From AREA15 to the Sphere: Las Vegas ups the ante on the immersive experience

From the faux Venice canals at the The Venetian, to the awe-inspiring fountain show at the Bellagio and a sky covered by LEDs on Fremont Street, Las Vegas has long immersed its audiences. These immersive experiences run from the streets right into the bars, from sitting under a replica of the Eiffel Tower, as at…

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Hunting Daze is a surreal visualisation of toxic masculinity: SXSW Film & TV Festival Review

Men behaving badly is at the core of Annick Blanc‘s Hunting Daze, a surreal visualisation of toxic masculinity that refuses to ever pigeonhole itself into one category.  It’s horrific without ever devoting itself entirely to that genre.  It’s blackly funny, though never satirical.  And it’s always engaging, even if the extreme manner in which Blanc…

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Interview: David West Read on blending Shakespeare and Max Martin-penned pop for & Juliet

What if Romeo’s ending, was Juliet’s beginning? The Emmy-winning writer of TV’s Schitt’s Creek flips the script on Shakespeare in this hilarious and poignant story of self-discovery and second chances. Legendary songwriter Max Martin delivers one of the most addictive and joyous soundtracks to ever hit the stage, in this inspiring new musical that proves…

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What’s it like flying Tropic Air Belize? Island hopping in the Caribbean paradise 

Island hopper flights are often the best way to get around tropical paradises. It’s how I travelled around Hawaii with Hawaiian Air in recent years. In the Caribbean country of Belize, Tropic Air are one of two airlines (the other being Maya Island Air) to provide regular service between the main destinations of the country…

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Splendour speculation: Who we think might play Splendour In The Grass 2024

With the 22nd edition of Splendour in the Grass announced to go down from 19 – 21 July, we thought it was about time to get the crystal ball out and begin to speculate as to whom might be playing the North Byron Parklands this July. With a strong history of booking the cream of the…

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‘How We Rise’ – free entrepreneurial workshops coming in April

In this fast changing environment, many people are looking towards expanding their entrepreneurial skills. Often though, the question is about how to start your journey. This April, Chivas Regal are hosting two valuable workshops featuring some of the nation’s most successful and creative entrepreneurs Geedup Co. and Serwah Attafuah. These free workshops are taking place on Saturday, April 13 with Geedup…

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Vivid Live 2024. Bigger, better and brighter than ever

One of the biggest highlights on the Sydney live music calendar is the Vivid event and with the 2024 line-up being dropped today, it’s fair to say, they’re well and truly back with an enormous line-up! From the 24th May to the 15th of June, Sydney will once again light up with events ranging from…

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Live Review: Hot Mulligan made it fun to feel sad at The Princess Theatre in Brisbane

Michigan emo larrikins Hot Mulligan have just wrapped up their 11-date debut Australia and New Zealand tour with a sold-out show at The Princess Theatre in Brisbane on Saturday 9 March. Upgraded from The Brightside Outdoors, the beloved punks were supported by Nashville five-piece Free Throw and esteemed locals Bad Neighbour in an emotional farewell…

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Rejoicify, Melbourne. Wicked is here!

Melbourne’s esteemed Regent Theatre was draped in pink and green on Thursday night as the city welcomed, for the second time, the Australian production of Wicked presented by John Frost for Crossroads Live. With a green carpet, Ozmopolitan cocktails, the Ozdust Boutique and, of course- lots of bubbles, the foyer of the grand theatre was…

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Photo Gallery: Black Country, New Road – Forum, Melbourne (08.03.24)

Londoners Black Country, New Road made their way to Melbourne ahead of their Golden Plains Festival debut on the weekend. After a full year touring the globe in 2023, the six-piece celebrated with the Forum punters in the wake of their latest LP release Live at Bush Hall. The night had a stunning emotional underbelly, even with…

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Photo Gallery: Katy Steele + Caroline & Claude – The Great Club, Sydney (09.03.24)

Katy Steele brought her Broken tour to The Great Club in Sydney last night. It was an appreciative audience, where Katy played stripped-back versions of many tracks from her recent solo album, Big Star, her 2016 solo release, Human, and of course, her most recent single, “Broken”. For Little Birdy fans, there were also some treats,…

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Adelaide Fringe Review: Japanese kraut-rockers Minami Deutsch heat up the Cranker

It was a hot summer evening in Adelaide for a night of psychedelia, with four bands on the bill at the Cranker (Crown and Anchor Hotel). Local outfits Nite Rites, Thunder Speaks and Sons of Zöku supported the highly anticipated Japanese Krautrock band MINAMI DEUTSCH, making their debut in Adelaide. Outside, the closed off Rundle Street…

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SXSW Interview: Director Cutter Hodierne on his crypto-meets-home invasion thriller Cold Wallet

After losing everything in a cryptocurrency scam, a ragtag team of vigilante Redditors attempt to kidnap the kingpin who screwed them over. But when the home invasion takes a turn for the worst, they become victims in a sadistic game. Directed by Sundance-awarded Best Director Cutter Hodierne, Cold Wallet is a topically relevant genre blend of…

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Cold Wallet finds a taut balance between crypto commentary and gripping escapism: SXSW Film & TV Festival Review

Though there’s an enjoyable “Robin Hood”-like mentality to the narrative of Cutter Hodierne‘s always watchable thriller Cold Wallet, this cryptocurrency-heavy tale takes a less jovial approach to the world of tech talk and monetary scams than last year’s similarly themed Dumb Money.  But, despite opting for a more intense, oft-violent approach, the emerging filmmaker has…

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SXSW Interview: Writer/director Annick Blanc on Hunting Daze, the navigation of gaslighting, and always sticking to her guns

