Video Game Review: RiME (PS4, 2017) is a Minimalist Dream

RiME is a game that plays it’s cards close to it’s chest. Waking on a mostly deserted island, the games protagonist is seemingly lost, and must find his way through the island, conquering puzzles as he travels. RiME is largely guided by its mystery, as players seek to discover the secrets of the boy, the…

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Video Games Review: Farpoint (2017, PSVR) isn’t PSVR’s killer app, but represents a significant step forward

PSVR currently finds itself at a crossroads. Prior to launch, it seemed like Sony had everything they needed to absolutely crush their competition in the VR space — it had a price point that couldn’t be beat, an army of third-party developer talent curated over decades and a PS4 install base that is the envy…

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Review: Sophie Foster makes us all feel good as she helps open the Perth International Jazz Festival

Sophie Foster, a WAAPA graduate and contemporary vocalist, was the main headliner for the first night of the Perth International Jazz Festival. Instead of attempting to conjure sonic textures via paragraphs of high falutin’ words, I’ll just say that her r’n’b/neo-soul stylings reminded me a lot of Alicia Keys and a little bit of Prince, two…

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Interview: Geraldine Hakewill talks about her upcoming role as Lady Macbeth and how Shakespeare’s work continues to translate in 2017

It’s one of Shakepeare‘s most famous tragedies and the Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) is bringing Macbeth to audiences with a modern day touch. Starring none other than Aussie actor Jai Courtney in the title role and Geraldine Hakewill as Lady Macbeth, this is sure to be an outstanding season of Australian theatre. Macbeth opens next week and the cast…

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POPSART: GOMA’s Marvel Launch – Why the Throne of Asgard is in a contemporary gallery and is Captain America really a woman?

Last Friday, the Marvel Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition opened at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and what a visual, popular cultural feast it is, with over 500 objects including the costumes, props, sets and characters all spectacularly animating the voluminous rooms of GOMA. Art and God-like archetypes have been an intrinsic part of…

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Win a double pass to see Jatinga in Sydney

Following the critically acclaimed, sell-out season of The Laden Table (March 2017), bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company is presenting the world premiere of Jatinga – an international co-production inspired by the daughters of sex-workers in Kamathipura, Mumbai’s oldest and Asia’s second largest red-light district. Named after the village Jatinga, a place most famous for the phenomenon of…

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Win a double pass to see The Imperial Bells of China in Melbourne or Sydney

In a unique display unlike any other orchestral performance, the internationally acclaimed Hubei Chime Bells National Chinese Orchestra brings The Imperial Bells of China – Chimes in Concert to Australia for concerts in Melbourne on Thursday 20 July at Melbourne Recital Center and in Sydney on Sunday 23 July at Sydney Opera House. Together with…

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Paddington’s The Unicorn named “Pub of the Year” at Time Out Sydney Pub Awards

The Time Out Sydney Pub Awards have once again gone through and highlighted the top performers in this city’s generous and ever-evolving pub scene. Much like the publications bar and food awards, the list serves as a comprehensive celebration of quality, awarding venues across 11 categories based on everything from best pub food and family-friendliness…

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Zac Sykes tightens focus on communal dining at North Bondi Fish (Sydney)

Zac Sykes, Head Chef at North Bondi Fish, is stepping into a series of share-style dinners as of next month, giving him a platform to tighten focus on one-off dishes made with sustainable seafood and seasonal produce. Designed as a special “Zac’s Table” menu, guests taking part in the communal tables will feast on a…

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Krispy Kreme are giving away 30,000 freebies for National Doughnut Day this week

Krispy Kreme is going full Oprah for this year’s National Doughnut Day, once again prepping for an Original Glazed giveaway but pushing up stock to 30,000 freebies. The brand’s beloved and highly indulgent signature will be available for one day only, pushed out for free to hungry doughnut lovers on Friday 2nd June. Getting your…

