Month: July 2016

The 25th Lollapalooza hits its stride on Day Three with Jane’s Addiction and the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Lollapalooza in Chicago hit its stride on its third day with just about everything anyone could want. The festival, known for its eclectic line-up, provided something for everyone with its Saturday night headliners and all the acts absolutely crushed it. The excitement from Saturday didn’t just include the headliners as the entire day was stocked full of…

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Festival Review: Thursday & Friday at Lollapalooza – Grant Park, Chicago (28.07.16 & 29.07.16)

In 1991, Perry Farrell had an idea to create something no one had tried before. 25 years later, Lollapalooza has been perhaps one of the most influential things ever to happen to live music. Over 160,000 people flock to Grant Park in Chicago to catch singers and bands from all over the world spanning every…

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Live Review: Jake Bugg + Blossoms – Palais Theatre, Melbourne (27.07.16)

Late July for non-Splendour goers means just one thing- side shows, one of which being UK double-header Jake Bugg and Blossoms at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre. Blossoms took to the stage with authority and, despite the still filling room and seated crowd (a side effect of Melbourne’s severe lack of mid-sized venues), were impressive from their…

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Pokémon GO‘s latest update 1.1.0 opens avatar customisation, removes nearby tracking

Mobile gaming success story/genuine phenomenon Pokémon GO has received its latest update today. Version 1.1.0 brings a number of changes to the altered reality Pokémon hunting sim, including avatar customisation and the removal of those inscrutable Nearby footprints.

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It’s official: there are just two seasons left of Game of Thrones

Though long rumoured and assumed based on interviews with the creatives behind the hit TV series Game of Thrones, today HBO made it official. According to Variety, HBO’s programming chief Casey Bloys has confirmed that the 8th season of the show will be its final bow. The confirmation came during the Television Critics Association press…

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We talk about the Global Angel Wings Project with Los Angeles based artist Colette Miller

Californian based artist Colette Miller was recently in Australia as part of an event to promote travel to Los Angeles, showing off her iconic “Angel Wings” artworks – one of which she painted at a special event in Sydney. While she was there, I spoke to her about the origins of the piece, which she’s now painted…

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World Press Photo 16 exhibition officially opens at the Brisbane Powerhouse

World Press Photo 16 is now at the Brisbane Powerhouse from 29th July to 21st August. This travelling exhibition showcases the accumulation of journalistic and documentarian photography all around the globe. 2016 marks the 59th year of this travelling cache of insights. 82,951 images were submitted this year. Before we discuss the winner we must…

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Singin’ in the Rain’s Jack Chambers on dancing in 12,000 litres of water and favourite dressing room jams

Everyone’s favourite splash hit musical is now in Sydney, singin’ and dancin’ on its way through its Australian tour. We caught up pre-show with Jack Chambers, who plays the blindingly bright ray of sunshine Cosmo Brown, to chat about the production, musical theatre, and jamming to 90s hits in your dressing room. You’ve been in…

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Review: Raiders of the Lost Ark with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra – Sydney Opera House (29.07.16)

This review should probably be premised with the fact that I am a huge fan of the Indiana Jones series (the first three – don’t even get me started on Kingdom of the Crystal Skull). These films formed an intrinsic part of my childhood and are potentially where my love of history steamed from. So…

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Queen Victoria Building plan gourmet food market with Pepe Saya, Doughnut Time, and more (Sydney)

A list of food pop-ups from some of Sydney’s finest establishments are about to help Sydney’s iconic Queen Victoria Building turn into a temporary gourmet food marketplace as a celebration of and refelection on the building’s founding years. From Wednesday 3rd August to Sunday 7th August, QVB’s southern precinct will become a showcase of guest…

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Darryl Martin heads the kitchen at Marrickville’s new Barzaari (Sydney)

With 19 years hospitality experience and a resume that reads with the likes of Quay and 3 Weeds, Chef Darryl Martin is well-equipped to be bringing a distinctive new dining experience to Sydney’s inner-west, opening up Barzaari in Marrickville, a stone’s throw from inner-west landmarks Enmore Theatre and Factory Theatre. We recently posted up news…

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Harpoon Harry to welcome Adelaide’s Africola for collaborative event (Sydney)

The Harpoon Harry kitchen is sure going to be crowded on Sunday 7th August as resident chef Morgan McGlone presents the latest in his “Friends of Harry’s” series, which has already seen the likes of legendary pitmaster Rodney Scott attract wild queues. For the third in the collaborative series, Morgan will be dishing up with…

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Five star Sheraton on the Park refocuses The Gallery’s high tea experience (Sydney)

Sydney’s five-star Sheraton on the Park has refocused The Gallery, their modern dining option that now draws inspiration from the leafy surrounds of Hyde Park to acknowledge the property’s central location. A dramatic three-dimensional artwork adds a bit of theatre of the dining space, featuring roots of trees and sprawling branches that overlook diners, marking…

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Review: Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar – Canberra (ACT)

Last weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to try out Hotel Realm’s “Buvette Bliss” package, a current deal which includes a two course meal at Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar, the five-star property’s fresh French dining option. The package’s set menu is specially designed by the Executive Chef Fabian Wagnon, and also comes with…

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Review: Niji Restaurant & Bar (Winter Menu 2016) – Double Bay (Sydney)

When one thinks winter dining, images of heavy cuisine that leaves no room for enjoying anything post-meal are often cited; big, hearty meals designed to help you insulate against the cold. This isn’t necessarily the case for Niji Restaurant & Bar (which means “rainbow” in Japanese), Double Bay’s answer to Japanese fare. They’ve developed a…

