Year: 2012

CMJ – or College Music Journal – is a weekly print publication and website that looks at the College Music scene, as well as throwing an annual music industry festival in New York in October. Always keen to discover new music, the folks behind CMJ have been kind enough to exclusively share their favourite new…

A favourite of ours here on the AU, Yeasayer are starting to get things rolling in the leadup to their eagerly anticipated 3rd album, Fragrant World. It really kicks in about a minute and a bit in… be patient – it definitely delivers if we do say so ourselves… we definitely can’t wait for the…

The second day of Liverpool Sound City kicked off in a Bombed Out Church, where you have to sign a waiver to get in. Basically, if the roofless building collapses, they’re not responsible. I must say I’m a fan of the setup. Oliver Tank (pictured above) was playing when I arrived, and his melodic tunes…

Last week saw Kim Churchill‘s national tour roll into Western Australia, with a selection of dates, including Saturday night’s show at Fremantle’s Norfolk Basement. The venue’s intimate nature providing perhaps the perfect setting to see the evenings two acts at work. Sometimes keeping things simple is the right way to go. Sometimes you just need…

We arrived at London’s Cargo Bar just in time to catch Brisbane’s Inland Sea, who were playing today as a nine piece, opening with a beautiful a cappella number. I still don’t know how they all got over here, but good on ’em for doing it. They’ve been sounding fantastic at every show. Screamfeeder’s bassist…

After a week in New Orleans and an expedition to Brighton for The Great Escape, my musical May adventures have come to an end in the UK city of Liverpool (no stranger to musical celebration with streets of Beatles related memorabilia) for the annual industry conference and festival, Liverpool Sound City. Like The Great Escape…

It’s a shame we won’t get to see any coverage of the Glastonbury Festival this year due to the preparation of the 2012 London Olympics (still exciting though!), however, there are plenty of other offerings over the coming months that are sure to please. Only if you’re planning to travel overseas in the near future…

At day two of The Great Escape in Brighton, it being Friday meant that the crowds were growing, the lines getting longer, and thankfully some sunshine came along with it. Day two also brought with it a headlining spot from Australia’s own The Temper Trap, who continue to go gangbusters around the world as the…

The final day of The Great Escape in Brighton kicked off with the annual Aussie BBQ, a travelling roadshow of Australian musicians at festivals like this and SXSW. You’ll be able to look into our archives to see all our coverage of these wonderful events over the years. There were nine musicians on stage with…

As I sit down to scribe my look back at my first trip to Brighton for The Great Escape, I’m travelling on a bus from London to Liverpool, about to hit the ground running for the third music festival of this trip. Heading overseas to a music festival is nothing new for me, but it’s…

Orbital’s 2004 album Blue Album was supposed to be the British duo’s final legacy, leaving fans to mourn the loss of one of the 90s most heralded and unique electronica acts. But after a few years apart, Phil and Paul Hartnoll regrouped for what turned out to be a successful reunion world tour. Wanting to…

If you live outside of Perth you may have had a slight excuse for having not caught on to the magnificence that is Shimmergloom, but that excuse exists no longer. Read no further (well do read further) and rush out now and buy a copy of their debut EP Unfamiliar Nights, before your ears leave…

While backstage at The Aussie BBQ in Austin, Texas, during SXSW, we catch up with our good friends from Brisbane, The John Steel Singers, who bring us up to date on all their shenanigans.