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Review: Chapel Street’s Oriental Teahouse presents modern twists to authentic Chinese dining (Melbourne)

Celebrated tea master and restaurateur, David Zhou is the man behind the iconic Oriental Teahouse and has reopened the doors to Chapel Street’s venue after undergoing a modern renovation. Designed by Melbourne design studio Hecker Guthrie, the new interior has brought an authentic Chinese teahouse into the modern world, with its brushed concrete walls, home to…

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Seventeen things we learned about director Oliver Stone in his Vivid Ideas appearance

Helping kick off the first weekend of Vivid Ideas today was one of the biggest names to ever grace the event – iconic director Oliver Stone, who spoke with Margaret Pomeranz in front of a sold out crowd at Sydney’s City Recital Hall as part of the event’s “Game-Changers” series that also includes Shepard Farey…

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Twin Peaks returns as it left: Impressions of the first four episodes of season three

A young Dale Cooper and Laura Palmer seated in the black lodge, two and a half decades past. It’s the first image we get from Twin Peaks returned and extends a moment of nostalgia before settling how much time has passed, both in Lynch’s universe and ours. When Coop reappears following Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peak’s…

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Interview: Hounds of Love star Ashleigh Cummings on playing the empowered victim

Hounds of Love, a genre-bending powerhouse thriller from Australian director Ben Young, has been wowing critics across the globe since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2016. And earlier this month it had its North American premiere at SXSW. Featuring a cast of familiar and new faces, the film tackles deep issues of trauma…

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Jackalope, QT Melbourne and The Johnson named among Australia’s top hotels for 2017

Long-standing publication Gourmet Traveller have once again scanned Australia’s rich and diverse hospitality scene to find our nation’s top performing hotels across various categories. From established luxury properties to boutique gems, the awards this year represent a very wide range of accommodation options for locals and visitors, acknowledging everywhere from a newly opened favourite in…

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Review: Sugarcane introduces a Southeast Asian breakfast menu to Coogee Beach (Sydney)

Unique brunch menus are hard to come by in Sydney. With a forceful wave of avo on toast or anything matcha-flavoured taking over the cafe scene, it’s refreshing to sit down at a breakfast table that delivers on restraint, taste, and technique. A stone’s throw away from Coogee Beach, Sugarcane is the perfect setting for…

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Both Luke Mangan and Johnny di Francesco announce new restaurants for P&O Cruises

The rise of the ‘casual gourmet’ dining experience is fast becoming a staple across the Australian foodie scene. Ahead of their 2018-19 departures, P&O Cruises are taking the ‘casual gourmet’ trend on-board with the help from acclaimed chef Luke Mangan, and famed Melbourne pizza master Johnny Di Francesco. Guests at sea on the cruise line’s Pacific Explorer will be…

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A Night with the Nail: Drambuie is bringing a five-week bar experience to Brisbane this June

Scotch Whisky Liqueur brand Drambuie is celebrating the revival of its most renowned cocktail, The Rusty Nail,  with a five-week bar experience called ‘A Night with the Nail’. The pop up follows success in other Australian cities, highlighting one of the most iconic whisky cocktails and how the simply beautiful recipe has stood the test…

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The epic Italian Wine & Food Festival returns to Melbourne this June

Following last years success, the Melbourne Italian Wine + Food Festival returns to Carlton Gardens for one day only. From street-style pizza to pasta made in front of guests, the festival will bring together Italian food and drink, information and entertainment. Chefs Rosa Mitchell from Rosa’s Canteen, and Johnny di Francesco from 400 Gradi will…

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Brisbane’s four-day Maroon Festival set to showcase Queensland’s finest eateries

The Maroon Festival will be a hub for Queensland fans, with the inaugural event kicking off on the days leading up to the State of Origin. Running from Sunday 28 May to Wednesday 31 May along Brisbane’s South Bank, the free family event blends all things rugby league and Queensland’s booming culinary culture across four days…

