Year: 2016

Ever wished your favourite local pub functioned like the Sydney Opera House? Awarded Surry Hills pub Dove & Olive want you to pour a little culture into that craft beer later on this month when they host Opera in the Pub. Set for Sunday 26th June from 4:30pm, the themed day will bring a worldly…

ENA Greek Street Food is Southgate’s newest addition to Melbourne’s thriving dining precinct, serving up rustic dishes with a modern twist inspired by the streets and beaches of Greece. Translating to ‘Number One’ in Greek, ENA have forged their menu using simple and some of the freshest seasonal ingredients experienced in southern Kalamata, and sourcing…

A little more than a day after releasing their first new song in 16 years, “Frankie Sinatra”, and confirming the release of their sophomore record Wildflower on 8 July – just before they play Splendour in the Grass – Australian duo The Avalanches have made their return to the stage in Barcelona, Spain as part…

The internet’s favourite motivational snapper DJ Khaled is just about ready to unleash his new record Major Key which will no doubt be packed full of airwave-dominating tracks like previous hits “I’m On One” and “No New Friends”. Like those two tracks, Khaled has brought on none other than Drake to ride solo over the…

As the G.O.O.D Music team prep their new compilation Cruel Winter, the follow-up to 2012’s Cruel Summer, a preview has appeared by the tentative name of “Round & Round (Champions)” and – in a similar fashion to “Mercy”, the lead single from Cruel Summer – it has Kanye at the head of a strong line-up…

Emerging rap talent Nooky is a perfect example of the bold and forward-moving pace Australian hip hop is currently running at. Since signing to Bad Apples Music after making quick and impressive waves following a break out on to the Sydney scene back in 2010, Nooky has continued to develop as a fire vocalist and a seasoned…

Fresh off the back of some impressive shows in the UK, Melbourne’s City Calm Down dropped news of their new Australian tour this week. With debut album In a Restless House continuing to generate a considerable amount of positive momentum, the band now sets their sights on larger venues around the country, and are bringing two fantastic Aussie talents…

Justin ‘Sensible J’ Smith is a producer and percussionist whose talents you may have seen along with musical partner in crime Remi. They’ve been touring extensively around Australia and overseas since the release of Remi’s acclaimed debut album Raw x Infinity in 2014. An avid music fan with diverse music tastes and influences of his own, Sensible J…

When I sat down with London duo Oh Wonder at The Great Escape, we were a world away from the last time we met, just prior to New Year’s Eve at the Falls Festival in Victoria. For one thing, it wasn’t 40-something degrees. For another, we’d swapped the makeshift backstage set up at Mt. Duneed for…

This week in the music industry: the Productivity Commission’s draft report on the inquiry into Intellectual Property in Australia has raised some concerns within the music industry, and celebrated Australian musician Archie Roach AM received the Distinguished Artist Award at the 2016 ISPA Congress. Industry concern over draft report on the inquiry into Australian Intellectual Property …

Bonnaroo is a festival like none other. On a farmland in the middle of Tennessee, hippies, deadheads, EDM kids and people of old and young gather in the center of the United States for four days of sweltering heat, non stop music and lifelong memories. 2016 marks the 15th edition of Bonnaroo and this year’s…

At a late night SXSW showcase last year, we came across American R&B act Marian Hill. On a lineup curated by the Communion label, vocalist Samantha Gongol brought a swagger with her performance that stood up well against the rock and roll antics of Catfish & The Bottlemen and The Vaccines, two bands who would follow on after her…

The Lumineers released one of the easiest listening albums in recent years with their self-titled debut LP and with it, they were essentially granted the choice of playing to whomever they wanted, wherever they wanted, whilst simultaneously owning the keys to cities all over the world. They released one of the most catchy tunes in…

In this issue: A bunch of freshies to check out this week! You know the drill, update the music library and enjoy! Selah Sue Five years after her European multi-platinum debut, Selah Sue is releasing her sophomore LP, Reason, today via Because Music. Deeds Brisbane rock outfit Deeds are set to release their forthcoming EP Exile, today! Ice Cream Canadian electronic duo…

It was announced on Tuesday by Melbourne International Film Festival that filmmaker Abe Forsythe’s second feature film, Down Under, will screen as the prestigious Centrepiece Gala at the 2016 edition of the festival. Down Under is a black comedy set during the aftermath of the Cronulla riots. It’s been described as a “hilarious yet poignant story…

