Month: June 2016

Six impressive bands selected to participate in the 2016 Big Bush Bands Program

The 13th annual Bush Bands Bash is taking place in Alice Springs this August – a result of the Bush Bands Business and the Bush Bands concert coming together and showcasing some incredible talent. In a record-breaking effort, 16 bands from remote communities applied to be part of the Bush Bands Program this year and…

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PJ Harvey helps close the 2016 Primavera Sound with her first show in four years

The legendary PJ Harvey performed in front of tens of thousands of people last night at the iconic Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, helping bring to an end a massive four days of live music on the waters of the Spanish city. Playing with an eight piece band that included the likes of Alain Johannes,…

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Entries now open for the 2016 SA Music Awards

South Australian musicians and industry personnel are encouraged to get involved in the 2016 SA Music Awards this year, the entries for which have been officially launched by Music SA today! The second annual music awards will see the winners announced on Friday, November 11th. For the 2016 event, there are ten public-voted genre awards…

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Live Review: Björk Digital – Carriageworks, Sydney (04.06.16)

Arriving right on opening time, there’s already a substantial queue of people eager to make a beeline for the Björk Live DJ Set room. It’s a good thing that they are there early, as once you’re in the space, you quickly realise that if you want to actually see the Icelandic musical genius, you will…

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Music Video of the Day: The Strokes “Drag Queen” (2016)

While it’s only been three years since The Strokes‘ last album, Comedown Machine, it feels like a whole lot longer, since there was no promotion or touring on the back of the release. After announcing a bunch of festival dates, including an exclusive Australian appearance at Splendour in the Grass this year, the band unexpectedly dropped a…

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Single of the Day: Beck “Wow” (2016)

After the melancholic Morning Phase released in 2014, Beck‘s last single “Dreams” came as a pleasant surprise; upbeat Beck is back. His new release, “Wow” is no exception, with Beck’s lazy rapping and beats making a comeback. We’re hoping we’ll get an album entirely of this sort of sound and songwriting sometime this year, but for now we’ll…

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Pilou Asbæk talks oscar-nominated A War and his role on Game of Thrones

The celebrate the screening of the Oscar-nominated A War at this year’s Sydney Film Festival, Danish actor Pilou Asbæk sat down with Fergus Halliday to chat about everything from the rules of engagement to Game of Thrones and the American election. I won’t take up much of your time so, I’ll jump right into it. The thing that, sort…

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Win a double pass to hotDocs film festival!

This documentary film festival is an Australian edition of the renowned Canadian festival that will take place across three cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra) from 14th June – 3rd July. The renowned Canadian festival hotDocs, the world’s leading documentary film festival will bring 24 inspiring and thought-provoking films from 15 different countries. The program has…

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Win a Mr. Right DVD prize pack!

Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell put the ‘u’ & ‘I’ in ‘quirky’ when they team up in the action/comedy adventure, Mr. Right. When unlucky-in-love Martha (Kendrick) meets Francis (Rockwell) he seems different from other guys. Really different. In fact, if you don’t count that he’s a hitman on the run from crime cartels, he may…

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Win a DVD copy of Vinyl: The Complete First Season

From Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger comes Vinyl, a new drama series that explores the drug and sex fuelled music business of the 1970s. Richie Finestra (Bobby Canavale) is a major-label exec with a dark past and an even darker present. With his company, American Century Records, facing a number of client crises, and with…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 7 – 13 June

The Iris has chosen this week’s picks, so sit back and invest your nights with your small screens. Tuesday Once Upon a Time, 7Flix, 7:30pm AEST Emma disappears after becoming the Dark One. The rest of our heroes must come together to find her, an impossible quest. Unless they seek help from an unexpected character….

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Must-see films at this year’s Sydney Film Festival

The Sydney Film Festival is kicking off this week and we’ve gathered together a short-list of some of the big films you’ll absolutely want to make space on your flexipass to see. Blood Father Directed by Jean-François Richet and show in the crispy outlands of New Mexico, Blood Father marks Mel Gibson’s return to the action movie. He…

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E3 2016: Here’s your complete livestream guide (in local time!) **UPDATED**

It’s almost time for the greatest show in video games, the video game Christmas in June, the great yearly pilgrimage of our people. E3 2016 is just around the corner, is what we’re saying. Want to catch all the action live, as it happens? Look no further. Hit the jump to see every single livestream…

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Hotel Review: Fort Worth Stockyards Hotel (Fort Worth, Texas)

The Fort Worth Stockyards Hotel has more than a ‘certain’ charm about it – staying in this establishment makes you feel like you’re taking a step into a Western film. And in the good way. First opened in 1907, the history of the hotel is ever present; from some elements of the decor, to the…

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Win a double pass to Anya Anastasia’s Melbourne cabaret show Rogue Romantic

A once-charming cabaret chanteuse has gone rogue – armed with a biting wit, an appetite for romance and revenge, and a set of lungs you really have to hear to believe. A brand new work from this fearless darling of the Australian Cabaret Stage, Rogue Romantic sees Anastasia’s satirical wit turn personal experiences inside out…

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Newtown’s iconic Zanzibar has completely transformed; is now known as Websters Bar (Sydney)

Long-standing Newtown institution Zanzibar is effectively gone, transforming into what is now to be known as Websters Bar with new concepts to shape the iconic venue’s three levels, including it’s coveted rooftop. What one will now find at Websters Bar now is a sophisticated ode to vintage Whisky bars, both paying homage to the unique…

