Music

In our 9th installment of our series “Stumbled Upon”, we meet Brisbane’s The Brave, and chat about their debut EP, Endless. Band Name: The Brave Social Media: Facebook Genre: Rock Members & their roles: Nate – Vocals Kurt – Guitar Dan – Bass Brent – Drums Dave – Guitar What music or artists inspired you?…

In our final AU session for 2014, we capture South Carolina’s Trevor Hall performing his track “Wish Man” in a park in Sydney, Australia. The track is taken from his record Chapter Of The Forest, out now. Trevor will return to Australia in 2015 to play Bluesfest and shows with Michael Franti. Photo by Gwendolyn…

the AU review sat down with Jason Mraz during his brief December 2014 Australian tour. In part one of the interview, Mraz talks about his experiences touring Australia, Asia and the world. He talks about sharing his “tools of transformation… to remind people that our thoughts, speech, actions and attitudes… that’s what dictates our life…

It was a dusty start for punters on the second day of Festival of the Sun, as the weather shined on us once again. Most were slow to hit the stage as they tried to wash their hangovers away – some quite literally with the ocean just metres away. A little late to enter ourselves,…

While at Festival of the Sun in Port Macquarie, we asked Allday to share with us what he reckoned were the best Aussie Hip Hop albums of 2014. Here’s what he had to say:

Following the cancellation of Blur at this year’s Big Day Out, the group’s lead singer Damon Albarn called time on their reunion shows to release his debut self-titled album Everyday Robots. The album, while well received, essentially ensured that Blur wouldn’t be making it to Australian shores anytime soon. But hope remained that Albarn –…

Kicking off the New Year, Touché Amore are joining forces with Every Time I Die and will be doing a leg of Australian shows in January of next year. Fans can expect a whirlwind of crazy shows that by the end of the night, speaking for as little as possible is the only option they can take really. Following…

From the opening track where he exclaims “the golden age is over” with a sort of Antony gravitas, French artist Woodkid – the moniker of Yoann Lemoine – has you in the palm of his hands. And that’s before the production kicks in. Trumpets, piano, strings… It’s like something out of the instrumental realm of…

It never ceases to amaze me how some bands manage to stay far below the radar of the average music fan. In spite of no less than six critically acclaimed full length records, international touring (including a visit to Australia for Harvest Festival back in 2011) and ticking all the boxes that an “underground success…

We partnered with hotel brand Ibis to start a music reviewer program which will gave one lucky winner the opportunity to review Stereosonic Festival in Brisbane earlier this month. The winner, Michelle Gianotti, looks back at her experience: The second weekend of Stereosonic’s epic 2014 stopped in at none other than Brisbane’s RNA Showgrounds. The…

As parts of Sydney’s CBD remain in lock down as a result of the siege in Martin Place, the Sydney Opera House have “decided to cancel tonight’s performances at the Opera House. This is to minimise pressure on transport networks and to provide as much notice as possible to staff and patrons.” The cancelled performances…

Wow, has it really been eight years since Modest Mouse last released a record? Apparently it has. But the band will return in March with the much anticipated Strangers to Ourselves. And now today we get our first taste of the record with the single “Lampshades on Fire” being premiered today on The Current’s website…

In our 8th instalment of “Stumbled Upon”, we meet singer/songwriter Phil Davidson, and chat about his latest Christmas song ‘A Long Way From Home (This Christmas)’. Musician: Phil Davidson Website / Social Media: www.phildavidson.net Facebook Genre: Acoustic singer/songwriter Members & their roles: Phil Davidson: Guitars/Vocals/Songs What music or artists inspired you? Neil Young/Jackson Browne/Larry Norman/U2/Bruce…

Against all odds, expectations and forecasts, Festival of the Sun lived up to its name this weekend in the coastal NSW town of Port Macquarie, delivering two days of great music, excellent vibes and, indeed… a great deal of Sun. Though people start camping from much earlier – enjoying their BYO drinks, limited capacity (3,000)…

Hardly a year goes by without the release of new Beatles related material. Be they compilation albums, books, covers, gimmicks… it seems there’s always something to keep fans of the iconic British band happy. At this point though, unless McCartney or Ringo bring out some new auto-biography, filled with never before known details, is there…

Some amazing musicians came together for a special concert at Sydney’s QANTAS Credit Union Arena for the ‘Beats 4 Breast Cancer’ event. Featuring the likes of UB40, L-Fresh The Lion and more, the event was a complete hit. Gwen Lee brings you these shots!

