Year: 2015

the AU interview: Craig Heath (Melbourne) on Nashville, influences and his upcoming album

Veteran front-man of rock-group Velvet City, Craig Heath is set to release his first solo single off his recently launched own label, Global Records this March. The single “All Because of You” is co-written by Craig with country-music superstar Keith Urban and Monty Powell. The song features vocals by Rick Springfield who is best known…

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Lauren Webster's Top 10 Must-Do Wildest Destinations!

Sydney artist Lauren Webster has delivered a colourful and unexpected installation to public art space Lane Four, transporting a surreal desert landscape to the heart of the city with The Wayward Way. Through a series of painted and hand drawn works in her signature stylistic and expressive renderings; Webster presents a romanticised Western dreamscape –…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Birds With Thumbs "Glasses" (2015)

We’re excited to bring you the exclusive premiere of the fast and solid new single from Blue Mountains surf punks Birds With Thumbs, “Glasses” – officially released this Friday, March 6th. It’s a killer track and we don’t want to waste any more time with this introduction… let’s get to the good stuff. Listen now!…

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F&L Guide Top 5: Best Fried Chicken in Melbourne

Our writers have travelled the mean streets of Melbourne to bring you the best, greasiest, finest – dare we say most mouth watering – fried chicken in their city. Here are their top five, presented to you in no particular order. Because it’s all just too damn good. Can I get an Amen? Belle’s Hot…

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KTown Cowboys reveals trailer ahead of their SXSW premiere

American-Korean film Ktown Cowboys has released their trailer in anticipation to its world premiere at SXSW on March 15 at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin. Originally started as a web series on YouTube about life in Los Angele’s Ktwon through the eyes of American-Koreans, the full length feature was funded by a Kickstarter campaign in…

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TV Review: Bob’s Burgers Season 5 Episode 13 “The Gayle Tales” (USA, 2015)

Midway through the season and episode 13 of the wacky and twisted life Bob Belcher and his family lead doesn’t seem to flow on from any of the other previous episodes. It does reference character traits and plot points from the past and whilst this may stem the laughter of audiences unfamiliar with the show,…

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TV Review: Girls Season 4 Episode 7 “Ask Me My Name” (USA, 2015)

At first, it seems like Hannah is back in self-destruct mode. Yes, she’s inexplicably found herself a job as a substitute teacher at a private Manhattan school; and yes, she’s found herself a date in adorable and witty history teacher Fran (guest star Jake Lacy); but this is Hannah Horvath, and she wouldn’t be Hannah…

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DVD Review: Plus One (USA, 2013)

+1 or Plus One is the sci-fi horror brainchild of Dennis Iliadis. Though its original release flashed by us at the 2013 SXSW festival, Illiadis felt the production was rushed for festival screening and has since tweaked it for international release. The story takes a rapid-fire spin on horror films and the concept of identity….

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Newly Restored Version of The Breakfast Club Set to World Premiere at SXSW!

Don’t worry The Breakfast Club, we haven’t forgotten about you. In fact, the team over at South By Southwest (SXSW) have decided to make you look even nicer than you already are, splashing in a pop of colour. That’s right, a newly remastered version of the iconic The Breakfast Club will be screening this year…

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Netflix announces official launch date for Australia and New Zealand

Get out your diaries and pencil in 24th March because that fateful day is the day that Australia and New Zealand finally, officially, get digital service Netflix. With the launch of the service will be thousands of hours of movies, TV shows, and kids programming. “Many Aussies and Kiwis have heard a lot about Netflix…

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TV Review: The Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 12 “Remember” (USA, 2015)

“Remember” was an episode which could have easily fell flat, taking us away from the hardened, terrifying road and finally exploring the Alexandria Safe Zone – a big, significant location in the source material. There was no falling here though, as the writers and episode director Channing Powell – who handled Season 4’s brilliant “Internment”…

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Festival Review: Future Music Festival – HBF Arena, Perth (01.03.15)

”Fkn Insane! Sexy Amazing. Dance like nobody is watching. I’m off-chops right now, loving everybody. This is sick! 2 Chainz is lookin 4 my booty cos I got a big booty. Do you want to go out with me then break up right before Drake? We love Future!” These were just a few of the…

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Stumbled Upon #026 – Hemingway (Brisbane)

In our 26th instalment of “Stumbled Upon”, we meet Brisbane’s Hemingway, and chat about their upcoming debut EP. Band Name: Hemingway Website / Social Media: Facebook / Soundcloud Genre: Alternative Members & their roles: Brad Hemingway – Lead Vox & Rhythm Guitar Christian Hemingway – Lead Guitar Cheyne Starkie – Bass & Backing Vox Brad…

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the AU interview at Soundwave: Chris Kilmore & Ben Kenney of Incubus (Califonia) talk their new EP, Island Records & Australia!

