Author: Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.

Blu-Ray Review: Bad Times at the El Royale (USA, 2018) is cinematic fun, with some beautiful set design

Bad Times at El Royale hit cinemas last year to mixed reviews, though I found it an engaging film, with a clever plot stemmed in the traditions of film noir and crime fiction. The set design was phenomenal and the characters were just the right amount of over-the-top to make them feel right at home…

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NYC gets a new pre-SXSW Festival “The New Colossus”; we meet one of the founders

For bands coming to America for SXSW, to say it’s a massive cost and a huge effort is an understatement. And few bands arrive in Austin as their first port of call. Many come through Los Angeles and New York. So why not try and play some shows before . Well this is the exact…

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Games Review: Kingdom Hearts 3 is the wave of wholesome joy we all need in our lives right now

The day has finally arrived. Almost 14 years after Kingdom Hearts II was released to critical acclaim on the PS2, its long awaited follow up Kingdom Hearts III is here. But fans of the series — which melded the Final Fantasy and Disney universes a decade before the company acquired the Marvel Cinematic Universe —…

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Life on the Border: El Paso, Texas – Where to stay, what to eat & how to get to Mexico (and back again)

Way back in 2011, when I was flying home from my second SXSW, I jumped on a Southwest flight flying from Austin, Texas to Los Angeles. En route, I enjoyed a brief stop over in El Paso – a common stop with this airline (for whom El Paso is a hub) – an airport which…

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Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Laura Imbruglia “The Creeps” (2019)

Last month the genre bending Australian musician Laura Imbruglia dropped “The Creeps”, a taste of her impending fourth album Scared Of You. Today, we’re excited to be premiering the accompanying hilarious music video, which was co-conceived with director and renowned photographer Nick Mckinlay. With the track taking a significantly different musical route to previous singles…

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Track of the Day: Flint Eastwood feat. Siena Liggins “Hurt” (2018)

One of our favourite artists over the last five years or so has been Detroit’s Flint Eastwood, who has finally started breaking into the big time, with her EP This Is A Coping Mechanism for A Broken Heart, making waves alongside the single “Chapter 4 Sober”. Her latest single, “Hurt”, taken from the same EP,…

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The Queen of Independence: LPX opens up about the power of going it alone and the female voice

Last month, LPX traversed the country playing Falls Festival and a couple of sideshows in what was the New York artist’s Australian debut under that guise. Real name Lizzy Plapinger, she had previously visited our shores as part of the genre-bending, indie-pop duo MS MR. Now she’s smashing it on her own, with a completely independent…

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Flight Review: Jetstar – Hong Kong to Osaka (KIX), Japan (GK64)

Today we’re jumping on board budget airline Jetstar’s regular service from Hong Kong to Osaka (KIX) in Japan. The journey starts in Terminal 2 of the busy Hong Kong International Airport and takes us to the Kansai International Airport in Osaka – with a landing time of about 2am. So how does the flight rate…

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Live Review: Gang of Youths, Mitski, Parquet Courts and more shine at Laneway Festival in Sydney

The sun was shining as Laneway Festival took over the Sydney College of the Arts for another year. Arriving at 4pm in an effort to protect myself from the blistering sun, Camp Cope were playing tacks like “Lost: Season One” on the newly named Dr Martens stage, to a strong crowd; though there did feel…

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Track of the Day: Nathan Ball “Call It Love” (2019)

Currently touring Australia for the first time with Ziggy Alberts, UK rising star Nathan Ball has just dropped a brand new single “Call It Love”, and its one that fans of singer/songwriters like Ziggy, Passenger or Kim Churchill need to get their ears around. Hell, if you like music at all then this is probably…

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Festival Review: Mona Foma shines bright, weird and wonderful in its Launceston debut

Following ten years in Hobart – and a free block party last year in Launceston to test the waters – Mona Foma made its official debut in the Northern Tasmanian City this weekend, with a stellar weekend of art and music which took over Launceston for an event unlike anything locals have ever seen. Grimy…

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Photo Gallery: Mona Foma 2019 ft. Courtney Barnett, Jonathan Bree, Neneh Cherry & more – Launceston, Tasmania

Mona Foma made its official Launceston debut over the weekend, featuring art installations around the city and performances from the likes of Courtney Barnett, Jonathan Bree, Neneh Cherry, Nakhane (pictured above), WWWATER, Ewah and the Vision of Paradise, Southeast Desert Metal & much, much more. Larry Heath was on ground at the event and brings us…

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Air Mofo makes its inaugural flight from Melbourne to Launceston as Mona Foma kicks off in its new Tasmanian home

After 10 years at Mona Museum and surrounds in Hobart, this year marks the iconic arts festival Mona Foma’s controversial move to Launceston. Now, just as they helped changed the artistic landscape in Hobart, they‘re hoping to do the same in Launceston, and today pulled out all the stops to ensure that the festival which…

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Didirri, Vera Blue and Clowns share their favourite music of 2018

Earlier this month, we sat down with Didirri, Vera Blue and Clowns to talk about their favourite music of 2018; potentially the songs they’ll be choosing for the Hottest 100 and some of the albums that excited them over the last 12 months. Photo of Didirri taken at Festival of the Sun by Larry Heath

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Interview: Hot Dub Time Machine’s perfect New Years Eve and pitching Fisher to win Hottest 100

