Author: Chris Singh

As the head of acclaimed American electronica band Neon Indian, Alan Palomo popped by the AU review offices earlier this month in between Australian shows. Reflecting on the year, particularly the band’s incredible Vega Intl. Night School, Palomo let us know some other musicians which have been leaving an impression on him this year. Watch…

Okay, aside from that FREAKIN’ TORNADO earlier this month, Sydney is still one of the best cities in the country when it comes to idyllic summer days. Something about that sun spreading across Sydney Harbour is enough to fill you with the desire to go out and make the most the most of your day,…

Long-established as an Italian dining institution, Sydney’s Machiavelli now enjoys an extended reach throughout the city, with their second sister restaurant, another incarnation of Mach2, propped up right before customs at Sydney International Airport T1. It’s part of the re-focused dining options at airports around Australia, bringing in more reliable and popular outlets to up…

Much has changed at popular Italian restaurant Popolo, but thankfully not in it’s infectiously laid-back atmosphere; it’s still got that same piazza-style cool about it, offering an incredibly relaxing dining experience that flows throughout the outdoor and indoor dining areas. Established as one of the most popular restaurants in the area, now three years into…

The various branches of Taste of Shanghai around Sydney are consistently sticking to the standard of inexpensive, good quality Shanghai cuisine, but also bringing in influences from various other Chinese cuisines to offer a comprehensive, share-focused dining experience. Their newest outlet is on the ground floor of World Square, adding greatly to the improved dining…

As fans gear up for the return of beloved series The X-Files, a 21 minute feature has been released giving us a mix of behind-the-scenes, new footage, interviews, and even some bloopers ahead of the big comeback. While the return of the show will be short-lived, at only six-episodes, this newly released preview has given…

As far as Gastropubs go, few venues can match up to the perfectly positioned Tilbury Hotel in Woolloomooloo, which doesn’t just have location on its side, but a reputation as one of the best dining options outside of the suburb’s iconic wharf; one which has just received a refreshed and refocused makeover, slightly switching up…

With devastating fires sweeping the Great Ocean Road area on Christmas Day, the Lorne leg of Falls Festival has been in question. Since then, festival organisers have been keeping the public updated on the status of Falls via social media, partaking in emergency services meetings to ensure that all angles are considered. Initially, it was…

Two new songs have sprung up for Christmas today, both from some very reliable names. First, LCD Soundsystem give us their first new material for years, adding fuel to the rumours of a reunion, crafting a hopeful Xmas tune that’s as poignant as one would expect from the title “Christmas Will Break Your Heart”. On…

Imagine that tentacle-heavy opening title for Spectre but with Sam Smith’s painfully average theme song replaced by a stirring, orchestral Radiohead original. Better, right? Thankfully, Thom Yorke was in the festive spirit this year, gifting us the band’s previously unreleased song, “Spectre”, which they had penned for this year’s blockbuster Bond only to be benched…

Boxing Day is often reserved for the cinema or the beach in Sydney, but there are quite a few parties on around the city which you should get across, should you want to compensate for the whole obligatory family Christmas thing by getting turnt up with your squad, that is. Here are our top five…

It’s New Years Eve in Sydney, of course you’re supposed to kick on. Summer in the city often means that an outdoor party – whatever the size – is the only way to spend the first day of the year, and 2016 will be no exception when it comes to some of biggest events of…

Potts Point’s popular Waterman’s Lobster Co. have announced that they’ll be bringing their juicy Maine and Connecticut styled lobster rolls, as well as all the other favourites, straight to Bondi Beach this summer, opening up a temporary front in Hall Street’s food hub. Located at the former site of Mexican small bar Mr Moustache, the…

Peter Gilmore’s stunning new Bennelong has been the biggest of big deals as far as restaurants go in Sydney this year, settling into it’s nice, spacious nook in Sydney Opera House and becoming one of the most sought after culinary experiences in the city. The team behind the restaurant are planning a bit of a…

By the end of 2016 there are expected to be around 80 permanent food, drink, and retail options at the site of Barangaroo, one of the biggest developments Sydney has ever seen. To give us a taste of what a day and/or night out at the precinct would be like we currently have the Wulugul…

