It’s that time of year again. We’re making a list, and checking it 26 times because that’s how many good games there were this year. Through hours of painstaking research, office-wide arguments, dice-rolling, divination via goat bones, sacred pilgrimages and pleas for guidance to a small framed picture of Reggie Fils-Aime, we have collated our Top 10…
The Star Wars saga is set to continue, this time with the first stand alone film in its ‘Anthology’ series. Singular films that will showcase interconnected stories or characters that basically provide an extended universe to our main trilogies. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is first out of the gates and has a lot…
2016 has, by now, a well-deserved reputation for being kind of a jerk. The last twelve months have taken beloved artists from us, presented a nightmare vision for the political future and tried its very best to defeat and demoralise us all. Amongst the gloom, we still had our lights — games we could look forward…
Laos director Mattie Do’s sophomore film Dearest Sister has an identity crisis. It just isn’t sure what story it wants to tell. And its an issue that is never repaired throughout its needless 100 minute running time. When Nok goes to stay with her blind and affluent sister Ana, the two begin fighting after Nok finds out…
You might have noticed that the world has gone a little bit Star Wars crazy these last couple of months. There’s been novels, movies – just released – memoirs by stars, and now a biography of the creator, the man behind it all – George Lucas. George Lucas: A Life is the new biography from…
Sydney’s iconic Carriageworks is set to open an enormous expansion in January 2017 following a recent partnership with UrbanGrowth NSW and the acquisition of The Clothing Store, a heritage part of the historic Railway Workshops network in North Eveleigh. Announced today, the arts destination will put out a public call for expressions of interest for…
In a Sydney exclusive, SIRO-A will bring their theatrical spectacular Techno Circus to Australia early next year, performing at The Concourse from 10th to 29th January 2017. Described as Japan’s answer to Blue Man Group, SIRO-A was formed in 2002 by six classmates from Sendai. Aiming to break the barriers of conventional theatre, the group…
On January 15th, singer-songwriters Amanda Palmer and Missy Higgins will speak on motherhood, music, and artistry at a one-off event for the Melbourne branch of Alain de Botton‘s School of Life. Both Palmer and Higgins have built their musical careers on going against the grain, boasting creative streaks that, Palmer at least, worried might be…
It’s December! The Festive Season… The Silly Season… You get the point. Christmas or not, we’re back with another five books we think you need to be reading this month – or gifting – so if you’ve still got a few people left to buy for, keep reading. This month we’ve got a movie-set memoir…
After a sold-out debut run, comedian Eric Andre will return to Australia and make his first trip to New Zealand with dates set for May 2017. Known for his off-kilter humour, Andre has presented his cult hit talk show The Eric Andre Show since 2012, co-hosting with Hannibal Buress and boasting guests such as Jack…
The new Yeezy Boost 350 v2 “Core White” release is one of the sexiest pairs to come out of the now iconic, “queue for days” collaboration between adidas and Kanye West. The fever-pitch demand each time a different expression of these bad boys hits the worldwide market is kind of ridiculous, but easily justified if…
2016 has been a big step forward for Jameson, especially seeing as this year saw them unveil a whole new family of expressions celebrating the heritage and craft that swirls around the hugely popular Irish blend. Their whiskeys have always been greatly received around the world so watching them push their Whiskey Maker’s adventurous range…
One of Queensland’s most awarded burger shacks, Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co. (often referred to as just Betty’s Burgers), has long been a staple for burger fiends and visitors up north. Their three stores, the flagship in Noosa and the subsequent openings in Surfers Paradise and Robina, have remained in such high regard that it’s…
A warm Summer’s day became cooler as the breeze off the Woolloomooloo water blew towards The Frisco Hotel that lies one block away from the water. Tightly-wound townhouses are stacked up the street, as the maritime blue poles of the nautical themed herald a new era for the long-standing pub. Under new management, the 13-week…
Concealed on Reservoir Street in Surry Hills, Bangbang Café remains a refuge for fresh salads, take-away coffee and gluttonous burgers, a menu which in the past year or so has placed the modest business in prime position on the front line of Sydney’s ongoing burger war. It oozes casual cool from its open, sun-lit shop…
Fusing electronic-soul, pop and R&B influences, Melbourne artist Francesca Gonzales is working with a indulgent and enticing creative melting pot. Her latest single, “Memories”, is indicative of a highly promising talent, an early taste of her solo work after years of playing with Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird. Gonzales’ debut EP, Anywhere Boy, is being launched tonight in Melbourne at Boney…
The 2016 Falls Music and Arts Festival is just around the corner now, which means it’s just about time for you to whip out your phones or if you’re old school like me, your highlighters and get planning – the set times for all festivals have all been made available. Before we get to that, some comedy announcements….
