John is a passionate photographer and reviewer, focused on Australia's vibrant music, culture and arts scenes. His vibe is one of infectious enthusiasm. Also enjoys romantic strolls on the beach.
As the Adelaide Fringe reaches the final quarter of its four-week life, the tempo of the event changes. The audience and the artists are tired and weary. Some are elated. Some are just waiting to be newly discovered. With over 1500 shows on offer, it can be difficult to be heard above the noise of…
Comedian Elf Lyons is no stranger to the Adelaide Fringe, with rave reviews of her show Raven back in 2024, making her the talk of the town. Which is no mean feat in the cut-throat world of the Fringe. This year, she has brought the ballet “Swan Lake” to life in a way that even…
“Fuccbois: Live in Concert” is a comedy that satirizes boy bands and that culture, but featuring women and non-binary actors in the lead roles. The premise is the band’s final concert and has the audience actively singing along. The music is authentic pop. The show is currently being performed at the Adelaide Fringe and heading…
Many feel that 2026 has already been a difficult year, with global tensions on the rise. This affected even WOMADelaide with some acts not able to attend this year due to travel disruptions and other issues. However, a feeling of hope and resilience was front and foremost for this year’s event. Celebrating cultural diversity, honouring…
The fact that women are such a big part of the WOMADelaide Festival is no accident. With women on the management team, and as decision makers, artists and presenters, made celebrating International Women’s Day such a natural and beautiful thing. The mood of the day was one of nurturing and celebrating the beauty inside whilst…
It was a glorious autumn day in Adelaide’s Botanic Park for the second day of WOMADelaide, the world’s music, arts and dance festival. Families have set up picnic rugs, whilst roving performers, Born in a Taxi pranced around as zebras and kids exercised their creativity in Studio Ruby Chew‘s pop-up wonderland. The event hosts a…
Despite some last-minute changes with artist travel plans disrupted by the sudden unrest in the Middle East, the show must go on. Inside the Botanic Gardens, it was like a sanctuary, fruit bats overhead and seven stages all playing a variety of world music. Day one of WOMADelaide 2026 kicked off in fine style. As…
From the producers of burlesque show The Delinquents, their new show Fafi D’Alour is just as fun and exciting. A five piece band sets the tone of the evening in the upstairs room at the House of Delinquents in Adelaide’s Pirie Street. It’s a feature of the Adelaide Fringe that venues are created all over the…
As the audience take their seats in the Speigeltent, the atmosphere is already electric. Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett is described as the hottest cabaret, East of Berlin! The three piece “haus band” are already on-stage, filling the tent with upbeat tunes. Meanwhile, dazzling performers sashay through the assembled throng, handing out flags emblazoned with “Slut”,…
The darkened stage contains little but a white telephone upon a table. It rings. Young dancers, clad in harlequin-style outfits race to answer it, reminding us of the time that was commonplace in our homes. It becomes a dance of calling, answering and connecting, setting the scene for what is to come. The young Taiwanese…
Nestled amongst the attractions of sideshow alley at the rear of the Garden of Unearthly Delights is an unassuming collection of white ocean containers. They house three of the Darkfield experiences, Seance, Flight and Invisible. The nearby screams of patrons being flung high in the air on the various rides lend a strange contrast to…
There’s nothing like a good Irish pub show to get your evening off to a grand start. The Shamrocks have finally made their way to Adelaide to show how to do exactly that. The six Irish lads, including two sets of brothers have an instantly likeable energy about them. Raymond Walsh created the Shamrocks back…
Oscar Wilde‘s farce The Importance of Being Earnest is all about two young men about town who lead double lives, avoiding their social obligations. It is normally played in a rather rigid format by rather experienced thespians. It’s a play that explores explores themes of identity, social expectations, and the nature of truth and deception. Which…
The Greek mythological tragedy Orpheus and Eurydice is an epic tale of how the musician Orpheus descends into the Underworld to rescue his wife, Eurydice, after she dies from a snake bite on their wedding day. His music moves Hades, allowing her to return, on the condition that Orpheus walks ahead and does not look…
Holden Street is known as “Home of Theatre” during the Adelaide Fringe. For some 23 years, the artist-run hub has been at the forefront of cutting-edge theatre. Hidden away in Hindmarsh, it’s like a secret gem in the inner west. This reviewer saw a small selection of plays, each of which were world class, thought-provoking…
