Month: September 2018

Film Review: Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (USA, 2018) is a charming crowd-pleaser with a dash of irreverent humour

It may not seem like it, but it’s been ten years since director Gus Van Sant gave us the powerful and Oscar-winning biopic Milk. Since then, the filmmaker has been in somewhat of a slump, with three films (Restless, Promised Land, and The Sea of Trees) falling flat on their faces. You probably didn’t see any of them and you…

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Music Matters Interview: Why NZ duo Chores reckon Melbourne is better than Auckland

New Zealand producers Chores had a chat with the AU review during their recent stop in Singapore for Music Matters 2018. Although originally from Auckland, the boys are making the move to Melbourne, describing it as “the best city in the world.” Discussing Melbourne’s “thriving scene,” Chores acknowledge that “there’s just so much going on…

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Music Matters Interview: Eyre Llew (UK) on being “DIY”, playing South Korea and more

Ambient rockers Eyre Llew from Nottingham kicked off their Asian tour at Music Matters 2018 in Singapore. Enjoying their first time in Singapore, Eyre Llew appreciate that “Music Matters is drawing people from all over the world, you meet people from all different cultures and nationalities.” Having previously performed in South Korea, the UK band states…

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Games Review: Valkyria Chronicles 4 (PS4, 2018) is a fantastic return to a much loved series

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is a Japanese war-time strategy game with unique combat elements. I’ve never played a Valkyria Chronicles game before but I’m willing to try any game at least once, and I’m glad this is the one to introduce me to the franchise. Valkyria Chronicles 4 follows the story of Squad E, many of…

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Hotel Review: Novotel Surfers Paradise doesn’t trade location for service; turns out you can have both

Jumping off the tram from the Airport, right on Cavill Avenue on the Gold Coast, it didn’t take long to spot the towering structure that is the Novotel Surfers Paradise, which sat just meters from the spot. But if my memories of Schoolies some [REDACTED] years ago is anything to go by, a towering hotel…

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Live Review: Wolf Alice + Waax – Metro Theatre, Sydney (23.09.18)

I vividly remember the first time I heard Wolf Alice on the radio. I was driving back from uni flicking between the presets on my car radio. I was half way through the hour long trip, driving through a main road of Western Sydney. Flicking back onto Triple J, Linda Marigliano was spruiking this new…

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Track of the Day: Montgomery Church “I’m Gonna Love Her All The Time” (2018)

Earlier this month, NSW Alt. Country and Folk duo Montgomery Church were playing the iconic Bluebird Cafe in Nashville as part of the Americanafest. Now, they’re back in Australia and just dropped “I’m Gonna Love Her All The Time”, the second single from their debut record In the Shadow of the Mountain, which was released back in…

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Brisbane Festival Review: Destroyer (Canada) charms with a stripped-back performance

Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Bejar stood alone on the Brisbane Festival’s Spiegeltent stage. Bejar has performed as Destroyer since 1995, crafting 12 exquisite albums of complex, genre-defying music. But, for his debut Brisbane show, he stood alone with his acoustic guitar. “A lot of these songs are translated from different contexts, usually very noisy and with…

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Menulog is delivering burgapalooza exclusives to Sydney homes this week

The rip-roaring success of Burgapalooza, the returning burger festival which wrapped up it’s two-day gourmet outing in Parramatta this past weekend, ain’t over. Festival sponsors Menulog have rounded up the best event-exclusives from the weekend and is offering them up as limited edition delivery-only items, available to Sydney burger fiends from now up until Sunday…

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JBL’s new Endurance and Reflect headphones favour practicality, price and every workout

Whilst they still sound perfectly fine, these headphones aren’t designed to fulfill your audiophile desires and that’s okay because thanks to their cheap price point and practicality, JBL’s new range of workout headphones successfully become your workout partner – no matter the activity. From running to jumping and aerobics to swimming, the Endurance and Reflect…

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Interview: Handsome (Sydney) talks about embracing dancing, tomboy pop and No Hat No Play

On the last day of BIGSOUND 2018, Sydney-based performer HANDSOME has had a realisation. “Last night I danced for half a song and lost my breath. I feel like I probably need to exercise a bit more to actually do this role a bit of justice.” It’s understandable. Brisbane’s BIGSOUND is a massive event full of…

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Games Review: Forza Horizon 4 (Xbox One, 2018) has a rattle in the manifold, but you’ll love it anyway

I’ve come to look forward to new entries in the Forza Horizon series more than any mainline Forza Motorsport title. Eschewing the more serious simulation of its sister franchise, the heart of Horizon is built around a single question — are we having fun? In Forza Horizon 4, the answer is still yes. It’s just…

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Cary Elwes added to Sydney’s Oz Comic-Con and Stranger Things Season 3

Stranger Things left off last season with the gang saving the day yet again, but will all that come crashing down in season 3? Not much news on that front, however we do know who will be making an appearance! Cary Elwes, known for starring in Mel Brook’s Robin Hood: Men in Tights, his role in the…

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Australian Music Week Film Festival reveals 2018 lineup featuring Jen Cloher, Mogwai, Curse of Lono, Karnivool & More

This year’s Australian Music Week Film Festival has revealed a diverse lineup of feature and short films set to appear as part of the annual event, which takes place on November 10th and 11th at the GU Film House in Cronulla, NSW. Following on from the Australian Music Week industry conference (7-9 Nov), the film festival will feature six feature…

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Track of the Day: Jack Gray “My Hands” (2018)

