Deep in the heartland of the United States rests a valley, north of sprawling cornfields but south of the intersections that connect the country’s four quadrants. For 11 months and 3 weeks, it is just a grassy hilly field. But for three days in August, it transforms into Hinterland. Hinterland began in 2015 as a…
With the the launch of the hi-tech Sphere and a multitude of modern new experiences in Las Vegas, it may seem that the classic “Las Vegas Residency” isn’t getting the attention it once did. But the reality is, more major artists are performing in the city than ever before, each bringing in tens of millions…
Today, Sydney singer/songwriter Abbey Lane has released her debut EP, the fabulous Afterthoughts. Relationships are the central theme of the record, and the highs and lows of letting ourselves be vulnerable through love are artfully captured by the talented songwriter. There are many highlights here. One of my favourites is “Stuck in that moment”, which…
Last Friday, New Zealand/Aotearoa’s Georgia Lines released her stunning debut album, The Rose of Jericho. This record is bound together by stunning vocals and mature, well-crafted songwriting drawn from life experiences. Lush instrumentation, with piano and sparkly synths to the fore, permeates throughout this gem. The album was written over two years in response to…
Sydney’s Imogen Clark has bared her soul in her epic new album, The Art of Getting Through, released today. Imogen is a musician who boldly embraces her fears and tackles headon the challenges that lie ahead. It’s fair to say that no stone was left unturned in the making of this record. The courage taken…
Music fans across Brisbane and beyond were left reeling earlier this month after iconic venue The Zoo announced its upcoming closure. And with sister venue Stranded also closing up shop and South Brisbane fixtures Can You Keep A Secret? and It’s Still A Secret revealing their own fight to keep the doors open, it’s clear…
Next month, the UK’s premier showcasing event, The Great Escape kicks off. It’s an incredible opportunity for bands to present themselves to new audiences, and it has been a staple for many years for Australian talent. Running from the 15th to 18th of May in Brighton, there are more than 500 artists from around the…
Leeds, UK post-hardcore outfit Caskets have officially sold-out the Brisbane show of their Reflections Australia tour in May at The Brightside Outdoors. Supporting the band will be Seattle pop-rockers The Home Team in their Australian live debut, as well as Brisbane emo favourites Stepson and Melbourne alt-metal act Bad/Love. The seven-date tour will be kicking…
Emily Underhill is a London-based electronic songwriter and producer who goes by the alias Tusks, and on Friday she released her third album, Gold. The record follows 2017’s Dissolve and 2019’s Avalanche, and the release of the album’s first single, “Adore”. The album was created between Underhill’s home in London, and two trips to Devon on her…
Last week Australian duo Just A Leo released their latest EP, Change Your Life. Home-produced, the talented duo have created a collection of songs that are deeply personal, uplifting, and creatively inspiring. They have created a record which is a beautiful mix of dance, synth-pop and electro-pop, that will have you dancing around the kitchen…
We have been shell-shocked with the news that Splendour and Groovin the Moo have been cancelled, but it’s still possible to see some outstanding international acts in Australia this April and May. We’ve picked 5 highlights for you, from legends such as Incubus and +Live+ to Scottish rockers The Snuts. Taylor Swift and Fred Again… grabbed…
Splendour in the Grass, which was scheduled to take place at North Byron Parklands from July 19th to July 21st, has been cancelled. Yes, not postponed. Cancelled. It’s been a wild few years for Australia’s most iconic multi-day festival, from pandemic delays to mudslides. Plus, there was a whopping 30% decline in attendance last year….
