STM Loves: Houndsome, AGWA Pulse butterflies, Mettle, Propellis dinner, G Flip and Natal Nurture
Houndsome
keeps things simple with natural fabrics, local makers and no fluff (unless it's merino). Their coats and knits are designed for comfort (not costumes) and are actually made in Australia. Dogwear with standards, we're into it!
A fresh arrival to AGWA's Design Store are these beautifully embroidered brooches made by North Metropolitan TAFE fashion students, to celebrate The West Australian Pulse exhibition. Each butterfly was designed by hand before being made utilising state-of-the-art embroidery machines at the college. Proceeds from sales (each brooch retails for $65) go towards the students' end-of-year fashion runway shows. Just another way you can support emerging designers on WA soil. Shop in-store or online at
designstore.artgallery.wa.gov.au
.
What would you do if you won 52 gifts? Brighten a friend's day in a time of need? Celebrate a birthday? Send one to your sister, just because? Whatever your choice, if you do win Mettle Women Inc's competition to receive a year's worth of free gifts, you will be helping women who have experienced homelessness due to domestic and family violence. To go into the running for the giveaway, purchase a gift from Mettle's new range, with each purchase going towards an entry. The competition runs until August 15. More details at
mettlegifts.com
.
It's not always the food that makes a meal memorable, rather the experience or the stories shared about the dishes or the wine from the people who passionately created them. It's this sentiment that will make the Propellis dinner at Subiaco's Intuition extra special as each of the five courses and eight wine pairings will come with a story from Propellis' Romain Scarcella, who has immersed himself in the worlds of each wine's makers. The August 7 dinner is $260 per person. More details at
intuitionkitchen.com.au
New Perth-based business Natal Nurture is here to support mums through the often-overlooked 'fourth trimester'. Launched in June, it offers a 12-week online postpartum recovery program with physio-led workouts, expert interviews and practical resources to help women rebuild strength and confidence after childbirth. The program was created by local mum and pelvic health physiotherapist Phoebe, blending lived experience with professional insight. The program is on-demand so you can go at your own pace.
natalnurture.com.au
Drummer-singer-songwriter G Flip is coming home to Australia on their Dream Ride tour, promising big pop hooks and even bigger feelings. The ARIA-winning artist's third album is being released on September 5 and is described as leaning 'deep into neon-lit 80s textures while staying rooted in G Flip's raw, confessional songwriting'. The tour, with Canadian four-piece The Beaches and Australian creative Ayesha Madon in support, will finish with a show at Fremantle Arts Centre on March 14. Tickets go on general sale on Monday July 21, via
Oztix
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Huge US chain set to open in Australia next month
It's official, another American chain is set to break into the Australian market — and if you've watched any US-based family films in the last decade, you'll be familiar with this one. Chuck E. Cheese, which first opened its doors in 1977 in San Jose, California, was one of the first dining establishments where kids could overindulge in pizza, games and marvel at animatronics. Now, there are more than 570 locations around the world — and Australia is set to get its first store next month. Chuck E. Cheese will open its doors in Joondalup, in Perth's north, on September 6. The family-centric dining establishment is being brought to Australia by Royale Hospitality Group, who also franchises Milky Lane and Planet Royale, in partnership with CEC Entertainment Inc. The venue, which is 1,622sqm, boasts of an Adventure Zone, which features a massive multi-story indoor playground that is set to have a six-metre interactive rock climbing wall, a ball pit with inflatable boats, a spider climb, a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course and a giant spiral slide. There is also a Game Zone boasting of more than 100 arcade games, and VIP party rooms. Meanwhile, the fast food giant's menu will have items such as wings, salads, fruit and veggie platters, unicorn churros, Dippin Dots — and, of course, Chuck E. Cheese's signature pizza. understands that while Chuck E. Cheese is beloved glovally, the experience has been tailored to Australia. 'Everything from the menu to the entertainment offering reflects Aussie tastes, culture, and expectations. It's not a carbon copy of the U.S. - this is a fresh, fun, and uniquely Australian version of Chuck E. Cheese, designed with local families in mind,' a spokesperson told It was decided now was the time due to a 'real gap' in the market, particularly when ti comes to inclusive family spaces. Social media users are already abuzz with the news, after content creator @iamadibb spotted a sign for the venue while driving. 'I had to pull over to show you this. What the f*** is that? A f***ing Chuck E. Cheese in Perth,' he said. He initially expressed his hesitation, asking why so many American businesses were opening in Australia, but said he was excited to try it 'for science'. Fellow social media users were quick to share their response, with many referencing the growing number of American chains cropping up in Australia. In the last 12 months alone, Wendy's, Wingstop and Auntie Anne's have all opened their doors on Australia's East Coast. 'Wendy's (the actual burger and not ice-cream) is in Queensland, Taco Bell and now this,' one social media user said. Another said: 'I only want Raising Canes, Olive Garden and Starbucks and maybe just Wingstop.' 'God help us, we are being colonised,' another added. One commented: 'Perth gets nothing but they get a Chuck E. Cheese??' 'Close to it too dayum, hopefully opens before I go back to Melbourne,' another added. One said: 'HAHAHAHA yessss the people need to go for science!' The venue will be open seven days a week, and serving food until 10pm. To celebrate the opening, one Western Australia child will win Unlimited Adventure Play for One Year. Entries close on September 18. A spokesperson from the brand revealed that currently, the focus is solely on making Perth's launch a success — and then opportunities for growth will be explored.
