.au www.yha.com.au BACKPACKERS IN PARADISE
40 Peninsular Drive Central Surfers Paradise Queensland, 4217 Ph: (07) 5538 4344 Free: 1800 268 621 info@backpackersinparadise.com www.backpackersinparadise.com SURF N SUN Beachside Backpackers 3323 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, QLD 4217 Ph: (07) 5592 2363 Free: 1800 678 194 info@surfnsun-goldcoast.com www.surfnsun-goldcoast.com SLEEPING INN SURFERS 26 Peninsular Drive Surfers Paradise QLD Ph: 07 5592 4455 info@sleepinginn.com.au www.sleepinginn.com.au COOLANGATTA SANDS HOSTEL Cnr Griffith & McLean Streets
ISLANDER BACKPACKERS RESORT Cnr. Beach Road and Surfers Paradise Blvd Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 Ph: +61 7 5538 8000 Toll free: 1800 074 393
res@islander.com.au
www.islander.com.au/Backpackers Coolangatta 4225 QLD Ph: 07 5536 7472 hostel@taphouse.com.au www.taphouse.com.au SURFERS PARADISE BACKPACKERS RSRT Backpackers Resort,2837 Gold Coast Highway, Queensland 4217 Ph: 07 5592 4677 Free: 1800 282 800 spbr@bigpond.net.au www.surfersparadisebackpackers.com.au
NOOSA
NOMADS NOOSA 44 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads, QLD 4567 Phone: 07 5447 3355 bookings@nomadsnoosa.com www.nomadsnoosa.com
HERVEY BAY
NOMADS HERVEY 408 The Esplanade, Torquay, Hervey Bay, QLD 4655 Phone: 07 4125 3601 bookings@nomadshervey.com www.nomadshervey.com
TOWN OF 1770
(Between Bunderberg & Rockhampton) COOL BANANAS 2 Spring Road, 1770, Queensland, 4677 Ph: (07) 4974 7660 Free: 1800 227 660 wheeler_danny@hotmail.com www.coolbananas.net.au 1770 SOUTHERN CROSS (Backpackers) 2694 Round Hill Rd Agnes Water QLD 4677 Ph: 0749747225 info@1770southerncross.com www.1770southerncross.com 1770 BEACHSIDE BACKPACKERS 12 Captain Cook Drive PO Box 212, Agnes Water QLD 4677 Ph: 07 4974 7200 enquiries@1770beachsidebackpacker.com.au www.1770beachsidebackpacker.com.au
CAIRNS CAIRNS SHARE HOUSE 17 Scott Street, Cairns, QLD 4870 Ph: (+617) 4041 1875 info@cairns-sharehouse.com www.cairns-sharehouse.com GILLIGANS BACKPACKERS HOTEL & RESORT 57-59 Grafton Street, Cairns, QLD Ph: (07) 4041 6566 Free: 1800 556 995 reservations@gilligans.com.au www.gilligans.com.au NOMADS ESPLANADE 93 The Esplanade, Cairns, QLD 4870 Ph: 07 4031 7477 Free: 1800 175 716 bookings@nomadsesplanade.com www.nomadshostels.com DREAMTIME TRAVELLERS REST 4 Terminus Street (corner of Bunda st.& Terminus st.) Cairns 4870 Queensland Ph: (07) 4031 6753 info@dreamtimehostel.com www.dreamtimehostel.com JJ’S BACKPACKERS 11-13 Charles Street Cairns QLD 4870 Ph - (07) 4051 7642 Free- 1800 666 336 jjsbackpackers@ledanet.com.au www.jjsbackpackers.com
MISSION BEACH ABSOLUTE BACKPACKERS 28 Wongaling Beach Road Mission Beach Queensland 4852 Ph: 07 4068 8317 Free: 1800 688 316 info@absolutebackpackers.com.au www.absolutebackpackers.com.au SCOTTY’S BEACH HOUSE 167 Reid Road, Mission Beach, QLD, 4852 Ph: 07 4068 8676 info@scottysbeachhouse.com.au www.scottysbeachhouse.com.au
WHITSUNDAYS BAREFOOT LODGE Whitsunday Passage, Whitsundays, QLD Ph: +61 7 4946 9400 Free: 1800 075 125 longisland@oceanhotels.com.au www.oceanhotels.com.au
AIRLIE BEACH AIRLIE BEACH YHA 394 Shute Harbour Road Airlie Beach QLD Phone: (07) 4946 6312 Free:1800 247 251 airliebeach@yha.com.au www.yha.com.au MAGNUMS/WHITSUNDAY VILLAGE TRAVEL 366 Shute Harbour Rd, Airlie Beach, QLD Ph: (07) 4964 1199 or 07 4964 1188 Free: 1800 624 634 travel@magnums.com.au www.magnums.com.au
CAPE TRIBULATION
