Month: March 2022

If You're Happy

Book Review: Fiona Robertson’s debut collection If You’re Happy explores lives that are anything but

“They are having sex when the wind starts up, whispering and sighing outside.” So opens the first story in Fiona Robertson‘s Glendower Award-winning collection, If You’re Happy. The University of Queensland Press team are no strangers to publishing powerful short fiction that challenges the conventions of the form in this country; counting among their authors…

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Interview: GAYLE on going TikTok viral, heartbreak and her debut EP

She boasts close to 33 million monthly listeners, almost one million TikTok followers and over one billion streams on her viral hit ‘abcdefu’. And she’s not even 18-years-old. GAYLE is among the most popular internet music sensations of the past year, thanks to her playful angst-anthem that continues to dominate radio play and social media…

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Film Review: Panama indulges in an excessive aesthetic that speaks to Mel Gibson’s unbridled energy

Sporadically seen but frequently heard throughout via storytelling-like narration that speaks to the throwback era of filmmaking Panama adheres to, Mel Gibson waltzes in and out of Mark Neveldine‘s action effort with little care as to how his scene chewing is going to disrupt the heavy lifting supplied by co-star (and actual lead) Cole Hauser….

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Ghostwire: Tokyo Review: Saving the city, one soul at a time

Tokyo might just be one of the busiest and most popular cities in the world. Known for its dense population, vibrant nightlife and iconic culture, you’d be hard-pressed to find a place with less to do or see. Enter Ghostwire: Tokyo. A supernatural force has left the city empty, devoid of human life. Their souls…

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Racing Birds

Exclusive Single Premiere: Racing Birds “Rarely Never Loaded” (2022)

“Rarely Never Loaded” is the debut track from Sydney duo, Racing Birds, and we are thrilled to be premiering it today. Comprised of accomplished and established songwriters Bobbie Lee Stamper and Jeremy Strothe, the pair have created an emotive alt-country guitar-driven track, that has a heady nostalgic feel for Southern California of yesteryear. The track is…

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Adelaide Fringe Review: Sky Song is an inspirational way of telling First Nation Stories

Song Lines are the way of sharing knowledge along generations of Indigenous people. In this multimedia performance, the relationship to the land is explored, not just in song, but in visual poetry. Drone art specialists, Celestial and First Nations Artists have collaborated to tell these stories from First Nations peoples. Renowned singer, songwriter, Archie Roach…

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CD Projekt Red has confirmed a new Witcher game is in development

It’s official. Developer CD Projekt Red has confirmed this morning that a new game in The Witcher franchise is indeed in development, highlighting that a “new saga” is beginning. What this means for the franchise itself is anyone’s guess. CD Projekt Red had also noted that this new entry will be utilising the Unreal Engine…

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Theatre Review: An American in Paris is a magical fusion of ballet and musical theatre

The worlds of ballet and musical theatre collide in An American in Paris, creating an extraordinary blend of timeless music, breathtaking choreography and a captivating love story set against the romantic backdrop of Paris. Inspired by the 1951 Oscar-winning film of the same name, and incorporating music from George and Ira Gershwin, An American in…

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PLANET

Interview: PLANET’s Matty Took on Information Overload, moving to the UK and recording at AIM

Sydney quartet PLANET have just released their long-awaited debut album, Information Overload. The album was produced by legendary engineer and producer Adrian Bushby (New Order, Placebo, U2, Spice Girls) and has a large guitar-driven indie sound. With nostalgic brit-pop feels to it, it’s a superb debut from the band. I caught up with Matty Took,…

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Film Review: Measure of Revenge is a hopelessly pedestrian thriller that remains only mildly steady thanks to a solely committed Melissa Leo

Whilst it’s not uncommon for usually reliable, oft-Oscar celebrated actors to slip into filmic mediocrity, Melissa Leo must’ve really needed a healthy paycheck when she opted to commit to Measure of Revenge.  Perhaps at one stage offering a script worthy of her talents, but the final 92 minute result – one which mysteriously omits a…

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Anthony Locascio

Comedian Anthony Locascio shares his top 5 movies based in Italy or Greece

It’s comedy festival time in Australia, and one of the leading lights on the scene is Anthony Locascio. His comedy showcases his Greek and Italian heritage through the use of stories, songs and sounds. He explores the rich highs, and challenges associated with his Mediterranean-Australian heritage, and his show has proven to resonate strongly with…

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Broadway Babe

Adelaide Fringe Review: Bethany Eloise dreams of becoming a Broadway Baby

The opening song in Bethany Louise’s Broadway Baby cabaret show is both a tribute and lament that she is singing at Arthur’s Bar for the Adelaide Fringe. Not that Arthur’s Bar is a bad place, it’s more because her dreams of starring on Broadway were dashed by the dreaded COVID virus. In an autobiographic style,…

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Adelaide Fringe Review: The Cocoon is an intimate look at love and relationships

The Cocoon is four vignettes of love, with two monologues and two duologues. Written by New York’s Kotryna Gesait & directed by Brisbane-based Timothy Wynn, The Cocoon has previously been performed at the Adelaide Fringe in 2018 and again in 2019. For 2022, the performance takes place in Peter Rabbit in the West End of…

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Say hola to the Puss In Boots: The Last Wish trailer

Talking to director Joel Crawford on the eve of the release of the trailer for the long-awaited sequel Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, the enthusiasm for the project was palpable. A storyboard artist for some of DreamWorks Animation’s biggest titles – he can claim his hand in such productions as Kung Fu Panda, Shrek…

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Homesick finds the beauty in the bizarre tale of literally recreating one’s childhood: SXSW Film Festival Review

