I Want That You Are Always Happy.

Written by Laura Clare

Thursday, 26th May 2011

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We’re in love with The Middle East– and don’t mind saying so. They’re the kind of people you’d like to invite to a nice candlelit party, under some low hanging trees. In 2009, they moved us all with their delicately intricate folk tunes, The Darkest Side and Blood. I Want That You Are Always Happy is their latest installment of musical splendor. Land of The Bloody Unknown and Black Death 1349 are extraordinary gems on the bands debut album. While not every track will impress you unreservedly, the band’s vocal harmonies will please you every time. Hedonism is rife throughout I Want That You Are Always Happy; it’s a pleasure-seeking journey.

Confronting Refugee Panic.

Written by Lachlan McPhee
Monday, 23rd of May 2011
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Australia is a country which at its very core is made up of migrants and migrant culture. We as a people come from diverse and often mixed backgrounds, and it is this diversity of culture, from food to fashion, art to music, philosophy and religion, that go a long way to making this country great, not to mention the work ethic and willingness to participate in national life that many migrants (be they voluntary re-settlers or refugees seeking asylum) bring with them. The benefits of a such a cornucopia of different ways of living have been proven time and time again, and it is only as a modern, cosmopolitan society where many different voices are heard that we can move forward and begin to address the dire problems that face us in the future, those of climate change and food security.

Paint The Town.

Written by Laura Clare

Monday, 16th of May 2011

Image by Little Olive Photography

Sir or Madam Funk would be so very proud of this Melbourne band. It’s difficult to listen to them without dancing: grooving, boogieing, getting down. You’ve just got to twist and shout.

Seeker Lover Keeper.

Written By Bryana Dunstan 

Monday, 16th of May 2011

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On their own, they are three of Australia’s most lovely songstresses. Together, the enchanting sounds of Sally Seltmann, Holly Throsby and Sarah Blasko provide the most delightful company to a chilly autumn day.

Hippy Kitchens.

Written by Bryana Dunstan & Laura Clare 
Monday, 16th of May 2011
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Nostalgia is in. Swoon over mustard tea-towels, floral crockery and orange pots and pans here, at Hippy Kitchens.

Sugar Mountain Festival.

Written By Laura Clare

Tuesday, 5th of April 2011

Sugar Mountain Festival. The name is rather misleading really. It’s not on a mountain that boasts an abundance of candy, it’s at the Forum. And it’s far more accessible than it seems. 

Indie label Two Bright Lakes and Egad Amia touring company have created the musical line up, featuring both local, and international acts. The festival will bring to the stage the likes of Canyons, Oscar + Martin, Virgo Four, Otouto and Yellow Fever. 

If you would like to meet the man that painted Kimbra’s body, or listen to a talk by a group whose activities include ritualistic aerobics and porthole construction, then the Visual Arts lineup is for you. Thomas Campbell will create an artwork in a makeshift studio during the festival, and Ryan Heywood will show you some photographs of the ocean. You might see a film or eighty-four. Or you might just see one, by Rhys Mitchell. You might discover the street art collective, Cornelius Brown who make men out of milk crates and put them on very tall buildings. Or you might just look at some beautiful artwork by Beci Orpin, Leif Podhajsky, Charlie Callahan or Kelsey Brookes. 

 Tickets are available here. You should probably buy one. It’s going to be a real nice time. 

You can read more about the music lineup here. And here, you can read an interview with Otouto’s frontlady Hazel Brown.

Image from here.

Listening to Otouto- Astronauts

Brangelina and Friends.

Debbie Carlos.

Written By Laura Clare
Thursday, 24th of March 2011

Debbie Carlos knows how to take lovely photographs. She also knows how to make posters out of her photographs and sell them on Etsy. Take the time to look though her work. You’ll be glad that you did.