Author: John Goodridge

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.

Adelaide Fringe Review: Djuki Mala – Garden of Unearthly Delights (17.02.17)

The Chooky Dancers achieved overnight success when Frank Djirrimbilpilwuy uploaded a video clip of the group dancing to “Zorba the Greek” on YouTube in October 2007. After touring extensively around the country and in places as far flung as Canada, China and Europe, Djuki Mala are now part of the Adelaide Fringe, performing in the…

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Ben Ely of Regurgitator (Brisbane) talks performing Velvet Underground and Nico at Sydney Festival

Three piece band Regurgitator are now in their 22nd year, and clearly not keen to slow down any time soon, recently performing the Velvet Underground & Nico album with Seja and Mindy Meng Wang on the Gunzheng at the NGV for an Andy Warhol exhibition. Ben Ely chats with the AU Review about the performance…

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A photographic journey to the Pacific Ring of Fire: My Ford SUV Experience in the Philippines

Named after Prince Philip II of Spain in 1543 by Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos, The Philippines is a collection of over 7000 islands, situated on the edge of the Pacific Ring of Fire; an area prone to earthquakes and typhoons. It was this beautiful tropical land that was chosen by Ford to showcase…

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Oz Asia Festival Review: Sk!n by TerryandtheCuz is an experience unlike any other (The Maj Gallery, Adelaide)

Sk!n is an Oz Asia production from Malaysia by TerryandtheCruz raising awareness of the refugee issue. Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN convention relating to the Status of Refugees, making them vulnerable to abuse. The performance itself involves the audience as part of the show. As we are ushered into the foyer…

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Review: Split Flow and Holistic Strata by Hiroaki Umeda – Oz Asia Festival, Adelaide (27.09.16)

Split Flow and Holistic Strata are two performances by Japanese choreographer and multidisciplinary artist Hiroaki Umeda. The composing, lighting, choreography and performance are all created by Umeda. Over the last ten years he has toured the world with his subtle yet violent dance pieces. The first piece, Split Flow, is an experiment in expressing velocity…

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The Great Outdoors: The Bonding Benefits of an Aussie adventure in Queensland

If you asked the average Australian male what defined them as “Australian” you would typically expect to hear about the rugged outdoors, camping, fishing and hanging with your mates. Trust an Aussie beer company to put this notion to the test. According to research released from Queensland’s Great Northern Brewing Co., while most men would…

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Book Review: The Island Will Sink by Briohny Doyle

Briohny Doyle is a Melbourne-based writer and academic. Her debut novel, The Island Will Sink, is the first book published by The Lifted Brow. The Island Will Sink is set in the near future and follows the life of Max Galleon, a leading director in the disaster movie genre. In this world, people don’t care…

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Kev Skaff of A Day To Remember (Florida) chats about the making of Bad Vibrations!

Worldwide hardcore phenomenon, A Day To Remember, have just announced their highly-anticipated sixth studio album Bad Vibrations. The Floridian five-piece have spent the three years since their critically acclaimed Common Courtesy (2013) touring relentlessly around the globe, including the recent Big Ass Tour Australian tour. We caught up with guitarist Kevin Skaff to chat about…

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Peter Moren of Peter, Bjorn and John (Sweden) chats music ahead of Splendour in the Grass

Swedish indie pop/rock band Peter, Bjorn and John are heading down under for Splendour in the Grass. We had a chat with Peter Moren before hitting the stage about touring, song writing and the making of their seventh album, Breakin’ Point. Hi Peter, I’ve seen some videos of your current US / Canada tour and the…

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Kim Wilde (UK) chats ahead of her Australian tour with Howard Jones

Kim Wilde burst on the scene back in the eighties with her smash hit “Kids in America.” She chats to John Goodridge about the massive impact that song has had and her love affair with Australia. The big news is your duet with Lawnmower Deth covering “Kids in America” at downloadfest in Birmingham. How did that…

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Matthew Hill of Ghyti (Adelaide) chats about the Commodities EP release

Ghyti is a four-piece avant-rock band from Adelaide, inspired by post-punk, Britpop and new-wave sounds. After showcasing Toronto for Canadian Music Week in 2015, they returned to the studio to record their third EP, Commodities. John Goodridge chats with Matthew Hill, lead singer and founder of the band about the release. Can you tell me…

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Jake Taylor of In Hearts Wake & Marcus Bridge of Northlane discuss their Equinox EP and tour

Northlane and In Hearts Wake have released a surprise collaboration, in an EP called Equinox. Ahead of their combined Australian tour, Marcus Bridge of Northlane and Jake Taylor of In Hearts Wake chat to John Goodridge about the making of the EP and the long standing friendship between the two bands. How has the Northlane…

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Brent DeBoer (Portland) talks about The Dandy Warhols’ latest release, Distortland

The Dandy Warhols have been making music for over twenty years and have just released Distortland. Brent DeBoer chats to John Goodridge about the making of the album, cassettes and touring. Hey Brent, how are you doing? Yeah, I’m all right. I’m a little bit tuckered out, but I’m in a really cool space here….

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Adelaide Fringe Festival Photos: A Simple Space – Vagabond, Garden of Unearthly Delights (Performances to 13th March)

John Goodridge takes us to the Adelaide Fringe Festival, bringing us photos from the show A Simple Space at the Garden of Unearthly Delights. Photos were taken on 2nd March, with shows until 13th March. You can find out more details here. Here’s how they describe the show, however: Simultaneously raw, frantic and delicate, seven skilled…

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Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes (USA) chats music ahead of their Australian tour!

