WIRED is Basement’s first album in eight years. The result of a band who knows exactly who they are, WIRED pushes Basement’s signature sound to new landscapes, while still retaining their essence. WIRED understandably received an incredibly positive reception, both from critics and long-time fans. Upon the album’s release, I caught up with guitarists Alex…
Massive Attack for the first time in 16 years return to Australia to headline three exclusive shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. For more than three decades, Massive Attack have remained one of the most influential and innovative acts in contemporary music. Fusing trip-hop, electronica, dub, soul and hip-hop into a sound entirely their own,…
Dry Cleaning brought their sharp post-punk sound to RISING this week, taking over the Forum with the fuzzy, deadpan delivery that has made the London outfit such a distinctive force. Frontwoman Florence Shaw moved through the band’s surreal catalogue with cool precision to a crowd locked in from start to finish. The AU’s Eloise Coomber…
KINGSWOOD played old favourites and new songs from Midnight Mavericks to an energetic crowd at Lefty’s Music Hall in Brisbane. The night kicked off with a support set from country artist Briana Dinsdale. Dinsdale was even more hyped than the crowd to be seeing KINGSWOOD perform, as she told us between songs. She played a…
Gil Scott-Heron’s legacy was honoured at RISING this week, with longtime collaborator Brian Jackson joining Yasiin Bey to perform a stunning tribute at the Forum. The night moved through jazz, spoken word and early hip-hop influences. With Jackson returning to a body of work he helped shape and Bey carrying the material with a steady…
Japanese-American singer-songwriter Mitski performed the first of four sold-out nights at the iconic Sydney Opera House Concert Hall as part of Sydney’s Vivid Festival. The stage production was theatrical, setup like her own lounge room, inviting the audience into her own personal space. Her fans reacted with enthusiasm and were not disappointed after a 7…
Melbourne dance punk band Gut Health headlined Tumbalong Nights as part of Sydney’s Vivid Festival on a rain soaked night surrounded by impressive vivid lights. One of Australia’s best new bands with frontwoman Athina Uh Oh leading the charge with an explosive performance backed by her brilliant band with pulsing basslines, wiry guitars and danceable…
Just months after welcoming her first child and collecting two Golden Guitar Award nominations, Sara Berki is wasting no time getting back to business. The rising Australian country star has released her latest single, “One Hand In The Cookie Jar,” via Warner Music Australia, delivering a sharp-tongued, steel-soaked anthem that proves some of country music’s…
As we come to the final weekend of May and inexplicably move into the midpoint of 2026 we’re bringing you ten more brilliant new releases via our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music; including two singles we premiered exclusively earlier in the week. Meanwhile a band who have been described as “the most exciting…
“Stars Are Blind” by Paris Hilton is, quite simply, a perfect pop song – and pop history hasn’t quite known what to do with that fact. Released in 2006, it arrived wrapped in the baggage of Hilton’s celebrity persona: heiress, tabloid fixture, reality TV punchline. The song was a moderate hit (a Top 20 placement…
Punk rock legends Rise Against are returning to our shores at the end of 2026 and bringing their mates and fellow punk legends Dropkick Murphys along for the ride. In support of their 2025 album Ricochet, the Chicago legends are bringing more than 25 years worth of hits as they roll around the country this…
This is your friendly reminder that if you don’t already have your July Adelaide Beer and BBQ Festival tickets, then now’s the time to get on it. The organisers have sent us an updated list of music, food and beer offerings that will make your mouth water. In their new home at The Drive, right…
We are heading back to the USA, where Los Angeles roadhouse singer David Serby takes us into the smoky corners of Old Calexico on “Border Town Romance”, premiering today on the AU review. For those new to Serby, the Los Angeles-based country artist has spent more than two decades carving out his own brand of…
It’s a big week for Beatles fanatics. The newest addition to an extensive and mind-blowingly successful discography, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, transports listeners back to where it all began for prolific artist and Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, in post-war Liverpool. The album gives listeners personal insight into Paul’s beloved memories of growing up, playing…
Portland psych-surf outfit Trabants sound like they’ve stepped out of a lost grindhouse reel on “Fuzz 4 Daze”, a gloriously overdriven instrumental that crashes together garage rock swagger, surf cool and biker-movie menace. Premiering today on the AU, the track lands officially on May 28 ahead of the band’s forthcoming album Mirage, due June 12….