To call Homesick bizarre would be a colossal understatement.  And that’s meant in the most complimentary of fashions. Born – and that’s quite the fitting term when the film’s narrative is uncovered – from director Will Seefried‘s fascination with society’s urgency in recreating their childhood, Homesick takes a unique look at how one could submit…

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Film Review: It Snows in Benidorm is nothing but quiet drama

Viewers are likely to know Timothy Spall even though he’s no household name. The actor is famous for his many character roles such as Mr. Turner and in many supporting roles. In his latest film he plays an everyday man in what is a quiet and slow-burning drama. The film is written and directed by…

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Live Review: Bloom + Starve + Future Static + Blind Girls – The Brightside, Brisbane (18.03.22)

Sydney emo-punk favourites Bloom have rocketed to success in the last two years and hurdled every obstacle of the pandemic. Their highly-anticipated Sink into the Soil Tour – originally planned for June 2020 – kicked off at The Brightside in Brisbane on Friday 18 March in celebration of their latest single. It was the band’s…

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Interview: Director Nyla Innuksuk on her SXSW horror film Slash/Back and the importance of incorporating her indigenous culture

Having premiered at SXSW to rave reviews (including our own here) the horror/adventure film Slash/Back has more than announced filmmaker Nyla Innuksuk as a talent to take note of.  Talking with Peter Gray during her time at the festival, the two spoke about the origins of the film’s story, the importance of incorporating her indigenous…

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Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi is a beautiful and heart-breaking journey into the historical relationship between America and Japan: SXSW Film Festival Review

Weaving together both historical and current events, how those events pertain to the savagery of racism over the years, and the juxtaposition of his own calming musicality, Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi is a stunning documentary about Kishi Bashi‘s own personal journey in exploring his past as he looks for inspiration for his…

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All-new horror game The Quarry announced with release date around the corner

2K and Supermassive Games have announced this morning a brand-new horror game, The Quarry, which is set to release on June 10 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC. This is a huge surprise, given developer Supermassive Games churning out Dark Pictures titles like Man of Medan, Little Hope and…

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Unwrapping State of Play’s Hogwarts Legacy gameplay trailer

This morning’s Hogwarts Legacy gameplay trailer has left an incredibly positive impression in the minds of Harry Potter fans and gamers alike. While the game’s troubled development has lingered since its reveal, we’re confident that things are looking up, providing a healthy dose of wizarding goodness, wrapped in a detailed and expansive open world. So…

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New Music Discoveries 18th March: King Stingray, Arcade Fire, Charlie Collins and more

This week we’ve topped up our Discovery playlist with nine more new or recent releases. Our Track of the Week goes to AU favourites King Stingray and their fantastic new single “Camp Dog”.  The release caps off a successful run of sold-out shows, not to mention a strong showing in this years Hottest 100. The…

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The School Teacher of Saint-Michel

Book Review: The School Teacher of Saint-Michel is an inspiring fictionalisation of real wartime resistance acts

Inspired by real acts of resistance in France during the Second World War, Sarah Steele’s latest novel The School Teacher of Saint-Michel is sure to keep you turning pages long past lights out thanks to its twin timelines of two women on a mission, eighty years apart. Hannah Stone is a teacher on the verge…

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north by northwest

Photo Galley: North By Northwest Opening Night at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre

Local celebrities and guests walk the red carpet at the opening night of the stage adaptation of Alfred Hitcock‘s North By Northwest.  David Campbell stars as Roger O. Thornhill who’s uneventfull life is turned upside down when he is thrust into a world of espionage, romance and murder. From the skyscraper canyons of New York…

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Interview: Director Maureen Bharoocha and actress Ramona Young on their SXSW revenge comedy The Prank

After missing out on the SXSW screening experience in 2020 with her feature The Golden Arm, director Maureen Bharoocha is even more grateful to be screening her latest film, The Prank, in person this year.  As the dark comedic thriller premiered (you can read our festival review here) our Peter Gray spoke to both Maureen…

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The Bands That Made The Beer: Rusty Penny Brewing

In a brand new series, we’ll be taking a dive into local independent breweries and doing our best impression of being a Cicerone, by matching the brewery’s beers with a band. We’ll be taste testing the best a brewery has to offer and teaming tipples with tracks, all to make that drinking experience even more…

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North by Northwest

Theatre Review: David Campbell beams in sensational production of iconic Hitchcock film, North by Northwest

Before walking into the theatre, the quality of the storyline has already been confirmed as this play is based on the 1959 film directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock who brought audiences iconic classics such as Vertigo (1958), Strangers on a Train (1951) and Psycho (1960). Considered the first ‘James Bond’ before there was any,…

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Film Review: Dog is an emotionally investing feature that benefits from Channing Tatum’s charm and competence as a filmmaker

Whilst he never exactly went off the grid to warrant this a “comeback”, Channing Tatum certainly reminds us just why his likeable, some may say limitedly ranged persona was such a staple in the mid 2010’s with Dog.  Not only does it see the actor step back into leading man territory – somewhere he hasn’t…

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Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection Review: Ezio lets loose on the Nintendo Switch

I am a late bloomer when it comes to the Assassin’s Creed series. My first game was Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and I have enjoyed most of the entries since that release. When people talk about Ezio, I shrug my shoulders and tentatively agree. While there have been various remakes and remasters since, like…

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League of Liars

Book Review: Astrid Scholte’s League of Liars asks the hard questions about justice

Astrid Scholte’s League of Liars is a YA fantasy thriller full of twists and turns; in which no one can be trusted to tell the truth and everyone’s motives are questionable. It’s a suspenseful page-turner with an interesting cast, told in alternating points of view. But despite its young protagonists, the book doesn’t shy away…

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