Month: January 2020

Sigmund

Track of the Day: Sigmund “Given Up On Hope” (2020)

“Given Up On Hope” is the new single from Faroese singer-songwriter Sigmund. Recorded last year in an old knitting factory, the track is Sigmund’s first ‘new’ release since 2014. It’s a short, sweet injection of twangy bluesy rock; and I’m very much here for it. I stumbled across Sigmund and his music almost by accident….

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The Ninth Sorceress

Interview: Author Bonnie Wynne takes us through debut novel The Ninth Sorceress

There’s just a few weeks to go until the release of The Ninth Sorceress, the debut novel from author Bonnie Wynne. We were lucky enough to grab five minutes with her in the (very busy) run up to release day! First of all, can you tell us what The Ninth Sorceress is all about? (No…

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Bronze Lands

Sydney Festival Review: Robert Curgenven’s Bronze Lands (Tailte Cré-Umha) is building and body as instrument

Pipe organs are interesting, yet largely under-utilised beasts. Built into the grand expanse of the building, the organ at Sydney Town Hall is not an instrument in itself but rather turns the entire building into one. Ireland-based Australian composer and artist Robert Curgenven utilised this to its full extent in his immersive production: Bronze Lands (Tailte…

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Star Trek: Picard

First Impressions: Star Trek: Picard strikes a tentative but intriguing balance between the old and the new

Star Trek as a franchise has been going for more than fifty years and its fans are definitely known for their passion and devotion to the characters and stories. One such character is Captain Jean-Luc Picard, portrayed by Sir Patrick Stewart. A new series from CBS All Access, created by Alex Kurtzman, and distributed by Amazon Prime…

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Sydney Festival Live Review: Poof! Secrets of a Magician proves James Galea is a card boasting humour that is far from sleight

Magic is so often about secrets, smoke and mirrors, but James Galea also adds a dash of silliness to the mix. The hip youngster projects a cool and calm exterior that is so charming. He also has an irreverent sense of humour; his tongue is placed firmly in cheek. In Poof! Secrets of a Magician…

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Track of the Day: Four Year Strong “Talking Myself In Circles” (2020)

It’s been five years since Massachusetts pop punkers Four Year Strong released their self-titled sixth album. Now they’ve kicked off 2020 with news about the much awaited seventh, titled Brain Pain and due for release on February 28th. “Talking Myself In Circles” is one of two glimpses we’ve had at the forthcoming release, alongside the…

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Sick as hell Resident Evil 3 Collector’s Edition coming to Australia

We don’t often get excited about collector’s editions around here, but this Resident Evil 3 package is pretty special. So what’s in it? This set contains a high-quality statue of RE3 heroine Jill Valentine, a printed art book, poster map of Raccoon City and a 2-disc soundtrack. You can snap it up at JB Hifi…

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Why Chicago International Film Festival is worth travelling for in 2020

In its 55th year of competition, the Chicago International Film Festival – the longest-running of its kind in the USA – once again acted as a beacon for cinephiles the world over, showcasing meaningful works across various genres and countries. Film festivals have long been considered some of the greatest and most impactful destination events…

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Best hostels in the world named at the 17th annual HOSCAR awards

Dubbed the “HOSCARS”, HostelWorld’s annual crowd-voted round-up of the world’s best hotels has been released. Once again, it’s a deep-drive into hostels around the world that are a cut above the average, named across various categories which give budget-conscious travellers greater insight into the quality and reliability of properties. The awards are based on more…

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Lonely Planet launches 300 tours worldwide focusing on sustainable travel

The shift towards travelling more responsibility has been gaining steady traction over the past few years, but never has it felt more pervasive. It’s now common knowledge that socially conscious travel trends resonate with a wider number of people, especially younger generations who have come into a world ravaged by overtourism and careless daily practices….

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How to spend the perfect weekend in New Caledonia

Designated an official Overseas French Territory, New Caledonia is the closest slice of that delicious European lifestyle for Australian travellers looking to escape. The unique blend of its unmistakable South Pacific vibes and prevalent French influences make this major scuba diving and gourmand destination one of the most essential getaways for Aussies who have limited…

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Film Review: Underwater is a sufficient but sometimes suffocating disaster film

January can be a bit of a dead zone for films, so it’s not a huge surprise that Underwater has ended up in this release period. A film that Disney, courtesy of its Fox acquisition, wound up with. It was completed back in 2017 and has been waiting for a better time to be released….

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jungle giants Sending Me Ur Loving

Track of the Day: The Jungle Giants “Sending Me Ur Loving” (2020)

One of our favourite bands The Jungle Giants are back with a new single, “Sending Me Ur Loving”. It’s trademark Jungle Giants, with the jangly guitars, soaring vocals and a tune you want to shake your booty to. Sam Hales, the lead singer, says of the track “Sending Me Ur Loving has been with me…

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Flying Lotus

Here’s where you can catch Flying Lotus in-store this week

Flying Lotus makes his long-awaited return to Australian shores this week, bringing his cosmic 3D live show to a series of East Coast dates this weekend. Whilst in the country the LA artist will be hosting a handful of exclusive and intimate in store appearances, taking place at Melbourne’s Northside Records and Sydney’s Network Connections….