Though it’s just 30 seconds, there’s a new international TV spot for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice revealing a heap of new footage that further shows the intense battle between these two iconic superheroes. There’s that certain feeling of darkness and doom to it as well, indicating that The Dark Knight Returns may have…

Christmas themed rap songs have been a part of hip hop culture since the early 80’s, and from The Treacherous Three and Kurtis Blow to Kanye West and Run the Jewels, there are actually some really good ones out there. To soundtrack your Christmas family get together we’ve gone through and counted down what we…

Live music and baller baskets of fried chicken will be painting the scene at Bondi’s Icebergs Dining Room & Bar next month, as the famed Belles Hot Chicken takes over the venue to host a massive party on January 10th. Dubbed Bellesbergs, the party will be bringing in the likes of Grizzly, Jungle Snake, Dreamcatcher,…

If you went along the Sculpture by the Sea this year then you may have seen The Grounds of Alexandria’s magical, Hobbit-themed pop-up cafe, The Grounds House, propped in Marks Park. It was an essential part of the whole experience, with small treats, burgers, juices, and great coffee fueling the scene in Tamarama. Well, there’s…

The official Star Wars website has just launched an app allowing fans to create their own opening text crawl, paired up with the iconic score by John Williams. The new app joins the many, many games and apps designed to celebrate the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which has come at the end…

It’s that time of the year again; we’ve already rounded up the full AU crew’s Top 40 Songs of 2015, but here’s something a bit different. The AU’s Chris Singh looks at the best hip-hop and R&B tracks of 2015 after countless hours (probably days; who knows) of picking apart the year’s best releases and…

Just in time for Christmas, Cadbury have upped their gift offerings, introducing the Cadbury Dairy Milk Gift Box. The brand has been pretty fond of experimenting this year, and this has been met with mixed results (we all remember the Vegemite Chocolate, right?). This new gift box takes a more straight-forward approach, arguably a box…

It’s that time of the year again; we’ve already rounded up the full AU crew’s Top 40 Songs of 2015, but here’s something a bit different. The AU’s Chris Singh looks at the best hip-hop and R&B tracks of 2015 after countless hours (probably days; who knows) of picking apart the year’s best releases and…

Award-winning Adelaide winery Bird in Hand have re-teamed with fashion personalities Dan Single and Bambi Northwood-Blyth following some massive success from their limited edition collaboration wines earlier this year and last year. Such bottles as the Bird in Hand D&B ‘Pour les Amour’ Rosé 2015 have been well-received as part of the winery’s limited release…

Visionary Director Paolo Sorrentino gives us one of his most universally appealing and accessible works to date with Youth, calling upon the ageless talents of Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel and a scene-stealing Rachel Weisz, to deliver a fascinating, surreal – almost absurd – exploration of legacy, loss, wisdom, memory, and cynicism. Set exclusively in…

“Join us for a frolic in the forest”, reads the tagline for Gaytimes, a brand new Australian camping festival designed for the gay community by the team at Closet Party. Gaytimes will be going down in March 2016 at Kinglake in Victoria, with an impressive curated line-up headlined by the great Paul Mac and beefed…

Newly available across the country, Australian-made single origin dark chocolate Origin Chocolate brings a different perspective to the comprehensive confectionery market. Just in time for Christmas, the brand has started offering “Christmas Bundles” express posted anywhere in Australia, so we take a look at all eight flavours in our latest On the Shelf. Origin Chocolate…

Sydney premium roasters Campos has been a big part of the city’s cafe culture for a long time now, so them teaming up with award-winning cold drip coffee spirit Mr Black comes as some very exciting news, especially for those who like their coffee-based cocktails. Mr Black, which comes out of a Distillery Botanica in…

After a successful flagship store in Chatswood and a recent opening in Burwood, one of the world’s most famous Dim Sum restaurants Tim Ho Wan will open in one of the most central locations in all of Sydney, Town Hall Station. For awhile now, the entrance to Town Hall station opposite Event Cinema and next…

Witty SNL/30 Rock legend Tina Fey is dipping her toes in action-comedy next year for Glenn Ficarra and John Requa’s Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, a spirited adaptation based on 2011 memoir The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Chicago Tribune journalist Kim Barker. In the film, Fey portrays Barker, a ProReblica reporter out…