Author: Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.

Interview: Liam Clifford introduces us to the Howlaround Entertainment Group

Currently based in Los Angeles, Australian tour manager, engineer and label head Liam Clifford has a lot on his plate. His company, the Howlaround Entertainment Group, was initially established as a production rental business but as 2017 reaches its end, the Howlaround brand has enjoyed much expansion and has brought Clifford many more experiences that have helped bolster his…

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Will anything in Hollywood actually change after Harvey Weinstein?

Over the last two weeks, since The New Yorker published a damning article exposing Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein as a sexual deviant (which puts it mildly), the fairly swift response from the entertainment community has been nothing short of overwhelming. Even surprising. Though certainly deserved. But if this is really endemic of a larger issue,…

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Review: Cirque du Soleil’s Avatar inspired Toruk: The First Flight will defy your expectations (in Sydney to October 29th)

There’s something to be said for expectations. When you go to a Cirque du Soleil show, you have plenty of them. In their new production Toruk: The First Flight, set in the world of the 2009 film Avatar, the iconic Montreal circus company have taken the expectations of a Cirque audience and thrown them out…

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Steve Kilbey is coming to Sydney for the NSW Premiere of his new documentary

One of Australia’s most iconic songwriters, Steve Kilbey, will be amongst the special guests set to appear at the inaugural Australian Music Week Film Festival from October 31st through until November 3rd. The festival itself, held in Cronulla, will be preceded by an event at the Event Cinemas on George Street however, accompanied by special Q&As at…

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Games Review: South Park: The Fractured But Whole (PS4, 2017) is a hilariously addictive RPG adventure

When you first jump into South Park: The Fractured But Whole, you pick up from where the last game, The Stick of Truth, and the last episode of the TV series (Season 21, Episode 4 “Franchise Prequel”), leave off. The boys have stopped playing a Lord of the Rings style quest and are now building their own…

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Six places you have to visit, you probably didn’t even know existed

The world is full of incredible destinations – plenty of which you know well. But the number of gems this wonderful planet has to offer that you don’t know is immeasurable. Here’s just six of them…. Thousand Islands (Gananoque, Canada) Once you behold the majesty of this region, you’d be surprised to know that even…

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Aussies Abroad: Hockey Dad line up massive US and Canadian Tour

Aussie duo Hockey Dad have found quite a bit of love for themselves in the US and Canada, and from later this month they’ll be capitalising on that for a massive tour around the North American countries. The tour begins up north in the Canadian city of Calgary, on the 24th of October 2017, and…

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Interview: Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade (Canada) on getting the band back together & plans for Australia

I’ve been a big fan of Wolf Parade for years – one of Canada’s most iconic indie rock groups, with chronic overachievers Dan Boeckner (Handsome Furs, Operators, Divine Fits etc.) and Spencer Krug (Frog Eyes, Sunset Rubdown etc.) serving as the band’s chief songwriters. I’ve spoken to Dan quite a few times over the years…

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Flight Review: Qantas remain the domestic red eye to beat out of Darwin (QF829)

Those who have flown in and out of Darwin know that many flights to and from Australia’s only 24 hour airport are red eyes – and if my recent flight with them is any indication, it seems that Qantas remains the red eye service to Sydney to beat. Here’s a look at the experience in…

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Film Review: Blade Runner 2049 (USA, 2017) is an instant classic

When the original Blade Runner was first released in cinemas in 1982, it made waves for its stunning cinematography and special effects, moody and now iconic soundtrack from Vangelis, and its truly innovative adaptation of a short story from sci-fi writer Philip K Dick; the rare instance where a film has outdone its source material….

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Review: Have California Burgers perfected the Australian In-N-Out Burger? (Melbourne)

Ever since burger makers cottoned on to the quality and popularity of the iconic In-N-Out Burger in the US, they’ve been trying to replicate it. And this trend isn’t restricted to Australia – many on the East Coast of the US will know Shake Shack, whose own take on the In-N-Out style burger has made…

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Two Australians and Ten Canadians who impressed at BreakOut West 2017

If you know where to look, you could stumble across a music industry conference and festival just about every week of the year. It’s a rare week, however, you’ll find a barrage of events happenings simultaneously around the world. A little over a week ago now there were no less than four major festivals happening…

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What’s new in Joss Whedon’s Firefly 15th anniversary blu-ray set?

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 15 years since Joss Whedon’s now classic, short running TV series Firefly hit the airwaves. Possibly because so many of us discovered it years later. But with just 14 episodes and a movie (2005’s Serenity), the Firefly universe didn’t expand as much as fans might have liked –…

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Flight Review: How does Delta’s Sydney to LAX Service (DL40) compare to partner Virgin Australia?

If you fly regularly to US with Virgin Australia, as I do, chances are you may have ended up on a Delta aircraft on one of your trips; with the two carriers codesharing services across the Pacific, providing ticketed passengers for either the option to fly with the other. I recently did just that, flying…

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Eight things you have to do when in Hawaii

Travel to Hawaii from Australia has never been easier or more affordable. Budget carrier Jetstar offer some of the cheapest deals between the east coast of Australia and Honolulu, while their parent company Qantas also offer daily services. Hawaiian Airlines – who sit as part of Virgin Australia’s Velocity Network – are usually the best…

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Film Review: Kingsman: The Golden Circle (UK, 2017) is an enjoyable ride but does it overstay its welcome?