The final day of Jazz Fest was all about one thing: the Foo Fighters (sure they were out of place here, but then again so was Ne-Yo, so I wouldn’t overthink this “Jazz” definition). Anyone who knows me knows I’m a bit of a fanboy thanks to my adoption of their music from an early…

By the time I hit day three, one thing had become perfectly clear: people who loved New Orleans Jazz Festival LOVED New Orleans Jazz Festival. Pretty much everyone we had met over the last few days has had a million stories to tell, with their visits to the festival well into the double digits. Not…

Frank Turner’s Australian tour rolled into Perth this week, bringing with him friends old and new. If you doubt the power of rock and roll, you should really come to a Frank Turner gig. An undeniably charismatic performer, Turner is able to successfully bring together such seemingly disparate music lovers. There aren’t too many gigs…

Echoing the sentiments of many who attended the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, the San Francisco Chronicle said this year’s event affirmed its position as “the best damn time on the face of the earth.” The 2012 Jazz Fest was attended by an estimated 450,000 people over the course of…

Welcome to the 18th edition of the AU review’s ARTS review, where we present the latest Arts and Film news from around the country. In This Issue: Mystery cinema surprises Sydney, Bill Nuttall resigns role as chairman of Melbourne Art Foundation, Federation Square lights the way with liturature, secrets for Etsy success revealed at Vivid…

I first saw Graveyard Train on Spicks and Specks, performing cover songs in their own unique style. I was enthralled then by their swampy, gritty country sound. With their double bass, harmonica, carnivalesque banjo, steal guitar, a coffin-shaped washboard and a hammer and chain, they are one of the most exciting bands to come out…

In this month’s AU Crew Poll, we asked ten of our contributors to tell us which artists they were dying to see perform live in Australia. As you will soon find out, most of our contributors had a lot to say on the matter! Jay-Z, Depeche Mode, My Bloody Valentine and Of Montreal “I don’t…

From hits, such as “Sleepyhead”, “Little Secrets” and of course, “The Reeling,” comes another single from synth-pop band Passion Pit that is already shaping up to be another stunner. “Take A Walk” exudes a euphoric beat that makes you want to get down and dance, rather than take a walk. Taken from their new album,…

The second day of our time at the festival was full of new discoveries – and where better than New Orleans to discover something outside of your usual musical experiences? And today as Jazz Fest went live on YouTube, we hope a fair few of you were able to enjoy the festival and discover a…

Photos from the first ever World Movies Secret Cinema. Hundreds of guests converged in Taylor Square to discover the secret location was Lo-Fi and The Standard. Everyone was given Iranian “currency” which could be exchanged for free drinks, along with plentiful Persian cuisine. To win a VIP experience at the next Secret Cinema (including flights…

Busy bee, Anna Lunoe, is one of the country’s biggest producers who is proudly representing Australia abroad while revealing to our editor, Larry Heath, about all the excitement from SXSW, her travel tug-of-war, upcoming releases and much more! We tried to catch up during SXSW, but as always it was a pretty crazy time for…

Talk about being a long way from home. It has been a matter of circumstance that has led to me heading to New Orleans (or, “Nawlins”, as it’s affectionately known) this year for my first ever Jazz Fest. A city which continues to recover from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina in the outlying areas, here…

Welcome to the 16th edition of the AU review’s weekly ARTS review, where we present the latest news from the Arts and Film world. In This Issue: Explore a history of iconic album covers at Blender Gallery, conversations about the art of criticism with Marc Fennell, debut Russian ballet at its finest with the Eifman…

As we introduce yet another feature to The AU Review, there are plenty of things to be excited about over the next month. What are they, exactly? Well, read on… 1. Digitalism Australian Tour For the longest time, the German duo have played across the nation at various festivals including Parklife and Field Day, but…

The delightful Lia Tsamoglou, who goes by the name of Melodie Nelson, is back again and we couldn’t be more excited to hear her new single featuring guest vocals from frontman of Crayon Fields, Geoffrey O’Connor. Entitled “Six Six Six,” the nostalgic slow jam is such a great way to unwind as its tempo is…

In September 2011, Australian soul singer/songwriter Ray Mann relocated to Berlin and began recording and releasing his new album Sketches, online, one track at a time. Instead of disappearing for 12 months and then resurfacing with a finished album, Ray is completing each song – and its accompanying video – online, month-to-month, with audience participation….