Month: March 2025

Robert De Niro and the role of a gangster have so often gone hand-in-hand that there’s an immediate sense of ease in entering The Alto Knights, with the feeling that, if nothing else, audiences can rest assured that the legendary actor will deliver a worthy performance. De Niro is ultimately the main reason to see…

The Netgear Nighthawk RS600 strikes a balance between affordability and performance in the expanding world of Wi-Fi 7 routers. Priced at A$799, it admittedly sits on the higher end of standalone routers, before delving into premium mesh systems that exceed $800. That being said, the enhanced performance can handle more connected devices and provide much…

The 2025 RISING program has well and truly landed, with a stellar lineup of arts and entertainment acts announced for the two-week festival this June. Fast earning a reputation for bringing headline acts and bold new commissions to Melbourne, the winter showcase runs across two huge weekends, from Wednesday 4th to Sunday 15th June. If…

Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Bugsy) is no stranger to both the crime genre and collaborating with Robert De Niro, and their collective experience are fusing with The Alto Knights, which follows two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese (both portrayed by De Niro), as they vie for…

There has been a massive influx of Australian bands surging through listening platforms over the last few years. Many bands however, aren’t receiving the recognition they deserve despite the brilliant songs they are creating. This is why I’m here to bring you my current top four up-and-coming Australian bands you should know about. I’ve taken…

Returning to our shores for the first time since 2017, James Vincent McMorrow has announced a short run of shows in support the 15 year anniversary of his debut album Early In The Morning. With a hat trick of shows announced across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this June, the Irish alt-folk act is taking it…

To sum up Spyhard, suave English agent Antonio Tranderas (Anthony Tran) and the captivating Russian operative Faytasha Romanov (Fay MacFarlane) are caught up in a world of acrobatics and high-flying stunts. As a tribute to the action spy movies from the 80s and 90s, Spyhard ticks all the boxes. The duo, known as Circus Sorbet,…

She may be only seventeen years old, but WA’s Angelina Curtis is winning hearts everywhere with her heartfelt and insightful songs. We are thrilled today to be premiering the rich and daydreamy “Stereo”, ahead of its release on Friday. Angelina has a gift for creating music that is perceptive and relatable. Dreamy electric layers are…

There aren’t many culture writers in Australia who are discovering the Adelaide Fringe for the first time. So with 17 years of career under my belt, I’m windswept with a bit of self-shaming as I stroll down Rundle Street. I haven’t seen streets this alive since I was walking around Lower Manhattan last summer. The…

You’ve got to hand it to Alexisonfire and Underoath. With Cyclone Alfred postponing and cancelling gigs across Brisbane a few weekends ago, it would have been very easy for them to skip the city altogether, wrap up the tour, and head home. Instead, they switched out one night at Riverstage for two at the Fortitude…

More than two decades after the release of debut album BigBigLove, Perth indie icons Little Birdy have reunited to celebrate its 21st birthday. Appearing at last year’s Hotter Than Hell festival, frontwoman Katy Steele had teased more was to come, and now we have our answer: a new tour, playing BigBigLove in full, alongside a…

Because they don’t appear on most travel comparison sites*, a lot of people don’t realise Southwest Airlines offer Island Hopper flights in Hawaii. Nonetheless, having introduced routes across five Hawaiian airports back in 2019, the Dallas based airline provide an competitive alternative to Hawaiian Airlines’ long dominance in the market. Prices are generally comparable to…

Inspired by the true friendship that writer/director Tracie Laymon found with a stranger when looking for her father online, Bob Trevino Likes It is a heartwarming tale about how even the smallest act of kindness can have the largest ripple effect on someone’s life. Often playing the role of caretaker to people like her father…

Today, Melbourne singer/songwriter Bel Kil has released her fabulous sophomore EP, Wasted Emotion. It’s an EP containing a collection of songs that Bel describes as “a rollercoaster ride through a range of raw emotions and lived experiences.”. One of the favourites from the EP is the title track, and we are especially thrilled today to…

Since 2K Games and developer Visual Concepts took a break from their WWE games, their return has been rather exceptional. Last year’s WWE 2K24 was probably one of the better wrestling games in recent memory, and in that sentiment, it holds some serious pressure on WWE 2K25, having to take things up at least a notch….

