Live Review: MAHO MAGIC BAR @ Spiegel Haus Melbourne

MAHO MAGIC BAR @ Spiegel Haus Melbourne

Perched on top of a rooftop carpark in Lonsdale Street, Broad Encounters has brought their Maho Magic Bar to the Spiegel Haus for the summer season.

The Maho Magic Bar is like walking into a little slice of Japan. We could be in a side alleyway bar in Tokyo, neon lights creating ambience and atmosphere.

Allocated a table number, guests are seated Tokyo style at a bar, strangers seated in close proximity to witnesses one of the most unique events. It’s akin to being seated at a casino table, instead of gambling we are about to witness a truly remarkable show.

First up to the table is magician Wambi. Hailing from Toyohashi, the heart of Japan’s motor vehicle industry, he uses his fast hands to impress us with coin tricks and fast magic. A strong start to the show, he wows us from the get-go setting the tone for what is about to begin .

As each performer moves through the tables we are treated to a wonderful array of magic, comedy and cocktails. Instead of one act, we are treated to a rotating performance, unique in its delivery..

Whether it’s Shirayuri with his expert card tricks, E.O. Lee with his sass and humour or Kaori with her captivating personality, each performer is entertaining and jaw dropping to watch. With each individual performance we are awed, left stunned and amazed.

Led by Jonathan Nash- Daly as MC, giving a fantastic performance we are treated to a show that is an incredible amount of fun and excitement.

MAHO MAGIC BAR features a carefully curated bar menu of premium Japanese alcoholic and non-alcoholic libations and cocktails adding to the experience and atmosphere of being in a real Tokyo venue. 

The show is like nothing else that has been bought to the stage. It’s unique, fun and exceptionally well executed. It will make your draw drop at times, and have you laughing at others. It’s a fantastic step out of reality for a while, and a step into a wonderful world of magic.

 

This season sees it taking up residency at Spiegel Haus Melbourne, a spectacular new two-level entertainment precinct in the heart of the city with multiple performance venues and a rooftop bar and lounge. Views of the city surrounding the venue making it feel like an escape in the heart of the CBD. 


What:​​Maho Magic Bar

Where:​​Spiegel Haus Melbourne, 217 Lonsdale St, CBD 3000

When:​​Tuesday 25 November 2025 – Sunday 15 February 2026

Tickets:From $66 + booking fee

Bookings:www.mahomagicbar.com 

Live Review: Kacey Musgraves at Palais Theatre, Melbourne

26 November 2025

Kacey Musgraves invites us into her beautifully curated musical journey through the emotional landscape of her career that feels both cinematic and intimate. A light display reminiscent of an Aurora Borealis wash over the stage as the first quiet notes of ‘Cardinal’ drifts through the theatre and we instantly feel calm and grounded.

The stage has been designed to feel like a lush, dreamy, moss-green forest, blending earthy tones with a touch of the cosmic to create an immersive and magical world that perfectly matches the reflective, nature-infused tone of her latest album ‘Deeper Well’.

It’s a bittersweet performance for Musgraves tonight because it’s the second to last show of this entire era for her. “It’s been so beautiful. These songs, this chapter, what it’s meant for me – with lots of personal growth,” she shares, and encourages everyone up on their feet to groove along with her in celebration.

“We’re gonna have a really good time. We’ve got a little mix of a bit of old and a bit of new. But I just want you to feel like you can be yourselves and really leave all the bullshit out there so we can have a great time together,” she exclaims.

Musgraves moves with calm assurance straight into ‘justified’, her voice both delicate and steel-sharp, the track’s honest emotional reckoning resonating deeply. ‘Butterflies’ lifts the crowd into soft euphoria, its shimmering sweetness enhanced by the theatre’s acoustics.

‘Love Is a Wild Thing’ unfurls with warm guitar textures that feel expansive, and the luminous ‘Golden Hour’ showcases Musgraves mastery of her bittersweet storytelling that smile even while they ache.

We relate feeling conflicting emotions as she sings ‘Happy & Sad’ with a steady sincerity that truly strikes a collective nerve. She asks the crowd to give some sexy little finger snaps along to ‘Lonely Millionaire’ as we lean into the theme of modern isolation.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Australia. I know that a lot of you here have been with me on my musical journey since the very beginning. I appreciate your patience and for following my creative journey wherever it goes,” Musgraves says earnestly.

She takes things a little further back with a song that felt pertinent for her at that time. “I had moved from my little bitty town in Austin after high school to Nashville. At the end of 2008 I ended up meeting some really amazing people that just completely changed my world and I made a lot of friends in the LGBTQIA+ community.”

