Entertainment

Your favourite summer festival is returning with big beats, big energy, and big changes. 

Off the back of their performance at HoMie's new Tiny Desk-inspired Store Sessions, Bad//Dreems chat to music writer Ben Madden about playing stripped-back music, writing a new record and finding rapport with a certain ilk of Aussie male.

We've rounded up the best Netflix documentaries you need to watch right now. From the intriguing to the shocking, it’s all here.

Kick back and dive into the best Disney+ has to offer in Australia and New Zealand for 2025.

Stay updated with the best movies and documentaries on Netflix Australia this month. Your ultimate streaming guide is here.

Pull up your calendar and block out a weekend (or seven) and tune into some unmissable festivals coming to our corner of the world. 

Read widely and read deeply by scouring the shelves at Brisbane's best independent and secondhand bookstores. 

Kiwi pop icon Lorde has finally dropped dates for the Australian and New Zealand leg of her tour. 

Queensland's 2025 Triple Bill brings audiences three ballets in one—the perfect ballet introduction for newbies.

The global phenomenon that broke Netflix records, sparked countless Halloween costumes and gave an all-new meaning to ‘red light, green light’, is gearing up for one final twisted, terrifying round.

Whether you’re a devoted dog-parent, or someone who just happens to drop laps around the local dog park in hopes of scoring a couple of pats—listen up. 

Cult-favourite psychological thriller, Nine Perfect Strangers, is finally back for a second spine-tingling season—and it deserves top spot on your watchlist.

The best audiobooks to please every ear, from romantasy best sellers to literary classics. 

If there’s one person who knows how to make the most of a weekend in Sydney, it’s the powerhouse NRLW player, sharp-witted commentator, and podcast co-host Millie Elliott. 

With this year marking the event’s 20th anniversary and its biggest program to date, Sydney Comedy Festival is set to roll into town for a month of cracking jokes. 

For those on the hunt for a cultural experience rich with all things history, people, stories, and nature, Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau) should be top of the list. 

New Year = time to give your mind, body and soul a well-deserved reset.

FISHER's Out 2 Lunch Festival with Vodafone is back, and we have the insider scoop on how to grab up presale tickets. 

We've rounded up some of Brisbane/Meanjin's best book clubs to check out this year. 

We'll show you how to ace the off-court scene by serving up Melbourne's best during the Australian Open

We’ve put together a list of the best New Year’s Eve parties in Brisbane so you can dance your way into 2025 in style.

Every Sunday night showing at Dendy Cinema Powerhouse is now dog-friendly, complete with puppy snacks on the menu from Fur Kids Bakery.

Ahead of the highly anticipated drop of Sex Therapy: Sessions with Chantelle Otten, we spoke to Otten about her new series and the intimate dinner she's hosting to celebrate. 

The world would be a far better place if there were more festivals like Ability Fest, but for now, we can relish in the fact that the country’s most inclusive event is making a triumphant return this October, taking over not just Melbourne but making an exciting debut in Brisbane.

If you’ve never planned a trip to the Scenic Rim, we’re here to tell you, you’re most definitely missing out. 

Whether it’s a '90s sitcom or a cult classic blockbuster that’s found its way into your rotation, the cooler weather is making us want to rug up on the couch and turn on those guilty pleasures. 

There’s no need to jet off to Europe for a culture fix. Instead, set your sights on Auckland (aka Tāmaki Makaurau) just a short plane ride away. New Zealand’s largest city turns it on over the summer months with a vibrant event line-up encompassing music, art, culture, and all things inspiring.

Whether you’re looking to elevate date night or just want the option to pair your popcorn with bubbles, Brisbane’s boutique cinemas have you covered.

To help you start mapping out your next New South Wales adventure, we’ve rounded up a bunch of the most exciting events to mark in your diaries.

Dipping into the decade of nostalgia, Yellowjackets on Paramount+ is back for another nail-biting season.

There's never been a better time to be (or indulge) a Disney fan with the Disney100 Celebration taking over the 'Happiest Place On Earth'.

For artists like Isaac who are drawn to creating, music is undeniably in their blood, so we've teamed up with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to dive a little deeper and uncover the passion for collaboration, live performance and a drive to contribute to the world around him that pump an unmistakable rhythm through his veins. 

We’ve linked up with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to take you on a deep dive into Australian artists with music in their blood, and there’s no better place to start than with LK (her dad is Paul Kelly, and if that doesn’t suggest she was born with music flowing through her veins, we don’t know what does.)

