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.

Win a double pass to see The Right Stuff at In The House in Sydney

America was looking for a hero who had what it took to become a legend. America found seven of them. Those that had just one thing in common… THE RIGHT STUFF. Don’t miss your rare opportunity to see how the future began on the big screen, when the next installment of In The House –…

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We taste test Luke Mangan’s vibrant new Business Class menu for Virgin Australia

At his flagship MOJO restaurant in Sydney, and in front of his test kitchen – where many of the dishes that end up on a Virgin Australia flight are designed (with Virgin’s on board equipment seen sitting amongst the usual array of kitchen equipment) – I recently had the chance to taste Luke Mangan‘s new…

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Higgs Boson Blues: The simple reason fans are having trouble connecting The Cloverfield Paradox to the Cloververse

The new Netflix film The Cloverfield Paradox has had something of a remarkable life. In an unprecedented (yet perhaps inevitable) move, the streaming service dropped the film right after the Super Bowl on Monday, having only officially announced it during that very event. Since it was released, numerous articles and reddit threads have emerged, trying…

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Win a double pass to see Raising Arizona on the big screen at Sydney’s In The House

Their lawless years are behind them. Their child-rearing years lay ahead… Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter leave us in stitches in the classic Raising Arizona, the next installment of In The House on Feb 16th at 7pm at Event Cinemas George St in Sydney. Tickets are only $15 (or $12 if you’re a Cinebuzz member) and…

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Watch: Lucy Rose performs “Floral Dresses” solo, live and acoustic for the AU sessions

While in Sydney on tour with Ben Folds, UK singer songwriter Lucy Rose stopped by AU HQ to take part in our acoustic sessions series. Performing her enchanting track “Floral Dresses” on our couch, a track you can find on her Something’s Changing record – out now! Catch Lucy on tour at the following dates with Ben Folds and…

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Review: Manchester Orchestra deliver one of their heaviest and most memorable shows ever to Sydney

Going to a Manchester Orchestra show is quite the unique experience. They truly attract fans of all ages, demographics and genre persuasions. The emo kids are there. The hard rock kids are there. The contemplative Bob Dylan fans are there. They’ve managed to take their music and not so much make it “commercial” or “mainstream”,…

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Surprise! There’s a new Cloverfield movie out right now on Netflix

After being rumoured for years, and first known under the title “God Particle”, the third film set in the Cloverfield universe has been released today on Netflix in a surprise move from Paramount Pictures, who had long planned the film for a cinematic release. The film, which we now know is called The Cloverfield Paradox,…

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The Jezabels and Dan Sultan kick off Twilight at Taronga program for 2018

It has to be one of the best live venues in Australia – a stage in the heart of Taronga Zoo, best accessed by ferry, with a virtually unimpeded view of the harbour behind it. But it never hangs around for long. Thankfully, however, the 2018 Twilight at Taronga concert series returned on Friday night,…

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Review: Father John Misty’s annual Sydney sermon thrills with Honeybear and Jack Ladder

In his second visit to our shores on the Pure Comedy tour (he was last here in July for Splendour in the Grass), Father John Misty delivered what has become something of an annual sermon to a packed Enmore Theatre in Sydney. In it, the great J Tillman leant primarily on his 2015 release I…

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Interview: Weezer’s Pat Wilson talks Pacific Daydream, loving Perth (Adelaide, not so much) & more

While in Sydney last week with the Foo Fighters, Weezer drummer Pat Wilson took some time out to hang with us and catch us up on everything Pacific Daydream, and where the new album has taken the beloved US band since. With their music always maintaining a distinctly Californian sound, Wilson weighs in on this otherwise classic Weezer element, “I’m proud…

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In the final days of Virgin America, we put their service to the test against new owners Alaska Airlines

On 11th January, Virgin America made its final flight under the callsign “redwood”. It’s now flying as “Alaska”, as Alaska Airlines moves towards the completion of its merger with the much loved airline. This said, the airlines continue to each fly with their respective branding and flair, at least until April 25th (though it will take…

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Review: Foo Fighters prove more than deserving of Sydney’s largest stadium stage

Wearing an Oxford Art Factory t-shirt – where the iconic frontman last performed in Sydney – Dave Grohl and his fighters of Foo returned to Sydney last night, thrilling audiences in their ANZ Stadium debut with a rollicking 3 hour set that proved as much a trip down memory lane as it was a celebration…

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Hotel Review: Hollywood’s newest Kimpton Everly cuts no corners with spectacular views in a prime location

Branded as being situated “between Hollywood and the Hills”, the Kimpton Everly – which opened in August- is in an unbeatable location. A block away from Hollywood and Vine, the building sits right behind the classic Pantages Theatre (where Disney’s Aladdin is playing to March 31st) and the iconic Capitol Records building. Right next to…

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Air Festival to hit tiny and remote Indonesian island for the fourth year

Across two stages and three days, punters who attend the remote Air Festival in Indonesia appear destined to experience an event unlike any other. Now in its fourth year, the event merges underground dance music culture with ceremony and sacredness, promising a three day experience ” in which friendships are forged, hearts are opened and…

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Interview: Crooked Colours reflect on working on the Sounds of New Caledonia Campaign

Recently linking up with New Caledonia Tourism, Australian band Crooked Colours headed out to the South Pacific hotspot as part a new destination marketing campaign established to boost the number of Australian travellers out to the area. Crooked Colours wound up recording music inspired by their travels and even locked down a music video when…

