John is all about celebrating the best of music, arts, and culture in Australia. He's a prolific reviewer and interviewer who's always on the pulse of what's new and exciting. His reviews are in-depth and thoughtful, giving readers a sense of what to expect from live performances, albums, and festivals. John's vibe on The AU Review is one of infectious enthusiasm, passion, and dedication to showcasing the vibrant cultural landscape of Australia.
Recreating the feeling of the famous magic bars dotted throughout Tokyo, The Maho Magic Bar has set up shop in Adelaide Fringe‘s Garden of Unearthly Delights. The Garden itself is probably the best known hub of the Fringe, in the parklands east of Rundle Street in Adelaide. While the clientele relaxes in the outside bar waiting…
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In a world filled with influencers and high-flyers, it can be overwhelming to constantly keep up appearances. In her latest single “Don’t Compare Yourself”, singer My Chérie has addressed this issue with warmth and understanding. My Chérie has exploded onto the scene with her pop tinged songs and captivating live shows. Her music has been…
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After the success of Lady Sings the Blues at the Adelaide Fringe in 2022, Prinnie Stevens is back this year with the second instalment of her show. With such an incredible array of blues artists that have shaped today’s musical world, it’s only fitting that the music deserves a second chance. This year the show…
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One thing that the Adelaide fringe is known for, is bringing strange and unusual events to the city. One of those is The Inflatable Church, which has come all the way from the European Fringe circuit. It’s like a giant inflatable jumping castle, but all the fun happens on the inside. It’s unholy matrimony, where…
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Despite many recent festivals being scaled back or cancelled altogether, Laneway Festival bounced back into Adelaide on Friday, 9th Feb, as big and bold as ever. Having outgrown the city laneways several years ago, then Hart’s Mill in Port Adelaide, the venue is now Bonython Park in the western city parklands. A glorious sunny day…
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British playwright Lucy Kirkwood has crafted a delightful tale of social consciousness with a serious message. The Children tells the story of the aftermath of a nuclear power station meltdown, focussing on three former nuclear engineers. Set in a cottage in an unnamed coastal area of England, the play opens with Rose (played by veteran performer…
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Altos Tequila will be embarking on a month-long party by shouting 20,000 margaritas at selected venues down the east coast of Australia. The authentic Mexican brand will also giving away a free trip back to the motherland. Celebrated as the best tequila for the traditional margarita, Altos Tequila are hoping for a Mexican Wave of…
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More than two dozen South Australian acts will play at multiple venues across Port Adelaide on the evening of Saturday, 17th of February. With free entry at nine venues, New Found Sound promises to be an exciting night of adventure and discovery. Some of the acts playing on the night include DJ Troy Been, Alana…
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Last year’s Heaps Good Festival was such an incredibly great show that it’s hard to understand why this year’s wasn’t bigger and better. Moving the stages from the main oval at the Adelaide Showgrounds into the pavilion area seemed to dampen the festival vibe. Fortunately, the food court was outside, which gave something of a…
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Despite threatening thunderstorms in the morning, it all heated up for Wildlands Festival in Adelaide on Sunday afternoon. Set in the parklands near the Adelaide High School, it was an easy venue for the predominantly young crowd to access. A large tent in the centre of the grounds provided shade, with the single main stage…
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From the moment the curtain rises on the Miss Saigon stage, the audience knows that they are in for an incredible journey. The Adelaide Festival Centre stage has been skilfully transformed into a Saigon war zone. Soldiers run roughshod through busy villagers’ lives, choppers flying noisily overhead, bombs exploding in the distance, and chaos and…
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Groove Armada have been releasing banging dance tunes such as “I see You Baby” and “Superstyling” for over 25 years. The British duo of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay are bringing their DJ set back to Australia in January for Adelaide’s Vintage Vibes Festival. We chatted about what’s kept the show fresh over all these…
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There’s a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation in the air as the Meredith Music lovers set up camp and make their way to the amphitheatre. Seasoned attendees have secured their favourite spots, decorated their campsite and set up their couches in the amphitheatre. Friday’s weather is hot and windy, but that doesn’t deter the…
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If you live in Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth, you probably already have Wildlands Festival in your diary. The set times for these three events have just been released to help you plan your day. Brisbane is hosting the event on New years Eve at the Brisbane Showgrounds and it’s a massive line-up. RÜFÜS DU SOL will…
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We see a lot of new release news, but this one really captured our eye. Just this week, Impressed Recordings have released a limited edition coloured vinyl pressing of the classic Wiggles album, Yummy Yummy. The original line up of Murray, Jeff, Anthony and Greg, went on to become household names with hits such as…
