After a week off for Bluesfest (and Easter) we’re back with another twelve new tracks added to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music; including two tracks we’re premiered the music videos for last week. This week’s Track of the Week is “The Streets Don’t Lie” from award winning WA rock band The Southern…
Most well known for his titular role in the television series Arrow, based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, Stephen Amell has long been part of the comic culture since the series first aired in 2012. After 8 seasons, Amell has retired the hood (or has he?) and has since incorporated his own professional…
Melbourne alt-metal quintet GhostSeeker is a band that you definitely want to put on your radar if you haven’t already. They recently announced their Initium Novum East Coast tour next month for their debut EP of the same name, with support from The Atomic Beau Project, Aurateque, Synge and more. Get your tickets HERE. The…
Sunshine Coast alt-rock trio Wifecult have today shared their new single “Hold It Down” and announced their forthcoming project Kindness in Clarity, an EP, out 9 June. Featuring the 2022 single “Wearing Thin”, the EP will be their first collection of songs since the debut album When All is Said and Done in 2020. Wifecult…
There are certain films that, as an audience member, you can tell were an absolute blast to film. You imagine the on-set atmosphere was one of joy and gaiety, quite often enhanced if said film is being shot on location. Mafia Mamma feels like one of those productions. It’s just a shame the presumed fun…
And before we knew it, the final day of Byron Bay Bluesfest 2023 was upon us. Jon Stevens was up early, and brought the hits from his days fronting The Noiseworks and dipping into his time with INXS. There were plenty in the crowd who had come on Monday specifically for this. The legendary Bonnie…
2023 is flying by and somehow it’s the other side of Easter already. So we in the AU Books Team are back with some more of our most anticipated books of the year; this time for April through to June. With so many books published each month it would be impossible to cover them all….
The lineup for Splendour in the Grass 2023 has just dropped. The festival is returning to the Ngarindjin / North Byron Parklands from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 July and is once again jam packed with festival favourites. Headlining on Friday night is the previously announced Lizzo. On Saturday night, local hero Flume will be making…
Kara Gnodde’s debut novel The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything has been compared to Australian bestseller, The Rosie Project. I can see the similarities, but the starkest comparison to my mind is TV’s The Big Bang Theory. Imagine if Sheldon Cooper was looked after by his sister instead of by Leonard Hofstader. Now imagine him devising an experiment…
It’s no secret that The Last of Us Part 1 has released on PC to some extremely negative reactions, mainly due to its buggy and at times, game-breaking performance issues. There have been two patches issued since its release, yet the game is still struggles to run on mid tier PC’s, let alone an entry…
Perth alt-metal act RinRin is filling a void in the local heavy scene with her fusion of J-rock and pop-punk. With frenetic guitarwork, stomping grooves and vibrant synths, her powerful vocals and catchy hooks soar high above the modern mixes. RinRin and her band will be heading out on their debut headline tour this May…
Sydney-based comedian Anthony Locascio is about to head out on his Heart of Darkness tour for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney and Perth Comedy Festivals. Kicking off today at Belgian Beer Café in Melbourne, the tour will stay until 22 April before moving to Factory Theatre Fusebox in Sydney from 3-7 May and…
Enhancing the punishing and graphically gory nature of Fede Álvarez’s 2013 “reimagined” Evil Dead and the more comedic inclination of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2 (1987), Lee Cronin‘s Evil Dead Rise is a manic, at-times disgusting horror treat that proves there’s still a whole lotta (after) life left in this franchise. Given that Cronin seems…
Magical girls, politics, religion and revolution collide in Kate J. Armstrong‘s debut novel, Nightbirds. Set in a 1920s-inspired world where magic is prohibited, this YA fantasy explores the politics of women in power in an action-packed and wild ride through the fictional city of Simta. Matilde, Sayer and Æsa are Nightbirds, girls will innate magic…
The release of Chrissy Judy feels rather aptly timed at the given moment considering the unnecessary controversy around the artform that is drag. Its history has never been tied to sex or sexuality, so it’s incredibly ironic that anti-LGBTQIA+ conservatives have peddled their agenda against the art and have positioned themselves as “protecting” children from…