Photo: Johnny Au the AU review’s Larry Heath sits down with DJ and Keyboardist Chris Kilmore and the Bassist and “Voice of Reason” Ben Kenney (donning a Midnight Oil shirt, no less) from California group Incubus to talk about their new EP “Trust Fall (Side A)” – coming out later this month – their experiences…

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Games Review: Screamride (Xbox One, 2015)

Remember Roller Coaster Tycoon? Man, that game was awesome. Building crazed, malevolent roller coasters specifically to make anyone who dared ride them barf up a lung the moment it ended? Brilliant. It’s clear that the people at Frontier Games have played a lot of Roller Coaster Tycoon because Screamride is both an ardent homage to…

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Exclusive Interview: Andy Trieu (Sydney) talks about his character Fury from Maximum Choppage

Hello Asia editor Johnny Au catches up with SBS PopAsia Co-Host Andy Trieu about playing the character Fury in the upcoming Kung Fu Comedy Maximum Choppage that is premiering on ABC2 at 9pm on Tuesday 24th February. Hello Andy Trieu! Can you tell me a little about your character “Fury” in Maximum Choppage? I don’t…

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Starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie – Win a FOCUS Prize Pack!

Will Smith stars as Nicky, a seasoned master of misdirection who becomes involved with novice con artist Jess (Margot Robbie). As he’s teaching her the tricks of the trade, she gets too close for comfort and he abruptly breaks it off. Three years later, the former flame now an accomplished femme fatale shows up in…

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What it’s like to attend The Sound of Music in Sing-a-Long form.

Before we start there’s something you should know, I’ve been watching The Sound of Music since I was 5, I can recite every line, sing every song and for a large portion of my childhood I wanted to be a nun. With all this in mind I went to the Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music at…

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Win a double pass to see Taxi Driver in Sydney!

Some of cinemas most celebrated films are set to return to the big screen at Event Cinemas George St, with the launch of the In The House Program! Hosted by Channel 7’s Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis, and Quinny from Supanova Pop Culture Expo, the festival will feature a line up that includes Taxi Driver, Little Shop…

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This is not a drill: PIPPIN IS COMING TO AUSTRALIA!

That’s right, Billy Boyd, best known for his role as Peregrin Took in The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the latest addition to the Oz Comic-Con lineup. The festival wil run from April 11-12 in Perth, and April 18-19 in Adelaide, housing a range of film, television, and comic book guests. Boyd is an…

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Human Rights Arts & Film Festival Announces Highlights for 2015 Program!

The 8th Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (HRAFF) has just announced a selection of highlights for its 2015 program. The highlights form part of an innovative program that seeks to inform, engage, inspire and drive conversation on human rights issues through its creative choice of films, arts, and forums. And given that it’s in…

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What to Watch: The Iris’ Weekly TV Picks (2nd – 4th March 2015)

Some interesting things to catch on your TV box in the next couple of days, including documentaries, chat shows and some new and old films, Kimberley brings us our picks …   Monday 2nd March 2015 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – ABC 2 – 7:52pm AEST Australian acting talent Margot Robbie joins Jimmy…

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of mice & men

Live Review: Of Mice & Men + Atreyu + The Devil Wears Prada – The Factory Theatre, Sydney (25.02.15)

There were nostalgic memories of my teenage years as I stepped into the Factory Theatre on Wednesday night for one of the many Sidewaves happening in Sydney. The venue filled up quickly and once the lights dimmed, I knew that the madness would commence in a matter of minutes. Making an extravagant entrance, The Devil Wears…

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Stumbled Upon #025 – Follow the Lion (Leeds, United Kingdom)

In our 25th installment of “Stumbled Upon”, we meet five piece alternative rockers Follow the Lion, and chat about being playing on the BBC by Tom Robinson and get a sneak peak at their upcoming EP. Band Name: Follow the Lion Website / Social Media: Facebook / Soundcloud / Twitter Genre: Alternative Rock/ Psychedelia Members…

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Official Trailer for upcoming film "Love & Mercy" Follows the life of The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson

The official trailer for Love & Mercy has just been released and it’s sure to pull some heartstrings! Set against The Beach Boys’ iconic catalogue of music, the story follows the life of singer, songwriter and music legend Brian Wilson from successful highs in the band to devastating lows in his personal life.

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Live Review: Foo Fighters + Rise Against + The Delta Riggs – ANZ Stadium, Sydney (26.02.15)

Like anything deemed “popular” in contemporary music today – especially by such mainstream media as Triple M – it’s fair to say that the Foo Fighters are a band that you either love or you hate. Though they hardly inspire the same sort of vitriol of, say, Nickelback, they certainly have their detractors. But being…

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See Die Antwoord in Behind The Scenes Footage of New Film Chappie

As if they weren’t already busy enough, South African rap-rave group Die Antwoord have managed to squeeze time in between touring Europe and preparing for Future Music Festival to make an appearance in Sony’s upcoming release Chappie. The movie is based in a time where crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanised police force and…

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Official Trailer for upcoming film “Love & Mercy” Follows the life of The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson

The official trailer for Love & Mercy has just been released and it’s sure to pull some heartstrings! Set against The Beach Boys’ iconic catalogue of music, the story follows the life of singer, songwriter and music legend Brian Wilson from successful highs in the band to devastating lows in his personal life. Wilson’s character…

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roam viewpoint album art

Album Review: ROAM – Viewpoint (2015 EP)

It’s easy to overlook pop-punk music nowadays but coming across a gem like ROAM may make you think twice about that. Their recent EP release Viewpoint shows they’re not afraid to take risks and tell the world what they’re all about. This four-track release provides a taster of what they plan to offer to the pop-punk world, jam-packed with…

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