The Butterfly Women

Book Review: Melbourne’s seedy underbelly is exposed in Madeleine Cleary’s sparkling debut The Butterfly Women

1863 Melbourne comes to life in Madeleine Cleary‘s much buzzed about debut novel, The Butterfly Women, released earlier in the month through Affirm Press. A publishing imprint making a name for itself in historical fiction, Cleary joins renowned historical fiction writer Pip Williams (The Dictionary of Lost Words), as well as a growing list including the…

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Justin Stewart Cotta

Exclusive Video Premiere: Justin Stewart Cotta “Was You” (2025)

Justin Stewart Cotta is an artist we’ve championed over the years at the AU. A poet, actor, singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist, he is a man of many talents. Last month, he released his latest single, the take-no-prisoners “Was You”. We’re thrilled to be premiering the video today, a cinematic marvel that was filmed on…

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Film Review: Bring Her Back; feel-bad movie of the year is a haunting, bleak tale of grief

Not that there was going to be any serious doubt about their ability to avoid a sophomore slump with their second go-around as filmmakers, but brothers Danny and Michael Philippou have easily cemented themselves as modern day horror auteurs with the highly disturbing Bring Her Back, a bleak, discomforting genre feature that makes their debut,…

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Interview: Danny and Michael Philippou on their new film Bring Her Back, exploring grief, and surprise casting; “Putting that on the screen is surely going to bother people.”

After taking the world by storm with their horror debut feature Talk To Me in 2023, all eyes were very much on Australian brothers Danny and Michael Philippou to see how they would follow up such a mammoth success. Proving that they were no flash in the pan, the twins launched back into the genre…

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Pale Jay

Pale Jay kicks off Brisbane’s Open Season with unforgettable finale to Australian debut

On a brisk Brisbane evening a line formed down the block for the opening night of Open Season 2025, one of the city’s most exciting winter festivals. Despite the time reading 7:30pm on a Sunday, punters huddled in the Princess Theatre’s courtyards and bars with a buzz in the air. The occasion? The first Brisbane…

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Faroese singer Eivør returns to Australia in 2026 with special guest Sylvaine (solo)

Following her critically acclaimed performances and a growing global fanbase, Eivør is set to return to Australia next March for a spellbinding tour that promises to be an unforgettable journey through sound, emotion, and atmosphere. Celebrated for her ethereal vocals, genre-defying compositions, and magnetic stage presence, Eivør’s live performances are a fusion of Nordic folk, cinematic…

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Book Review: Lili Wilkinson’s Unhallowed Halls is a tightly plotted and wildly atmospheric dark academia fantasy

Agathion College isn’t the kind of school to offer scholarships. Isolated on a remote Scottish moor it houses the problem children of the rich, powerful, and famous, teaching them philosophy, and the value of the mind over the body. And yet, Page Whittaker is here. Invited by the Archon to join Agathion, all she wants…

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The Penelopiad

Margaret Atwood’s interpretation of The Penelopiad is sympathetically imagined by the UATG

While Homer’s epic of Odysseus leaving his Ithaca home for ten years to fight for Helen’s honour in the Trojan war is well celebrated, what is not so well documented is the story of his devoted wife Penelope who was left behind. Booker Prize-winning author, Margaret Atwood penned the 2005 novella The Penelopiad, which was…

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Holly Cookie Baker photo by Caroline Wall

South Australian singer-songwriter Holly Cookie Baker announces an AUS/NZ tour

After a five-year hiatus, singer / songwriter Holly Cookie Baker is heading off for an extensive Where Do You Go In the Winter tour, taking in several New Zealand and Australian east coast stops. Raised on a sea-side farm in rural South Australia, she honed her country pop writing skills listening to the waves and the…

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St Kilda Film Festival returns for a 10-day celebration of Australian cinema

The St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) has proudly announced its 2025 program, marking the 41st year of Australia’s longest-running short-film festival with its most expansive program to date, running between June 5th – 15th, 2025. Proudly presented by City of Port Phillip, this year’s festival will screen over 150 films across 34 curated sessions, taking place…

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Interview: Copycat writer Samantha Cable on crafting emotionally impactful, cat-centric interactive storytelling

We love adorable cats. We love compelling video games. And we especially love when the two collide in a mature, story-rich experience that tugs at the heartstrings and reminds us just how deeply our feline friends love us (with spellbinding emotional results). Developed with support from Screen Australia, Copycat is the debut title of developer…

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The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (E61) shines as an essential travel companion

Solid State Drives (SSDs) are fast becoming the new storage standard for PCs, gaming consoles, and external hard drives. For one, there are no moving parts within the unit, meaning they’re more reliable than your standard Hard Disk Drive (HDD). They’re also much faster when transferring and loading files, so apart from the more expensive…

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Live Review: Holy Holy + Rowena Wise – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (24.05.25)

It was a sweet, bitter sweet evening at the Enmore Theatre on Saturday night, as Holy Holy said goodbye to Sydney prior them heading into a long-term hiatus. After more than a decade as a band, and with six albums released, Holy Holy has called it a day and turned in one of the best…

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Photo Gallery: Chelsea Wolfe – The Metro Theatre, Sydney (24.05.25)

Chelsea Wolfe’s return to Sydney at the Metro Theatre was a mesmerizing display of her signature darkwave artistry. Performing to a packed out theatre, Wolfe captivated the audience with a set that spanned her illustrious career, showcasing the haunting beauty and intensity that connects her with the fans. The tour continues with gigs in Brisbane,…

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Sigur Ros and Sydney Symphony Orchestra dream big for Vivid Sydney

Lush, evocative, poignant. Writers have been trying to distill Sigur Ros’ otherworldly music into neat adjectives for years, but there’s always been something missing. There’s an indescribable quality to Jonsi’s wails, so pregnant with emotion, sorrow and joy, lifted by world-class musicians who flitter between sublime, modest dips and chaotic, violent peaks.  It’s beautiful music….

