Year: 2020

What does dad need this year? He’s (likely) been stuck at home like most of the world this year, so it’s on you to figure out how to make Father’s Day his refuge from what’s been an immensely shitty year. We’ve packed our Father’s Day gift guide for this reason, tracking several categories we think…

Whether it’s traditional Naples-style pizza, classic pasta dishes or their iconic wood-fired sandwiches, Vanto restaurant is the place to be when it comes to authentic Italian cuisine. Nestled on the first floor of the Queen Victoria Building, the hidden gem pays homage to traditional and modern Neapolitan cooking. Noted as Ospitalità Italiana certified (which is…

Imbi Neeme‘s debut novel The Spill was released in June, in the midst of a pandemic. Rather than despairing at the changed world of publishing that her first novel was born into, Neeme embraced the challenges and opportunities that this brought. She has since launched a campaign to support those Victorian Writers who, like herself, were…

It’s been a few years between drinks for Washington. After absolutely smashing it in 2010 with her debut album, I Believe You Liar, Washington took a few years to put together the follow up, 2014’s There, There. Across those two albums, Washington proved just how good she is at what she does. With her jazz…

Sydney-based act Sinclaire have whipped up the perfect bop to kick off your Thursday. Today’s track of the day is their latest single “Let’s Fly To Rome” which just dropped this morning. The track is the perfect escape from reality in the COVID age. The dreamy synths and airy vocals of frontman Michael Cross create…

Sydney’s wildly popular Donut Papi has teamed up with Fireball Whisky for a very limited edition, just-in-time-for-fathers-day “Fire in the Hole” doughnut. Breaking down the base profile of Fireball Whisky, the ever-creative team at the Redfern store has created what is easily one of Papi’s most exciting (and delicious – we tasted it as a…

Samurai Jack’s fifth and final season capped off a magnificent 16 year run, of which many other Cartoon Network shows would have envied over. Being a huge fan of the series, I flinched a little when I saw the reveal of Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, yet another tie in game that I thought would…

The Covid-19 pandemic has paved the way for a number of exciting initiatives, while we wait for live music touring to return to the fore. From the amazing Isol-Aid weekly streaming event, run out of Melbourne, to festivals like Americana in Nashville moving digital with the “Thriving Roots” initiative, the opportunities for live musicians have…

Sydney has just lost one of it’s most iconic live music small venues, The Newsagency. Managed by Alison Avron (pictured above) since it opened in its first location in 2011, it has proven to be one of the city’s bright lights for hosting intimate gigs in Sydney – bringing consistent life to a city hit…

Out this week through Acorn Media, you can now enjoy the entire hilarious Canadian series Schitt’s Creek thanks to a jam packed 12 disc DVD box set. That’s no less than 80 episodes across 6 seasons, from the award winning, critically acclaimed and much loved show that stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara (who in…

Amidst shutdowns, restrictions, and the ever-present health implications, it’s a trying time for many as we collectively navigate the COVID-19 global pandemic. This is as true of the Australian publishing industry as any other. With freelancers and small presses already working hard to be seen, the difficulty is only increasing, as the online spaces they…

Josh Pyke is a staple in the Australian music industry. With a career spanning close to two decades, he’s dog-eared many chapters in the music scene with his work, and has played his part in the careers of many other celebrated Aussie musicians such as Angie McMahon, Alex Lahey and Gordi as a mentor through…

Melbourne indie-pop singer Elenore is about to release her latest single, “Maybe I Am”, and we are thrilled to be premiering it today.  “Maybe I Am” is a strong bold statement from an artist who is defiantly holding her ground. This song has sass and defiant cool vibes in spades. It’s got a totally captivating…

It only took one big week in a Northern Rivers studio during mid-July 2019, for Jesse Higgs’ musical moniker HOLIDAY, to swiftly evolve into The Holiday Collective (THC). Former bandmates (and brother) Isaac Williams and Jade Higgs (Younger Dryas), made the trip up from Tassie to join Byron Bay comrades Meg Hitchcock, Marquee Moon &…

Megan Washington is super-excited about the pending release of her latest album, Batflowers, and she has good reason to be. It’s nigh-on six years since the release of There There, the sophomore long-play, after her debut I Believe you Liar in 2010. “It’s not for lack of trying” said a buoyant Washington when I put…