Inspired by the power of the Post-it note to spark a spicey vibe in the new Paramount+ series, The Flatshare, we’ve scoped out our fave ways to show your partner some love for free and let the romance and good vibes flow.

Summer in Sydney is looking the goods. After a successful traffic-stopping inaugural festival in January of this year, it's just been announced ELEVATE Sydney will be returning next month to celebrate summer and the new year. 

Taking inspo from Paramount+’s new rom-com series, The Flatshare, we’ve pulled together six ways you can slowdown and reconnect with your roomies amongst everyone’s busy schedules. 

Based on the best-selling book by Beth O’Leary (that we may or may not have devoured in a single sitting), The Flatshare will be dropping on Paramount+ on XX December, so the countdown is well and truly on. 

Grab your mates and head down for live performances every Friday with some of the industry’s finest musicians at The Star’s vibrant Garden Kitchen & Bar Live On The Lawn, entertainment series.

From grass-stomping day festivals and one-off intimate gigs to globally-revered performances and three-day camp-outs, you’re spoilt for choice; no matter where you are in Australia, we guarantee these music events are well worth the flight, train or road trip convoy with your crew. 

Film lovers rejoice! 20th Century Studio's hottest new release, Amsterdam, is hitting cinemas next month and we're on the edge of our seats to see it. 

Love Actually in Concert will be heading our way this December, just in time for Christmas. 

Mia Thomspon shares her thoughts on the harmony between technology and dance. 

We delved into the world of mindfulness and meditation apps and here's what we found. 

Cashing in your AL and going on vacay might seem tempting, but these tips will help your craft a healthy foundation for dealing with burnout in the long run. 

Don your best denim, it's going to be a boot-scootin' good time. 

We share tips on how to implement achievable goals, ahead of Reason Season with Rob and Lachlan from Funny Business. 

As part of the Evenings module for Reason Season, these our fave reads to unwind before bed to reap all of those relaxing rewards.

Join us for Reason Season to craft healthy daily habits and routines.

Enter the SBS Emerging Writers' Competition and you could win $5,000.

Whatever you're into, there's something for everyone on the agenda at The Star Gold Coast over the next action-fueled months. 

There’s nothing more civilised than a night of champagne, fine dining and the opera. Lucky for us, the good people at Opera Queensland have date night sorted when the glorious La Traviata opera comes QPAC's  Lyric Theatre next month for two weeks only.

Nestled in the beating heart of Surfers Paradise, we’ve found the perfect place for the ultimate fun day out. Think: epic games, live sport and a total foodie nirvana. So where can you find this awesome spot? Perched on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Cavill Mall, boasting a 100-metre frontage opposite the world-famous Surfers Paradise Beach, is Paradise Centre. Home to over 90 stores, an alfresco dining precinct and a buzzing entertainment hub, gather your crew and make tracks here stat.

When we think of a model, we conjure a standard vision in our minds. You know the one. For decades, model status has remained tall, thin, white, able-bodied and cis-gendered. Not always, but most of the time. 

Autobiographies are a window into the soul and sometimes they are so powerful they can change the reader, so and here are our top picks of the 10 you should read at least once in your life.

After sweeping Sydney and Melbourne, Frozen The Musical is heading to Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) this February. Based on the Oscar-winning film Frozen, this inspiring tale of sisterhood boasts some sensational special effects.

Welcome to sunny Rook Island, an idyllic, tropical paradise. It’s the perfect place to soak up some sun, and catch up on some much-needed R’n’R—that is, if you had the chance to stick around. Instead, you and your mates are captured by a small army of henchmen and become yet another of the victims imprisoned by the infamous Vaas Montenegro. And boy, does he have big plans in store for you…

Here at Urban List, we often talk about how your fashion thirst shouldn’t cost the earth—and the same goes for your home. 

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In 2017, Kiama four-piece indie rock band Pacific Avenue was born, but their history goes way back.

We caught up with CIVIC and spoke to Jim over a couple of Sailor Jerry bevs about good vegan dinners, getting tattooed by Eddy Current Suppression Ring’s Danny Young, and how they’re planning to go ‘all in’ and finally celebrate their album release.

At just 23 years of age, Naarm singer and artist Kaiit (she/they/he) is one of the most exciting talents to grace the Australian music scene and bless our ears with her sweet and honeyed vocals. 