The circus spectacular, La Ronde made its debut at the Adelaide Fringe last year to rave reviews. Since then it has toured and transformed and is back at the Fringe better than ever. Created by the producers of Blanc de Blanc and LIMBO and with a blend of familiar and new characters, it is sure…
The Fairbairn brothers, Lachlan and Jaxon have developed a good social media following from their interactive banter. Their show Fair Dinkum brings the social media to a live stage with a form of improv sketch comedy. Their sold out show at the Factory in the Garden of Unearthly Delights caused some logistical issues, with extra…
The LIV Golf tournament starts at Adelaide’s Grange golf course this weekend, and we’re excited to hear that Johnnie Walker Black Ruby will the official whiskey. In fact the team have come up with a cocktail called Johnnie Walker’s Black Ruby Birdie, of course. It’s described as having a “refreshing burst of sweet berry flavour…
Meet Nathan Alexander, one of the brilliant minds (alongside Amy Johnson) behind Realscape Productions. These creative producers are all about pushing boundaries and delivering work that’s both mind-bending and emotionally charged. They’ve got a knack for blending different genres, from sci-fi dance in “Future Cargo” to psychological thrillers in “Ghost Stories.” And let’s not forget…
Have you heard of the Adelaide Fringe? It’s an amazing annual arts festival that takes place in South Australia. It’s a celebration of culture, place, and artists from all over the world. Imagine this: 8,000+ independent artists from far and wide coming together to share their talents. It’s a paradise for culture enthusiasts who want…
Californian punk rock legends Descendents will be heading down under in June 2026 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the album Everything Sucks. In 1996, Milo Aukerman made a triumphant return with an album that paid homage to the band’s earlier, more aggressive hardcore sound. This album is a true game-changer, not only for Descendents’…
Newton Faulkner’s eighth studio album OCTOPUS marks a bold new chapter for the multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter and is his most adventurous work to date. Over five years in the making, the album signals a refreshed sense of artistic freedom, blending influences from funk, R&B, soul, and Latin grooves. We chatted to him about the making of…
When asked how to describe the Meredith Music Festival, my camping neighbour, Phoebe, told me it could be summed up in one word: “collaboration.” Examples abound: Campers negotiating space and interacting with their neighbours. Jostling for prime couch position on the banks of the Amphitheatre Supernaturale. Improved wi-fi access at the Meredith township (making for…
Debuting at ILA Immersive Light and Art for the 2026 Adelaide Festival, Manifest Destiny is an ambitious cross-disciplinary exhibition by acclaimed South Australian photographer Alex Frayne, in collaboration with digital artist Liam Somerville (Capital Waste) and composer Donnie Sloan (Empire of the Sun, Sneaky Sound System). Blending analogue photography, 3D digital immersion and original composition, Manifest Destiny marks a…
Adelaide alt-pop singer / songwriter My Chérie has just released Life is Short & Life is Long, an EP that explores identity, hope and healing. We teased an earlier single “Dishes in the Sink” back in August this year. The EP also includes “Life Is”, alongside the powerful new focus single, “Box of Pencils”. “Box…
Most young concert-goers don’t know the heady days of lining up and camping out overnight outside the ticket office to get a good spot to see to favourite band. Nowadays, everything is so much more efficient and logging onto the ticket website, you are met with helpful clues, such as “184 people in a queue…
The 2022 film version of The Whale, directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Brendan Fraser, earned two Oscars and a BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Samuel D. Hunter‘s play, written in 2012, centres on a morbidly obese online English tutor trying to reconcile with his perpetually angry daughter. The University of Adelaide Theatre Guild,…
It’s been twelve years since Metallica last played Australia, but boy did they make up for lost time. Stopping at Adelaide on Wednesday as part of their M72 World Tour, the heavy metal juggernauts put on what could probably be called the show of the year. Some 50,000 fans of all ages packed out Adelaide…
Upcoming NZ director Ursula Grace Williams has created a playful and revealing story, documenting Marlon Williams‘ four-year journey of creating an album recorded in his native te reo Mãori language. The album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka, is a blend of Marlon’s familiar country folk tunes and the rhythmic styles of traditional Māori music. Williams was recently…
Honouring the tenth anniversary of Adelaide’s designation as a UNESCO city of music, Music SA hosted a gala event on Tuesday night at the Entertainment Centre to recognise the state’s musical talent. After a red carpet entrance, local all-girl rock group winners, Oscar the Wild, played a short, energetic set. Cliffy Wilson “Welcomed to Country”, before…
