Escaping a world of "dysregulation and overwhelm"

There will be a new reason to visit Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art from November. 

Zia McCabe, one of the founding members of American rock band The Dandy Warhols, will reveal a new musical installation in Tasmania.

SEE HEAR NOW will take the form of an "ambient sound-filled, earth-toned, mid-century lounge that responds to visitor interactions". 

As visitors engage with different works in the space, each touch will transform the objects into instruments -producing overlapping soundscapes and reinforcing the relationship between movement, attention, and listening.

The musical component of the exhibition is a non-linear sonata composed by keyboardist McCabe with the support of Tamil Rogeon and Louise Woodward (the duo behind The Dandy Warhols’ symphonic arrangements). The sonata features near-infinite variations that will always sound in harmony, regardless of which combinations are playing.

One of the unique aspects of the musical creation is the unusual marriage of McCabe’s analogue psychedelic synth, and classical instrumentation performed by Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra musicians.

Recorded and mixed at Mona’s Frying Pan Studios by head producer and engineer Chris Townend, the sonata’s different sequences will be connected to the lounge's various artworks, which have been designed by McCabe with visual artists Buckley, James Lambert, Madeleine Stamer and Chaz Barrisson of The London Police.

"I’ve only recently become committed to making installations through the lens of music," McCabe says. 

"But this concept came to me years ago during an open house of a creative space I was renting. During a visit to Mona last year, I was so moved by the incredible artworks, I couldn't help but pitch my own.

"What a dream to have my idea accepted and see it come to life. I am so happy to be featuring some of my favourite visual artists in this space and to know I am offering a unique room for visitors to briefly escape this world of dysregulation and overwhelm. 

"Giving their nervous systems a break, in a way that is still interactive and unpredictable, more psychedelic than opiate, more retro than modern, more harmony than discord."

The Dandy Warhols will launch their next tour of Australia with a performance at the Odeon in Hobart on Tuesday, November 24. 

See mona.net.au

Image: Lauren Krohn

Bangkok greets new hotel brand making its Asian debut

Looking to enjoy Bangkok on a budget? 

After opening in Alice Springs this week, greet, Accor's economy hotel brand, has made its Asia debut with the opening of greet Bangkok Sukhumvit 16 Jono. 

The 65-room hotel brings greet's no-frills offering in an appealing location on Sukhumvit Soi 16, close to Asok BTS Station and Sukhumvit MRT Station. 

That means easy connections to Bangkok's key business districts, shopping destinations and entertainment areas. Benjakitti Park, one of the city's largest green spaces, is also nearby.

The hotel's shared Feel Good Space features lounge seating, a co-working area and a library corner where guests can work, unwind or connect. A 24-hour front desk provides added convenience throughout the stay.

The hotel offers four room categories: Pop Deep Sleep Room, Pop Art Room, Pop Recharge Room and Pop RechargeX Room. 

Each room accommodates up to two guests and is designed around greet's essentials including a king-size bed, reliable wifi, and a shower.

Garth Simmons, Accor’s region Chief Operating Officer, said: "The debut of greet in Asia reflects the growing demand for hospitality that is refreshingly uncomplicated, delivering the feel-good essentials that make every stay genuinely comfortable at a price that makes sense. 

"Bangkok is the ideal starting point for greet's regional journey. As one of Asia's most dynamic travel destinations, the city offers a compelling opportunity to introduce a brand that helps a new generation of travellers feel good through comfort, quality and exceptional value.”

Dan Bergstén, General Manager of greet Bangkok Sukhumvit 16 Jono, said: “We look forward to welcoming guests to a relaxed and friendly hotel designed around the things that matter most. From our comfortable rooms and welcoming shared spaces to our central Sukhumvit location, every element has been considered to help guests feel good throughout their stay.”

For more information or to make a reservation, please visit: https://all.accor.com/hotel/C7B4/index.en.shtml

AirAsia adds Australian flights but cuts Sydney

Good news for some Australian lovers of low-coast flights, but bad news for those based in Sydney

AirAsia today announced it is strengthening its network with planned frequency increases across its Perth–Denpasar, Perth-Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne-Kuala Lumpur services.

But as part As part of the rationalisation, the airline has made the "difficult decision" to suspend its Sydney-Kuala Lumpur route.

The decision reflects a combination of increased cost pressures, softer demand and the need to strategically align the airline’s network and fleet, the airline said in a media statement.

From December, Perth–Denpasar services will increase to 35 flights per week, while the strong performance of Melbourne–Kuala Lumpur will see the route return to daily services.

Perth–Kuala Lumpur has also experienced significant growth, with frequencies set to steadily increase to 14 flights per week.

Benyamin Ismail, general manager of AirAsia X said the decision was not made lightly, and acknowledged the Sydney-Kuala Lumpur route is key to supporting Fly-Thru and serves customers who travel to visit friends and family across ASEAN.

“This has been an incredibly difficult decision, and one that has not been taken lightly," he said.

"Sydney, which was launched back in 2012, has played an important role in our history and in connecting Australians with Malaysia and the wider region.

