Music

Album of the Week: Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next (2019 LP)

Man, can a lot change in six months! When readying the release of last August’s Sweetener, Ariana Grande was arguably at what many would consider her peak.  The album was bathed in the then-glow of her whirlwind romance with SNL comedian Pete Davidson (he even got a song named after him), with the now-Grammy Award…

Read more

Win a double pass to Ultra Australia in Sydney or Melbourne featuring Marshmello, The Chainsmokers and more

The iconic dance festival Ultra is making its official debut on our shores later this month, following the “Road to Ultra” event in Melbourne in 2018. This year, the event dubbed Ultra Australia will be hitting Melbourne and Sydney on February 23rd and 24th, respectively. The event will feature the likes of Adam Beyer, Marshmello,…

Read more

Photo Gallery: St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival – Footscray Park, Melbourne (09.02.19)

Enjoy this photographic look back at all the action from St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival in its new home of Footscray Park in Melbourne over the weekend. Photos by Rebecca Houlden.

Read more

Live Review: Party In The Paddock Day Three – Lily Allen + Vera Blue + Yungblud + DZ Deathrays, White Hills,Tasmania (09.02.19)

The final day of Party In The Paddock was a special one, not only were there many amazing international artists to grace Tasmania for the first time, but the inclusion of a magical moment within Yungblud’s set made this year’s Party In The Paddock something the attendees will not soon forget. This, coupled with the…

Read more

Exclusive EP Premiere: Alanna Eileen – Artifice (2019 EP)

We’re pleased today to be premiering, Artifice, the new EP from New Zealand-via-Australia singer-songwriter Alanna Eileen.  The recording of Artifice saw Alanna heading across to the United States last October, for a ten day recording stint at Montrose Recording in Virginia, with production coming from Sparklehorse’s Alan Weatherhead. The EP’s eight tracks were written between July…

Read more

The Top 5: Tunes of Maroon 5

Maroon 5 has been a staple sound on commercial airwaves since ‘94. Despite the Internet’s divisive reactions to their recent Super Bowl 2019 halftime performance, there is no doubt that this band has played a pivotal part in shaping many musical upbringings. As a gesture of appreciation, we’ve dwindled down an extensive list of hits…

Read more

SA musicians vie for a spot playing along side the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Superloop Adelaide 500

Music SA and Superloop Adelaide 500 have again given six emerging South Australian music acts the opportunity of a lifetime! As part of Music SA’s successful Bands on Track initiative they have provided a chance to join the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vance Joy, Amy Shark, Jet and The Living End onstage at…

Read more

Live Review: G-Flip, Ruby Fields, Methyl Ethyl and more stun crowds at Laneway Festival in Melbourne

The day started off with dark clouds and the threat of rain at any moment. A sprinkling of water showered festival go-ers as they waltzed into the festival, a pulsating mass of Gorman jackets, four dollar plastic rain coats and the occasional punter (myself) who forgot to check the weather report. There was fear in…

Read more

Track of the Day: Rozi Plain “Conditions” (2019)

Without UK indies This Is The Kit to ground her, Rozi Plain is floating free on new single “Conditions”, a wholesome dreamscape that breaks apart her signature folk and reveals a shimmering sense of heightened reality. Following up her first single “Symmetrical”, this gem is the latest offering from the London artist’s forthcoming album What…

Read more

NSW government’s “War on Festivals” blamed for Mountain Sounds’ cancellation

Today’s devastating news about the cancellation of Central Coast Mountain Sounds Festival raises many more questions about the NSW Governments festival safety regulations and approach to tackling drug deaths. Just one week out from the festival, Mountain Sounds, originally budgeting for 11 user-pay police report being blindsided with a $200,000 in upfront costs for 45 user-pay police…

Read more

Photo Gallery: Hoodoo Gurus + Wesley Fuller + Bleeding Knees Club – Taronga Zoo, Sydney (09.02.19)

The Hoodoo Gurus hit the stage at Taronga Zoo on Saturday night, a sold-out gig playing to a crowd that many would have been at some of their earliest gigs, some 35 years ago. Many of these were reliving the fervour of those early times with exceptional enthusiasm. It was a crowd pleasing set, drawing…

Read more

Live Review: Party In The Paddock Day Two – The Jungle Giants, The Presets, Kwame, Good Doogs; White Hills (08.02.19)

Party In The Paddock Day Two is where the magic really started with the opening of the main paddock and a large variety of acts and activities spread throughout the day. Early morning yoga was the perfect refresh from the energies of the previous night with the relaxing activity helping forget the memories of a…

Read more

NYC gets a new pre-SXSW Festival “The New Colossus”; we meet one of the founders

For bands coming to America for SXSW, to say it’s a massive cost and a huge effort is an understatement. And few bands arrive in Austin as their first port of call. Many come through Los Angeles and New York. So why not try and play some shows before . Well this is the exact…

Read more

Inteview: Ultra Australia headliner Martin Garrix talks Anima, STMPD and the importance of his team

We’re just a couple of weeks away from the debut of the international EDM festival Ultra Australia; with the event taking place in Melbourne and Sydney on the 23rd and 24th of February, respectively. We recently had the chance to catch up with one of the event’s headliners, the Dutch DJ and Record Producer Martin Garrix….

