MELT 2018 Review: Pop rock opera bare the musical nails the vocals, but fails on story (Brisbane Powerhouse until June 3rd)

At a prestigious Catholic school, two boys fall in love. In their final school year, Peter and Jason test the limits of their secret relationship, as Peter wants to come out to the world, while Jason, wary of losing his family and friends, wants to live the fantasy a little longer. As rehearsals for the…

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Shannon Noll and Menulog are opening a concept store in Surry Hills this week (Sydney)

Legendary iconic Australian legend-slash-icon and the world’s best singer (if memes are your thing) Shannon Noll has done a Jeff Goldblum and teamed up with Menulog to open a pop-up store in Sydney today. Based on research which shows Aussies spend more than an hour each day preparing meals instead of getting a good night’s…

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Tech Feature: Seeing the Light with Rocco Ancora and Nikon School

“Lighting can be the difference between a good shot and a great one.” It’s a simple statement, uttered by Australian wedding and portraiture great and Nikon Ambassador Rocco Ancora mid-lecture, but so true – and he would know. The 4-time AIPP Australian Wedding photographer of the year is such a master of light that he…

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Interview: Clare Kramer Oz Comic Con Melbourne’s Emcee and Buffy The Vampire Slayer‘s Icon Status

Clare Kramer, might be best known for her work as Glory on Buffy The Vampire Slayer but for the past several years she has taken her skills as an actor and begun to move behind the scenes working in production and now as a director. Soon she will be making her way to Melbourne for…

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Merivale’s long-awaited The Collary is now open (Sydney)

After an extensive remix to a beachside classic, Merivale have finally unveiled their second epic Northern Beaches hub with The Collaroy. We’ve already seen what the juggernaut hospitality group are capable of with The Newport, so this long standing waterfront pub should easily go down as one of this year’s biggest openings. Keeping the local…

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Little Creatures reveal seasonal winter stout: “The Fuggle is Real”

Craft beer heroes Little Creatures have unveiled their seasonal release for winter this year, releasing a smooth stout dubbed The Fuggle is Real. Building upon their always popular seasonal release series, the dark beer is a move away from what Little Creatures is usually known for, opting for something a bit different as they release…

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Interview: Ontario’s Dizzy on touring outside Canada, landing Austin City Limits & more

One of our favourite new bands of the last 12 months is Ontario’s Dizzy. First becoming hooked on their single “Swim” and then seeing them live for the first time in Canada last year, we knew they had to be a must see of The Great Escape in 2018. We were able to grab some time with Mackenzie, Katie, Charlie and Alex while…

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Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Mary Webb “Crepuscule” (2018)

Crepuscule. Meaning ‘twilight’ or ‘dusk’, the term wraps itself around some notions of melancholy, wintriness and a slow burn of sadness that comes intrinsically linked with missing a loved one. For singer songwriter Mary Webb, these are themes she tackles with a rich  musical depth and beauty, with new single “Crepuscule”. Working with dancer Lewis Major, the…

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Single of the Day: Foxton Kings “Money, Money” (2018)

There is rarely a head-banging, foot stomping track that I will actually genuinely enjoy and want to share with all my mates. But Foxton Kings have managed to achieve just that with their latest single Money, Money. The boys from Perth have gifted us with a new single, complete with edginess and hard grooviness. But underneath…

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5 Must See Shows For Music Lovers at The Adelaide Cabaret Festival

Get ready for a smorgasbord of glitz and glamour, because the Adelaide Cabaret Festival is back for yet another year and it’s looking as fabulous as ever! Running from the 8th-23rd of June, this year’s program is bursting with musical gems- from shiny show tunes to unexpected cover bands. Music lovers will be spoilt for…

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PlayStation turns Detroit: Become Human helper android loose in Sydney, Australians predictably alarmed

Quantic Dream’s newest cinematic, choice-based adventure title Detroit: Become Human hit store shelves this week. Adored by our reviewer and reviled by others, the game was always going to be a polarising one. To capitalise on the hype surrounding the game and its story about humans treating androids as awfully as they treat each other,…

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Riverdale‘s KJ Apa and Magic Mike‘s Joe Manganiello added to Melbourne Oz Comic Con

Sneaking in just under the wire before the schedule gets locked in Oz Comic Con has announced two final guests for their Melbourne event happening 9th and 10th of June. Star of Riverdale KJ Apa and Magic Mike and True Blood alum Joe Manganiello will headline the pop culture convention and be set to get…

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YAAAASSS Queer Eye Is Back & The Fab 5 Are Heading Down Under!

Netflix’s global sensation Queer Eye is back to transform some of the stylistically challenged into fresh new selves and along the way spread the message of encouragement, self-care and uplift us all, and to celebrate the launch of Season 2, the Fab 5 will be heading to Australia! Fifteen years ago Queer Eye For The…

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Film Review: The Bookshop (UK, 2018) will make you want to stay home and read a book instead

Isabel Coixet has always been a talented filmmaker, making understated drama films dealing with issues like existentialism and inner turmoil to great aplomb. Although there have been some highs in her filmography like My Life Without Me and The Secret Life of Words (both starring the talented actress/director Sarah Polley), her last few films have…

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Theatre Review: Gypsy is a slow burn that just misses the mark (Sydney’s Hayes Theatre Co to 30 June)

I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting walking into Hayes Theatre to see Gypsy, a musical based on the memoirs of famous burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee. All I know is this wasn’t it. The performance focuses heavily on the early life of Gypsy Rose Lee, growing up in the shadow of her sister…

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Your food and drink guide for Vivid Sydney 2018

It’s here! Vivid Sydney has begun for another year, stepping up to its now globally renowned reputation with a massive celebration of light, music and ideas. There’s so much going on from now until the 16th June so we’ve put together a quick food and drink guide to keep handy while you’re out and about….

