Year: 2019

Film Review: Apollo 11 steps back in time with a journey to the moon

Apollo 11 is a documentary that takes you to the moon and back. Literally. This feature-length film comes hot on the tails of First Man and Hidden Figures. It proves that there is still plenty of mileage to be had from this extraordinary, historical feat. This is directed by Todd Douglas Miller who is used…

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Film Review: The Lion King is beautiful to watch but lacks the full roar

We all know that Disney reworking its own animated films into “live action” remakes is purely for the box office dollars. Those of us old enough to remember the originals, having seen them in the cinema, and blasting the soundtracks into our subconscious and poring over every bit of dialogue, are all too aware. What…

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MIFF Set to Showcase 16 Virtual Reality Films This Year

Arts House and the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) have announced a new partnership which will aid the production of various films based around untold stories and new technologies, supporting artists, filmmakers and VR experts alike at this year’s festival. While MIFF VR has featured at each festival since 2016, the virtual-reality landscape has never…

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Track of the Day: Bakers Eddy “Can’t Afford It” (2019)

Today’s track of the day is from Melbourne-based, but originally from Wellington in NZ, punk rockers Bakers Eddy. The band formed when three high school friends decided they would rather be in a band than skating all the time. Lead singer Ciarann Babbington, drummer Jamie Gordon and bass player Ian Spagnolo got the band started,…

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Exclusive Album Premiere: The Barren Spinsters “Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking” (2019)

We’ve got the exclusive premier of the new album of Barren Spinsters. They are a two-piece, but sound like there’s a few more musicians joining the party. Brendon Houlahan takes up duties on guitars and vocals, with Matt Tennant on drums. They play 70’s rock with their own modern thrashy interperation. These guys are here for a good…

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Photo Gallery: Bello Winter Music – Bellingen, NSW (12-14.07.19)

The Bello Winter Music festival wrapped up on Sunday night, and what a successful event it was yet again. It was difficult to isolate particular highlights, but special mention must go to Tammi Savoy and The Chris Casello Combo. It was like going on a trip back in time, with the beautiful vintage dresses and soulful voice…

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How to travel more sustainably: A conversation with activist Sarain Fox

Travelling consciously and ethically is not really an option if you’re aware of what’s happening around the world; it’s a necessity. While ‘sustainable travel’ has been a word on the lips of everyone throughout the travel industry over the past two to three years, it would be a huge error to see such a notion…

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Interview: Arno Faraji (AUS) on lessons learned, debut headline tour, and bucketlist gigs

Though he’s been on the road the likes of Rejjie Snow and Tkay Maidza, young Australian artist Arno Faraji is yet to head out on his own headline tour. That’s all going to change in a matter of weeks, as the 18 year old rapper and multi-instrumentalist from Perth kicks off a string of performances…

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Sydney Contemporary announce Opening Night, Performance Contemporary, and Kid Contemporary programs – as well as something new!

One of the most celebrated art events on Sydney’s cultural calendar, international art fair Sydney Contemporary has this year announced a new curated strain, running alongside their much anticipated Opening Night, Performance Contemporary, and Kid Contemporary programs. New program NEXT will focus on cutting edge contemporary art, produced by emerging artists under the age of…

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Photo Gallery: The Lion King – Sydney Premiere (16.07.19)

VIP guests and celebrities were greeted with an amazing spectacle whilst walking the red carpet for the Sydney premiere of the new live action Disney film The Lion King

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Staying in Dubai just got much cheaper with this new partnership

Some of the UAE’s most prestigious hotels have jumped on board with Emirates in an exclusive partnership between the airline and juggernaut hotel groups such as Accor and Marriot. Aussie travellers are set to benefit greatly this summer, with Emirates flights to Dubai opening them up to substantially cheaper accommodation at partner hotels. Given saving…

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Sri Panwa Review: Phuket’s legendary luxury resort as vital as ever

Often cited as the kind of bucketlist stay that alone is worth the trip to Phuket, legendary resort Sri Panwa has maintained a league of its own since opening in 2005. Almost 15 years later, the property, which tops the jagged jungled-covered Cape Panwa along the island’s south-eastern tip, has welcomed celebrities and royal family…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: Polymer “Believers” 2019

We’ve got an Exclusive Video Premiere to start the week off from Sydney rockers Polymer. The single is taken from their forthcoming debut LP Zealots Box.  The hard-hitting trio was formed in 2018 and features members of Samsara and Age of Menace.  The band is comprised of Anthony Semrani on vocals and guitar, Constantine Kotsiras…

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Finish Him: Mortal Kombat movie will be R rated, feature fatalities

As the brand new Mortal Kombat film readies filming in South Australia this year, a juicy piece of news has been confirmed by writer Greg Russo via Twitter. This upcoming Mortal Kombat film, which is schedule for a released of 5th March 2021, will be the first in the franchise to be rated R in…

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Track of the Day: Common Feat. Swizz Beatz “Hercules” (2019)

Top-tier emcee Common is gearing up to release a brand new album next month, and for the latest single he’s hooked up with a surprising collaborator. Offering the mighty “Hercules” as the follow-up to soulful cut “HER Love”, the Chicago emcee linked up with veteran producer Swizz Beatz who turns in a beastly drum pattern…

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Track of the Day: Hallie “Nice Like Rice” (2019)

