Culture
Music
Walk in as an audience member, leave as a performer
Pub Choir has achieved cult status, with thousands of people attending sold-out shows. Ahead of an overseas tour, we speak to founder Astrid Jorgensen to find out why.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
Latest
Splendour bounces back, but low crowd numbers raise questions over future
How is Splendour going to redeem itself this year, and more importantly, will the patrons forgive it for the 2022 debacle?
- by Mick Radojkovic
‘I understand myself’: G Flip on new album, marriage and reality TV fame
The multi-instrumentalist may be in the biggest spotlight of their career, but what they’re really worried about is whether Collingwood will make the finals.
- by Jules LeFevre
★★★
Review
Barbie: a soundtrack for the ages? Sure, we’ll see in 30 years
The album tie-in to the hyped movie is intriguing enough, mainly thanks to Ryan Gosling’s power ballad.
- by Robert Moran
★★★★★
Arts
Lizzo stuns Melbourne despite technical glitch
One of the world’s greatest performers is back in Melbourne with the wildly wholesome stadium show she should have been doing all along.
- by Liam Pieper
Are the ARIA charts really broken, or do they reflect our timid taste?
Amy Shark says going to number one helped build her career, but there are growing concerns it’s becoming almost impossible for Australian artists to replicate her success.
- by Robert Moran
Set up for stardom, this singer left home at 19 to find something deeper
With her second album, Natural Brown Prom Queen, the pop world has bent to Sudan Archives’ will. Her Splendour in the Grass visit follows a spectacular Glastonbury debut.
- by Michael Dwyer
His lost masterpiece was found after 30 years. Now he’s found acclaim
At 79, synth pioneer and transgender activist Beverly Glenn-Copeland suddenly finds himself in the spotlight.
- by John Shand
Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Lizzo have all done it, but is self-censorship really that new?
There is a long history of artists second-guessing lyrics, but the reasons behind it and the way they manage it has evolved.
- by Nell Geraets
He thought his music days were behind him. Life had other ideas
Dave Butterworth, a friend to many in the Melbourne music scene, hung up his guitar more than a decade ago. Now the band’s back together.
- by Martin Boulton
Opinion
Pop music
WHAM! Karma: Is Andrew Ridgeley the Buddha of boy bands?
The late George Michael was the star of ’80s UK pop supergroup WHAM!, but a new doco shines a light on his humble and delightful mate and collaborator.
- by Kerri Sackville