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Like fitting the final piece to a jigsaw puzzle, the announcement of Ball Park Music as headliners for next year’s Vintage Vibes Festival is great news for music lovers. After last years debut in the Adelaide Hills, this year is set to be a must attend on your calendar. Joining Ball Park Music are UK’s…
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WOMADelaide has been a part of Adelaide’s DNA for over thirty years. Founded by Peter Gabriel in 1992, it draws people together to celebrate world music and the joy of life. It’s recent home has been among the trees in the glorious Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla adjacent to the Adelaide Zoo. Over the years it has grown…
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After stunning audiences at this year’s NLMA awards, and again at the SA Music Awards, Carla Lippis and Mondo Psycho have released an unhinged video that captures their style perfectly. The title of the song, “I Paint with the Brush of Violence” tells it all. Lippis’s personal style evokes the black macintosh-wearing killers of Dario…
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The Avalanches, the Australian electronic music duo of Tony Di Blasi and Robbie Chater, took the world by storm in 1997 with the release of their debut album, Since I Left You. Consisting of some 3000 samples and with hit singles such as “Frontier Psychiatrist”, it has become a classic album. They recently released a…
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Since bursting on the scene in 2015 with her debut single “Wish I Was”, AYLA has consistently crafted brooding pop-gems. Known for her distinctive and eclectic style, AYLA has just released an emotionally charged single, “Should’ve Been Fine.” AYLA asks her listeners to ponder the fragility of life and the importance of seizing the moment…
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Our friends at Young Henrys have always been ones to push the barriers when it comes to releasing new beer varieties. This time, just in time for summer, is a core range of Cold XPA. Brewed cold. Drink colder. This joins the existing lineup of Newtowner, Hazy Pale Ale, Natural Larger, IPA, Stayer Mid Strength, Cloudy Cider & Ginger Beer. The beer…
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Under the direction of Connor Duncan and adapted by Annie Baker, Chekhov’s classic play Uncle Vanya is brought to life in Adelaide’s Little Theatre by the Theatre Guild Student Society. Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) is considered one of the great Russian playwrights and a key figure in the 19th Century movement towards dramatic realism and naturalism….
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Debut flights from Adelaide via Perth have begun just this week. At Adelaide Airport, Executive GM of People Culture and Customer at Adelaide Airport, Dermot O’Neil and Brenton Cox, Managing Director welcomed Vietjet, who are the first carriers offering direct flights to Vietnam. South Australian Tourism Minister, Zoe Bettison was also there to help with the…
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With 36 bands over three stages running all day, there was so much to see at Froth and Fury Festival that it would be impossible to see it all. From local punk rock outfits to the raucous antics of Suicidal Tendencies, there had to be a heavy metal band to suit your tastes. Taking over…
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With The Butterfly Effect and Suicidal Tendencies heading up an extravaganza of 36 heavy, alternative and underground acts over three stages at Pirate Life Brewery, you’ll be kicking yourself if you miss the last of the ticket allocation. Froth and Fury is a specially handcrafted brew of Rock, Punk, Metal, Hardcore, Stoner, Sludge and Doom…
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Formed in London in 2016 and now based between Berlin and Zurich, Kerala Dust is a four-piece band influenced by iconic indie acts like CAN, The Velvet Underground, and Tom Waits. They fuse their influence of psychedelic rock, blues, and techno into their own signature hypnotic sound. In late 2020, they released their debut album…
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It was packed to the rafters on Sunday night at the Hindley Street Music Hall as punters excitedly waited for the triumphant return of UK legends Bloc Party. Co-founders Kele Okereke on lead vocals and Russell Lissack on lead guitar were joined by Louise Bartle on drums and touring bassist Harry Deacon. They played a generous…
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In a show of exuberance, the South Australian music community came together at Woodville Town Hall to celebrate. Indigenous act DEM MOB shone, winning five awards, including the prestigious Emily Burrows Award, which includes a $5,000 grant for professional development. They also took home Best Regional Artist, Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist, and…
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The second instalment of Harvest Rock is back in the Adelaide parklands, bigger and better than even the first. After last year’s wet weather, the event organisers ensured plenty of astroturf would keep the mud away if it did rain. Luckily, this weekend we were blessed with glorious weather after a brief early shower at…
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Landing by accident on the comedy scene in 2019, My Cousin Vlad is Australia’s first official ‘Immaculagent’. A real estate agent by day, and an observational professor by night… actually… by day as well. While on his CATASTROPHA National Tour, and ahead of his shows in Newcastle, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, we called him to…
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