Splendour Interview: Lewis Capaldi (Scotland) on developing as a songwriter, and the master of hilarious banter amidst sad songs, Scott Hutchinson

While backstage at Splendour over the weekend, we sat down with Scottish singer/songwriter Lewis Capaldi, who describes himself as “a chubby guy who sings sad songs” (in fact it’s how he introduced himself to us when we sat down), as he made his Australian debut. We talk about developing as a songwriter, The Beatles, Frightened…

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Splendour Interview: James Bay (UK) on Buddy Guy, Abbey Road and finding the space to write

It’s been a while between visits for acclaimed British singer/songwriter James Bay, but this week he’s been touring the country off the back of his second full length Electric Light. One of these performances was at Splendour in the Grass, and just before he hit the stage, I sat down with the enigmatic artist to…

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13 of the Coolest Film, TV & Gaming Trailers You May Have Missed at SDCC 2018

With San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) wrapped up for this year, there’s no doubt each year’s conference rules the entertainment universe with its mind blowing announcements from films, TV shows and the latest and upcoming games. So without further ado, let’s recap some of the biggest announcements you may have missed this year. FILMS First off,…

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Film Review: Funny Cow (UK, 2018) sees Maxine Peake delivers heart and humour

I’m going to throw out a hot take – It’s tough to be a woman in comedy these days. Late night talk shows and weekly round ups are still dominated by male comics, you try to put out a new-take on an old concept with an all-female cast and unearth the wrath of legions of…

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Tech Review: Sony WF-SP700N – great sound, perfect noise cancelling, terrible battery life

Ever since Apple released the Airpods in December of 2016, there’s been a steady increase in number of big-ticket, fully wireless ear buds coming to market. With the Internet of Things steadily spreading toward more casual adopters of technology, and Bluetooth technology improving year on year, it’s become necessary for these devices to enter the…

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Games Review: Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (Switch, 2018)

Wolfenstein II‘s latest Nazi-stomping iteration was one of the biggest and best FPS releases of last year, praised for its original script, compelling characters and bucketloads of aggressive, absorbing gameplay; the title — officially Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus — once again reinvented a classic franchise and continued the quality from The New Order and…

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SXSW opens up applications for its 2019 Film Festival

Attention filmmakers! Film submissions for the 2019 SXSW (South by Southwest) Film Festival are now open, providing both established and aspiring filmmakers alike to jump on board! Once again held in Austin, Texas, the 2019 Festival is set to take place from 8-17 March. The SXSW offers filmmakers a life changing opportunity, ranging from feature…

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Blu-Ray Review: Stronger (USA, 2018) is a hero’s story that tugs at your heartstrings

Stronger is the second film to be released about the Boston Marathon bombing. While Patriot’s Day focused on the manhunt for the terrorists, Stronger is about the victims of the tragedy and one man’s story in particular. This film is ultimately an inspirational look at a man who was left a double amputee and how…

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Aussies in Edinburgh: Cabaret performer Michael Griffiths on his Fringe show Songs By Kylie

Michael Griffiths is an Australian cabaret performer from Australia coming back to Edinburgh for his 6th Fringe in a row, this time armed with his hit show Songs By Kylie. As the title suggests, the production is an hour of all things Kylie Minogue. We caught up with Michael to find out more about it and being…

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Review: Delays and Lost Baggage, flying British Airways from Scotland to Barcelona proves a trying experience

At the end of May, en route to Primavera Sound, I flew with British Airways for the first time. With direct flights from Edinburgh, Scotland to Barcelona seemingly only available via budget airlines, I ended up on a connection service with British Airways via Heathrow. Like many national carriers around the world, I’d rarely heard…

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Splendour Interview: G Flip (Australia) reflects on working with Sounds Australia to debut her live show & “the best months of my entire life”

Few artists, be they Australian or otherwise, have ever had quite a whirlwind and eventful five months as Melbourne’s G Flip, who burst onto the scene with “About You”, just a few weeks before making her international live debut at the Twitter / Sounds Australia Party at SXSW. And now this weekend she played to…

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Live Review: CHVRCHES + Mansionair – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne (23.07.18)

“Our gear didn’t get here until 8:30 tonight,” Lauren Mayberry – member of Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches – said during their Splendour sideshow in Melbourne this Monday night. “I’m just going to talk less and we’ll cram in as much as we can before the curfew.” Mayberry stalked, ran, skipped and twirled from one side…

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Splendour Interview: YUNGBLUD (UK) almost missed his festival set & already has another album up his sleeve

One of the most exciting international talents making their Australian festival debut at Splendour in the Grass over the weekend was UK rising star YUNGBLUD. His unique blend of punk, hip-hop, rock and whatever else he fancies, has made his album 21st Century Liability one of the most talked about releases of the year. And…

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KOFFIA: The 9th Korean Film Festival in Australia announces 2018 program

The Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) will be returning to Australia for its 2018 program with a whopping 22 Korean films across all genres. The Festival will take place in Sydney (9-18 August), Brisbane (15-16 August), Melbourne (6-13 September) and Canberra (21-23 September). Presented by the Korean Cultural Centre Australia, KOFFIA aims to showcase…

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Screen Australia announces $2.9 Million in funding for 10 Documentaries

Screen Australia has announced it will be funding a total $2.9 million towards 10 Documentary Producer and Documentary Commissioned Programs. This announcement includes funding for a Black Saturday ABC feature, alongside a feature behind now retired AFL legend Adam Goodes. Liz Stevens, Senior Manager of Documentary at Screen Australia commented on the news, stating, “Documentary is…