With the recent release of their fifth studio album, The Dream Walker, Angels and Airwaves have left fans in awe with music that has encouraged to explore the infinite boundaries of the universe. In the past, many have criticised Tom DeLonge’s “nonsense” in believing aliens but for a person that clearly knows his shit, who could blame him? He is,…

There were some great releases in 2014, locally and internationally. Instead of wafting on about them and throwing in Pitchfork reviewer wanker buzzwords, I thought it would be easier to list the albums that I enjoyed in 2014: AUSTRALIAN RELEASES 1. Mink Mussel Creek – Mink Mussel Manticore 2. Dan Sultan – Blackbird 3. Blank…

If you read my review of Clockenflap festival in Hong Kong last week, you may remember I mentioned that there were quite a few bands saying that this was the first time they’d played together on a stage… in front of a crowd. Coming from Australia, you can’t help but think that this is the…

Ahead of his return to Australia next month, playing Sugar Mountain, MONA FOMA, Sydney Festival and more, we caught up with Baltimore electronic artist (and one of the greatest live acts you’ll ever see) Dan Deacon while he was in Hong Kong to play Clockenflap Festival. We get the latest on his much anticipated new…

Cypress Hill smashed their Sydney show on Sunday night, supported by Coin Banks and Ivan Ooze! Gwen Lee brings you these photos from the show.

In our 7th instalment of “Stumbled Upon”, we meet Byron ‘s folk troubadour Luke Morris , and chat about his album, Sugarcane Road’. Musician: Luke Morris Website / Social Media: Facebook / Triple J Unearthed Genre: Alternative folk Members & their roles: We tour mostly as a two piece. Nick Bampton on lead guitar and…

Following the release of their debut album No Hard Feelings back in October, we caught up with frontman Nick Corbin from New Street Adventure, a new wave soul band from London, to find out a bit more about the band, their debut album, and their new single “Be Somebody”. How did New Street Adventure come…

Ahead of her Australian tour next year, with visits to Golden Plains Festival, Womadelaide and the Perth International Arts Festival, we caught up with American singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten to find out a bit more about her most recent album Are We There, her approach to songwriting, and her thoughts on touring Australia, and the…

From the 8th of January, the city of Sydney will once again be transformed by the annual month long extravaganza known simply as Sydney Festival. The event will take over spaces around the city – some, such as the Famous Spiegeltent, are only here for the festival. But with hundreds upon hundreds of performances, it’s…

This morning on 2SER radio in Sydney, the AU review’s Larry Heath announced the winners of the first annual people’s choice award as part of the AU Awards – celebrating the best in live music in Australia. Close to 10,000 votes were cast as fans from Australia and around the world voted for their favourite…

In our 6th instalment of “Stumbled Upon”, we meet Bristol’s folk rock songstress Rebecca Clements , chat about getting started at a young age and get a sneak peak at her latest track. Musician: Rebecca Clements Website / Social Media: Facebook / Soundcloud / Instagram / Twitter Genre: Indie Folk-Rock Members & their roles: Rebecca…

Mariachi el Bronx are just one of the many bands to hit our shores early in 2015 for Bluesfest in Byron Bay. Our reporter John Goodridge chats to guitarist Joby J. Ford about the recording process and life on the road. Hey Joby, what are you guys up to at the moment? We are home…

The Preatures drop into Sydney on their National tour showcasing their debut release Blue Planet Eyes supported by Holy Holy and Hot Spoke. Pete Dovgan brings you photos from the night:

While we were in Hong Kong covering a festival called Clockenflap, we sat down with the Scottish trio Chvrches. You may have already watched some of our chat – now read on as we talk to the band about Hong Kong, plans for their Winter and their work on the Hunger Games and Drive soundtracks….