“Naturally, the things that I was writing about and singing about followed. I just felt like I was kind of doing my job as a songwriter and taking these things in and made a big impression on me. I love the bones of country music because it’s a genre that’s built on real stories.”

She recalls that her song ‘Follow Your Arrow’ almost didn’t make it onto her debut album but she fought for it even though it ended up getting banned by country radio. “The love and support that it has brought to my world has meant so much to me and it’s way more priceless than any of that other stuff,” she declares.

Musgraves acknowledges the presence of the community in the room tonight and those who may not feel supported by their families and reassuring them that they have a welcoming family here in her crowd of fans with open arms.

Another little country throwback ‘It Is What It Is’ has her seated for the slow swaying tune as the disco ball spins above. Its spirit of freedom and playfulness lights the room instantly, while the cheeky charm of ‘The Trailer Song’ keeps the energy high.

The band steps back and the stage narrows to a single spotlight as Musgraves delivers a breathtaking solo rendition of ‘The Architect’, revealing the full intimacy of her voice, unadorned and piercing.

“I’ve been playing these beautiful places that have such great acoustics and so I thought it would be kind of nice to hear the open-air acoustics of this historic theatre. She takes out her inner ear plugs and plays a couple of unplugged songs including ‘Hookup Scene’ and ‘Heaven Is’. As three of her band members join her in forming a circle around the microphone it feels like secret confessions whispered through the dark. In these quieter moments, the Palais becomes impossibly still.

‘Jade Green’ shimmers with atmospheric calm before the storm hits with the familiar soft strum of ‘Slow Burn’ that ripples through the theatre. ‘Space Cowboy’ follows with a slow heartbreak that leaves the room hanging on every syllable as the stage engulfs in bubbles to finish. The mood lifts again with a warmly nostalgic collaboration with Brooks & Dunn ‘Neon Moon’ that blooms into a moment of communal sway and glow.

Inflatable plastic balls are thrown out across the audience as the disco-tinged High Horse’ sees the theatre breakout into a grooving dancefloor party. ‘Rainbow’ builds the perfect rise and release with emotional closure bathed in multicoloured light. Musgraves closes the show with the title track of her most recent album ‘Deeper Well’ serving as a reflective anthem with its themes of shedding, survival, and renewal echoing beautifully long after the curtains close.

Words by Michael Prebeg

AUGIE MARCH ANNOUNCE ‘MOO, YOU BLOODY CHOIR’ 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Just shy of two decades ago, an instant Australian icon was made with the 2006 release of Augie March’s poetic and immersive third album Moo, You Bloody Choir. With its twentieth anniversary fast approaching next year, today the beloved indie rockers announce a tour fit for such a special milestone and album, with their 20th Anniversary Tour of Moo, You Bloody Choir set to take place next April, performing the album in its entirety for the first time ever at these special shows, alongside some extra fan-favourites.

Kicking off in Perth at Freo.Social on April 3, before moving through Adelaide and Melbourne, the tour will then finish up at The Triffid in Brisbane on April 17. Tickets for go on sale to the general public on Tuesday 2 December at 9:00am local time from http://www.teamwrktouring.com/tours/augie-march-anniversary-tour and fans can register for presale now from https://arep.co/t/augie-march-anniversary-tour, with the presale kicking off from Monday 1 December at 9am local time.

“We’re a modest outfit, almost always have been, questions of age of respective members are tactfully off limits,” shares the band of their approaching 20th anniversary of Moo, You Bloody Choir. “That aside, we’re fighting fit and pretty happy that we’re probably a better equipped bunch to tackle this sprawling, ambitious, poetic, melodic record than we were first time around.  People loved moo and it’ll be a series of rooms full of reciprocal love, nothing is surer.

With a warm yet melancholic glow, Moo You Bloody Choir’s opening track One Crowded Hour instantly set the scene for something truly special on Augie March’s third full-length album. An emotive blossoming of poetry and precision, One Crowded Hour was a honeyed and clever exploration into a fleeting moment of connection, while also signalling a significant stylistic shift from the band’s previous 2002 album Strange Bird. While One Crowded Hour reached #29 on the ARIA Singles charts and nabbed the coveted #1 spot on triple j’s Hottest 100, Moo, You Bloody Choir is certainly no one hit wonder. Instead, the entire 14-track album gently but powerfully pulls you into just over an hour of meticulously sequenced delights, from the lush yet self-referential Victoria’s Secret through to the maudlin jaunt of The Cold Acre, stirring country-pop (Mother Greer), hazy urgency (Just Passing Through), aching acoustic beauty a la Bob Dylan (Bottle Baby), and otherworldly elegance (Clockwork) along with oscillating moments of indie rock, pop and folk that never overstay their welcome; and truly never leave you.