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Film Review: Whitney (UK/USA, 2018) is a bittersweet love letter celebrating the enigmatic star’s rise & tragic downfall

Whitney may not be the most necessary film but it’s certainly an entertaining one. This documentary comes hot on the heels of Whitney: Can I Be Me, but where this latest offering differs is in its unprecedented access to Whitney Houston’s family and friends. The result is an intimate and bittersweet portrait of her meteoric…

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Five things you need to know about NZ’s first original Netflix series Dark Tourist

A lot of travel programs follow a tried and tested formula. There’s a charismatic host. Pleasant and idyllic locations. There are the ingredients you’d typically associate with a fun holiday. But the opposite is true for the new, eight-part Netflix series Dark Tourist – New Zealand’s first original series for the streaming platform. This program prides…

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Hannah and Eliza Reilly new web series Sheilas set to premiere next month

The newest web series created by sisters Hannah and Eliza Reilly (Growing Up Graceful) will be known as Sheilas, and is set to premiere later next month and the 21st of August. The four-part series has been funded under Screen Australia’s Gender Matters, a celebration of brilliant and innovative storytelling celebrating the growth of female…

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Win a double in-season pass to see Funny Cow, starring Maxine Peake, in cinemas

Starring the brilliant Maxine Peake, Funny Cow charts the rise to stardom of a female comedienne through the 1970’s and 1980’s and is set against the backdrop of working men’s clubs and the stand-up comedy circuit in the North of England. From her troubled childhood to her turbulent adult relationships, Funny Cow uses the raw material…

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Australian cinemas introduce six new popcorn flavours, including Spicy Nacho and Salted Caramel

Not long after limited edition vegemite & cheese popcorn hit Village and Event cinemas across the country, there’s been a deluge of new twists on the timeless movie snack with Parlour Lane Popcorn Company hooking up with Event and BCC Cinemas to exclusively offer several flavours including Spicy Nacho, Salted Caramel, and Salt & Vinegar…

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Glebe’s Thievery is doing a special “Middle Eastern Yum Cha” menu in August (Sydney)

Glebe Point Road’s playful mod-Lebanese restaurant Thievery is doing something a little different for the month of August, temporarily replacing their original offerings with a special “Middle Eastern Yum Cha” menu in an attempt to fuse aspects of Middle Eastern and Asian eats. Executive Chef Julian Cincotta, who only recently returned from an extensive journey…

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Splendour in the Grass comes to an end for 2018 as Kung Fu Kenny unleashes DAMN. onto 30k punters

Another Splendour has come and gone, with the vast majority of punters descending into the Amphitheatre for the four closing sets of PNAU, MGMT, The Wombats and Kendrick Lamar. You may think that’s an odd quartet to play side by side – and you’re not wrong – but the crowd didn’t seem to mind, barely…

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Tech Review: The NVIDIA SHIELD is a Robust Streaming Device, With One Hefty Caveat

The NVIDIA SHIELD is a streaming device for the modern age – sleek, fast and multi-modal. It functions as both a universal entertainment device, featuring apps like Netflix, Stan and Spotify, as well as a game streaming device, allowing interfacing with Steam and NVIDIA-powered PCs.

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Kimpton to open new luxury hotel in Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighbourhood

During the last five years the number of Australians travelling to Japan has shot up by a remarkable 170 percent, and with officials predicting tourist numbers to hit 40 million by the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, it’s no surprise IHG are looking to substantially up their presence in the country. A big assist to…

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Book Review: Shelley Davidow’s Shadow Sisters is a bold look at the conflicted realities of South Africa’s apartheid-era

Shelley Davidow is an author and academic who grew up in South Africa during the apartheid era. Davidow is white, and looking back she knows that during her formative years she experienced privilege and certain allowances due to her skin colour. This theme of race relations and how one family negotiated this oppressive arrangement is…

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Exploring Downtown L.A.’s underground tunnels is a glimpse into 1920s prohibition

There are millions of interesting little details threaded through the rich, and often controversial, history of Los Angeles: one of the most storied cities in the world thanks to its confluence of just about everything you can think of. It’s one of North America’s most multi-cultural, famed for it’s (mostly) sunny weather and largely distinct…

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The 7 best moments from day two of Splendour belong to the Aussies: Gang of Youths, Amy Shark and more

Vampire Weekend may have been the headliners of night two, playing their first festival in four years and their first Australian show in five, but it was a day that belonged to the local acts – with Gang of Youths attracting what was undoubtedly the biggest crowd of the day, and other acts like Amy…

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Robin Hood, The Man of Many Remakes

Robin Hood, a man of English folklore and legend, a master archer, swordsman and outlaw. Stories depict him having been of noble birth (born Robin of Locksley), going off to fight in the Crusades, returning to England to find his lands taken by the Sheriff of Nottingham. With Prince John wanting to usurp the throne…

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From Lorde’s wardrobe malfunction to The Wiggles: The 7 Best Moments from day one at Splendour in the Grass 2018

The first day of Splendour 2018 in Byron Bay delivered plenty of highlights – here, we count down just seven of the best moments… 7. DMA’s ask the crowd if they believe… In getting an absolutely rammed amphitheatre to sing along to Cher’s “Believe”, which the Sydney trio did for Like a Version (though never…

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Single of the Day: Alex the Astronaut “Waste of Time” (2018)

Not far from hitting the stage at Spin Off Festival in Adelaide today or Splendour in the Grass tomorrow, Sydney’s Alex the Astronaut snuck out a long awaited new song on triple j Good Nights last night! “Waste of Time”, her first new track of the calendar year is a stellar indication of just how much…

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