When Kingsman: The Secret Service debuted in 2015, it became a critical darling and surprise commercial hit due to strong word of mouth, and a truly original and exciting approach to the spy (and in many respects, the superhero / comic book) genre. Funny, irreverent and wholly memorable, it stands apart as one of the…

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Video Games Hands On: South Park: The Fractured But Whole (PS4, 2017) may be funnier than its predecessor

Last month I had the chance to spend a couple of hours with South Park: The Fractured But Whole, a game which literally picks up from where the last game, 2014’s The Stick of Truth, left off. The boys are still playing wizards, and as The New Kid, your quest to impress your classmates continues —…

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Larry’s Picks: 11 acts who left a lasting impression at BIGSOUND

Last week, I descended on BIGSOUND in what was my 6th visit to the iconic Brisbane conference and festival. Just about every year the event has grown in size – from the amount of bands playing, to the amount of venues utilised and the number of attendees. This year felt unquestionably the biggest yet, amped…

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7 things you have to do while in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon had long been on my bucket list of destinations to visit. Renowned for great food and beer, arts, bookstores and scenery, and infamous for its hipster lifestyle, the city is one of the finest in the world. There’s so much to do in the city, but to help you on your way, here…

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Review: Marvel’s Inhumans may be game changing for IMAX, but is it a missed opportunity?

At the end of this month, Inhumans, the latest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe will kick off as a television series on ABC TV in the US – the home of the successful Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series, which will enter its fifth season later this year. Today, Inhumans – the third ABC studios series…

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Win $10,000 cash and a trip to Singapore by submitting your five minute short film

The Connect5 short film competition is back, giving two Australian filmmakers the chance to win $10,000 cash each and a trip to Singapore! Presented by Optus, the competition encourages anyone who wants to make a positive change within a five minute short film to enter. The theme for the films centres on the relationships people…

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Here’s what went down when Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl & Taylor Hawkins surprised Sydney fans with a $20 gig

Australia awoke this morning to surprise news that half of the Foo Fighters had come to Sydney to promote their anticipated new album Concrete and Gold (out September 15th), fresh off wowing crowds in Singapore over the weekend. And though the full band couldn’t make it, Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins made sure they made the…

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Win tickets to see the first two episodes of Marvel’s Inhumans at IMAX Melbourne

In a groundbreaking move for the industry, the first two episodes of the new Marvel TV series Inhumans have been filmed entirely with IMAX cameras, and this weekend (from September 1st) they’ll be released exclusively on IMAX screens around the world, almost a month ahead of its premiere on ABC TV in the USA. Marvel’s…

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Fountaineer performs “The Cricketers” live at Young Henrys for the AU Sessions

During out recent catch up with Fountaineer‘s Tony White in Sydney, the songwriter and frontman performed “The Cricketers”, taken from the band’s new album Greater City, Greater Love at Young Henrys. The album is out now and you can find out more about it with our interview with Tony, here. Check out this exclusive AU Sessions performance below!…

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Batch Brewing Co.’s Iain McKelvey on running a community minded brewery & producing damn good beer

We at the AU are honoured to have Batch Brewing Co. on board as sponsors for our upcoming 9th Birthday Party in Sydney. Now a staple of the Marrickville scene, we caught up with Iain McKelvey to talk about the origins of the group, running a community minded brewery and producing damn good beer… How did Batch Brewing Co. get…

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Inteview: Fountaineer on why “I can’t write another f**king song about Bendigo”

The AU’s Larry Heath recently sat down with Tony White of Fountaineer to talk about their long awaited debut LP Greater City, Greater Love (in stores now). On the release of the album, Tony notes the longevity these songs already have with the band, having formed some time ago. “The album’s been a long time in…

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Party under the Northern Lights: Three Yukon festivals to shine bright this Canadian winter

With days that hit minus twenty degrees Celsius, and nights that hit minus thirty, visiting Canada’s Yukon Territory in winter time is not for the faint of heart. But for locals and guests alike, it’s no time for hibernation. The territory, which is the smallest and westernmost of Canada’s three federal territories, and the smallest in…

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The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin names the best motorbike destinations in Australia

Iconic Canadian group The Tea Party’s frontman, Jeff Martin, is an Australian Ambassador for Royal Enfield and owns a Classic 500. With Jeff now based in Byron Bay, and the full band set to return to Australian shores for a tour later this year, we caught up with Jeff, who delivered us his list of…

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Watch the first trailer for A. A. Milne biopic Goodbye Christopher Robin

The story of Winnie The Pooh author A. A. Milne has long been optioned for cinema, and this November, British director Simon Curtis (My Week with Marilyn) will have his stab at the biopic, Goodbye Christopher Robin. The film stars Domhnall Gleeson in the lead role, with Aussie actress Margot Robbie playing his wife Daphne, Kelly Macdonald…

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We test out the new Virgin “economy x” service from Sydney to Darwin

The newest domestic offering (and rebranded International inclusion from what was known for the year prior as “Economy Space Plus”) from Virgin Australia adds new benefits to the exit row and the first few rows of the economy section: some extra leg room, priority security screening, priority baggage and dedicated overhead storage. The new section of…

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