Year: 2025

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 10 years since Soundwave Festival collapsed into a sinkhole of debt, doubt and dirt. Yes, really. And the only serious contenders to threaten to take its place have been Good Things and Knotfest. Sure, they scratch an itch, but none last longer than twelve hours, and neither did…

I’ve said it before, but seeing artists grow and evolve from their earliest singles through to their debut album is one of my favourite things as a music fan. In the case of Mia Wray, this evolution has occurred on multiple fronts, from her songwriting and vocals, through to the content of her music and…

While Cyclone Alfred shut down Brisbane over the weekend, Alexisonfire and Underoath didn’t leave their River City fans hanging. Their Riverstage show, originally scheduled for March 8th, was pushed back a week and is now a two-parter, taking over the Fortitude Music Hall on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March. Canadian hardcore legends Alexisonfire always…

The WOMADelaide music and dance festival kept the energy flowing on a hot Sunday evening in the Adelaide parklands. As the day drew to an end, there was simultaneously the driving London dance beats of DJ Paulette and the soothing and mesmerising synthesiser sounds from Nils Frahm at opposite sides of the park. Earlier in…

We were lucky to get a mid-afternoon catch up with a sleepy Serge Pizzorno the day after their cracking first Melbourne show of the Australian tour.  He chatted with us about finally being back in the country and his new(ish) role as front man of alt-rockers, Kasabian. How was Melbourne last night? It was amazing….

After an overwhelming response to their massive 20-date Australian tour, Spacey Jane have just announced final shows in Brisbane and Sydney to meet the demand. With tickets flying out the door for previous ticket sales, the indie rock favourites are making sure no one in Brisbane and Sydney misses out this winter! The new dates…

A top British intelligence officer faces the ultimate test of loyalty when he investigates a critical security breach in Black Bag, a riveting spy drama from Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh.  An insightful and stylish take on a classic genre (you can read our review here), Black Bag amps up suspense and tension in a…

Whilst Black Bag sets itself up as a spy thriller in slightly the same vein as the (former) Brangelina vehicle Mr. & Mrs. Smith, with the two supremely charming (and, let’s face it, beautiful) leads dancing around the question of whether or not two spies in a marriage can stay truthful to one another, director…

The warm weather hung around for the second day of WOMADelaide, nestled within the Adelaide Parklands. As the bats had their own dance party over stage 7, on the main stages the music was primed to make you move. Goran Bregović & His Wedding & Funeral Band bought Balkan joy to the stage. Dressed in…

There’s only a few short weeks before Behind Crimson Eyes head out on their final tour, and we’ve just found out who’ll they’ll be bringing along for the ride. Perth metalcore act Patient Sixty-Seven and Melbourne nu-metallers The Last Martyr will be appearing at most dates, with a series of local bands rounding out each…

It was revealed today at SXSW that the creators of some of the world’s best immersive art experiences, Meow Wolf, are readying their seventh permanent location in the USA – New York City. The news comes less than a year after they revealed that a Los Angeles location would open in a movie theatre in…

Back in Australia for the first time in over a decade, UK alt-rockers Kasabian are on tour this week on the east coast. For anyone still tossing up about whether or not to grab a ticket, you’ll want to move fast, with multiple dates already sold out. With the original Sydney date selling out in…

Now in it’s thirteenth year, The Stella Prize has announced its 2025 longlist. Founded in 2012, the prize’s mission is to empower women and non-binary authors and to recognise and showcase their accomplishments in a world of gender inequality. With this year’s longlist featuring works ranging from poetry collections to archival history and LGBT+ romance,…

Set  in Adelaide’s leafy botanic gardens, WOMADelaide has a legacy stretching back over 30 years. Bringing the best of world music, arts and dance over the Adelaide Cup long weekend, it is a destination for the faithful. From local bands such as Dojo Rise and Meena De Silva to the incredible voice and stage presence…

Download Festival, acknowledged as the UK’s Premier Rock Festival, has dropped an incredible lineup for 2025. Amongst those in the latest release is Green Day, Sleep Token and Korn.  The festival showcases the best of rock and metal music at Donnington Park in Leicestershire, England, and will be held this year from the 13th to…