Cult art pop band Sparks featuring brothers Ron Mael and Russell Mael performed in the Joan Sutherland Theatre as part of Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House. Russell moved across the stage with impossible energy, while Ron sat motionless behind the keyboard, expressionless, intimidating and hilarious all at once. The contrast remains one of live music’s great…
KINGSWOOD’s seventh album Midnight Mavericks is a love-letter to country rock and all things Americana. The album kicks off with “Two Lovers”, a solid opener that features Steph Greenwood on vocals alongside lead singer Fergus Linacre. The rhythm guitars paired with a slide-guitar riff show off the band’s country-rock style, and sets the scene for…
The latest update to our Discovery Playlist is here; with ten new tracks added across Apple Music and Spotify, including one exclusive premiere from earlier in the week. Our Track of the Week is Swapmeet’s “2 C U”, with the Adelaide outfit delivering a hazy, lofi slice of restrained infatuation that instantly got under our…
Back in February, the AU review premiered Katy Denney’s “Bad At This”, introducing readers to a songwriter whose blend of indie folk intimacy and emotionally rich storytelling immediately struck a chord. Now, we’re thrilled to once again be showcasing new music from the Sydney artist, premiering her latest single “Flowers in My Hair” ahead of…
At 9.05pm, the lights dimmed and giant orange silky moving ‘blob-ject’ made its way up a short set of stairs and onto the stage. Feet jumbling along with just enough skill to remain upright, before ‘woosh!’ the big reveal! Eat your heart out Taylor Swift, no elaborate pully systems required – this is how the…
Last night, Audrey Hobert packed out Melbourne’s Forum for her first of two sold-out headline shows on her first proper Australian tour, Staircase To Stardom. There’s been a recent trend of international acts not having an opener, and while this is definitely disappointing, it felt fitting for a midweek concert on a freezing night. The…
Astral People have announced Move My Way, a brand new twin-city festival set to arrive this October, taking over Carriageworks in Eora/Sydney on Saturday 3 October and PICA in Naarm/Melbourne on Sunday 4 October. Headlined by Ezra Collective, Freddie Gibbs, Kokoroko and Sampa the Great, the inaugural festival is a community-focused gathering grounded in comfort,…
There’s a certain poetic irony in the fact that Delta Goodrem‘s true debut single – “I Don’t Care” – is the one that rarely gets invited into the conversation. Overshadowed by the seismic impact of “Born To Try” and the era-defining success of her debut LP Innocent Eyes, this 2001 release has long been treated…
The weather remained foul for the final day of The Great Escape, but spirits were high as we headed into the home stretch of another brilliant week on the south coast. Saturday belongs to the Australian contingent at the beach stages, with artists taking over all three venues and flying the flag in style. One…
Split Enz returned to Sydney with original members Tim Finn, Eddie Rayner, Neil Finn and Noel Crombie to play live at TikToc Entertainment Centre Sydney on their The Forever Enz Tour. The first of two nights. A nostalgic night from New Zealand’s greatest export playing the classic hits from their back catalogue including “History Never…
Day three at The Great Escape delivered another whirlwind run through packed rooms, beachside stages and buzz bands destined for much bigger things. We kicked things off at Daltons with Twat Union. We recently added their brilliant new single “Period Sex” to our Discovery Playlist, so it was great to finally catch it live. They…
Day two at The Great Escape delivered another whirlwind of venue hopping, seaside chills and seriously impressive performances, with the weather still refusing to believe summer is around the corner. Thankfully, Brighton’s venues were doing their best to keep everyone warm. One of the annual highlights of the festival is always the Australian showcase at…
Packing out The Gov on a Thursday night, Ruby Fields took to the stage to celebrate the release of her latest album, Small Achievements. Playing the album in full, Fields’ captivating poetic lyrics, sweet voice, and electric band put on a magnetic show for a room packed with super-fans. First on the line-up was Brisbane…
The opening day of The Great Escape delivered just about every season imaginable. Hail hammered the Brighton seafront, torrential rain swept through the lanes, occasional bursts of sunshine teased festivalgoers into optimism, and the cold reminded everyone that perhaps summer isn’t quite here yet after all. Still, none of it stopped thousands descending on the…
There’s nothing you like to see more from a musician than someone willing to take a risk on a body of work; all the while managing to pull it off as if it wasn’t a risk at all. At a time when it feels like the most bankable, popular songs sound and feel very similar…
