MUSIC FESTIVAL: MONTRÉAL
Osheaga
Taking on some those much-storied music festivals south of the border in the US at their own game (think SXSW, Coachella, FYF FEST), Montréal has been the proud host of Osheaga since 2006. The ninth edition kicks off today in the scenic Parc Jean-Drapeau, just east of downtown where approximately 100 acts will be taking over five stages in the next three days, including Chvrches, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Lorde, Chromeo and Haim. Though the city might be proud of its festival, this year’s headliners are distinctly American (and British), with Outkast, Jack White and Arctic Monkeys topping the bill, but there’ll be a few thousand Canadians on hand and enjoying themselves very close by.
Parc Jean-Drapeau, doors open at 13.00. Until 3 August
osheaga.com
ART: SINGAPORE
Notes to Self
Taksu Gallery in Singapore turns into a space for exploring people’s (often comedic) inner monologues this weekend with Notes to Self, a group show of nine artists looking at the personal journey from “first thought” to finished artwork. Viewers are allowed entry into the creatives’ inner worlds and it’s quickly apparent how varied these worlds are. Suhaimi has created a calming image of a globe of pastel string weaved onto paper, in stark contrast to Singaporean painter Simon Ng’s “Figure in Yellow Poncho, Bird and Mirror”, an oil-on-canvas depiction of a slouched man brooding in a raincoat. The works are, of course, as diverse as feelings themselves but provide a unique window on those half-formed ones that we don’t often see.
Taksu Singapore, 43 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-72 Workloft at Chip Bee. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00-19.00; Sunday 12.00-18.00. Until 31 August.
taksu.com
FILM FESTIVAL: MELBOURNE
Melbourne International Film Festival
Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) returns to Australia’s most bohemian city this weekend. Established in 1952, it is one of the oldest film festivals in the world and this year showcases 341 films, 28 world premieres, 168 Australian Premieres and countless events with guests from across the globe. This weekend’s highlights include a screening of Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi’s The 50 Year Argument, a documentary about history of The New York Review of Books, as well as the world premiere of Justin Olstein and Eleanor Sharpe’s Curtain Call, a cinematic portrait of Australian theatre team Terry and Carole Ann Gill, who run The Tivoli – Brisbane’s most beloved pantomime theatre. But Melbourne’s a class act, too.
At venues across Melbourne. Please see website for details. Until 17 August.miff.com.au
ART: ZUOZ, SWITZERLAND
Zhang Huan
Head to Pace Chesa Büsin gallery in the historic Swiss municipality of Zuoz for some peace of mind this weekend. The paintings, photographs and installations by Chinese mixed-media artist Zhang Huan showcase his flair for every artistic medium. Most of the works evoke a sense of tranquility, not surprising since the exhibition revolves around Buddhist and existential themes. Get lost in the multi-coloured brush-petals in the Spring Poppy Fields series of oil-on-linen works or be inspired by the delicate ink-strokes in Studies of Rising, a collection of Chinese watercolours of birds taking flight. A couple of works have a bit of a quirk too — behold the “Small Three Legged Buddha" copper sculpture in the middle of the room.
Pace Chesa Büsin, Staglia Pezzi, 34. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 15.00–19.00. Until 31 August.
http://www.pacegallery.com
MUSIC: GLOBAL
Got A Girl: I Love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now
The work of leftfield US hip-hop producer Dan the Automator will be known to anyone who’s ever enjoyed a track by Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz and the serial collaborator’s list of production credits keeps getting longer. Now he has teamed up with actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead to form duo, Got A Girl. The two have produced an album of effortlessly dreamy pop harking back to Hollywood glamour (back when it existed) with some dark edges – yes, that does sound like a gunshot being sampled in the album’s opening track. But with a title like I Love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now, the story was probably never going to be completely straight forward. That’s not to say it’s not a refreshingly simple formula though. Dan does beats. Elizabeth sings something nice over them. Everybody’s happy.
‘I Love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now’ is available to buy now. http://got-a-girl.com
