Month: November 2018

Live Review: Alex The Astronaut + Hachiku – The Factory Theatre, Marrickville (29.11.18)

Alex The Astronaut has definitely been kicking a few goals the past couple of years. From moving back to Australia, to releasing both of her EPs, to gracing the higher echelons of The Hottest 100, she has been flat chat. And in amongst all these feats, she’s still found the time to tour religiously and…

Read More

Photos: Backstage with all the Winners at the 2018 ARIA Awards ft. 5 Seconds of Summer, Amy Shark and more

Nathan Atkins was backstage at the 2018 ARIA Awards capturing all the winners as they came through. Here’s a list of all the winners from the 2018 event, and the photos of the lucky winners with their pointy trophies… Apple Music Song Of The Year 5 Seconds Of Summer – Youngblood (Capitol UK/EMI) Apple Music…

Read More

Photo Gallery: 2018 ARIA Awards Red Carpet – Star Event Centre, Sydney (28.11.18)

Nathan Atkins takes us onto the exclusive red carpet of the 2018 ARIA Awards in Sydney to see the likes of Cub Sport, Peking Duk, Amy Shark, a surprise appearance by Bob Geldof and many more.

Read More

Review: Bloc Party return to Sydney’s Hordern Pavillion for two shows celebrating their iconic debut Silent Alarm

The Silent Alarm tour brought Bloc Party back to a venue that saw them play some of the most memorable shows off the back of A Weekend in the City some 10 years ago. Though the first show of two in Sydney, it was the second show announced after the first sold out, so it…

Read More

Photo Gallery: Bloc Party + Haiku Hands – Hordern Pavillion, Sydney (29.11.18)

Bloc Party hit the Hordern Pavillion last night and it was a massive party. The crowd celebrating the band playing their classic album Silent Alarm in its entirety. They even played ‘Little Thoughts’, which was a bonus track on the UK re-release. Photos by Bruce Baker.

Read More

Film Review: Sorry To Bother You (USA, 2018) proves a wildly original satirical comedy

Boots Riley has over two decades of powerful, biting and important work behind him as emcee of The Coup, so Sorry for Bothering You, his directorial debut, isn’t as big of a leap as it appears to be for the artist. Well, it’s not big in the sense that smart political satire is anything new…

Read More

Film Review: Creed II (USA, 2018) may not touch gloves with its predecessor, but it still packs a mighty punch

If there’s one franchise that I am utterly surprised that it is still ongoing at this point, it is the franchise of Rocky Balboa by Sylvester Stallone. Proving you can’t keep a fighter down (or you can’t stop beating a dead horse), writer/director Ryan Coogler came up with the idea to reinvigorate the franchise without…

Read More

Interview: Sam Bentley from The Paper Kites talks Twilight at Taronga and the surprise rebirth of “Bloom”

We recently caught up with Sam Bentley from The Paper Kites to chat about their recently announced 2019 Australian tour and their appearance as part of the Twilight at Taronga series. Also on the agenda was their new releases from this year: On The Train Ride Home and On The Corner Where You Live.  2018 has been an incredible year for…

Read More

Track of the Day: Ribs “Bad Coffee” (2018)

Ribs is the immersive, heartfelt musical project of award-winning Perth artist Georgina Cramond. “Bad Coffee” is her highly anticipated debut single which was officially launched with a gig at The Bird last night. 2018 has been a huge year for Ribs, winning Best Newcomer at the Performing Arts WA Awards, for her solo music and…

Read More

Here’s what The Wombats played at their most intimate concert in Sydney ever for War Child

Earlier this week, War Child took UK superstars The Wombats into their smallest ever venue in Sydney – the Oxford Art Factory – for a very special performance that raised money for the great charity (whose work you can read more about in our interview HERE). They were supported by rising star in her own right,…

Read More

Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition has opened at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney

An interactive exhibition titled, Star Wars Identities has opened at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum. Designed for fans of all ages, the exhibition allows visitors to build their own unique and personal Star Wars character as they move through each interactive station. At the end of the exhibition, visitors will get to meet their unique creation.

Read More

Track of the Day: Driftwood “Higher Mentions” (2018)

The latest single from Australian singer-songwriter/producer on the rise, Driftwood, has been released. The track “Higher Mentions” is stunning both aurally and visually, thanks to the accompanying music video, which was filmed and directed by Driftwood himself. Beautifully captivating, the single is also the latest release for Mammal Sounds Records. A striking and emotive track,…

Read More

Film Review: Anna and the Apocalypse (UK, 2017) is funny, romantic, appropriately gory and deliriously catchy

When you think of zombie comedies, it’s difficult to look beyond the witty brilliance that is Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead (2004).  Whilst we’ve had our share of interesting takes on the walking dead in the years since, the arrival of Anna and the Apocalypse stands as the choreographed high-kick the genre needed.  Not…

Read More

Album Review: The 1975 – A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships (2018 LP)

Manchester pop stars The 1975 have divided critics and music lovers since their self titled debut album back in 2013. Lead singer Matthew Healy has been at the forefront of most of the distaste for the band, glorifying the drugs, sex and money culture to his adoring and impressionable teenage girl fanbase. Despite falling captive…

Read More

Book Review: Andrew Miller’s Now We Shall Be Entirely Free is a well-researched piece of literary historical fiction that, sadly, just misses the mark

On a stormy night in 1809, Captain John Lacroix returns home from a disastrous campaign on the Continent. Shaken by the events he witnessed in a little Spanish village while his army retreated, he cannot bring himself to report back to his regiment when the call comes. Instead, he deserts, making his way to the…

Read More

Win a bottle of Johnnie Walker’s limited edition Game of Thrones whisky

Love Game of Thrones? Love whisky? Then we have good news for you. Johnnie Walker and HBO have partnered up to release White Walker by Johnnie Walker – a new, limited edition Scotch whisky for fans to celebrate with, in anticipation of the eighth and final season of Game for Thrones, recently announced to return…

Read More

Interview: Julius Avery and Pilou Asbæk talk Overlord, mixing genres and working with JJ Abrams

It’s pretty obvious that war is nasty business, and can be pretty horrifying. So what happens when you make a World War II movie, that goes that extra step and adds in some Nazi zombies super soldiers in a bid to turn the war? Shit gets pretty crazy is what, and the new film Overlord does just that….