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MediTrainean is the Lower North Shore’s new mezze train (Sydney)

The lower north shore has welcomed in a new concept restaurant, MediTrainean, and it’s a combination of the flavours and fun of tapas dishes, the heartiness of a made-to-order grill menu and the stylish service delivery of a moving train, not dissimilar to that of a classic Sushi Train. Suited for relaxed dining experiences, MediTrainean’s…

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Detroit rapper-producer Black Milk announces Australian and New Zealand tour

One of Detroit’s sharpest emcees and hardest working beatsmiths, Black Milk, will be heading down to Australia and New Zealand this November, performing a string of shows to complement his festival set at Tocumwal’s annual Strawberry Fields. After consistently delivering quality projects like 2010’s Album of the Year and 2014’s If There’s a Hell Below,…

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Girl Asleep releasing theatrically with Q&A sessions

Umbrella Entertainment has announced the Australian release of the internationally praised, coming-of-age comic drama Girl Asleep on Thursday 8 September, with a series of advance Q&A events featuring key cast members taking place across the country. Based on the acclaimed production by Adelaide’s Windmill Theatre, Girl Asleep is a journey into the absurd, scary and beautiful…

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TV Review: Thirteen (UK, 2016)

What is the first thing you would do after being trapped underground for thirteen years? This is the question that BBC First’s mini-series Thirteen tries to answer. When affordable Pay TV and access to streaming digital content is easier than ever, we demand quality. Where more and more drama and comedy series seem to bring…

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Blu-Ray Review: Gods of Egypt (M) (USA, 2016)

Gods of Egypt isn’t bad – but it certainly feels out of place. It feels like an effects-heavy blockbuster from a time before superheroes ruled the box office. With no spandex in sight, the movie stands out like a sore thumb. While this does the movie some favors, there’s plenty of other missteps which act as…

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Adelaide is getting its first direct flight to mainland China and increased service to Hong Kong

This December, Adelaide in South Australia will receive its first direct service to mainland China courtesy of China Southern Airlines, while Hong Kong’s carrier Cathay Pacific is set to increase their weekly direct services to Hong Kong, which they introduced in 2015. December 8th will see Cathay add a fifth weekly direct service between Adelaide…

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Aussies Abroad: DZ Deathrays and Dune Rats announce co-headlining “International Disaster Tour”

Two of Australia’s finest rock bands, DZ Deathrays and Dune Rats, are going to hit the road through Europe and the UK this October for a tour dubbed the “International Disaster Tour”. The 15 date tour will start in Switzerland and end in Manchester, taking in Germany, the Netherlands, France and a run of UK…

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Hotel Review: Skyline Penthouse at NYLO New York (New York City)

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to spend a couple of nights in the “industrial-chic” accommodation of NYLO in New York City. The NYLO chain offer “innovative urban boutique hotels” in five locations around the country, including in Dallas, which we were lucky enough to review earlier this year. And like their Dallas counterpart,…

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Comedian Scott Aukerman (USA) chats about Comedy Bang! Bang!s upcoming Australian tour

For fans of the cult comedy series Mr. Show, and the IFC series Comedy Bang! Bang!, the name Scott Aukerman is already a household name – even if they might not be able to spell it (Mott Skokerman? Hot Saucerman?). But what many may not realise is that Comedy Bang! Bang! started its life not…

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Music Video of the Day: Rainbow Chan “Work” (2016)

The latest offering from the always intriguing and captivating Rainbow Chan comes to us in the form of her latest music video, this time for “Work”. Taken from her debut album Spacings, “Work” comes through hard with beat and loop work that has positioned Rainbow Chan’s album as more than just an anticipated flash in the pan collection…

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The State of Affairs (29 July, 2016): SXSW announces first line of speakers & more!

This week in the music industry, SXSW announced the first line of guest speakers for their 2017 event, CEO of Ministry of Sound Australia Tim McGee joins the PPCA Board,  and a new online music data platform Jaxsta launches in Australia. SXSW announces their 2017 lineup of guest speakers Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas,…

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Album News Weekly: 29th July 2016

In this issue: Phantogram eye up the release of Three, Dinosaur Jr prepares for people to Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not this August, Melbourne’s Acolyte are set to drop their debut album Shades of Black next month and more! PHANTOGRAM The third studio album from Phantogram, aptly titled Three, will be released via Republic Records on September 16th….

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Middle Kids, Buzz Kull, Jaala and more join the Volumes Festival line up

Sydney’s Volumes Festival just got bigger, with the addition of the second round of artists being unveiled this week. Joining the likes of Mossy, Koi Child and Nicholas Allbrook on August 26th and 27th this year is this talented group of artists: BUZZ KULL CORIN FELIX LUSH GUSSY JAALA KATO KIMCHI PRINCI LOW TON MAKEDA MIDDLE KIDS MORNING TV PRIVACY THHOMAS…

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Single of the Day: Mallrat “Uninvited” (2016)

Newcomer Mallrat (aka Brisbane’s Grace Shaw) is only 17 but you wouldn’t know it to listen to “Uninvited” and get a taste of that swag she’s bringing. In much the same way Lorde waxed lyrical about lifestyles of the rich and famous on “Royals”, Mallrat goes in on in-crowds and crushing annoyances that can come with fitting…

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The Whitlams set for ‘Elbow in the Breeze Tour’ this August and September

The Whitlams haven’t been on the road for a little while but for the fans who’ve been hanging out to see the group in a venue near them, this August and September will be see said opportunities finally crop up. With songwriter Tim Freedman touring his Harry Nilsson show throughout 2015, he’s admitted that he’s keen…

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