Secret Garden has long held a soft spot in the hearts of many Australian music lovers and it’s no reason why. Held in a gorgeous part of NSW over two days, the festival sells out before the line up even gets announced, such is their stellar reputation. Don your fancy dress and get ready for…
My Disco have unveiled their plans for an epic Aussie tour kicking off in the New Year headlined by their appearance at Sugar Mountain in Melbourne on January 21st. It’s an opportunity for fans to see the band bring their Severe Remixes album to Australia, a record that has seen “1991” and “Our Decade” reworked entirely…
It’s been a hot minute since Husky have been on the road through Australia but recently that’s all changed. Returning from Berlin brandishing new material to follow on from 2014’s Rucker’s Hill, songwriter Husky Gawenda and Gideon Preiss returned ready to reintegrate themselves in the Australian scene once more. And that, they most certainly have. With their national tour wrapping…
The lead up to Castaway Festival was looking a little grimmer by the day as people scrambled to sell tickets, and the weather forecast fluctuated out of favour. But there’s nothing that rekindles that mix of festival excitement over seeing some killer acts, and a splash of anxiety over whether you’ll peak too soon, quite…
This week, it’s all about the nominees of this year’s AU Awards and what their 2016’s have been like. We’ve already delved into our nominations for Male and Female Artist of the Year respectively, and now we turn to those bands and soloists who have come out the gates strongly and have backed up the…
In 2016, artists of colour have expectations placed on them from both sides of the political spectrum – those on the right would rather they stayed silent about their concerns, while oftentimes those on the left expect each artistic statement to be a political paean and call to arms. This is, of course, an unfair…
In what was simply a perfect musical pairing waiting to happen, contemporary R&B project Rhye has provided some exceptionally beautiful vocals for Bonobo’s single, “Break Apart”. This is a stripped-back, velvety soundscape where dreams are made. Lifted from his sixth studio album Migration, due January 13th, “Break Apart” illustrates both the transitory nature of the album and Bonobo’s…
Crowded House celebrates six albums across and 30 years of music. This year, at the ARIA’s, they were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Their bands’ music resonates with so many people, not just in Australia and New Zealand, but globally. When asked what makes it so relatable they explained that they didn’t know the…
This local psychedelic pop/rock outfit from Adelaide are doing some really good things. The past twelve months have seen Zen Panda support some huge names like Last Dinosaurs and The Belligerents, as well as release their debut single, “Cute Hand Touch In The Nutbowl”. Now, we have a crazy little video clip to match. Alluding…
Your favourite Brisbane punk-rockers have made an Australian music video first with their official interactive video for their new single, “Scott Green”. In true Dune Rats fashion, it’s a blundering, drug-fueled adventure that follows the boys on their quest to find the ratdog that stole their weed at a house party. And this is where…
After a *monster* year for Australia’s genre film festival Monster Fest, the event is slated to make a bigger and better return to Melbourne next year, making all your gory, scary and eye-opening dreams come true. The festival is to be held on November 22-26, 2017, with the return of The Swinburne University Media and Communication Monster Academy,…
Oscar winners Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth reprise their roles for the much-anticipated third installment of the Bridget Jones’s Franchise, Bridget Jones’s Baby. After breaking up with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) decides to focus on her successful career and close-knit group of friends. Fortysomething and once again single, Bridget’s love life…
If like me, you were a fan of Harley Quinn and in particular Margot Robbie’s portrayal of her in Suicide Squad earlier this year. Then get excited because she will be reprising that character for a newly announced DC film showcasing the top female villains. Gotham City Sirens will be DC’s attempt at flipping the…
