Month: January 2017

Simon Ratcliffe on Basement Jaxx’s Australian return & future music projects

Basement Jaxx are currently in Australia for the Electric Gardens Festival, which has been taking the British duo around the country to some large festival crowds. It’s been a prime opportunity for Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Buxton to reconnect with Australian audiences after some time away and even though they haven’t released a studio album…

Read More

Music Video of the Day: Johnny Flynn “Raising the Dead” (2017)

British songwriter Johnny Flynn has dropped his new film clip for “Raising the Dead”, the first from his forthcoming album Sillion. Directed by Simon Ryninks, the video is the first in a series of visual accompaniments for the record, which is coming out in March. An intriguing insight into Flynn’s new music and how this album has continued…

Read More

The Pretty Littles hitting the road with “Helluva Tuesdi” this February

The Pretty Littles return after what proved to be a hectic 2016 with some brand new tour dates along with their latest single, “Helluva Tuesdi”! The band is already well into writing for album number five (yes, five), but these dates are going to be absolutely kicking and unmissable – the final tour of The Pretty…

Read More

Against Me!, The Darkness, Amy Shark & more confirmed for Groovin The Moo 2017

Returning for its majestic 13th year this April and May, Groovin The Moo has dropped its line up for 2017 – throwing back to some of our favourite international bands (plus some names primed to be introduced to Australians for the first time), not to mention a class cut of Australian talent in the mix. With…

Read More

Melbourne’s The Pink Tiles announce sophomore album, #1 Fan, due late March

This female-led garage-pop band are releasing their sophomore record on March 24th and reminding us that girls are really really good at making loud noises. Punchy, melodic rock’n’roll strewn with faded 90’s guitars slicked on top of each other make up The Pink Tiles sound, and it works effortlessly well. The band have premiered their new single, “For…

Read More

The Elder Scrolls Online is heading to Morrowind

Erstwhile adventurers in Bethesda’s massively multiplayer online role playing game The Elder Scrolls Online will soon find themselves headed to the island of Vvardenfell, north of one of the series’ most iconic locales, Morrowind.

Read More

Fences, Hidden Figures and Stranger Things among the winners at the 23rd annual SAG Awards

The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards was a politically fueled event, as actors from across the turbulent USA took to the stage in between the celebrating, to express their lack of support for president Donald Trump. Coming off of the heels of Meryl Streep’s emotional speech at the Golden Globes earlier this month, SAG…

Read More

Australian Box Office Report: Lion proves to be king of the box office for the 2nd week in a row

Hooray for Australian film! Oscar hopeful Lion continued to dominate at the box office this week, bringing in $4.18m.  As an Aussie indie production, it’s doing quite well.  Lion and The Great Gatsby have been the only Australian films to earn more at the box office in its second week in the cinemas. As predicted last week, M. Night Shyamalan’s newest…

Read More

The ABC have cancelled Good Game

Australia’s longest-running and most-watched television program about video games has been cancelled. The news comes as the show was gearing up for a new season this year on the ABC, and was announced via the show’s social media accounts this morning.

Read More

Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza: an experience full of contortion, vibrance and exercise

So many wonderfully talented people are performing within Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza, that it is amazing how its performances under the big top can be coordinated in such a way. It’s quite the production; heading backstage, I see gym equipment sprawled out within the backend of the performance area, while artists (of the trapeze, dance…

Read More

Taste of Sydney announces first lineup of restaurants heading to Centennial Park in March

Following one of the biggest and most talked about years in Sydney’s dining scene it’s no surprise to see the 2017 edition of Taste of Sydney shape up to be the biggest in the popular food and drink festival’s history. Running From 9th to 12th March in it’s usual spot amongst the leafy Centennial Park,…

Read More

Methyl Ethel announce new album, Everything Is Forgotten, dropping March 3rd

Perth’s psychedelic-pop trio Methyl Ethyl have just released the second cut from their upcoming second album, Everything Is Forgotten. The new single titled “Ubu” is a funk-driven journey opening with a fat bass line accompanied by frontman Jake Webb’s fluid vocals, before transforming into an intensely hypnotic, groovy hook about haircuts. It’s playful and tinged with a…

Read More

Music Video of the Day: Elbow “Gentle Storm” (2017)

Elbow have come through with a tight visual accompaniment for their new album in the music video for “Gentle Storm”. Directed by the iconic Kevin Godley, the short revisits his 1985 video “Cry” (by Godley and Creme), a throwback inspired by Elbow’s Guy Garvey.

