Night Two of BIGSOUND brought some huge voices out to The Valley on Wednesday night. Split between heavy hitting vocals and fleshed out bands, we were spoiled for choice; when you have the likes of Total Giovanni and The Belligerents rolling alongside buzz artists like Body/Type and Willaris.K, you know that the Australian band scene is heaving. We made sure…
Rockstar Games has announced overnight, seemingly out of nowhere, that its 2011 open world crime procedural L.A. Noire is coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch (!!) and the HTC Vive (!!!) this year.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been genuinely surprised by a video game but Monster Hunter Stories achieved just that, and then more. From the distinct, beautifully designed world to the fun combat and exploratory gameplay, the Monster Hunter spin-off left me genuinely floored. For those new to the franchise, Stories marks a perfect…
In the early part of a person’s life, there is always that one scary story, whether it takes the form of a book, a campfire tale or a film, that will inherently scar a person for life when experienced. In my case (and that of many others), that story is Stephen King‘s IT.
Stepping into the foyer of Sydney’s Mantra 2 Bond Street, immediately, I am felt like I have been swept up and away from the sheer amount of roadworks happening just outside the door. Unfortunately for the hotel, the road works on George Street don’t seem to be stopping any time soon, but watching the amount…
TEDx is a forum that is all about “Ideas worth spreading.” In 2017 TEDxYouth Sydney was launched as its own unique event and showcased the talents of many young people. We put together the top 14 things we learned at TEDxYouth Sydney: 1. Sixteen year old inventor Macinley Butson is an inspirational young woman. She…
“BITCH!”, one of the most complex insults in the English language, predominately used as a derogatory term towards women. But where did it come from? And why is it used in this way? BITCH: The Origin of The Female Species reflects upon the relationship between humans and animals, exploring the idea that women and dogs…
Now based in London, Australian songwriter Georgia van Etten has been continuing to craft her music with precision, warmth and an impressive vocal quality. Exuding the type of richness only soul and blues music can, van Etten has been killing it with live performances through Europe and it’s no wonder why her music has been resonating…
We chat with Aussie musician Jess Green, who has been working away on her anticipated EP release, Dragon Year. The seasoned musician has been part of the Australian scene for years now and as we learn, her career has brought her a wealth of musical experience, from jazz right through to composing for dance works. This,…
Heading to their hometown of Yamba in NSW, indie electronic twosome Nocturnal Tapes laid down the foundations for their new music video for the catchy “Wake Up”. Directed by James Buckingham, the clip leans into the 90’s vibe of the music’s production; as Buckingham describes, the nostalgic element was definitely intentional. “Nocturnal Tapes have a lot…
Talk about tour news to wake up to! One of your favourite Canadians will be back in the country this year, making the tailend of 2017 OVO and XO season in Australia! Ahead of The Weeknd‘s December shows, Drake will be touring select east coast shows in Australia at the end of November. Having been making his way…
The Yours & Owls Festival is returning to Wollongong this month with one of its strongest line ups yet – featured on it is Phoenix’s own AJJ. The band formerly known as Andrew Jackson Jihad have been hyping up their wider Australian tour dates for a few months now, their return to our shores marking their first dates in…
Monster Hunter World is all about sanding down some of the series’ rougher edges. Gone are loading screens between areas, replaced with a single, expansive world (hence the game’s title). Combat remains a visceral experience, perhaps even more so than ever. The crafting retains the depth that makes it so rewarding to spend the time prepping…
This weekend heralds the return of everyone’s favourite anthropomorphic horse, with Netflix streaming the eagerly awaited fourth season of BoJack Horseman. Since its premiere in 2014, the animated comedy has received much praise from critics – despite an initially frosty reception – with some going as far as to call it the best television series…
Sydney’s leading Festival for cult and underground films, the Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF) returns for 2017 with a huge program at Marrickville’s Factory Theatre from 14th to 17th September. Over four big days, the Festival will screen more than 100 films sourced from the world’s very best experimental, innovative and controversial filmmakers, with a…