Memorably parting the veil behind the making of the album, the band share, “a little known anecdote while recording some of the album in the tenderloin district of Chicago at a studio that served as the home of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s best patch of work, there was a total of three dead bodies encountered by band members over the week, including one as a result of an armed robbery at the diner across the road. Fun?  Not really, but when you get to be the not dead bodies, there is a certain strange euphoria”. And as to their own view of their own legacy as a band? “Not very old; understated; overwrought and completely unique in the Australian and world cultural landscape.”

Hailing mostly from Shepparton, Victoria and commencing their creative journey under the Augie March moniker in the mid-to-late 90s, the groupopened the turn of the century with their 2000 debut album Sunset Studies. Going on to release eight studio albums to date, snag 13 ARIA Award nominations and a win in 2001 for Engineer of the Year (Sunset Studies), tick off chart success, and evolve a cult-like following into an enduring and expansive fanbase to this very day, Augie March’s 2006 outing Moo, You Bloody Choir also notably cemented the group’s prowess and ambitious creative exploration. Recorded in San Francisco following a gruelling two-month North American tour, Augie March dove into experimentation on album #3, as keyboardist Kiernan Box elaborates, “experiments with new song called One Crowded Hour showed some promise. From there the project seemed cursed by a range of professional and personal crises: record labels merged, producers and engineers fought, band members were seriously wounded in assaults, motivations waxed and waned. It sometimes seemed as though the new album would never materialise. Eventually it did emerge, the single One Crowded Hour struck like a lightning bolt and a small, critically popular band suddenly found themselves all over the airwaves as mainstream sensations.”

A record that would go on to climb the charts, achieve Platinum status, take out the crown for the Australian Music Prize along with multiple other accolades and awards, Moo, You Bloody Choir undeniably became an all-time Australian classic, with the band also touring the album at home and in North America for three solid years after its release to an ever-growing international fanbase. And in 2026, two decades on since its release, the band will tick off another milestone for their Australian tour next April: performing Moo, You Bloody Choir in full for the first time.

“These anniversary things can either be rote and procession like, or a second chance to investigate the enduring mystery that genuine, complete, composed bodies of work are made of,” the band share. “We are excited to opt for the latter version, not that there’s a choice in our case. The songs will be treated with respect and disdain simultaneously, the shows will be powerful and intimate by turns, we will speak with the audience and they will speak with us, like all the best Augie shows.”

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience Moo, You Bloody Choir in full and celebrate the national treasure that is Augie March and their 2006 unforgettable record brought to life across venues nationwide in 2026; and, as the band conclude, there is plenty to look forward to in the not-too-distant future in Augie March HQ.

“We’ve recorded and released several acclaimed albums since Moo and each of us has established our own careers independent of the band, as well as the odd family,” says the band. “But like Elvis we have never left the bathroom. Glenn R is currently recording his next project which looks set to have UK and European release in 26.

“There’s always more in the pen and the strings when it’s Augie, we don’t rest on laurels or weeds,” the band add. “This upcoming tour is just a lovely stepping stone to the next bit, albeit a rather large and shiny one!”

 

Tickets for Augie March’s 20th Anniversary Tour of Moo, You Bloody Choir go on sale to the general public on Tuesday 2 December at 9:00am local time from http://www.teamwrktouring.com/tours/augie-march-anniversary-tour.

 


AUGIE MARCH – MOO, YOU BLOODY CHOIR 20TH ANNIVERSARY
TOUR DATES:

Tickets available from http://www.teamwrktouring.com/tours/augie-march-anniversary-tour.

FRI 3 APR | FREO.SOCIAL, PERTH WA

SAT 4 APR | THE GOV, ADELAIDE SA

FRI 10 APR | THE CROXTON, MELBOURNE VIC

FRI 17 APR | THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE QLD

Interview: flipturn

 

Formed in Jacksonville, FL, flipturn first came together in high school, where they worked passionately to turn garage meet-ups into playing college house shows into headlining sold-out dates for thousands, performing across continents to their rapidly-expanding and deeply-dedicated fanbase. Releasing their debut album Shadowglow in 2022, the band went on to perform acclaimed festival set sat Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Governor’s Ball and sharing stages with names like Two Door CinemaClub, The Revivalists, Mt. Joy, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

 

We caught up with the band ahead of their debut tour.

This is your first time touring Australia — what are you most looking forward to about playing shows here? Any Australian food you’re keen to try?

