Film Review: Spider-Man: Homecoming (USA, 2017) is a triumphant return to form

By the conclusion of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the character and lore behind it had lost all sense of vigour on screen. The film was tired, painful and offensively deplorable, so much so it managed to master what many would consider near impossible — it made the promise of future instalments as something to dread…

Read more

Melbourne Documentary Film Festival Review: The Slippers (Canada, 2016) is unbelievable, whimsical and charming

In the film, The Wizard of Oz Dorothy taps her ruby red slippers and says, “There’s no place like home.” But have you ever wondered where was home for those striking shoes? The documentary, The Slippers is a fascinating film that covers what became of this beloved slice of movie history in a story that…

Read more

Melbourne Documentary Film Festival Review: Placebo Alt.Russia (UK, 2016) is a fascinating documentary about Russia’s art & black market music

Placebo have always been a band that proudly sit outside of the mainstream. So it’s not a giant leap for this group of alternative musicians to want to seek out like-minded individuals when they are on tour. Placebo Alt.Russia is partially an arts and political documentary and part travelogue as the band traverse through different…

Read more

Theatre Review: Vigil filled to the brim with character and passion (Art Centre Melbourne until 8th July)

Even though it is billed as a cabaret, Vigil is something that is far from that label. This one-person show – commissioned by the Adelaide Cabaret Festival – is filled with songs and interludes that weave through its story. While cabaret is traditionally seen as something jovial, Vigil cannot lay claim to this. It is…

Read more

Read the first chapter of Iain Ryan’s new regional noir novel The Student

Sometimes it’s hard to know if you’re going to know if you’re going to like a novel just from looking at the cover and the synopsis. Sometimes it’s handy to read a little bit of the novel, get a feel for it… realise you love it, want to read more, and go out and by…

Read more

Win a double pass to see Hello, Goodbye and Happy Birthday in Sydney

Audiences are invited to a birthday party like no other when the national tour of Hello, Goodbye and Happy Birthday takes to the stage at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta from 27 to 29 July. Hello, Goodbye and Happy Birthday celebrates two milestone birthdays – 18 and 80 – two major transition points of adult life. One…

Read more

Interview: The Incredible Here and Now co-director Jeneffa Soldatic talks about the anticipated coming-of-age adaptation

Commissioned from local Parramatta author Felicity Castagna based on her multi award winning novel and performed by Australia’s newest theatre company, National Theatre of Parramatta, the coming-of-age drama The Incredible Here and Now looks set to be one of the most talked about shows on the season. In the leadup to the opening of the production…

Read more

Melbourne Central is planning a two day….Unicorn Festival

Surprisingly Melbourne has never had a Unicorn Festival before. What’s even more surprising is that unicorn doesn’t mean a multi-coloured mythical horse-like creature with a sharp horn anymore; it means sugary, ‘gram-worthy desserts like donuts, scrolls and ice creams. That’s what’s in store for Melbourne locals and visitors at the city’s first ever Unicorn Festival,…

Read more

Sydney favourite Belly Bao is officially moving to Newtown

It’s been four years since the almighty Belly Bao shot straight to the heart of Sydney’s food lovers. In 2013 they began trading fortnightly at Paddington Markets, growing a loyal following with lovingly steamed bao buns and various fillings like crispy fried chicken and crackling roast pork belly. They worked up a collective appetite among…

Read more

Mary’s CBD has introduced a full breakfast menu (Sydney)

The burger gods at Mary’s have decided that their CBD joint (the one right near Pitt St Mall) needs a bit of a makeover, so along with a new fit-out the team have introduced a full breakfast menu, primarily aimed at the many, many sad and regretful hungover individuals that stalk Sydney’s street on the…

Read more

Mercure Sydney breathes new life into their resident Eve’s Bar

Borrowing from the urban vibe of New York City, Mercure Sydney have given their Eve’s Bar an essential makeover, determined to positioned it as a go-to for not just guests, but also locals and commuters looking for a reliable option for lunch or after-work drinks. Sporting a brand new design, the bar now glows with…

Read more

Max Brenner will cover absolutely anything you want in chocolate for World Chocolate Day

Ubiquitous chocolate heaven Max Brenner is doing things a little differently come this year’s World Chocolate Day on Friday 7th July, offering chocolate-lovers the chance to get (almost) anything they want drizzled in the brand’s signature melted chocolate for free. Yeah, that means anything: avo on toast, a burger, a person, your old Sisqo CD’s,…

Read more

Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove hooks up with Taylors Wines for “One Wine Weekend” (Gold Coast)

This July, the Gold Coast’s stunning InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort and Taylors Wines are teaming up to celebrate the Sanctuary Cove Winter Wine Festival. Running across two days from July 22nd the resort will host three events different events to bring guests across a wide range of exclusive experiences. These include the Taylors Wines luxury…

Read more

Single of the Day: Oh Boy ft. Mallrat “Rush Hour” (2017)

Oh Boy and Mallrat are proving to be a powerful little duo making some ridiculously catchy music that’s only continuing to get better with each spin. Their latest collaboration comes to us in “Rush Hour” – encompassing 90’s R&B vibes in production and Mallrat’s vocal, the electro-pop number is effortless in its delivery and charm. “Rush Hour”…

Read more

Curated by local musicians, Sydney is getting a new singer/songwriter night, In The Round at Leadbelly

Kicking off next Wednesday, and continuing on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, Sydney venue Leadbelly Newtown is launching a new Singer/Songwriter night called In The Round at Leadbelly. Inspired by the sessions at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, the night – which is curated by a different musician each month – features four musicians…

