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.
Reuben Kaye is no stranger to Adelaide audiences. He is entertained and delighted us over several festivals and fringes. As emcee tonight, Kaye invites us down his late-night Kaye Hole with a group of fellow performers. The Kaye Hole is a safe place, except if you’re a straight heterosexual man who, for once, find themselves…
The scaled-down COVID-safe Womadelaide still had plenty of the charm and community that we expect from this annual world music festival. Jamie Goldsmith presented a welcome to country and explained the meanings of the traditional greetings and names. King Rodney Park was named after a Kuarna elder. Womad opened with seasoned performer Archie Roach, who…
You may remember Paul McDermott from our television screens back in the eighties as one of the Doug Anthony All Stars. He’s not as stunningly attractive these days, but with his new bearded look, one could say that he’s still got a certain appeal – to other men with beards, perhaps. Forty years of entertaining…
Magic duo Sam & Justin (known as The Showmen) present the Adult Only Magic Show at Gluttony. The show is marketed as an incredible array of hilariously raucous comedy, mind-bending illusions and stunningly dangerous stunts. The fast-paced show has plenty of audience participation with free drink cards for those helping on stage. Not that many…
DIRT is the story of an Australian tourist, played by Will King, travelling in Moscow who hooks up with the local tour guide (Patrick Livesey). The romantic interplay between the two evolves over the course of the performance, but each has a hidden story that gradually unfolds. The play is set in contemporary Russia and…
Amy Hetherington’s one-person stand-up show Don’t Feed The Ducks is a little of a misnomer. If you are expecting an hour of duck jokes, you’d be disappointed. There are duck jokes. But, there’s also a whole lot more to the show. From the moment that the audience are squeezed into the broom-cupboard sized Hell’s Kitchen at…
DARK TRANSMISSIONS: psyched-out Shoegaze, Post-Punk, Synth and Noise taking you on a hazy and hypnotic Ride. Melbourne band USER made the trip over to join local Adelaide bands The Howling Fog, The Condos and Visitors. John Goodridge was there and brings us these photos from the night.
There was a good crowd in the Magic Mirror Spiegeltent for the final weekend performance of Rouge. Despite the increasing talk of COVID-19 in the press, audiences remained undaunted and expectant. The tent has a circular stage in the centre, with good views all round. The high fabric and glass covered walls gave the space…
As the audience is shepherded into the tiny downstairs Hell Fire space in the Rhino Room venue, they are greeted by a bearded man wearing nothing but a pair of white briefs. Smiling and friendly, he welcomes everyone with open arms. This is going to be a very intimate performance. Cam Venn explains the show…
Dystopia is a dark fantastical production set in a post-apocalyptic future Earth. The opening screen shows a static montage of bomber planes, skulls, wartime destruction. This sets the scene for the performance to come. The audience catches glimpses of the characters, an elfin ballerina, a doll, lone guitarist, a zombie troupe and more. The lone…
From the moment he swaggers into the room, you can tell Tyler Everett (played by Tom Crotty) is going to own the audience. Making eye contact, he begins his story of sex, violence and city living. Dressed in a black leather jacket, white t-shirt and designer stubble, with a backpack slung over his shoulder he…
Rip, Drag and Ruminate is a collection of short works from the Adelaide College of the Arts 3rd Year Dancers. Six pieces were presented. The opening sequence by Isobel Stolinski, “To Whom it May Concern”, dealt with art censorship and scrutiny. The Acid Arab soundtrack helped to create an uplifting message which contrasted with the…
Level 5 of the RCC played host to an insane collection of classic Japanese punk rock last week. Friday night saw the Jet Boys joined by a last minute addition to the Fringe, the 5,6,7,8’s, consisting of Sachiko and Yoshiko “Ronnie” Fujiyama, two sisters from Tokyo, for Tokyo Jet Daze Opening the night early were Adelaide…
Level five of the RCC is effectively the old Adelaide Uni Bar. There are still the same issues if you walk up the wrong stairs. You go straight past security ending up at the back of the venue only to get told to walk back down and go up the other stairs. Despite advertising opening…
Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Mhaol), was a powerful seafaring chieftain in 16th-century Ireland who commanded 200 men at sea, and met with Queen Elizabeth I. Curiously, she is not readily found in history books, so Jennifer Liston has bought her story to life, using original poems, songs and music. The upstairs room in the Gilbert…