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
From Justin Bieber to Wet Leg — these are the best new albums of July
We're sure you, like us, had a blast digging into 200 of the Hottest Australian Songs of all time. So much nostalgia! But if you're hunting for something fresh, our music brains are always here to help. They're committed to soaking up and sorting through new releases to bring you the best homegrown and international music worth your time. Pop, rock, rap, R&B, folk … there's something for everybody in these 10 albums from the past month. Who knows, maybe a future Hottest 100 contender can be heard right here? Listen: Apple, Spotify, YouTube If you've never enjoyed a Justin Bieber record, then the Canadian pop star's surprise-released seventh album might just be for you. An intimate, nostalgic set of hazy R&B, downbeat soft rock, cavernous grooves, and lo-fi gospel, Swag is a hard pivot from 2021's glossy Justice. Like Taylor Swift's lockdown-induced swivel to indie folk on Evermore, Bieber enlisted his own cult-star talent, including SZA producer Carter Lang and makers of idiosyncratic make-out music Dijon and Prioritising "vibe" over TikTok-friendly hooks, these 21 songs contain the kind of quirks major labels usually baulk at, while Bieber's lyrics — though often trite — often reference personal issues. And as you might know, there's been a lot lately — ranging from cancelling tours amid a rare medical condition and mental health concerns, to gossip about his marriage and disquieting social media posts. A recent viral video of Bieber admonishing paparazzi is sampled and lightly roasted by internet personality Druski, who plays a therapist in a series of album skits. Between offering him hits of a fishy cigar, he gasses him up ("your skin white, but your soul black, Justin") while the former tween idol laments having "to go through a lot of my struggles as a human, as all of us do, really publicly". That genuinely vulnerable moment is almost immediately undercut by the raunchy Sweet Spot, where rapper Sexxy Redd delivers an NSFW demand to put a certain organ in a particular orifice. That's the nadir of an album whose occasionally undercooked qualities are charming rather than cringe-worthy. It isn't perfect, but if it's not clicking for you, Swag is Bieber standing on business. And business is much more interesting and artistic than it's been in a decade. For fans of: Dijon, Ryan Beatty Listen: Apple, Spotify, YouTube British indie rockers Wet Leg swiftly shut naysayers up with their debut album in 2022. Debut single Chaise Longue was a sensation, and fears of it being a novelty were obliterated by the sheer quality of the full-length effort. Pressure is on again for album number two. The band — they're no longer a duo — are no longer underdogs and manage to rise to the challenge perfectly. No matter how you look at it, Moisturizer is a triumph. In many ways, it exceeds its predecessor, with a more refined melodic sense, razor-sharp lyrics and song craft that keeps us hooked for its full 38 minutes. Most importantly, they do all this while sounding distinctly like Wet Leg: defiant, cheeky, smart, and cool as hell. For fans of: Courtney Barnett, Yard Act, Elastica Listen: Apple, Spotify, YouTube The reunion album from Virginia Beach rap siblings Pusha T (Terrence Thornton) and Malice (Gene Elliott Thornton Jr.) is arguably the year's most anticipated hip hop event. On their first Clipse release in 16 years, the duo justify the hype, delivering heater after head-nodding heater with lean, bumping beats supplied by Midas-touch producer Pharrell Williams. Nas and Kendrick Lamar show up, the latter on the sinister Chains & Whips with a verse so fierce it got both Clipse and Pharrell dropped from their label Def Jam. But the real star attraction is Pusha T and Malice themselves, their hard bars as artfully constructed and devilishly funny as ever. They take pot shots at Travis Scott and Kanye West, and neither has run out of fun, ferocious ways to rap about slinging cocaine. But they also lean into tough truths that only come with age. Opener The Birds Don't Sing is an out-of-character lament on their parents' death, while the gospel-tinged By the Grace Of God is the sound of Pusha T and Malice embracing their status as seasoned professionals. For fans of: Tyler, The Creator, Freddie Gibbs, JID Listen: Apple, Spotify, YouTube If you've witnessed Folk Bitch Trio live, you know all about their rich harmonies and enchanting song craft. Their debut album, Now Would Be A Good Time, captures all that magic perfectly, offering us a seat in their intimate circle of songs we can return to any time. Throughout, these three artists complement each other perfectly at every turn: their voices blend flawlessly, and their writing styles fit together with ease. Leaning into their youthful