Month: February 2023

Nas & Wu-Tang Clan plan to “bring da ruckus” For 2023 Australian Tour In May

Although they’ve been here many times before, both the Wu-Tang Clan and Nas have announced a co-headline tour of Australia, part of the wider NY State of Mind tour that has been tracking the globe since last year. With songs like ‘Gravel Pit’ and ‘The World Is Yours’ between them, looking for these hip hop…

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James Roque

James Roque to bring his Badong show to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is just around the corner, and one of the acts we are particularly looking forward to is the Filipino-New Zealander comedian James Roque. James is bringing his much-revered Badong show to the festival, and will be performing it from the 28th March until the 9th April. ‘Badong’ is a light-hearted…

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Adelaide Fringe Review: The Marvellous Elephant Man: The Musical is an absolute riot

As the crowd filled the smokey Wonderland Spiegeltent in the Wonderland Festival Hub, the excitement in the air was palpable. And it was no surprise, considering that The Marvellous Elephant Man: The Musical had been described as The Book Of Mormon meets Beauty and the Beast. Just how on Earth were they going to pull…

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Film Review: American Murderer is an engaging true crime thriller bolstered by the disarming performance of Tom Pelphrey

It’s alarming to think that the name Jason Derek Brown is one that had been on the FBI’s top 10 most wanted list for 15 years; only this past September was his name removed, though he remains a wanted criminal. I say alarming as it’s not a name it seems people are overly familiar with,…

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Live Review: The Comfort + Nervous Light + Wifecult at The Brightside, Brisbane (26.02.23)

After a venue upgrade from a sold-out intimate show, The Comfort wrapped up their Experience Everything. Live and Die. Tour at The Brightside in Brisbane last Sunday with Nervous Light and Wifecult. Kicking off the night was Sunshine Coast alt-rock trio Wifecult, who garnered much praise from the following bands – and rightfully so. Picked…

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Interview: Alex Bain on what she’s learned as the Prime Video Buff, streaming recommendations, and her goals moving forward

The last time Peter Gray spoke with Alex Bain, the Queensland-born film fan had secured the job of her (and, let’s face it, mostly everyone else’s) dreams; that of the Prime Video Buff. Working under the Prime Video Australia banner, Bain was the voice of recommendation and reason as she took over their social media…

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Twelve South HiRise 3 Review: Sleek and functional

The third generation of Twelve South’s HiRise chargers has landed, complete with a sleek and sexy new design, and MagSafe charging. Made specially for iPhones and accompanying Apple products like AirPods and the Apple Watch, the HiRise 3 provides up to 10W charging which feels rather standard, considering newer iPhones have the capability for faster…

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5 things we learned from Rian Johnson’s director’s commentary for Glass Onion

Those of us that still collect physical media will be all too aware of the oft-golden special feature that is the director’s commentary.  But, in perhaps a sign of the streaming model cottoning on that it needs to up its game when it comes to packaging a film, Netflix have sanctioned writer/director Rian Johnson to…

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Ben Hart

Adelaide Fringe Review: Ben Hart’s magic is delightful and enchanting

Ben Hart is no stranger to the Adelaide Fringe, but this year he is surrounded by walls rather than being in a tent. He comes on stage, dressed in a black suit and tells us about his love for magic. His story is enchanting and soothing as he explains that the magic exists in us…

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Live Review: Ed Sheeran wows a sold-out Accor Stadium (25.02.23)

Ed Sheeran is a fantastic musician. Let’s just acknowledge that for a second, because I feel the UK singer’s star has risen so high over the past decade that many people often forget that. A pop star? Sure. A rock star? Equally sure. There’s unfortunately still a tendency in society to disregard someone’s credibility as…

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Photo Gallery: Ed Sheeran + Maisie Peters + Budjerah – Accor Stadium, Sydney (24.02.23)

Ed Sheeran brought his Mathematics tour to Accor Stadium in Sydney this Friday and Saturday nights. The stadium was packed to the rafters, and were charmed and enthralled by the UK superstar. He was supported by the UK’s Maisie Peters, an artist very much on the rise, and our local hero, Budjerah. Bruce was there…

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Interview: Casper Van Dien on his uncomfortable new role in Daughter

In his new film Daughter (read our review here), Casper Van Dien is far from the personable actor Peter Gray found him to be when discussing his role as the unnerving “Father”.  A tense thriller surrounding a bizarre family and their induction of an abducted woman into their home, Van Dien spoke of being warned…

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One of One annual breakfast will return for March 2023

The One of One organisation and charity empowering woman and non-binary members of the Australian music industry announced last week that their annual breakfast will be returning in March 2023. The event aims to support and nurture the diverse creative community by shining a light on industry professionals and spaces for new ideas to emerge….

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Dan Sultan

New Music Discoveries 24th February: Dan Sultan, San Cisco, Chutney and more

For the final time this month we have updated our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music with ten new tracks, including a song we exclusively premiered earlier in the week. Our Track of the Week is “Story”, the brand new single from Dan Sultan. According to Sultan, “Story” is a piece of work he’s been…

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Film Review: Daughter navigates gender, authority and autonomy in an unnerving, claustrophobic setting

Informing us that the film is based on fact more than fiction, Daughter has a certain familiarity about it when it initially begins, horrifying us with the imagery of a woman being bludgeoned by an unknown assailant.  It’s a suitable start for Corey Deshon‘s horror-leaning effort that successfully navigates mostly a singular location, a small…

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Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe Review: A welcome improvement

Originally releasing on the Nintendo Wii back in 2011, Kirby’s Return to Dreamland served as a safe and memorable entry in the franchise, featuring the titular and ever lovable pink icon. While Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe is certainly better than the original, it’s still very much the same game at its core, short of…

