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.

Film Review: Studio 666 comes out rockin’ as the Foos pay tribute to the classic horror genre

When it was announced that the Foo Fighters made a comedy horror movie in lockdown, it didn’t feel much of a surprise to those of us who grew up watching the band make quirky music videos or Devilish cameos in a Tenacious D movie. But a music video this is not – so the question…

Read More

Dream Destinations: Hiking the picture perfect Joffre Lakes in British Columbia, Canada

You’d be forgiven for thinking the photo above is taken in the famed blue waters of Lake Louise in Banff, Alberta. It is, after all, one of Canada’s most photographed destinations. Alas, it is not alone in its regal beauty. Sitting three hours or so north of Vancouver, just past Whistler and Pemberton, the Joffre…

Read More

Review: Flying Canada’s budget carrier Flair Airlines – Montreal to Toronto

We’ve spoken a lot over the years about the differing experiences flying Canada’s two main airlines – Westjet and Air Canada – as well as the shorter range journeys with Porter. But on a recent trip between Montreal and Toronto, I decided to try one of Canada’s more recently established budget (“Ultra Low Cost”) carriers…

Read More

The Kid LAROI just snagged his first ever Grammy Nomination

On the day when Australians are set to celebrate the best music of the last year courtesy of the ARIAs (airing tonight at 7.30pm), one of the night’s big performers has also enjoyed the news that he’s nominated for Best New Artist at the mother-flipping Grammy Awards in the USA. That artist is none other…

Read More

Picasso follows Van Gogh as “Imagine Picasso: The Immersive Experience” arrives in Vancouver, Canada

Millions around the world have already experienced Imagine Van Gogh – a reimagining of the way we immerse ourselves in the pieces of an adored artist, usually limited by the finite nature of their work. 3.5 million tickets have been sold in North America alone, and the concept is currently in Brisbane as it tours Australia…

Read More

Air Canada vs Westjet: What is pandemic travel like with Canada’s biggest airlines from Toronto to Vancouver (Updated)

In Toronto, after enduring the world’s longest continuous COVID-19 lockdown – accumulating almost 400 days by the time indoor dining restrictions came to an end earlier this month – we’re finally coming out of what we hope are the darkest days of the pandemic. Vaccination rates are approaching 80% – placing us amongst the most…

Read More

Porter Airlines vs Air Canada: Flying to and from a reopened Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

Earlier this month, Toronto’s central Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport re-opened for the first time to travellers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the airport’s primary commercial carriers, Porter Airlines, resumed domestic services. The airport – which I’ve previously called one of the world’s most convenient – is unique due to its location…

Read More

Alexander Biggs, du0 & Teenage Joans win US Songwriting Competition

Three Australian artists today find themselves amongst the 38 international winners of the 2021 US-based Unsigned Only Music Competition. Singer/songwriter Alexander Biggs (Melbourne, VIC) and EDM artist du0 (Brisbane, QLD) have both been awarded First Place in their respective categories. Biggs was awarded First Place for the song “Madeleine” in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category, while du0…

Read More

The New Normal? Vaccinated Tours coming to G Adventures as Inca Trail reopens

If anyone was wondering what travel tour groups were going to look like in the near future, recent announcements from G Adventures – who have been running small group tours with a focus on sustainability since 1990 – may provide some indication or what is to come. The Toronto based company, which offers some 1,000…

Read More

5 trips to take out of Vancouver, BC this Summer

As Canadian Provinces open to domestic travellers once again – and even to their American neighbours to the south – we spent a week in the country’s western most Province, British Columbia, to get a taste of some of the activities that locals and visitors alike should take advantage of as Summer continues. Spend the…

Read More

Hotel Review: Moxy Chelsea provides guests a cozy, masterfully designed stay in the Big Apple

A stay at a Moxy Hotel is always a unique experience; it’s a boutique brand that does well to bring in inspiration from its surroundings. Their Chelsea, New York, location – which opened in February 2019 – is no exception. A garden engulfs you as you walk through their cozy lobby, the smells of plants…

Read More

Summer in San Diego: 7 things to do in 2021 in the Southern Californian city

With San Diego turning 250 in 2019, the city and its surrounds have been shaping up a massive year of openings, new attractions and familiar favourites that ensure the coastal Southern Californian destination remains at the top of everyone’s vacation lists, as we head into Summer 2021. Here’s a guide to what you need to…

Read More

First names revealed for Riot Fest 2022 as stacked 2021 Chicago event sells out

The US Festival season is finally heating up again as Covid restrictions start to lift and that promised “Hot Vax Summer” becomes a reality in the Northern Hemisphere. With the last 15 months being live music free in most of the country, music fans are chomping at the bit to see their favourite bands perform…

Read More

Interview: Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull on recording at Sound City with “genius” Ethan Guska, film composition and growing up in Toronto

This Friday marks the release of Manchester Orchestra‘s 6th Studio Album, the highly anticipated The Million Masks of God. You may have already heard the single “Bed Head”, watched the concert film (you’ll see the both later down this article), or even watched the video for the beautiful “Telepath”, which was released yesterday. Ahead of…

Read More

Interview: Layla Kay on returning to Australia & writing her new single “I’ll Be Lonely” in lockdown

Hot off the heels of releasing her latest single “I’ll Be Lonely”, we caught up with Australian singer/songwriter Layla Kay. Kay has just returned to Australia amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic, after spending three years in the UK. While in quarantine, we spoke about what it’s been like returning home, writing her aptly named single while…

