Month: April 2018

The Microsoft Store in Sydney’s Pitt St Mall will be hosting a brand new course these school holidays centred entirely around teaching students about what it takes to succeed in the rapidly emerging world of competitive esports.

Following a successful run of shows in the US which included SXSW in Texas and showcases in LA and NYC, acclaimed Australian post-punk band RVG are set to embark on a 12-stop European tour alongside UK band Shame in May. Having their gig in SXSW described as embodying “pure self-expression the way the Muses intended”…

On October 17th 2013, teenage sisters Ayan and Leila Juma left their Oslo home and headed for Syria. Deeply radicalised and intending to take part in jihad, they had planned the trip in secret for months. But their decision tears the Juma family apart, as parents Sadiq and Sara struggle to come to terms with…

As part of VIVID Sydney this year, the CLIPPED Festival also returns, putting the spotlight on Australian music videos and the creative minds behind them. Coming to Carriageworks on June 2nd, CLIPPED celebrates the medium through interactive exhibitions, premieres, keynote lecture sessions and more – a great insight into how forward thinking and progressive the…

We first came across Allen Stone during one of his trips out to Australia for Bluesfest, we’re gonna say around 2013. Instantly drawn in by his on stage demeanour and powerful vocals, the US songwriter has been a consistent favourite of the AU’s (and many more Australian fans) since. This week, we caught wind of there…

I preface this entire review by saying Confidence Man are a live band; they’re not a physical release band. There are plenty of acts that fail to live up to the hype when it comes to a live set. Then there are bands that absolutely crush the live performance. And that is exactly what Confidence…

Montreal’s indie-rock rising star Brigitte Nagga, better known as Common Holly, set tongues wagging at SXSW as she showed off her latest album Playing House – just as Aussie band Gang of Youths were doing the same. Since the Austin event, they’ve been touring America together, and to learn a little more about the artist…

Before Truth or Dare even begins, you know exactly what kind of movie you’re about to see.  Hoping to be some sort of new-era Final Destination, but failing miserably in the process, Truth or Dare follows every beat you expect it to, and it’s in this predictability that the film succeeds in being a massively entertaining ride for all the…

Since his debut feature Bottle Rocket, Wes Anderson has defined an artistic style all his own, creating a truly unique aesthetic atop which he has delivered colourful characters and funny, touching and original stories, across films such as The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel, which received 9…

Pitch Perfect had such a great reception when it was first released in December of 2012, it has now spawned a triliogy. But perhaps it’s of little surprise; it was such a fun concept that bought some great stars like Anna Kendrick to the forefront and showed us a slightly different take on the musical genre…

These days our tabloid magazines are obsessed with the love lives of the rich and the famous; but have you ever wondered what these stories would look like if the subjects were famous composers from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries? ABC broadcaster Christopher Lawrence has the answer along with a dash of poetic licence…

Writing about true stories can often be a rewarding experience, because these are the most relatable and intriguing ones for the reader. However, on the flip-side there are also ethical questions involved in this particular game and one needs to ensure that a subject is properly represented. This tug-of-war act between the journalist and the…

Neil Perry and Rockpool Dining Group are taking a huge step for their beloved Burger Project with the launch of the very first Burger Project Black Label, an expression of the burger chain which is – as you can tell from the name – a much more premium version of the concept. To give you…

15 new events will be added to the 2018 Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival this year, expanding the program of essential food and wine experiences held each year across the region during May and June. That’s more than 40 events this year, showcasing everything from breezy gourmet dinners curated by award-winning restaurants, wine and…

As the timer continues to countdown towards Howlite‘s trip to Toronto for Canadian Music Week 2018, the Melbourne group share the official music video for their stunning new single, “Orchestra”. The song itself is bathed in layers of instrumentation that hook you in from the beginning; just like “Gothic Romance” and “Savior” before it, “Orchestra” is a…

