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.
After a five-year hiatus, singer / songwriter Holly Cookie Baker is heading off for an extensive Where Do You Go In the Winter tour, taking in several New Zealand and Australian east coast stops. Raised on a sea-side farm in rural South Australia, she honed her country pop writing skills listening to the waves and the…
Tim Finn has been an adopted Aussie icon since bursting on the scene with Split Enz back in the 1970s. These days he lives a quiet life in Auckland with his wife. He’ll be heading over to our shores in June to play at Adelaide’s Beer and BBQ Festival as well as some other Australian…
Darwin’s Mindil Beach, nestled on the shore of Larrakia country, is known for it’s iconic tropical sunsets and night-time beach markets. It’s also home to the equally iconic BASSINTHEGRASS musical festival that has been a feature in Darwins music scene since 2003. This year was no exception, with the Hilltops Hoods proudly proclaiming that this…
Melbourne jazz-funk quintet Surprise Chef have just released Superb, their fourth album. Ahead of an expansive tour taking in Australia, North America and Europe, we chatted with Lachlan Stuckey, who plays a gritty mean guitar, about what drives him and the band to create the music that they do. Surprise Chef have been together since…
It’s hard to believe that The Offspring have been making punk rock classics for around forty years and are still going strong. Starting the Australian leg of their Supercharged tour at Adelaide’s Entertainment Centre, they had the sold-out crowd bopping and singing like it was their first time. The opening band, Canadian rockers Simple Plan…
Can you believe that Bass in the Grass has been running for 22 years? This year’s edition at Darwin’s Mindil Beach on Saturday 17th May has a packed lineup of cracker Australian artists. The list includes Hilltop Hoods, The Amity Affliction, Meg Mac, The Jungle Giants, 3%, Hot Dub Time Machine, Old Mervs, and so…
Once upon a time, Adelaide had the reputation of shutting shop for the winter. However, for the last five years, Illuminate Adelaide has been drawing people out into Adelaide’s chilly mid-winter streets. With a combination of lights, lasers, fires, interactive displays, music, food and dance, the event (or series of events) is a winner in…
Canadian rock duo, Death From Above 1979 released their debut album, You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, in 2004 but subsequently broke up in 2006. However, the pair reunited in 2011 and are currently touring the album in Australia. We caught their show at Adelaide’s Governor Hindmarsh Hotel. The Aussie warmup band DZ Deathrays need…
By any measure, Bluesfest 2025 was a resounding success. Last year, there was an announcement that this could be the final year of the North Byron Bay event. However, the community rallied to support it, with over 110,00 people attending this year over four days. By the last day, it was announced that tickets were…
Saturday’s Bluesfest hosted a glorious sunny day for the sold out crowd. Thanks to the overwhelming support of this year’s event, it was announced that Bluesfest will continue into 2026, with specially discounted pre-early bird tickets available for sale at the festival. The overall mood is one of celebration of community, with a couple of…
One thing that you can’t control is the weather. With recent heavy rains in northern NSW, many were worried that this year would be another muddy Bluesfest. However, the weather has been glorious for the last week, including the Easter long weekend. With gravel being laid to ensure no muddy patches, festival goers this year…
This year could possibly be the final Bluesfest, but based on the overwhelming support for the Byron Bay festival makes it feel that next year’s event is possible. On opening day, three stages were in operation. Sydney band Velvet Trip opened the Crossroads stage with a psych infused indie rock set that had the crowd…
Anisa Nandaula is in the midst of her first Australian comedy tour entitled You Can’t Say That. She reflects on her journey from Uganda to Rockhampton, where she expected a multicultural paradise, but instead found cows and cultural confusion. We had an opportunity to chat with her and discuss her comedy experience. Hi Anisa. How…
Sydney’s boutique record store, Impressed Recordings are going all out at this Saturday’s Record Store Day in their Woolloomooloo Music Hub. Highlights include an exclusive collaboration with Merch Jungle, in-store performances from Maddy Jane and Loose Content as well as beverages from Heaps Normal. Merch Jungle is Australia’s leading concert merchandise provider, so expect some…
We’ve just had a quick peek at this year’s Dark Mofo offerings, and they’ve managed to jam in as much if not more as past festivals. The program includes free and ticketed events, including the ever popular Winter Feast as well as the Nude Solstice Swim at dawn on June 21st. Other free events include…