perspective — wittingly or not — is another strength. There's maturity in their music, but little attempt to inhabit characters out of their own experiences. God's A Different Sword pulses with ennui while That's All She Wrote is a gripping triptych of vignettes about young love, just two examples of the candid writing that so strongly helps connect us to their stories. The perfect introduction to one of our finest emerging acts and easily one of the best local albums of the year. For fans of: First Aid Kit, Gillian Welch, Julia Jacklin Listen: Apple, Spotify, YouTube Across nine ever-evolving albums, Alex G(iannascoli)'s off-kilter indie rock cemented him as a critically acclaimed underdog with a dedicated following. Headlights is the 32-year-old's major label debut, and rather than buck the system, his pitch to the mainstream expertly folds his experimental instincts and melodic gifts into lush dad rock and Americana. The highlights are many, beginning with the finger-picked June Guitar and its hypnotic accordion, through to the mandolin-led anthem Afterlife and bittersweet Beam Me Up, where G sings sombrely: "Some things I do for love, some things I do for money/It ain't like I don't want it, It ain't like I'm above it." There are echoes throughout of Elliott Smith, R.E.M., and Counting Crows — vintage US college radio staples who became unlikely chart successes. But the melodic sweetness is spiked with moments of well-placed weirdness, such as Far and Wide, where the string-swept orchestration is juxtaposed with a vocal impersonation of Kermit the Frog's The Rainbow Connection. Threading the needle between retaining his individuality while making the most palatable music of his career, Alex G's Headlights is the perfect entry point for newcomers. And hey, if it's your first exposure, there's a 15-year treasure trove of work to dive back into. For fans of: MJ Lenderman, Wilco, Elliott Smith Listen: Apple, Spotify, YouTube There's no high concept on the surprise ninth album from antagonist-turned-impresario Tyler, The Creator. He gives us a vibey half hour of bubbly electro-funk-tinged hip hop that rarely stops for breath, giving us another dizzying insight into the 34-year-old's most productive and toxic compulsions. It scratches a different itch than last year's Chromakopia. Where that dug into the rapper's complex feelings on fame and his childhood against a backdrop of jazzy neo-soul, this record is geared for the dancefloor, and doesn't hang off any big theme. That doesn't make Don't Tap The Glass a lesser piece of art; Tyler still has a lot to say, and says it with his usual panache. The lyrics are sharp and wry, the production brilliant in every sense, and his conflicting perspectives remain delightfully baffling for those who love and understand him, and very confusing for those who don't. For fans of: Kendrick Lamar, Clipse, Pharrell Williams Listen: Apple, Spotify, YouTube It's all there in the title: Burna Boy wants us to know he's on top and his haters don't stand a chance. When you're objectively one of the bigger artists on the planet, however, defensiveness seems a little petty. Dig too deep into the lyrics here, and you may find diminishing returns. On face value, however, it's clear why Burna Boy captured the world's attention. His soulful voice cuts through the sleek music that deftly marries Afrobeats, hip hop, reggae and pop in a way that sounds both powerful and effortless. The guest spots add nothing: Travis Scott, Stromae and Shaboozey practically fade into the background, while Mick Jagger sounds entirely out of place. Their presence may open him up to new fans, but Burna Boy doesn't need help: we're here for him. At this stage of his career, we'd love a truly classic Burna Boy album. What we have here is a continuation of some of his best traits and some that might be best left behind. For fans of: Tems, Jorja Smith, Wizkid Listen: Apple, Spotify, YouTube On her second album, well-connected Melbourne/Naarm singer-songwriter Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt has further cultivated a natural gift for hooky indie-rock that's emotive, memorable and very relatable. With a title partly inspired by a classic joke from The Simpsons, Milk Pool toes the line between serious and humorous on songs that are capable of tension and tenderness. The opening triptych — Leaving With You, Premonition, Bigger — is some of the strongest Merpire material yet, playful yet mature renderings of the simultaneous thrill and fear of a crush that develops into something serious. Rosanna is an elegantly brooding take on a disintegrating relationship, Fishing is a crunchy ode to community, while Internet is a craftily worded, piano-led ballad that Mitski would be proud to call her own. As confident leaning into fuller production as it is paring back, Milk Pool possesses immediate