Zelos will be a breath of fresh air to Australian cinema. The upcoming Australian film to be helmed by new Australian face Jo-Anne Brechin and written by Claire Harris will be a female-led endeavor exploring the wreckful throes of contemporary romance. The Iris sent Fergus Halliday to get some insight on the films progression as it…

Total War: Warhammer feels like a branding match made in heaven, the deep strategy of the Total War series combined with the colourful lore and units of Games Workshop’s venerable tabletop strategy game. It’s a wonder it took this long to come about. Here’s the rub though: it suffers from the same simple issue that has plagued every…

Chances are you’ve seen the 80s cult classic film Heathers, with its darkly humorous story of high school cliques, power-crazy scrunchie-wearing girls and trench-wearing bad boys. The off-Broadway smash hit musical translates all of this glory straight to the stage, and now after a sell-out season at the Hayes theatre Heathers is marching its shoulder-pads…

Just for Laughs Sydney will be back for their sixth year when the festival kicks off in in early September. The festival, which brings together, some of the biggest names in comedy from Australia and internationally, will be returning to the Sydney Opera House. Taking place from the 6-11th September, the festival has announced the…

Buried Country: Live in Concert is a new stage show born from the ground breaking book, film and compilation album from Clinton Walker – Buried Country: The Story of Aboriginal Country Music – which was initially published in 2000 before being updated and re-released in 2015 to acclaim. Buried Country, which premieres at The Playhouse…

Adorned in a steampunk-esque head-piece made of gold wire and pearls, pioneering Icelandic artist and musician Björk addressed a small group of media ahead of her collaboration with Carriageworks and Vivid Sydney, an exhibition titled BJÖRK DIGITAL. “The music came first and it kind of had that sense of urgency about it,” she said, making…

Time to take a look at seven of the must-see arts events happening around Australia this month – June 2016. As the winter sets in, there are hidden gems all around Australia to go and see: Il Signor Bruschino A operatic farce of dual identity where a two lovers attempt to deceive their elders in…

Alex Lahey  has been getting people stoked for her debut EP (still a little way off being released this year) with the catchy “You Don’t Think People Like Me”. Today however, we’re keen to share the music video for her popular new single “Let’s Go Out”, no doubt the track that brought many newcomers to Lahey’s…

Everyone can take a collective sigh of relief. The Avalanches are well and truly back. We’ve been teased, hopes have been raised, expectations inflated and now, 16 years after the release of the game-changing Since I Left You, the group have released their first new piece of music in “Frankie Sinatra”. With its Australian premiere on triple j…

Adelaide troubadour Sam Brittain is currently preparing for the release of his new record Signal Lights (out tomorrow) and his hometown launch show on Saturday night. A record that is both deeply personal and musically charming and captivating, the alt-country sounds Brittain brings to this new material points to a talent that has been flourishing within a live capacity…

The traditional A Day On The Green tour format offers longtime fans of some iconic bands the opportunity to enjoy throwback sets of classics mixed in with current repertoire, in the surrounds of some of the country’s lush wineries. This year, the festival team has come out kicking once more, turning the focus on to…

She may call Wellington, NZ her hometown, but the vibe Wallace‘s voice has definitely indicates an international appeal. Now based in Sydney, the future-soul vocalist throws down another impressive single with new track, “Is It You?”. Teaming up with Dutch duo Kraak & Smaak, the song starts delicately – a simple piano opening leads into Wallace’s intoxicating…

FX will be launching the first season of X-Men spinoff series Legion on its TV network. The story will follow a young troubled man (played by Dan Stevens) who may have abilities no other human can have. David Haller has always struggled with mental illness as a teenager and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He has been in…

Netlix and Orange is the New Black’s creator Jenji Kohan will be teaming up together to introduce a ten-episode series inspired by the real story of the female wrestling league. GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) is a remake of the original 1980’s TV series of professional women’s wrestling. In the new version, the show will follow…

Reported by Variety, Amy Schumer will be producing and starring in bachelor comedy Who Invited Her?  Alongside Schumer, Reese Witherspoon will also take care of production under the wing of Pacific Standard Banner. Schumer will portray a woman who is adamant on going to her best guy friend’s bachelor party. Earlier versions of the script for…