In the past few years, there has been a river of intrigue surrounding financial freedom flowing through Australia. More and more people are interested in breaking out of the debt cycle, building their wealth and securing their financial futures. One of the most common books people turn to in getting started is Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad,…

DJI is betting heavily on magnetic mounts with its newly announced Osmo Mobile 4 (OM4) smartphone gimble, a follow-up to its super popular, an super flexible, predecessor. The motorised smartphone stabiliser’s biggest evolution is the two magnetic mounts, one which wraps around the phone in an instant, and one which attaches to the back of…

In a virtual ceremony Marieke Lucas Rijneveld’s debut novel, The Discomfort of Evening, translated into English by Michelle Hutchison has been unveiled as the winner of the 2020 International Booker Prize.  The £50,000 prize will be split equally between Rijneveld and Hutchison, giving both the author and translator equal recognition.  The Discomfort of Evening was…

Earlier today, Falls Festival organisers sadly announced that this year’s celebration has been cancelled amid growing COVID-19 concerns. Event organisers initially planned to give the festival the go-ahead with an Australian-only line-up. After careful consideration however, organisers have chosen to pull the plug on the Lorne, Byron Bay, and Fremantle Festivals. “Given the current status…

We have ten double passes to give away to the upcoming release of the third film in the classic and hilarious Bill & Ted film series – Bill & Ted Face The Music – starring Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves as the titular characters. After a brief delay due to cinema shutdowns, it’s one of…

National Burger Day is this Thursday and to celebrate all things delicately stacked and impossibly cheesy, The Greengate Hotel is offering $12 for all their burgers and $8 pints of craft beer. Not only are they serving up their classic burgers, they’ve also announced three new additions to the menu. This includes menu special, the…

We have the exclusive video premiere of “Don’t Wanna Be” by Melbourne duo Sophisticated Dingo. It features some pretty cute animation by Gabbie Rossiter,  a cartoonist and animator who not surprisingly has been in hot demand during lockdown. The track is on their sophomore EP “How’s The Carry On!? which dropped last week. It’s a fun…

As we continue to reflect back on the last decade of music, join us as we revisit 2011. We’ve taken the songs from our top 40 tracks of 2011 poll – as voted for by our contributors almost a decade ago – and curated a ripper playlist on Spotify. Gotye and Kimbra topped the list…

To celebrate International Dog Day (which is today, you’re welcome), various IHG hotels across Australia are opening up various ways to pamper the many good boys and girls that have been mostly stuck inside right along with us. Your dog needs a staycation too, so take note of all the hotels introducing ways to pamper…

As per usual, the new offering from NEEDTOBREATHE is firmly rooted in gospel sensibilities. The music on Out of Body is unmistakably spiritual by design. Yet, agnostic as I am, I can’t be mad about it. If anyone was ever going to convince me to re-enter a church, it would be this band. And this…

For the dad that likes to stay mobile, but still squeeze a bit of gaming in, there’s no better platform than the Nintendo Switch. An ideal Father’s Day gift idea, the Switch can be a constant entertainment companion. Hardware Nintendo Switch Lite This one’s for the dad who doesn’t spend much time in front of…

COVID-19 continues to disrupt events across Australia. With this disruption also comes opportunities. Events to mark Indigenous Literacy Day usually take place outside the Sydney Opera House. This year due to COVID-19, the event is going online and will be open, for the first time, to everyone Australia wide. The celebrations will be held live…

Spring is right around the corner and Brisbane alt-pop outfit Syrup are here to help you shake off those winter blues. Their new single “Sun”, which dropped last week, embraces all the best parts of the Summer season. Sure, we’ve still got a season to go until we get there, but I’ve been reliably informed…

Black Rabbit George, the latest project from Tijuana Cartel guitarist/singer/songwriter Paul George delivers mesmerising psych-folk, opening doors to the subconscious. Warren, the second album from the Gold Coast-based artist, is an immersive journey spread across eight tracks. Each of the album’s songs carefully mix acoustic instrumentation with subtle psychedelic production techniques. Guitar phrases intertwine, rhythms…

The 2020 BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival is all set to go ahead from 10-13 September. This year the festival will be held virtually, in what organisers are describing as a “4-day virtual crime extravaganza”. Each year, the BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival showcases some of the best writers of crime fiction. This year, eight prominent…