Guest Post: Bootleg Rascal take us through their top regional venues

Sydney’s Bootleg Rascal are bringing the party to regional Australia! The Booty Camp: Summer Vacay Tour will hit metro and regional venues from January next year, featuring 17 emerging artists and their very own sideshow alley, packed with crowd participation games. “Touring in more remote areas has always been something close to our hearts,” says guitarist Jimmy Young. “We…

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New BioShock in development at new 2K studio

Fresh from resurrecting their popular Borderlands property this year, 2K Games has announced the return of another fan favourite — BioShock. 2K believes newly created 2K studio, Cloud Chamber, are the team to make it. Cloud Chamber will be based at 2K’s headquarters in San Francisco, California and Montreal, Quebec. The move to Quebec marks…

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Qantas has a new frequent flyer partnership with KLM and Air France

There’s some big news for Qantas Frequent Flyers as the Australian airline has been announced as the latest partner of Flying Blue, the loyalty program of KLM and Air France. This of course means that passengers can and spend QFF points and receive tier benefits on both major airlines. The announcement builds upon a previous…

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An entire year of Scottish music and arts is coming to Australia for 2020

They might not be bringing the wild landscapes and unparalleled whiskies (although there will be some of that) with them, but the great country of Scotland will be sending some of their best musicians and creatives over to Australia for “The Year of Scotland”. Charmingly abbreviated to (#)YOSA2020, the year-long 2020 program will build a…

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Track of the Day: Klue “Coming Home” (2019)

Fresh from another life over in Europe, Klue has zipped back to Sydney for the summer and is celebrating with the celebratory “Coming Home”. The Aussie-born producer, also known as one third of True Vibenation, has caught our attention numerous times with his slinky, summery productions and penchant for pulling in inflections of jazz, tropical…

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Photo Gallery: Fairgrounds Festival – Berry (06.12.19 – 07.12.19)

The 2019 Fairgrounds Festival has come and gone and it was another cracking edition. This is truly a festival for all ages, catering to a wide variety of music tastes.  Female artists were well represented at this festival. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. The Friday night started strongly, with Clews and Hatchie up on…

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Track of the Day: Maz Green “Moving Slowly” 2019

Our track of the day comes from a rising star in Melbourne singer-songwriter Maz Green. With the country literally burning around us, Maz has addressed many of the issues facing us in her sophomore single, “Moving Slowly”. Her debut single was “Somewhere Else”and was released earlier this year. Maz explains the inspiration for the song:…

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Film Review: Freaks is one of the best genre surprises of the year

One of the pleasures of watching films is the feeling of surprise and enjoying the journey and not knowing where it will lead you. In other words, a little mystery goes a long way. In the case of Freaks by co-directors Adam B. Stein and Zach Lipovsky, it comes with an interesting premise that has…

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Pokemon Sword and Shield Review: Dexit can’t stop this party

Understandably, some fans were upset when it was announced that Pokémon Sword and Shield would severely limit which Pokémon could be caught across all eight generations. It was dubbed “dexit” (perhaps to keep with the UK theme), decried online (ad nauseam), and even led to a few grown adults crossing their arms, stomping their precious…

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Nike are releasing the Dunk Low Pro B Viotech in Australia this week

This week, Australians will be able to get their hands on what was originally an exclusive Japan release all the way back in 2002. Perhaps better known for its 2013 reissue, the Nike Dunk Low Pro B Viotech silhouette will be making its triumphant return. The vibrant tonal variation and rich materials used in this…

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Dyson Pure Cool Me Review: A cleaner, cooler take on self-care

Last year Dyson completely outdid themselves with the three-in-one Dyson Pure Hot + Cool, offering an incredibly efficient device that could cool, heat and purify a room with ease. The device’s imposing size meant that this could handle all three functions for an entire room, whereas Dyson’s latest play, in the bladeless fan space they…

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Finally: Merivale’s ambitious plans for Coogee Pavilion’s Middle Floor

Merivale’s Coogee Pavilion has been a tremendous success over the past few years, but there’s always been one giant chunk of the beachside venue missing. The middle floor of this multifaceted venue always felt like a lull when making the short climb to that gorgeous rooftop – no more. No stranger to ambition, Justin Hemmes…

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Film Review: Suddenly A Tree – personal narratives run deep at Persian Film Festival

In its 8th year, the Persian Film Festival was officially opened by Festival Director Amin Palangi, who gave one of the most engaging and genuine opening night addresses I’ve ever heard. He touched on the current conflict in Iran and the very real impact it had on the festival, given all the films were physically…

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Eberron: Rising from the Last War revives a beloved D&D setting

Eberron is one of Dungeons & Dragons greatest settings. A world still sifting through the wreckage of a recent global war, a place where sorcery and ambition have created technological marvels. The second major campaign setting for D&D 5th Edition is a palate cleanser, a very different flavour to the game’s traditional home in the…

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Live Review: Ziggy Alberts and Kim Churchill at Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth (01.12.19)

There couldn’t have been a more fitting venue than the back lawn at the Fremantle Arts Centre for the two bare-footed boys from Byron, Ziggy Alberts and Kim Churchill. It’s a venue that Alberts had always had on his bucket list to play, and he finally did it – to a capacity crowd – on…

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NLMAs 2019: Electric Fields named Australia’s Best Live Act; female musicians win all instrumentalist trophies for the first time

