BIG SOUND kicks off tomorrow; Dan Kelly and Oh Mercy added to BIG SOUND Live.

The eyes of the music world will turn to Brisbane tomorrow when the annual three-day BIG SOUND music industry conference and festival hits town. And of course the AU review will be there covering it all!  Named by The Music Network as “the country’s pre-eminent music conference”, BIG SOUND delegates will hear from some of…

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Single Review: Bon Jovi’s “What Do You Got?” (2010) is a song that relates to everyone

Bon Jovi’s latest single, “What Do You Got?”, released at the end of August this year, is one of the few songs that has been freshly recorded for the band’s Greatest Hits album, due to be released at the end of the year. Bon Jovi have been known for their reasonably fast adaptability to the…

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Armin Only Mirage NYE Venue Announcement!

We know many of you have been waiting for this announcement for a while… so here we go! The full press release is below, full of the most adjectives I’ve ever seen in a release. Damn, it must be a freakingly epic night they’re got planned for you. First Release Tickets are on sale NOW!…

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St Jerome's Laneway Festival 2011 – Dates and Venues announced!

Red pens and calendars at the ready. The St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2011 is returning to the inner-city venues that made the 2010 event such a success. You had fun didn’t you? We sure did. Florence and Mumford. Echo and the Bunnymen. The XX. Daniel Johnston. How could you forget?  While the first announcement for…

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Review: Jamiroquai – White Knuckle Ride (2010 Single)

There is nothing more enjoyable than to put on the headphones at your local music store, listen to a new record and being instantly mesmerized by a tune. Well, this could quite simply describe and summarize British band, Jamiroquai‘s new single. Jay Kay and his band mates return after 5 years since the release of…

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U2 360˚ Tour with Jay-Z – Announcing 2nd Shows!

U2 360˚ Tour with very special guest Jay-Z – announcing 2nd shows in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney! Well, that was inevitable. Surely there’ll be third shows, too? Now I’m just waiting for Gorillaz to announce their second shows… hopefully they will! Here are the updated dates: Melbourne, Etihad Stadium  – Wednesday December 1 – sold out  – Friday…

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Album Review: Tiesto – Kaleidoscope Remixed (2010 LP)

When Tiesto released Kaleidoscope in 2009, it was met with mixed reactions. Although it was clearly a commercial success, a lot of critics and fans were divided, with some panning it and others declaring it the most adventurous record the trance producer/DJ had ever done. He certainly earned a lot of respect for pushing the…

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Smoke & Mirrors to return to Sydney Festival 2011, after wowing audiences in Edinburgh!

Sydney Festival have announced that the hit of the 2010 Sydney Festival, Smoke & Mirrors, starring iOTA, will be returning to the Spiegeltent in 2011! They also have some fantastic news from abroad… Smoke & Mirrors gets rave reviews at Edinburgh Festival Fringe  “Smoke & Mirrors gives Edwardian music hall a modern makeover with its…

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Island Vibe Festival 2010 – 2nd Announcement!

If you haven’t heard of the Island Vibe Festival, it’s a massive 3 day festival at Home Beach, Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah). In 2010 it’s taking place over Halloween weekend: Friday 29th, Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st October.  Now into its fifth big year, Island Vibe has solidified its reputation as the leading Reggae,…

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Klaxons – Enmore Theatre (02.09.10)

Two short weeks ago I don’t think I would have expected to be saying the following sentence: Klaxons are back, and sounding better than ever. Both on record, and as tonight’s show at the Enmore Theatre proved, on stage, too. For the first time since they formed, and rode the 2006/7 Myths of the Near…

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the AU interview: Ulrich Lenffer of Cloud Control (Blue Mountains via Sydney)

When it comes to buzz bands in Australia, you don’t get much buzzier than Sydney-based Cloud Control. The band have recently released the highly acclaimed Bliss Release, which they celebrated with a sell out tour, a massive Splendour set and that’s just the beginning… Drummer Ulrich Lenffer took some time out to chat with Larry…

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the AU interview: Gabriel Andruzzi of The Rapture (NYC)

With a spot at the top, alongside Klaxons, Justice and Sleigh Bells, New York’s The Rapture will be just one of many highlights at next year’s incredible Field Day lineup in Sydney… as well as the other New Years festivals they’re hitting up – Falls Festival. But the big question we’re all asking is: What…

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Jagermeister Independent Music Awards Nominations Announced!

Nominations for the fifth Annual JAGERMEISTER INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS (formally known as the Jagermeister AIR Awards) have officially been announced, and they include a stellar array of the country’s brightest emerging artists, while acknowledging an extraordinary year for Independent music. Leading the pack with 3 Nominations a piece, Sia, Dan Sultan and Cloud Control will…

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You Am I announce National tour, kicking off in October!

