It’s amazing to think that !!! are still going and not just still going but producing some of their most consistently strong musical output of their long career. They create music which is nearly physically impossible not to dance to, and it was with great pleasure that we got the chance to catch up with…
One film we’re particularly excited about here at The Iris is Wilson, a new comedy staring Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern and Judy Greer which hits select cinemas on Thursday, May 25th. The film chronicles the life of a lonely, neurotic and hilariously honest middle-aged man (Harrelson), as he reunites with his estranged wife and meets…
Neruda is a film that truly embodies its subject matter. But this proves to be one double-edged sword because it is also to its betterment and detriment. This bio-pic about the eponymous, beloved Chilean poet uses the lyrical qualities the writer employed to bend the narrative in so many ways that the result is virtually…
As this sub-tropical island becomes increasingly knows for its nature – both on land and underwater – Taiwan is fast becoming one of Asia’s fastest growing tourism destinations. Its capital, Taipei, is a clean (really clean), fairly modern city full of lush parks, with easy access to both the beach and the mountains via one single MRT…
This time of year it’s mighty tempting to fight them winter chills and head off somewhere sunny, welcoming and familiar. Hawaii remains a top destination for us Aussies which is unsurprising, given how similarly laid back and beachy the vibe is over there. So for anyone craving an eternal summer or daydreaming about their next…
You’re going to want to hit up Semi Permanent this year. The design conference has partnered up with Carriageworks to bring La Rosa Social Club over to Sydney, after much success in L.A and Berlin. A concept given life by famed filmmaker Aaron Rose, the pop-up bar is designed to be pull together elements of…
Wild Turkey are currently running an event series inspired by their iconic Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell, split between Sydney and Melbourne with an ode to passionate and talented Australian artists ranging from music to food. The food part is of particular interest here because the organisers have had the good sense to hook…
The always impressive Vivid Sydney will be casting a huge net of creativity over the city as of next week, presenting locals and visitors with yet again one of the most exciting programs in the entire country. Lights, music and ideas are the three pillars around which this program is curated, but there’s always so…
After building a passionate following with their Newtown store, Sydney’s beloved T Totaler, purveyor of hand-blended tea, has opened up a little bit closer to the heart of town, securing a small but impressively designed space in The Galeries. Opening up opposite Incu the purveyors of locally grown artisan tea have lined the new bright…
Australia’s casual eats scene is so damn fine that of course the sports industry is going to want a slice. The organisers behind College Football Sydney Cup have had the good sense to move away from plastic-tasting hotdogs and stale-tasting doughnuts and enlist the help of some real pros to cater match day on 27th…
Australian cruisers will be amongst the first to see the newest show by Oscar®, Grammy® & Tony Award®-winning composer Stephen Schwartz. His first musical production (which showed on Emerald Princess during its six month season cruising out of Sydney last summer) Magic to Do– combined his lifelong fascination with magic with some of his most famous…
Melbourne’s Juñor has this time found himself mixing things up with LA’s Mann – known for his work with the likes of Kendrick and Frank Ocean – on new single “Top Flight”. An impressive new release from Juñor, “Top Flight” brings both groove and punchy lyrics to fruition in a combination that demonstrates the solid dynamic that has clearly resulted from this…
Muse dropped their brand new single, “Dig Down”, overnight and the reaction has been varied. Sounding a lot like “Madness” from The 2nd Law it has a slow, pulsating bassline – possibly from Chris Wolstenholme‘s Kitara, an assumption based purely on the similarity to “Madness” – and Matt Bellamy delivers the vocals in breathy crooner…
For Perth’s Voyager, the release of their sixth studio album in The Ghost Mile marked a significant moment for the group. Coming off the back of a fruitful period spent writing in studio – a more collaborative effort than previous albums had seen – as well being created while weddings and general life continued to swirl around the…
We first met Circa Waves in 2014 – it was a sweaty Sydney afternoon when the Liverpudlian rockers stopped by our offices for a chat around their debut Australian appearances for Splendour in the Grass. Already, the band had generated the type of hype and momentum that helped launch bands like Catfish and The Bottlemen to popular…