PK’S JUNGLE VILLAGE Cape Tribulation Road (PMB 7) Cape Tribulation QLD 4873 Tel: 07 4098 0040 info@pksjunglevillage.com www.pksjunglevillage.com FERNTREE RAINFOREST LODGE Camelot Close, Cape Tribulation, QLD Australia Freecall:1800 987 077 International Telephone: +61 7 4098 0033 Availability and Rates: www.thebookingbutton.com.au reservationsferntree@oceanhotels.com.au www.oceanhotels.com.au
Jewell House 180 Goderich St. Perth, WA 6000 tel: (08) 9325 8488 fax: (08) 9221 4694 jewellhouse@ymca.org.au www.ymcajewellhouse.com.au UNDERGROUND BACKPACKERS 268 Newcastle Street Northbridge WA 6003 Ph: (08) 9228 3755 www.undergroundbackpackers.com.au
WESTERN BEACH LODGE 6 Westborough Street Scarborough, Western Australia, 6019 Ph. (08) 9245 1624 westernbeach@iprimus.com.au www.westernbeach.com
EXCLUSIVE BACKPACKERS 158 Adelaide Tce, Perth 6000 Ph: (08) 9221 9991 exclusivebackpackers@hotmail.com www.exclusivebackpackers.com BEATTY LODGE 235 Vincent Street West Perth WA 6005 Ph: (08) 9227 1521 www.beattylodge.com.au info@beattylodge.com.au BILLABONG RESORT 381 Beaufort Street, Perth Ph: 08 9328 7720 bookings@billabongresort.com.au www.billabongresort.com.au GLOBE BACKPACKERS 561 Wellington Street, cnr. Queen St, Perth, WA Ph: 08 9321 4080 globebak@iinet.net.au www.globebackpackers.com.au THE OLD SWAN BARRACKS 2 - 8 Francis Street Perth (Northbridge)6000 Ph: 08 9428 0000 www.theoldswanbarracks.com
COTTESLOE
MONKEY MIA
RAINBOW BEACH
PIPPIES BEACH HOUSE Cnr of Spectrum Street & Cypress Avenue, Rainbow Beach FREEPHONE: 1800425356 info@pippiesbeachhouse.com.au www.pippiesbeachhouse.com.au 30mins FREE Internet on presentation of this ad PLUS FREE Breakfast & Eco Whale-Watching for all!
WESTERN AUSTRALIA SCARBOROUGH
OCEAN BEACH BACKPACKERS Cnr Marine Parade & Eric St Cottesloe Beach Ph: 08 9384 5111 stay@oceanbeachbackpackers.com www.oceanbeachbackpackers.com
PERTH
RAINBOW LODGE 150 Claisebrook Rd Perth, WA (Have just moved around the corner) Ph: (08) 9227-1818 or 0417 927 529 Ron@rainbowlodge.com.au www.rainbowlodge.com.au ONE WORLD BACKPACKERS 162 Aberdeen St Northbridge, PERTH WA Ph: (08) 9228 8206 www.oneworldbackpackers.com.au MOUNTWAY HOLIDAY APARTMENTS 36 Mount St,West Perth WA 6005 Ph: (08) 9321 8307 info@mountwayapartments.com.au www.mountwayapartments.com.au BRITANNIA ON WILLIAM 253 William Street, Northbridge 6003 Perth WA Ph: 08 9227 6000 Fax: 08 9227 6611 www.perthbritannia.com YMCA ACCOMMODATION
MONKEY MIA DOLPHIN RESORT Monkey Mia Road, Shark Bay 3537 Ph: +61 8 9948 1320 monkeymia@aspenresorts.com.au www.monkeymia.com.au
KUNUNURRA
KUNUNURRA BACKPACKERS ADVENTURE CENTRE 24 Nutwood Crescent, Kununurra WA 6743 Ph: (08) 9169 1998 or 1800 641 998 www.kununurrabackpackers.com.au info@kununurrabackpackers.com.au
BROOME
BEACHES OF BROOME 4 Sanctuary Road, Cable Beach, Broome, WA, 6725 Ph : 1300 881 031 bookings@beachesofbroome.com.au www.beachesofbroome.com.au
VICTORIA MILDURA
REDCLIFFS HOTEL 25 Jacaranda St, Red Cliffs VIC 3496 (03) 5024 1704
GREAT OCEAN ROAD
JOHANNA BEACH COTTAGES 225 Blue Johanna Road Johanna Heights Victoria 3238 (03) 5237 4224 cottages@johannabeach.com www.johannabeach.com
HALLS GAP
BRAMBUK BACKPACKERS HOSTEL 330 Grampians Road, Halls Gap, VictoriaPh: 03 5356 4250 bramback@netconnect.com.au www.brambuk.com.au/backpackers.htm Brambuk Backpackers offers travellers an affordable and comfortable range of accommodation, ideally situated within the stunning Grampians National Park.
