Year: 2025

Delta Air Lines to debut Melbourne to Los Angeles direct flights this December

Over the weekend it was revealed that Delta Air Lines is set to become the third airline to service the Melbourne to Los Angeles route. Starting 3rd December 2025, the carrier will see Melbourne become its third non-stop destination in the country, following Sydney and Brisbane. Melbourne will also be the fifth direct destination for…

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Musician Goran Bregović discusses his varied musical career ahead of WOMADelaide appearance

Ahead of his visit to Australia for a series of shows including WOMADelaide, we chatted to Goran Bregović about his joyful approach to music making. Starting life as a rock star in the Balkans, before becoming involved in music scores, he has recently assembled a band called Goran Bregović and His Wedding and Funeral Band. I…

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Forza Horizon 5 is on its way to the PlayStation 5, so what’s next for Xbox?

Forza Horizon 5 will officially be released for the PlayStation 5 this Autumn. This announcement is huge news for PlayStation 5 owners, but what does it mean for Xbox and the future of its exclusives, games, and platforms? Let’s dive in and discuss. Forza Horizon 5 on the PlayStation 5 Firstly, let’s outline what PS5…

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The best New York City hotels for 2025: From grand luxury to budget conscious

Counting just how many hotels there are scattered across New York City would be an impressive undertaking. New properties are popping up from some of the world’s best hotel companies almost every month. I spent a decent amount of time travelling around New York City in mid-2024 so I could bring AU Review’s readers a…

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New York’s hot new Warren Street Hotel has already achieved legendary status

Luxury with such heart, cinematic appeal and playfulness is rare. Amid all the showiness and exclusivity of a snooty five-star in Manhattan, there can be a real sense of disconnection as the soullessness of it all starts to take hold and that all-important sense of place drops off. That’s why feeling a deep sense of…

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Holy Holy

Holy Holy hiatus – Aussie duo to embark on one last tour as a farewell to fans

After more than a decade of shaping Australia’s indie music scene, Holy Holy have announced that they will be stepping away from the project indefinitely. Sharing the news on Instagram, the duo- comprising of composer Oscar Dawson and lyricist Timothy Carroll, explained that major life changes have led them to this decision. With Carroll relocation…

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The Things You Kill is a suspenseful, profound thriller that breaks apart what it is to transform: Sundance Film Festival Review

A self-awareness regarding certain specifications in getting his film made along with a universality in conjunction with its narrative, writer/director Alireza Khatami goes beyond genre conventions with The Things You Kill, a twisted thriller that breaks apart what it is to transform. At one point in the film, the language professor at the centre of…

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Irish sensations CLIFFORDS announce debut Australian headline shows

CLIFFORDS are a five piece band from the city of Cork and are being hailed as the next big things to come out of Ireland after making waves internationally and from listening to their 2024 released single “Sleeping With Ghosts” I would have to agree. Lead singer and guitarist Iona Lynch and the band have…

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LS DUNES

Album Review: L.S. Dunes – Violet (2025 LP)

Formed during the pandemic, L.S. Dunes made their debut at 2022’s Riot Fest shortly before releasing their album Past Lives, which was well-received by fans and critics. The band is made up of lead vocalist Anthony Green (Circa Survive , Saosin and The Sound of Animals Fighting), guitarist Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance), guitarist Travis…

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1 Hotel Central Park is another fine example of biophilic design meets five-star luxury

Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of? The now immortal phrase refers to New York City’s most distinctive visuals, where bright, vivid colours of nature snake through the urban sprawl like a dystopian fever dream. Few places in the world are as symbolic of biophilic design, which is why it works having two properties from…

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Predators is an at once frustrating and fascinating documentary around the world of online predators: Sundance Film Festival Review

There’s a certain frustration felt when watching Predators, a 96 minute documentary centering around the series To Catch a Predator, itself an offshoot from NBC’s Dateline.  In the early 2000s, the show lured audiences in as it highlighted online predatory behaviour – primarily older men meeting underage boys and girls for the intention of sexual…

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Hilton’s Palmer House in Chicago is exactly why I love (and prefer) historic hotels

There are hotels, and then there are institutions—places that have woven themselves into the fabric of a city’s history, where the past is packed into every ornate detail, nook and cranny. Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel in Chicago is one such place. A transportive capsule of elegance since the 19th century, this landmark property is…

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Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore is a beautiful, unapologetic telling of a truly remarkable human: Sundance Film Festival Review

Given how she made history as the first deaf person to win an Academy Award for acting, one might think the documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore would be something of a straightforward and celebratory profile on the actress.  Shoshannah Stern – who, like her subject, is also a deaf actor and director – certainly…

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OBEX is a truly bizarre, Lynchian-like odyssey: Sundance Film Festival Review

There’s a certain bittersweetness in watching OBEX (the title specifically capitalised) only weeks after David Lynch’s sad passing, as Albert Birney‘s truly bizarre odyssey feels like a kindred spirit to Lynch’s Eraserhead, with the hallucinatory anxiety and surrealist mentality playing into a personality that is perversely into its own weirdness. Set in a pre-internet 1987,…

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The Flaming Lips present a magnificent rendition of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots – AEC (30.01.25)

It’s been over twenty years since The Flaming Lips released their epic album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, and it’s an album that still holds up. The band are currently touring Australia and Adelaide was the first stop of the leg. Frontman Wayne Coyne, dressed in a vintage black suit with a leather harness and…

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Interview: Mythic Quest stars Naomi Ekperigin and Jessie Ennis talk chaos, comedy and character growth in Season 4