Australian singer-songwriter Matt Corby has collaborated with Tibetan artist Tenzin Choegyal and musician Rohin Jones (The Middle East) to record an album, Snowflower, exploring the healing power of music. The album is recorded in 432 Hz, a therapeutic frequency that aims to reduce anxiety and lower heart rates. The soundscape has spiritual and ritualistic elements,…
Mick Harvey has been a staple of the Australian music scene for many years, working with The Birthday Party and The Bad Seeds as well as artists such as PJ Harvey. He has teamed up with Mexican artist Amanda Acevedo to release an album covering songs from American songwriter Jackson C. Frank. We had a…
Based on the iconic 1992 movie starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act, The Musical launched in Adelaide to an enthusiastic reception. Everything about this production is big, bold, brash and beautiful. The story is as fresh as when the movie was released. Casey Donovan stars as Deloris Van Cartier, a singer in a club managed by…
“Baddest. Cowboy. Texas.” These are a few words that describe the baddest cowboy in Texas. With the help of director Cecily Nash, Minnesota clown Lil Wenker has created a laugh a minute comedy journey, in which a Cowboy meets his Nemesis. Bangtail is basically an unbridled hour of controlled clown chaos. Performed in the intimate Gallery…
Charlie Chaplin has long been recognised as a worldwide silent movie icon and is considered one of the film industry’s most important figures. In the theatre comedy show “Smile”, talented artist Marcel Cole brings to life the story of the Little Tramp and the man who created him. The Courtyard of Curiosities is a small…
To sum up Spyhard, suave English agent Antonio Tranderas (Anthony Tran) and the captivating Russian operative Faytasha Romanov (Fay MacFarlane) are caught up in a world of acrobatics and high-flying stunts. As a tribute to the action spy movies from the 80s and 90s, Spyhard ticks all the boxes. The duo, known as Circus Sorbet,…
The Australian Platypus is an unusual animal, seemingly made from disjointed parts that somehow come together to make a creature that is both unique and adorable. The Platypus is a play that uses that creature as its motif and is also an unusual creature that is loveable. Playwright and director Francis Greenslade has compiled a witty…
Can you believe that the legendary Adelaide Beer and BBQ Fest is already 10 years old? To celebrate, we have the inside scoop telling us this year’s event is going to be bigger than ever, with Tim Finn, Wolfmother and The Chats headlining the musical entertainment. The venue has remained the same since 2015, undercover…
The WOMADelaide music and dance festival kept the energy flowing on a hot Sunday evening in the Adelaide parklands. As the day drew to an end, there was simultaneously the driving London dance beats of DJ Paulette and the soothing and mesmerising synthesiser sounds from Nils Frahm at opposite sides of the park. Earlier in…
The warm weather hung around for the second day of WOMADelaide, nestled within the Adelaide Parklands. As the bats had their own dance party over stage 7, on the main stages the music was primed to make you move. Goran Bregović & His Wedding & Funeral Band bought Balkan joy to the stage. Dressed in…
Set in Adelaide’s leafy botanic gardens, WOMADelaide has a legacy stretching back over 30 years. Bringing the best of world music, arts and dance over the Adelaide Cup long weekend, it is a destination for the faithful. From local bands such as Dojo Rise and Meena De Silva to the incredible voice and stage presence…
Arthur Art Bar is a gritty Fringe venue in the west end of Adelaide that has evolved over the last few years. Formerly a furniture store, it is known for its presentation of alternative and queer performances. This year for the Fringe, the upstairs rooms, each barely larger than a bedroom have been converted for…
As the audience files into The Flamingo Tent at Gluttony, a Deadpool like voice is making wisecracking commentary. We soon discover that there is indeed a Deadpool character seated amongst the unwitting patrons, and he is just as irreverent as the Marvel movie character. What ensues is essentially Deadpool reading us a naughty bedtime story,…
Beliying her youthful 19 years, singer Emerauld has released a powerful single “In the First Place”. With soaring vocals and a driving backing track, this could be a summer anthem. The Adelaide singer has been releasing music since the age of 14, capturing a spot in Unearthed High Yearbook in 2022 with her track “In…
A voice cries out in the darkness. “You do a lot of crazy things when you’re eighteen. I killed Sharon Tate.” The spotlight shines on the grinning face of Susan Atkins (Helen O’Connor), one of the central protagonists in the infamous Manson murders. “How did we get here?”, she muses and launches immediately into a…
