Tour Diary: The Black Lullaby at Canadian Music Week 2014 in Toronto (Part One)

Hi, we are The Black Lullaby, a 4-piece rock band from north coast NSW. This is a tour diary for the AU Review of our trip to Toronto where we showcased at Canadian Music Week 2014. We had an awesome time and met some great people and saw some amazing bands – check out our…

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Hodor! Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn coming to Oz Comic-Con in Melbourne

Melbournians, you better start working on your best Hodor impressions, because your favourite Bran-carrying giant is coming to town. That’s right, Irish actor (and DJ) Kristian Nairn, who portrays Hodor on the HBO juggernaut series Game of Thrones, has been announced as a guest at Oz Comic-Con in Melbourne on July 5th and 6th. Fans will be…

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Zack Snyder’s currently-shooting Batman vs Superman film gets a title

All over the world, fans of comic books and their film adaptations are joint in anticipation of one film. Some are expecting a masterpiece, some are cautiously optimistic, and others are already sharpening their pitchforks. Regardless, they will all be there on opening night to see whether Zack Snyder can successfully bring the two most…

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Film Review: Sex After Kids (Canada, 2013)

There was a recent study which found that newborns often cry during the night because they’re trying to prevent their parents from reproducing again. This is the same sort of environment that the light comedy, Sex After Kids with tag line, “By any means necessary” comes from. This film explores sexuality and the social issues…

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Album Review: The Great Conjunction – Wait For Apophis (2014 EP)

Sydney outfit The Great Conjunction are fairly new onto the scene with their cavernous alternative indie-rock sounds. They write music that’s deeply intricate on so many layers, think like Arcade Fire or The New Pornographers or The Dears, that it can take quite a few listens to really appreciate it. I’ll openly admit it took me some proper spins to get the…

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Album Review: Sarah McLachlan – Shine On (2014 LP)

Like stepping in from the cold to find a warm fireplace and your favourite blanket. The new album, Shine On, by Sarah McLachlan is the musical equivalent of getting re-acquainted with an old friend. Filled with her distinctive and glistening vocals that have been off the airways for far too long. In fact this album…

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Video Tour Diary: Newcastle band Twin Lakes head to Toronto, Canada for Canadian Music Week 2014!

Newcastle band Twin Lakes headed to Toronto for Canadian Music Week and have brought back this video that documents their adventures, travelling from Sydney, all the way to Toronto and back. The band will also be bringing you a more detailed look at their journey later in the week! But until then, enjoy this glimpse…

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From North America With Love: Tully on Tully's Tour Diaries (Part Two)

As they head to Music Matters in Singapore (along with us!), Melbourne indie pop folk band Tully on Tully share with us their adventures from (and en route to) Canadian Music Week in Toronto! The final part begins after the jump… Staying on the 29th floor of one of the tallest buildings in Toronto has…

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The Iris Interview: Jennifer Kent on writing and directing Australian horror film The Babadook

As of writing this article, Australian horror film The Babadook sits at a comfortable 100% on review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes; and our very own Penny Spirou gave the film 4.5/5 in her review. Praise is pouring in from all over for this story about a widowed mother raising a young boy with behavioural issues…

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TV Review: Unplanned America – Episode 4 – 19th May 2014 (SBS2, Australia)

In the next two episodes of Unplanned America the lads Gonzo, Parv and Nick tackle some interesting stereotypes and turn them all upside down and make us re-evaluate what we think we know about the rap music industry, gangs, the parody porn scene and nudists and nudity. In episode 4 “Inhibition and Exhibition” the boys…

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TV Review: Unplanned America – Episode 3 – 19th May 2014 (SBS2, Australia)

In the next two episodes of Unplanned America the lads Gonzo, Parv and Nick tackle some interesting stereotypes and turn them all upside down and make us re-evaluate what we think we know about the rap music industry, gangs, the parody porn scene and nudists and nudity. Landing in south-side Chicago the boys meet up…

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Box Office Report: Godzilla destroys his box office competition

So it turns out Australian audiences were in the mood for a bit of epic monster destruction over the weekend. In an incredible success story, Gareth Edwards’ reboot of Godzilla took the top spot over the weekend with almost $6.8 million, which also gives it the biggest opening weekend of the year so far! Pretty…

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The Feed (SBS 2) Behind-The-Scenes: Part Two with the team

The Iris takes you behind-the-scenes in this exclusive three part series of the SBS 2 Australian series “The Feed”, which is celebrating a year on the air! In part two, we join the team on a Wednesday afternoon as they prepare the show for their nightly broadcast. We find out what it takes to get…

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Live Review: Morcheeba + Chali 2na – Metro Theatre, Sydney (19.04.14)

Morcheeba are one of those bands who claimed their success in the 90’s, making a name for themselves all over Europe. Most folk would remember them from their hit single ‘Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day’ which albeit a sweet tune, does not holistically represent their fusion sound. Blending elements of trip-hop, rock and electronica amongst…

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the AU interview at CMW: King Khan and BBQ Show (Montreal) talk Australian lawsuits and changing their name to "Jumbo Lions"

the AU review sits down with Montreal’s King Khan and Mark Sultan in what may be their final interview as King Khan and BBQ Show while at Canadian Music Week in Toronto to talk about their two shows at the festival, they introduce us to their newly invented game involving porno cards, they reflect on…

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the AU playlist: Meet The Aussies at Music Matters in Singapore.