○Devon- Really lookin forward to the Sunshine & Heat! Playing cities we’ve never been to before is always so exciting, & I hear shows in Australia have such high energy. I’ve been keen to try the coffee in Melbourne…it’s been hyped up.

Growing up in Florida — is it really as wild as it sounds, and how did that energy shape you creatively?

○Mitch: lots of people call Florida the Australia of the US. Lots of nature and animals and stuff. I’m sure it subconsciously influenced our music.

How did the collaboration with Old Mervs come about, and what was it like working together in the studio?

○Dillon: We have the same booking agent in the US!  When we were looking for someone to feature on the track, our agent sent over some of Old Mervs music to check out and we became big fans. We thought their style fit the song perfectly and turns out we were right because Dave absolutely crushed the verse we gave him.

Your sound has been described as “atmospheric, introspective, and dynamic. How do you feel your music has evolved from Heavy Colours to Burnout Days?

○Madeline: I think our music has matured in a lot of ways! We wrote Heavy Colors about ten years ago, so over the years we’ve been able to grow as musicians and hone in on our sound as a band. We like to continually push ourselves with every new album we work on, and I think Burnout Days has some darker tones that I think is a newer feeling for us.

Burnout Days has been called the “culmination of a decade. What personal or creative milestones does this record represent for you?

○Tristan- that’s cool it’s been called that! I haven’t heard it put that way but I am sure it’s quite applicable to what a lot of people are going through nowadays.Getting to work with Chad Copelin on this record helped us achieve a lot of those creative goals we’ve been working towards and having the backdrop of our touring to use as inspiration made it so fun to bring the story into the studio. I think some milestones we’ve reached is just learning to be comfortable in the studio and honing our studio skills to match our live set energy.

 

You’ve performed at major festivals like Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo — how do you

prepare differently for an intimate club show compared to a massive festival stage?

○Devon- We don’t prepare any differently, every show we play is equally important to us no matter the scale. We always give every performance everything we got.

 

Australian fans are pretty passionate about music and a little crazy. What is your craziest fan experience?

○Devon: Once had a guy come up to me & ask to sign his leg to get it tattooed…I begged him not to get it tatted but the next day I got a notification in my tagged on instagram & he really did it… now he has my chicken scratch hand writing permanently displayed on him. Legend.

If you could play any venue in the world, what would it be and why?

Mitch: The Gorge in Washington, it’s a really cool open air venue with a beautiful view

You met in high school, did you ever think you’d be where you are now and what would you say to your younger selves?

○Madeline: I know it’s always something we’ve always dreamed of doing! We love to make big goals for ourselves, and it’s amazing that we’ve been able to achieve some of those dreams. I think I would tell my younger self to keep pushing forward and to continue making music that feels true to ourselves.

Lastly, what are ten fantasy items you would have on your Rider if money was no object-make it as wild as possible. Tell us why you’d have them.

Dillon:

■ A donkey (it is our sigil)

■ Chocolate milk (it’s a band favorite)

■ Clase azul tequila (it’s a staple)

■ A 24 carrot golden labubu (it’s relevant)

■ A green room full of plants (good for the vibes)

■ A PS5 (pre and post show gaming)

■ Oli pop (it’s my personal favorite)

■ A pre show hype-man (preferably Jameis Winston for inspiration and

comic relief)

■ A barista (we love coffee)

■ Guitar picks (we always lose them)

 

Don’t miss flipturn live in Australia in 2025

FLIPTURN AUSTRALIAN 2025 TOUR

Special guests to be announced

Saturday 29 November

Rollings Sets Festival

Tweed Heads, NSW

Wednesday 3 December

The Brightside

Brisbane, QLD

Thursday 4 December

Corner Hotel

Melbourne, VIC

Friday 5 December

Metro Theatre

Sydney, NSW

Saturday 6 December

Rolling Sets Festival

Central Coast, NSW

TICKETS

Early Bird Presale:

Wednesday 6 August at 9:00AM local timeSign up for access to Early Bird Presale here

General On Sale:

Tickets on sale Friday 8 August 2025 at 9:00AM local time

Tickets available via Destroy All Lines

ELLA HOOPER SHARES ROUSING NEW SINGLE ‘GROWING UP IS HARD TO DO’ AND ANNOUNCES 2026 AUSSIE TOUR FOR JAN

A rousing ode to self-reflection with heartland flavours and lashings of charm, revered Australian singer-songwriter Ella Hooper today unveils a new single Growing Up Is Hard To Do, emerging with a Springsteen-ready romp that effortlessly straddles relatability and unbridled warmth. An upbeat snapshot of Ella’s continued creative evolution, Growing Up Is Hard To Do will also take full flight in 2026 throughout Ella’s Summer Tour ’26 performances, kicking off on Saturday 10 January in Mansfield, before heading through Tamworth, Sale, Archies Creek, Newcastle, Mangrove Mountain, Bathurst, Boyup Brook, Ocean Grove and Balnarring Beach.

