Author: Anna Blaby

Anna is a Melbourne based mum, writer and storyteller.

Interview: Tori Forsyth makes a country comeback with All We Have Is Who We Are (LP)

Tori Forsyth releases her third album All We Have Is Who We Are today through Island Records. Following her Golden Guitar-nominated debut album Dawn of the Dark (2018) and the rock album Provlepseis (2021), the new record includes the QMA 2024 Country Award winning single “Sometimes”, as well as most recent release “All We Are”….

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Red River Road

Book Review: Red River Road by Anna Downes is the thriller to get obssesed with this winter

This week saw the arrival of Red River Road by Anna Downes into book stores around the country. Brace yourself for an intensly scary ride! Anna Downes established herself in the thriller genre and gained international success with her previous novels: The Safe Place (2020) and The Shadow House (2021). This is her third novel…

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Book Review: Emily Gale and Nova Weetman deliver a thrilling Aussie adventure in Outlaw Girls

Outlaw Girls is the second teen novel by Emily Gale and Nova Weetman. Their debut as a team was 2001’s Elsewhere Girls, a teen novel exploring the lives of two Australian girls living in different times. The new release, Outlaw Girls follows the same idea: a time-slip adventure, told from two perspectives at once. The novel…

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An American Dreamer

Book Review: David Finkel’s An American Dreamer is a gripping report on a fractured America

David Finkel is an award winning American journalist known for his bestselling book The Good Soldiers (2009), a recounting the USA-Iraq war, which secured the title ‘New York Times Best Book of the Year’. The Washington Post editor and writer won a Pulitzer Prize in 2006 along with other awards throughout his career reporting across…

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Book Review: Raimond Gaita’s Justice And Hope is a thought provoking collection of writings and ideas

Raimond Gaita, a German-born Australian philosopher and award-winning writer, released Justice And Hope: Essays, Lectures and Other Writings in November 2023. Published through Melbourne University Press, the collection appears at a time when war and terror seem to roam our world more than ever and many questions are raised on the topics of morality, human…

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Ego_Ride

Album Review: Asha Jefferies – Ego Ride (2024 LP)

Asha Jefferies debut album Ego Ride drops today via Nettwerk Music Group, recorded by Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music) at Prawn Records, Brisbane. It follows two EPs and some significant career achievements for the Brisbane based artist, including appearances at Bigsound and Bluesfest, and making the shortlists for both the Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition and…

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Daniel Muggleton takes on an intimate Melbourne crowd at QT, Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Daniel Muggleton is a Sydney-based comedian and rising star on a national tour following his International debut in 2023. Muggleton offers a taste of uncomfortable humour joining a fine lineup of performers this year at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It is a pleasure to catch him at an intimate performance in QT Melbourne, where he…

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The Woman In Me

Book Review: Britney Spears’ bombshell memoir The Woman In Me is here to make waves

The Woman In Me is the highly anticipated and heavily gossiped about memoir from Britney Spears. The late 90s- early 2000s icon doesn’t need any introductions. Britney is a household name, a pop singer known for her numerous hits and impressive performance career spanning over two decades. She is also, more recently known for her…

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Six international shows not to miss this autumn (March-April 2024)

2024 is shaping up to be another huge year of live music here in Australia. With the festival scene feeling fully out of the COVID hibernation, and with some big international names touring down under, there’s plenty of entertainment to choose from. If you are an avid fan of live music you may already have…

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Book Review: In The Girl In The Band Belinda Chapple exposes the ruthless entertainment industry

The Girl In The Band is a tell all memoir from Australian singer, creative director and interior designer Belinda Chapple. Chapple made a name for herself as a singer, dancer and model, starting her performing career at just ten years old. She shot to stardom as a member of the award-winning and platinum-selling band Bardot….

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Lainey Wilson (US) adds shows to debut Australian tour due to popular demand

Lainey Wilson is set to headline her debut Australian tour this March, 2024. Due to popular demand the tour has been extended, with additional shows in Sydney and Melbourne The award-winning country music artist will headline four shows in Australia (Melbourne and Sydney) in addition to her slot at the CMC Rocks 2024 festival (QLD)….