charm, but the more time you spend with it, the more its sincere takes on familiar subjects — love, lust, self-worth — reveal themselves to be uniquely rewarding. For fans of: Mitski, Angie McMahon, Japanese Breakfast Listen: Apple, Spotify, YouTube The worst part about listening to Way To The Sun is inevitably having to explain to your family and colleagues why you're so compelled to jump in the car and leave everything behind. Tracy McNeil and Dan Parsons know a thing or two about hitting the road; they're the quintessential travelling troubadours, lighting up lives across the planet with their blend of folk-leaning Americana. The most striking emotions we glean from their second album, Way To The Sun, is that sense of freedom, as well as the incomparable feeling of true love. Common themes, sure, but they're rarely captured with this kind of pinpoint emotional accuracy. While there's very little that places this album in 2025, there's a timeless quality to both their music and words that will hopefully keep Minor Gold relevant forever. For fans of: James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, Paul Simon Listen: Apple, Spotify, YouTube The 80s are a strong influence on this fourth album from Melbourne/Naarm five-piece. But there's zero trace of irony here, avoiding the excess and artifice typifying the era in favour of a luxurious blend of soft rock and sophisti-pop. Rosewater immediately welcomes you into inviting sonic waters, where brass, flute and piano bubble up around band-leader Lachlan Rose's pleasing croon and idiosyncratic way with words. The feathery funk strut of Mercury Rising sounds like a glossier take on Talking Heads. Synths and sax soar above synths and electric piano flourishes on Freak of Nature and Flee The Cage, evocative stand-outs whose gentle, emotive dad rock would fit snugly scoring a triumphant moment on The Bear. It's proof of a band that's levelled up their skill at furnishing their songs with intimately crafted details and songwriting that's both pleasant and poignant. Rosewater Crocodile should satisfy long-terms fan and, more importantly, bring Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird's appeal to a bigger audience. For fans of: Roxy Music, Floodlights, Quivers
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Jelena Dokic's partner Yane Veselinov shares cryptic social media post after tennis star's gushing Logies speech calling Todd Woodbridge 'my person' set tongues wagging
Jelena Dokic's boyfriend Yane Veselinov has shared a cryptic new social media post days after his famous partner's emotional Logies acceptance speech. Dokic won the Silver Logie for Best Factual or Documentary Program for Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story during Australian TV's night of nights at The Star in Sydney. The retired tennis star hit the red carpet solo at the Logies despite recently going public with Veselinov, a Melbourne-based hospitality relations manager. On Tuesday, Veselinov returned to social media for the first time since the glitzy awards night and shared a picture of a stunning Melbourne sunrise with the caption 'Good morning Melbs'. Veselinov describes himself on Instagram as a "food and wine enthusiast, pleasure seeker and life enjoyer". In her Logies speech, Dokic made an emotional tribute to her close friend and fellow tennis great Todd Woodbridge, but made no mention of her partner. "Todd Woodbridge, I don't know where you are, there," she said, scanning the crowd. "Todd. You're my person. "I say that, and this makes me cry so much because I sat down with you on the table 11 years ago when I retired, and you said to me that I can be a commentator and speaker and bring my story to life.' Woodbridge, 54, appeared to wipe away a tear following Dokic's sweet tribute. Dokic described herself as "a person who couldn't string two sentences together, look people in the eye, had no social skills left", and credited Woodbridge with giving her the belief to rebuild. "You were the only one who believed in me, especially professionally," she said. "Thank you for that. I always say to everyone, 'Be someone's Todd', and I hope that everyone finds a Todd like I did." Dokic confirmed her relationship with Veselinov last month after published bombshell footage of the pair getting cosy at Melbourne Airport. "You are my calm, safe, peaceful and happy place. So glad I found you," Dokic wrote alongside a romantic snap with her new partner. Dokic split from her previous partner Tin Bukic in late 2022 after an almost two-decade-long relationship. She recently opened up on the Mental As Anyone podcast about how the demise of her relationship jeopardised her plans to start a family. 'I was in a relationship for almost 19 years from the age of 20, and right when we split up, we were about to start trying for a family,' Jelena said.
