PAX Aus 2024: Hands-on with Sonic X Shadow Generations

Another year, another Sonic the Hedgehog game…sort of. This remaster of Sonic Generations, one of the more popular titles in the franchise is long overdue with some shiny new next-gen graphics, smooth gameplay and higher frame rates, which means Sonic fans will be revelling in the speed and visuals of this impressive-looking game. Also, a…

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Opening Date & The Five Lands of Universal Studio’s new Orlando theme park Epic Universe Revealed!

Today it’s been announced that Epic Universe will open its portals in Orlando, Florida on 22nd May 2025! The first round of tickets sales – with the 2025 Explorer Ticket that’s inclusive of a single day of Epic Universe entry – and Helios Grand Hotel bookings launch on Tuesday 22nd October 2024. This comes after…

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New Music Discoveries 18th October: Girl and Girl, Fan Girl, Alice Ivy, & more

SXSW fever has gripped Sydney, and we have taken another deep dive into the new music which has hit our inbox this week. Today we have added another ten tracks to our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including two we exclusively premiered earlier in the week. Our track of the week is “The…

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Phantogram’s Memory Of A Day is a dreamy blend of electronic-pop and cinematic soundscapes

Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter met way back in preschool with their paths crossing again in 2007, when the two joined forces and started making music under the name Charlie Everywhere. In 2009, they found their own unique sound- a mix of electronic rock and dream pop, blending gritty beats with atmospheric melodies, and changed…

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Charlie Lane

Track by Track: Charlie Lane takes us through her debut album, I’m Okay Now But I Wasn’t

Today, Naarm artist Charlie Lane has released her debut album, I’m Okay Now But I Wasn’t. It’s a beautiful and moving album full to the brim with songs that are deeply personal and emotive. A queer and disabled artist, Charlie sees the world from a different perspective to most of us. She has proudly and…

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Album Review: Porridge Radio – Clouds in the Sky They Will Always Be There for Me (2024 LP)

Two years after their last release, the UK’s own Porridge Radio return with Clouds in the Sky They Will Always Be There for Me; an introspective and emotionally charged offering that demonstrates the band’s growth both lyrically and sonically. The album, out this Friday, is as much a testament to Dana Margolin’s evolution as a songwriter…

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Film Review: He Ain’t Heavy; Sam Corlett’s full-bodied performance stuns in confronting, oft-harrowing drama

The mental, emotional and physical destruction that can come from one’s addiction is at the core of He Ain’t Heavy, David Vincent Smith‘s confronting, oft-harrowing drama that surpasses the intimacy of its setting and miniature ensemble with its brutal mindset. An expansion of his short film I’m Not Hurting You, He Ain’t Heavy very much…

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PJ Harvey announced as headliner for WOMADelaide 2025

The first announcement of artists to play WOMADelaide 2025 includes the iconic British artist PJ Harvey. Her visit to Australia will be the first in eight years. For the last two years she has been touring with her band across the UK and Europe to outstanding reviews. Her performances have included tracks from her tenth…

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Nao Yoshioka

Music we discovered on day two of SXSW Sydney that you should too

Navigating the SXSW Sydney music offerings is like being at a giant festival. Performances are spread over a number of venues in the inner west and part of the fun is discovering how many cool music venues are within walking distance of each other. There is such a wide variety of offerings, it’s important to…

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Photo Gallery: Olivia Rodrigo – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney (17.10.24)

Olivia delighted her screaming fans with a full on energetic performance. There are three shows remaining in Sydney. Head HERE for the chance to secure a ticket. You can read Sarah’s review of the first Melbourne show HERE. Pete Dovgan was there to bring you these images.  

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Film Review: Memoir of a Snail is a tragically beautiful tale that honours the surreality of life

Of all the ways to ruminate on grief and loss, a stop-motion animated dramedy is not the most obvious option, but, despite the whimsical nature of the medium, Adam Elliot‘s heartbreaking Memoir of a Snail proves such a catharsis on the emotion. Animated it may be, Memoir of a Snail is not a child-friendly affair,…

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Interview: Adam Elliot on the slow, reflective process of making Memoir of a Snail; “Life can only be understood backwards.”

Grace Pudel is a lonely misfit with an affinity for collecting ornamental snails and an intense love for books. At a young age, when Grace is separated from her fire-breathing twin brother Gilbert, she falls into a spiral of anxiety and angst. Despite a continued series of hardships, inspiration and hope emerge when she strikes…

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Book Review: All the Beautiful Things You Love is a sweet story of love and heartbreak set on…. Facebook Marketplace?