Hot Dub Time Machine will be helping finish off 2018 with an appearance at NYE in the Park in Sydney this coming Monday. Ahead of the show, we looked back at the year past, as he reflected on his favourite moments of 2018, his favourite music of the year and give you some hot tips…

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Interview: Savannah and Briony of Kinder (NSW) reveal their favourite NYE moments and music of 2018

Electronic duo Kinder have had an amazing 2018, and now they’re finishing it all off with an appearance at NYE in the Park in Sydney this coming Monday – right before flying off to Falls Festival. Ahead of the show, we looked back at the year past with the pair, as they reflected on their…

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Get your set times and maps for Sydney’s NYE in the Park as tickets near sell-out

Now in its second year, NYE in the Park has lined up an incredible group of artists who are set to help bring Sydneysiders into the New Year on Monday. Set in the lush surrounds of Camperdown’s Victoria Park, The Jungle Giants, Hayden James, Hot Dub Time Machine, Thundamentals, Confidence Man and many more will…

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Film Review: Holmes and Watson (USA, 2018) is the surprise Anti-Trump film of the holiday season

When a film doesn’t have a media preview screening, you know the confidence from the studio in its quality must be low. Following that up with a dismal score on Rotten Tomatoes (currently 6%) only seems to reinforce their fears. This year’s mainstream US holiday comedy – which in past years has included surprise hits…

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Film Review: Vice (USA, 2018) shines with its ensemble as McKay’s spiritual successor to The Big Short delivers

Already a critical darling and favourite of the award season, Adam McKay’s new film Vice tackles an unlikely subject, with perhaps an even more unlikely lead actor. In the film out Boxing Day, Christian Bale transforms himself into Former US Vice President Dick Cheney, as McKay – who also wrote and produced the film –…

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The 40 Best Records of 2018 from Australia and around the world

It’s time to look back on the incredible year of music from Australia and around the world as we count down our 40 favourite records from the year. We’ll rush through 40-11 and then get into the nitty gritty of our top ten releases… 40. Tinashe – Joyride 39. David Byrne – American Utopia 38….

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And the winners of the 5th Annual AU Awards are…

On Wednesday we were excited to reveal our nominees for the 5th Annual AU Awards, celebrating the best in Australian music over the last 12 months. Now today we’re presenting the winners across all those categories, which are awarded based on both recorded and live merit. Australian Live Music Event of the Year (Metro) St….

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The AU’s 21 Best Films of 2018

It’s been another incredible year of film, with powerful indie projects and incredible blockbusters that saw packed out cinemas align with strong reviews from critics. As voted by the AU review contributors, here are the 21 films we rated above the rest this year… 21. Ocean’s 8 The Met Gala sequence itself is, admittedly, quite…

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Interview: Thandi Phoenix shares her NYE tips, favourite moments and music of 2018

It’s been an incredible year for Thandi Phoenix, who I last sat down with back in March at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Now she’s going to be ringing in the New Year in Sydney alongside The Presets and more, as part of the NYE in the Park lineup. We caught up with her to find…

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Interview: KIM of The Presets (AUS) on his perfect NYE and favourite tunes of 2018

Ahead of their headlining midnight set at NYE in the Park in Sydney, we caught up with KIM of The Presets to talk about his perfect New Years Eve, highlights of 2018 and what he has planned for 2018. We also get a taste of his favourite music of the year… What were you doing…

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Interview: Bishop Briggs talks Falls Festival, returning to Australia, “Baby”, Hong Kong and songwriting

I’ve been lucky enough to catch up with US based artist Bishop Briggs a few times now, and every time we catch up things just seem be getting bigger and better for the every growing star. Our chat earlier this month, ahead of her pending visit to Australia for Falls, was no exception. We talk about…

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Exclusive Music Video Premiere: The Northern Folk “Cold” (2018)

With no less than 10 members, and hailing from Albury, Melbourne, The Northern Folk have been incrementally building their charismatic and varied sound since banding together and gracing the local touring circuit in 2012. Since then, the ever-evolving outfit have released two records of lyric-led, horn-saturated ebbs and troughs that showcase the breadth of the…

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Interview: Mortal Engines Producer Phillipa Boyens on bringing the book to the big screen

There’s a lot of hullaballoo surrounding the new film Mortal Engines, most of which can be attributed to those behind the camera rather than in front of it. The film directed by Christian Rivers is his debut, however the production team behind it also consists of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillippa Boyens – the…

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Interview: Mortal Engines actress Leila George talks working with Hugo Weaving and the incredible practical sets

The latest film from the creative genius talent of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens and directed by Christian Rivers sees the team adapt the Phillip Reeve book series Mortal Engines. Set in the future, and moving slowly out of dystopia, roving cities on wheels must avoid being devoured by much larger “predator cities”. In…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Andrew Phelan “Charlottetown” (2018)

For the first time since 2015 Australian born, Vancouver based folk musician Andrew Phelan is returning to Australia with a full band, and a bunch of new songs. We’re pleased to premiere one of those songs, “Charlottetown”, today ahead of it’s offical release tomorrow.  “Charlottetown” is a road song. On the one hand it’s a…

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Interview: Sam Bentley from The Paper Kites talks Twilight at Taronga and the surprise rebirth of “Bloom”

We recently caught up with Sam Bentley from The Paper Kites to chat about their recently announced 2019 Australian tour and their appearance as part of the Twilight at Taronga series. Also on the agenda was their new releases from this year: On The Train Ride Home and On The Corner Where You Live.  2018 has been an incredible year for…

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