Lifestyle

This Friday's Big Day Out music festival in Auckland will be the last held in New Zealand after organisers said the event is no longer financially viable in Kiwi-land.

MUSIC FROM THE MOTHERLAND | Jason Donovan is back on the beat, the Arctic Monkeys fluff their lines and the King goes on holiday from the J's.

For Aussie residents in north London this year Bar Solo in Camden will be hosting a bunch of Australian artists to mark the day.

When KARL MATHIESEN was asked to interview Jonathan LaPaglia, one of the stars of the new Australian drama series The Slap, little did he realise that it would result in a profound consideration of contemporary Australian culture.

The Jezabels are popping back into London so often we’re starting to think they like the place. Here for one night only they packed out the iconic Heaven nightclub in Charing Cross.

Scottish actor Billy Boyd was recently in Australia and he found time to chat to LESLEY SLADE about The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies, as well as his love of surfing, Jedis and music…

MUSIC FROM THE MOTHERLAND | We look back at the wonderful year that was 2011 and remember the highs (and lows) of Australian music.

It's an undeniable fact of life that the two greatest Christmas songs of all time are The Pogues’ ‘Fairy Tale of New York’ and Paul Kelly’s ‘How to Make Gravy’. Some will tell you art is subjective and beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that —...

When Dame Edna graces the London stage in the pantomime production of Dick Whittington, it’s not just the Aussies in the audience who swoon. TIM MARTIN found out that the Brits are actually quite fond of the ‘housewife from Melbourne’ too and she’s right at home in panto.

An Australian's time spent in the UK can be filled with any number of traditionally English experiences. But one is both easily experienced and a truly English cultural experience, going to see a pantomime.

An Aussie. In London’s Royal Opera House. Sounds more like the plot for a comedy caper than for this winter’s hottest ticket in town! WILL FITZGIBBON caught up with Australian baritone Peter Coleman-Wright to talk Die Meistersinger and how you portray having a piece of plastic inserted where the sun...

MUSIC FROM THE MOTHERLAND | Grinderman to grind no more, the Annandale needs your love and voting for the Hottest 100 opens once again!

Greg and Lucy Malouf tell Nathan Motton about their new book; why Australia is leading the way with Middle Eastern food and why the cuisine is much more than just kebabs.

MUSIC FROM THE MOTHERLAND | Saving live Australian music is high on the agenda back home right now.

Nick Cave has announced his project Grinderman is over. Cave used the band's headline set at Meredith Music Festival in Victoria to declare that Grinderman are no more.

MUSIC FROM THE MOTHERLAND | Does anyone actually like Kyle Sandilands? Who got the J Awards? And see ya later Triple J legends.

People dream of being in London at Christmas. Few places in the world can capture the spirit of Christmas quite like London. And the weather is exactly what is required; part of the theme in fact.

Aussie comedian Deborah Frances-White reveals her tricks to getting almost anyone to want to sleep with you.

REVIEW | His first London gig in four years, Lior reminded a largely Aussie audience in Soho why true musicianship is alive and well

REVIEW | Aussie musician Prita, who describes her brand of music as “Hop-So-Fo” or a mix of hip-hop, soul and folk, has recently moved to London after spending the past four years conquering the Antipodes.

With the Sydney Dance Company gracing the boards of London this week, WILL FITZGIBBON took time to have a chat to the man behind the stunningly beautiful shows, artistic director Rafael Bonachela.

MUSIC FROM THE MOTHERLAND | We've got the low down from Aussie music's night of nights, we've got some very interesting news on DJ Pogo and we're wishing all the best to Bee Gees boy Robin Gibb.

The 2011 ARIA Awards were presented in a star studded ceremony held in Sydney Olympic Park on 27 November before a capacity audience comprised of members of industry heavy weights and music fans. Check out the full list of winners.

The 2011 ARIAs are in the bag. This year's instalment definitely made up for last year’s disappointing socks and jocks award ceremony. As the winners retreat to their accountants' offices to calculate how many units they'll move tomorrow and the losers retreat to the bar, we take stock of Australian...

Boy and Bear made it five ARIA Awards on the night, including coveted Best Group and Best Album prizes for their acclaimed debut, Moonfire.

Pete Murray has been making soundwaves recently on the back of his new album, Blue Sky Blue. Murray was back in London last week and hitting all the right notes to a packed crowd at Bush Hall full of Australian fans.