Last Wednesday night, at 8 simultaneous events around Australia, the winners of the 2019 National Live Music Awards were revealed, with the awards once again highlighting the strength and diversity of the Australian Live Music Scene. Electric Fields were the big winners of the night, with three trophies, including the night’s two biggest artist awards…

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GB Studio lets you make your own GameBoy games

Making a video game is hard. The disciplines involved in creating a video game are so far-ranging that most beginners give up. If only there were easier, less intimidating paths of entry into game design available to beginners. That’s where apps like GB Studio by programmer Chris Maltby come in. The Nintendo GameBoy was a…

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Track of the Day: Serina Pech “Isolated Strangers” (2019)

The Northern Territory is a breeding ground for insanely talented story-tellers. There’s no better example than Serina Pech, with her latest offering “Isolated Strangers” hitting the airwaves. This is the third release from Pech this year, following on from “Take A Look Around” and “Sing Your Own Song”. Serina hails from Katherine, in the NT,…

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Deftones and Jimmy Eat World announce Download sideshows

The Download Fest lineup already has music fans across the country booking flights to Sydney and Melbourne. But there’s good news for those of us who planning on staying a little closer to home, as Deftones and Jimmy Eat World announce shows either side of the festival weekend. Alt-metallers Deftones will hit up Brisbane on…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: Cedarsmoke “Pure Heroin” (2019)

Last month Brisbane 5-piece Cedarsmoke dropped their single “Pure Heroin”, which featured the story of Syd and Nancy (Syd Vicious and Nancy Spungen), a touch of Jane Austen and a heavy helping of heroin. Today we are proud to bring you the exclusive video premiere to help bring to life this romantic tragedy. It’s their…

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Track of the Day: Neverkid “When It Comes” (2019)

Indie pop meets 80s vibes in “When It Comes To You“, the debut single from Brisbane’s Neverkid. Complete with a music video filmed in the garage of Neverkid’s apartment complex, we’re loving this moody, retro take on electro-pop – and we think you will too! Neverkid says: “Normally I write songs when I’m in a…

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Film Review: Mirren and McKellen keep The Good Liar afloat in spite of its plot failures

As legends of both the stage and screen, the idea of Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen combining their respective talents for a project is an enticing one, to say the least.  And whilst The Good Liar hands them roles that they each indulge in with an against-type glee, the film itself isn’t the first class…

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Interview: Betoota Advocate‘s Clancy Overell “We really want to do an Israel Folau The Musical”

It’s only been a week since Aussie satire newspaper The Betoota Advocate launched their second book, How Good’s Australia, and the team are already about to restock their copies – which can be bought through the website, as editor Clancy Overell has been quick to remind me. More than just a stocking filler for the Christmas – or, as Overall…

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Track of the Day: Nathan Ball “Borders” (2019)

Ahead of his debut Australian headline tour this week, UK-based singer-songwriter Nathan Ball has dropped his mesmerising new single, “Borders”.  As singles go, “Borders”, is understated and subtle in style and the delivery of its message. Beautifully melancholic and ethereal, the tone is set by the guitars, but cemented through Ball’s atmospheric vocal melodies. Despite…

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What it’s like seeing a concert in Colorado’s legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Honestly, is there any live music experience as prized in the U.S as seeing a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre for the first time? Sure, there’s South by Southwest, Austin City Limits, Billy Bob’s, the jazz of New Orleans, and the blues of Memphis, but none quite compare to the myth and majesty of this…

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Film Review: The Two Popes is a thought-provoking piece of work, featuring a great double act from Pryce and Hopkins

Brazillian director Fernando Meirelles has a very interesting body of work. With intense crime thriller City of God (which he co-directed with Katia Lund) as his calling card, Meirelles has always been a filmmaker that aimed for realism and verisimilitude (see: political thriller The Constant Gardener) even if the premise had veered more into a fantastical way…

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Book Review: Debra Adelaide’s The Innocent Reader is a book lover’s delight

In her new collection of essays, through the lens of reflecting on her reading and writing, Debra Adelaide reveals much of her own story. An avid reader from a young age, Adelaide recounts her early encounters with Tolkien at the local library, laments her own inability to reduce the number of books in her home (no matter…

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Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Review: Upping the city’s standards

The ongoing redevelopment of Darling Harbour hit full speed in 2017, with the opening of Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour reinvigorating the city’s exhausted luxury lodging landscape and immediately gathering acclaim. A gleaming glass tower of 35 storeys, high above the sparkling harbour and its myriad of neighbouring buildings, the high-end property exudes a modern opulence…

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Track of the Day: Future Haunts “Far Away” (2019)

With a new EP due in 2020, Brisbane’s Future Haunts have released another little teaser of what’s to come! “Far Away” is the third glimpse we’ve had of the upcoming Rushmore, and we’re loving it! Vocalist and guitarist Ben Speight says: “‘Far Away’ takes a dive into themes of distance and being away from your loved ones…

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There are free parties happening all over Australia tomorrow celebrating Live Music: Here’s how you can attend!

Tomorrow, in 8 cities around Australia, the National Live Music Awards are holding a series of events around the country – 6 of which are completely free and all of them are open to the public. They’ll all have live performances from nominees and special guests, and along the way more than 62 awards will…

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