All the Beautiful Things You Love is the second novel by journalist, Jonathan Seidler. It follows Elly, a woman in her mid-thirties, in the days and weeks following the breakdown of her marriage. She attempts to deal with the pain of losing her relationship by getting rid of all the things in their once-shared apartment…

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UPDATED: Charli XCX to headline Laneway 2025 – full lineup revealed – *latest ticket news*

The rumours are true  – Charli XCX will be headling Laneway festival 2025. She will only be playing Laneway, so that’s your only chance to see Charli down under next summer. Joining the lineup is British bedroom pop star Beabadoobee, who won legions of fans when she performed in Australia in 2022. Also returning to Laneway…

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SXSW Sydney opens with a bang

Whilst SXSW Sydney officially opened on Monday, the opening parties started on Tuesday. SXSW has been running for several years in Texas, but this is the second year in Sydney. With a program that features conferences and programmes from the Tech and Innovation fields, Games, Music and Screen, it really is an important networking and…

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Five museums and art exhibitions you have to visit in Las Vegas

Though you wouldn’t immediately think of Las Vegas for its museums and galleries, the city has its fair share of high quality attractions scattered around the city. And it’s a surprising mix – who would have thought, for instance, that The Punk Rock Museum would find a home in Nevada? While some are temporary or…

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Sex on Toast

Sex on Toast takes us through their new album, Pegasus, track by track

With a relentless spirit, and wide range of influences, the collective Sex on Toast have been creating technicolour rock for twenty years now. Today they have released their latest album, Pegasus, that brilliantly showcases their deep talents and broad interests. The album is a glorious mix of funk and pop, big horns, RnB, jazz and…

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CHEZ

Exclusive Single Premiere: CHEZ “honeY” (2024)

Love sometimes strikes hard, and negative thoughts of ‘why me?’ can also accompany its deep pleasure. These feelings are expressed perfectly in “honeY”, the new track about to drop from Boorloo/Perth-based pop artist CHEZ. We are thrilled to be premiering this cracker of a tune ahead of its release on Friday. CHEZ’s ‘honeY’ is a sonic journey…

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Book Review: Gabi Ortiz has finally run out of lives in Stark Holborn’s Ninth Life

Gabriella Ortiz has gone by many names. General. Dolores Lazlo. La Pesadilla. Ortz. Nine Lives. Gabi. Child superweapon turned pit fighter, turned pirate, turned the Accord’s most wanted, she’s lived more than a few different lives. And she’s died a few deaths too. Havemercy Grey is, by any comparison, nobody. A Deputy Air Marshall on…

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Interview: Wildheart talk new singles, upcoming album and dispelling stigmas

Meanjin/Brisbane metalcore outfit Wildheart are one of the most prolific and vital local heavy acts right now. The band’s socially conscious lyrics and tireless work ethic has earned them the respect of their peers as well as industry recognition. Their debut album Global Crisis was named the 2022 Gold Coast Music Award’s Release of the…

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UPDATED: OASIS tour dates announced for Australia – how to register for the pre-sale

Yes, it has been hotly rumoured and at last confirmed that OASIS will be returning to Australia in 2025. There was pandemonium when the first UK concerts went on sale – apparently, ten million fans from 158 countries were pounding the keyboards and devices to get tickets. The Britpop trailblazers from Manchester will be playing…

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Claire Tonti

Claire Tonti is breaking down the barriers of motherhood through music

Naarm-based singer-songwriter, activist, and mother Claire Tonti is breaking down barriers, using her music to normalise the complexities of motherhood. Her debut album, Matrescence, released in 2023, is nothing short of powerful. Tonti dives deep, sharing her experiences of motherhood, loss, and yearning with raw emotion. It’s a beautiful body of work that captures immense…

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A Tiki Bar in a Shipwreck: We go behind-the-scenes of Anaheim’s Strong Water

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to enjoy an incredible night at the Californian tiki bar Strong Water. Just a stones throw from Disneyland in Anaheim – where so much of the modern tiki bar aesthetic was popularised – this James Beard Award semi-finalist is now one of the hottest destinations in the city….

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Book Review: Keshe Chow’s The Girl With No Reflection is intriguing and vivid but misses the mark

Keshe Chow‘s hotly anticipated debut, The Girl with No Reflection, is a dark fantasy inspired by Imperial Chinese history and mythology with a steady injection of romance for good measure. Its vivid imagery, unique world-building and courtly intrigue are no doubt what had US critics praising the book long before its release here in Australia….

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The Saga

Exclusive Single Premiere: The Saga “The Saga” (2024)

At the AU, we are big lovers of folk music, and hailing from Sweden and now resident in Berlin, is the artist known as The Saga, who delivers dreamy and ethereal folk music. We are thrilled to premiere a track named after their ‘pen name’, the gorgeous “The Saga”, before its release on Wednesday, 16th…

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Interview: Director Stefan Hunt and choreographer Vanessa Marian on their short film Yeah The Boys and exploring Aussie larrikinism and masculinity

Created by the Sydney’s husband-and-wife director-choreographer duo Stefan Hunt and Vanessa Marian, Yeah The Boys explores Aussie larrikinism and masculinity, while offering an insightful observation of Australian identity and the nation’s relationship with drinking culture, with a unique blend of choreography and screen storytelling, without a word being spoken for the whole film. Winner of Best Australia Short at Flickerfest, and nominated…

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Live Review: Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey stun Brisbane on the first stop of The Deluge tour (11.10.24)

When Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey released The Deluge—their first collaboration under the Fanning Dempsey National Park moniker—back in August, the unique sonic transformation they created immediately captured my attention. Beneath the excitement of two Australian rock legends joining forces, however, one key question went unasked: how would this new, synth pop mix and match…

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Interview: Christopher Scott on choreographing Wicked for the big screen and honouring the stage show through the film

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu, Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive…

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Interview: Nathan Crowley on producing the design of Wicked; “You’re touching on something that everyone loves.”

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu, Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive…

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Interview: Wicked Hair and Make-up Designer Frances Hannon on finding her own vision within the land of Oz

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu, Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive…

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