Year: 2015

Deciding to exchange the rustic and countrified vibes of his sophomore folk release, for a more robust, rock sound, Tom Stephens has opted to give voice to naked city streets, blinkers and billboards. Watch the exclusive video of Stephens performing ‘What Lies in the Difference’ at the 9th AU Sessions… You can catch the 10th…

Wow, just wow. Man, Australian music is so on point at the moment, it’s hard to think there was or ever will be a time in which Australian music wasn’t a world leader. It is ridiculously stellar at the moment. It seems with every week there’s a new artist ready to take control of the…

Earlier today, US rock group Foo Fighters released a free, out-of-the-blue EP entitled Saint Cecilia. The release is their first since their well received concept LP Sonic Highways, which co-incided with the band’s 20th anniversary and led into what became “The Broken Leg Tour”, following Dave Grohl’s infamous on-stage accident. For those who missed the memo, in…

For the past few years Frankie’s Pizza has remained one of the most valuable players on the Sydney bar scene, presenting as much of a platform for local live music as a late-night haunt full of pizzas by the slice and one of the city’s best beer lists. For their third birthday they have called…

Accompanied by an emotional letter written by Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters have surprised their fans with the release of a brand new EP titled Saint Cecilia. Streaming on a landing page and available on iTunes, the five-song package comes after a mysterious countdown on the band’s official website hit 00:00, giving us material which has…

Ahead of tomorrow night’s AU Sessions at Hive Bar in Erskineville, the final one for this year, we catch up with Sydney musician Jordan Léser and get to know a bit more about her style. Léser let’s us in on finding her musical identity and those that have influenced her. You can catch her performing…

Tasmanian singer Asta has had a huge 2015 with copious amounts of touring and her single “Dynamite” ft Allday making it to number 66 on the Aria charts. We had a chat to her about her epic year and what lies ahead. Hey Asta! How are you? Did you survive the Sydney heatwave? Yeah I…

Red Bull Music Academy alumni Louis Baker is bringing his sharp, soul-penetrating voice to Australia and New Zealand for a tour starting this week, accompanied with a shiny new remix of his single “The Way” by Shapeshifter’s Devin Abrams. Unlike most of Shapeshifter’s better known material, there are no cutting edge drums or deep bass…

Brisbane’s WAAX have been building up a strong live reputation ever since their first two songs – “I for an Eye” and “Wisdom Teeth” – were released. The band hit the studio earlier this year, and back in October, the band released a surprise EP, titled Holy Sick, containing these two songs and two new tracks….

Australian R&B singer Vanessa Elisha has just dropped her her new single, “Out of Time”, produced by mastermind XXYYXX. Keeping in style with the minimal electronica seen on XXYYXX’s solo material, Elisha adds her soulful vocals with incredible range perfectly. Check it out here: Find Vanessa Elisha on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vanessaelishamusic/ ———- This content has…

In our 94th instalment of “Stumbled Upon”, we meet Christina Martin from Canada, and chat about her varied and eclectic influences, playing SXSW and Austin City Limits and her latest release, It’ll Be Alright. Musician: Christina Martin Website / Social Media: www.christinamartin.net/ Facebook Genre: Pop/Rock Members & their roles: Christina Martin – Vocals, Guitar, Songwriter…

The entire cast of the highly anticipated Wonder Woman has been revealed, along with an exclusive first look at Wonder Woman donning her superhero gear. Gal Gadot is cast to play Wonder Woman, and will be joined by Chris Pine as Captain Steve Trevor, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Ewen Bremner, Saïd Taghmaoui, Elena Anaya and Lucy Davis. The…

Minecraft: Story Mode feels like a bit of a narrative passing of the torch in a lot of respects. Its first two episodes are filled with clever references that kids who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s will pounce on but the bulk of its story is aimed squarely at the next generation of…

In June 2016 a world-first exhibition will make its way to The National Gallery of Victoria for the thirteenth annual Melbourne Winter Masterpieces. Degas: A New Vision will showcase over 200 works of one of the world’s most loved artists in all of his disciplines, including painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking and photography. Tony Ellwood Director…

It would seem that the days of female singers being positions as pictures of ideal perfection within music videos to play purely into the male gaze are becoming more and more a thing of the past. We’re at the point with pop music today that seeing skin on skin, revealing costuming and extravagant weave action…

