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ABC News
14 minutes ago
- ABC News
Big Pineapple Fest celebrates 10 years with Hilltop Hoods, Baauer, Jungle Giants and more
Things are looking bright for Pineys – Big Pineapple Festival is ripe for the picking for its 10th anniversary edition! The rolling Pineapple Fields are set to come alive at the start of November with a smorgasbord line-up of homegrown talent, emerging artists and international mates hitting the stage. It wouldn't be a milestone birthday without the stalwarts of Australian music festivals. That's right, Hilltop Hoods are locked to headline Big Pineapple Fest this year, with The Cat Empire, The Jungle Giants, PNAU and Polaris bulking out the line-up. Coming across the ditch, SIX60 will bring their infectious grooves, Hands Like Houses will be opening up the pit, US duo MKTO will be flying in, and Rum Jungle and Thelma Plum are set to deliver plenty of serenades and singalong moments. A bombshell new stage has entered the Big Pineapple villa this year – the Superlove Arena. An immersive stage dedicated to dance music, it will showcase a heap of sets and B2B moments from some monster names, including Baauer, Anna Lunoe, Bushbaby, Nina Las Vegas, Wongo and more. And that's not all! The new crop of artists popping up in this year's Pineapple harvest is certified fresh and includes Beckah Amani, Betty Taylor, HEADSEND and IVANA. Then there's all the classics you know and love – the lantern parade, the Great Australian Pineapple Toss and the iconic ferris wheel – all folded into one big camping weekend on Gubbi Gubbi Land. Tickets for Big Pineapple Festival are on sale from 8am AEST on Tuesday 29 July, with a presale kicking off the day before. Check out the festival's website for answers to all your burning questions. Get your eyes on the line-up and dates below, and we'll see you in the fields. Big Pineapple Festival 2025 Saturday 1 November - Pineapple Fields, Woombye, Gubbi Gubbi Land, Sunshine Coast Qld
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Eddie McGuire fires a fresh shot at The Front Bar as footy's TV wars reignited
Eddie McGuire just couldn't help himself. The catfighting among the AFL's media shows has been at an all-time high in 2025, largely sparked by a host of big names leaving Nine for Channel 7, including Kane Cornes, Craig Hutchison and Caroline Wilson. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. It has become common for journalists and ex-footy players to take shots at each other across television and radio, including Cornes' high-profile feud with 7 stablemate Dale Thomas among others. Wilson and Hutchison had their own slanging match on Monday night after the former had a dig at Hutchy's decision to sack some beloved staff from RSN following his $3.25 million takeover of the radio station. It's not often that Channel 7's laidback show, The Front Bar, gets into the crosshairs, but McGuire couldn't resist firing a shot at the program this week from his offering, Footy Classified. It all stemmed from The Front Bar host Andy Maher's public run-in with a spectator at last week's clash between Carlton and Melbourne at the MCG. Surprisingly, the incident wasn't brought up on Wednesday night's show, stunningly given a pass by comedians Mick Molloy and Sam Pang. But footage surfaced over the weekend of Maher getting caught up in ugly scenes while sitting in the stands watching his beloved Blues. Footage of the incident showed a fellow spectator leave his seat and walk over to Maher before leaning over the presenter to engage with him. Fans in the vicinity can be seen calling for security to remove the individual as a woman in a brown jacket attempts to de-escalate the situation. The 61-year-old Maher remained seated throughout the nearly two-minute ordeal before MCG security ultimately separated the man from Maher and escorted him out of the area, which was met with widespread applause from those seated nearby. Maher later had some strong words for the situation on SEN, asking: 'Why do you have to come along and get yourself munted and then make a fool of yourself and ruin everyone else's experience.' This is where McGuire steps in. Right before the closing credits on Footy Classified, McGuire attempted to demonstrate he was going to show some restraint, before firing off his own shot at Maher. 'All right guys. I was going to say something about a story that was coming up with Andy Maher, but I'll let it go til next week,' he said. 'I don't need to have a blue with anybody at the moment. 'But if you're hosting a show called The Front Bar, don't complain about people drinking at the footy.' Way to let it go, Eddie. McGuire's comments come after Maher spoke about the incident on SEN, where he stated the whole situation had been blown out of proportion. 'Whoever has told you that story, they're going a little over the top,' he said. Aussie basketball icon Andrew Gaze said he heard Maher had been involved in a 'heated exchange'. 'From what I hear, and I've heard this from a number of different sources, you were virtually assaulted at the football as well,' Gaze said on 'The Run Home With Gazey And Andy'. 'You were involved in a heated exchange with perhaps someone who'd had perhaps a few too many beverages.' Maher said Aussie comedian Dave Hughes had also been involved. Maher told Gaze: 'Well, he (the person involved) was escorted out of the premises. It had nothing to do with me. 'I just told the fella to sit down. I said, 'Mate, you're going to get thrown out if you keep going. ' He got thrown out. 'I missed the start of it, but Dave Hughes was in the middle of it all at the start and doing a very fine job of sticking up for one of our veteran members of society, who had, apparently, drawn some unsavoury language from this bloke.' Maher said he believes the man was not a Carlton supporter. 'Hopefully he woke up the next morning feeling like a right git because he carried on like a pork chop,' Maher said. 'If he'd have just turned around and sat down and watched the last three minutes of the game and stopped doing whatever he was doing, he would have been fine.'
