Music

While both music and visual art require a huge amount of creative talent, they both have polarising audiences at times. The NGV Ian Potter Centre is set to break all that down and explore further afield from the visual pieces that adorn its spaces with a new music, art and conversation series call Unplugged Live:…

One of the many buzz bands making their Australian debut at this year’s Splendour in the Grass festival are New York duo Phantogram, an electronic outfit who made big waves this year with the release of their sophomore album Voices – in fact, we named it among our best albums of 2014 (so far) earlier…

Earlier this week we had the chance to discover Montreal based outfits Groenland and Misses Satchmo, while at the Montreal Jazz Festival. We also had the opportunity to talk to members of both groups while in the city to find out about their music, the festival and much more. You can watch both interviews here:…

It wasn’t that long ago that Annie Clark – aka St Vincent – was in Australia as part of VIVID Festival, continuing the international celebratory tour for her eponymous fourth solo album. And this week, the run of shows brought her to Quebec in Canada for a special show as part of the Montreal Jazz…

Larry heath sits down with two parts of Melbourne’s Wagons during the Montreal Jazz Festival to talk about their return to Canada and their Montreal debut. We reflect on their recently completed Australian tour for their latest record Acid Rain and Sugar Cane (Out Now), what it’s like being on the road for Henry as…

Now in its 35th year, the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal – or the Montreal Jazz Festival to us non-Francophones – is one of the world’s best known music events, sitting alongside New Orleans and Montreux as the most respected of the Jazz world. Today brings to an end their 2014 calendar, which saw…

the AU review interviewed Geelong group The Evening Cast while they were in Sydney for their “Questions” singles tour. We talk about the single, the tour, their upcoming music and more! Final show of the tour will be held on the 12th of July at The Grace Emily in Adelaide, SA.

Local singer-songwriter Riley Pearce spent the majority of the first half of this year in America on exchange. Saturday night saw Pearce and his band play their first headlining show since his return to Australia and Perth. Those of you who follow Pearce on Facebook are no doubt already be aware that his time overseas…

Remi Gallego (aka The Algorithm) has been bringing a unique sound of harsh electronica and crunchy beats on a new album called Octopus4, being released on the back of his appearances at the Big Day Out. Here he talks about video games and Wil Smith. Both very much related to his own work. You were…

Larry meets Joan Wasser aka Joan as Policewoman to talk about her latest record The Classic, collaborating with Paul Noonan, Reggie Watts and her upcoming Pygmy Flute Singing project. of course, we also talk about her Australian tour! She plays Lizottes in Newcastle tonight ahead of two nights at The Basement in Sydney.

When I first heard of River Sessions a couple of months ago, I was positive it must have been a new festival. Even in the regional festival circuits I feel I have a pretty good idea of what’s happening around the country. But lo and behold, River Sessions has not only been running since 2008,…

All Our exes live in Texas. Mandolin, guitar, ukulele, accordion. All girls. All singers. Traditional sort of music. Hotel yorba cover That thing you do I’m not that lonely yet Our love won’t die – beautiful! Tell me you don’t love me anymore – high energy! Powerful stuff. Ends! — The Morrisons six piece Double…

One of our favourite bands over the last few years has been Husky, whose debut Forever So still gets plenty of play here at AU HQ. So it comes with much excitement that the band are back, and are officially releasing the first single from their as yet untitled sophomore LP on Monday! But you…

This Saturday, River Sessions – a boutique regional festival – returns to Mackay in Queensland, bringing with it an incredible lineup of Australian and even USA based talent. From Art vs Science to Illy, Rüfüs to Megan Washington and The Amity Affliction to New York artist Sweater Beats, the event is sure to keep all…

John Goodridge chats to Dominic Philips of Irish band Bell X1 about their sixth album Chop Chop and their upcoming trip to Australia. Hi Dominic, it’s John calling from the AU Review. John, how you doing? Good thanks, how are you? Not too bad, thanks very much. Excellent. Now you’re touring your album Chop Chop…