If Guillermo del Toro were to ever make a sequel to 2006 classic Pans Labyrinth then he should probably call David Bowie for some ideas. The legendary musician has released what is perhaps one of the creepiest music videos of all time for his single “Blackstar”, the title track from his forthcoming album, denoted with…

Future Classic’s soulful heavy-hitter Charles Murdoch has wrapped up his poignant three-part short film with the music video for single “Privacy” featuring Oscar Key Sung. Released last week, the film clip, which was created by German collective Jünglinge, gives closure to the emotional journey of a skinhead battling his his repressed desire for love. “Privacy”…

A little while ago, with the release of single “About Us” and the subsequent ODE EP, it became clear that JOY. – the project of 18 year old Brisbane native Olivia McCarthy – was an outrageous talent. Crisp, spacious production with deeply embedded pop hooks, surrounding McCarthy’s lilting vocals – toeing the line between being…

Before he helps man the kitchen at Enmore’s forthcoming Queen Victoria Hotel, Merivale Dumpling Master Eric Koh has a few more weeks left running his dim sum pop-up, @EricKoh, at CBD bar Work in Progress. The pop-up was originally intended to last for six weeks through September, but an unsurprisingly high level of demand has…

Art-deco pub The Light Brigade Hotel has unveiled the next step of a new era for the historic Woollahra local. The venue’s level two restaurant has been revolutionised and re-branded Brigade Dining, with a kitchen led by Chef Marco Adler to ensure the complete aesthetic makeover is echoed in the restaurant’s food. The famous Bayfield…

The great Stefano Manfredi has seen his popular restaurant The Star, Osteria Balla Manfredi, become one of the top Italian restaurants in Sydney, largely in part to a constant desire for growth and a dedication to produce. As 2015 comes to a close, Balla is taking a new angle for it’s lunch offerings, introducing an…

Sisters pubs Dove & Olive and Keg & Brew will both be honouring their American influence this year by taking part in Thanksgiving with a range of food and drink specials offered throughout the week, which include playing host to the brand ambassador for the renowned Brooklyn Brewery, Miro Bellini. Bellini will be in Surry…

Millers Point is not often found on one’s list of essential cocktails bars in Sydney, with little reason for bar-lovers to walk all the way up Argyle Street beyond The Rocks side. That has all changed recently, with historic pub Hotel Palisade reopening after an extensive re-work in its 100th year. Since July of this…

Black Hops III Midnight Pale Ale is a very limited edition brew created by QLD’s Black Hops Brewing in collaboration with the recently released Call of Duty: Black Ops III. It may seem weird at first, almost sacrilegious, to use a craft beer to market one of the biggest gaming franchises of all time, but…

Head to The Roving Marrow in Carlton’s iconic The Astor on a Sunday over the next few weeks and you’ll have access one of the most blessed things known to foodies around the world – All-You-Can-Eat Yum Cha. This isn’t a drill nor is it some sick tease; the 50-seat dining room really is hosting…

If you had wanted to have your pants charmed off and your heart captured by talented Swede José González all the while kicking it at the Melbourne Zoo, bad luck if you were still hoping to grab tickets. Today, González’s Melbourne Zoo Twilights show has officially sold out, the show’s ticket allocation being exhausted in…

RÜFÜS have come out of the gates swingin’ today, dropping details of their much-anticipated sophomore record, the tracklisting and a brand new single. Taken from Bloom, the trio have released a new surefire hit in “Innerbloom”. Once again conjuring up a blissful electronic atmosphere, RÜFÜS have taken all of the things fans have come to…

It’s safe to say that Chris Panousakis has had a pretty great 2015. As Timberwolf, the young South Australian songwriter has been able to not only release his debut EP Flux to a decent round of praise and his live shows have been well-received all around the country. Just recently, Timberwolf’s efforts were recognised at…

Gideon Bensen of The Preatures has surprised us all with a solo single release and two show announcements. Beginning as a polar opposite to The Preatures’ sound, Gideon’s solo work opens with electronic drums before growing into a very danceable funk inspired track. “All New Low”is taken from Gideon Bensen’s forthcoming EP out February 2016, and his pair…

This week’s DVD releases feature detectives of all shapes and sizes, and from all across the (Middle) Earth. THE HOBBIT TRILOGY (AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, THE BATTLE OF FIVE ARMIES) This successful trilogy, based on JRR Tolkien’s prequel to The Lord of the Rings, features a group of unlikely friends (a hobbit,…