Read More

Don’t worry, the 1996 Space Jam website is still online

One of the true gems of the internet has been the fact that Warner Bros. have maintained one of the earliest interactive HTML movie websites – their 1996 Space Jam website. With a new Space Jam film out this year (no less than 25 years later…), many were worried this joyous site would be taken…

Read More

Los Angeles’ Academy Museum to launch pre-opening virtual program for a worldwide audience

Ever since The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures was announced – a state of the art new complex in Los Angeles – cinephiles around the world have been anticipating what is set to be the most comprehensive and star-studded look at the history, and making of cinema. The Museum, which was set to open last…

Read More

Vale Michael Gudinski: “The acts that look after their fans will be the ones that last”

It’s impossible to work in the music industry and not feel the weight of the loss of Michael Gudinski this morning – the iconic founder of the Mushroom Group who passed away overnight at the age of 68. Myself, and the whole The AU Review team sends our love to the Gudinski family, all his…

Read More

Delta to increase Sydney to Los Angeles flights in March on their flagship A350-900

Finally, some news of an airline increasing, not decreasing, flights between the US and Australia. Delta Air Lines, who have been praised for their Delta Care Standard implemented during the pandemic, will start flying their flagship A350-900 aircraft six times a week from 8th March 2021. This will give Australians and Americans looking to return…

Read More

Album Review: Foo Fighters play it safe with Medicine at Midnight, but that’s not a bad thing

Today marks the day that iconic American rockers Foo Fighters return with the long-awaited release of their tenth (!!) studio full length, Medicine at Midnight. The release – their first since 2017’s well received Concrete and Gold – coincides with the band’s 25th anniversary, and was set to be released in a year when they were…

Read More

The first Aussie acts to play SXSW Online 2021 have been announced

If 2020 was the year that conference festivals were dealt the unexpected and either had to cancel or quickly adapt, 2021 is the year they have to settle into a new normal. For now, this means events that are entirely run online- and hopefully, as the year progresses, hybrid events that will see us start…

Read More

Shigeru Miyamoto tours Japan’s Super Nintendo World and confirms Singapore expansion

UPDATE 19/12: Watch new on ground video hosted by “Mario’s Dad”, Shigeru Miyamoto, as we see more of the attractions in the park. Miyamoto also confirms Super Nintendo World is coming to Universal Studios Singapore, though no date has been given. That will bring the attractions a little bit closer to Australia! Original Article – 12th…

Read More

Track of the Day: Zero 7 ft. Lou Stone “Take My Hand” (2020)

Zero 7 – the famed English duo who memorably helped launch the international career of Sia – are back with their first new album in 5 years, an EP entitled Shadows. The album features four new songs, all collaborations with British singer Lou Stone, including this track “Take My Hand”. A beautiful song that will…

Read More

How to get home: These airlines continue to fly between the USA and Australia amidst the Coronavirus

**UPDATE 23 OCTOBER 2020** New flight options between USA and Australia have been confirmed, with a recommendation to book at least 8 weeks out to secure a seat. Demand is expected to be high and the situation is changing by the day. The best approach is always to get in touch with an airline directly…

Read More

How Niagara Falls, Canada has adapted to Tourism in the age of Coronavirus

If you live and work in a destination considered a “tourist attraction”, 2020 has unquestionably been a difficult year for your city. With international air travel grinding to a halt and even domestic travel either discouraged or blocked by ever changing border rules, tourism sectors have seen unthinkable downturn. Some have had to shut their…

Read More

Everything Everything (UK) talk Re-Animator: Sometimes I sing so high it’s just insane

Last month I sat down on a Zoom call with Jonathan Higgs and Alex Robertshaw from the British group Everything Everything, who tomorrow release their long awaited new album Re-Animator. It’s their fifth album in a decade and their first since 2017’s brilliant A Fever Dream – which saw them tour Australia at the end…

Read More

An open letter on behalf of Independent Media as our publication turns 12

This month, our little publication turns 12. A website born out of nothing but a desire to write about the industry I loved. I’m now employed elsewhere, and oversee other projects – like the National Live Music Awards (which returns October 20th for the 5th year). But I’m lucky enough to still write from time…

Read More

Playlist: Revisiting The Best Songs of 2010

As Arcade Fire celebrate the tenth anniversary of their groundbreaking and Grammy award winning album The Suburbs, we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane and revisit our favourite tracks from 2010, with this new playlist on Spotify. Regine and Win from the Canadian band have shared a video of them performing a track…

Read More

New Spotify Playlist: 100 tracks we “Stumbled Upon” between 2014 and 2016

Stumbled Upon was a series of new music discovery, established by Kat Hunter on the AU review in 2014. It ran 116 installments between then and 2016, with then Editor-in-Chief Sosefina Fuamoli taking over from Kat in the final year. Along the way we discovered acts like Serina Pech (pictured), IV League, Harrison Storm, Slumberhaze…

Read More

Jetlag The Podcast: LPX on the artist & label experience during quarantine and the BLM movement

Lizzy Plapinger of MS MR, who now performs as LPX – and is the co-founder of Neon Gold Records – is the guest on the fourth episode of Jetlag The Podcast’s second season, “An Industry Grounded”. Lizzy talks about what it’s been like releasing new music, including her latest single “Delayed Gratification”, and having to…

Read More