Legendary American band Violent Femmes recently premiered the first song, “Memory”, from their long-awaited and highly anticipated new record, We Can Do Anything, due out March 4th. John Goodridge asked bass guitarist Brian Ritchie some questions about music’s creation. The latest single “Memory” draws from the archives of Violent Femmes. What feelings or emotions did you have…

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Adelaide Fringe Festival Gallery: Opening Night Parade – (13.02.16)

The Adelaide Fringe Festival kicked off in spectacular style over the weekend, with artists and the public taking to the streets of the city’s CBD for a parade that lit up the night. Second only to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Adelaide event signals the beginning of the fringe/comedy circuit for many, while thousands upon…

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Mark Seymour (Melbourne) reflects on his history & Countdown, talking music ahead of his Twilight at Taronga show

Mark Seymour has been entertaining us for many years, both as the lead singer of classic Australian rock band Hunters and Collectors and in recent years as Mark Seymour and the Undertow. Ahead of a performance at Taronga Zoo and in the middle of a regional tour, he sat down with AU Review reporter John…

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James Hunt of RÜFÜS (Sydney) on their latest album Bloom, international touring & more!

After the success of the debut album Atlas, RÜFÜS took time out to head to Berlin to create their sophomore album Bloom. John Goodridge spoke to drummer James Hunt from the band about the making of the album. How are you feeling about the new album? I’m really excited. I only feel like I got…

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Dave Draiman of Disturbed (Chicago) talks about their album Immortalized and touring Soundwave

Headlining the Soundwave Festival this year are American rockers Disturbed. After a five-year hiatus, they sprung Immortalized on the world which was the fifth consecutive Billboard #1 album for the band. John Goodridge from the AU Review chatted to lead singer Dave Draiman about the making of the album. So how did you start writing…

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Ben Andrews of My Disco (Melbourne) chats about the making of their latest album Severe

MY DISCO is a Melbourne based music group formed in 2003 by Liam Andrews, Ben Andrews and Rohan Rebeiro. On the verge of their latest full-length intensely minimalist album, Severe, Ben Andrews chats to John Goodridge about what went into the making of the album. You must be pretty happy with the release of Severe….

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John Linnell of They Might Be Giants (Brooklyn) chats about making music and the upcoming tour

Brooklyn duo, They Might Be Giants have been making quirky music for over thirty years. John Flansburgh and John Linnell have released an album Glean and are heading down to Australia for shows in all major cities. Our writer John Goodridge caught up with John Linnell to chat about their latest projects and touring down…

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Book Review: Nicci French "Friday on My Mind" (2015)

Friday on my Mind is a murder mystery set in contemporary London, penned by Nicci French. The story begins as a man is pulled from the Thames, his throat cut. He is wearing a hospital wristband marked F. Klein, which seems to make identification simple. Only Freida Klein is still very much alive and is…

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Interview: John Taylor of Duran Duran (UK) talks about their new album "Paper Gods"

Duran Duran have been part of the pop music scene for thirty years. Recently they recorded their latest album Paper Gods in London with producers Nile Rodgers, Mark Ronson, Josh Blair, and Mr Hudson. Visceral and daring, the album mixes hard-edged, contemporary pop with the band’s darker more experimental side to create a body of…

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interview: Joby J. Ford of Mariachi el Bronx (USA) chats recording, touring and Bluesfest

Mariachi el Bronx are just one of the many bands to hit our shores early in 2015 for Bluesfest in Byron Bay. Our reporter John Goodridge chats to guitarist Joby J. Ford about the recording process and life on the road. Hey Joby, what are you guys up to at the moment? We are home…

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Interview: Klaus Flouride (California) of Dead Kennedys chats about the band’s early days and touring

The Dead Kennedys were at the forefront of the punk rock movement in the early eighties. After a long hiatus, they reformed in 2002 and are touring Australia in October. John Goodridge had a chat with bass player Klaus Flouride about his guitars and the craziness of those early days. Hi Klaus, how did your…

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the AU interview: Phil Jamieson (Sydney) talks touring with Scott Russo (California)!

Phil Jamieson is known mainly for his role as front man for the Australian band Grinpsoon. In December this year he is teaming up with Unwritten Law front man, Scott Russo to tour Australia. In this two part series, John Goodridge chats to Phil about the tour and some of his other projects. Hey Phil,…

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Interview: Scott Russo (California) talks touring with Phil Jamieson (Brisbane)

Scott Russo is the lead singer of punk pop band Unwritten Law. He has teamed up with long time friend Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon to tour Australia in December. John Goodridge interrupted his dinner of taquitos to chat about the friendship, the tour and what happened on the Hits and Pits festival. Hey Scott, looking…

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Interview: Christophe Chassol (France) talks about his musical project Indiamore

Christophe Chassol (known simply as Chassol for the purposes of this release) is a French pianist, composer and arranger for the likes of Phoenix and Sebastien Tellier and has just released his latest audio-visual endeavour Indiamore. Featuring a range of compositions spread over four movements, Indiamore is his attempt at a harmonisation of life, sounds,…

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Interview: Ian Hill of Judas Priest (UK) talks Soundwave, The Simpsons, Ray Brown and latest album Redeemer of Souls

Judas Priest have been kings of the Heavy Metal scene for around forty years and are one of the headlining acts at next year’s Soundwave Festival. Our reporter John Goodridge spoke to founding member Ian Hill about the tour and their latest album, Redeemer of Souls. Hey Ian, how’s it going? Great mate, how’s yourself?…

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Interview: Craig Mabbitt of Escape the Fate (Las Vegas) chats Soundwave Festival 2015

John Goodridge chats to Craig Mabbitt, lead singer of Escape the Fate about life on the road, his side project, The Dead Rabbitts and joining the upcoming Soundwave Festival tour. Hey Craig, how’s it going? Great thanks, how are you? Yeah good. So I believe you’re in the middle of a tour in the US…

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