I make no secret of my love for 1 Hotels. I’ve stayed in several of the brand’s US properties to date (1 Hotel South Beach in Miami is my favourite), and see it as a necessary evolution for a hospitality industry constantly seeking new ways to be authentically eco-conscious. There are plenty of sustainability initiatives…
Gil Scott-Heron’s legacy was honoured at RISING this week, with longtime collaborator Brian Jackson joining Yasiin Bey to perform a stunning tribute at the Forum. The night moved through jazz, spoken word and early hip-hop influences. With Jackson returning to a body of work he helped shape and Bey carrying the material with a steady…
Melbourne’s favourite makers of boozy Italian good times are back with a new flavour that’s impossible to ignore. Tommy’s Booze – the locally made liqueur brand born from friendship, hospitality and a whole lot of fruit – has unveiled Kiwi, a limited-edition release that might just be its boldest concoction yet. Sweet, tangy and unapologetically…
Got yourself a case of the sweet tooth? Treat yourself to a slice of happiness with the hit Broadway musical, Waitress, where there’s a bun in the oven… and certainly a pie. Picture entering Her Majesty’s Theatre and the room being filled with the intoxicating scent of fresh apple pie. And no, it’s not artificial;…
Melbourne hip hop icon Illy took to his socials last Tuesday to announce a national tour celebrating the 10-year anniversary of his fifth album Two Degrees this June and July. Featuring the hit singles “Papercuts” with Vera Blue and “Catch 22” with Anne-Marie, the record debuted at number 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and…
The laughs feel a little different in 2026 – fuller, louder, maybe even a touch sentimental – as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival celebrates its 40th birthday. What began in 1987 as a relatively modest gathering of funny people has grown into something that now feels woven into the city’s DNA. For four decades, every…
The Sunday rain couldn’t keep eager concertgoers away from 170 Russell in Melbourne, where Broadside, This Wild life, Hot Chelle Rae, Cartel and Anberlin rolled into town for Destroy All Lines’ An Emo Extravaganza. Announced late last year, there was lots of hyper surrounding this event. Still, a last-minute venue downsize for Melbourne hinted that…
Seductive. Sultry. Sensual. These are just a few words to describe the luxurious ambiance of Piper’s Playhouse; a new, bespoke Parisian cabaret club at the heart of Crown Melbourne. Travel up the escalators and step behind the velvet curtain to be transported to a night of intrigue, awe and immersion, where jazz, burlesque and circus…
Teleportation may not be possible just yet, but Maho Magic Bar is the closest we’ve come! Situated in the newly opened Spiegel Haus Melbourne precinct, step into a bespoke space that stimulates the senses and transports you to an authentic Tokyo magic bar without ever leaving your backyard. Combining dazzling magic, classic cocktails and laughs…
What better way to celebrate the grand opening of Spiegel Haus Melbourne, a new entertainment venue in the heart of the CBD, than with a sexy, sultry and seductive adults-only spectacle? Blanc de Blanc Encore is a sensual mix of cabaret, circus and comedy, turning this eclectic Melbourne venue into a Parisian, champagne-fuelled delight for…
It’s 1968, and Hair has just brought a story about identity, hippie culture and war to the musical theatre scene. Cut to nearly 60 years later, and the same cultural movement is making its way through Australia, capturing the audience with an emotion-fuelled tribal ritual. This tribal love rock musical is hinged around 60s counterculture,…
HQ Group’s Afloat Melbourne has reopened with a fresh new look, bringing the flavours, energy, and vibrance of Rio De Janeiro right to our very doorstep. Launching right into the summer season, patrons will get a taste of Brazil with a rich, flavourful menu including empanadas, coxinha, pastels, dulce de leche flan, and other dishes…
Audrey Hobert’s Melbourne debut at The Toff in Town was one of her first-ever Australian shows, with just 300 fans securing a spot through a ballot system. She played tracks from her debut album Who’s The Clown? to the tiny room, filled with warmth and anticipation, offering a rare close-up introduction to a rising songwriter. Eloise…
Melbourne is full of incredible places to eat, explore, and unwind – but not every spot brings it all together. One of Australia’s leading shopping destinations, Chadstone, is one such spot, with fashion, food, and entertainment all under the same roof. Here are the reasons why a visit to Chadstone should be on every itinerary in…
It doesn’t need to be the hard knock life. Take a trip down Easy Street with one of Broadway’s brightest sources of love, laughter and happiness. Returning to Australian shores, Annie the Musical has delighted audiences worldwide for nearly 50 years, capturing the hearts of generation after generation. It’s a truly joyous adventure following the…
