Last week, I descended on BIGSOUND in what was my 6th visit to the iconic Brisbane conference and festival. Just about every year the event has grown in size – from the amount of bands playing, to the amount of venues utilised and the number of attendees. This year felt unquestionably the biggest yet, amped…
The outdoor stage at CHIJMES had to face rain – a lot of it – yesterday, as Music Matters Live entered its second day on Sunday. Surprisingly, and encouragingly, people still turned up during the evening to see the bands play and while the crowd would have been undoubtedly larger had the weather been better, the…
Sydney based artist Wallace continues to charm with that voice dripping in old-school soul, with new single “Black Like” further establishing the NZ native as an artist to watch. This new tune, co-written with Eskimo Joe’s Joel Quartermain, is gorgeously melancholic, and demonstrates the more theatric edge of Wallace’s musicality. The end result is utterly irresistible and…
Two years ago Welsh journalist and author Jon Ronson published a book titled So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, addressing the growing issue of (sometimes justified, sometimes not) social media outrage and what some people refer to as “trial by public opinion”. Since then the discussion has moved into specific spheres such as the music industry,…
A brand new Nintendo Direct presentation will broadcast on Twitch this Thursday morning at 8am AEST. The 45 minute broadcast will be primarily focused on upcoming Switch and 3DS titles.
Set against the backdrop of the French Guiana in South America, Ouro tells the story of 20-year-old French geology student Vincent (Spinosi), who is sent to undertake an internship at a gold mining company. He soon becomes convinced an abandoned mine is worth millions and is taken under the wing of local ‘gold lord’ Antoine…
Patti Cake$ is the kind of movie that could have gone horribly wrong. The story of an overweight, white (trash) suburban girl gunning for glory in the hip-hop scene isn’t the most accessible story, nor is it culturally appropriate. Thanks to the wit of writer/director/composer Geremy Jasper though, Patti Cake$ disarms any of these potential…
Yakuza Kiwami is the sum of every other game in the series. I don’t know that it would exist without every other game that has preceeded it (though I guess, if you want to be pedantic, most come after it in the greater series timeline). What Yakuza Kiwami can’t quite do is bring itself to be better than…
Dame Judi Dench has played Queen Victoria before in Mrs Brown, which showed the grieving monarch’s relationship with John Brown. In Victoria & Abdul Dench reprises her previous role and plays the Queen when the latter is a tad older and wiser. It also focuses on the monarch’s unlikely friendship with an Indian servant. The…
24 tonnes of sand will be used to build a temporary hostel on the Gold Coast later this month, a collaboration between widely used booking platform Hostelworld and Gold Coast Tourism. The sparkling foreshore will be home to this one-off pop-up across three days, looking out across the ocean from the area’s stunning Kurrawa Terrace….
Emirates have launched a world-class wine programme, offering a range of exclusive wines and champagnes on board and in its lounges for the next few months. With a handpicked stellar wine list from some of the world’s most prestigious chateaux and vineyards, passengers can enjoy a glass of Chateau d’Yquem 2005, 1963 Graham’s Colheita Port,…
Close to Brisbane’s most famous sporting and event venue, Suncorp Stadium, Gambaro Hotel boasts one of the most enviable positions in the city. It’s far-enough away from crowds – both local and tourist – even with it being in the thick of bustling Caxton Street, while still being conveniently located just a stone’s throw from…
Australians let us all rejoice for we are a nation full of self-deprecating individuals with a great wit and a keen sense of humour. Never has this been more apparent than in the book, The Wisdom of Oz. This should be required reading for every true blue Aussie (forget the citizenship test) because it’s chock…
Night festivals are a chance for cities to showcase their prowess in a way that glitters. The Singapore Night Festival (SNF) is always evolving and in its tenth year they pulled out all the stops. For 10 balmy nights young and old were out of the house and hitting the streets in what was a celebration of…
The New Chinese are the Chinese people born on mainland China after 1949. The book of the same name is intended for Australian readers who don’t know a lot about China, but who are eager to learn; either for business or pleasure. Australia has become a hotspot for Chinese immigrants, your next hire or business…