Read more

Alison Avron talks about the state of Sydney as her live music venue The Newsagency returns bigger and better

Amidst all the talk of venue closures in Sydney in the past couple of years, there have been a couple of bright lights in recent weeks, one of which is been the return of the Lansdowne Hotel, which originally closed in 2015 after almost 90 years of live music. Another venue which recently closed, The…

Read more

The 20 Best Albums of 2017 (So Far) from Australia and Around the World

Shockingly, we find ourselves in the second half of 2017 already. In terms of new music, we’ve been hit with some heavy releases from some of pop music’s biggest names, while some of our favourite Australian artists have come out swinging with impressive album and EP releases all their own. As the first week of…

Read more

Album Review: Fleet Foxes – Crack-Up (2017 LP)

Those who say folk is a dying or dead genre are those who are uninitiated with Fleet Foxes. Critically acclaimed indie-folk band Fleet Foxes return after losing band member Josh Tillman, who currently performs under the guise of Father John Misty. Helplessness Blues is still highly regarded as one of the best albums of 2011,…

Read more

Live Review: Furnace and the Fundamentals + Discovery + Jude Perl – Max Watts, Melbourne (01.07.17)

Before anything, let’s take a moment and raise a glass to Furnace and the Fundamentals for not just changing the face of live music, but giving the public want they want – all killer, no filler. Gracefully traversing a well-blended medley of greatest hits, the spicy six piece took to an eager Max Watts on…

Read more

Live Review: DONNARUMMA + The Luke Louie Trio – The Grace Emily, Adelaide (01.07.17)

Adelaide trio DONNARUMMA launched their new EP Billy Billy at one of the city’s most beloved music venues – The Grace Emily – on Saturday night; an evening that was full of love and support for the players who have established themselves as more than just familiar faces on the circuit. Coming together with a wealth of…

Read more

Interview: Daniel Gillies talks about his upcoming trip to Uganda with OXFAM and working on The Originals

Over the weekend, The Originals star Daniel Gillies arrived as a guest for Oz Comic-Con Melbourne 2017. The Canadian born, New Zealand raised actor is best known for playing long-lived vampire Elijah Mikaelson. The show, a spin-off itself of The Vampire Diaries (which Gillies also starred in as the same character) has a legion of…

Read more

Australian Box Office Report: Despicable Me 3 regains top spot for school holidays

Seems that you can’t keep a good Gru down, as Despicable Me 3, last week’s 2nd place title on the box office ladder, has regained its no. 1 spot, making $3.42m in the process. Earnings slipped this week by 3%, but was added to 10 more screens nationally for the school holiday period. As a result, last…

Read more

New Playstation experience makes browsing your favourite content even easier

Sony has introduced a new, streamlined version of their content driven video experience on PlayStation 4, enabling users to discover and stream video content across the PlayStation Store and third party services. The new interface will allow browsing all in one place for new movies, television shows, live events and other content without having to…

Read more

Production has begun on the second season of Wolf Creek

Australian streaming service Stan announced today that production has begun in South Australia on the second season of Wolf Creek, its award-winning, smash-hit, critically-acclaimed original drama series. Director Greg McLean and star John Jarratt will continue their iconic and successful collaboration with Jarratt reprising his iconic role as the outback apex predator Mick Taylor, who returns…

Read more

There’s a South Park movie singalong happening in one of Sydney’s most iconic theatres

Leave your swear jars at home because the legends over at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in the Sydney suburb of Cremorne are set to turn their cinema – one of Sydney’s oldest and most iconic – into a room full of foul mouths and dirty language. That’s because South Park is coming back to…

Read more

The Lansdowne has Mary’s burger pizza, fish finger sandwiches and kimchi pancakes on the menu (Sydney)

Though the enormous – and enormously important – opening weekend for The Lansdowne is done and dusted, the triumphant return of the Sydney icon still has a long way to go. The much talked about re-opening has already marked a big win for the resurgence of the city’s once-smothered live music circuit, but there’s more…

Read more

Rye July whisky series returns to The Glenmore this July (Sydney)

This July, The Glenmore Hotel in The Rocks will host its fourth annual Rye July whisky celebration series. It boasts being a series of events for seasoned whisky-lovers and those looking to move up the ranks to a connoisseur. Two events over July are currently planned to tempt you away from those Dry July ambitions…

Read more

Single of the Day: San Mei “Necessary” (2017)

San Mei has been establishing herself on the radars of many musical tastemakers and crowds for a little while and in the lead up to the release of her debut EP Necessary (out July 14th), the musician has continued to spur on the hype train with the release of the record’s title track. “Necessary” sees San Mei…

Read more

Album Review: Kacy Hill – Like A Woman (2017 LP)

I saw Kacy Hill live at Splendour In The Grass 2016 on the back of knowing two songs of hers. Going into the set thinking her sound was maybe a cross between James Blake and Montaigne, I quickly realised I was doing her an injustice in comparing her to any other artist (irrespective of the…

Read more

Live Review: Mere Women + Terrible Truths + SPIT – The Curtin Hotel, Melbourne (30.06.17)

Relative newcomers SPIT opened the evening, their saccharine garage-punk even more evolved than when I saw them play last. With a triple mustang combo, they were a wall of sound, held together by the razor sharp drumming of Jonnine Nokes. One of their hallmark features is the alternating, dynamic vocals, shared between guitarists Chloe Turner…

Read more