Year: 2023

Thrice share top five Australia moments ahead of The Artist in the Ambulance 20th anniversary tour

California post-hardcore rockers Thrice are heading to Australia for a largely sold-out 20th anniversary tour of their seminal record The Artist in the Ambulance this September. The extensive tour will see them perform two shows in Melbourne and Perth, stopping at Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide in between. Thrice will be performing the album in full,…

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Interview: Sam McGovern and Lola Scott interview each other!

Lola Scott and Sam McGovern are two of the bright stars on the Australian music scene. They were selected for the latest round of the Live Nation One’s To Watch program and were featured last week at the Oxford Art Factory in Sydney for an exclusive industry showcase. Lola hails from NSW’s Southern Highlands, and…

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Brisbane Open House unveils 2023 program

Taking place over the weekend of July 15th and 16th, Brisbane Open House has announced a huge program of events, showcasing the city’s rich architectural heritage, cutting-edge design, and innovative spaces. Launching back in 2010, Brisbane Open House is a free annual event, inviting residents and visitors a rare opportunity to explore some of the…

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Entries for 2023 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards open

Entries for the 2023 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards have opened, with a shared prize pool of $600,000 up for grabs. Honouring excellence in Australian literature, works published in 2022 are eligible to enter. Since its inception in 2008, the Awards have grown to six categories, covering fiction, non-fiction, children’s literature, young adult literature, poetry, and…

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Queensland Theatre brings Nia Vardalos’ adaptation of Tiny Beautiful Things to Brisbane

Queensland Theatre‘s production of Cheryl Strayed New York Times bestseller Tiny Beautiful Things took to the Billie Brown theatre stage earlier this month. Adapted for the stage by Academy Award nominee Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Tiny Beautiful Things follows Sugar, an online advice columnist, as she helps strangers navigate the contradictions and complexities…

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Tech Review: The OPPO Enco X2 earbuds provide a fantastic alternative

While OPPO has been known for a wide range of Android phones over the past few years, they’ve also built up an impressive range of earbuds, with the Enco X2 earbuds proving to be their latest foray into the premium space. The Enco X2 earbuds certainly have more than a few boxes in terms of…

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Joe Mungovan Handmidowns

Exclusive Video Premiere: Joe Mungovan “Handmidowns” (2023)

South-coast singer/songwriter Joe Mungovan has recently released his first single of 2023, “Handmidowns”. Continuing on his rich vein of songs with catchy melodies and warm vocals, “Handmidowns” gives a green light to following your own desires and passions. We are thrilled today to have the video premiere for the track. About the track, Joe writes:…

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Tech Review: The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gaming Keyboard is an absolute winner

SteelSeries is no stranger to crafting some seriously premium gaming peripherals. I had personally been using the Apex Pro Mini prior to this review and had been loving it ever since. The only real issue with that keyboard is, that I’m not a huge fan of 60% keyboards, and do prefer the slightly larger TKL…

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Game Review: Final Fantasy 16 is a ride worth taking

For a franchise that has existed as long as Final Fantasy has, it’s amazing to see how it’s still evolving into what we now know to be Final Fantasy XVI (16). While it’s not the sixteenth game overall, the sixteenth mainline entry brings forth a new story, fresh characters and one incredibly revamped combat system….

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Track by Track: Mt Nadir take us through their debut EP Growing Pain

Mt. Nadir‘s debut EP “Growing Pain” has finally come to fruition after an extensive two-year creative process. Growing Pain masterfully balances elements of fragility and raw intensity. It weaves a narrative of heartbreak, solitude and eventual renewal within the realms of alt-rock. Mt. Nadir burst onto the live scene last year, packing out their debut…

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Beauty and the Beast

Theatre Review: You’ll be honoured to be a guest at the new staging of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Direct from the West End, Disney’s classic Beauty and the Beast has arrived in Sydney at the Capitol Theatre. This reimagined production brings together the original creative team: Broadway’s Matt West as director/choreographer, Alan Menken as composer, Tim Rice & Howard Ashman as lyricists. Alongside them are Natasha Katz (lighting designer) and Ann Hould-Ward (costume…

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Jack Bratt

Jack Bratt releases “Hand on Heart” and shares his musical influences

Singer/songwriter Jack Bratt is back with his first single since he released his gorgeous debut LP, Slow Release last year. “Hand on Heart” is an emotive gem that captures the pain and anguish of a relationship that has unexpectedly come to an end. “I long to know what will come of this. I’m unsteady. Do I…

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All Time Low announce Australian Tour with Mayday Parade and Lauran Hibberd

Pop punk fans and former MySpace kids, rejoice! All Time Low are set to return to Australia! Following the release of their ninth studio album Tell Me I’m Alive earlier this year, the Maryland band have announced an Australian tour, featuring special guests Mayday Parade and Lauran Hibberd. From beloved singles like “Dear Maria, Count Me In”…

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Game Review: Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is a charming, farming throwback

If real life in the big city is getting too much, you can yeet yourself over to a virtual countryside complete with vast farmlands, adorable barn animals and even the promise of friendship and romance. This is Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, a remaster of the GameCube classic, Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life. Back…

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New Music Discoveries 23rd June: Bloomhaus, Corinne Bailey Rae, Dusty and more

Ten more tracks have been added to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including one track we exclusively premiered earlier in the week. The Track of the Week for this week is “Thoughtless Feeling” — the debut single from Spanish indie-funk outfit Bloomhaus. Hailing from Barcelona, Bloomhaus is the project of singer, songwriter…

