Author: Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.

From Gaga to G Flip, QOTSA to NIN: The 13 best tours we saw in the Northern Hemisphere this Summer

With the highly anticipated Oasis Australian tour starting today, and massive tours like Lady Gaga on the horizon, we wanted to look back at the last few months of Summer touring in the northern hemisphere and talk about the tours that have impressed us the most. This list only reflects the shows that our team…

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First Ride: Niagara’s latest attraction lets you “Take Flight” over the Falls like never before

Niagara Falls in Canada just got its first major new attraction in three years. The last – the Niagara Parks Power Station – brought new life to a disused hydroelectric plant, with nightly projections, great exhibits and access to one of the most unique views of the Falls by way of “The Tunnel”. Now, Niagara…

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No Doubt just doubled the length of their residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas

Anyone who has visited the Sphere in Las Vegas will tell you that it’s one of the most impressive places on the planet to see a live concert. Indeed, with a 270 degree screen on the inside, and a landscape-altering 360 degree screen on the outside, there is no place like it. The venue opened…

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The world’s most iconic composers (were) getting their own music festival next month in Los Angeles

Editorial Update: Sadly this event has been cancelled.  When I attended Coachella in 2017, I met the inclusion of Hans Zimmer with some skepticism. Not because I wasn’t excited to see such a bold choice on the lineup – but because I was worried it wouldn’t work with that sort of festival crowd. That all…

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Buena Vista Social Club: New York’s best concert is happening eight times a week

Musicians taking centre stage on Broadway is nothing new. In recent years, artists like David Byrne and Bruce Springsteen have transformed the Broadway stage into long-running residencies. Scripted productions about real and imagined musicians, like MJ The Musical (about the life and music of Michael Jackson) or the play Stereophonic, have been awarded Tony’s, and have…

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Meredith-bound TV on the Radio, Perfume Genius and Sam Austins announce headline shows

Fresh off being announced on the incredible, sold-out Meredith Music Festival lineup, headliners TV on the Radio and Perfume Genius, alongside Sam Austins, have today announced headline shows across Australia’s East Coast. I was lucky enough to catch TV on the Radio earlier this month in Toronto, Canada, and have to say it was the…

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First Ride: The record-breaking AlpenFury launches as one of the world’s best roller coasters

It’s not every day that a record-breaking new roller coaster arrives at any theme park. Last month, Canada’s Wonderland, just out of Toronto, Canada, enjoyed such a privilege, with the long anticipated AlpenFury boarding its first riders. Last week, I was amongst the lucky few to ride the park’s first major new attraction since their brilliant…

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The world’s first roller coaster with two launches and nine inversions just opened in Canada

Based just outside of Toronto in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada’s Wonderland has more roller coasters than any other theme park in Canada. In fact, as of this week, it’s tied for third place with Cedar Point for having the most roller coasters anywhere in the world. And that’s thanks to their 18th and latest coaster, AlpenFury,…

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Coldplay hit Toronto’s divisive new Rogers Stadium for first of four shows: Full Setlist and Venue Review

UK group Coldplay are currently undertaking their Moon Music world tour, and last night they touched down in Toronto, Canada for the first of four shows. Tickets to the shows – their first in the city in eight years – have been a hot commodity, fetching massive prices on resale sites after more than 200,000…

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A guide to Canada’s Clifton Hill as the iconic Niagara Falls attraction turns 100

There’s no question that one of the biggest tourist attractions in North America is the natural wonder that is Niagara Falls. There are ways to experience it on both the USA and the Canadian sides of the Niagara River, with some 21 million people estimated to visit each year. But ask anyone which side is…

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How Stranger Things: The First Shadow strikes the perfect balance for fans of the stage and screen

This is a spoiler-free article.  Less than 18 months after it premiered on the West End, Stranger Things: The First Shadow made its anticipated Broadway debut this April. The play is Netflix’s first production on the stage, and understandably, the production was initially met with skepticism. Could the loved IP translate into a production truly…

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First Look: Universal Studio Hollywood’s first roller coaster in a decade will be the fastest of any Universal Park

Set to open next year, Universal Studios Hollywood has finally revealed more information about the park’s first ever high-speed outdoor roller coaster. Here’s everything we know! The ride is called Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, inspired by Universal’s endlessly popular Fast & Furious franchise. According to its press release, the coaster “will rocket guests up…

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Hotel Review: Courtyard Marriott brings renovated comfort to Oahu’s North Shore, Hawaii

A few months back, I was lucky enough to spend a couple of nights on the North Shore of the Hawaiian Island of O’ahu. It’s a place that feels worlds apart from the busy paradise that is Waikiki – and it’s not a quick commute, either. The North Shore of the island is at least…

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Disneyland ramps up 70th Anniversary celebrations as Australian residents get special ticket offer

With Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort turning 70 on July 17th, the park, and the city it sits in, are ramping up celebrations. And Australian and New Zealand residents are being offered a very special ticket offer to help encourage a trip over the Pacific. Firstly, let’s take a look at how Disneyland, and the city of…

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The picturesque Niagara Falls Italian “Culinary Experience” that even brings the locals back for more

If you’ve ever visited the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, you’ll know it sits as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. Around the iconic falls, there is an eclectic array of experiences to enjoy, from ferris wheels and haunted houses, to tunnels behind the falls themselves. But with a myriad of…

