Year: 2020

Charlie Gradon

Track of the Day: Charlie Gradon “Grieving” (2020)

Northern Beaches multi-instrumentalist Charlie Gradon has dropped “Grieving”, his new single, and the first taste of his forthcoming sophomore EP, Blurry Ones. Created in his bedroom studio, the nostalgic track documents the bleak moments of a pretty bleak week.  With a near death experience, an album lost, and a band broken up, it was far…

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Bioware

Ex-Bioware staff creating new RPG at Wizards of the Coast

Wizards of the Coast, known for tabletop giants Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, have recruited a number of former Bioware developers for their new video game studio. The studio, named Archetype Entertainment, is based in Austin, Texas. It is already at work on a new multiplatform science fiction RPG. But the news gets…

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Review: Laneway Turned Into Rain-way But That Couldn’t Dampen Sydney’s Spirits (02.02.20)

Sydney’s St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival had surprises in store even before the day had begun. With The 1975 being a late cancellation to the previous night’s festival in Brisbane, Sydneysiders were stricken with worry that their the headliner wouldn’t be fit to perform. But as the city got festival-ready in the morning, the UK act…

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Photo Gallery: Laneway Festival- The Domain, Sydney (02.02.20)

The 15th edition of the Laneway Festival hit Sydney on Sunday, 2nd February 2020. This year it was in a new location, back into the center of Sydney in The Domain. Weather-wise, it was a day of two halves. The first half was hot and steamy, then the heavens opened up. Much needed rain was…

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The AU Review announces New York City party as part of The New Colossus Festival

We’re thrilled to announce that our first party in New York since the final CMJ in 2015 will be taking place on Friday the 13th of March at Lola (169 Avenue A), as part of the 2nd annual festival The New Colossus. The showcase event and conference is a well curated mix of the hottest…

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Review: Ace Hotel New Orleans captures the very best of the brand for The Big Easy

Those who have travelled around the USA likely have come across the Ace Hotel. And if you haven’t stayed at one of their 8 American locations, or even passed it by, you’ve likely heard about it – from the now iconic rooftop bar and pool in LA’s revitalised Downtown District, to the celeb hangouts and spectacular…

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Stupid Baby

Track of the Day: Stupid Baby “Feline” (2020)

Stupid Baby is a quartet from the Central Coast, and they’ve just released their debut single, “Feline”. They’ve also released a fun manic video to accompany it. The band is made up of life-long friends Liz Drummond (Little May), Jake Dobson (Desert Moons), Eli Milojkovic (Sea Legs) and Will Glencross. They might have just released their…

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Euphoria Kids

Book Review: Alison Evans’ YA fantasy Euphoria Kids is a stunning contemporary fairytale

Iris, Babs, and the boy without a name. One from the earth, one made of fire, and one who isn’t quite sure what he’s made of just yet. For this trio, navigating school and family life should have been enough. But there’s trouble brewing. Iris, who counts the faeries and dryads amongst their friends, is…

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Moon Duo

Interview: Moon Duo (USA) talk Stars Are The Light and bringing the Lightship to Australia

Last September saw American psych synth rockers Moon Duo release Stars Are The Light. For their seventh album, the duo moved into new territory, drawing influence from the world of disco. This week the band bring the record down to Australia. Kicking off on February 9th in Hobart the tour will take in the East…

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Photo Gallery: Fire Aid: A Bushfire Fundraiser – Adelaide Uni (01.02.20)

A number of big hitting artists decamped on Adelaide at the weekend for Fire Aid. Taking place on University of Adelaide’s campus, the fundraising event was headlined by Pond. Also on the bill were Bad//Dreems, Tim Rogers, West Thebarton and more. Photographer John Goodridge was there to capture all the action.

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Abi Tucker

Photo Gallery: Abi Tucker + Nic Cassey – Foundry 616, Sydney (30.01.20)

Abi Tucker had her album launch “Who Do You Really Know” at Foundry 616 on Thursday night. You might know her better as an actor in some iconic Australian dramas, namely “The Secret Life of Us“, “Heartbreak High” and “McLeod’s Daughters“. If you’ve got young children, you might have encountered her on Play School where she…

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Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore Review: Can’t find the beat

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is yet another Wii U game making its way to the Nintendo Switch. When the original Tokyo Mirage Sessions made its debut on the Wii U, it didn’t exactly make much of a splash. Like so many titles to launch on the Wii U, it languished in relative obscurity. Now,…

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The New Colossus announces new names to the massive NYC festival, including Aussies Shady Nasty, Ali Barter and Wolfjay

Over the last few weeks, The New Colossus Festival in New York has announced a slew of new names set to play its showcase festival, hailing from all over the world. Some names, like A Place to Bury Strangers you’ll likely be familiar with, while others – hailing all the way from Brooklyn to Hamburg,…

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Film Review: Midway crashes and burns as it can’t meet its ambitions halfway

Bombastic blockbuster filmmaker Roland Emmerich has been on a bit of a downward spiral lately. He started off quite well with projects from his home of West Germany; until he worked in America; making entertaining efforts like Universal Soldier and Stargate that succeeded well at the box office. But few had expected his next effort…

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Live Review: Solange transcends at historic Sydney Opera House show

Although she may have cut her planned quad-run at the Sydney Opera House in half, citing health issues, Houston artist Solange was very much in fine-form as she danced across the Concert Hall last night. The first of two shows (the final one being tonight), Solange and her impeccable band managed to perfectly capture the…

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Look at this beautiful Animal Crossing: New Horizons inspired Switch