Kicking off tonight is the annual Music Matters conference and LIVE festival in Singapore. Over 60 bands from 18 countries will be in attendance, including an impressive dose of Australian bands. In addition to other appearances, if you happen to be in Singapore for the event, your best bet to experience all that Australia has…

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the AU interview: James Vincent McMorrow (Ireland) talks VIVID Festival, Post Tropical and future collaborations.

It was only a few months ago that we were last graced by the exquisite presence of Irish singer/songwriter James Vincent McMorrow, for Falls Festival and a run of shows around the country. It was the same week that his latest, acclaimed record Post Tropical was released, meaning fans didn’t have much time to sink…

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From North America With Love: Tully on Tully's Tour Diaries (Part One)

As they head to Music Matters in Singapore (along with us!), Melbourne indie pop folk band Tully on Tully share with us their adventures from (and en route to) Canadian Music Week in Toronto! Part one begins after the jump… We’re officially off! Flying to Sydney for our connect to LAX then onto New York…

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TV Review: Game of Thrones – Season 4, Episode 6 “The Laws of Gods and Men” (USA, 2014)

“The Laws of Gods and Men” threw us a little courtroom drama to further foreshadow the downfall of the Lannister dynasty. Conflict between siblings, a terribly stern father, and wishes of death are circulating heavily between the four main players in House Lannister; all the while King Tommen sits on his iron throne, relatively innocent…

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TV Review: Fargo – Season 1, Episode 4 “Eating the Blame” (USA, 2014)

We begin to sink ever deeper into the mystery surrounding our characters in Episode 4 ‘Eating The Blame’, and as predicted some of their motivations become clearer as they start coming head to head in a battle of wits. Whenever watching Fargo you are constantly reminded of the isolation and the fact that it’s cold,…

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Matthew McConaughey leaves Earth behind in the new trailer for Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar

A new Christopher Nolan film is an event that is matched by few others when it comes to audience expectations. After blowing us all away with his Dark Knight trilogy and amazing us with the mind-bending awesomeness of Inception, you can always bet that Nolan has something special up his sleeve. Very little is known…

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Vivid Sydney announces exclusive filmmaker and cast discussion panel for David Michôd’s The Rover

Vivid Sydney and the 61st Sydney Film Festival have announced a special panel discussion titled ‘Inside The Rover‘ to celebrate the release of David Michôd’s The Rover, his first film since 2010’s searing Aussie crime masterpiece Animal Kingdom. Michôd will be joined by stars Guy Pearce (Animal Kingdom, Prometheus) and Robert Pattinson (Twilight, Cosmopolis), as well as producer Liz Watts. The…

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Travel across the USA with these 10 TV Series… (Part Two!)

As we all enjoy watching Parv, Gonzo and Nick travel around the USA in the new SBS2 series Unplanned America (screening every Monday night at 9.30pm), we reflect on ten TV series that will help give you your own tour of the varied and wild landscape that the USA presents to us travellers. We start…

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Theatre Review: Wish – Studio Underground, Perth (Performances continue through 24th May)

Wish is the latest production from Perth Theatre Company, and the first in its new season. Adapted by Actor and Director Humphrey Bower from the Peter Goldsworthy novel of the same name, Wish is a charming yet challenging piece of theatre, which will perhaps leave a few unsuspecting patrons unsettled and uncomfortable. Wish is the…

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CMW Live Review: Broods + Meg Myers – The Drake Underground, Toronto (07.05.14)

Following on from my overview of Toronto’s CMW for 2014, it’s time to get to the music. We start with one of the bigger shows of the week… New Zealand’s Broods headlining a night at the Drake Underground. Supporting Broods on the night was Tennessee singer/songwriter Meg Myers, on the road promoting her new EP…

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the AU interview at CMW: Marta Pacek (Australia via Canada) talks new album "Voodoo Dolls and False Alarms"

Larry sits down with Australian artist Marta Pacek while at Canadian Music Week in Toronto to talk about returning to Toronto, living there, her new album tour for Voodoo Dolls and False Alarms, her third album and what it means to be a solo musician – her songwriting process and tackling her stage fright! In…

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Film Review: Bad Neighbours (USA, 2014)

Sure, some may find it easy to dismiss Bad Neighbours as just another comedy driven by Seth Rogen’s awkward humour – nothing we haven’t seen before. However, what really makes this film work – and possibly places it as one of the finest comedies of the past few years – is the on-screen chemistry Rogen…

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Film Review: Fading Gigalo (USA, 2014)

Woody Allen stars in this rather strange sex-fuelled love story, harking back to his prime with his classic awkwardness as he tries to navigate the fact that he is now actually a pimp. Yes, a pimp. A pimp who encourages his florist friend – playing by the brilliant John Turturro (who also directed and wrote…

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Travel across the USA with these 10 TV Series… (Part One!)

As we all enjoy watching Parv, Gonzo and Nick travel around the USA in the new SBS2 series Unplanned America (screening every Monday night at 9.30pm), we reflect on ten TV series that will help give you your own tour of the varied and wild landscape that the USA presents to us travellers. We start…

Read more

Lily Allen announces Splendour in the Grass sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne.

In one of the more anticipated sideshow announcements for Splendour this year, this morning Lily Allen has announced massive headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne. It’s her first time down under since she appeared on the main stage at Big Day Out in 2010. The shows will be in support of her new album Sheezus,…

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