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Bad Friday 2020 Is Expanding To A Bad Weekend With Two Days Of Music

Bad Friday Festival just got a whole lot more badass. The Sydney institution of a festival, Bad Friday (that ironically falls on Good Friday for all you angels out there) is expanding to corrupt you one day longer. That’s right, we’ve got a Bad Friday AND Saturday on our hands. The expansion of the festival…

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Here’s where you can see the 14 Australian artists playing Folk Alliance International in New Orleans this week

On Wednesday, the Folk music scene is heading to New Orleans for the 32rd installment of the Folk Alliance International Conference, presented by Folk Alliance International, the world’s largest gathering of the folk music industry and community. Usually the February conference is held in Kansas City, but this year – following a year in Montreal…

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The best ways to spend 24 Hours in Jasper, Alberta

The great Canadian Rockies are, rightfully, always found near the very top when adventurous travellers reveal their bucket list. Why? Well, exploring this immense and memorable part of the world is not just a true journey into powerful natural landscapes, but a path that might just redefine the way you think about travel and its…

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Track of the Day: Brielle Ansems “More Than My Heart” (2020)

If you’re looking for a soulful slice of folk-pop, look no further! Canadian singer-songwriter Brielle Ansems has just dropped her latest single, “More Than My Heart“, and it’s absolutely stunning! Based on Prince Edward Island, Brielle has immersed herself in the community’s creative scene, crafting an emotive sound that blends pop, folk, and R&B influences….

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Azerai Can Tho Resort Review: Wellness and relaxation on the Mekong Delta

It’d be tough being the very first Azerai property, being that it’s a brand started by famed hotelier Adrian Zecha and operating under the inevitably high expectations that come with the territory. The award-winning Indonesian stalwart is most famed as the founder of the super luxurious Aman hotel brand, which now boasts acclaimed properties everywhere…

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The ultimate guide to Phuket, for people who can’t stand Patong

If you’ve cringed at the thought of making your way to Thailand’s tourism hotspot of Phuket, then Patong is probably to blame. The island’s resort town and party centre is a constant reference for bad impressions. Although, this garish, hyper-boganised side of Phuket is a far cry from the rest of the island, with many…

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Cruising the Mekong: Best things to do in Can Tho, Vietnam

Can Tho, Vietnam may not be the first city on everyone’s bucket list, but don’t mistake it’s relative obscurity for anything but a lack of exposure. As the biggest city along the famed Mekong Delta, it is now enjoying a swift boost in interest from those looking to explore the diverse country, thanks to greater…

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Aussies Abroad: Jack River, Didirri and Alex The Astronaut are touring North America together

We at the AU are a huge fan of amazing bills of Australians going to tour overseas together, and your latest favourite threesome have just announced they’ll be playing some shows in the US and Canada together for the first time. Aussie acts Didirri, Alex The Astronaut and Jack River are all headed to SXSW…

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Everything you should do at Cape Town’s bustling V&A Waterfront

The historic Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is an essential part of any Cape Town itinerary. Shadowed by heaving Table Mountain and populated with restaurants, bars, shops and museums, the port is one of the most visually stunning precincts in the world. From what was once built as a refreshing station in at The Cape of…

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Melbourne Zoo Twilights kick off their 2020 Season this weekend with Confidence Man and Icehouse

Melbourne Zoo Twilights will be kicking off their amazing new season very soon. Whilst many shows have sold out, there are still tickets available for an eclectic range of performances to suit any musical tastebud. Get a group together because you’re all invited to spend summer nights watching favourite artists in the lush surrounds of…

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Sydney Festival Review: Anthem is a poignant yet entertaining look at Australia’s despair

An all-star collaboration of sorts, Anthem sees acclaimed writers Christos Tsolkas, Patricia Corneleus, Andrew Bovell and Melissa Reeves reunite with composer Irene Vela following their 90s-era play Who’s Afraid of the Working Class? A series of stories interweave through the backdrop of Melbourne’s train network, with a range of characters thrust together on public transport…

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Why Santa Rosa is one of the best weekends away from San Francisco

People talk of some kind of imagined competition between Sonoma and Napa, both highly touted regions of California Wine Country; the reality is that both regions are as the strong as each other. Sure, Napa may just have a prestigious edge to its international reputation, but the much larger Sonoma County, with its 13 AVA’s…

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Samoaja

Track of the Day: Samoaja “Their Sons and Daughters” (2020)

Formed in 2014, Samoaja are a four-piece ‘Landscape Pop’ band from Finland. Musically, the group blend Nordic soundscapes with a modern folk sensibility and haunting melodies. It all makes for a sound that is high on the atmospherics and ambience. Earlier this month, Samoaja kicked off 2020 with the release of their new single, “Their…

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The Astro Motel Review: Big on personality in Santa Rosa, California

Making the short 2 hour drive from San Francisco to Santa Rosa is always a popular way to start any California Wine Country adventure. After all, the Sonoma County city is one of the best located destinations for anyone wanting to get away to the country side and really dig into some of the most…

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Sex Education

Netflix’s Sex Education Season 2 matures but remains wildly fun and refreshingly honest

Sex Education was a sleeper hit for Netflix in 2019. The show starring Asa Butterfield, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey and Gillian Anderson and a whole bunch more, finally brought some real world teenage angst about relationships to the small screen. Otis (Butterfield) whose mother Jean (Anderson) is a sex therapist, decides to team up with…

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