Author: Tiana Sixsmith

Melbourne Fringe Review: Why Gillian English’s 10 Things I Hate About Taming of the Shrew is the best

Gillian English is my new favourite person. We have never met before but as soon as she stood on the makeshift stage at Belleville and roared her way into my life with her insistently angry comedy, I knew I had met my match. Viewer warning: If you have an undying love for Shakespeare than I…

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Melbourne Fringe Review: Funerals with Phoebe proved the perfect ending to an incredible festival

Delightful, different and refreshing, real life funeral singer Phoebe Deklerk‘s show Funerals with Phoebe proved to be the perfect ending to my amazing month of Melbourne Fringe Festival shows. Have you ever wondered what songs you’d like to have at your funeral? Or noticed just how similar wedding and funeral songs can actually be? Would you consider…

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Melbourne Fringe Review: Bonnie Curtis’s GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS is confronting, imaginative and refreshingly honest

Being a woman in this modern age can suck. The expectation to keep that waist small, to get those likes on instagram and to have those Kylie Jenner-esque lips. The expectation to be more or less perfect. It’s unreasonable, isn’t it? Sometimes the way we move about in society and the pressures we put on…

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Interview: Michael Shuman on QOTSA, Japan, Edwyn Collins and his new Mini Mansions EP Works Every Time.

Chatting about his current tours, Michael Shuman (better known as Mikey Shoes) had a talk with us about his bands Queens of the Stone Age and Mini Mansions, the lack of vacationing in his life and a brand new EP, Works Every Time, which is released today. Mikey had a lot to say about his…

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Track of the Day: Winterbourne “Better” (2018)

Moving away from their folk roots, Central Coast duo Winterbourne have launched a new direction for their music with the release of brand new track “Better”. Fans of bands such as Ball Park Music and The Jungle Giants will instantly fall in love with this new tune, woven with sensational guitar licks and catchy, modern…

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Melbourne Fringe Review: Jude Perl is talented, hilarious, genuine and everybody needs to go and see I Have a Face

Jude Perl made me think about a lot of things. Made me notice a lot of things. And she made me laugh more than I thought was actually physically possible. If I could give any person who chances to wander over this article a small snippet of life advice it would be this. Go and…

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Melbourne Fringe Review: Jake Matricardi showcases stellar storytelling ability with The Gargoyle

Jake Matricardi plays a centuries old stone gargoyle who was struck by lightning whilst perched atop a church, plummeting into the river and rising with blood in his veins and a heartbeat in his chest. Living his days beneath a bridge, this wondrous and creative one man production explores the gargoyle’s existence and the stories…

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Meet the Aussies sharing the stage with Ozzy and Slayer at Download Festival 2019

Let’s admit it, Australia is now – and has been for quite some time – bursting at the seams with world-class talent; literally overflowing with musical geniuses that have been providing some of the best tunes for generations. We aren’t complaining with our high quality exports because breaking into the music scene can sometimes seem…

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Melbourne Fringe Review: Consciously Kyah presents powerful creative collaboration Seeping

The first thing that hit me when I entered the dimly lit room in the midst of Sydney Road is the enveloping smell of incense. Basking in a red hued light, an array of flowers had been artfully placed around the area. The stage had been set and Consciously Kyah’s “Seeping” was about to begin….

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Track of the Day: Stefan James “Situation” (2018)

Vocalist, songwriter and producer Stefan James is the new face of soulful pop and we promise that he’s bound for big places. Traversing the difficult road to recovery after a history of tragic events and substance abuse, James turned to music for help and now the emerging 20 year old artist is playing packed out…

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Melbourne Fringe Review: Darwent & Gray’s The Rest is Drag is a divine, feel good production to make you think

I called my boyfriend just after four o’clock. He was leaving his boring office to get on the boring train with the potential of taking a squiz at the boring financial review before eating a boring dinner and you get the gist. His flamboyancy was lacking, but lets not tell him that just yet. “How…

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Horror producer Jason Blum to visit Australia for Halloween retcon

Known for producing a-grade, horror packed films Paranormal Activity and The Purge, Universal Pictures is bringing Jason Blum, one of Hollywood’s greatest producers and founder of Blumhouse Productions, to discuss his upcoming release Halloween.  Blum is a two-time Academy Award®-nominated and two-time Emmy and Peabody Award-winning producer. His multi-media company is known for pioneering a new model…

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Melbourne Fringe Review: The sounds of Woodstock explode in the tremendous Yasgur’s Farm

The year is 1969. It’s the middle of August, summer is coming to a close but as you descend on the property of Max Yasgur for one of the single biggest events in music history, the air is notably warm with the throng of 400,000 bodies. With one of the most prolific musical lineups known,…

