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.

Buried in Verona announce massive June tour with In Hearts Wake and more.

To help launch the release of their third album Notorious (via UNFD on June 1st, 2012), Buried In Verona will be touring nationally on The Notorious Tour this June with support from The Plot In You [USA], In Hearts Wake and Silent Screams [UK]. The dates take on all major Australian cites, with an extensive…

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the AU interview: Street Dogs (Boston, USA)

Shortly before hitting the stage with Bad Religion in Sydney – a Soundwave Sideshow – we catch up with Boston bred punk rockers Street Dogs. We talk about the festival, coming to Australia for the first time, Punk Rock, Bad Religion and much more. Camera: Nathan Atkins Interview/Editor: Larry Heath

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The SXSW Diaries: Day Four ft. Third Man Records Party + Spin Magazine Party at Stubb’s and more (16.03.12)

The day got rolling with a few interviews and a pop into the Dorito’s Stage, which was essentially a massive faux vending machine that was turned into a live stage, in celebration of their new brand of chips. Such was just one of the many branded events on site, but most definitely was the most…

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The SXSW Diaries: Day Five and Six ft. The Aussie BBQ + Perez Hilton Party inc. Kimbra + Stubb’s Gospel Brunch and more (17-18.03.12)

Saturday kicked off as it has every year for me at SXSW, with The Aussie BBQ day party. Now in it’s tenth year, the showcase (something of a rite of passage for Australian bands looking to make it overseas) is comprised of the best of Australian talent – along with a few expats. Here, they…

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A SXSW Retrospective: The AU Crew’s 12 SXSW Highlights of 2012.

Just before we all headed off to Austin for the 2012 SXSW Festival, we told you our 12 picks for the festival. Well some of them we saw (and were impressed by), others we missed, and of course at the other end of the spectrum there were plenty of surprises. Here now are our 12…

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The CMW Diaries: Day One ft. Die Mannequin + Quartered + Breached + Bensh + Phantom Black + Janet Panic (21.03.12)

After the manic week that was SXSW, it would be fair to say that the idea of going to another festival was nothing short of horrifying. But after a couple of nights in Vegas, and enough sleep to return some energy levels (along with the attendance of David Copperfield), we once again hit the ground…

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The CMW Diaries: Days Four and Five ft. The Aussie BBQ + The Indies + POND + The Temper Trap and more (24-25.03.12)

Aussies are always well represented at Canadian Music Week and this year was no exception. The last two days of the festival ended on a particularly Australian focused high with The Aussie BBQ, The Indies (headlined by Passion Pit, and seeing Gotye winning an award) and Melbourne’s The Temper Trap closing the festival out with…

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The CMW Diaries: Day Two ft. Martha Wainwright + Half Moon Run + The Dears + Ariane Moffatt + Arianna Huffington and more (22.03.12)

Unlike my first night at Canadian Music Week, tonight was all going to focus on one venue: El Mocambo, for what became one of the best showcases of music I saw the entire trip. But more on that later. First it’s important to mention that today I saw the first and only talk I was…

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the AU interview at SXSW 2012: Hugo Manuel of Jonquil (Oxford)

Just after he jumped off the stage with Jonquil at SXSW 2012, we caught up with Hugo Manuel from Oxford, UK, of Jonquil and Chad Valley to chat about Jonquil, their new record and much more… Interview/Edit: Larry Heath Camera: Andrew Wade

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The SXSW Diaries: Day Three ft. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band + MTV Woodies + Foxy Shazam + Crystal Fighters and more (15.03.12)

The third official day of SXSW music was jam packed full of parties. In between interviews and meetings I tried to pop into as many as I could. I checked out the Sounds from Spain party though couldn’t tell you what I saw, meanwhile at the Taiwan Party I enjoyed a “Woo Hoo” sort of…

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The CMW Diaries: Day Three ft. Bear Hands + Hacienda + Simone Felice + Dinosaur Bones + Paradise Animals and more… (23.03.12)

Day three of Canadian Music Week got off to a reasonably slow start as we enjoyed one of the few sleep-ins of our trip, ahead of our usual slog of interviews and meetings. As we ran from one place to the next, however, I did manage to catch a couple of bands… albeit briefly. First…

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The SXSW Diaries: Day Two ft. Fader Fort + NPR Showcase inc. Fiona Apple and Dan Deacon + Canadian Blast + Alberta Cross and more. (14.03.12)

One of the mainstays of the SXSW festival is the Fader Fort. Held just outside the centre of all the action, the Fort has been home to hundreds of performances over the years, in front of just about anyone who has a computer and can RSVP. With the walk to the event always seeming a…

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The SXSW Diaries: Day One ft. Sounds Australia Block Party and the Media Temple Interactive Closing Party (13.03.12)

In 2011, the Music portion of SXSW was extended a day to cross over with the final day the interactive event. This now gives Film, Music and Interactive badge holders the opportunity to check out the wares of one and other, as the Interactive badges show their signs of fatigue, giving Music badges a glimpse…

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The Pre-SXSW Diaries: Emma Louise and The Aussie BBQ in Los Angeles + Interactive Events in Austin (09-12.03.12)

The trip to SXSW is always fraught with adventure, and this year was no different. Flying into Los Angeles on Friday afternoon – and arriving earlier that morning thanks to the wonders of the international date line – we hit the ground running and enjoyed the spoils of the Universal Studios to keep ourselves from…

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The Boss kicks some "Tex-Ass" with a star-studded SXSW performance.

