Book Review: The Woman in the Library attempts to solve the mysteries of the mystery genre

Best known for her Rowland Sinclair mystery series, Snowy Mountains-based author Sulari Gentill has published her latest standalone mystery. Titled The Woman in the Library, the book uses an unusual format to tell two stories at once. Gentill’s fictional counterpart Hannah Tigone is writing her latest book about four strangers who meet in the Reading Room…

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THIS THAT Festival announces huge lineup for Sandstone Point and Newcastle shows

Today, one of the best lineups of the year dropped as THIS THAT announced its awaited return. The contemporary music festival will host two shows in Sandstone Point (QLD) on 29 October and Newcastle (NSW) on 5 November 2022. Announced at 8am Monday, the huge lineup features DMAs (Newcastle only), The Presets (Newcastle only), Earl…

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Local The Neighbour

Guest Playlist: Local The Neighbour crafts his own rom-com soundtrack with his favourite ‘relationship’ songs

Melbourne-via-Darwin artist Local The Neighbour a.k.a. David Quested recently unveiled his latest single “Point Guard”. A shimmering slice of warmth and positivity, the track pays tribute to loved ones, and was written for his girlfriend as an appreciation of their relationship. There’s even a charming Super 8 style accompanying music video that was created by…

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Thor Love and Thunder

Gallery: Chris Hemsworth and Taika Waititi in Sydney for the Premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder

Chris Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky and Director Taika Waititi walk the red carpet for the Sydney premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder. Joining them at the premiere were local celebrities and VIPs. Our photographer Nathan Atkins was there to bring us all the action.

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Live Review: Lisi with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra – The Princess Theatre, Brisbane (25.06.22)

Two worlds collided when Goodna rapper Lisi performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra at the Princess Theatre in Brisbane on Saturday 25 June. Sponsored by Red Bull Symphonic, fans were treated to the special event with a 25-piece orchestra – conducted by Nicholas Buc – bringing Lisi’s biggest hits to life. The night began with…

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Not Waving Drowning

Book Review: Not Waving, Drowning is a timely and informative look at Australia’s mental health crisis

Issue 85 of the Quarterly Essay is a timely one. The Trauma Cleaner’s Sarah Krasnostein offers a well-researched and insightful look into Australia’s mental health care systems, and its intersection with other institutions. The essay draws upon extensive research and first-hand case studies with vulnerable individuals who fell through the system’s cracks when they should…

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Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Review: Victorious on and off the battlefield

I’ve always admired musou style games for their sheer intensity. Repeatedly hacking and slashing waves of villains never seems to get old, from the Dynasty Warriors franchise, to the more recent Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. As a result, the Fire Emblem franchise has decided to try its hand at the genre for the second…

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National Film and Sound Archive’s groundbreaking Australians & Hollywood exhibit to continue throughout 2023

Following its successful launch in Canberra earlier this year, the groundbreaking National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) Australians & Hollywood exhibition will remain on show throughout 2023. The blockbuster exhibition, which celebrates Australia’s contemporary cinematic, acting and filmmaking success, opened in January and now its extended run will give Canberra and national audiences an expanded…

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Season Review: Chloe is an intriguing, thrilling series about the web of lies built around social media

Watching the anti-heroine of Alice Seabright‘s thrilling series Chloe, Becky Green (Erin Doherty, an absolute star-making turn), as she scrolls through the social media lifestyle of the titular Chloe (Poppy Gilbert), a flame-haired femme with a seemingly enviable and lavish existence, the loneliness and self-loathing is palpable. It’s a feeling we’ve probably all experienced, noting…

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Nick & June share dreamy video for latest single “Anything But Time”

German indie-folk duo Nick & June have today shared the dreamy video for the latest single “Anything But Time” – released 3 June – from their forthcoming EP Beach Baby, Baby. Nick & June (Suzi-Lou Kraft and Nick Wolf) share a unique dynamic and their first release since 2017 is an exciting and important step…

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Album Review: Spacey Jane’s second LP Here Comes Everybody is a brilliant continuation of Sunlight

After the band’s 2020 debut album Sunlight, which skyrocketed Spacey Jane to the stratosphere of the Australian music industry, it was hard to think that their follow up LP would hit the same notes. Yet, they’ve managed to capture the strength of their previous releases, and on Here Comes Everybody – out today – even…

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Six places to walk in the footsteps of Elvis & Priscilla Presley in Memphis, Tennessee

With Baz Luhrmann’s anticipated new film Elvis hitting cinemas in Australia and around the world, I flew out to The King’s home city of Memphis, Tennessee, to see the real life locations that Luhrmann and his team re-created when they filmed back in Australia. These are the six essential places to go and things to…

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Album of the Week: Johnny Hunter – Want (2022 LP)

Slowly building their sound over the past 4 years, Sydney lords Johnny Hunter are here with their debut album Want – and it’s everything you could have hoped for from the band. For the uninitiated, Johnny Hunter have been slogging away since emerging from the shadows of Sydney’s grim (read non-exist) nightlife in ’18/’19. They…

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The Language of Food

Book Review: Annabel Abbs’ The Language of Food is a tasty look at female friendship

The Language of Food is a book with a tasty premise. It is based on the true events involving cook book author Eliza Acton, a woman who inspires chefs to this day. With its strong female characters working hard in a male dominated world, it is one that will appeal to fans of Natasha Lester’s…

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Jaguar Jonze

Live Review: Jaguar Jonze was electric with Nat Vazer and Chitra at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel

Saturday was a busy night for the city of Melbourne, as it seems to be every weekend since everything opened up. It’s meant competition has been somewhat high for artists and sometimes gig-heavy dates cause shows to suffer. Nonetheless, Jaguar Jonze shone above all at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne, supported by Nat Vazer and…

