Album Review: Don Broco’s Nightmare Tripping is an experience

Don Broco aren’t figuring it out anymore. That part’s done. With their fifth studio album, Nightmare Tripping, you get a band that knows exactly what it is and is running with it. Since they started out back in 2008, they’ve bounced all over the place stylistically, pulling from alt rock, pop, electronic and heavier, but…

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The Idle Minds on debut single “Sideways”, unconventional love songs and Bon Jovi

Brisbane pop-rock outfit The Idle Minds have today dropped their awaited debut single “Sideways”, a melancholy singalong for the broken-hearted who haven’t lost faith in their happy ending. It has everything you could want from a groovy ballad: haunting piano, warm guitars, shimmering pads, and a tasty rhythm section. The only thing that’s missing is…

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Trip.com and China Southern Airlines bring “Journey to China” pop-up to Sydney CBD

Trip.com, in partnership with China Southern Airlines, is set to transform Pitt Street Mall into an immersive travel experience with its upcoming “Journey to China” pop-up, running from 27 to 29 March 2026 (10:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily, both dates inclusive). Designed as a city-centre activation, the three-day pop-up invites Sydneysiders to explore China’s…

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New Music Discoveries 27th March: Tkay Maidza, Gypsy Lee, Rum Jungle, and more

This week we’ve added another ten tracks to our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including one track we exclusively premiered earlier in the week. For the final time this month, our Track of the Week goes to, none other than the returning  Tkay Maidza with her new single “Must Be” – her first…

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 02 Reloaded brings the heat through sheer variety

I’ll gladly admit that for better or worse, I play the new Call of Duty every year. While I stick around for the invincible gunplay and fun multiplayer sessions with friends, it’s always nice when a new season comes around to refresh the experience with some new content. Be it maps, guns, operators or events,…

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STAHR

Track by Track: STAHR explore the moments that shape us on Blip

Things that feel like all-consuming headlines in the moment often fade into footnotes with time. It’s this tension between intensity and hindsight that underpins Blip, the debut EP from Meanjin/Brissie duo STAHR — a high-octane pop/rock release threaded with sharp lyricism, emotional volatility and a knowing sense of glamour. Long-time readers of the AU review…

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Game Preview: Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is the wonderfully weird social sim we’ve been waiting for

It’s been over a decade since Tomodachi Life first launched on the 3DS in the West, and in that time, it has taken on something of a cult status. I tortured my family and friends recreating them in the original, sharing their mishaps on social media, absolutely overwhelmed with bizarre, hilarious clips of tiny Mii…

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Film Review: The Magic Faraway Tree is an amiable, gently charming adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved series

Adapting The Magic Faraway Tree for the screen was never going to be straightforward. Simon Farnaby, who helped bring the charm of Paddington 2 and Wonka to life, takes a decent swing at translating Enid Blyton’s whimsical, plot-light books into something resembling a cohesive family film. The result is a bright, well-meaning adventure that captures…

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Interview: Jessica Gunning on balancing reality and whimsy in The Magic Faraway Tree

There’s a delicate balance at the heart of The Magic Faraway Tree – between whimsy and emotional truth, chaos and comfort – and few characters embody that better than Dame Washalot. In this vibrant new adaptation, based on Enid Blyton’s beloved classic, audiences are reintroduced to a world where fantastical lands spin into place atop…

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Film Review: They Will Kill You; relentless action-horror mash-up will rarely let you catch your breath.

They. Will. Kill. You. And unlike most horror taglines, this one isn’t bluffing. With They Will Kill You, director Kirill Sokolov storms into English-language filmmaking like he’s got something to prove – and judging by the sheer volume of bloodshed on display, he absolutely does. Best known for his gleefully unhinged Why Don’t You Just…

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Friendship, memory, and Filipino identity take centre stage at Forgotten Island trailer launch

At the trailer launch for Forgotten Island, directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, alongside voice stars H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, revealed a film deeply rooted in friendship, memory, and cultural authenticity – one that’s as personal as it is universal. From the outset, emotion ran high. For Crawford and Mercado, the project represents not just…

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Charlize Theron takes on an unhinged Taron Egerton in the Australian wilderness in first trailer for Netflix’s Apex

Hunt. Or be hunted. The first trailer for Apex has arrived, teasing a sleek, nerve-shredding survival thriller led by Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton. Set against the vast, unforgiving terrain of the Australian wilderness, the film promises a brutal game of cat and mouse where nature is only half the threat. Theron stars as Sasha,…

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Silversun Pickups announce an Australia tour after a 14 year absence.

Just annouced Silversun Pickups return to Australia after a 14 year absence on their Tenterhooks tour July 2026. Silversun Pickups are an American indie and alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in the early 2000s, the quartet is known for its lush, guitar-driven sound and energetic live performances. They achieved attention with Carnavas…

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Opinion: Some movies should stay exactly where they are

There’s something quietly dispiriting about the idea that 13 Going on 30 is being remade for Netflix. Not because remakes are inherently bad, or because nostalgia should be untouchable, but because this particular film represents a kind of movie, and a kind of industry, that we’ve already lost. And instead of rebuilding it, we’re strip-mining…

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The Pirate King is an unlikely blend of disarming humour and quiet power: SXSW 2026 Review