“I knew that band before they were famous” Does anyone have that friend who seems to say this constantly? For the people in my life, I was that friend. In my 20s, it was my life’s mission to discover every fantastic band before anyone else. I wanted to be the guy who always had an…
The season for music festivals in Australia is now year-round, speeding towards us to make up for the end of summer 2023/2024 with a healthy list of live music, arts and culture throughout the year. If last year’s “music festivals 2023” schedule is anything to go by, Australian music festivals will be more boutique in…
One of the biggest highlights on the Sydney live music calendar is the Vivid event and with the 2024 line-up being dropped today, it’s fair to say, they’re well and truly back with an enormous line-up! From the 24th May to the 15th of June, Sydney will once again light up with events ranging from…
2024 is shaping up to be another huge year of live music here in Australia. With the festival scene feeling fully out of the COVID hibernation, and with some big international names touring down under, there’s plenty of entertainment to choose from. If you are an avid fan of live music you may already have…
Gesticulations is a duo comprising Graham Ashton and his good friend Benny D Williams. They released their first album in 2021, and earlier this month released In The Wars, their sixth album in only three years. It’s fair to say they aren’t short of ideas or material. In keeping with their earlier releases, In The…
Product of Neglect may not be a name you are familiar with, but the Brisbane deathcore act have today unleashed their brutal debut album, Synthetic Freedom, which will surely put them on the map. Featuring the singles “Perpetual Night” and “Cerberus”, the nine-track project was a long time coming and went through numerous iterations to…
Every few months, we’re going to be taking stock of some of the most exciting Australian tours going down. Why? Well, the trend of people picking up tickets last minute is only going to get more salient from here. Cost of living means that we’re planning more things last minute than in advance, so consider…
A silky smooth hook on GoldLink’s 2017 hit “Crew” was all it really took for Brent Faiyaz to become one of the brightest R&B stars of the past decade. The earnestness in his soft, vulnerable vocals can carry any message and deliver it with sweet, sharp and precise tones. Back that with deep, bass-driven beats…
We’re back for the 15th annual list of the 40 best albums of the year, as compiled by the team at the AU review, bringing in music from Australia and around the world. It’s a packed list, with many artists making their debut on our countdown. Read on, and click on the album covers to…
Castlemaine singer-songwriter Eliza Hull is a leading voice for individualism with her honest new EP Here They Come, released 1 December. Featuring the singles “Running Underwater” and “Island”, the five-track project is the fifth record from the Victorian songstress since emerging with her debut single “Without Words” in 2012. Timed to coincide with International Day…
Kaurna/Adelaide indie pop-rock act and triple j Unearthed finalists Sunsick Daisy are quickly on the rise with their anticipated debut EP Breathe In… Breathe Out, released independently 24 November. Boasting the lead single “Underwater”, the relatable project delivers five dreamy shoegaze tracks addressing mental health struggles. Produced by Jarred Nettle (Teenage Joans, TOWNS), Breathe In……
Last month, singer-songwriter John Vincent III released Songs for the Canyon, his long-awaited second full-length album. His 2019 debut album, Songs From The Valley, cemented him as one-to-watch, having racked up over 190 million streams on Spotify alone. With those numbers, it’s fair to say that this album has been keenly anticipated. The successor to his…
Australian singer/songwriter SonOfHarry is a bold and innovative musician. He is making his mark by today releasing his debut album, a gorgeous and lush collection of songs exploring themes that are dear to the heart. The maturity and variety on the album is outstanding, especially given that he is still only twenty one years old….
Last week saw WA indie rock band The Deenys release their impressive debut EP Alford Way. Recorded across Sumo Sound Studios and Conor Lawson’s studio in Perth, Alford Way sees the expat rockers exploring a variety of pertinent and relatable themes, including young love, mental health struggles and disillusionment. The EP balances those potentially contrary…
Today, Tanzanian/Australian trans/non-binary artist Malaika Mfalme released Yasmin, their stunning, intimate, and deeply personal debut album. The album pays homage to the loss of their partner, Yasmin, and beautifully chronicles the range of emotions that were felt during the grieving process. There is a gentle intimacy, a warm embrace, as Malaika details the struggles and experiences they…
Nighteyes is the solo project of New Zealand-born and Melbourne-based multi-instrumentalist Rachel Trainor. She has just released her stunning and haunting debut album, The Way Back Down. The Way Back Down is a collection of tracks steeped with drama and stories. They are a mix of dark rock, folk and electronica, which navigate a broad range…
Pop music is rarely interesting these days. White-washed R&B that would be nothing without a TikTok-friendly snippet and a made-for-radio hook qualifies for good music in 2023. Sure, people who use terms like “bop” and phrases like “vibes are immaculate” see little wrong with the worrying churn that’s turning the music industry into a goal-shifting…
Naarm/Melbourne folk artist Fletcher Gull is mysterious and insightful on his intriguing debut album Songs From Before, released 22 September. The 10-track project explores indie-pop soundscapes with poetic storytelling in a reflective time capsule of his life thus far. Featuring the singles “Light Up” and “She Knows”, Songs From Before comes after the 2022 EP…