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Single of the Day: Fraser A. Gorman “Walking to Oman’s” (2018)

We’re stoked to see Fraser A. Gorman has released new music this week, this latest single coming to us in the form of “Walking to Oman’s”. As his first release in three years, “Walking to Oman’s” features Hachiku on guest vocals, injecting a cool unique flair into the overall piece. The music itself is true to Gorman’s aesthetic…

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Discoveries: Four new bands from The Great Escape you’ve got to check out

When it comes to discovery, there’s few better events in the world than The Great Escape on the English seaside in Brighton. Now running for 12 years, the event thrives with its excellent curation of a couple of hundred bands from all over the world – with no less than 26 Australian acts making up…

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Playlist: White Summer delivers a 20-track Soul Breaker collection

With their Soul Breaker album tour ahead of them this June, Melbourne’s White Summer have been getting in the mood to win hearts on the road as opposed to breaking them, with some solid new rock sounds that will further position the band as ones to watch through this year. Still, weather is turning wintry and cold in…

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First trailer for The Happytime Murders is not the Muppets movie you’re expecting

The Muppets are back! But not in the way you would expect. We recommend putting the kids to bed, because this isn’t the Muppets movie you were expecting. The Happytime Murders markets itself as a filthy comedy set in the criminal underworld of Los Angeles where both puppets and humans coexist. When two detectives are forced…

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Games Review: Detroit: Become Human (PS4, 2018): Quantic Dream goes back to the future

Detroit: Become Human is finally upon us. Quantic Dream have had players waiting for over four years for their follow-up to the Beyond: Two Souls. Detroit is, in many ways, the end point of Quantic’s “Kara” tech demo from 2012. It’s disarming, strange, interesting and delves deep into the uncanny valley.

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Chuck Norris Roundhouse Kicking Onto Supanova Sydney and Perth

Iconic actor, martial artist superstar and one of the most meme’d people of all time, Chuck Norris will be roundhouse kicking his way down under for Supanova Comic Con and Gaming in Sydney and Perth. Star of Walker, Texas Ranger, Delta Force and being famed for fighting against martial arts legend Bruce Lee in The…

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Games Preview: World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth Beta (PC, 2018): Back to Warcraft

I’m going to assert something here in the intro par, something that I cannot prove but that I have suspected for a while. I think Blizzard is working on, at the very least, a Warcraft 3 remaster and I think Battle for Azeroth is the latest in a series of significant hints that the series’…

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Stan Originals are coming to Qantas’ inflight entertainment

Australian streaming video on demand service Stan are about to roll out an extension of their already solid partnership with Qantas, giving passengers exclusive access to content and the ability to enjoy a range of Stan Originals from 1st June 2018. As they continue to strengthen their bank of original content which has so far…

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2018 Miles Franklin longlist announced, with three former winners making the cut

Peter Carey, Michelle De Kretser, and Kim Scott head up an eleven strong list of contenders for the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award. The past winners are up against eight other established authors, contending for a $60,000 prize. One of Australia’s most important literary awards, the Miles Franklin was established with funds from the estate…

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MELT 2018 Review: Get ready for a close encounter of the cabaret kind, with Briefs: Close Encounters (Brisbane Powerhouse until June 2nd)

The Briefs boys are back in Brisbane, returning from a distant glamourous future to spread a message of hope, love, and fabulous good times. Led by their drag queen mistress Shivannah (Fez Fa’anana), the stage is set for a night of stunning aerial acrobatics, powerful lip syncs, and raucous good fun. This is cabaret at…

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Fanta have released their own fashion line and it’s as strange as you’d expect

Fanta, as in the soft drink, have released a small and outrageously weird capsule of clothing and accessories described as “functional and fashion-forward”. It’s confusing, but somehow if strangely glorious brand activations were a competition (which is pretty much the case nowadays) then the famously bright orange beverage is looking like at a gold medal….

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Interview: Micah & Joey Visser of Boniface (Canada) on their UK tour and love for Cub Sport

The Great Escape has brought many fresh and exciting new bands from around the world into one thriving hub for another year, with the focus settling well and truly on Brighton this month. We had the opportunity to sit down with one of the buzz names of The Great Escape for 2018 in US indie…

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Music Video of the Day: Princess Nokia “Look Up Kid” (2018)

Princess Nokia has come through with a new music video, this time for “Look Up Kid”, from her A Girl Cried Red mixtape – the result? It’s another blistering step forward from the New Yorker who has continued to make her mark with an individualistic rap flow and delivery, while exploring the musical terrain she came up on….

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Ricochet Ball introduces mixed netball to the music industry to raise money for charity

KLP and Anna Fitzgerald have put the call out for musicians, media, record labels, touring agencies and other music industry creatives to don a netball bib and get involved in the inaugural Ricochet BALL event! The mixed netball competition will be raising money for female-focused charities, while also proving just who has what it takes out on the court….

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