Read More

Track of the Day: The Paddy Cakes “Hollywood” (2018)

Gippsland rockers The Paddy Cakes have released their new track “Hollywood” as the first taste of their debut EP, due for release next year. Produced by Dylan Adams (Skeggs, DMA’s), the track is a punchy indie rock effort that has come just in time for summer. Catchy and fun, “Hollywood” is a solid Aussie alternative…

Read More

Set List Essentials: Five songs we hope Damien Rice plays on his first Australian tour in more than a decade

Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice has announced his return to Australia in February 2019 to perform his first shows in over ten years. Playing intimate venues in Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart, Bendigo and Melbourne, Rice will be playing his most iconic songs and fan favourites from My Favourite Faded Fantasy, which have yet to be played live for Aussie…

Read More

Aussies Abroad: Hands Like Houses joins epic rock lineup at Sonic Temple Festival in Ohio

The highly anticipated Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival lineup is here and it has not disappointed. Amongst the abundance of epic rock acts on the lineup is Canberra band, Hands Like Houses who will be representing the Aussies at the inaugural festival in Columbus, Ohio. Taking place in May 2019, Hands Like Houses will…

Read More

Album of the Week: Antony & Cleopatra – Hurt Like Hell (2018 EP)

No, we are not talking about the Shakespeare drama here, even if “Hurt Like Hell” was probably something Cleopatra would have said about her demise. Hurt Like Hell is the title of the new EP by the deep house Duo Antony & Cleopatra. The album was released on Friday and contains six ready-to-dance-to tracks packed with…

Read More

Book Review: Philip Norman’s Slowhand celebrates Eric Clapton’s life as a bluesbreaker

To some people, Eric Clapton is god. But for author and journalist, Philip Norman, the Slowhand guitarist is unquestionably human. A talented star sure, but also a fallible guy. Slowhand: The Life & Music of Eric Clapton is a detailed biography covering Clapton’s extraordinary career. Clapton’s life has been chronicled before. The legendary artist has…

Read More

It’s been a monumental year for RPG’s, but how did Bethesda miss the mark?

From what I’ve seen, 2018 has proven to be one thing, above a whole lot of other things: the year of the Role-Playing Game. Between releases like Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, Vampyr, Octopath: Traveler, Monster Hunter World, and new studio attempts at RPG’s like Ubisoft’s Assassins Creed Odyssey and Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2, we have been…

Read More

Track Of The Day: JXN “Solitude” (2018)

Australian Youtuber and Instagram influencer Jackson Brazier has gained millions of fans as the funny guy who always mucked around with music in his videos. The 25 year old year old has shown a new side to himself releasing his first single ‘Solitude’ under the stage name JXN. The Victorian musician taught himself to play…

Read More

Interview: War Child’s Head of Fundraising talks about coming to Australia with The Wombats

Tonight, UK Charity War Child – known for putting on incredible intimate gigs with artists like the Arctic Monkeys in the UK to support the great work they do – officially make their mark in Australia, putting on their first show as part of ARIA Week. Tonight, The Wombats will play the 500-capacity venue in…

Read More

Book Review: In Minette Walters’ The Turn of Midnight plague and political intrigue collide

Crime writer Minette Walters once again turns her hand to historical fiction, picking up where last year’s The Last Hours left off. As the Black Death continues its march across Europe, the small demesne of Develish owes its survival to the policies of cleanliness and isolation, put in place by Lady Anne and her closest…

Read More

Custom Made: A reflection on my painful desire to look good in video games

I have a crippling desire to look good in video games. It’s an unfathomably stupid impulse, but creating the most beautiful possible avatar in any given game is a habit I regularly give in to. I am certain I am not alone in this. To preface this piece – the two games I really threw…

Read More

Australian premiere of Mary Queen of Scots to launch 2019 season of St. George Open Cinema

In a royally exciting announcement, St. George Open Cinema has revealed that its 2019 season will be opening with the Australian premiere of Mary Queen of Scots. The film, which will be released in cinemas nationwide from 17th January 2019, will star Academy Award nominees Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street, Suicide Squad, I, Tonya)…

Read More

Photo Gallery: Paul Kelly joins Alex The Astronaut, Hachiku and Emily Soon in Melbourne

On Thursday night in Melbourne, Alex The Astronaut was joined on stage by the one and only Paul Kelly, with Hachiku and Emily Soon taking on support duties. Daniel Hanssen was there and brings us these photos from the show:

Read More

Live Review: Glades + Balu Brigada + LA Women – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (24.11.18)

Following the heavily anticipated drop of their new album (which was our recent Album of the Week), alt-pop trio Glades kicked off their five-show tour in Melbourne on Saturday night and left none of us disappointed. The band, formed in Sydney, released To Love You earlier this month and The Corner Hotel in Richmond was the perfect intimate setting…

Read More