It’s time to splurge on popcorn buckets as big as your head, frozen cokes and choc-tops because 20th Century Studios' newest historical drama, The Last Duel is the big-screen experience of your dreams

Perth's iconic Ice Cream Factory Summer Festival is once again crossing the WA border to bring a massive night to our eastern shores. 

Save the date for a second round of new music festival, Day For It, which is heading back to Brisbane in October headlined by Flight Facilities. 

If you, like us, have rewatched all your favourite sitcoms from back to front during the city’s very lengthy lockdown twice over (and taken a trip to Central Park more than you’d like to admit), then you’re probably craving some new content. Well, fortunately for you, and us, Friends! The Musical Parody is finally coming to Brisbane.

The hunt is on.

Isol-Aid Homegrown is a collaboration providing creative and financial support to emerging acts across Australia and New Zealand.

Everyone loves a trip down memory lane. And what better way to get you there than a movie night with some old-school 90s classics. 

Amazing news: The Festival Of The Stone is back in Byron Bay on 5 June 2021 and heads up, tickets will sell out real quick.

Not since Priscilla has Australia seen something as bloody fabulous as RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under. Coming this September the absolute dazzling line-up will descend upon Australia for a spanking live tour featuring all ten of the Queens from season one of the show.

We sit down with Linda Marigliano to dissect the ultimate dinner party.

We sit down with Australian singer-songwriter Thandi Phoenix to uncover what makes a luxe long lunch.

We’ve rounded up 10 of the best board games around, whether you’re playing with two or six, amateurs or pros.

Welcome to Culture Curve—your go-to guide to what’s on the rise and slide in culture in April 2021. 

We sit down with Touch Sensitive to chat about the perfect movie night set-up.

Summer Sounds Festival is heading for Brisbane, headlined by Ball Park Music and Violent Soho.

To relive the masterpieces or experience the pioneers for the first time yourself, head to Dendy Cinemas this month for their Murder Mysteries Film Festival. 

It’s true, our love for hip hop runs deep. We’re big fans of the genre’s boundary-breaking, rebellious attitude (perhaps a love that’s been magnified after living through the insanity that was 2020) and it’s the leading part in the revival of '90s streetwear fashion. 

Ever wanted to hear Avicii's Levels in C Minor with the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra? Yeah, us neither, come to think of it. But it does sound like one awesome mash-up.

​If you’ve never been into colouring books, puzzles seem far too mundane, you could ever stay consistent with journaling, we think we may have just found your favourite new mindfulness hobby.

Luxury reclining seats are the new norm in the cinema-scape, and that’s what’s on offer at the brand new Reading Cinema complex that just opened at DFO Jindalee.

This month we’re getting a major upgrade, with two planets (Saturn and Jupiter) changing signs. Expect a major vibe change—a little less heavy, and a little more heady; less “hard no” and more “how do we fix this?”. On the 22nd a major cosmic reset begins a new 200-year cycle that’s more focused on information, communication, ideas and data.

Welcome to Culture Curve—your go-to guide to what’s on the rise and slide in culture in December 2020.

Pedro Pascal is somehow still insanely attractive even while wearing a helmet the entire time.

Your go-to guide to what’s on the rise, and on the slide in culture right now. 

The Tivoli are making ‘dinner and a show’ cool again, with a series of seated events dubbed Open Season.

Here’s a taster of who you can expect to party with at this year’s Isolation Degustation.

Taking over Ovolo The Valley for one epic weekend in October, reimagined music and lifestyle festival REMIX HOTEL will have you jiving to Groove Armada from the comfort of a luxe hotel room.

Disney’s magical collection of flicks is heading to the big screen once again, with Openair Cinemas bringing a drive-in movie theatre to Northshore. 

Darkfield, famous for their FLIGHT multi-sensory shipping container experience, have crafted a new experience specifically tailored to the socially distanced era.

You can now book private cinema hire just for gaming at Event Cinemas. 

This month, we're adding bedroom pop to our playlists, a genre spawned from artists getting creative in iso. We investigate a new wave of augmented reality e-commerce that's adding a little creativity to practicality, and we take a deep dive on the mega-force of gaming—no longer just a channel for entertainment and escapism, but the final curtain of pop culture. 

And yes, you should cancel your weekend plans.

We’ve curated a list of our recent sounds you need to check out, from Gaga’s latest bops to a few Aussie favourites.