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Album Review: HEAVENSGATE – AND ALL I LOVED, I LOVED ALONE (2023 EP)

Melbourne metalcore outfit HEAVENSGATE are breaking down doors with their debut EP AND ALL I LOVED, I LOVED ALONE, out today via Greyscale Records/1126 Records. The six-track project was two years in the making and the three singles “CHEMICAL HEAVEN”, “GINSICK” AND “SHEMOVESLIKETHUNDER” are distinctly relevant. With the help of Joshua Ang (Pincer+) – a…

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Here’s when and how you can watch PlayStation’s February State of Play stream

PlayStation will stream its first State of Play for the year tomorrow morning, with some new and exciting announcements on the way. As with previous streams, PlayStation have always given some indicator as to the focus of the upcoming State of Play. This time around, we will be receiving a look at some new third-party…

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Yung Gravy

Live Review: Yung Gravy + Babyface Mal – Forum Melbourne, Victoria (19.02.23)

Sunday night’s Yung Gravy show was not your ordinary show hosted at the Forum, as the American rapper proved throughout his ninety-minute set. Known for his on-stage humour and antics his chaotic set was full of all kinds of stunts, not limited to having the whole crowd throw water into the air. Opening Yung Gravy’s…

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EDIE shares her top five “Front Row” moments after latest single

Perth indie-rock artist EDIE has returned in a big way with her new single “Front Row” – released 13 February – and an imaginative video. This follows on from her 2022 debut offering “Blame Me”, which saw extensive support from triple j, and proves that she has a wealth of potential in just a glimpse….

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Film Review: Aftersun is a deceptively haunting film that lives in its silence and stillness

The plot for Aftersun is one that we have seen countless times before in one form or another: Adult reflects on a childhood trip with a parent that was often laced with memorable experiences.  It’s how writer/director Charlotte Wells chooses to frame such a story though – almost like a faded memory – that transforms…

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Theatre Review: Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is still a must-solve mystery 70 years later

Calling all budding detectives! There’s been a murder in London and we need your expertise to find the killer before they claim their next victim. Put your wits to the test and feast your eyes on the world’s longest-running play, The Mousetrap. Born from the incredible mind of Agatha Christie, this genre-defining murder-mystery has astonished…

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Film Review: Fisherman’s Friends 2: One and All lacks any of the charm or wit of its breezy predecessor

Whilst I can see the charm that audiences fell for regarding the original Fisherman’s Friends, a 2019 “feel-good” true story dramedy about the unlikely musical success of the titular Cornish fishermen, who signed with Universal Records and garnered a Top 10 placing album with their sea shanty renditions, none of that is remotely present in…

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Interview: Lara Andallo on DIAMONDS & DEJAVU, Pride and the “Year 3000”

Lara Andallo is one of the shooting stars in RnB in Australia today. With an incredible voice, the Filipino-Australian singer/songwriter, musician and dancer has today released her debut EP, the emotive and deeply personal DIAMONDS & DEJAVU.  The EP is a powerful collection of six tracks reflecting upon her experiences of life, including love and…

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Tuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft Resistance

Book Review: Colourful threads come together in Kate Solly’s debut novel

If you’ve ever seen a knitting or crochet group get together at your local library or community centre, you’ll know that craft groups are a hive of big personalities. The Copeton Crochet Circle, AKA the Copeton Craft Resistance, are no different. These ladies (and gentleman) are the cast of Kate Solly‘s charming debut novel, Tuesday Evenings with…

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Film Review: Missing is a welcome twist on the found-footage genre

When the cat’s away, the mice will play.  But what happens if the cat doesn’t come home? Such is the question posed by directing duo Will Merrick and Nicholas D. Johnson in Missing, a spiritual sequel to 2018’s technologically-inclined thriller Searching; which, wouldn’t you know it, happened to be edited by Merrick and Johnson, both…

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Film Review: Cocaine Bear is wild, high, very bloody, darkly funny, and doesn’t play well with others

They often say that truth can be stranger than fiction, and in the case of Cocaine Bear, the truth is wild, high, very bloody, darkly funny, and doesn’t play well with others.  Of course, this is only an “inspired by” truth, the type of truth that gets gloriously twisted for the sake of bombastic entertainment. …

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Interview: Producer Christopher Miller on navigating the extreme tone of Cocaine Bear; “It would be only amazing if this spawned a series of drug-fuelled animal films”

No stranger to adapting original-skewered material for the big screen, directing/producing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have seen their bold visions for tiny toys, 80’s television, and animated superheroes through to critical and commercial acclaim. Now, perhaps they’re taking on their biggest challenge yet: the true story! Sort of. Kind of. Inspired by the 1985…

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Interview: O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Alden Ehrenreich on Cocaine Bear; “The bear did cocaine, right? Get in there!”

“The bear does cocaine.  Big, bang, boom, that’s your movie!” And just like that, Alden Ehrenreich and O’Shea Jackson Jr. perfectly sum up the entirety of Cocaine Bear‘s narrative and reason for being during a sometimes emotional, always entertaining conversation with our Peter Gray ahead of the film’s release.  Inspired by the 1985 true story of…

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Kevin Wilson

Book Review: Street art goes under the microscope in Kevin Wilson’s latest

Quirky American author, Kevin Wilson‘s latest fictional offering was released in late 2022 to much anticipation. Called Now is Not the Time to Panic, the novel once again explores the line between art and chaos as it follows sixteen-year-old Frances ‘Frankie’ Budge through the summer of 1996. A loner and an aspiring writer, Frankie is a…

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