Before they hit the stage at the Oxford Art Factory in Sydney over the weekend, Geelong’s The Evening Cast gave us an exclusive acoustic performance of their latest single – and reason for their tour – “Questions”. The tour continues in Byron Bay tomorrow night and at Rics in Brisbane on Saturday before moving onto…

It’s sad about the Big Day Out, but all these “RIP” posts on social media today, when the event is still owned by a company – albeit an American one – seems a bit premature. What comes next for the brand could be an exciting thing. C3 run some of the best festivals in the…

“Run For Your Life”, the new single from Bertie Blackman triggers the very sensations Bertie Blackman is singing about: feet pounding the pavement, the air rushing into your lungs, the blood pumping through your veins. Referencing the stylistic choices of the 80’s and all the things that made Bertie happy growing up, Vanessa Ronan-Pearce had…

Saturday night saw Fremantle’s Mojos play host to the third and final Little Bastard show of their album launch tour through Western Australia with a large rowdy crowd braving the stormy winter weather for an evening of good times and good music. Kick-starting it all was, the brilliantly named, Aborted Tortoise. It’s pretty safe to…

Hello Asia! talks to Taiwan’s reggae lion – Taitung born and bred musician Matzka, while in Toronto for Canadian Music Week. We get to know him and his music, his experiences in Toronto and find out what’s coming next. And much more! Questions in English, answers provided in Mandarin and translated into English by HanYu…

Following a smash-hit national tour and back by popular demand the unforgETTAble sounds of Vika Bull and the Essential R&B Band will grace the stages of Bendigo, Ballarat and Subiaco (WA) this July to delight audiences with the story of one of the most influential soul singers of all times – Etta James. With a…

The AU is proud to bring you the exclusive Australian premiere of the new single from Danish Folk Artist Bastian Kallesøe aka The New Spring, “The Hours of the Day”. The stunning track is the first single off the new record Late Bloomer, due out on September 15th. Enjoy the premiere here:

For anybody who thinks that going to a Keith Urban concert is going to be littered with a country-hoedown-experience, they’re way off the mark. It’s a fast-paced rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza with some notable guest-stars hopping on stage and some fine showmanship from one of the nicest guys in the music business.

Band of Skulls returned to Sydney on Friday night, playing the Hi-Fi with Melbourne’s Apes for a night of great rock and roll. Gwendolyn Lee was there and brings us these photos from the night:

Imagine Dragons performed on the waters of Hong Kong as part of the global Transformers 4: Age of Extinction premiere. We bring you these photos from the epic concert:

Last week, UK buzz quartet The Bohicas (their name, a surprising acronym for “Bend Over, Here It Comes Again) made their maiden voyage to Australia off the back off their debut, self-titled EP and a couple of fantastic singles that came off its back, namely “Swarm” and “XXX” – which were released as an excellent…

Our friends at Sofar Sounds have sent the AU a special live video featuring our favourite Sydney-born, Brooklyn-based duo High Highs. In the video, filmed at Sofar NYC last year, they perform the track “Cascades”. We’re excited to be premiering it for you today.

Channeling The National’s Matt Berninger, Sydney artist Berlin Bar Hounds – aka Jacob Borg, the drummer from Jinja Safari – has delivered his debut single “Le Rambles”. It’s a beautiful track and we’re excited to bring you the exclusive Australian premiere today. Listen to it now:

Alex Wall has been living up the hip suburbs of NYC lately. More specifically Brooklyn, and flying under the radar with his latest project Wax Witches over there. There are new weird sounds, and grunt throughout the forthcoming release Centre of the Universe and slight departure from the ‘I just wanna have fun’ feel of…

It’s been a few weeks since Music Matters Live came to an end in Singapore, and we wanted to take a moment out of our regularly schedule Coldplay madness to look back at the final night of festivities. The mainstage of Music Matters Live in Singapore is the “Fountain Stage”, which takes over the central…