Melodic, instantly singalong-able, and with tongue firmly in cheek, “Nice Like Rice” is the latest single from Brisbane’s Hallie. Telling the tale of a friendship gone stale, “Nice Like Rice” marks a slight musical shift for the singer-songwriter, who’s been slipping a few more rock influences into her sound ahead of the September release of…

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Photo Gallery: Bello Gala Night – Bellingen, NSW (11.07.19)

The Bello Winter Music festival got off to a triumphant start last night with the Opening Gala. The gala night is held in the memorial hall, and is made up of abbreviated sets from many of the artists of the festival. As is tradition, Mandy Nolan is the MC, and despite her attempt at offending…

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Track of the Day: Remi Feat. Whosane “5 A.M.” (2019)

Remi, the duo of Melbourne emcee Remi Kolawole and producer Sensible J, have been quiet on all fronts as of late. No more. The House of Beige artists have teamed with Whosane for a slick track called “5 A.M.”, bubbling back to the forefront of the local hip hop scene with this muse on a…

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Interview: Author Helen Scheuerer talks closing out The Oremere Chronicles, lessons learned, and new adventures

Author Helen Scheuerer is just a couple of weeks away from wrapping up her Amazon best selling series The Oremere Chronicles. With War of Mist due out on July 25th, we caught up with her to find out as much as we could about the epic finale! So, we’re just a few weeks out from the…

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VisionDirect are making sunglasses from old fishing nets pulled from Great Barrier Reef

When you think of a pair of slick and stylish sunglasses, it’d be pretty understandable of the words ‘fishing net’ never came to mind. Although they should now. VisionDirect’s Arise Collective brand and WWF have teamed to offer an inventive take on sustainable fashion with a new range of “ReefCycle” sunglasses, upcycled from a retired…

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Australians now have easier access to Porto with Emirates’ new service

Just in time for the European summer, Emirates have launched their highly anticipated four time weekly service to the Portuguese city of Porto, opening Australians up to an increasingly popular destination. This marks the airline’s second destination in Portugal, operating non-stop to and from their Dubai hub. Australians are able to benefit greatly from the…

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Merivale has launched a tightly curated online bottle shop

Those discerning folk at Merivale have taken the celebrated wine retail experience at CBD hotspot Palings Lane and reimainged it as an online service simply dubbed The Bottle Shop. Pulling on the experience and curatorial knowhow of the group’s Master Sommeliers, this online shop will feature an exclusive range of wine, beer and spirits (with…

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Live Review: Eliott + Morgan Bain + Shannen James – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (06.07.19)

Melbourne was treated to a wonderful selection of artists on Saturday night as Eliott celebrated her release of “Shaking My Hips” by performing at Northcote Social Club alongside Shannen James and Morgan Bain. It may have been a late night out, but it was worth braving Melbourne’s cold travelling to Northcote to see all three…

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Film Review: Stuber is an Uber-amusing three-star ride

Buddy comedies are a dime-a-dozen these days. And much like romantic films, they rely on the chemistry of the leads to succeed. An original plot? Unimportant. Solid acting? No need. If the chemistry works between the leads, then it should offset a lot of the film’s flaws. Case in point, Michael Dowse‘s action-comedy Stuber, a…

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Track of the Day: The Holy Smoke “Lay Your Head Down” (2019)

WA trio The Holy Smoke have just dropped their debut EP The River, and it’s filled with some of the most soulful folk music you’re likely to hear this year. To celebrate the release, we’re naming their single “Lay Your Head Down” as our track of the day – just a little teaser of what…

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Five places in the US (and one in Australia) to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing

July 20th marks the 50th anniversary of the historic Moon landing in 1969 – a feat which would be as remarkable today as it was back then. Many of the sites around the world which played a part in this achievement of human engineering, against the backdrop of the Cold War, are celebrating the anniversary…

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Does Air Canada’s Preferred Seating make a difference? We flew Hong Kong to Vancouver to find out

Over the weekend, I flew on Air Canada‘s long haul service from Hong Kong to Vancouver on the Boeing 777. On the flight, I enjoyed an upgrade to the airline’s “Preferred Seating”, which is essentially any seat in economy with extra leg room, which will normally set you back an extra C$130 or so. Those…

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Track of the Day: Lorelei “I Am a Road” (2019)

We have a lovely dreamy track today courtesy of Lorelei. Lorelei is comprised of Claudia Schmidt (Betty and Oswald, Brightness) and Arlen McCarthy. I had been lucky enough to see Betty and Oswald live a number of times, and was always taken with the vocals of Claudia. It is great to see her re-emerge in this new…

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Moss in Salamanca Place is Hobart’s newest boutique hotel

Gorgeous Georgian sandstone warehouses located in Hobart’s historic Salamanca Place have now been transformed into a new 41-room boutique hotel. With the simple title of Moss, the newest property from Behrakis Group is seeking to bring a bit of Tasmania’s wild natural landscape into these buildings with design that makes full use of vertical internal…

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Film Review: Booksmart is so damn good, you’d want to rub your face in it

The fact that the existence of another raunchy teen comedy — jam-packed with sex, drugs and alcohol — may not mean much but it has been a very long time since I have heard this much hype for a comedy such as Booksmart. Ever since its premiere at this year’s South by Southwest, it has…

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