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First Ride: YoY Thrill & Chill – a world first dual single track coaster at Walibi Holland

Located a little more than an hour out of Amsterdam, Walibi Holland has been welcoming visitors since 1971. A park with a focus on roller coasters, it’s not only similar to the Six Flags theme parks of North America,  it briefly was one, being run as Six Flags Holland between 2000 and 2005. And keen…

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BRUX

Interview: BRUX talks CA$HED UP EP, Surya Sen collabs, living in NYC and post-pandemic EDM audiences

Ahead of the release of her new EP CA$HED UP tomorrow – featuring the single of the same name – we caught up with NYC-based, Australian electronic DJ and producer BRUX. We spoke about the influence that New York City played on the record, working with UK Label LUCKYME and artist Surya Sen, and we…

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Disney reveal the location for a 7th Disneyland Resort: Here’s everything we know

It was revealed today that Disney Parks and Resorts have secured a deal to launch a Disneyland Theme Park in their 5th international location. Sadly, while it’s not Australia, there are direct flights from Australia to the new destination. The location will be on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, which is serviced…

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A guide to exploring the architectural splendour of Buffalo, New York

Located just two hours south of Toronto, Canada, where the Buffalo River meets Lake Erie, Buffalo, New York is a city with one of the most fascinating histories in North America. It’s a place that has seen its share of turbulence. In the early 1900s, it was the 9th most populous city in the USA….

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Universal Studios have confirmed their first UK theme park. Here’s everything we know.

Disney may have chosen France over the United Kingdom all those years ago, but now the UK has won the latest Theme Park battle: getting the European continent’s first Universal Studios Theme Park. According to the BBC, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed the long rumoured plans, hosting a press conference earlier today with…

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Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue Review: Spectacular beachfront access and Hawaii’s largest pool, but how are the rooms?

While we’re all still reeling from The White Lotus finale in Thailand, I wanted to take us back to those beautiful vibes in Hawaii from season one. But we won’t be travelling to the same island where they filmed (Maui), rather to the fourth largest island in Hawaii, also known as “The Garden Isle”. At…

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What happened at the Garden State 20th Anniversary Concert in Los Angeles (and how you can watch the whole thing!)

In 2004, actor Zach Braff, best known for fronting the TV sitcom Scrubs, released his debut feature film Garden State to critical acclaim. The film – co-starring Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, the late great Ian Holm, and many others – was praised for its smart script (penned by Braff), clever editing, endearing performances and an…

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How do Southwest Airlines’ Island Hopper Flights compare to Hawaiian Airlines?

Because they don’t appear on most travel comparison sites*, a lot of people don’t realise Southwest Airlines offer Island Hopper flights in Hawaii. Nonetheless, having introduced routes across five Hawaiian airports back in 2019, the Dallas based airline provide an competitive alternative to Hawaiian Airlines’ long dominance in the market. Prices are generally comparable to…

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First photos from inside Universal Studio’s new Orlando theme park Epic Universe revealed

It’s recently been announced that Epic Universe will open its portals in Orlando, Florida on 22nd May 2025! And today we have received the first on site photos from the highly anticipated theme park. The first round of tickets sales – with the 2025 Explorer Ticket that’s inclusive of a single day of Epic Universe…

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Flight Review: Is Westjet’s Premium Economy Upgrade worth it on their Caribbean flights?

When it comes to air travel, one of the few markets that would be comparable to Australia would be Canada. They have one national carrier (“Air Canada” being their “Qantas”), who are the only Canadian carrier to travel to and from Australia, with two main domestic airlines for competition. There’s Porter, who followed a similar…

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A Guide to Kauai: How to explore The Garden Island of Hawaii

With direct flights into Hawaii – at least from Australia – only taking you to Honolulu on the island of Oahu, many guests to the closest American State to our country don’t take the opportunity to explore the surrounding islands. Or at least don’t go further than Maui. In fact, it took me more than…

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SXSW 2025: Meow Wolf is coming to New York City – and we know the location!

It was revealed today at SXSW that the creators of some of the world’s best immersive art experiences, Meow Wolf, are readying their seventh permanent location in the USA – New York City. The news comes less than a year after they revealed that a Los Angeles location would open in a movie theatre in…

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NYC on a Budget: Five things you can do for free in New York City

Even when we don’t consider the frustrating AUD to USD exchange rate, New York City ain’t cheap. But when Qantas’ direct flight from Sydney to New York set to launch next year, the city will have never been more accessible for Australian tourists. So you’re going to have even more reason to make the trip…

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Universal Studios’ year round horror experience sets opening date at Las Vegas’ AREA15

Every year, Universal Studios theme parks in the US, Japan and Singapore celebrate the Halloween season with Halloween Horror Nights. Across these nights, guests explore specially themed haunted houses – often around particular Universal IP – and get to stay in the park up late, with additional horror theming across its existing attractions. With the haunted…

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Why the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a must for any movie fan visiting Hollywood

Since 1973, iconic Hollywood studio Warner Bros. have been offering some form of a backlot tour to the general public. When it launched, tickets cost $3, and education about film and life on the set was the name of the game; a point of difference from the “ride the movies” approach of the iconic Universal…

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