“The current operating environment requires us to make some tough choices. By accelerating the retirement of older, less fuel-efficient widebody aircraft and adjusting our network, we are taking the necessary steps to build a more resilient and commercially sustainable operation for the future.

“We understand how disappointing this will be for our guests, particularly those who have travelled with us over many years, and we sincerely thank them for their understanding and support."

The airline's teams are contacting affected customers from today, offering refunds which will be completed within 14 days, a Credit Account or date changes.

Accor launches a new hotel brand in Alice Springs

It is increasingly hard to keep up with the growing number of hotel brands.

greet, billed as Accor's feel-good brand, has just launched in Australia for the first time with the opening of greet Hotel Alice Springs.

The brand, launched in 2019 in Beaune, in France, is billed as "bringing its fresh, down-to-earth and great-value hospitality concept" to one of Australia's most distinctive regional destinations.

It is touted as an "eco-conscious, economy brand" that was created for travellers who want comfort, personality and value without overpaying or overthinking.

greet hotels are said to focus on meaningful essentials done right: "a comfortable bed, a great shower, tasty food and beverage, reliable wifi and warm, genuine hospitality".

Located just steps from Todd Mall, greet Hotel Alice Springs is an 80-room hotel owith rooms offering tea and coffee-making facilities, free guest parking and an outdoor swimming pool.

The hotel also features relaxed communal spaces.

“greet is all about simple, feel-good travel. It is big on personality, low on fuss and designed around the things guests truly value: comfort, cleanliness, friendliness and great value,” said Adrian Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Accor in the Pacific region.

“greet Hotel Alice Springs captures that spirit perfectly. It is relaxed, welcoming and locally connected, with everything guests need for a straight forward and satisfying stay in the heart of Alice Springs."

To celebrate its opening, greet Hotel Alice Springs is offering an opening special of 15% off the best flexible rate for bookings made by September 30 for stays until January 31, 2027. Room rates start from $99* per night. Bookings are available via ALL.com.

Your chance to be a pinot noir master

Think you know the attributes of a cool-climate pinot noir?

You can prove your prowess as Tamar Ridge Wines launches new cellar door experience where wine lovers can step behind the scenes and try their hand at one of winemaking’s most creative processes. 

The Tamar Ridge Winemaker for a Day: Pinot Noir Blending Experience is a hands-on experience that invites guests to step into the role of winemaker, tasting individual pinot noir clones and parcels from Tamar Ridge vineyards before creating a blend of their own.

Guided by the Tamar Ridge cellar door team, guests will explore the distinctive characteristics of each parcel and discover how factors such as clonal variety, vineyard site and individual wine components can influence the aroma, flavour, structure and balance of a finished wine. 

Guests can take inspiration from the Tamar Ridge Reserve Pinot Noir, experimenting with different components to understand how the final wine comes together, or trust their own palate and create an entirely unique expression.

Katherine Brown, luxury portfolio manager for Brown Family Wine Group, said the experience offers wine lovers a rare opportunity to better understand the craft behind the bottle.

“It’s a great chance for a hands-on experience where guests really get to understand the influence each parcel can have on a finished wine,” she said.

“Pinot noir is particularly fascinating to explore in this way because each component brings something different to the blend. Guests can taste those differences for themselves and then see what happens when they begin bringing the parcels together.”

The experience costs $110 per person. 

For more info see Winemaker for a day: Pinot Noir Blending Experience - Tamar Ridge Reservations

Image: Natasha Mulhall 

New role for this little Fokker

After its final flight across Australia a QantasLink Fokker F100 jet aircraft has a new home at Shellharbour Airport, where it will begin a new chapter with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS).

The recently retired 100-seat aircraft has been donated by QantasLink to HARS, where it will join its collection of aircraft as a public exhibit.

VH-NPU “Meekatharra” is the second aircraft to be donated to HARS, with another QantasLink F100 domated to its Parkes Museum in February.

Meekatharra will sit alongside Qantas’ first Boeing 747- 400, VH-OJA, that was donated by the Australian flag carrier in 2015. City of Canberra arrived at HARS following 26 years of service and is one of the museum's most visited attractions.

QantasLink’s fleet of F100s are being replaced by Embraer E190 aircraft to improve reliability, fuel efficiency and customer comfort. The first E190 is expected to arrive in Perth next month.

Meekatharra began flying for QantasLink in December 2016 and was the final F100 to be added to the fleet. The aircraft has flown more than 11,250 hours for QantasLink, carrying around a million passengers across regional Western Australia.

HARS President and chief pilot Bob De La Hunty said: “We're honoured that QantasLink has entrusted HARS with another important piece of Australian aviation history.

“Meekatharra will help tell the story of the aircraft that connected regional communities and supported industry across Western Australia.

“Our volunteers are passionate about keeping these stories alive and giving visitors the opportunity to experience these remarkable aircraft up close.”

* VH-NPU joined the QantasLink fleet in 2016 and prior to that it flew for American Airlines and Austrian Airlines. It recorded 9 million kilometres and 7,543 flights flown for QantasLink.