It was only recently that I was walking into my local cinema, almost shaking with excitement, as I sat down to witness the feature film debut of one of the most iconic characters in modern history – something I had been anticipating for the better half of two years. It was an event that had…
What’s amazing about Claudia Pickering? For one, Claudia taken a huge risk, travelled overseas and directed a film based on her own personal experiences. It could be that the movie has been a huge success in the States and now it’s finally arrived for us Aussie folk in selected cinema runs as well as a…
Telltale’s Guardians of The Galaxy is finally back. Episodes of this season have been released quite far apart — it will be another month or so before Episode 4 drops and then the Episode 5 finale will release towards the end of the year. Episodes 2 and 3 are now available, however, and we’ve happily dug…
Stan has released the first trailer for their original series, Philip K Dicks’ Electric Dreams, an ambitious anthology drama series based on the short stories written by award-winning sci-fi novelist Philip K. Dick. Not dissimilar to the ever popular Black Mirror, the series will consist of ten epic, stand-alone episodes, each set in a different…
To celebrate flying 25 million Aussies on 200,000 flights round the country, Tigerair have launched a national sale on 8000 fares, with one-way flights going from $25. The ’25 Millionth Passenger sale’ kicks off from today, and runs until midday Saturday 9 September. The four day sale features fares across 23 Tigerair domestic routes, with…
Twin: duplicate or match. Identical: being the exact same one. Once again Dirk Kurbjuweit brings us a novel with some unusual characters, something I feel he is mastering rather well. Twins, is a novel about growing up, first loves and friendships. And whilst it touches on eccentric behaviour, it also involves two main characters that you’ll…
Taking the words out of our Prime Ministers’ mouths and merging them seamlessly together over of stirring music, The Singing Politician is the classical performance you didn’t know you wanted to see. From Menzies’ ‘Declaration of War’ to Whitlam’s ‘Well May We Say,’ and even a possible appearance from Donald Trump, Brisbane’s Topology and The…
Inspired by recent Australian political events, A Prudent Man takes an unapologetic look at memory, ego and power! Written and directed by award-winning playwright Katy Warner and performed by Lyall Brooks, this one-man monologue promises to take a dark comedic tour towards what it means to be right. Playing at the 2017 Brisbane Festival this…
Over the next few nights Australia’s music industry will come together with musicians and fans to not only celebrate, but evolve and progress. In addition to endless showcases of homegrown talent across Brisbane’s best live music spaces, BIGSOUND will be brimming with keynotes, masterclasses, and industry events where some of the biggest issues behind the scenes…
As of this filing, I will have now reviewed fully three instalments of the Madden NFL series for this website. Reviewing sports titles, as I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, is one of the easier aspects of the gig as a games critic — the games don’t change much year-to-year and they are, by and large, quite…
Attention Planet Earth: The Wild Blue Yonder has arrived; The front line in the seemingly endless list of franchises that fate and television executives have seen fit to revive. Amazon Prime subscribers, you face … The Tick!
In We Need To Talk About Kevin writer Lionel Shriver explored the idea of a mother grappling with her son’s heinous act. In The Dinner, four parents deal with the ramifications of a shocking crime perpetuated by their boys. They have to decide how far they will go in order to protect their teenage sons….
Caribbean influences sit alongside flavours from Cuba and Southern America at Windsor’s recently opened Saint Lucia, which popped up on Chapel Street earlier this year. The tropical-minded BBQ and rum bar offers a soulful, colourful space to Melbourne’s famously dynamic hospitality scene, illustrated with eclectic trinkets and lush greenery. With an inclusive dining experience (vegetarians…
An Indonesian-themed experience is now open at Taronga Zoo to get you frighteningly close to Taronga’s Sumatran Tiger conservation and education program. A simulated plane cabin will transport you to the jungles of Sumatra to begin your education journey about how choosing Certified Sustainable Palm Oil will have a role in saving this tiger species….
Melbourne’s S.M. Jenkins have been brewing up some great moments of slacker goodness with that classic Melbourne flair bands of the ilk have been so good at producing in recent years, notably seen on “High Beamin’”. Forming when Step-Panther’s Steve Bourke moved to Melbourne and linked up with Big Scary’s Jo Syme, Dumb Punts’ Jimmy Gallagher and…