Heading to Europe is pretty exciting for any normal person, but Jack Gray has taken it up a notch. The 20 year old musician from the Sunshine Coast is currently travelling Europe and the UK as the support on Dean Lewis’ sold out tour. Just before the artist hit the road, however, he treated fans…

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Music Matters Interview: Darling Brando (Sydney) talk about their debut in Singapore, songwriting and future plans

Band Darling Brando from Sydney, Australia have recently made their debut in Singapore. Band members Alex, Vlado, Dylan and Tom sat down with the AU review and shared with us their thoughts on performing live for the first time, writing songs together, the band’s plans for the future, and… coffee. Lots of coffee. The boys…

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Photo Gallery: Wolf Alice + WAAX – Metro Theatre, Sydney (23.09.18)

Having picked up the prestigious Mercury Prize in London for their second album, Visions of a Life, Wolf Alice jetted out to Australia for the first of a handful of shows around the country. Despite having only arrived on Sydney shores earlier that day, they were in top form at the Metro Theatre. WAAX filled…

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This historic food and wine festival is set in one of Canada’s most stunning towns

Anyone planning on exploring Canada’s fall season would be wise to head along to Whistler’s 22nd annual Cornucopia. The world renowned event, taking place from 8th to 18th November on the cusp of the town’s ski season at the iconic Whistler Blackcomb, is often recognised as one of North America’s most unique and diverse food…

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BIGSOUND Interview: The Beths (New Zealand) talk wizard rock and their debut album

Leading up to BIGSOUND 2018, there was a lot of gossip about New Zealand indie-pop band The Beths. But singer/guitarist Elizabeth Stokes says we could have been discussing a different band. “I tried to start a wizard rock band from the perspective of Hermione Granger when we first started the band, but I couldn’t do…

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Live Review: Hayden James + Happiness Is Wealth + Carmouflage Rose – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (21.09.18)

Enmore Theatre felt like it was hosting a festival set on Friday night for the Sydney show which was the closing city of Hayden James’ Just Friends tour. The all ages event in the record producer’s hometown brought overall a very young crowd who had seemingly pre-gamed and were ready to party all night long….

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MONA FOMA announces hilarious money-back guarantee for Launceston debut as 2019 dates are confirmed

The Tasmanian music and art festival MONA FOMA (Museum of Old and New Arts: Festival of Music and Arts) has announced the new location for its annual run in 2019. From next January on the MOFO will take place in the northern Tasmanian city of Launceston instead of being held at its usual Hobart location….

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Your Guide to Yours & Owls Festival 2018: Set Times, Map, Food, Footy and getting to Wollongong from Sydney

Next weekend, the long awaited Wollongong festival Yours & Owls will be kicking off. Watch your favorite Aussie bands go crazy on stage at Stuart Park on Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of September from 11:30am until 11:00pm. We hope you have secured tickets because this major NSW festival is packing fans from all over…

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First Impressions: Netflix’s mind-bending Maniac starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill from True Detective Director

With series like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, Netflix has cemented themselves as a platform that regularly delivers exciting original formats to binge watch. Well known for giving their writers and directors plenty of creative space to develop new material, series like like Black Mirror and Stranger Things have flourished. And now we have the thrilling Maniac, which playfully exhausts…

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Live Review: Ball Park Music, San Cisco and Ruby Fields deliver four hours of wonderful madness in Canberra

Everyone knows these days, “how Australian you are” comes down to how many Ball Park Music concerts you’ve seen. After five albums and a gazillion national tours it’s only fair that this Australian icon makes its way on to our $100 dollar note . Embodying everything we love about Australia and just being an all round…

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Melbourne Fringe Review: Jude Perl is talented, hilarious, genuine and everybody needs to go and see I Have a Face

Jude Perl made me think about a lot of things. Made me notice a lot of things. And she made me laugh more than I thought was actually physically possible. If I could give any person who chances to wander over this article a small snippet of life advice it would be this. Go and…

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Theatre Review: Beauty & The Beast delivers some entertaining, family-friendly fun (Glen Street Theatre to 29th September)

It’s a tale that is – by its own admission – one that is as ‘Old as time’. The story of Beauty & the Beast has inspired two-hit Disney films and the stage production has played all over the world. Stage Artz reprise their production to deliver an entertaining and family-friendly charity event. Stage Artz…

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Live Review: Noname impresses with Genesis Owusu and Colette to kick off Room 25 tour in Melbourne

At Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Friday evening, fans waded through AFL and Rugby goers to squeeze into a line to see one of the most exciting and adored rappers of 2018. Fresh off the release of her stellar album Room 25, Noname has a string of shows in Australia in addition to her spot in Listen Out…

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Review: Hotel Indigo’s brand new 1 Leicester Square location brings the West End to life (London)

Having an address as iconic as 1 Leicester Square might lead one to expect to find another overpriced London Hotel, resting on the laurels of its location rather than on the experience it could provide its guests. Rest assured, Hotel Indigo‘s newest residence, which opened earlier this year, goes above and beyond to present one…

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Track of the Day: Hein Cooper “Over Again” (2018)

We’ve long been fans of Hein Cooper here on the AU, and when he released his single “Hear My Voice” back in April, it had been a decent time between drinks for the Sydney Indie Pop artist. Turns out the singer/songwriter had been spending quite a bit of time writing in “British coastal towns and…

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Rockstar announces Red Dead Online, forthcoming beta

Red Dead Redemption 2 is getting multiplayer. Red Dead Online will be the online multiplayer component in Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2, and will operate in a similar manner to Grand Theft Auto Online. It will drop players into the full size, open world map of Red Dead Redemption 2, catering for massive lobbies of players,…

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