Tickets for Ella Hooper’s upcoming Summer Tour ’26 performances are on sale now from ellahooper.com.

A bona fide toe-tapper, weaving bright instrumentals, raw yet animated vocals, driving beats, a sax solo tipping its cap to Clarence Clemmons, and a tom tom breakdown worthy of the Boss, this Bruce Springsteen-hued gem also affably dovetails the scars, laughs and learnings of growing up into an outing that captures Ella’s effusive live energy, and also instantly emerges as a future festival fan-favourite. “I’m so excited to be sharing this new song!” shares Ella. “It literally made me smile when it came to my minds ear and also came quickly to life in my Nashville recording sessions…it always had a clear idea of what it wanted to be – or rather what I wanted to say, on this one. I love the chance to blend some of Nashville’s finest players, with my local Melbourne friends like Mika [Kohlman] and see the musical sparks fly! Feels like having the best of both the worlds that I love so much and spend so much time in.”

“This song comes from a period of self-reflection that kinda started with Small Town Temple – my last album,” Ella continues. “It finds me in a place where I can almost accept that growing pains never stop…I’m just learning to write different songs about them. It feels playful to me, as life is a little lighter now, internally anyway,” Ella adds. “Some days I can roll my eyes at the chaos of the last few years, or my whole life actually…it’s certainly been a hell of a ride. And as they say, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry!”

Produced by Ella along with the Australian-born, Nashville-based Sam Hawskley and ARIA-nominated creative Jeremy Dylan, Growing Up Is Hard To Do also showcases a horde of additional talent, featuring the Nashville studio band of Fred Eltringham (Sheryl Crow), Tom ‘Uncle Larry’ Bukovacand Rachel Loy (Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton), an unforgettable sax solo from Melbourne’s finest indie sax man, Mika Kohlman (Watty Thompson, Fenn Wilson & The Weather), and additional magic courtesy of co-producers LOLLIES, aka Clare Reynolds (Jordie Lane, Rachel Baiman and Mic Hubbard (The Bluebottles, Ben Mastwyk).

A longtime staple in the musical realms, Ella Hooper’s storied career has spanned everything from a #1 album, through to sold out tours (playing Good Things last year, and this year’s fully sold out Reflector 25th anniversary tour, and the 25th anniversary re-release which also saw the album get back into the top spot of the Aus album and vinyl ARIA charts), multiple award wins, Rolling Stone covers, radio and TV presenting, and hit singles along the way that changed the course of Australian pop culture forever. Emerging in the mid 90s fronting Killing Heidi, Ella and co. catapulted out of regional Victoria into superstardom via their debut single Weir. Taking home four ARIA Awards for their 2000 debut album Reflector, Ella also went on to become the first ever female, and also youngest person, to receive APRA’s Songwriter of the Year Award in 2001, with Killing Heidi ultimately releasing three studio albums during their tenure.

Branching out into a solo career, Ella has continued to dominate and dazzle with her dexterous musical flair, pivoting to synth folk, rock, country and Americana, with her most recent solo outing, 2023’s Small Town Temple, firmly celebrating her love of country and Americana, while also weaving deeply personal narratives into the 11-track record that also went on to debut at #1 on the Australian Country chart. Firmly in her country era and splitting her time between Nashville and Melbourne, Ella’s ongoing sonic magic continues to transfix both on airwaves and in a live setting, ticking off her Back From Nash headline tour earlier this year, and also delighting fans with Killing Heidi’s show-stopping performances at Good Things Festival in late 2024 alongside Korn, Electric Callboy, Violent Femmes and more.

Concluding 2025 with the release of Growing Up Is Hard To Do, Ella will kick off 2026 with a bang, with a bunch of festivals around the country that beget the high octane vibe that Ella’s new music is infused with, with everything from iconic taste making festivals (Queenscliff), to outback musters (Boyup Brook), to Music In The Vines in Mansfield, Americana on the Bellarine, the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival, and a bunch of other headline outings that will yet again affirm her stalwart reputation for positivity, warmth and endless exuberance, both on and off the stage.

“Closing the year with a new single feels very me and very cheeky,” Ella laughs. “I know it’s going to go off live at the summer tour shows and festivals like Queenscliff too. The band are hanging to get their teeth into the single live, and I am just charging at the bit for 2026 and to tell more of the story and reflection that Growing Up hints at.”

Growing Up Is Hard To Do is out today.