Parramatta’s CBD will be livened with the sound of music this weekend, as the City Of Parramatta hosts its now annual “Live and Local” event. For the second time, over 70 artists of Sydney’s West will perform throughout the CBD, taking place this Saturday, April 14. The mini-festival will last for five hours, spanning across…

Director Wes Anderson has gradually been making a name for himself as a quintessentially quirky auteur with his unique but meticulously detailed style. So it is no surprise at all that his latest stop-motion animation feature, Isle Of Dogs, is probably his most fine tuned film to date. Bringing a heartwarming tale about love, loyalty…

Extinction offers up an interesting premise that I was personally drawn to. Being a fan of The Shadow of the Colossus, which this game seems to borrow elements from, it seemed like a no-brainer. What we get however, is an underdeveloped pot of mediocrity that pulls off a few neat tricks, while ultimately crumbling under…

It’s one of the biggest television series to hit Netflix, and now, after two killer seasons on the screen, Stranger Things is being brought to life at Universal Studios in Hollywood, Orlando and Singapore. Each park are launching interactive Stranger Things-themed mazes as part of their iconic Halloween Horror Nights events, that will be kicking off…

It was a huge celebration of talent and an epic display of performances at the 35th Green Room Awards, celebrating the talent and achievements of Melbourne’s art community. Since 1984, The Green Room Awards have been recognising the professional contributions of all those involved in Melbourne productions. This year’s, hosted by MCs Anni Davey and…

Billy Elliot the Musical will return to the Aussie stage in 2019 for its 10th Anniversary Tour. It has been revealed that performances will be expanding its locations, having originally performed exclusively in Melbourne and Sydney in 2007, will now be hitting up stages in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. A gritty yet heart-warming story, Billy…

With summer slowly kissing us goodbye and winter around the corner, the blues are getting ready to set in. But turn that frown upside down because  April is packed full of arts events that will keep you smiling! From the Sydney Comedy Festival to Melbourne’s annual Tattoo Festival- get inspired this Autumn and settle in…

One of Australia’s premiere festivals – the one and only Splendour in the Grass – announced its line up for 2018 and man, is it stomper. There is a slew of international and local talent locked into perform at the North Byron Parklands this July including Kung Fu Kenny himself, Kendrick Lamar. Lamar joins the likes of Lorde, Miguel, CHVRCHES and Girl…

The Grand Ballroom of Sydney’s International Convention Centre was packed out with songwriters, publishers, publicists, media, managers, loved ones and more as the 2018 APRA Music Awards took place for another year – acknowledging the contributions and achievements of Australian songwriters both at home and abroad over the last 12 months. Hosted by Julia Zemiro, the…

If you’re fast approaching hump day lamenting the fact your pay cheque hasn’t come in, but your addiction to smashed avo and feta on wholemeal is too much each morning…chances are you’re like me. However if your lamentations extend to those yuppy types who take too long ordering their too-specific coffees in front of you especially,…

Before they join The Killers on their Australian tour and of course, launch their brand new album Blue Poles, Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders unleash Single #3 from the new record in “Feel Brand New”. Appropriately titled, the song marks a sonic departure from their previously released single “White Flag”, as Ladder explores love and its all…

This weekend, The Hard Aches embark on what is quite the highly anticipated album tour – the first presentation of their sophomore record Mess. As has become an intergral part of his songwriting, Ben David delves into personal territory and tread an emotional terrain that, particularly in the Australian rock scene, has long been considered murky and off-brand….

With only 199 days to before before the best weekend of the year, badges for PAX Aus 2018 are now on sale and early bird pricing is currently in effect.

For a company like Sony to release a soundbar isn’t terribly surprising — every electronics maker and their Google Assistant speaker’s got one these days. What is surprising is the amount of forethought, of user consideration that has gone into Sony’s HT-MT300 soundbar. It’s thought about space, its thought about features, its thought about potential…

The Florida Project is the story of precocious six year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) and her ragtag group of friends whose summer break is filled with childhood wonder, possibility and a sense of adventure. Living at a motel in the shadow of Disney World, Moonee is seemingly oblivious to the struggles of adults around her, including…