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Track by Track: The Money War takes us through their EP I Don’t Hear You Anymore

The Western Australian-based duo, The Money War has released their EP, I Don’t Hear You Anymore today.  The duo, Dylan Ollivierre and Carmen Pepper note that the EP is about love, loss and the desire for self-expression. With authenticity at its core, the compilation addresses their innermost thoughts and emotions amidst the trials and tribulations of raising…

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Poison of Polygamy

Review: Sydney Theatre Company’s The Poison of Polygamy is a journey you’ll want to go on

The Poison of Polygamy at the Sydney Theatre Company will take you on a journey. From China’s Qing dynasty to Victoria’s nineteenth-century goldfields, and the colourful landscape of Melbourne’s Chinatown, the play seamlessly shifts focus. Based on the novel by Wong Shee Ping and adapted for the stage by Anchuli Felicia King, The Poison of…

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Spin Off Festival Adelaide – new stage, more artists and more tickets released

Spin Off announced additional artists to the lineup along with a second stage and released extra tickets, after selling out last week. After reconfiguring the site, Spin Off has been able to release more tickets that are on sale now here! The additional seven acts are Peach PRC, The VANNS, TEEN JESUS AND THE JEAN TEASERS, MARLON X RULLA, The Empty…

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Everything announced at June’s Nintendo Direct

For as many classic titles as the Nintendo Switch has produced, and for as much as we’re all still playing and loving The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it’s safe to say there’s been a few questions about Nintendo’s future ambitions. Are we getting that new hardware? Will we see a new Mario…

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Wollongong Memories: Why Yours & Owls is the greatest modern success story of the steel city

By the early 2010s, Wollongong was a city that had had its dreams of live music crushed a dozen times over – sometimes quite literally, as the bulldozing of the beloved Oxford Tavern will testify to. The most recent musical success story was Infusion a decade prior, and the fact you’re probably Googling “infusion band”…

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Broods, Chet Faker and Earl Sweatshirt head up a stacked Yours and Owls 2023 line-up

Yours and Owls Festival have announced their 2023 line-up, and it’s an absolute banger! Setting up shop at the University of Wollongong – the festival’s home for the next three years – the Yours and Owls team are promising great vibes and exceptional entertainment. Welcoming back a wealth of international talent for the first time…

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Game Review: F1 23 feels like a fantastic step in the right direction

I’m a huge Formula 1 fan and tend to jump into the yearly F1 release for some additional action during the current season. While I certainly enjoyed F1 22, I felt it was lacking something, and at times holding back. As the last thing I really enjoyed about the franchise came in the form of…

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Film Review: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a loud, inoffensive action spectacle packed with plenty of cheese and just enough heart

Continuing from the toned-down sexualism that 2018’s Bumblebee adopted – the first Transformers sequel that was directed by someone other than series staple Michael Bay – which, coincidentally, earned the franchise its highest praise from collective critics, Steven Caple Jr.‘s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a similarly wholesome, Saturday morning popcorn flick that is…

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Film Review: No Hard Feelings; Jennifer Lawrence runs unashamedly free in this raunchy, heartfelt comedy

Whilst Jennifer Lawrence has lightly flexed her comedic muscle over the years – her Golden Globe-winning turn in 2013’s American Hustle probably the closest she’s come to being the comedienne she so clearly is – No Hard Feelings finally allows the supremely charismatic and comedically capable performer to embrace the genre with all the shamelessness…

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Camp Cope

Eight songs we’d love Camp Cope to play as they take to the stage one last time at the Sydney Opera House

Months after announcing they were breaking up, Camp Cope has confirmed one final show at the Sydney Opera House. On the back of three critically acclaimed albums, the Australian band has developed a loyal and fierce following over the past 8 years, all the while taking on the industry and misogyny one ripping song at…

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Grease the Musical announces its Melbourne and Sydney cast

Your summer nights are sorted! Grease the Musical is coming back to Australian shores just in time for the New Year, and has recently announced cast and ticket details for its Melbourne and Sydney runs. From a Broadway mainstay to an iconic film starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, Grease has stood the test of…

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Album Review: Trophy Eyes Suicide and Sunshine (2023 LP)

Trophy Eyes have made a triumphant return with their fourth studio album, Suicide and Sunshine, due to be released on the 23rd of June. As the title suggests, the album revolves around contrast, presenting songs of beauty and tragedy through the heartfelt words and talent of front man John Floreani. Produced by Shane Edwards, Suicide…

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Raging Hormones’ Nick Manuell on the band’s name, creative process, and debut EP Public Fun – Part 1

Raging Hormones, a fresh rock n roll power pop band from Melbourne have burst onto the scene, raging across the music sphere with their empowering and uplifting music. Remaining relatable throughout their rise, Raging Hormones are here now and they will never let you down. Releasing their debut EP Public Fun – Part 1 earlier…

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Big Red Bash founder Greg Donovan on the festival’s roots, community, and JDRS fundraiser The Big Blue Day

The Big Red Bash and the Mundi Mundi Bash are two quintessentially Australian events held in the Australian outback. We had a chat with the founder of the events, Greg Donovan, about how the events have evolved and what makes them a success. Let’s start at the beginning, with the Big Red Run. How did…

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Perfect Days examines the beauty of living life one day at a time: Sydney Film Festival Review

There are few films as meditative and rhythmic as what Wim Wenders managed to achieve here with Perfect Days. Known for his past documentaries and dramas, this German auteur presents a celebration of living a beautifully present life that is fresh out of Cannes and was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or, where it…

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