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New Music Discoveries 24th June: Gorillaz, Daphnie, Sylvan Esso and more

For the last time this month we have updated our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music with ten new tracks.  Our Track of the Week is “Cracker Island”, the brand new track from Splendour bound Gorillaz, featuring Grammy award winning Thundercat. Upbeat, energetic, a little bit funky and delivered with swagger “Cracker Island” is…

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Universal’s groundbreaking new roller coasters VelociCoaster & Hagrid’s Magical Creatures breathe new life into Orlando’s Islands of Adventure

When Universal Studio Florida’s second gate, Islands of Adventure opened 23 years ago in 1999, it looked destined to be holy ground for roller coasters in Florida. I distinctly remember the TV ads showing The Incredible Hulk coaster weaving its way over the body of water that sits at the centre of the park. It…

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Album Review: Otherness is Alexisonfire evolved and more cohesive; a record worth the wait

Alexisonfire have become somewhat of a household name in the global punk scene, their explosive career taking off in the early 2000s with big hits like “44. Caliber Love Letter”, “Accidents” and “This Could Be Anywhere in the World”. Today, the Canadian post-hardcore quintet has released their fifth studio album Otherness – their first in…

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Jaguar Jonze

Photo Gallery: Jaguar Jonze + Nat Vazer + Chitra – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (18.06.22)

A great night on Saturday saw Jaguar Jonze put on a fantastic set at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne for the launch of her debut album, Bunny Mode. Daniel Hanssen was there to capture the Brisbane artist as she put on an energetic and memorable show supported by Nat Vazer and Chitra.

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Sydney Film Festival 2022 Dispatch #1 – Family Dinner, As in Heaven and Fire of Love

Family Dinner (dir. Peter Hengl) Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Family Dinner tells the story of a reticent and obese teenager Simi who is spending her Easter Weekend at her auntie’s house. Her aunt Clara is a popular nutritionist and comes across as passive-aggressive toward her. Her partner Stefan comes off as a ladykiller as…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: Woodlock “Sunday Drive” (2022)

Today we’re sharing the exclusive video premiere of Woodlock‘s “Sunday Drive“! It’s the third single to come from the trio’s upcoming Bermuda Sea EP, due for release in early August. Woodlock, consisting of brothers Zech Walters (guitar/vocals), Eze Walters (guitar/vocals), and friend Bowen Purcell (drums,), describe the new EP’s theme as “yearning”, of wanting to…

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The Quarry Review: A trip to remember

In my opinion, developer Supermassive Games’ Until Dawn stands as one of the most underrated games of the last generation. The Quarry feels like it was made in the same way. It’s focused on telling a rather simplistic story, playing on the horror tropes and expectations that have come before. For the most part, The…

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Film Review: Minions: The Rise of Gru delivers the safe, nonsensical shenanigans we’ve come to expect from such characters

Even though 2010’s Despicable Me was centred around Steve Carell‘s Eastern European reformed super-villain Gru, it was his hoard of indecipherable henchmen – his Minions – that stole the film from under his considerably rendered nose. They were funny without really trying to be, so it made perfect sense that subsequent films (Despicable Me birthed…

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Interview: Catherine Martin on her love of design and the inclusive story behind Elvis

When you walk into a room to interview Catherine Martin, a production and costume designer with no less than four Academy Awards to her name (fun fact, she’s the most awarded Australian in Oscar history), you know you’ve chosen the correct shirt when it kicks off an enthusiastic conversation about its origins; to set the…

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Interview: Actress Olivia DeJonge on playing Priscilla Presley in Elvis; “The crux of this (film) is love”

To say the excitement in the air was palpable when walking the hotel halls during the Australian press junket of Elvis would be describing it mildly.  As director Baz Luhrmann enthusiastically boasted about the late nights had in the lead-up to the film’s premiere, and Tom Hanks so endearingly noting the hotel as “groovy” as…

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Exclusive Album Premiere: Matthew Gilbert, Getting Over All Of It

Let’s us help you get through Hump Day with some new music! Today we’re sharing an exclusive look at Getting Over All Of It, the latest from indie-folk singer-songwriter Matthew Gilbert. Funded by Gilbert’s fans through a Kickstarter campaign, the sophomore release was penned and produced during the Melbourne lockdowns last year. Mixed by Jacob…

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Book Review: Tom Watson’s Metronome is a compelling dystopian debut

For twelve years, Aina and Whitney have lived in exile. Imprisoned on an isolated island, their lives are measured by the clock in the kitchen that dispenses the pills that keep them alive. Hobbies keep them busy while they await their release. Whitney tinkers, sculpts, maps the island. Aina does jigsaws, gardens, writes music. But,…

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Interview: Schuyler Weiss on producing Elvis and his collaborative relationship with Baz Luhrmann

Arriving in Australian cinemas this week (you can read our review here) hot off its history-making reception at the Cannes Film Festival, Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis brings the life of the king of rock ‘n’ roll to the big screen in predictably lavish fashion. Talking with our own Peter Gray at the Australian premiere, the film’s…

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Interview: Zahn McClarnon on the importance of Native representation in his new series Dark Winds

Executive produced by George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford, Dark Winds is set in 1971 on a remote outpost of the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley, and follows Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) of the Tribal Police as he is besieged by a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. The closer Leaphorn digs to the truth, the more he…

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Vivid Live Review: Meg Mac – Sydney Opera House (18.06.22)

Vivid Live returned to Sydney for the first time in three years, giving Meg Mac a chance to return to the stage and successfully close out the festival. Playing her first Sydney show in close to three years, the Melbourne artist was better than she’s ever been and returned to the stage with more confidence,…

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