Read More

Festival Review: St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival – FCAC & The River’s Edge, Melbourne (28.01.17)

You know those choose-your-own-adventure novels, the ones you read as a kid? With the exception of dying in 90% of the story lines, the Laneway Festival is like that – bear with me here. There’s thirty-six acts, and where you start, stop and travel is entirely up to you. I asked my maths-genius friend to…

Read More

Single of the Day: Phebe Starr “They Keep Telling Me” (2017)

Phebe Starr‘s new single “They Keep Telling Me” is a bright new burst of indie pop that will land the artist well and truly on your radar, if she isn’t already. Working with Swedish producer Fredrik Odesjo, Starr’s latest release came as a result of a horrible songwriting experience. “I wrote this track after the worst…

Read More

Exclusive Single Premiere: Joey Cirillo “Hallway” (2017)

Melbourne’s Joey Cirillo is brightening up our Monday with new single “Hallway”, premiering today on the AU. The first cut from his new record Where Life is Fun, “Hallway” is a spirited tune from Cirillo that leans into the pop realm with ease. A seasoned songwriter and musician, Cirillo has been taking steps out on his own…

Read More

Win a double pass to Café del Mar’s 3rd Birthday Party featuring Basement Jaxx DJs

On Sunday 5th February, from 12pm, 2017 Café del Mar Sydney, T1000 Events and Rodd Richards Presents are inviting Sydneysiders to celebrate their 3rd Birthday in true Café del Mar style. Renowned English electronic music duo Basement Jaxx will headline the birthday event, bringing Sydneysiders sweet electro tunes all evening long. Supporting acts include Binary…

Read More

Brian Sella on Trump, creativity and the evolution of The Front Bottoms

2017 marks the ten year anniversary of The Front Bottoms, who have returned to Australia for their first headlining tour this month. We caught up with singer/guitarist Brian Sella ahead of their Adelaide show at the Enigma Bar to talk about the artistic process, the future of The Front Bottoms, and the current state of…

Read More

First lineup of Primavera Pro 2017 conference speakers includes Australia’s Vanessa Picken

Tailored towards music industry professionals and independent artists from all over the world, the eighth annual Primavera Pro conference will be returning to the city of Barcelona from 31 May – 4 June 2017. Held at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, the 2017 conference is set to revolve around the themes of originality as a creative motor, the challenges of artistic independence,…

Read More

Jack Greene of The Probes (UK) talks influential albums and plans for 2017

The Probes bring a new meaning to psychedelic, with epic tracks and dynamic soundscapes, who recently hit the road as supports for Echo and The Bunnymen. We recently caught up with Jack Greene, singer/guitarist, to chat about the tour, and 2017 plans. How would you best summarise your sound in ten words or less? Often…

Read More

‘Father of Pac-Man‘ and Namco founder Masaya Nakamura dies at 91

Masaya Nakamura, the man who founded video game publisher Namco and was in charge of the company during the video game boom of the 1980’s, has died at 91.

Read More

First Impressions: FX’s Legion takes the superhero genre and subverts it

From the guy who brought you the X-Men, Bryan Singer, and the guy who brought you the TV version of Fargo, Noah Hawley, and based on the Marvel Comics by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz comes an origin story series for one particular obscure character from the X-Men universe. Legion follows the story of David…

Read More

Video Games Review: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Xbox One, 2017) takes the series back to basics and in an entirely new direction

I don’t do well in carnival haunted houses. If you want to test my loyalty and devotion as a friend or loved one, do not accompany me into a house of horrors. You could be the most important person in the world to me and I will throw you under the spooky-ass bus if it…

Read More

Five reasons you should be excited for Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet

So, you’re looking anxiously through your Netflix list to find the next binge worthy show to eat up. You’ve already had a massive meal with some great sci-fi (Sense 8), comedy (Brooklyn Nine Nine), drama (The Queen) and of course Stranger Things. But now you want something fresh, a little bit of all of the…

Read More

Film Review: National Theatre Live: No Man’s Land (UK, 2017) starring Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart

National Theatre Live in conjunction with Sharmill Films are once again bringing Australian cinema-goers a chance to experience the magic of the theatre. This time with Harold Pinter’s acclaimed play No Man’s Land, starring the incomparable Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart. After a successful hit run in Broadway USA, the play returns to…

Read More

Australian director Rohan Spong on his latest feature documentary Winter at Westbeth

Following its celebrated run at the Melbourne International Film Festival, the new Australian feature documentary Winter at Westbeth will screen in select cinemas around the country from next week. In anticipation of the release, we caught up with the film’s director Rohan Spong to talk about the project, which was filmed across one extraordinary year…

Read More

Where are the original Skins cast ten years later?

When it comes to UK teen series, few have been as popular or become as iconic as the series Skins, which ran for some seven years and as many seasons. Premiering ten years ago this week, the first series in particular remains the most acclaimed of the run, with a cast who have gone on…

Read More

Review: W Retreat & Spa Bali balances style and substance in Seminyak

I would be very surprised if any frequent traveller had never heard of W Hotels & Resorts. Though down here in Australia the luxury chain no longer has much of a presence (that’ll all change with W Brisbane in 2018 and W Sydney in 2019), there are around 47 W properties in over 20 different…

Read More

7 Arts Events Not to Miss in Australia This Month (February 2017)

Here at the AU offices, we go through all your spruces and gooses and have collated the best events in this, our monthly look at the best the art, theatre and cultural world has to offer this month for the month of February 2017. Go out and enjoy one of these little events around Australia,…

Read More

Kit Kat sushi will be sold from pop-ups in Tokyo this February (Japan)

Last year Kit Kat Japan broke naive hearts across Japan as they announced that their “Kit Kat Sushi” concept was indeed an April Fool’s Day joke. But now it seems what started as a fun (evil) way to mess with their customers has now turned into a reality as website Tokyo Bargain Mania are reporting…

Read More