GIG GUIDE

Friday 14th April

• The Pub: Acoustic Sessions, Ed Sheeran Tribute (7-10pm)

• Paradiso: Loui Battour (7-10pm)

• KC’s: Aaron Saxon (8pm-late)

• Hotel Metropole: Live Entertainment (8pm-late)

• Grandview Hotel, Bowen: Tammy Moxan (from 8pm)

Saturday 15th April

• The Pub: Neil Diamond Tribute (25.30pm)

• The Pub: Acoustic Sessions, Joe Boshell (7-10pm)

• Paradiso: Simon Briley (7-10pm)

• KC’s: Jason Bull (8pm-late)

• Hotel Metropole: Live Entertainment (8pm-late)

Sunday 16th April

• Paradiso: Aaron Saxon (1-4pm)

• The Pub: Neil Diamond Tribute (25.30pm)

• The Pub: Acoustic Sessions, Ed Sheeran Tribute (7-10pm)

• KC’s: Aaron Saxon (8pm-late)

Monday 17th April

• KC’s: Sam McCann (8pm-late)

Tuesday 18th April

• KC’s: Tammy Moxan (8pm-late)

Wednesday 19th April

• KC’s: Jason Bull (8pm-late)

Thursday 20th April

• Paradiso: Aaron Saxon (6.30-9.30pm)

• The Pub: Acoustic Sessions, Lloyd Saunders (6.30-10pm)

• KC’s: Peta Richards (8pm-late)

• Grandview Hotel, Bowen: Jason Bull (from 8pm)

Cocaine Bear

On a pleasant day in 1985 outside Tennessee in the United States, within the confines of the Chattahoochee National Forest, a 175-pound black bear, having literally packed his stomach “to the brim” with cocaine, died.

You read correctly: The 2023 horror-comedy Cocaine Bear is based on a real event – well, loosely. Cocaine bear existed, though fleetingly. He never rampaged, as he fictitiously does in the Elizabeth Banks film. Instead, he burned bright and quickly, overdosing on $2 million worth of 40 kilograms (roughly $55 million USD) of pure, white, Columbian marching powder. What a way to go. To quote Shakespeare: “Out, out, brief candle!”

For all that, he earnt him an immortal place in Kentucky folklore -- and a prime spot in Lexington mall. Taxedermied in an eternal vigil between vending machines

WHAT'S ON

13-16 Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves showing at the PEC Cinema

13-16 Argonuts showing at the PEC Cinema

14 Airlie Beach Movie Night: Shark Tale and Oddball from 6pm

15 Get Active Bowen: 10am, Bowen Foreshore

17 Speechie Talks Program, Cannonvale/ Proserpine Libraries 9.30am

17 Kinder Gym at Bowen PCYC

18 Sailability Whitsundays from 9am at Whitsunday Sailing Club

18 Fitter For Life Over 50’s at Bowen PCYC

19 Kinder Gym at Bowen PCYC and mechanical rocking horses. Locals dance between the nicknames of ‘Pablo Eskobear’ or ‘Cokey the Bear’.

Now, his legacy has transcended to the big screen. This time, he’s 500-pounds, this time, he doesn’t die when he consumes an ‘80s Stephen King’s helping worth of cocaine, he goes on a drug-fuelled riot. Much like predecessors of its kind (Snakes on A Plane comes most clearly to mind), the film is an excuse for gory ultraviolence, but unlike the 2006 film it shares a high concept with, Cocaine Bear is here for the laughs.

The bear stumbles across a cartel’s lost packages of cocaine and goes manic -- it’s pure B-Movie (bear movie, perhaps?) schlock, and it’s outrageously fun for it. Head to the cinema expecting a massive animal on cocaine and you’ll leave with expectations met. It fulfills its title promise with aplomb.

Cocaine Bear (MA15+) will begin screening at The Bowen Summergarden Cinema on April 22. Review by Declan Durrant.

Want to be included in our weekly event guide? Email rachael@ mackayandwhitsundaylife.com to find out more.

20 Zonta meeting every 3rd Thursday 6-9pm at VMR

20 Fitter For Life Over 50’s at Bowen PCYC

24 Kennedy Masonic Lodge public meeting to recognise Anzacs

24 Speechie Talks Program, Cannonvale/ Proserpine Libraries 9.30am

24 Kinder Gym at Bowen PCYC

26 Kinder Gym at Bowen PCYC

27 Fitter For Life Over 50’s at Bowen PCYC

28 How To Spot A Scam, 9.30am at Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre

28-29 St Cath’s Beauty & The Beast performance at the PEC