Tickets for Ella Hooper’s upcoming Summer Tour ’26 performances are on sale now from ellahooper.com.

Stream: GROWING UP IS HARD TO DO

Watch: GROWING UP IS HARD TO DO

 

ELLA HOOPER UPCOMING 2026 SHOWS:
Tickets available from ellahooper.com

SAT 10 JAN | MUSIC IN THE VINES, DELATITE WINERY, MANSFIELD VIC

WED 21 JAN | TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, TAMWORTH HOTEL NSW

SAT 31 JAN | LIVE AT THE BUNDY, SALE VIC

SUN 1 FEB | ARCHIES CREEK HOTEL, ARCHIES CREEK VIC

FRI 6 FEB |STAG & HUNTER, NEWCASTLE NSW

SAT 7 FEB | BLUES ON THE MOUNTAIN, MANGROVE MOUNTAIN NSW

SUN 8 FEB | THE VICTORIA HOTEL, BATHURST NSW

FRI 13 FEB | BOYUP BROOK COUNTRY MUSIC MUSTER, BOYUP BROOK WA

SAT 21 FEB | AMERICANA ON THE BELLARINE, OCEAN GROVE VIC

SAT 28 FEB | PENINSULA SONGRIDERS CLUB, THE WESTERNPORT YACHT CLUB, BALNARRING BEACH VIC

CONRAD SEWELL ANNOUNCES 2026 AUSTRALIAN ‘BLOODLINE’ TOUR WITH GRAMMY-NOMINATED SISTER, GRACE SEWELL

Conrad Sewell is set to return to Australian stages next year, today announcing his Bloodline tour, a powerful new chapter celebrating family, legacy and the raw soul of his voice, joined by his Grammy-nominated sister Grace Sewell (PKA SAYGRACE), whose billion-stream career has made her one of Australia’s most formidable R&B exports. The tour announce comes paired with the news of a compelling new Conrad Sewell single Deserve, set to drop this Friday and available to presave now.

Following his two-part Firestone 10th Anniversary tour this year, the Bloodline Tour will kick off at The Night Cat in Melbourne on June 5, before moving through Adelaide and Brisbane, and finishing up at Oxford Art Factory in Sydney on June 27. The tour will be supported by London-to-LA singer songwriter and striking guitarist, SOLOMON.

Tickets to the Bloodline Tour will go on sale on Friday 28 November at 9am local time, with a 24hour fan presale live from Thursday 27 November at 9am local time from www.teamwrktouring.com/tours/conrad-sewell-bloodline-tour.

Excited to hit the road with his talented sister, Conrad says, “We’ve always wanted to tour together, but our schedules never aligned – Grace being in LA and me being in Australia made it pretty tough. It finally feels like the right moment in both of our careers to share the stage and make this happen.”

 

“We’ll both be bringing our own sets, but the real magic happens when we come together – harmonies, stripped-back versions of our songs, and a few surprises we’ve never done publicly before. It’s a celebration of family, storytelling, and the music that shaped us – this tour is all about connection: with each other, with our fans, and with the songs that mean the most to us.”

In May 2015, his sister Grace hit number one on the ARIA charts with her cover of Lesley Gore’s You Don’t Own Me, with Start Again landing Conrad the top spot of the ARIA charts in June 2015, making Conrad and Grace the first Australian-born siblings in the history of the charts to hit number one as separate acts. “Being the first siblings to top the charts in the same month was wild – we still laugh about it,” says Conrad, “it’s one of those things you don’t fully appreciate until you look back. And I love that Michael and Janet Jackson were the last ones to do it before us.”

Music has always been in our DNA. We grew up surrounded by it — our family sang together constantly, and we learned really young how powerful music can be. That’s what drives both of us: connection, honesty, storytelling, and making people feel something.” Together, the siblings bring two world-class voices to one unforgettable night.

Starting his musical journey at the age of 8, Conrad Sewell became a household name with his first official solo endeavour, teaming up with dynamic Norwegian DJ and producer Kygo for the 2014 smash hit Firestone; a track that has since gone on to generate over 1 billion streams on Spotify alone and opened the door for Sewell to open arenas for the likes of Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, Jess Glynne and just this month sharing the stage with Rob Thomas. Since then, Sewell has never looked back, going on to secure a #1 charting and Platinum certified single via 2015’s Star Again, which also took home the ARIA Music Award for Song of the Year, before going on to release two studio albums, tour the globe extensively, all while continuing to enamour with his soulful approach to pop music that is authentic as it is memorable.

The Bloodline Tour is on sale Friday 28 November at 9am local time from www.teamwrktouring.com/tours/conrad-sewell-bloodline-tour.