As someone who has written about hotels for more than a decade now, I stumble when asked what my favourites are. Forestis in The Dolomites is a singular experience and easily one of the most unforgettable stays in the world. The Baccarat New York is pure indulgence, and its bar has some of the finest…

Arthur Art Bar is a gritty Fringe venue in the west end of Adelaide that has evolved over the last few years. Formerly a furniture store, it is known for its presentation of alternative and queer performances.  This year for the Fringe, the upstairs rooms, each barely larger than a bedroom have been converted for…

Looking through someone’s record collection can be a great way to get a sense of their musical influences. But a guided tour provides deeper insights still.  And while David Harrington’s Listening Party is surprisingly light on tunes, it provides enough context to function as a mini autobiography of the rule-breaking violinist and founder of Kronos…

Perth’s Kings Park was graced with a special performance from PJ Harvey last week, as part of Perth Festival 2025. The set was split between haunting new material and beloved classics, opening with the ethereal “Prayer at the Gate” and weaving through tracks like “Seem an I” and “A Child’s Question, August”, Harvey delivering a…

South by Southwest Sydney (SXSW Sydney) began in 2023, as an extension of the well known SXSW that originated in Austin Texas in 1987. The desire of bringing the annual program to Sydney was to reach creatives in the Asia-Pacific region, and to provide creatives with avenues to help reach their aspirations. Whether that be…

The Boys In The Better Land are back in Australia and they’re better than ever. Back in the country supporting their Romance album, Fontaines D.C lit up a sold out Sydney Opera House Forecourt, treating fans old and young to a career spanning set. Now four albums deep and touring their universally acclaimed most recent…

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has been slowly making his way towards the East Coast over the last few days, with the latest estimates suggesting he’ll be making landfall on the Sunshine Coast in the early hours of Saturday morning. With Brisbane music venues closing to protect staff, patrons, performers, and property, a slew of gigs have…

In celebration of their ferocious 28th new album, Sorcs 80, the unstoppable Osees returned to Perth last week. Bringing their signature blend of garage rock, punk, and psychedelia to stages across the country this month, Osees stormed Freo.Social for a huge set that left the crowd reeling Tearing through tracks from Sorcs 80 – including…

Described as a sitcom in the same vein as the classic Golden Girls, Will & Grace creators Max Mutchnick & David Kohan and executive producer Ryan Murphy (Glee, American Horror Story, Pose) have brought together a trio of friends by chance, but family by choice in Mid-Century Modern, which today has revealed its trailer ahead…

We’re kicking off March bracing for a cyclone and with ten more tracks added to our Discovery playlist on Apple Music and Spotify, including one we premiered earlier in the week. Our first Track of the Week for the month goes to Los Angeles-based Aussie singer-songwriter Iluka with her new single “Woman Gone Mad”. Released…

Fontaines D.C. a post-punk band formed in Dublin, Ireland played one of the best live shows Sydney has seen in a long long time on their ROMANCE Australian tour. After just being announced as Best International Group at the 2025 BRIT Awards, I would go further and call them the best band in the world!…

If you have read just about any review of a JPEGMAFIA show, you’ll see that everyone uses the word ‘raw’ to describe the experience. I would know; I’ve used it every time I’ve reviewed his shows. It’s used because, at every show of his, you’ll find Peggy on stage alone – no crew hype man…

Well, this is pleasantly familiar. Anyone who has seen Nils Frahm live before would be used to witnessing complete and utter ambient perfection. If you want to know if I enjoyed his latest sojourn down to Sydney Opera House, that’s the only sentence you need. Because it’s mighty difficult to describe just how staggering Frahm’s…

As the audience files into The Flamingo Tent at Gluttony, a Deadpool like voice is making wisecracking commentary. We soon discover that there is indeed a Deadpool character seated amongst the unwitting patrons, and he is just as irreverent as the Marvel movie character. What ensues is essentially Deadpool reading us a naughty bedtime story,…

Australian indie mainstay The Cat Empire are back with their highly anticipated 10th studio album! Known for their infectious blend of jazz, ska, funk, and rock, new release Bird in Paradise delivers the same vibrant energy and genre-defying sound that has made them a fan favourite for over two decades. Bird in Paradise follows on…