When Bruce Springsteen was announced as the keynote speaker for the 2012 SXSW music conference in Austin, Texas, the addition of a one off, intimate show was inevitable. Not only was this added, but tonight, in front of two thousand or so lucky fans at ACL Live, he brought his sixteen piece E-Street Band along…

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The 12 artists you shouldn't miss at SXSW 2012.

Andrew Wade: SXSW has rapidly become my favorite event of the year. Travel, free booze, music, free booze, partying, good friends and… free booze. There’s also a massive opportunity to meet and watch some of the best musicians and groups in the world today. Here are my highlights for the 2012 event; I’ll be endeavoring…

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Live Review: The Rapture – Metro Theatre (08.03.12)

As I sit in Los Angeles, on my way to SXSW, the Future Music Festival is making its way around Australia. Thankfully, just before I departed (in dates that continue), those in Sydney and Melbourne were provided with a plethora of sideshows to choose from. On Thursday night in Sydney, in advance of their appearance…

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the AU interview: Alfio Alivuzza of The Cairos (Brisbane)

We caught up with The Cairos to talk about their new single “Shame”, tour life and much more! About the tour, you guys just played your first show the other night, then had a massive drive to Sydney from Brisbane. Tell me a bit about the adventure so far? Their pretty standard adventures. We’ve done…

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the AU interview: Toby Leaman of Dr. Dog (Pennsylvania)

We caught up with Toby Leaman of Dr. Dog to have a chat about the new album Be The Void, touring and much more! How are you going there? Yeah, really well. Where abouts are you at the moment? I’m at my house in Delaware. How has the year been treating you so far? You’re…

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New Music Video: DZ Deathrays "No Sleep"

In a track which is perhaps already a bit of an ode to the Beastie Boys, Brisbane it-kids DZ Deathrays are now citing Paul Simon as an influence in their new video for “No Sleep”. They’ve enlisted the help of the one and only Arj Barker to perform a bit of a parody of “You…

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Live Review: Manchester Orchestra + Nantes – The HiFi Sydney (04.03.12)

Some bands should need no introduction, but unfortunately Atlanta, Georgia’s Manchester Orchestra still do. The band whose three studio albums and six EPs have made them a household name amongst critics around the world, still have yet to crack it into most households elsewhere. And with tonight (re)confirming my suspicions that they’re also a phenomenal…

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Live Review: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and the Cairo Gang – Sydney Opera House (05.03.12)

There’s something quite understated about Will Oldman, aka Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy‘s, eccentric talent, and a packed out Sydney Opera House got the opportunity to experience this first hand on Monday night with a spellbinding show with his backing band The Cairo Gang. Complete with beautiful three part harmonies, the vocals of Angel Olsen, guitars and…

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New Music Video: Passenger "The Wrong Direction" (2012)

We’re big fans of Passenger here at the AU review, and with the release of his new video “The Wrong Direction”, we’ve been reminded why. The video features some great animation and plenty of running in the wrong direction. Enjoy!

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New Music Video: Bluejuice "On My Own" (2012)

Great video, or greatest video? Bluejuice pay homage to the great karaoke videos of living memory in a video of “On My Own”, directed by Samuel Bennetts. The track is taken from the album Company, out now. It’s tops. Enjoy. Check out tour dates for the band here: http://www.bluejuice.info/

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Single Stream: Arcade Fire "Abraham's Daughter" (2012)

I have to admit that Arcade Fire are without a doubt one of my favourite bands. So I jumped for joy when I heard about a new song being released online today, for the upcoming film The Hunger Games, which features an inspired soundtrack from artists like Kid Cudi, Taylor Swift and The Decemberists. A…

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Playground Weekender cancelled due to flash flooding concerns.

Some unfortunate news to those who had planned a weekend away to the sixth Playground Weekender. Following the advice of NSW State Emergency Service, the festival has been asked to cancel its event with the following: “New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSWES) directs the Playground Weekender boutique music festival be cancelled under the State…

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Live Review: Soundwave Festival – Sydney Showgrounds (26.02.12)

The juggernaut that is Soundwave is here yet again, returning to Sydney’s Showgrounds for the second year running. With a year to get themselves ready (you may recall the festival’s move from Blacktown to Olympic Park was a rather last minute affair in 2011), the festival provided punters with an inspired new layout, jam packed…

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Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Kate Martin – Candle Burnin', Wax Drippin'

Townsville native Kate Martin will be releasing her sophomore album, Hand Me My Bow And Arrow, on March 23, 2012 through Shock Records. Today we bring you the exclusive video premiere of the fantastic second single for the album “Candle Burnin’, Wax Drippin’” Enjoy!

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the AU interview: Sierra Kusterbeck of VersaEmerge (Florida)

Larry Heath caught up with Sierra of VersaEmerge ahead of the band joining the Soundwave tour to chat about new material, ‘Santa Baby’ and much more! Transcription by Daniel Patrick. Where am I chatting to you from? I’m in St Petersburg Florida – good ol’ town that I grew up in. Just hanging out. You’ve…

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