MELBOURNE
EASYSTAY MOTEL AND STUDIO APARTMENTS Great accommodation at fantastic rates Rooms available for up to 4 people Book online and save $$$ www.easystay.com.au Or call 1300 30 17 30 EXFORD HOTEL 199 Russell Street , Melbourne Vic 3000 Ph: 03 9663 2697 res@exfordhotel.com.au www.exfordhotel.com.au BACK OF CHAPEL 50 Green St, Windsor Prahran, Vic 3181 Ph: 03 9521 5338 www.backofchapel.com NOMADS ALL NATIONS 2 Spencer Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Freecall: 1800 739 989 Phone: 03 9620 1022 info@allnations.com nomadshostels.com $5 off first night (min 3 night stay) if you mention this ad FLINDERS STATION HOTEL BACKPACKERS 35 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Ph: 03 9620 5100 res@flindersbp.com.au www.flindersbp.com.au The Spencer Backpackers 475 Spencer Street, Melbourne Ph: (03) 9329 7755 1800 638 108 hotelspencer@hotkey.net.au www.spencerbackpackers.com.au Bring this ad for 40 min FREE internet (new guests only). MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL BACKPACKERS 450 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Ph: 03 9662 4066 res@mibp.com.au www.mibp.com.au HOTEL DISCOVERY 167 Franklin Street, Melbourne VIC 300 Ph: 03 9329 7525. Freecall 1800 645 200 reservations@hoteldiscovery.com.au www.hoteldiscovery.com.au
INDEPENDENT & BUDGET TRAVELER ACCOMMODATION PROVIDER Victoria Hall Accommodation 380 Russell Street, Melbourne 3000 Ph: 03 9662 3888 www.victoriahall. com.au
ST. KILDA
ALICE SPRINGS
JACKSON APARTMENTS 80 Ikerman St ,St Kilda Beach Ph:0433 118 334 or 0412 525 510 www.jacksonapartments.com.au Jackson.apartments@bigpond.com HABITAT HQ Freephone 1800 202 500 info@habitathq.com.au www.habitathq.com.au Award winning 4.5 star hostel with a homely & relaxed atmosphere Specials from $20! FREE pick up from Tullamarine (min 3 nt stay) * Conditions apply
ANNIE’S PLACE 4 Traeger Avenue, Alice Springs , NT, 0871 Ph: 1800 359 089 www.anniesplace.com.au HAVEN BACKPACKER RESORT 3 Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs Ph: 1800 79 4663 / 08 8952 4663 www.alicehaven.com.au
SOUTH AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE
APOLLO BAY
APOLLO BAY BACKPACKERS LODGE 23 Pascoe Street, Apollo Bay Ph: 1800 157 280 +61 352 377850 Mob: 0413 504 402 ww.apollobaybackpackerslodge.com.au ECO BEACH YHA ECO-HOSTEL 5 Pascoe Street, Apollo Bay 3233 Ph: (+613) 5237 7899 apollobay@yhavic.org.au www.yha.com.au Clean, quiet and relaxing Eco-Hostel. Cosy fire in winter. DVD’s available to borrow from reception.