Now in its fourth glorious season on Apple TV+, Mythic Quest, our favorite workplace comedy set in the gaming industry, continues to raise the stakes – bringing fresh challenges, bigger ambitions, and ever-wilder twists for our beloved characters. Created by Charlie Day, Megan Ganz, and Rob McElhenney, Mythic Quest Season 4 sees the return of…

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Tasmanian gin

MACq 01’s new Tasmanian gins have some very interesting stories to tell

Hobart is a city of stories, so it makes sense that you’ll find different storytelling techniques in the Tassie capital. I realised that at Dark Mofo one year, running around the epic Winter Feast and asking a tonne of questions to all the local artisans. Everyone here has a fascinating history and knows exactly how…

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Interview: Danny Pudi and Imani Hakim on exploring mentorship and mayhem in Mythic Quest Season 4 on Apple TV+

Mythic Quest returns for its fourth glorious season on Apple TV+, once again raising the stakes for our favorite game-industry misfits. With sharp wit and ever-escalating workplace antics, the beloved comedy continues to explore the highs and lows of game development, corporate chaos, and the ever-blurring lines between personal and professional life. Created by Charlie…

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Kate Hudson is Running Point in first-look trailer for new Netflix comedy series

The ball appears to be in Kate Hudson‘s court, with the Academy Award nominated actress and singer flexing her “biggest bitch” energy in the first-look trailer for her new comedy series Running Point, premiering February 27th on Netflix. Created by Mindy Kaling, the series follows Isla Gordon (Hudson) who is appointed president of the Los…

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A weekend in the Kampi Villas: A secluded retreat in Nusa Dua, far from Bali’s tourist crowds

Kampi Villas was unlike anywhere I’ve stayed before – secluded, serene, and surrounded by nature. Perched on Kampial High Hill on the outskirts of Nusa Dua, offering sweeping views of the Indian Ocean, it really is a perfect backdrop for anyone seeking privacy and escape from the everyday. The compound has six private villas, three…

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The Jungle Giants

New Music Discoveries 31st January: The Jungle Giants, Gordi, Stereophonics, and more

Already January is just about in the rear mirror as we race into February. This week we’ve added ten new tracks to our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including one track we premiered earlier in the week. Our track of the week goes to Aussie indie royalty, The Jungle Giants, with “Hold My…

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Plainclothes is a quiet and devastating tale of queer shame in the 90s: Sundance Film Festival Review

Audiences today, specifically modern queer audiences, may not quite understand the gravity of shame and fear expressed throughout Plainclothes, a 90s-set drama that sets itself around the gay cruising scene that honed a far-more secretive temperament than what is experienced today. By no means is Carmen Emmi‘s enveloping film an alienating experience, but freedom in…

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‘Auana performer Anna Ivaseva talks about bringing her Water Bowl act to Honolulu’s Cirque residency

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of seeing the incredible new Cirque du Soleil production ‘Auana. Before I was able to sit in the Honolulu theatre and experience the city’s first ever Cirque residency, I sat down with one of the show’s performers, Anna Ivaseva. Ivaseva brings her skills in the water bowl to…

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Interview: Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon and director Nicholas Stoller on You’re Cordially Invited; “For a movie to be funny, it needs to be honest.”

For the first time in their careers (bar a Saturday Night Live appearance), Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon have joined forces for some wedding hijinks in the new comedy You’re Cordially Invited. When two weddings are accidentally booked on the same day at the same venue, chaos ensues as the father of the bride (Ferrell)…

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Behind Crimson Eyes announce details of farewell tour and final EP, alongside new single “Burn It Down”

It’s a bittersweet day to be a Behind Crimson Eyes fan. On the one hand, we’ve got a new single, an upcoming EP, and a tour to look forward to. On the other, the knowledge that, after more than two decades in the game, it’s the beginning of the end. Let’s start with the single,…

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Kat Greta

Exclusive Single Premiere: Kat Greta “Summer Daze” (2025)

Brilliantly capturing the joy of summer with an upbeat ’60s sound is “Summer Daze”, the latest single from multi-instrumentalist Kat Greta.  This tune will take you back to those carefree summer days infused with ocean swims,  BBQ’s and good times –  shared with friends and family without a care in the world. We are thrilled to…

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Film Review: You’re Cordially Invited; Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon make for a winning comedic couple in Prime Video laugher

Very much speaking to just how much times have changed in terms of film distribution, a romantic comedy from the director of such acclaimed titles as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Bad Neighbours, and Bros, and starring proven talent as Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon is releasing straight to the streaming service market. Oh, and it’s actually…

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English outfit Courteeners announce March 2025 Australian Tour

Courteeners, one of the UK’s most iconic indie bands, are returning to Australia for an exciting 2025 tour. This marks the first time in several years that the band will be playing in Australia, and fans are in for a treat as the band brings their signature blend of raucous guitar anthems and heartfelt lyricism…

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Does the iPhone 16 Pro stack up months after its release date? A long-term review

I’ve become increasingly impressed by how tight and efficient Apple’s ecosystem has been over the past few years. Accusations about a lack of innovation ring true, but the pressure to provide something new every time isn’t always the right path in the tech world. I’ve come to understand that true progress is all about refinement;…

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Virgin Australia in 2025: What to expect when flying economy and visiting the lounge (toasties are back!?)

Over the course of a few weeks this Summer, I flew domestically on a mix of Virgin Australia 737-800 aircraft, some with updated seats, others still with the original layout. So what is the Virgin Australia economy experience like in 2025? And how about those lounges!? Read on to find out how their airline ranks…

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