Conrad Sewell’s new single Deserve is out this Friday 28 November and is available to presave now.

BLOODLINE TOUR

Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com/tours/conrad-sewell-bloodline-tour

THE NIGHT CAT | FRI 05 JUNE 2026 | MELBOURNE

LION ARTS FACTORY (ALL AGES) | SAT 06 JUNE 2026 | ADELAIDE

THE TRIFFID (ALL AGES) | FRI 26 JUNE 2026 | BRISBANE

OXFORD ART FACTORY | SAT 27 JUNE 2026 | SYDNEY

Live Review: Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz
John Caine Arena
November 25

It’s been a while since Lenny Kravitz has graced Australian shores, touring last in 2012. As the year draws to a close, Melbourne welcomes Lenny Kravitz back to the stage with the Blue Electric Light Tour.

Local band Jet have the audience warmed up with a very solid set, Nic Cestar at the helm of the popular band.

Opening with ‘ Bring It On’ Lenny has a stage presence that is electric, a true rock and roll God at the microphone.

Moving through the hits “ Always On The Run”, and “ Believe”, Kravitz puts on an impressive performance, barely stopping to draw breath, switching between his electric and acoustic guitars with expert precision.

He takes a moment to appreciate the crowd and mentions his gratitude.

“Not everybody woke up today and we did so that is the biggest gift of all. That means we still have purpose and a destiny to fulfil each and every one of us.. To continue exercising the love within us, to bring light into the darkness. 
And I feel your light already. So thank you for coming. Thank you for having us back, welcoming us in your country. 
And if you like, we will continue doing this on a regular basis…. So let’s continue our celebration, by giving praise to the most High.”  He states while raising his arms heavenward, launching into “ I Belong To You”

It’s not just his vocals- which are exceptional, the lighting design is sublime. It’s a pure immersive experience that takes you out of the ordinary and seats you firmly in Kravit’s world, showcasing a spectacular array of sound and light together.

Before launching into “ Honey” he takes a moment to thank locals Jet for opening the show.

How about our special, special, special guests? Jet From right here. Right! 
I’ve always been a big fan of their music. And after hanging out with them, they are the nicest people in the world. So we thank them for blessing us, being here with us, again.” 

His hips gyrate as he dances to  the music, reminding the audience of his sex appeal. Lenny Kravitz has sex appeal that has spanned  his entire career, and as he gyrates on stage, he shows no signs of slowing down.

Finishing up with his three biggest hits “ American Woman” (The Guess Who cover) “ Fly Away” and “Are You Gonna Go My Way” Kravitz reminds the audience of why he is still one of the most entertaining performers of a generation.

As he wraps up his final song “ Let Love Rule” he makes his way through the audience to connect with fans in a victory lap. Phones raised into the air, fans flock to touch him, respectful of the singer and enamoured with him.

Lenny Kravitz is the kind of performer that draws you into his world, taking you on a journey that will leave you breathless, wanting more.

Words by Amanda Lee Starkey

Theatre Review: RED


RED

fourtyfive downstairs

Flinders Lane

Walking into the intimate room that is fortyfive downstairs the audience enters the sparse studio of artist Mark Rothko, ( Dylan Smith) casually seated awaiting someone.

As he arises, we are introduced to a nervous yet eager assistant- Ken ( Jordan Briggs) who is commencing employment with the artist, at the beginning of his biggest commission piece.

From the beginning of the play and as it traverses into the deep insecurities of Rothko, the two are often at loggerheads, the senior artist at times insufferable, the student keen to learn yet finding himself out of his depth.

Rothko challenges him in ways that push his intellect, forcing him to not only grow as an artist, but to become increasingly frustrated at the aging artist.

The play is a powerful portrayal of the inner workings of an artists mind. His insecurities, obsessions and observations are laid bare.

The mind of an artist is a complex place, and as the two spar we are given an accurate glimpse of those complexities. It’s a rich and intriguing dialogue between the two men.

RED is an excellent piece of work that is thought provoking, evocative and brilliant. As we traverse through two years – a mere snapshot of the artists life we are given access to a mind and a world that many don’t get access to. If you are an artist, the arrogance of Rothko is familiar, the inexperience of assistant Ken is relatable.

An exceptional piece of work that is both painfully poetic and deeply moving RED draws you into the world of two very different men, and will leave you thinking deeply long after the final bows.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars

RED is showing at fortyfive downstairs in Flinders Lane until

November 30

 

‘WE ARE THE VOICE’ – WORLD RECORD SINGALONG TO JOHN FARNHAM SONGS SET FOR SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL 13 MARCH 2026

Thousands of Farnham fans are expected to descend on the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on 13 March 2026 to be a part of an incredibly unique and memorable event as music director Chong Lim and the iconic Farnham Band are joined by a host of special guest vocalists as they collectively attempt to set a world record for the most people singing John Farnham songs, with a portion of proceeds going towards The Head and Neck Cancer Foundation.