HALLS GAP
GRAMPIANS YHA ECO-HOSTEL Corner Grampians and Buckler Roads Halls Gap 3381 Ph: (+613) 5356 4544 grampians@yhavic.org.au www.yha.com.au Eco accredited. Solar powered. Herb garden, free range chooks and friendly local kangaroos
NORTHERN TERRITORY
ADELAIDE TRAVELLERS INN BACKPACKERS 220 Hutt St Adelaide 5000 Free call 1800633747 Ph: +61 08 82240753 bookings@adelaidebackpackers.com.au www.adelaidebackpackers.com.au MAJESTIC MINIMA HOTEL 146 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide SA 5006 Ph:(08) 8334 7766 minima@majestichotels.com.au www.majestichotels.com.au OUR HOUSE BACKPACKERS 33 Gilbert Place, Adelaide, SA, 5000 Ph: 08 8410 4788 info@ourhousebackpackers.com www.ourhousebackpackers.com ADELAIDE SHAKESPEARE INTERNATIONAL 123 Waymouth Street, Adelaide SA, 5000 Ph: +61 (0)8 8231-7655 (Oz Freecall) 1800-556-889 bookings@shakeys.com.au This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.shakeys.com.au
DARWIN
ASHTON LODGE & WISDOM BAR 48 Mitchell St, Darwin, NT, 0800 Ph: 08 8941 4866 ashtonlodge@gmail.com www.wisdombar.com.au MELALEUCA ON MITCHELL 52 Mitchell St, Darwin, NT, 0800 Ph: 08 8941 7900 Freecall: 1300 723 437 www.momdarwin.com info@MOMDarwin.com
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RECRUITMENT NEWS
The Ins and outs of superannuation Whether you’re beginning your travels or getting ready to leave them behind, we discuss everything you need to know about superannuation... working over 30 hours a week and earning over $450 per month from one employer, so it would be beneficial to hold a single job instead of several. As far as assurances go the Australian Government have that covered too as from 1st January 2014 employers were obligated to pay default contributions to an authorised MySuper product, with the most well known being AustralianSuper and AustSafe Super. This means that losing your payment due to a suspect provider is now far less a risk.
Ok. Declaring itself as super is a tad outlandish as superannuation is basically a pension arrangement. Yup. That’s not even barely stirring is it, let alone super. However, in Australia this is governmentsupported which also means that minimum provisions are enforced for employees, which is kinda nice. From July 1st 2013 employers were required by law to contribute a minimum of 9.25% of an employee’s ordinary time earning into a superannuation fund, which is called a ‘Superannuation Guarantee’. The detail that is really super is that this is an additional payment borne by your employer; it is not deducted from your gross pay. There are also plans to increase the proportion to 12% by 2019, which is nice.
That all sounds grand and all for Australian citizens yet for short-term visitors such as those on Working Holiday Visas the reality is a little different. Of course, if you meet the criteria then you can expect the contribution. Remember, as long as you earn over $450 a month from one employer you will be entitled. The arrangement is for any worker; whether permanent or casual, resident or non-resident for tax purposes (that would be you by the way).
The payment is based on your pre-tax earnings so if you earned $500 before tax for the month you should be entitled to an additional $46.25. However, do not be alarmed if your superannuation balance looks a little skinny as 15% is taxed by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and funds constantly charge administration and insurance fees which can amount to $5-10 per week. To be eligible the employee must be over 18,
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Arranging your superannuation is relatively straightforward. You can set up your own super account, which is the simpler choice if you intend of taking on temporary work or travelling while in Australia. You could also ask the bank to set up your super when you open an account with them or you can join the super account set up by the employer. If you do opt for the company’s super account and lose the paperwork do not fret, simply contact the ATO and they can help locate your super. For anyone being paid in cash it may seem great to have your wages in your hands to hold and then spend, but you will be missing out on superannuation. You read that correctly. For all those lovely, crisp banknotes in your pocket you will be losing out on FREE MONEY. Working holiday makers are allowed to withdraw
their superannuation either when their visa expires or whenever they leave permanently. This is known as the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment or DASP. A point to note is that you must have left Australia before this can be paid; the application includes checking that any temporary visa has been cancelled by the Department of Immigration. Indeed, The Australian government must get really irked with these departures as they then take out a further 35% when you apply for the withdrawal. Bit harsh. Another point to note is that you are much better off claiming it sooner rather than later. In fact, if you do not claim your super within six months of leaving Australia, or within six months of the cancellation or expiry of your visa, the ATO will claim the money and it could be a while to organise its release from their tight grasp, especially from abroad. Still, the money is yours, but if you are having trouble working out how to claim it then do not worry. If you have already claimed your taxback then the same company, and even the very same tax professional, should be able to assist you in claiming your superannuation. All you need to do is provide your membership details, fill in some forms and the tax professionals will do the hard work while you wait for the payment to arrive. Most charge a flat fee of around 15% for the service and you should receive your super within 28 days of the Australian Tax Office receiving your application. Superannuation may not exactly be super, but it is free money that you should be entitled to when working in Australia. Setting up your account is relatively simple and claiming it back once your visa has expired is not that hard either. Just do not forget about it, it is free money after all.