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18-inch pizza by the slice joint “Pizza Pizza Pizza” opens at Meyers Place (Melbourne)

The classic New York pizzeria regularly serves as inspiration whenever a new by-the-slice joint opens up anywhere around the world, and this latest Melbourne diner is no exception. Simply titled Pizza Pizza Pizza, the new venue over at the Meyers Place precinct pays homage to the pizzerias of the 70’s, dedicated to serving carb lovers…

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Della Hyde are serving mulled wine daiquiris, winter juleps, and more through June (Sydney)

Mulled Wine Daiquiris and Winter Juleps will be taking over Darlinghurst’s Della Hyde this month as the cosy small bar teams with Thredbo Tourism to stage “Della Après-Ski”. It won’t exactly be the Austrian slops down below Oxford Street, but will be a series of warm winter-friendly events which highlight the new drinks list along…

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Tech Review: HTC 10 – HTC emerge as a true competitor with their latest flagship

HTC haven’t exactly been leading the race when it comes to the ongoing battle of smartphone supremacy, attracting both considerable praise and criticism with their previous releases. Their 2016 flagship is here to focus on the former, highlighting the progression at HTC headquarters which has been informed by a closer relationship with customer feedback and…

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Auchentoshan American Oak launches in Australia with a challenge to the bar industry

Single malt Scotch Whisky Auchentoshan American Oak has now made it’s way to the Australian market via Beam Suntory and Coca-Cola Amatil, and the team behind it has laid down quite the tempting challenge to the Australian bar industry. Highlighting the triple-distilled difference the Whisky goes through in Glasgow, Scotland (it’s the only Scottish single…

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Dove & Olive clash culture and craft beer with Opera in the Pub (Sydney)

Ever wished your favourite local pub functioned like the Sydney Opera House? Awarded Surry Hills pub Dove & Olive want you to pour a little culture into that craft beer later on this month when they host Opera in the Pub. Set for Sunday 26th June from 4:30pm, the themed day will bring a worldly…

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ENA Greek Street Food makes its way to Southgate’s precinct (Melbourne)

ENA Greek Street Food is Southgate’s newest addition to Melbourne’s thriving dining precinct, serving up rustic dishes with a modern twist inspired by the streets and beaches of Greece. Translating to ‘Number One’ in Greek, ENA have forged their menu using simple and some of the freshest seasonal ingredients experienced in southern Kalamata, and sourcing…

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The Avalanches have their first “live” performance in 15 years at Primavera Sound in Spain. Here’s what happened.

A little more than a day after releasing their first new song in 16 years, “Frankie Sinatra”, and confirming the release of their sophomore record Wildflower on 8 July – just before they play Splendour in the Grass – Australian duo The Avalanches have made their return to the stage in Barcelona, Spain as part…

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DJ Khaled and Drake come together on energetic new single “For Free”

The internet’s favourite motivational snapper DJ Khaled is just about ready to unleash his new record Major Key which will no doubt be packed full of airwave-dominating tracks like previous hits “I’m On One” and “No New Friends”. Like those two tracks, Khaled has brought on none other than Drake to ride solo over the…

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Kanye West teams with Desiigner, Travis Scott, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Yo Gotti, Big Sean and more for “Round & Round”

As the G.O.O.D Music team prep their new compilation Cruel Winter, the follow-up to 2012’s Cruel Summer, a preview has appeared by the tentative name of “Round & Round (Champions)” and – in a similar fashion to “Mercy”, the lead single from Cruel Summer – it has Kanye at the head of a strong line-up…

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Music Video of the Day: Nooky ft. Jimblah “The Greatest” (2016)

Emerging rap talent Nooky is a perfect example of the bold and forward-moving pace Australian hip hop is currently running at. Since signing to Bad Apples Music after making quick and impressive waves following a break out on to the Sydney scene back in 2010, Nooky has continued to develop as a fire vocalist and a seasoned…

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City Calm Down take their live show to larger venues around the country this September

Fresh off the back of some impressive shows in the UK, Melbourne’s City Calm Down dropped news of their new Australian tour this week. With debut album In a Restless House continuing to generate a considerable amount of positive momentum, the band now sets their sights on larger venues around the country, and are bringing two fantastic Aussie talents…

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‘Behind the Beat’: Getting to know Sensible J (REMI/House of Beige)

Justin ‘Sensible J’ Smith is a producer and percussionist whose talents you may have seen along with musical partner in crime Remi. They’ve been touring extensively around Australia and overseas since the release of Remi’s acclaimed debut album Raw x Infinity in 2014. An avid music fan with diverse music tastes and influences of his own, Sensible J…

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Catching up with Oh Wonder (UK) ahead of a wild year of touring and new music!

When I sat down with London duo Oh Wonder at The Great Escape, we were a world away from the last time we met, just prior to New Year’s Eve at the Falls Festival in Victoria. For one thing, it wasn’t 40-something degrees. For another, we’d swapped the makeshift backstage set up at Mt. Duneed for…

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The State of Affairs (3rd June 2016): Concerns over the government’s draft report on Intellectual Property in Australia, ISPA honours Archie Roach AM with Distinguished Artist Award & more!

This week in the music industry: the Productivity Commission’s draft report on the inquiry into Intellectual Property in Australia has raised some concerns within the music industry, and celebrated Australian musician Archie Roach AM received the Distinguished Artist Award at the 2016 ISPA Congress. Industry concern over draft report on the inquiry into Australian Intellectual Property …

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