One of Sydney’s finest pubs, The Unicorn Hotel, is about to launch a new ongoing lunch series with guest chefs from across Australia, all tasked with cooking up their interpretation of what Australian cuisine actually is. Duncan Welgemoed has been announced as the first guest of the series, heading to The Unicorn’s kitchen on Sunday…
Morgan Hipworth, he who owns and operates Melbourne’s wildly popular concept store Bistro Morgan, has officially upped his doughnut game to the nth degree, leaving all other dessert crazes in the bin with a very, very indulgent looking Cookie Dough Doughnut Sandwich. The 16 year old chef will be selling these new creations from his…
Sydney chicken institution Chargrill Charlie’s (also known as Justin Bieber’s favourite chicken shop) is hopping on over to the inner-west for its long overdue tenth incarnation, opening up in Annandale this weekend Saturday 16th September. Not only should you care because they regularly fry up some seriously excellent fried bird, but their also celebrating the…
In a hotel room high atop the Bangkok skyline in Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, the AU review’s Lachlan Mitchell got Imagine Dragons to reveal their plans to bring their new album Evolve to Australia. The band begin a North American tour in support of their latest album in late-September and were appearing in a showcase…
Music Matters Live saw out its first night for 2017 here in Singapore on Saturday, with the showcase series taking place between the newly established lawn stage at CHIJMES and the riverside bar venue of Barber Shop by Timbre. The lawn stage at CHIJMES drew out the numbers as the sun fell, with Singapore’s own Falling…
The Belligerents’ debut album Science Fiction has landed. And you will want to get on board. The long-awaited full-length release from this Brisbane band, who have had the industry buzzing for some time, is out now through Sony. The record is full of all the grand splendour you’d hope for: driving guitars, spaced out keys,…
Portland, Oregon had long been on my bucket list of destinations to visit. Renowned for great food and beer, arts, bookstores and scenery, and infamous for its hipster lifestyle, the city is one of the finest in the world. There’s so much to do in the city, but to help you on your way, here…
In the five years since I left Singapore (my home for two years) I was amazed to go back and learn how much the government has invested into developing, nurturing and showcasing arts and culture in Singapore. Whether it be giving locals a platform to share their works, or inviting international legends to exhibit on…
Good Food Month is once again fixing to take over Sydney with a ridiculous amount of exclusive food and drink focused events. In addition to the always jam-packed Night Noodle Markets, the program each year gives the best chefs from Sydney and beyond a chance to collaborate, showcase, and experiment to feed the masses (or…
Sam Prince Hospitality Group, the team behind Sydney heavy-hitters INDU and Mejico, will be adding a Japanese restaurant to their portfolio later this year when Kid Kyoto opens on Bridge Lane in spring. Promising their most ambitious project to date, the group plan to mesh a “rebellious” take on Japanese cuisine with an “unplugged” grungy…
Be they flocking or fleeing, birds are always a sign of impending danger. Hell, if you grew up in Brisbane, the clicking sound of a magpie’s beak and the beat of black wings are a certain sign of danger. The Bluebird Mechanicals is no less than this. A neat artist’s palate of danger organised, devised…
As part of the National Theatre Live broadcasts, we have been privy to some of the West End’s most prestigious plays from playwrights that span far and wide. However, Tony Kushner’s multi-award winning two-part play Angels in America is something else. You will never see anything like this in your life. Ever. Directed by Olivier and Tony award winner…
Bram Stoker’s Dracula has been interpreted many times over the years on stage and screen. This time, Queensland based Shake and Stir Theatre Company have breathed new life into the ageless classic. A single lit window on a darkened stage is the only clue to what is to come. There are shocks a plenty –…
Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley saw out one final day and night live music and conferencing on Thursday, with BIGSOUND entering its last round, sending hundreds of musicians and delegates throughout participating venues to witness some great emerging artists, buzz bands and established favourites. The SA Music showcase in the afternoon took place at Ric’s Backyard, bringing together…
“This world is full of cynics- full of people who don’t want you to be alive, to be real,” yells Dave Le’aupepe to a thumping heavy crowd full of youthful faces, each looking up at him adoringly, hanging on his every word. “Don’t let them stop you from living your life. Don’t let anybody ever…