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Album review: Caitlin Harnett and The Pony Boys- All Night Long (2023 LP)

Country-soul powerhouse Caitlin Harnett and The Pony Boys released their second album All Night Long through Spunk Records today, the follow-up to successful debut Late Night Essentials (2020) which scored the title Album of the Week on FBi Radio and 2SER. Originally formed  in 2015, Caitlin Harnett and The Pony Boys have spent the last…

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Peter Hellier

Review: The hilarious Peter Hellier headlines at one of Melbourne’s hidden treasures, The Comic’s Lounge (06.10.23)

On Friday 6th, October, I had the pleasure to witness Peter Hellier, one of Australia’s favourite hosts and comedians, live on stage at the iconic The Comic’s Lounge. Peter is well known for his time as the co-host of The Project on Network Ten, a role he retired from in 2022 after eight years. Before…

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Zach Bryan announces exclusive Australian show at Always Live

Zach Bryan sets foot in Australia for the first time this December, joining the Always Live line-up. The American country music superstar will perform at Catani Gardens Flemington Racecourse in Viectoria on Saturday, 9th December, 2023. UPDATED 5/10 – venue changed to Flemington Racecourse Zach Bryan will be joining a fine lineup of musicians, including…

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Live Review: Reb Fountain shakes Melbourne’s Brunswick Ballroom with Ellis King

On Tuesday, multi-award-winning Reb Fountain returned to Melbourne for the second time following the release of her single, ‘Faithless Lover’. The Lyttelton (NZ) based alternative-folk-noir artist recently completed her European tour supporting Marlon Williams, headlining shows in the UK as well as performing at The Great Escape Festival (UK). For Reb’s return to Melbourne, The…

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Interview: Eddie Rawk on his latest release “Memories”, inspiration and the vision for Eddie Rawk Band

The modern country music powerhouse, Eddie Rawk Band, released their latest single “Memories” last Friday, 11th August. “Memories” is an upbeat country-pop song reminiscing on the highs and lows of a true first love story. The single follows the band’s February release “My Life’s Road” which showcased more vulnerable songwriting and a rather traditional country…

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Southern Aurora

Book Review: Mark Brandi’s moving coming of age novel Southern Aurora explores unforgiving small-town life

Southern Aurora is Mark Brandi’s fourth novel, and follows on the heels of the bestseller Wimmera (2017), The Rip (2019) and The Others (2021). Wimmera secured Brandi the coveted British Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger and was also named Best Debut at the 2018 Australian Indie Book Awards. It was also shortlisted for the Australian…

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Live Review: Katy Steele rocks The Workers Club, Melbourne to a packed crowd (04.08.23)

Last Friday, 4th of August, The Workers Club hosted the cult following of the captivating Katy Steele, formerly of the ARIA nominated band Little Birdy. The West Australian pop singer who is currently touring her latest album Big Star (2023) was supported by the duo Moreton. Katy definitely has a loyal following here in Melbourne….

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Interview: Fanny Lumsden, fresh from Glastonbury, talks new album Hey Dawn, songwriting and family

Hey Dawn a new album by Fanny Lumsden is out this Friday, 4th of August. Hey Dawn is Fanny’s fourth album, following her award-winning release Fallow (2020). Fallow debuted at #10 on the all-genre ARIA charts and took out Best Country Album at the 2020 ARIA Awards. The album also secured five CMAA Golden Guitar…

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Brooke_and_Adam

Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley on Up, Down & Sideways, COVID and family life on tour

The country power couple Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley released their second album Up, Down & Sideways last week (read our 5-star review HERE!). The usual suspects on the Golden Guitars podium, Brooke & Adam took home three wins at the 2023 Country Music Awards of Australia this January being crowned Country Music Capital News Group…

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Album Review: Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley deliver that feel good fix in Up, Down & Sideways

Award winning country duo Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley drop their second album Up, Down & Sideways tomorrow. Brooke McClymont is one third of top-selling, award-winning Australian country music trio The McClymonts. She has over 200,000 album sales, 40 million streams, two ARIA Awards, fifteen Golden Guitar Awards, one CMA (USA) Award, one APRA Award and…

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Jess_Hitchcock

Interview: Jess Hitchcock on Unbreakable, songwriting and representing First Nations artists in the Australian music industry

Unbreakable by the talented singer-songwriter Jess Hitchcock is out this Friday, 30th June 2023. In her second album, the proud First Nations artist serenades us with an achingly beautiful reminder that we can find power in ourselves to become unbreakable. Unbreakable is a follow-up to Jess’s acoustic debut Bloodline (2019), which was inspired by her…

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