The Fremantle indie rock band Spacey Jane have had huge success in their careers over the last five years; selling out shows, finding international acclaim, touring around the world, and debuting at number 2 on the ARIA charts with their third album If That Makes Sense. They are by far one of the most popular Aussie…
Japanese Breakfast returned to Melbourne for the first time in eight years on Thursday, playing a stunning theatrical set at PICA as part of this year’s RISING Festival. Michelle Zauner and her band moved between sparkling pop and deep sentiments, pulling from their newest record For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women) and beyond, including tracks…
After an eight year wait, the Grammy nominated indie pop band Japanese Breakfast came back to Australian shores with a taste of their Melancholy Tour for this year’s RISING festival in Melbourne. Coming off of the high of Michelle Zauner’s critically acclaimed 2021 memoir Crying at the H Mart, Japanese Breakfast released their fourth studio…
Marlon Williams took over Melbourne Town Hall on Wednesday night, opening up RISING 2025. Delivering a warm, emotional set that marked the Australian debut of his first full-length Māori-language album Te Whare Tīwekaweka. Backed by his long-time band The Yarra Benders and joined by kapa haka group Ngā Mātai Pūrua, Williams blended tradition with his…
Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Be… witness to one of the most extravagant and impressive productions to ever hit Australian shores. The hotly anticipated musical adaptation of Tim Burton’s classic film, Beetlejuice, has debuted six feet down-under with Melbourne’s own Eddie Perfect sliding into the titular role for the first time. The musical takes themes of family, love and…
Grab your lyre and take a trip down the Styx to the Underworld… but just remember, don’t look back. Where love, tragedy and Greek mythology combine, Hadestown debuts the timeless love story of Orpheus and Eurydice at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre. This Tony award-winning production, fuelled by the music and lyrics of Anaïs Mitchell, weaves…
Melbourne’s beloved Slowly Slowly took to the stage at Margaret Court Arena on Saturday night to deliver a performance that will go down in the band’s history. This show marked a huge milestone for the group- their first ever headliner at an arena, and in their hometown no less. Joining them were Philly boys Greyscale…
Saturday night saw pop-punk icons Yellowcard play to an almost sold-out Margaret Court Arena, their biggest headline show in Australia. Joining them were Plain White T’s and Motion City Soundtrack– a lineup for the pop-punk ages. Though it’s technically two-years overdue, this tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of their highly regarded 2003 record Ocean Avenue,…
Mallrat wrapped up her Australian tour with a packed show at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Friday night, performing tracks from her new album Light hit my face like a straight right. Grace Shaw and her band delivered a tight, emotive set featuring recent singles ‘Pavement’, ‘Hocus Pocus’ and ‘Ray of Light’, alongside fan favourites like…
Following a string of memorable performances at major international festivals last summer, including Glastonbury Festival (UK), Rock in Rio Lisbon (Portugal), and Tinderbox Festival (Denmark), Camila Cabello will kick off the Yours, C tour in Marbella, Spain, before hitting Australia this August. Known for her high energy live shows, Camila will return to the stage…
It’s time to start planning your trip to PAX Aus 2025 with Early Bird Badges on sale now. PAX Aus has solidified itself as the biggest and best gaming convention in Australia, packing together three massive days at the Melbourne Convention Centre, the event brings together the best of gaming, tech, pop culture and cosplay…
The Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF) (March 20th – 24th, 2025) is an exciting, volunteer-run festival that aims to inspire and empower established and emerging women and gender diverse screen practitioners from Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand and the wider Moana region through the celebration of their work and artistry. MWFF exhibits work from collaborative teams…
Have you ever wanted to rock out with Jesus, Judas and the gang? Join 50 years of raving audiences and bear witness this to reinvention… this revival… this ‘resurrection’ of Jesus Christ Superstar. Guided by the lyrics and music of EGOT winners Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, this mesmerising new production has hit Australian…
The 2025 RISING program has well and truly landed, with a stellar lineup of arts and entertainment acts announced for the two-week festival this June. Fast earning a reputation for bringing headline acts and bold new commissions to Melbourne, the winter showcase runs across two huge weekends, from Wednesday 4th to Sunday 15th June. If…
Travelling is an experience. Travelling well is an art. The popularity and time-honoured importance of “travel hacks” are well-documented in the age of social media. Just about everyone is scrambling for ways to make their holiday feel more like a holiday and less like a task. Just open TikTok or Instagram and you’ll meet a…