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Live Review: Donny Benét + Broadway Sounds + Silver Linings – The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne (25.05.17)

Something magical happened at The Gasometer Hotel on Thursday night. The lighting was dimmed to sultry, red stage lights catching the smoke in the air, the oversized disco ball looming overhead, and Donny Benét (the sexiest man in music), was set to take the stage. Silver Linings took to the stage first, to warm the…

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Live Review: The Smith Street Band + Joyce Manor + Ceres + Allison Weiss – Odeon Theatre, Hobart (25.05.17)

In the dark corners of Hobart, surrounded by many a fast food restaurant or club, sits the Odeon Theatre, the premiere setting for the majority of all age concerts to grace Tasmania’s capital. In the wake of their new release, More Afraid Of You Than You Are Of Me, The Smith Street Band make their…

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Matt Hollywood’s Illusions Magic Show on the Gold Coast will make your troubles disappear

If you’re looking for a drug-free night where you’ll still be tripping, I recommend booking VIP tickets to Matt Hollywood’s Illusions Magic Show; although it’s been rumoured that Matt Hollywood doesn’t really exist. Rumour has it that he’s a figure of the imagination, an illusion that can disappear in the blink of an eye. He…

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Fleet Foxes kick off a four show Opera House residency; open Vivid Live 2017 previewing their long awaited new album Crack-Up

As we arrived in the iconic, well coloured sails for the opening night of Vivid, the excitement for the return of Seattle outfit Fleet Foxes, who were helping opening the festival, was palpable. A screen sat at the back of the stage, and a note (presumably) from the band told us they missed us (“welcome to…

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Single of the Day: Mikhael Paskalev “Shotgun” (2017)

Mikhael Paskalev is back with another sparkly number, this time in “Shotgun”. A fine return from the Norwegian pop maestro – with swirling textural vibes akin to popular Tears For Fears cuts and when his vocal kicks in, there’s hits of Passion Pit vibrancy that will instantly draw indie pop fans in. As a tune…

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Live Review: Julia Jacklin + Jaala – Metro Theatre, Sydney (25.05.17)

There was a song on Phoenix’s Bankrupt album called ‘Trying To Be Cool”, which is a fair description for a lot people you see at gigs. I mean, maybe they really do dress and act like that, but surely there’s an essence to their gig persona where they really are just trying to be cool….

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The prolific Martin Kennedy talks about Kilbey Kennedy’s fifth record Glow and Fade

The Church frontman Steve Kilbey and All India Radio’s Martin Kennedy have been releasing music under the guise Kilbey Kennedy since 2009, and today the prolific pair have released album number five: Glow and Fade. I caught up with Martin Kennedy to talk about the album, which they are calling their “Magnum Opus”, its cover…

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Music Video of the Day: Baby Blue “New Girlfriend” (2017)

We give Melbourne’s Baby Blue a lot of love, and for good reason. The four-piece, fronted by Rhea Caldwell, are a genre-spanning group, spinning through grooving 60’s rock, indie pop melodies, and solid guitar riffs. What’s better than just Baby Blue? How about Baby Blue’s single “New Girlfriend”, taken from their debut EP In My Mind, and dogs? Rhea reached out…

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From Aldous to Dean: The 8 Best Performances at The UK’s Great Escape

Now the dust has finally settled on The Great Escape for another year and a flight back to Australia beckons, I’ve been loading up my flight playlist and have come to land on my top eight artists from my time out in Brighton. Of course, there were some shining artists I’d known about prior, while…

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Bong Joon-ho’s OKJA mildly NSFW trailer looks like the mutant super-pig film you never knew you wanted

Who would have thought that one of the most anticipated movies of the year would be a film about a mutant super-pig? Well, this is thanks to the critically acclaimed Korean director, Bong Joon-ho, whose previous films have been critical successes all over the world. His impressive resume so far includes films like the strikingly…

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