Sydney’s Dear Seattle started turning heads after uploading some pretty amazing tracks to triple j unearthed, particularly with release of breakthrough single ‘Meadows’. The group deliver their gritty indie-rock and heartfelt, raw vocals in ‘Afterthought’, the video continuing from the video for ‘Meadows’. It’s an exploration of the morning after a big one, dealing with the…
The In The House series at the Event Cinemas on George Street in Sydney brings back cult classics to the big screen. The next screening is on May 26th and will see John Carpenter and Kurt Russell at it again in the 1981 hit Escape From New York. To accompany the screening, David “Quinny” Quinn from…
I will admit to have very little prior experience with the Fire Emblem franchise, having deliberately avoided the series due to its deep lore and extensive history. Despite this, I largely enjoyed my time with its newest entry, Shadows of Valentia, which presents a simple, but surprisingly accessible story for new fans and long-time players…
The 34th annual St Kilda Film Festival has officially commenced for another year, and the program is nothing short of exciting. Incredibly, the festival is Australia’s longest running short film festival ever, and for opening night to take place at the iconic and newly refurbished Palais Theatre, well, what could be more historic than that. Last…
After twenty-six years Twin Peaks breathes once more. The series formerly declared dead by director David Lynch, will return following two and a half decades of speculation and fan civil war (born by the closing scene of the final episode – Beyond Life and Death). Its revival beckons the Lynchian cult to raise their lighters…
The Great Escape brought its A-game to the first official day of proceedings out in Brighton this Thursday. The rain did not deter the delegates and punters from embracing the sheer wealth of live music to be absorbed across the wide variety of music venues within the city. While the SOUNDS AUSTRALIA Sound Gallery showcase…
The SOUNDS AUSTRALIA crew have always maintained an impressive presence internationally, The Great Escape proving to be no exception to the rule for another year. Kicking off their time in Brighton with the annual Sound Gallery at Komedia, a great array of Australian artists took to the stage in the underground venue and upstairs in the studio…
APES are an enigmatic Melbourne band. They’re well-known across the Australian music community, however in their long career, they haven’t released a full-length album – only small tasters in an EP and single launches. But, finally, the day has come, and they are bringing their debut album, Stranger Than Strangers into the world. It reveals…
I’ll be damned if this isn’t the cutest music video I’ve seen in a long while. Hachiku, aka Anika Ostendorf, crafts avant-garde tinged dream pop from whatever bedroom she’s writing from. The Melbourne-via London-via Germany 22-year old will be releasing her debut EP through Milk! Records on June 2nd, having already supported Courtney Barnett on her 2015 European…
One word for this single: wow. This stellar debut single is from Brisbane’s Hatchie, aka Harriette Pilbeam, an artist who’s made music with a lot of groups, including indie pop darlings Babaganouj. Striding out on her own for “Try”, she delivers shoegaze soaked dream pop that’s so effortless, she really doesn’t seem to by trying. The shimmery pop…
The Great Escape festival returns to Brighton and Hove this year, bringing with it over 450 new and up and coming bands. Here at the AU, we love Australian music, and couldn’t be prouder of the Aussie acts that have been selected to perform, in the midst of such a sheer volume of talent. Honourable mentions to…
Blues on Broadbeach is one of the largest free music events in Australia. Held on May 18 to 21st, the festival is celebrating its 16th year, having started in 2002. Cold Chisel guitarist and successful solo artist, Ian Moss is one of almost 70 acts to perform over the four day festival including: Bonnie Tyler,…
The coolest kids on the block and possibly the sweetest kids of the bunch – Western Australian band San Cisco are back with The Water, a serenade of rich insistent pop tunes. Lets dive in. The band began their string of melodic love dedications back in 2010, with their first EP Golden Revolver. Led by storyteller Jordi Davieson on vocals, Scarlett Stevens, Josh Biondillo and Nick Gardner were…
Event Cinemas on George Street in Sydney has announced a one-of-a-kind event later this month, that will allow cinema lovers to see Australian actor David Wenham in a live 1-hour Q&A. Hosted by Luke Buckmaster, the insightful event will see the Lord of the Rings offer sage advice on the industry. This will immediately be followed by a screening…
Today marks the day we have gained an exciting new look into CBS’s highly anticipated new Star Trek series, Star Trek: Discovery, which will screen internationally (including in Australia) on Netflix. Check out the trailer below. It must be a science fiction extravaganza this week as Fox’s new Seth McFarlane series The Orville also planted a trailer online…
