Month: November 2017

Circus Oz launch a rock opera season featuring Europop duo Otto & Astrid

Circus Oz are mixing things up in their upcoming season by creating circus rock opera performance, The Strange and Spektakulär Lives of Otto & Astrid. Artist Director Rob Tannion has brought Otto & Astrid from the Berlin-based band Die Roten Punkte onboard to lead the instrumentals. The duo will perform alongside the evocative Circus Oz acrobats. A sneak peak…

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Theatre Review: Silent Night brings an early dose of Christmas cheer (until 10th December)

What is Christmas like with your family? I can guarantee it’s not nearly as dysfunctional as the one depicted in Mary Rachel Brown’s new play, Silent Night. Chock-full of jokes and characters that have to be seen to be believed, this is a play that makes the final rush to the supermarket on Christmas Eve…

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Feast Festival Review: Brodie John bares his soul in Burlesque by Force at Nexus Arts in Adelaide

On the same day that Australia voted “yes” to marriage equality, Brodie John presented his brave and personal account of childhood sexual abuse. Dressed in drag and playing to an imaginary audience side stage, we are plunged into an intimate moment of rapture with Brodie as he takes his final bow. He then begins the…

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Book Review: Alan Burdick’s Why Time Flies is an intriguing look into time and its many facets

Alan Burdick’s book, Why Time Flies: A Mostly Scientific Investigation is one with a fascinating premise that we can all relate to. A staff writer from the New Yorker, Burdick specialises in penning articles about science and technology. Here, he poses the question, “What is time and why does it speed up as we age…

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Book Review: Hannah Jewell’s 100 Nasty Women of History will help you find your new favourite historical figure

Join The Washington Post’s pop culture editor Hannah Jewell as she plucks (almost) forgotten women from the historical cutting room floor. From artists to investigative reporters, scientists to queens, political firebrands to murderers, there’s no such thing as the delicate fairer sex here. Get in the kitchen and make you sandwich? Puh-lease. I’ve got an…

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Five Albums You Must Listen to This Week (#014)

From landmark albums to impressive 2017 debuts, our list of recommendations should have your playlist lookin’ pretty!   ECCA VANDAL – Self-Titled (2017) By Sosefina Fuamoli We have been championing Ecca Vandal for a good few years now and it feels like, with the release of her self-titled debut album, the Melbourne artist has finally come full…

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Single of the Day: Jesswar “Savage” (2017)

Well, damn. Jesswar is definitely not playing round. “Savage” is the latest from the Brisbane MC; as her rise within the local hip hop game is only gaining more strength behind it, this may well be the single to solidify her presence as not only an artist to watch, but definitely not one to be messed…

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Single of the Day: Hideous Sun Demon “Hard Out” (2017)

Hideous Sun Demon have been storming their way through 2017; a ferocious approach to psych/punk has landed the Perth lads in the eyes of many as a definite band to watch and with a New Year upon us, we can’t wait to see how they attack it. In the meantime, we’re loving their latest single,…

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Cut Copy’s Australian tour is an absolute must; tickets on sale now!

Cut Copy‘s return has been one I know I’ve been hanging out for, for a long time. A lot of fond memories are attached to this group; not only were they one of the first Australian electronic acts to introduce me further to the flourishing genre in the early 2010’s, but with each album release,…

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Music Video of the Day: Neon Tetra “Run From The Ruins” (2017)

Adelaide’s Neon Tetra have been racking up the good nods recently, spending this year focused on getting singles out and man, they’ve been well-received. “Telescopes” and “Reflections” have brought the group to a larger audience, blending rock grooves with excellent pop melody, landing Neon Tetra on the radars of triple j Unearthed, and on the stage…

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Kate Miller-Heidke returns to the Australian tour scene with a string quartet in tow

Easily one of the country’s best and ever-intriguing vocalists, queen Kate Miller-Heidke is returning to venues around the country early next year. Pouring new arrangements into her live show, while incorporating work with a string quartet into her already well established and crafted body of alternative pop work, Miller-Heidke is armed with a new and unmissable…

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Oh Wonder mark debut visit to Adelaide with Sydney City Limits sideshow news

One of our favourite groups out of London in Oh Wonder will be returning to Australia next year for Sydney City Limits and have been awesome enough to lock in some headline shows around the country for fans unable to get to the festival too! The duo will be heading to venues in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and…

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Interview: Jordan Rakei on a darker Wallflower and returning to Australia for summer

Jordan Rakei is coming home. Now based in London, the 25 year old has been revelling in the release of his much anticipated sophomore album Wallflower, a fitting follow up to what was an absolute smash of a debut in 2016’s Cloak. “I just sort of hibernate in London,” he laughs during our recent chat. “This time…

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Games Review: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Switch, 2017): Return of the King

Reliving the opening moments of Skyrim always feels a lot like going home. The music, atmosphere and landscapes always bring me right back to my first moments with the game, when I first discovered how monumental and incredible the game truly was. It feels strange, then, to be reviewing it in 2017, six years after…

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Games Review: Ashes Cricket (PS4, 2017): Big Ant rack up an impressive strike rate

I know, I know, it’s a review of a cricket game. Those of you that don’t care about cricket have already regarded the headline of this piece with a disgusted look. Those of you that do like cricket are already wary. Video game representations of sports Australians like aren’t reliably … good. At all. But…

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Interview: Brand USA’s Tom Garzilli on highlighting America’s Musical Journey with new IMAX film and campaign

In 2018, Brand USA will be embarking on an ambitious promotional strategy that will see them highlight the vast musical history of the United States. It makes sense – the US not only produces the vast majority of the world’s most recognisable artists, but also some of the world’s most iconic events. Coachella. Lollapalooza. New…

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Could sustainable seafood and poke restaurant Salmon & Bear be expanding?