REVIEW | When one of Australia’s best known musicians strolls into a quaint London venue with his guitar over his shoulder you get the feeling it’s going to be an intimate gig. Enter Mr Alex Lloyd.

MUSIC FROM THE MOTHERLAND | Aussies get the South by Southwest call up, Kylie and The Wiggles get Fame-ous and Mr Rogers bites back. Ouch!

Set up in North London, Alex Lloyd seems to be living every Aussie expat’s dream. The multi ARIA winning artist is still at it musically, in fact he’s got a gig in London on Wednesday. PAUL JUDGE met ‘Mr Amazing’ and found out just where exactly he’s been hiding.

They’re one of the biggest musical comedy acts to come out of Australia. Meet the Axis of Awesome! TIM MARTIN chatted to the boys backstage just before their London gig last week.

On Steve Irwin Day, KRIS GRIFFITHS reflects on personal memories of meeting the 'Crocodile Hunter'

With their third album done and dusted and a world tour nearly completed, it’s been a busy but successful 2011 for Melbourne band Cut Copy. PAUL JUDGE asked the boys just what it takes to remain successful in the modern day music industry.

After only a very brief phone conversation, Liam Flanagan found out why Hannah Gadsby has quickly become one of Australia’s most successful comedians.

Don't Hold Back because Aussie electro sensations The Potbelleez are giving London a very special concert this week and it will be one for fans of the four piece not to miss.

REVIEW | The Roundhouse in Camden is a daunting venue and bands onstage need to be at the top of their game to deliver satisfaction to their guests for the night. Melbourne synth rock band Cut Copy certainly fitted the bill.

REVIEW | There were barely two hundred people rammed into the tiny KCLSU band room. The lighting and stage imagery left a lot to be desired, but this is the style of Gotye, he allows the most important thing do the entertaining, his music.

MUSIC FROM THE MOTHERLAND | What do November, Nick Cave and The Living End all have in common? Who is the huge English songstress performing in the harbour city for the 2012 Sydney Festival? And just what are Kings of Leon whinging about now?

Washington, one of the most talented young musicians around, is suddenly causing a very big stir on the international music scene. SHANNON CRANE had a chat with the shooting Aussie star and found out just how she stays grounded despite her overwhelming success.

For director Justin Kurzel, the decision to source local talent for his debut feature film Snowtown was a risky one. Enter local lad and first time actor Lucas Pittaway who plays the central character of Jamie Vlassakis. LIAM FLANAGAN sat down with the two men in London to chat about...

REVIEW | John Butler's biggest headline gig in the US had all the hallmarks of something truly special. What we got was anything but special, rather a disappointing display of pretentious live music.

MUSIC FROM THE MOTHERLAND | Are the Dockers really changing their club song? Why are NME interested in Aussie flashers? And what is Daniel Johns doing with Paul Kelly and The Temper Trap at the Sydney Opera House?

Wilbur Smith is one of the world’s most successful authors - a global No 1 bestseller who has sold 120 million books worldwide. On the phone from his home in London, HEATHER WALKER found out about his latest novel, Those in Peril, and his accomplished writing career.

REVIEW | The iconic 90’s pop song Ice, Ice Baby was the last song I expected to hear when I turned out to see Architecture in Helsinki perform in London on Tuesday.

REVIEW | No matter how many times you hear them, when The Cat Empire take the stage, you better have your dancing shoes on.

It takes a great show to sell out a venue at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival but takes an even greater show to come back the next year with the same show, upgrade to a larger venue and sell it out once again. That's exactly what The Boy With Tape On...

MUSIC FROM THE MOTHERLAND | An old school spat between Courtney Love and (insert any name here); the glory of music posters and getting excited about Melbourne Music Week.

When PAUL JUDGE spoke to funnyman Adam Hills recently, the Aussie comedian was in a London backyard kicking a football with his 13 month year old daughter after having spent all morning reading through a script for Spicks and Specks.

Aussie favourites The Cat Empire are about to rock London with two huge shows this week as they embark on yet another epic UK tour. TIM MARTIN caught up with co-lead vocalist and trumpeter Harry Angus to talk London curries, Felix’s dance moves and James Brown.

The relationship between Oscar Wilde and Australia is often a conflicted one. Much like the relationship between the celebrated playwright and his 'new' play, Constance, showing at north London's King's Head Theatre.

It was the story that painted South Australia as the serial killer capital of Australia and made a small country town a tourist attraction for all the wrong reasons. The “bodies in the barrels” case was seemingly made to be portrayed as a Saw style horror film yet director Justin...