There’s a version of The Pirate King that sounds almost too eccentric to work: a PTSD-stricken veteran, a custody battle, and a pirate re-enactment troupe. And yet, in the hands of director Josh Plasse, this unlikely blend becomes something deeply human, disarmingly funny, and quietly powerful. At its core, the film follows Todd Gillis (Rob…

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EDIE

Exclusive Single Premiere: EDIE “Fall of Man” (2026)

Perth/Boorloo artist EDIE opens a new chapter with “Fall Of Man”, premiering today on the AU review ahead of its official release on Thursday, March 26. It’s a track that sits in that uneasy space between hope and resignation — capturing the slow realisation that some people simply aren’t going to change. Having previously worked…

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PAX AUS 2026 tickets are now on sale

It’s time to start planning our favourite time of the year again! PAX Aus is BACK with a new theme, the same venue, and the same good times for gamers across three spectacular days from 9-11 October at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event is the grand finale of Melbourne International Games Week,…

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Win a Treetops Adventure merch bundle to celebrate the release of The Magic Faraway Tree

There’s something quietly magical about stories that bring families back together – and that’s exactly the spirit behind The Magic Faraway Tree. Now, that same sense of adventure is leaping off the page and into real life with a brand-new competition that blends cinematic wonder with outdoor thrills. Based on the beloved children’s classic by…

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Lost in translation: WOMADelaide in Language

In 2026, the multicultural festival was an antidote to big tech’s flat pitch. Kankawa Nagarra is turning 80 in June. She says you’re invited to her birthday party, if you can get yourself to Fitzroy Crossing. At WOMADelaide on the weekend, I listened to the Walmatjarri, Gooniyandi and Bunuba Elder yarn with Darren Hanlon under…

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Neighbours star Matty Wilson leads Old-Hollywood inspired romance Love in the Moonlight

There’s something undeniably magical about Old Hollywood romance – and for Melbourne-based creative Cassidy Krygger, that magic has come full circle. After years of admiring the timeless charm of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Krygger has brought her own modern interpretation to life with Love in the Moonlight, a supernatural romantic comedy set to premiere…

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Crash Land positions itself as both a nostalgic throwback and a coming-of-age story with genuine emotional stakes: SXSW 2026 Review

There’s a scrappy, endearing charm running through Crash Land that feels baked into its DNA – the kind of film that knows exactly where it comes from, even if it occasionally treads familiar ground getting there. Drawing clear inspiration from the DIY chaos of Jackass and the offbeat sincerity of early-2000s indie comedies, the film…

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BOY SODA captured the soul of Brisbane at Black Bear Lodge (21.03.26)

Central Coast singer-songwriter BOY SODA is one of the most exciting artists to emerge from the local scene in recent years, and he certainly proved why at a sold-out Black Bear Lodge in Brisbane on Saturday night. It was the second show of his three-date Lil Obsession Tour after playing Melbourne last week, supported by…

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Marathon has its flaws, but is ultimately held together by its incredible gunplay

Live service games are a dime a dozen these days, and it feels like extraction shooters aren’t that far behind. From the early days of Escape From Tarkov to the wildly popular Arc Raiders that took over multiplayer charts only a few months ago, it’s clear that Bungie’s latest project, Marathon, has its work cut…

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The heart of WOMAD: unity in rhythm

In a world of so much division, WOMAD gave me hope. 4 days of embracing nature and culture gave me and other attendees an opportunity to switch off from the never-ending bad news erupting from our screens. I found an incredible sense of community was fostered at WOMAD, and connections between the patrons, the earth,…

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The Wall Street Hotel in New York City

The Wall Street Hotel is classic New York opulence told through an Australian lens

The gestation period for high-profile hotels often gives me whiplash. Hotels, one of my favourite things about travel, always excite me, especially when news hits about a big new opening in a city as addictive as New York City. But when one is announced, I always let a huge sigh when I see that the…

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The XPPen Artist Pro 27 is a big upgrade for your work and workflow

If you’re anything like me, adding a new device to your drawing set-up is a big decision: any new tech has to not just look and act right, but feel right. It needs to be easy to use. Efficient. Ergonomic. Maybe even fun. If I want my work to be great, what I do that…

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Afroman music video

Afroman has returned to save the internet

L.A. comedy rapper Afroman hasn’t been in the headlines since his 2001 hits “Because I Got High” and “Crazy Rap”, both of which were taken from the self-produced The Good Times, a surprisingly potent major label debut that netted him a Grammy nod. He hasn’t had a recognisable hit since. And yet, this week, almost…

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From heartthrob to space hero: The 10 best Ryan Gosling performances leading to Project Hail Mary

As Ryan Gosling takes audiences on an interstellar journey in Project Hail Mary (read our full review here), out in theatres this weekend, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on a career defined by range, risk, and unforgettable performances. From heartthrob romance in The Notebook to intense drama in Half Nelson, from enigmatic antiheroes in…

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MUSE

Muse announce their tenth studio album with a launch from space

After what feels like an age of radio silence, Muse, this past week, have emerged from the beyond with a series of rather awesome teasers for their new single, “Be With You”. In one of the clips, the date ‘August 15, 1977’ appears on the screen over the top of an eerie monologue by actress…

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Prime Video tease YA series adaptation Off Campus with first-look trailer

There’s a new college drama on the way – and if you’re into messy relationships, elite sports culture, and emotionally unavailable hockey players, this one’s already shaping up to be a binge. Call it “straighted rivalry,” if you like, Off Campus taps into that same appetite for high-stakes love stories set against the hyper-masculine world…

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