Its been 1 year since You Am I toured Australia, in that time they’ve made a new record. Their most sonically adventurous record to date, the self-titled forthcoming album “YOU AM I” has been described by those lucky enough to have heard it, as their finest record since ‘Hourly Daily.’ The album is chock full…

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Melbourne's Confession announce an October/November National tour.

Melbourne’s Confession has announced a run of shows for this October / November. Having recently completed a national run with The Amity Affliction, in the coming months they will get back to their roots on the “Keeping It Bogan” tour – with all members growing up in regional towns, the tour will visit various cities…

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Sweden's First Aid Kit – Touring Australia Next Week!

Sweden is coming! In the form of the delightful First Aid Kit, anyway. The first Melbourne show is sold out, there’s a second one on sale now! Full dates below. Here’s the full press release: “Blessed with the voices of plaid-clad angels.” – The Guardian First Aid Kit is Johanna and Klara Söderberg. In 2008,…

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Rowland S Howard 7" Vinyl Announced: ‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’

It’s with great joy we bring you the following news re: a posthumous Rowland S Howard release! But be quick to request a copy – they’re only making 500 of these bad boys! Liberation Music are producing and releasing a deluxe packaged vinyl 7” single of ‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’.  The B side is…

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The Fall Announce Meredith Sideshows!

You’ve been waiting over 20 years for it, so I’m not going to make you wait any longer. THE FALL are coming for Meredith Music Festival and here are the just announced sideshows: Sydney // Tuesday December 7 // Metro Brisbane // Thursday December 9 // The HiFi Melbourne // Friday December 10 // Billboard…

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Album Review: Smudge – This Smudge is True (2010 LP)

Sydney indie darlings Smudge may never have been a commercial success, but they were definitely quiet achievers. During the ’90s, they were regular fixtures in local live music venues, and their plethora of singles, EPs and albums have since become staples in any Sydney music punter’s record collection. In 2006 one of those albums, Manilow,…

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Art vs Science + Jinja Safari + Tim & Jean – Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne (27.08.10)

Art vs. Science have had indie kids around the nation tearing up the dance floor since “Flippers” hit the airwaves mid last year. The boys packed up their party bus and hit the road on their Magic Fountain tour, stopping by Hi Fi bar in Melbourne for two sold out shows. First on the billing…

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Clipse Announce Melbourne and Sydney Meredith Sideshows!

Illusive is excited to announce that acclaimed cult US rap group, Clipse, will be performing special sideshows in Melbourne and Sydney surrounding their hugely anticipated appearance at Meredith Music Festival in December. The Virginia-based rap duo will touch down on Australian soil for the first time after three classic albums and nearly a decade at…

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Remote Control Records to Represent Flying Nun Records in Australia

Ah, some great news is below! We should be getting some great New Zealand music a lot quicker than we may have otherwise. And who doesn’t love Die! Die! Die!? People that want to Live! Live! Live! I guess? Oh, but I jest.  Here’s the press release: Remote Control is excited to announce its representation…

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the AU interview: Fleur McMenamin of The McMenamins (Cairns)

In anticipation of the launch of their third album, Long Time Gone, Larry Heath had a chat to Fleur McMenamin of The McMenamins – who are celebrating the launch with a show at the Vanguard, as part of the 2010 Sydney Fringe Festival. Thanks for speaking to us today! First of all, congratulations on the…

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Winners announced for the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards!

Arnhem Land artists scoop awards and indigenous women take the spotlight at the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards Last night the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards were kicked off with a the announcement that the awards will now open nationally to all indigenous musicians. The enthusiastic crowd were treated to performances by 2009 Hall of Fame inductees…

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Rusko. – O.M.G.! (2010 LP)

Grimey beats and whipping snare love from the realm of dubstep. But that’s not all Rusko has on offer with O.M.G.! Purist dubstep fans would probably spit at my shoes for liking the overly grunge driven harshness of dubstep of artists such as Excision, Datsik or even Borgore. But I’m OK with that. I think…

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The Paper Mill Fundraiser ft. The Paper Scissors – Oxford Art Factory (25.08.10)

We’re all for supporting the local arts scene here in Sydney, and so is the Oxford Art Factory. So tonight, the venue lent a hand by holding a fundraiser for a soon to be launched art space in the city – The Paper Mill. A few bands came along to show support, too, as the…

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Guitar Hero Launch feat. Midnight Youth – Oxford Art Factory (25.08.10)

Well, this was one way to spend a Wednesday evening. Hot off the heels of the success of their last installment, Guitar Hero is back with Warriors of Rock. They celebrated the forthcoming launch with a party at the Oxford Art Factory – complete with a Guitar Hero jam, the “characters” of the game playing…

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