Month: January 2025

Rap icon Ice Cube is coming to Australia for two exclusive shows only

One in Sydney. One in Melbourne. L.A legend Ice Cube is no stranger to performing in Australia. He was just here two years ago with Cypress Hill, although he hadn’t been touring much before that. Anyone who saw Cube at those concerts would be surprised to hear he’s coming back so soon, and with a…

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Why Canberra is Australia’s best small city: A guide to making the most of a short stay

It’s no secret that Canberra punches above its modest weight. The food (and wine) is some of the best in the country, spoiled by the finest of both Victoria and New South Wales produce. Then you have the relaxed pace, barely-there traffic, world-class art and bucolic lifestyle.  That’s one of the few things Melbourne and…

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Here’s every announcement from January’s Xbox Developer Direct

Xbox has hit the ground running in 2025 with its Developer Direct showcase, highlighting some of its biggest games set to land in 2025. We’ve unpacked every announcement from the show for you here. Enjoy! DOOM: THE DARK AGES GETS AN OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE AND COLLETOR’S EDITION NINJA GAIDEN 4 IS ON THE WAY NINJA…

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Is Beatbot’s iSkim Ultra a game-changer for pool owners? Robots are coming for the water

When you live in Australia, summer means long, hot days, backyard BBQs, and—if you’re lucky—a dip in the pool to escape the heat. But if you’ve got a pool, you also know the struggle: leaves, bugs, and who-knows-what floating on the surface. That pool net is a daily demand, and it takes up a lot…

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Interview: Amy Adams on the important conversations surrounding her film Nightbitch; “I think if we validated the idea of parenthood as a very important job, that’s going to elevate humanity.”

Based on Rachel Yoder’s acclaimed novel, Nightbitch tells of an artist who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mother.  Seeking a new chapter in her life, she encounters just that when her nightly routine takes a surreal turn and her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form. Brought to life to screen by…

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Film Review: Nightbitch is sure to help audiences reflect on their own self worth and identity

Despite the fact that the recently released trailer made Nightbitch look more like a quirky comedy – think a female-drive, R-rated take on Tim Allen’s The Shaggy Dog – I can attest that Marielle Heller‘s take on Rachel Yoder‘s seemingly unadaptable 2021 novel of the same name is far from the laughable ridiculousness some may…

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Magnolia Park announce concept album VAMP

Orlando five piece Magnolia Park have just announced a new album, scheduled for release on April 11th. Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming VAMP! The release will come to us through Epitah Records, and has been described as a neo-gothic concept album. VAMP is all about world-building and story-telling, with the band…

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New Music Discoveries 24th January: Krystal Rivvers, Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, Peter Capaldi, and more

Happy New Year! (It’s still January, so it counts… just!) For the first time this year we’ve added ten new tracks to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. Kicking things off with our first Track of the Week of 2025 is Eora-based rock ‘n’ rollers Krystal Rivvers, with their new single “Sienna”. “Sienna” is…

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“That’s what art is all about” Slowly Slowly’s Ben Stewart talks their latest album Forgiving Spree

Hailing from Melbourne, Aussie rockers Slowly Slowly have been making waves in the music scene for almost ten years. They’ve played a multitude of festivals, supported titans like Red Hot Chilli Peppers and have charted twice on Triple J’s Hottest 100, with their 2019 single “Jellyfish” coming in at #57. Today, they release their fifth…

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Slowly Slowly’s Forgiving Spree is a masterful blend of freshness and nostalgia

Slowly Slowly have cemented themselves as one of the most dynamic forces in the Australian rock scene, and their fifth studio album, Forgiving Spree only further proves this. Forgiving Spree is Slowly Slowly in all their glory, showcasing their signature emotion al depth, intricate musicianship, and a maturity that reflects their evolution as a band. With a sprinkle of…

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Inhaler

Inhaler drop “A Question Of You” and announce biggest Australian tour yet

Inhaler have shared another glimpse of their upcoming album Open Wide with the release of a new single, “A Question Of You” and a suite of new Australian live dates for June. Though the tour might seem far away for now, we’re being held over with the third track unveiled from the Dublin quartet’s highly…

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Mallrat announces April Australian tour + new album

Having only just graced with a brand new track “Pavement”, Brisbane-born Mallrat (Grace Shaw) is gearing up for an April tour to celebrate her freshly announced album, Light hit my face like a straight right, dropping for all the lovers on 14th February. The album is an ode to Aussie suburbs and the poetry within that…

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Drunk Tank Pink

Shame announces Australian tour for February and March 2025

Last in the country in 2018 and now on the precipice of releasing their fourth album, legends Shame are headed back to Australia for a run of headline, supporting and festival slots. Slotting in to replace Wunderhorse in support of Fontaines DC on their own headline national tour, the five-piece post-punk band from England are…

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Film Review: Flight Risk; Mel Gibson is unable to smoothly land tepid plane-set thriller

Regardless of how one feels about him personally, you can’t entirely deny that Mel Gibson knows how to direct a movie.  Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto are all, at worst, competently made features that speaks to a creative awareness of the craft.  The Gibson that made those movies, however, isn’t anywhere to be…