By Omar Soliman
Some things are rightly described as ‘super’. For instance, no-one can argue against Superman deserving such a title. However, the term is also abused for mediocre objects simply for good effect. Find anyone that actually enjoys a trip to a ‘supermarket’ and they are either lying through their teeth or they barely ever leave the house. Blueberries are a “superfood”? Seriously? While Superannuation will not save the world like the Man of Steel, you are much better with it than without it when working in Australia.
Temp & Semi Perm Staff Wanted Nationally Hospitality / Promotions / Tele-Sales / Face to Face / Admin / Child Care / Recruitment email your cv and a brief cover letter telling us a bit about yourself to info@what-media.com
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MIGRATION NEWS
Study In Australia...
Having emigrated from Northern Ireland in the early nineties, Migration Agent and Director of Arrive Australia, John McQuaid, knows a thing or two about visas. Here he explains all you need to know about student visas, and how to extend your stay in Australia. If you enjoy the Australian way of life and are looking to extend your time here, or return for another year or so… or are simply looking for a great education, then why not consider studying in Australia?
Australia. As part of the visa application you need to make a declaration stating you have access to sufficient funds to pay for travel, your course and living expenses in Australia.
We see many people electing to study in Australia as a way to update or gain new skills while enjoying the lifestyle.
If you have a partner, your partner can join the visa application as a dependent.
Popular vocational study options include Certificate to Diploma studies in Management, Business, Accounting, Web Development or Fitness, Massage or Beauty Therapy. Courses can be from as short as three months, or as long as four years duration but 12 to 24 month diploma courses seem to be popular. Before applying for the student visa, you need to apply to be accepted for full-time study by a ‘CRICOS’ registered college and in a ‘CRICOS’ registered course. Check this carefully as not all college courses are open to international students. Lower fees apply to domestic versus international students so again check the fee structure carefully. Full time study is usually around 20 hours per week, requiring attendance at college around three times per week for six to seven hours at a time. Timetables will vary form course to course and college. A good website to check out is https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/ UK and Irish passport holders applying for student visas fall under the Department of Immigration’s country assessment Level 1 criteria. This means they can apply while in Australia or from outside
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As part of the study visa conditions, you have to maintain attendance in your course and or make satisfactory progress in each study period. Student Visa applicants need to satisfy Immigration that they have a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily to study, gain a qualifcations and return to their home country.
Working While Studying...
Once the study course begins; Student visas allow you to work part-time, up to a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight while the course is in session. When the course is on holidays, the student visa allows you to work unlimited hours.
What does it all cost?
Course fees vary a lot but as a guide, expect to pay college fees of $1,400 up wards per term (every three months) for many courses. Most colleges have enrolment fees of around $200. Student health insurance is required and costs approximately $380 per year for single insurance. The Department of Immigration student visa application base fee is currently $535. If you have a partner the Additional Applicant fee is $405.
If you apply while you are in Australia on a visa granted while you were in Australia, The Department of Immigration ‘STAC’ fee of $700 also applies. So as a rough guide, for a 12 month course, to get enrolled, pays the first three months college fees, the visa application, and mandatory student health insurance, expect to outlay around $2,500. Second and future term fees are then paid about every three months form the course start date. Make sure you have the budget to live in Australia. The Department of Immigration estimate the cost of living in Australia for a student to be approximately $18,600 per year for a single person, and around $25,000 for a couple. Of course student work rights can assist fund your stay, but as always, it pays to plan your budget. The cost of living estimate is in addition to college fees and travel costs.
Degree Level Study:
Graduates who complete degree level study after at least two academic years’ study in Australia are eligible to apply for a post-study two year work visa. This allows graduates to look for work in their newly qualified field. Finding skilled work may in turn lead to options to apply for other skilled or sponsored visas. Degree level study costs are much higher than vocational study costs. Expect university fees to be from around $5,000 per term. By John McQuaid