COVID-19 might have stolen music festivals from us this year, but praise the music gods because Splendour In The Grass has just dropped tickets for its 2021 reboot and the line-up is positively banging! 

The multi award-winning musical, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, was initially due to head to our shores in March 2021. But with a little thing called COVID getting in the way, that's on the back burner for now. Fortunately, there's still a chance to see the ground-breaking hip hop musical, and you don’t even need to max out your credit card for it. Hype up, because Hamilton the movie is coming direct to your lounge.

But now, with bars and venues able to re-open in limited capacity, we’re excited by the prospect of finally seeing a live show again—and the first ones to hit the post-iso calendar has finally been announced.

We all knew it was coming and now it's official—Splendour In The Grass has been cancelled for 2020.

The Parking Lot Social is a supersized drive-in event unlike anything Australia has ever seen before, complete with movies, comedy, bingo, car karaoke and more.

It’s time to warm up those vocal cords because Birds of Tokyo are coming to Brisbane next year, to perform with the legendary Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Brisbane's libraries may be closed, but Brisbane City Council's online library catalogue is packed full of ebooks, audio-books, magazines and movies to help you stave off boredom while you’re cooped up at home. 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know that the short-form video app, Tik Tok has well and truly taken over the world. 

If you’re an indie pop fan, you’ll probably recognise Amy Sheppard’s last name—she’s one of three siblings who make up the band Sheppard, who’ve been killing it in Australia’s music scene since 2009. Last year’s song, Kiss My Fat Ass, brought our attention to the fact that music isn’t Amy’s only passion—she’s also a massive advocate for body positivity.

Burgers and milkshakes delivered straight to your bed under the stars? Hell yes.

Consider your app game sorted for 2020.

Forget about cherry-picking your gigs this month, because Melbourne’s hottest new festival—Can’t Do Tomorrow—is serving up fiery musical acts left and right. Not only is Can’t Do Tomorrow going all out in the street art scene, but the music lineup is not something to be scoffed at. With the likes of Melbourne legends TEYMORI and MzRizk, Triple j favourite Cool Out Sun, Australian dance music powerhouse DJ JNETT and more, Can’t To Tomorrow is about to become your ultimate February gig haven. And because we’ve always got your back, if you use the promo code URBANCDT when you book, you get $10 off your ticket cost.

Is there a better way to spotlight local and regional talent than at an intimately local ceremony? If so, I’m listening.

Yes queens, it’s true. One of the Spice Girls is heading to Brisbane this year to headline The Wickham’s fabulous celebration of all things LGBTQ+, Big Gay Day. 

Fisher has teamed up with Sets on The Beach and Triple J and will be hitting the Riverstage in Brisbane this April.

Find out all the best spots to celebrate Australia Day this weekend.

The epic new musical festival announcements just keep coming, with the news of Greener Pastures hitting the Gold Coast in 2020. 

It includes in-house lightning, wind, fog, scents and rain.

Red Hill’s once abandoned skate rink has found a new lease on life and opens as a five-screen cinema this weekend. 

Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019 is about to hit town, bringing the goods this time around with a slew of Aussie gems coming off sell-out international tours, hit shows, and hilarious podcasts.

As always, the Falls Festival lineup is bang on point and the perfect way to wave in 2020.

​We’re long-time fans of Aussie hip hop legend Illy so we’ve been chomping at the bit to hear his new beats. Turns out, the wait was worth with it with singles Then What and newbie Lean On Me tearing up the charts and showing how much the artist has grown in his approach to music. While we’re hanging for his next album (hint: it’s looking like March) and tour, we’re stoked Illy’s hitting the festival circuit hard this summer, bringing his good vibes to regional Australia.

Watch a movie in a leather armchair? No thanks, why would we when we could be lounging back in the plush luxury of a daybed?

Whether it was Justin Timberlake, Nick Carter, all of the Hanson brothers (but really Zac) or Harry Styles, we’ve all fallen in teenage love with a popstar—and that’s just what the hilarious new musical comedy Fangirls is about.

One Love Festival is one of New Zealand's largest and most iconic music festivals—pulling in around 20,000 revellers each year for almost a decade. Having sold out in NZ for the past four years in a row, organisers have decided to bring the festival to Australia for the first time. 

He’s the guy on everyone’s playlists and now he’s heading down under for an exclusive, intimate show.