The xx

Review: The xx stage emotional return to Sydney at The Domain

It’s been nearly 10 years since feted London trio the xx toured xx, their dreamlike Mercury-award winning debut; whose minimal style – soft, breathy, heartfelt lyrics, enthralling guitar hooks, and chilly synths – would go on to spurn a series of imitations, bringing the then early twenty-somethings out of the broody shadows of the underground and…

Read More

The 40 Best Albums of 2017

This week, we brought you an end of year list detailing some special Australian albums released this year, the Top 20 in fact, that have made their mark. With Gang of Youths‘ Go Farther in Lightness taking the Number One spot, and the likes of Jen Cloher, Ecca Vandal, Winston Surfshirt and more also featuring prominently, we revisited some of…

Read More

9 Gigs You Can’t Miss This January!

January means a new year, when we try to uphold resolutions and prepare for the year ahead. We’ve picked 0 unmissable gigs that will get you partying well into the new year. The xx British indie trio The xx are back in Australia in support of critically acclaimed album I See You. Here the three musicians bring…

Read More

Flume, Death Grips and the xx help Flow Festival bounce back after severe storm

Saturday was a big one for Helsinki’s Flow Festival, not only featuring an exceptionally strong line-up of both locals and internationals, but also putting the infrastructure to the test as a brief but powerful storm swept across the city in the evening and caused a bit of chaos. Finnish locals MC Taakibörsta held it down…

Read More

The 20 Best Albums of 2017 (So Far) from Australia and Around the World

Shockingly, we find ourselves in the second half of 2017 already. In terms of new music, we’ve been hit with some heavy releases from some of pop music’s biggest names, while some of our favourite Australian artists have come out swinging with impressive album and EP releases all their own. As the first week of…

Read More

Music Video of the Day: The xx “I Dare You” (2017)

If anyone knows how to tug at your heartstrings and make dreamy electro pop come to life, it’s the XX.  Ahead of what is sure to be an absolutely epic set at Splendour in the Grass, the band have just dropped their video for “I Dare You” and it’s wonderful. Not only is an open…

Read More

Flow Festival: Frank Ocean, Flume, Lana Del Rey headlining three-day festival in a Helsinki Power Plant

Europe is packed with bucket list festivals all-year round, regularly attracting those from around the world who are itching to explore all sorts of uniquely formed, expertly curated music and arts events, from the most acclaimed to the most obscure. Teetering between both categories is Helsinki’s Flow Festival, a three-day boutique festival worshiping contemporary music…

Read More

U2 kick off Bonnaroo in their first ever American festival appearance; all the highlights from night one in Tennessee

For just the second time in their iconic career, U2 played a music festival last night (and their first in the US) and what resulted was a night the crowd of seventy thousand plus will never forget. The 16th edition of Bonnaroo swung into full gear on Friday with U2 as the main attraction. The…

Read More

Queens of the Stone Age, LCD Soundsystem lead 2017 Splendour in the Grass announcement

It’s here. After much speculation and #fakenews, the 2017 Splendour in the Grass line up has been revealed, with Queens of the Stone Age, LCD Soundsystem, The xx, ScHoolboy Q and more set to head to Byron Bay this winter. Splendour exclusives sit with Schoolboy Q and Future Islands, while returning 2016 artists Sigur Ros are also lined up to make a special appearance. The…

Read More

Five Albums You Must Listen to This Week (#001)

Kicking off a brand new feature column at the AU, we’re digging through our playlists, record collections, not to mention linking up with some of our favourite writers to find out what album’s they’re really digging at the moment. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be checking in with different writers to find out what’s been on…

Read More

U2 to headline 2017’s Bonnaroo festival in June; Flume, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and more also feature

Bonnaroo has gone and nabbed U2 for a special headline spot this year, taking place a few weeks ahead of the band’s massive tour to commemorate The Joshua Tree’s 30th anniversary. A huge coup for the Tennessee event for sure, Bonnaroo doled out its full line up overnight, featuring the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Major Lazer, Chance The Rapper, The…

Read More

Album News Weekly: 17th November 2016

This week in album news, heavy-weights The xx and Childish Gamino make waves with surprise album announcements, plus we meet the artist introducing us to his world of funky sub-Saharan soul music… YON YONSON Relative experience, cynicism and housing affordability: these are the topics touched on amidst bubbling electronic beats in Yon Yonson’s latest release “Berlin”, the first…

Read More

Red & White: West Thebarton Brothel Party pair wine with tunes

Adelaide’s West Thebarton Brothel Party are more than just a seven piece out of South Australia who are fast making a name for themselves as a frenetic and engaging rock band. They’re also about the finer things in life. Like pairing a good red or white wine with some suitable mood music. In honour of the…

Read More