 

The audience will take centre stage and become the ultimate colossal choir at this special event celebrating one of Australia’s best loved entertainers, John Farnham, with The Farnham band leading the masses in a singalong of some of Farnham’s greatest hits, including You’re the Voice and maybe even Sadie!

 

“This will be a fun event at one of my favourite venues on the planet, and for a very worthy cause,” says John Farnham. I have benefitted from all the research done by head and neck cancer Australia, and I am very happy to give back with this event.

 

Singing my songs for a world record sounds like a challenge, but if they can get the lyrics right to my songs, they will be doing better than me!

 

Farnham concludes, “I can’t be there, but you will have Chong and the band, and some fine singers all doing their best.”

 

Performing together for the first time since Firefight in 2020, the Farnham band are ecstatic to be back playing together, anchoring the night’s performances ensuring every intro, riff and chorus rises to world breaking records. “The band and I can’t wait to perform together again for our wonderful fans. We are especially thrilled to be supporting The Head and Neck Cancer Foundation in honour of John’s support. See you all at the Bowl in this once-in-a lifetime special event.”

 

Nadia Rosin, CEO of Head and Neck Cancer Australia explains, “John Farnham has become an unexpected but truly powerful voice for Head and Neck Cancer awareness. By sharing his own oral cancer diagnosis, he has shone a national spotlight on a cancer that is often misunderstood, frequently diagnosed too late, and can have a life-changing impact on a person’s ability to eat, breathe, speak, and swallow.

 

“This unique concert will be a fun and unforgettable celebration of one of Australia’s greatest and most beloved entertainers in an iconic Victorian venue, but it also carries a powerful message. With more than 5,500 Australians diagnosed with a type of Head and Neck Cancer each year, raising awareness of the signs and symptoms and encouraging early detection can save lives.

 

“We are incredibly grateful to John, his family and team, and everyone involved for choosing to support Head and Neck Cancer Australia, and helping us educate, engage and empower communities across the country.”

 

The Australian Book of Records are no strangers to breaking world records, earlier this year earning the record for ‘most people dancing The Nutbush’ with 6,779 people dancing those iconic moves at Mundi Mundi Bash on the plains at Silverton NSW, breaking the previous world record, raising funds for the Royal Flying Doctors Service SE region. Just last week in Melbourne at Federation Square, 374 bagpipers took the world record beating Bulgaria’s previous world record of 333 bagpipers playing together.

 

Helen Taylor, co-founder of The Australian Book Of Records (who holds 94 world records) says, We are honoured to be able to come together with likeminded Australians and give back to our music icon John Farnham. It is a small way of thanking him for everything he has done for Australians of different ages throughout the decades, with his wonderful music, charisma and talent.

FRI 13 MAR | WE ARE THE VOICE – JOHN FARNHAM WORLD RECORD SINGALONG | SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL | ALL AGES | TICKETS

Live Review and Gallery: Sebastian Bach

Sebastian Bach lit up the Forum Melbourne on November 24, 2025, with a performance that was nothing short of electrifying. From the moment he stepped onto the stage, the room surged with excitement. Bach’s trademark energy, wild charisma, and unmistakable voice instantly set the tone for a night that celebrated everything fans love about him.

Early in the set, “Wasted Time” became a powerful standout. Bach delivered it with genuine emotion, drawing the crowd in with soaring vocals that carried beautifully through the historic theatre. It felt like one of those rare live moments where everyone in the room was locked into the same feeling. Later, “Youth Gone Wild” hit like a jolt of pure adrenaline. The Forum erupted as fans yelled every word back at him, transforming the venue into a massive, unified chorus.

The encore kept the energy sky-high. Bach powered through Rose Tattoo’s “We Can’t Be Beaten,” giving the Aussie classic a heartfelt, high-voltage tribute that the local crowd absolutely loved. To close the night, he tore into “GTFO,” delivering it with a perfect mix of attitude, humour, and full-throttle rock-and-roll energy.

The entire show felt alive, loud, warm, and full of connection. Bach didn’t just perform; he created an atmosphere that reminded everyone why live music still hits so hard. This wasn’t just a concert, it was a celebration of a performer who still has the fire, the voice, and the presence to own the stage and leave Melbourne buzzing long after the final note.

Words and pictures by Monique Pizzica

MUSIC ARTS MEDIA