Nina, a young and headstrong exotic dancer, finds herself stranded in the far North. She convinces her recent customers, five men on a bachelor hunting trip, to put her up for a few days. In this masculine microsociety, by turns hilarious and philosophical, she starts to feel a sense of belonging she never has before. But…

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SXSW 2024: Two massive, free Australian showcases announced in Austin

The annual convergence festival that takes over downtown Austin, Texas, is back for another year, and this year, it is going to be impossible not to feel the presence of Australia at South by Southwest. 32 Australian artists will be featured in showcases and pop-ups around the Texas capital. South by Southwest is a one-of-a-kind…

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G Adventures steps into luxury travel with new Geluxe itineraries

Since 1990, G Adventures has been leading people around the world as one of the biggest tour operators in the travel industry. From National Geographic itineraries across the Galapagos Islands, to wildlife tours in Madagascar, this company has kept an adventurous spirit for decades. And continues to find new ways to open up the world,…

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Adelaide Fringe Review: Infamous the Show is a sexy high flying circus with thrills galore

The Infamous circus tent is a beacon in Ellis Park, on Adelaide’s West Terrace, right next door to Adelaide High. The massive purpose built Spiegel big-top houses the Ashton Family touring circus. The circus was acquired by James Henry Ashton in 1850, and today is run by 6th generation Ashtons and is now known as…

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Juliet

Theatre Review: (Pop) cultures collide in high-energy new musical, & Juliet

Well, dip my eyeballs in glitter. The brand-new musical, & Juliet, is now in Sydney, and it’s a high-energy mash-up of Shakespearean storytelling, 90s pop music, and gender-bending progressiveness. Re-working the story of Romeo & Juliet (1597), the story starts with William Shakespeare (Rob Mills) and his wife Anne Hathaway (Amy Lehpamer) (yes, you read that…

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New Music Discoveries 8th March: Elana Stone, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Muroki and more

As we waltz through March, we’ve added ten more songs to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including two tracks we exclusively premiered earlier in the week. Our track of the week is “People Come, and People Go” from Elana Stone, an artist who is a firm AU favourite. Elana is a wonderful songwriter…

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International Women's Day

Five Biographical Fiction Picks for International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (March 8th) is a day to celebrate the achievements of women and raise awareness of the discrimination still faced by many women all over the world. In celebration of IWD, we have put together a list of five recent or forthcoming novels which fictionalise the lives of real-life heroines – women who…

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Photo Gallery: Black Country, New Road – Sydney Opera House Concert Hall (07.03.24)

Black Country, New Road on their debut Australian tour played the Sydney Opera House. Fans were left mesmerised by the amazing talents of all six members whom were a perfect fit for the sold out iconic Sydney Opera House with their eclectic art-rock sound. Pete Dovgan brings you the images.

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Skull and Bones is short on story, but high on action

Ahoy, there mateys! Insert all the pirate puns here! The long-awaited Ubisoft open-world pirate adventure fans have clamouring for since 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is finally here. After lengthy delays, cancellations and then government grants forcing the game to see the light of day, we’re ready to sail the high seas. So after…

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Interview: Ricki-Lee on the power of pop music and forging her own path with new record On My Own

A permanent survivor of the ever-changing music industry, Ricki-Lee is one of Australia’s finest success stories. An advocate for the independent music scene and an unapologetic lover of all things pop (sorry, she’s not sorry), she’s forging her own path with the anticipated release of her 5th album On My Own, the first under her…

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Slow Cinema

Exclusive EP Premiere: Slow Cinema – self-titled (2024 EP)

Slow Cinema is an indie-rock quintet from Newcastle/Mulubinba who we fell in love with in 20200 when we premiered their emotive single “Balta”.  They’ve recently dropped two singles, “Magic Potion” and “Pocket Knife”, and we are stoked today to be premiering their new self-titled EP with three more stellar tracks. Keen Slow Cinema fans have…

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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth shows promise, but lacks the punch of its predecessor

When the Final Fantasy VII remake was initially announced, you could say it broke the internet. That original 1997 game changed the gaming landscape forever and hearing that it would be released to a new generation on a new platform made you feel like you were witnessing the second coming of Christ in gaming pop…

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Film Review: Kung Fu Panda 4; Jack Black’s loveable Po proves a welcome return in amusing sequel

Though there was a certain sense of the story coming to a natural close in 2016’s Kung Fu Panda 3, the powers that be at DreamWorks deemed another go-around with the loveable Po (once again voiced with vigour by Jack Black) necessary, and so families are gifted with the effortless joy that is Kung Fu…

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Film Review: Ricky Stanicky; John Cena livens up an otherwise missed opportunity of a comedy

After finding Oscar glory as a solo filmmaker – with arguably one of the more controversial Best Picture wins in the Academy’s history (see Green Book) – there’s a nice sense of coming back home in the case of Peter Farrelly helming Ricky Stanicky. Now, it does pale in comparison to the comedy works he…

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Film Review: Imaginary is light on scares and, ironically, imagination

Given that the promotional material for Imaginary has highlighted a certain stuffed teddy bear, one would be right in assuming that the film – boasting its from the studio that brought us Five Nights at Freddy’s and M3GAN – would be taking inspiration from those two successful properties.  Unfortunately, despite such promise, a committed turn…

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AU Favourites: 5 things worth checking out in March 2024

Welcome to AU Favourites, a new monthly column where our writers highlight 5 things they’ve been loving lately. Whether it’s a good read, new tech product, or even a piece of furniture. We’re lucky enough to go hands on with a lot of things across the many areas that we cover on this website. We…

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