Year: 2016

The Air New Zealand service NZ2 (the first leg of which I reviewed last week) is a rare flight at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with the airport serving as a transit point for the plane: with the plane continuing on to London. But not before you have to deal with the airport’s infamous security measures. While…

The 2016 Rob Guest Endowment Awards have been officially launched today, opening applications for all award categories. The Rob Guest Endowment is a scholarship program providing financial assistance and industry support to the next generation of musical theatre stars, creators and musicians. This years winners will be announced at the Concert held in Sydney in November….

From 27 to 30 July, Riverside Theatres will present an exciting co-production between Bell Shakespeare and Griffin Theatre Company, The Literati, a new translation of Molière’s Les Femmes Savantes by Justin Fleming. Skewering haughty pretention in a deliciously satirical fashion, The Literati follows the story of Juliet and Clinton, young lovers torn apart by Juliet’s…

Last month saw Vivid Sydney come and go for another year of spectacular lights, music, and ideas, bringing in eyes from around the world as the Harbour city turned into a palate for more than 150 artists from 23 different countries, 658 speakers, and an impressive lineup of live music acts. Of course, attendance seems…

The stars of cult TV series Ru Paul’s Drag Race got ready to lip-sync for their lives at Sydney’s Luna Park Big Top this past weekend, arriving in a flurry of sequins, glitter, fake lashes and vertigo-inducing high heels. Fans delighted in performances from some of their favourite artists of the last seven seasons, but those…

As tribute shows go, Queen – It’s A Kinda Magic was widely revered as a huge magical experience that worked very hard to emulate the life and times of Freddie Mercury and his Queen bandmates. So of course it had to come back to Australia. We were lucky enough to have a short chat over email…

London’s premium BLOOM Gin has finally made its way from the U.K to Australia this year, entering the competitive market via a partnership with Sydney Film Festival. As the annual film festival nears a close for 2016, BLOOM have been working hard to make an impact on the events large fan base, many of whom…

Josh Arthurs has been a busy man this past year, building his burger empire, Burgers by Josh, through a series of feverishly popular kitchen takeovers that are now somewhat of legend, attracting some of the most mind-numbing queues in recent memory. The fun of following BBJ around Sydney as the Arthurs and his team stage…

Barzaari, which opens up to the public on 12th July, is Marrickville’s newest bar-restaurant and the latest venture from Chef and co-owner Darryl Martin who is best known for his work at Foveaux, 3 Weeds, and the world renowned Quay. That resume alone is enough to shoot up expectations for the food here, and Martin…

It’s not very often that a new supporting actor on Doctor Who manages to make enough of an impression to be voted the best male guest star in the series for that year. But when Samuel Anderson joined the cast as teacher Danny Pink and love interest for Jenna Coleman’s Clara Oswald, he set hearts…

Watching Cinderella – The Pantomime was like stepping into a wonderful world of magic where your inner child could run free. This panto is the third one to be brought to Australia by Bonnie Lythgoe Productions and it looks poised to follow in the success of Snow White and Aladdin. Cinderella was ultimately a light…

Brisbane’s third ever Good Food Month is here, running up until July 31st with one of its most expansive programs to date. From Momofuku Seiōbo’s Paul Carmichael collaborating with Josue Lopez at GOMA to a pop-up from internationally awarded Bangkok chef David Thompson, the streets of Brisbane city will be full of delicious happenings all…

Chef Zachary Tan is a busy man as of late. As well as highlighting exceptional – and fun – Malaysian food at his new bar Lazy Suzie, he continues to help design new menu items for Devon Café and Devon on Danks alongside Chef Jacquie Ektoros. Now that we’ve entered the always anticipated truffle season…

There’s never an off-season for ice cream, even if that season is blasting you with icy chills. As proof, Mövenpick has edged forward with a new winter menu, which includes everything from chocolate fondant to apple strudel to freshly baked waffles. In designing the winter menu, the team have used only the best ingredients they could source,…

The downstairs lobby and back bar area of luxury boutique hotel Pier One on Sydney’s harbour has been transformed into a lush winter ski lodge where guests can sink into comfortable rich furnishings, warm up by an open flame and of course sip on a Chivas whiskey based cocktail or two. Positioned to take advantage…