Read more

Album Review: Mavis Staples – Live in London (2019 LP)

As a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Kennedy Centre Honoree and with seventy years of performing under her belt Mavis Staples has in my opinion well and truly reached ‘National Treasure’ status in the United States. She is also one of the few remaining living links to the Civil Rights Movement, and a period…

Read more

Live Review: Party In The Paddock Day One ft. Luca Brasi + Middle Kids + More! White Hills, Tasmania (07.02.19)

Moving into another year, Party In The Paddock kicked off it’s first day with it’s classic pre-party. With the main paddock stage cordoned off, ‘Vibestown; the food and second stage district was fired up for some of Australia’s premiere growing talents to show off their talents as breakout 2018 artists GFlip, Middle Kids and Slowly…

Read more

Track of the Day: The Teskey Brothers “Right For Me” (2019)

The Teskey Brothers have kicked off their 2019 in fine form with the delightfully funky and hook-laden new single, “Right For Me”, a track that is already a well established fan favourite thanks to position in the band’s acclaimed live set.  The band, for me, were one of the big take aways from Xavier Rudd’s…

Read more

Photo Gallery: Yungblud + AViVA – Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne (08.02.19)

Yungblud tore up the Croxton Bandroom to a sold out crowd on Friday night, with support coming from AViVA. Photo gallery by Rebecca Houlden.

Read more

Photo Gallery: Stevie Jean – Golden Age Cinema and Bar – Sydney (07.02.19)

Stevie Jean passed through Sydney last night on her way through to Launceston for the Party in the Paddock festival. We were treated to an intimate show at the Golden Age Cinema and Bar in Surry Hills. Stevie is a treat to see live – effortlessly charming, joyful and with a strong versatile voice. She…

Read more

Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Laura Imbruglia “The Creeps” (2019)

Last month the genre bending Australian musician Laura Imbruglia dropped “The Creeps”, a taste of her impending fourth album Scared Of You. Today, we’re excited to be premiering the accompanying hilarious music video, which was co-conceived with director and renowned photographer Nick Mckinlay. With the track taking a significantly different musical route to previous singles…

Read more

Track of the Day: Flint Eastwood feat. Siena Liggins “Hurt” (2018)

One of our favourite artists over the last five years or so has been Detroit’s Flint Eastwood, who has finally started breaking into the big time, with her EP This Is A Coping Mechanism for A Broken Heart, making waves alongside the single “Chapter 4 Sober”. Her latest single, “Hurt”, taken from the same EP,…

Read more

Photo Gallery: Smino + Kaiit – Metro Theatre, Sydney (06.02.19)

American rapper, singer, songwriter and music producer Smino hit up the Metro Theatre in Sydney last night as part of his current Australian tour, one which has him also appearing at Laneway Festival. Joining Smino for the evening was Melbourne rising star Kaiit. Our photographer Belinda Hedges was there to capture all the action.

Read more

Track of the Day: Ratso & Nick Cave “Our Lady of Light” (2019)

Now at the ripe old age of 70, Larry Sloman, better known around the industry as Ratso, is gearing to release his debut album. The New York author has been a key player for some of the biggest names in history over the past few decades, from working with both Anthony Kiedis and Peter Criss…

Read more

The Queen of Independence: LPX opens up about the power of going it alone and the female voice

Last month, LPX traversed the country playing Falls Festival and a couple of sideshows in what was the New York artist’s Australian debut under that guise. Real name Lizzy Plapinger, she had previously visited our shores as part of the genre-bending, indie-pop duo MS MR. Now she’s smashing it on her own, with a completely independent…

Read more

A Survival Guide for the Tamworth Country Music Festival first timer

I’ve been a country music fan for over ten years and I’d never attended the legendary Tamworth Country Music Festival until this year. Blasphemy, you say! But better late than never, right? I didn’t know what to expect; I thought I’d hate it (at least subconsciously anyway) but I was pleasantly surprised to love every…

Read more

Track of the Day: Harmony Byrne “Demise” (2019)

Melbourne based singer Harmony Byrne’s debut recording “Demise” is a sensitive and stirring track that clocks in at seven and a half minutes. Part gospel, soul, blues and psychedelic, the ex-Mormon church singer wails and cries before transitioning to spoken word poetry before returning to soaring and powerful peaks. It isn’t hard to imagine a…

Read more

Free music is happening in Sydney on Fridays through February and March

The Courtyard Sessions will be returning to Sydney’s Seymour Centre this week, kicking off 8 nights of free music under the setting sun, in the Seymour’s leafy courtyard. Courtyard Sessions’ free gigs at dusk have become a staple in the city’s live music scene since launching in 2012, known for the diversity and energy of programming –…

Read more

Track of the Day: Theon Cross “Candace of Meroe” (2019)

If you’ve been following the UK and London jazz scene at all over the last couple of years, you’ll already be familiar with Theon Cross, having made a name for himself as part of the Mercury Award nominated, and award-winning quartet Sons of Kemet. He’s also a permanent fixture in South London-based collective Steam Down. …

Read more

Live Review: George Ezra’s Melbourne show with Eves Karydas hints the importance of travel

It is no secret that music and travel go hand in hand. The concept of place is the perfect muse for musicians, since a real depth of emotion can be linked to a geographical location or experience. English singer-songwriter George Ezra, who is no stranger to travelling, gave a truly memorable performance to a buzzing audience…

Read more