Walking into Barbaroi is like walking into a familiar street scene from an early 80s movie. The Ukiyo circus tent is set up in an industrial way, with lighting that makes it feel dark and mysterious. There are six characters in this show who are introduced video game style: a bearded juggler, a bare-chested circus…
Amanda Palmer has created a deeply personal, autobiographical performance piece that resonates with passion and dignity. As the lead singer of the Dresden Dolls, Palmer is no stranger to controversy and never shies away from the difficult conversation. “Cornflake Girl” by Tori Amos fills Bonython Hall, signally the arrival of Amanda Palmer. Dressed in a…
The weather was warm and overcast in Adelaide which made for perfect conditions at Laneway Festival. This year there were four stages playing a good variety of genres. There were so many highlights, from Hatchie, Kučka, and local favourites, Stabbitha and the Knifey Wifeys early in the day. Hockey Dad and DMA’s rocked, Ruel was…
It was a warm and overcast day on Friday in Adelaide, which made for perfect conditions for Laneway Festival. Since humble beginnings in the laneways of the Adelaide University grounds, Laneway Festival has grown in harmony with the improvements around Hart’s Mill on the Port River. This year there were four stages playing a good…
A number of big hitting artists decamped on Adelaide at the weekend for Fire Aid. Taking place on University of Adelaide’s campus, the fundraising event was headlined by Pond. Also on the bill were Bad//Dreems, Tim Rogers, West Thebarton and more. Photographer John Goodridge was there to capture all the action.
One of the main attraction of the Falls Festival site in Lorne is the scenic rain forest setting in the Otways. However, as catastrophic conditions of high heat, winds and thunderstorms were predicted for the third day of the festival, the organisers made the decision to cancel the festival to ensure the safety of festival…
It was a hot and sweaty night at an all ages DZ Deathrays gig at HQ Complex in Adelaide. Special guests Polish Club, VOIID and The Buoys kept the crowd pumped all night before a DJ after party in the top room. John Goodridge was there to bring you these photos.
The second day of Splendour in the Grass is underway with another glorious day and plenty of music to keep everyone entertained. Check out this gallery of Wolf Alice, Dean Lewis, Catfish and the Bottlemen and much, much more. John Goodridge was on the ground to bring these images.
What a beautiful sunny day to start the three day Splendour in the Grass music festival in Byron Bay. With stellar performances from the likes of Tame Impala, Foals, Broods, and Wolfmother, there was something for everyone. John Goodridge was there to bring you these photos.
Tender Napalm is a dynamic play by English storyteller Philip Ridley bought to life in the Holden Street Theatre by Scuti Productions. Under the razor-sharp direction of Rachael Williams, Man and Woman (played brilliantly by Mark Healy and Carol Lawton) act out a veritable storybook of fantastic tales. The set is simple, stark and effective….
Brendan Maclean has had a varied career in film and music, from starring alongside Marcia Hines in the cabaret show Velvet in the 2015 Adelaide Fringe, to well known Triple J radio presenter for many years and to having his sexually explicit 2015 video to “House of Air” being banned by Youtube. So after several…
One of the more obscure installations at this year’s Adelaide Fringe was the pop-up store, Self – Human Soap. Nestled away in King William Street in the CBD, it looks as inviting as any other high-end beauty store, but this store has a marked difference to the others. Schuldfabrik is a German word, where ‘schuld’…
The Adelaide Fringe is over for another successful year and Club Briefs was the perfect way to celebrate the final evening. The Briefs Factory is an Australian creative collective who “manufacture, cultivate and present evocative, irreverent, physical performance”. Our MC for the night is Shivannah, who is sassy, loud and irreverent. Her costume changes between…
Israeli-born, London-based choreographer, Hofesh Shechter has had an impressive CV since 2007, when he released his critically acclaimed work “In your rooms”. Grand Finale is the first of his full-length works to be presented in Australia as part of the Adelaide Festival. The Hofesh Schechter Company is a diverse group of international dancers from eight…
American Composer/Conductor Evan Ziporyn opened a two-night residency in Elder Hall with a world premiere featuring new arrangements of Fripp/Eno’s “Evening Star, Side A”; Laraaji’s “Dances From Day of Radiance” plus his own “Frog’s Eye” and an Ambient Orchestra arrangement of Satie‘s Gymnopedies. Ziporyn addresses the audience at the start of the show to explain…