Darlo Country Club has been alive with a spirited L.A Hamptons theme for a little over half a year now, fitting out the former Victoria Room space with a bright, energetic bar and restaurant full of playful cocktails (like the Eton Fizz and Gentlemen’s Agreement) and indulgent bar food. It didn’t take long for them…

After a few turbulent years, the world’s largest short film festival has announced it will become a not for profit business and will shift it’s focus to attracting more women filmmakers and introduce a board to promote the longevity of the organization. 25 years ago, John Polson and a couple of his friends stood outside…

The return of former bad guy turned hero Wreck-It Ralph has been announced in an untitled sequel slated for March 2018. While details of the plot are mostly unknown, early details reveal that this time Wreck-It Ralph will be wrecking the Internet. The Oscar-nominated Walt Disney Animation Studios team from the original film have added…

This week in the music industry: AMIN asks political parties to endorse their $5million music fund proposal ahead of the federal election, and Brisbane’s annual BIGSOUND Festival released their first set of lineups for 2016. AMIN’s $5 million music fund proposal Ahead of the 2016 federal election on Saturday July 2nd, the Australian Music Industry Network…

To celebrate the release of his new EP Stamina, Melbourne club wunderkind Swick is getting out on the road next month and August! New single “Energy”, Swick’s collaboration with Henrik the Artist, is another hot cut from this in-demand name and these tour dates have come at the perfect time for fans around the country. Check out…

Independent record label TEEF are gearing up for the release of a special album curated and collaborated on by some of Australia’s best and innovative new talent. Entitled Imperium In Imperio II (or, ‘Empire Within an Empire’), the title is in reference to this group of artists surging forward and creating something huge of their own within…

Perth multi-instrumentalist Jay Watson, aka GUM, has released the music video for his brilliant tune, “Elafonissi Blue”, one of the choice cuts from Glamorous Damage. Directed  by psychedelic visual artist Jason Galea, the “Elafonissi Blue” is a fiery explosion of colour, neon and chaos – the perfect visual accompaniment to a single that has done well in captivating the…

Gypsy & The Cat‘s return has been one we’ve been feeling and the duo have continued to produce the goods, this time in new single “Life”. Taken from their much-hyped new album Virtual Islands, this new spin is synth-soaked, confident and vibrant – three facets of Gypsy & The Cat fans know and love. Suss it out…

Flyying Colours are getting back out on the road for quick three-date east coast tour next month into August with new single, “It’s Tomorrow Now”. Having already garnered a strong and loyal fanbase around the country for their smart and incredibly layered fusion of shoegaze, psych, indie and grunge, Flyying Colours have really been taking strides…

Yeo‘s getting out on the road this September with new single “Got No Game”, supported by our new favourites SAATSUMA and Take Your Time! A line up boasting three of the country’s freshest and most exciting artists, this tour is going to be Yeo’s final headline run of shows for the year. His national Ganbaru tour saw Yeo reach…

Sydney alt-folk charmers Lazy Colts give us a new insight into their anticipated debut album Trojan, with their latest single, “Twenty Two”! Brooding and emotive, “Twenty Two” is a great example of the band’s sense of songwriting style – it’s authentic, open and with hints of nostalgia, Lazy Colts really strike a chord. The music video for “Twenty…

Perth trio FOAM have dropped a new single in “I Could Milk Myself” (a title to remember, no less) and have backed the announcement up with a run of tour dates we should all be getting to from the end of July through into August. Of their new single, lead vocalist Joel Martin has described it as a…

Now that their debut album Stay In, Do Nothing has been toured all round the country and has become a fully-realised beast on stage, Horror My Friend have this week announced two more live shows not to be missed. For hometown fans in Adelaide and those out in Melbourne, the trio will be hitting a stage in your city…

20 years after Urban Hang Suite redefined soul for a new generation, Maxwell has announced that he’ll be making an exciting return to Australia to perform two exclusive shows in support of his just released, long-awaited blackSUMMERS’night project. The pioneering neo-soul artist has been tapped to bring his suave brand of seductive R&B to both…

In this issue: Only a handful of new releases this week! From some old schoolers, Blink 182, to newcomers Big Thief. Get listening! BLINK 182 Punk legends Blink 182 have released their new album California, debuting new guitarist Matt Skiba. Available now, get on it! BIG THIEF  Big Thief have released their debut album, Masterpiece, via Spunk Records. Available…