Two years since it first opened in Sydney, Salmon & Bear has been a true gift for lovers of high-quality, accessible and sustainable seafood. Now with two locations, Zetland and Newtown, the casual seafood eatery is well-placed to complement the rise of more health-conscious dining in Sydney, as well as food trends like the now…

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A Reminder: A Weekend in the Gardens offers up possibly the best way to spend your weekend in Melbourne

Starting on Friday, A Weekend in The Gardens is giving Melbourne music lovers three days of prime live music. From one of Australia’s greatest songwriters in Paul Kelly, to some of the country’s best hip hop artists and songwriting collectives, the three-day festival event is not like your usual branded series of shows. Playing to the likes…

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Single of the Day: Essie Holt “Underwater” (2017)

Essie Holt is only new on the scene but with her debut single “Underwater”, we’re pretty sure hers is a name we’re going to be hearing a lot more of in time. The song itself is lush, a great indie-pop tune, priding itself off gorgeous builds and excellently produced vocals (thanks to Joel Quartermain and Dave Hammer)….

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The Libertines, Car Seat Headrest among Sydney City Limits artists to confirm sideshows

The sideshow news keeps on coming today, as Sydney City Limits artists unleash details of their own headline shows for the Aussie east coast in early 2018. While Phoenix revealed extra shows for Melbourne and Brisbane, the likes of The Libertines, Car Seat Headrest, The Avalanches and more have also been counted as festival names soon to be extending…

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Archie Roach celebrating 20 years of Looking For Butter Boy in Melbourne this December

He’s one of Australia’s best loved performers and storytellers; Archie Roach‘s music is still as resonant now as it was when first released, which says something about the longevity within his creations. Celebrating 20 years since the release of his third album, the acclaimed Looking For Butter Boy, Archie will be bringing the album to the Corner…

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Melbourne’s Backyard delve into their debut EP, track by track

Melbourne’s Backyard have been enjoying the recent release of their self-titled debut EP, taking it on the road with Fountaineer this month. The EP has already spawned popular tracks in “Royal Park” and “Reality Television”, while the overall sound of the Backyard EP has indicated that this is a band very much at the beginning of their rise…

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Music Video of the Day: The Tambourine Girls “You Don’t See Me” (2017)

The Tambourine Girls unleash the music video for their new single “You Don’t See Me” as a pretty top notch way of getting fans keen for the next few months ahead. Result: It definitely worked. Due out officially this Friday, “You Don’t See Me” is more than a quick listen for a jolt of indie…

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Phoenix flies again! French indie favourites announce headline Australian dates

Remember when “Lizstomania” was the anthem of every goddamn summer festival or party you attended back in 2009/2010? Who else could have been producing such effortlessly dance-able indie music that side of France but Phoenix. Since Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix broke the band in global markets, the band has become a favourite on the live circuit though admittedly,…

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Interview: Julianna Barwick wills magic for Melbourne Music Week

American electronic-musician Julianna Barwick has been taken far-and-wide thanks to her music. At the time of the interview, a tired and jet-lagged Barwick is in Berlin, awaiting a flight to Barcelona. “I can’t wait to see what my brain feels like when I’m in Australia,” she laughs. Live and on record, Barwick’s experimental choral-music billows…

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Interview: Justine Clarke on her new children’s television show & album release

Justine Clarke is a legend of Australian stage, screen and music. She began her career at age seven and has since spent three decades working in the industry. Most recently you may have seen her in the miniseries Hoges or as Diane in the 2016 film Red Dog: True Blue. Now she’s about to release…

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Film Review: Justice League (USA, 2017) is a fun yet inconsistent ride that breezes by on the charm of its cast

It’s been something of an arduous trek but the Justice League have finally made their way to the big screen.  Long before Joss Whedon earned the tick of approval from comic enthusiasts the world over with his take on The Avengers, George Miller (Mad Max, Happy Feet) was planning on brining the titular crew to…

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Film Review: Borg vs McEnroe (Sweden, 2017) is an uneven film that never feels complete

Borg vs McEnroe feels like a film more tailored for the streaming services market.  A minor feature that’s likely to only really be of interest to tennis fanatics, and even then they might prefer a more traditional documentary, Janus Metz Pedersen‘s drama never feels like a complete production, despite its substantial focus on Bjorn Borg…

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Australian Box Office Report: Murder on the Orient Express arrives in 1st place

This week’s box office charts saw a strong opening weekend for Murder On The Orient Express, which went straight to no. 1, earning $3.85m.  This Kenneth Branagh-directed adaptation of the the Agatha Christie mystery classic premiered on 333 screens nationally, and managed an impressive screen average of $11,565. Hot on its caboose was last week’s no. 1 film, Thor: Ragnarok, in…

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Win an Atomic Blonde prize pack including signed copy of the graphic novel

Oscar-winner Charlize Theron stars as MI6’s most lethal assassin and the crown jewel of her Majesty’s secret intelligence service, Lorraine Broughton, in Atomic Blonde. When she’s sent on a covert mission into Cold War Berlin, she must use all the spy craft, sensuality and savagery she has to stay alive in a city simmering with…

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