When Marvel’s Spider-Man was released in 218, developer Insomniac Games nailed the sensation of being super-powered, with exceptional web-swinging and agile combat. However, it faltered in providing engaging content within its visually stunning yet empty open world. Unfortunately, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, while great in terms of its story and presentation, repeated those lingering missteps. While…

It’s recently been announced that Epic Universe will open its portals in Orlando, Florida on 22nd May 2025! And today we have received the first on site photos from the highly anticipated theme park. The first round of tickets sales – with the 2025 Explorer Ticket that’s inclusive of a single day of Epic Universe…

This delightful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is an absolute treat! Just over 130 years since the play first debuted at the St James’s Theatre in London, select cinemas across Australia are screening the play, filmed live at The National Theatre in London. The story follows Jack Worthing, played by the…

JIMMY has always been my favourite rooftop bar in Manhattan. Despite its location on the west side of Soho, it remains an unpretentious, benevolent beacon for both the self-fashioned influencer types and art nerds that parade regularly parade around Lower Manhattan’s eternally hip and trendy villages. It’s but one of several spaces that makes ModernHaus…

After a lengthy hiatus, The Dillinger Escape Plan have returned to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their groundbreaking album Calculating Infinity, which first made waves back in 1999. The tour will reach Australia later this year, kicking off in Perth on August 10th, and taking in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, before wrapping things up at…

If you’ve ever been into a tech store to look for a charger for your devices, be it phones, tablets or laptops, I don’t blame you for being lost in the sheer amount of options. Different brands, ports, wattages and overall compatibility always make things a little tricky. Even if you know what you’re after,…

As a newcomer to the Monster Hunter franchise, I approached Monster Hunter Wilds with fresh eyes and an eagerness to understand the phenomenon that has captivated players for two decades. While the game didn’t disappoint in delivering epic battles and immersive lore, some aspects kept it from achieving true perfection. I couldn’t help but feel…

Have you ever dreamed of hiking through misty jungles, towering mountains, and coastal cliffs with endless ocean views? Southeast Asia is a paradise for outdoor lovers, which offers some of the most stunning trails in the world. From Indonesia’s volcanic landscapes to Thailand’s lush forests, there is no shortage of breathtaking scenery. If you’re an…

The marginal comforts of Economy are clearly no longer enough for the modern traveller. And those who can’t afford the substantial jump in price required for the pointy end are increasingly seeing the value in Premium Economy. Yet it seems like Premium Economy seats are getting even more expensive, a natural knock-on effect from increased…

It was only a few months ago that the great Antonio Sánchez sat at a complex drum kit set up in one corner of the stage at City Recital Hall.  Alejandro González Iñárritu’s masterful 2014 hit, Birdman, screened to a sold-out crowd while Sánchez brought new meaning to the film with a live rendition of his…

Kneecap a Northern Ireland rap group brought their high energy show to Sydney’s UNSW Roundhouse. Blending politically charged lyrics with hip-hop, all three members – Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provaist rapped mostly in their Irish language and had their fans going crazy from the get-go, waving Irish flags with some wearing copycat balaclavas,…

It’s only two months now until this year’s Great Escape Festival kicks off in Brighton. Another one hundred acts have been added to the lineup, including the Mercury Prize-winning indie-rock quartet English Teacher. English Teacher will be headling on the Billboard UK Live Stage, a new addition to the festival. It is a platform dedicated…

For the first time in eight years, Grammy nominated indie pop band, Japanese Breakfast, is coming back to Australian shores this June for Melbourne’s RISING arts festival and Sydney’s Vivid LIVE series. After a whirlwind couple of years with the beautifully raw memoir and The New York Times Bestseller, Crying at the H Mart, lead…

The Australian Platypus is an unusual animal, seemingly made from disjointed parts that somehow come together to make a creature that is both unique and adorable. The Platypus is a play that uses that creature as its motif and is also an unusual creature that is loveable. Playwright and director Francis Greenslade has compiled a witty…

In travel writing, the word “hack” is thrown around so often that it’s become a meaningless nonsense phrase, like “literally,” “narcissist,” and “we should totally start a podcast.” Shortcuts made to improve certain bugbears of the travel experience are well-documented, and just about every self-fashioned influencer and their TikTok account claim to hold the key…