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Founding Play School presenter Donald Macdonald remembered as gentle, generous and prolific
Donald Macdonald was many things over his 80+ years, bringing his infectious energy to both screen and stage around Australia and the world. When he died on the Gold Coast in June, Donald was remembered for a particularly important career achievement: he was one of the original presenters on Play School. But this was just the first chapter in a theatrical career that spanned the next 60 years. As said on ABC Kids' social media, his role helped to "shape the foundations of what Play School has become today". "His gentle spirit and playful storytelling made countless children feel seen, heard and encouraged to imagine." But he was also one of Australia's most prolific theatre talents, widely acclaimed for his extraordinary vocal coaching, directorial expertise, and his calm and generous spirit. Donald's father "Mac" Macdonald served in World War II but died of war wounds shortly thereafter. Donald, born in Sydney in 1938, was too young to remember his father and was an only child, raised by his mother. After completing school, Donald began his acting career at Sydney's famous Music Hall, performing in East Lynne and Lady Audley's Secret, among others. The first episode of Play School was on July 18, 1966. Among a cast of former school teachers and Australian actors, Donald helped shepherd the show into the country's hearts with his friendly manner, wonderful clear voice and comic timing. His instinct for comedy was to prove vital as his career blossomed in future decades. In 1968, Donald starred in the ABC's I Married a Bachelor, where he played Mervyn MacGregor — the show won the Logie for Best Comedy that year. For the ABC, Donald also starred in The Box and Come in Spinner, as well as Is Australia Really Necessary, alongside the legendary Miriam Karlin. On stage, he starred in A Cup of Tea, a Bex and a Good Lie Down. Later, Donald appeared in the ABC's Backberner and the films Black and White, Superman Returns and Kenny. Donald also had guest roles in dozens of other shows including Kingswood Country, Cop Shop, A Country Practice, Rafferty's Rules, Heroes II, GP, Jag, and Rake. Donald performed innumerable roles with the Sydney and Queensland theatre companies, as well as appearing in the musicals Camelot and McKillop. After establishing his career in Sydney, Donald moved to the UK, making his West End debut in Sons of Cain, before first appearing on UK television in Colditz. An award-winning screenwriter, novelist, and author, Donald wrote one of Australia's most successful stage comedies, Caravan (1983). The show originally delighted audiences at the Sydney Opera House for The Ensemble Theatre, and then it went to London, where Donald also starred in the cast. A story of three couples on holiday together in NSW, Caravan is still regularly performed to this day. Donald also wrote several other plays, including Hot Taps, Giuseppe, Saints Alive, Seasons, Boulevard Play, Truth, and The Italian Classic. His novel, With a Wise Man, was published by Pan Macmillan Australia. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Donald explored various eastern and western spiritualities. Following a long period of discernment, he ultimately converted to Catholicism, and later became an enthusiastic proponent of Christian meditation. After spending time in meditation and prayer, Donald learned the entire gospel off by heart and developed his one-man play, The Gospel According to St John, where he brought the story to life in a captivating 90-minute production. Over the next 25 years, Donald performed The Gospel of St John across Australia and overseas, including at the Edinburgh Festival, in London, and New York. In 2002, Donald became principal theatrical director with Artes Christi, where, over the next two decades, he directed multiple productions including A Man for All Seasons (2002 and 2011), Murder in the Cathedral (2005 and 2018), Shadowlands, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Jeweller's Shop, and his own play, Saints Alive. Donald enjoyed a legendary reputation among the actors he directed — many spoke of being profoundly uplifted in their work by him. Donald would famously instruct his casts: "Use the words — it's all there. It's in the words." A strong supporter of Australian veterans, Donald became artistic adviser to The Australian Remembrance Foundation, and in 2021 performed in the original Anzac Sunset Tribute alongside Christine Anu, Judy Nunn, and Bruce Venables. One of Donald's final successes was writing Letter to Larry: A play based on the life of Vivien Leigh, which has been staged in London and Paris to rave reviews. The play has had three successful West End runs, with a feature film also in planning. Donald was prolific until his final weeks, continuing to write and develop multiple works while suffering from cancer. Donald was the greatest artistic influence of my life, an extraordinary person whom I had the deep honour to work with for more than two decades. He will be sorely missed by his family, hundreds of artists, and thousands of audience members across Australia and overseas. Anthony McCarthy worked with Donald Macdonald on more than a dozen productions and is now the artistic director & CEO of The Australian Remembrance Foundation.