Nintendo has unveiled a special edition of its popular Switch console, inspired by the upcoming Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Look at it. So simple. So beautiful. As charming and soothing as any Animal Crossing game. The redress starts with pastel blue and green coloured Joy-Cons with white wrist straps. The Switch unit itself features a…

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Gaming4Life bushfire appeal

PlayStation’s Gaming4Life charity stream donating to Aus bushfire appeal

The Sony Foundation Australia’s annual charity stream event, Gaming4Life, kicks off tomorrow, February 1. The focus of this year’s event is on raising money for the Australian bushfire appeal. Gaming4Life is an open call to Twitch streamers around the world to use their platform and audiences for good. The Sony Foundation works with participating streamers…

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24 hours in Pattaya: Walking Street isn’t the only thing in this resort city

Many tourists unfortunately associate the beachside city of Pattaya with its notorious Walking Street. That’s understandable, but it’s also a massive overlook to what can be a fantastic weekend away from Bangkok’s kinetic social scene. The resort city not only has one of the country’s most spectacular temples, the eternally developing Sanctuary of Truth, but…

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Ben Catley

Track of the Day: Ben Catley “Run” (2020)

Following a massive 2019 where he played shows and festivals all across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and more, Perth-based singer-songwriter Ben Catley has dropped his new single: “Run”.  Describing “Run” as energetic and up-tempo is an understatement. Catley’s guitar work on the track is frenetic and blistering. Whilst, the track might be inspired by…

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Eurovision

Eurovision 2020 Australia Decides – Meet The Contenders

Last year, Kate Miller-Heidke took out the competition with her gravity defying song titled, well… “Zero Gravity”. Now, it’s that time of the year again – to choose who will represent Australia in this year’s Eurovision 2020. The 65th campiest, wardrobe malfunction prone music competition will take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands this year. That’s right,…

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PlayStation Plus

Free PlayStation Plus games for February send you back to Rapture

February means new free games on PlayStation Plus, and this month has some good ones in store. Starting on February 4, PlayStation Plus users can grab all three of Irrational Games’ masterful sci-fi shooters in BioShock: The Collection. This omnibus contains the original BioShock, BioShock 2 and BioShock Infinite. Three of the greatest games of…

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Star Wars Battlefront

February’s free Xbox Games With Gold titles are about bikes and horror

It’s the end of January and you know what that means — a fresh wave of free games are on their way to Xbox Games With Gold. February’s Xbox Games With Gold offerings are a genre grab bag. Motorcycle Grand Prix simulator TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge and Call of Cthulhu are…

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Stranger Inside

Track of the Day: Hailey Beavis “Stranger Inside” (2020)

Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter and visual artist Hailey Beavis released her new EP, Whatever You Feel I Do Too, earlier this month. Recorded at Pumpkinfield Studio, near Perth (Scotland), the EP is the second release on OK Pal Records, the label Beavis founded alongside her friend Faith Eliott in 2018. Kicking off the EP, is the beautiful…

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Turn Left At Venus

Book Review: Explore the secret life of an author in Inez Baranay’s Turn Left At Venus

Ada is dying. Watched over by her new nurse, Jay, Ada is preparing for the end. Ada has lived all over the world. Sydney, Bali, San Francisco. And the Old World she doesn’t remember, save for the boat journey as a child when she first met Leyla. But, Jay has no interest in Leyla, because…

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Terrence Malik

Film Review: A Hidden Life is Terrence Malick at his sublime best

Terrence Malick and his mystical signature can be off-putting to some; many, in fact. And that’s completely understandable. The auteur has long been considered a divisive director, but it’d be foolish to deny the unconventional and dreamlike wonder he brings to poignant stories both intimate and large in scale. Although, if you’re not already sold…

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Melbourne’s sustainable rooftop farm restaurant launches “AcreLand”

With the launch of Acre Farm & Eatery in December of last year, Melbourne’s Burwood Brickworks brought to life an urban, sustainable rooftop farm accompanied by farm-to-table dining experiences at Glasshouse Café and Farmhouse Restaurant. Now, Acre is taking things to another level with acreLand, a program of events utilising their rooftop farm. Beginning 1st…

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Five new Broadway shows to see in New York City

New York City’s famed Broadway Collection isn’t slowing down for 2020, with five new productions set to open throughout the year. From a musical based on cult comedy Mrs. Doubtfire, to an ambitious show tracking the creative process and indelible work of Michael Jackson, these five are well worth paying attention to for those planning…

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Seberg

Film Review: Kristen Stewart’s commanding performance overcomes Seberg‘s narrative flaws

Only one week after elevating the B-grade material of deep-sea thriller Underwater, Kristen Stewart further proves her innate ability of hoisting what little she has to work with on a script page to something of sublime quality in Seberg.  A biographical drama detailing a specific time period in the life of American actress Jean Seberg…

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Track of the Day: Vetty Vials “Pride” (2020)

Sydney’s Vetty Vials has hit the ground running in 2020. Next month, she’ll take to the road in support of Conversations With Myself, her debut album. But before all that, we have “Pride“, a glimpse of what we can expect from next month’s release. Of the upcoming album, the pop punk singer/songwriter says: “Conversations With…

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Motorola Razr lifestyle

Motorola Razr launches February, brings the flip phone back

The Razr, the latest mobile phone handset from Motorola, is very much riding the current 90’s throwback trend. It’s a flip phone, modeled on classic designs people carted around in the late 90’s and early 00’s. But the way Moto have come at modernising the flip phone is through foldable screen technology, an arm of…

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