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Interview: Caiti Baker talks “Gimme” ahead of her National Tour

Ahead of her national tour, which kicks off in WA next week, we caught up with Darwin’s Caiti Baker to find out a little more about her new single “Gimme”, what to expect from the upcoming tour, and how music has helped her through some tough times. Congratulations on the release of your new track! You mentioned…

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Four shows not to miss in Sydney Theatre Company‘s 2019 season

Unveiling its bold, imaginative and entertaining array of productions for the year ahead, the Sydney Theatre Company’s new program of thirteen shows across four venues is prepared to astound audiences from far and wide. Speaking about the season, Artistic Director Kip William’s has said: “In 2018 our season looked at leadership and social responsibility in…

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Track of the Day: Sam Carmody “Shadow in the Dream” (2018)

Compelling, dynamic and likely to make you feel as if you are momentarily floating in another dimension; Sam Carmody‘s stunning new track “Shadow in the Dream”, taken from his debut EP,  will envelop your soul in its delicate design. Carmody has stuck himself out as one to be watched after the release of this beautiful track….

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Evita and the Opera Australia productions you need to see in Sydney in the year ahead

Unveiling its 2019 season, Opera Australia has announced its most exhilarating and innovative program to date, with an incredible selection of productions set to take the stage at the Sydney Opera House. Exploding onto the scene with an array of classics and diverse, new inclusions for the year ahead, Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini has said:…

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Everything you need to know about Music Matters in Singapore: complete line-up, schedule and venues revealed!

Strap yourselves in because Music Matters is about to take you on the ride of your life. With 35 astounding live acts from 18 countries taking over the stages from the 7-12 of September, be prepared to discover the sounds of tomorrow. Appearing at over 80 venues right across Singapore and with the final announcement…

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Live Review: Dear Seattle turned heads in Melbourne with sold out surprise gig

I’m sitting in my car. It’s about 6:07, traffic is heaving through the city and all I can think about is crashing on the couch, heating up some food and maybe chucking some Netflix on the telly. I’m exhausted, ready for the day to end but than suddenly my ears prick up. Brae Fisher is…

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Australian cast revealed for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child‘s Melbourne premiere

Critically acclaimed as the single most awarded play in history, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is finally hitting Australian shores with preview performances beginning early next year on January 19th, exclusively at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. Producers have just announced the cast of 42 performers led by New Zealand actor Gareth Reeves as Harry Potter, Paula Arundell as Hermione Granger, Gyton Grantley as Ron…

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The folks behind Laneway are opening a pool club in Melbourne

Following the enormous success of St Jermone’s – The Hotel, the creators are bouncing back with the launch of The Reunion Island Pool Club, a rooftop pool, bar and leisure venue which is set to swing open its doors this October. Looking for an island escape in the middle of the bustling city? Want the…

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Track of the Day: Crocodylus “My Baby” (2018)

Rapidly becoming one of Sydney’s favourite trios, the boys from Crocodylus are back with a fresh, coastal song drenched in their signature sixties style. “My Baby” shies away from their usual blistering tracks, yet the raw, infectious melody is sure to become a crowd pleaser (or a crowd breather, if you’ve ever been in the…

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Michelle de Kretser takes home the 2018 Miles Franklin Literary Award

Making herself the third woman in history to be awarded the top literary prize more than once, Michelle de Kretser has taken home the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award for 2018. Divulging the complexities that dance around the world of writer Pippa, Michelle de Kretser’s sophisticated novel The Life to Come blends the sharp satire…

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Five acts set to play Australian Music Week you need to be excited about

Taking over the sunny, vibrant Cronulla beaches this November, Australian Music Week is Australia’s most accessible grassroots music industry conference. Featuring a mixture of local and international acts, award-winners and promising new talent, this week’s first artist announcement paves the way for music discovery and bloody good times. With over 150 live showcases, 20 panels…

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Five Arts Festivals not to miss around Australia this September

Slide into spring with some of the most spectacular arts festivals on show right across Australia. From the vibrant and alternative streets of Melbourne to the breathtaking swells on the beaches of Surfers Paradise, there is something for everyone this September. Melbourne Fringe Festival 13-30th September / Melbourne, VIC Bold, vibrant and bubbling with life,…

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8 events not to miss at Melbourne Writers Festival 2018

Tomorrow the 2018 instalment of the Melbourne Writers Festival will kick off. Naturally there are so many panels, conversations and workshops to choose from, so we’ve unpacked the assortment of irresistible and noteworthy guests taking part in this action packed program and come up with these hot tips on what not to miss! Sally Seltmann: Lovesome…

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