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Hein Cooper

Album Review: Hein Cooper – My Own (2025 LP)

When most artists choose to get introspective, they tend to wear their hearts on their sleeve. Hein Cooper, however, opts to open the door to the garage, set up the mic, and let the world listen in. Written, recorded and produced entirely by Cooper in his mum’s garage over six months, My Own is the artist’s…

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Tim Finn

Ahead of Adelaide’s Beer and BBQ appearance, Tim Finn muses on his extensive musical career

Tim Finn has been an adopted Aussie icon since bursting on the scene with Split Enz back in the 1970s. These days he lives a quiet life in Auckland with his wife. He’ll be heading over to our shores in June to play at Adelaide’s Beer and BBQ Festival as well as some other Australian…

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New Music Discoveries 23rd May: Hazlett, Salarymen, Dominie Hooper, and more

After a week away on the British seaside at The Great Escape we’re back this week with a bumper edition of our Discovery playlist this week with 14 new tracks added to Spotify and Apple Music. Our Track of the Week is “tell me something”, the latest single from Brisbane-born, Sweden-based singer-songwriter Hazlett. The single…

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Film Review: Summer of 69 is a hilarious, heartfelt ode to 1980s sex comedies

Despite its raunchy, suggestive title – yeah, there’s a reason there’s no comma alluding to 69 being a year – Jillian Bell‘s directorial debut, Summer of 69, is actually a particularly sweet, coming-of-age comedy that injects more than enough heart into proceedings to offset its teen-sex-comedy mentality. Much like Superbad, Booksmart and Bottoms before it,…

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Series Review: Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2 commits to a darker, more emotional personality

If there’s one thing Nicole Kidman is going to commit wholeheartedly to in any of her multitude of projects, it’s that her character will indulge in a wig or an accent.  In the case of Nine Perfect Strangers, it’s both. Four years ago, hot off the success of her “Big Little Lies” being transformed into…

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Austin Butler is Caught Stealing in first trailer for Darren Aronofsky’s wild crime caper

Given the type of psychological warfare director Darren Aronofsky has unleashed into cinema across his career with the likes of Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan and mother!, a crime caper in the style of a Guy Ritchie joint is hardly the most expected turn.  But here we are with Caught Stealing, a black comedy…

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Disneyland ramps up 70th Anniversary celebrations as Australian residents get special ticket offer

With Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort turning 70 on July 17th, the park, and the city it sits in, are ramping up celebrations. And Australian and New Zealand residents are being offered a very special ticket offer to help encourage a trip over the Pacific. Firstly, let’s take a look at how Disneyland, and the city of…

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Lahgo

Exclusive Video Premiere: LAHGO “Bitter” (2025)

Sydney’s LAHGO have today released their fiery new single, “Bitter”, and it’s an absolute belter. It’s a cracking take-no-prisoners tune; defiant and proud. We’re thrilled to premiere the video today, ahead of its release on Friday. Reminiscent of Amyl and the Sniffers as well as Wolf Alice, it’s packed with energy. Lead-singer Mel Bailey is…

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You can really do it all with the VQ Laura Ashley Hand Blender 4 in 1 Set

It’s easy to find yourself in the middle of cooking a meal, or baking a dish, and then be told that you need a hand blender, or an electric whisk, or a food processor. But the space on your countertop is already packed to the brim with absolutely no room to put another appliance on…

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Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a solid remaster that stays true to the original’s strengths

We previewed this remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny just under a month ago, and have to say, most of our final sentiments still ring true, so we apologise if we referred to any old ground. You can check out our full preview of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny here. This remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is…

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The picturesque Niagara Falls Italian “Culinary Experience” that even brings the locals back for more

If you’ve ever visited the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, you’ll know it sits as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. Around the iconic falls, there is an eclectic array of experiences to enjoy, from ferris wheels and haunted houses, to tunnels behind the falls themselves. But with a myriad of…

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Planning a long-haul flight? Here’s why you need a Power Bank

It’s easy to forget what travel was like before smartphones and laptops. On long-haul flights, these devices help with everything from boarding passes and in-flight entertainment to booking transport when you land. Many travellers also bring work with them or need to stay connected throughout the entire trip. That’s why bringing a travel-friendly Power Bank…

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UPDATED: Sam Fender is back, with SIX massive Australian shows announced for 2025 ** new show added **

Following a mammoth 12 months that included a new #1 album, multiple sold-out stadiums, and a huge set at Coachella, Sam Fender is heading back to us. This November, he’ll play five six of his biggest Australian shows in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. UPDATE 21/5 – a new show has been added in…

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Neck Deep are on fire with the release of their latest single “You Should See Me Now”

Neck Deep are on a roll right now. After the release of their 2024 self-titled record and straight off the back of an insane Aussie tour, they’ve just dropped a standalone single, “You Should See Me Now“. One of the most original and exciting pop-punk bands at the moment, I cannot get enough of them…

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King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard announce long-awaited Australian return

It’s been over two years since they last played on home turf, but King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are finally headed back over our way. This December, the six-piece return for a long-awaited Australian tour, bringing a huge new record, a 29-piece orchestra, and the signature Gizz wall of sound. The Phantom Island Tour marks…

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