We rolled into day four of Byron Bay Bluesfest 2023 full of beans for the day ahead. Rockwiz is a perennial favourite at the festival, with Brian Nankervis and Julia Zemiro dishing up the laughs and giving the crowd their chance at 15 minutes of fame. The special guests included Chris Cheney (The Living End)…
Day 3 of Bluesfest 2023 was dominated by the legend that is Buddy Guy. He has been to the festival many times over the years, and 2023 has been pegged as his final visit. His performance did not disappoint. He was playful and thoroughly entertaining. The humour was complemented by his mastery of the…
Day two of Byron Bay Bluesfest 2023 was a cracker. It was well worth getting to the festival early, as one of the highlights was Southern Avenue who ripped up the Juke Joint just after midday. Their mashup of gospel, blues and R&B had us dancing and blowing away the cobwebs. Southern Avenue Over at…
There’s something kind of ironic in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies aiming to ramp up the female empowerment. As seems to be the norm now for familiar property, the creators of this prequel series have essentially refashioned it for modern audiences and, in the process, made it feel like a separate entity entirely to…
Underground Spirits Australia announced the launch of their limited-edition Coronation Gin during a cocktail event in honour of World Caramel Day. With notes of sweet orange, maple syrup and coconut, among others, this intricately crafted gin adopts flavours from across the Commonwealth countries. The Coronation Gin will be officially unveiled at the 2023 Sydney Royal Easter…
Arriving just in time for the Easter weekend, the credence of a family in peril and the determination of the stranger who can save them come together in On A Wing and A Prayer, a faith-based drama streaming on Prime Video from April 7th. Directed by Sean McNamara, written by Brian Egeston, and based on…
The 34th edition of the Byron Bay Bluesfest kicked off yesterday at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm. Those that arrived early were well rewarded with a swift entry and a solid early lineup. Nikki Hill is a fan-favourite at the festival, having rocked Bluesfest a number of times before. It was the first visit since 2015,…
Brisbane metalcore upstarts Headwreck have today released their sophomore EP Reflection Room, a six-track project exploring human connection. Featuring the singles “Let It Feel” and “Shiver”, the EP demonstrates the band’s ambition and cements them as a creative force to be reckoned with. Produced, mixed and mastered by guitarist/vocalist Jamo Benadie, Reflection Room is a…
Remember the uproar there was regarding Jared Leto’s Italian accent in House of Gucci? Prepare to have a field day with whatever Russell Crowe is attempting in The Pope’s Exorcist. And not only is it the vocal inflection of good ole’ Rusty, but his whole general demeanour throughout Julius Avery’s horror romp, where he swigs…
Before you head on your next holiday to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, take heed of these 7 hot tips that will help make you a pro, as you embark on your voyage to the theme park destination of the world. 1. If you’re staying at an on site hotel, you may get early…
Melbourne indie-rock quintet Franjapan have today shared their new single and video “Lucy” – a nostalgic track that captures the innocence of youth. Inspired by late-night parties and sticky-floored clubs, the anthemic bop is made to play the morning after whilst holding onto distant memories. Produced in their home studio, “Lucy” was mixed by members…
Judging a film by its poster art is never the safest thing to do (what’s that old judging book cover quote?), but in the case of Allelujah it’s a safe assumption that anyone who even remotely glanced at the colourful, rainbow-adorned title and collective cast ensemble on display would have an idea of the film’s…
On the back of the release of their fourth album, How Many Dreams?, DMA’S have announced a national tour of Australia in September and October. These sixteen dates have quickly become eighteen, as the first shows in Sydney at the Enmore Theatre and Melbourne at the Forum have sold out. The first couple of listens…
British-born Lucy Gallant has led a full and adventurous life thus far. The singer/songwriter left home at fourteen years old and has followed her instincts and lust for life in a colourful and spiritual journey. Having travelled to more than fifty countries, the culmination of her lived experiences are for all to witness in her…
Last year, I reported on the value of the Genie+ system at Disneyland in California. It’s an optional add on that gives you access to “Lightning Lanes” on select rides at both the OG Disneyland park and the neighbouring California Adventure, helping you skip many queues that you may face on a day at the…