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The Shape of Water and Dunkirk top the 90th Academy Awards nominations; Margot Robbie leads the Aussie charge

After months of speculation, the 90th Academy Awards finally have their nominees – with The Shape of Water dominating the tally, sitting with an impressive 13 nominations. And no film even comes close to matching its domination. Sitting behind it, with eight nominations, the Christopher Nolan film Dunkirk has some out swinging with a Best…

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Flight Review: Business Class Flatbed with Etihad Airways – Abu Dhabi to Toronto (EY141)

It was Christmas night in Abu Dhabi, and a surprise Business Class upgrade at the gate (thanks to my Platinum Velocity Status and an overbooked aircraft) was nothing less than a Christmas miracle. It’s nothing short of a dream for a 14 hour flight – among the longest in the world. My first time flying…

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Interview: Aussie actress Loren Kate on transforming into Sean Young for Blade Runner 2049

Out on DVD and Blu-Ray this week, the critically acclaimed Blade Runner 2049 is set to impress audiences all over again with its incredible story and visuals. One of those impressive visuals, was the inclusion of Sean Young – just as she looked in the original. This was achieved thanks to CGI and a double,…

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Blu-Ray Review: Blade Runner 2049 (USA, 2017)

When the original Blade Runner was first released in cinemas in 1982, it made waves for its stunning cinematography and special effects, moody and now iconic soundtrack from Vangelis, and its truly innovative adaptation of a short story from sci-fi writer Philip K Dick; the rare instance where a film has outdone its source material….

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Interview: Producer Geoffrey Wexler talks living in the shadow of Ghibli in Mary and the Witch’s Flower

Earlier this week I caught up with Producer Geoffrey Wexler, who talked about Studio Ponoc’s first feature, Mary and the Witch’s Flower. Comprised of ex-members of Studio Ghibli, we talk about creating the film in the shadow of the iconic Japanese animation studio’s legacy, creating strong female characters and working with an incredible English cast. We…

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No trip to Las Vegas is complete without a little bit of Love

In June 2017, one of the most influential and celebrated albums of all time – The Beatles‘ Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band – celebrated its 50th Birthday in the USA. As a self-confessed Beatles obsessive, I took to the skies and headed to the permanent Cirque du Soleil production in Las Vegas, Love, which…

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From one Louvre to another: Abu Dhabi’s newest museum is an opulent architectural masterpiece

I recently had the opportunity to spend a day in Abu Dhabi, on my way home from Canada. Flying with Etihad, who base themselves out of the U.A.E. Capital City, a stop-over couldn’t be made easier – and is indeed encouraged for visitors to the transit hub. With my bag checked through to Australia, I…

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Flight Review: Going budget from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia (AK 823)

When flying around Asia, the difference in price between budget carriers (Scoot, Tiger and Air Asia) and everyone else can be staggering. On the day I was flying, you were looking at flights one-tenth the price to fly with Air Asia versus Malaysian Airlines, or an indirect competitor. So the question is, for a short…

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Film Review: The Shape of Water (USA, 2017) is a breathtaking, big screen spectacle

At the Golden Globes last weekend, Director Guillermo Del Toro accepted a long overdue Best Director trophy for his latest effort The Shape of Water, which has been something of a surprise award season favourite around the world, topping both the Globes and BAFTA nominations lists (among others). In the speech, which brought the film’s…

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Live Review: Everything Everything + Hatchie – The Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne (05.01.18)

With their fourth record A Fever Dream, Manchester outfit Everything Everything delivered what ended up being my favourite release of 2017. Taking what they’d done with Get To Heaven, the band refined it into a perfect body of work; an album in the classic sense of the word, a well articulated effort that embodied everything…

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Live Review: Run The Jewels prove to Melbourne why they are Kings of Hip Hop

Run the Jewels – the acclaimed project of US rappers El-P and Killer Mike – are currently in Australia for their first tour of our country in three years, and their first since the release of their third LP Run The Jewels 3. The duo were quick to point out how much bigger the shows…

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Interview: Kim Churchill on returning home for FOTSUN, fresh from touring Europe with Milky Chance

Kim Churchill is no stranger to the Australian festival scene. Easily one of the country’s most popular and hardworking performers, Churchill found himself home from Europe and back into the swing of things earlier this month, hitting the Festival of the Sun stage in Port Macquarie. We checked in with Kim as the weekend rolled out! It’s always…

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Interview: Dear Seattle on linking up with Domestic La La and a huge 2017, capped off with Festival of the Sun!

Dear Seattle were quick to emerge in 2017 as one of the new bands to be keeping an eye on and as the shows continued to grow in quality and crowd attendance, these young guns really demonstrated their chops as a live act. Out at Festival of the Sun in Port Macquarie, we sat down with the…

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Interview: The Preatures on the making of “Yanada” and looking ahead to new music at FOTSUN!

We always have a great time with The Preatures; longtime fans of the Sydney band, we’ve loved watching their rise from local favourite to nationally beloved live band. Their latest album, Girlhood, has seen The Preatures continue to step into their own light and as a live band, their shows have been second to none. Catching up…

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Interview: Horrorshow check in with us backstage ahead of their FOTSUN headline set

Festival of the Sun this year brought some stellar sets of music to Port Macquarie; for some, it proved to be the start of the final run of shows for the year and for others, it was a playground on which new material to be tested on. For one of the country’s most acclaimed hip hop…

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