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Film Review: Companion gleefully plays with our own genre expectations

There was a point when it came to initially reviewing Companion that I was thinking how difficult it would be to navigate around certain plot points, given that Drew Hancock‘s horror-leaning, sci-fi adjacent, romantic thriller bets on a particular narrative reveal.  It’s one that I wasn’t dare going to spoil – I had the luck…

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iRobot Roomba 10 Max Combo is the ultimate vacuum and mop

iRobot has always been the leader in robot vacuuming and mopping. The original is back to show the overly crowded marketplace just how well it can be done with the new Combo 10 Max. The all-in-one device has a dock that stores a vacuum bag, and clean and dirty water, while also being able to…

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The Flaming Lips

Interview: Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips reflects on the enduring popularity of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

On the cusp of their upcoming Australian tour, I caught up with Wayne Coyne, the frontman of The Flaming Lips. We discussed the enduring popularity of their album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, which has been celebrated for over 20 years. Coyne reflects on the song “Do You Realize?” and its transformation into a symbol…

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Tech Tips: Essential steps to securing your Smart Home

There’s nothing like the convenience of thinking something, saying something and seeing it done – “Alexa, dim the lights” or “Hey Google, turn on the air con”– but there is also the reasonable concern about whether other people can control your smart home too. Famously, a South Park episode did just that, adding all sorts…

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Photo Gallery: IDLES + Nation Of Language + Ecca Vandal – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (22.01.25)

IDLES conquered Sydney at a sold out Hordern Pavilion with a performance of the ages. The British band lead by singer Joe Talbot were a force to be reckoned with. Guitarist Lee Kiernan crowd surfed while playing and Mark Bowen fiery guitar work delivered high-energy and politically charged anthems. IDLES once again proved that they…

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Knotfest Australia announces 2025 sideshows, including Auckland headliner for Slipknot

Knotfest will return to Australia in just a few short weeks, with festival curators Slipknot topping the bill. Alongside the festival dates, Knotfest have just dropped a list of sideshows that will take place in the run-up. Amongst them are an Auckland show for headliners Slipknot, a Brisbane gig for A Day To Remember, and…

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Interview: Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones on the power thematic and complicated nature of their characters in The Brutalist

Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth (Adrien Brody) arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent…

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Film Review: The Brutalist stands strong with its psychological scaffolding

It’s all a little too easy to accuse actor-turned-director Brady Corbet of indulging in his own self given the running time of his third feature The Brutalist; the 215 minute drama following 2015’s The Childhood of a Leader and 2018’s divisive Natalie Portman feature Vox Lux.  The length, however, (which also includes a needed 15…

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Flight Review: Delta’s economy service from Honolulu to Minneapolis proves to be top of the class

Earlier this month, I flew Delta Air Lines‘ service from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before the flight, I tried to Google whether or not Delta offered complimentary meals and drinks on their flights between Hawaii and the mainland. Since my search didn’t reveal a clear answer, I want to start this review by helping…

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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD provides barrels of fun

The Donkey Kong Country series has had a resurgence on the Nintendo Switch system over the past few years. With the original trilogy getting the release as part of the SNES classics collection and the beautiful port of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze making its way over from the Wii and Wii-U, it was only…

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Interview: Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro on respecting the history of their real-life counterparts in Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown

In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide. Bringing Dylan’s specific story to the…

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Film Review: A Complete Unknown; Bob Dylan biopic deliberately keeps its enigmatic subject at a distance from its audience

A more evasive mentality is adhered to in A Complete Unknown and its subject, musician Bob Dylan, than what director James Mangold afforded Johnny Cash in Walk The Line (2005), here, a deliberately distant biopic that dares to keep Dylan as the enigmatic character he is, rather than create anything false and flashy for the…

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Interview: Edward Norton and director James Mangold on uncovering Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown; “We wanted to show how particular his own voice was.”

In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide. Bringing Dylan’s specific story to the…

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Interview: Timothée Chalamet on embodying the enigmatic Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown; “It’s an honour to be the humble bridge to this period and this incredible artist.”

In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide. Bringing Dylan’s specific story to the…

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Book Review: A Secretive Century is an illuminating look at Queer her-story

Monte Punshon lived in a man’s world. She also lived a fierce life where she refused to be pigeon-holed.  Ethel May ‘Monte’ Punshon is the colourful subject of A Secretive Century, a new biography from award-winning author Tessa Morris-Suzuki. Morris-Suzuki is a history professor who has written over 25 books. A scholar specialising in Asian…

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Interview: Director Dougal Wilson on crafting the magic of Paddington in Peru; “Technically and culturally it was a challenge.”

Full of Paddington’s signature blend of wit, charm, and laugh-out-loud humor, Paddington in Peru finds the beloved, marmalade-loving bear lost in the jungle on an exciting, high-stakes adventure. When Paddington discovers his beloved Aunt Lucy has gone missing from the Home for Retired Bears, he and the Brown family head to the wilds of Peru…

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