Culture
Music
Even at the end of the world, Weyes Blood knows how to put on a show
This wrap of shows across the Rising festival includes a theatrical gig by Weyes Blood, the gloriously confrontational Tanz, and Tracker at Arts House.
- by Rebecca Harkins-Cross and Andrew Fuhrmann
Latest
The musician replacing themselves with AI ... so they can use the loo
Charlie Chan has developed a program to play exactly as they do, and is putting it to good use in a 24-hour concert this month.
- by Karl Quinn
Meet ChAI, the artificial intelligence learning to play just like its creator
Pianist and composer Charlie Chan has developed an artificial intelligence that is learning to play in precisely their style.
Latest reviews
Arts
There’s a reason audiences never tire of this iconic play
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Death of a Salesman, Sleaford Mods, Climbers, Across Silence, and Garrick Ohlsson.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Michael Dwyer, Jessica Nicholas and Tony Way
‘I’m definitely in my age of pleasure’: Janelle Monae on her new sex album
The pop icon’s new release is Janelle Monae as slick Lothario, luxuriating in her sexuality.
- by Robert Moran
‘Girl from Ipanema’ singer Astrud Gilberto dies at 83
Gilberto influenced singers from Sade to Lana Del Rey, after singing what became one of the most recorded songs in history.
- by Anthony Boadle
David Bridie asked 13 people to tell their story. Big things followed
From life on Manus Island to a sunny swimming session, the acclaimed musician puts spoken words to music on his intriguing new album.
- by Michael Dwyer
The Australian violinist who made King Charles cry
Violinist Madeleine Easton, founder of Bach Akademie, performed at the coronation last month. Now, she faces a new challenge: some of Bach’s most difficult work.
- by Harriet Cunningham
Plunge into steamy mid-century New Orleans with this classic play
A wrap of the week’s live reviews, including Old Fitz’s A Streetcar Named Desire, Sydney Symphony playing Mozart, Thundercat for Vivid Live and Garrick Ohlsson.
- by James Jennings, Peter McCallum and John Shand
Why Taylor Swift is a literary giant — by a Shakespeare professor
As a world authority on the Bard – and a long-time fanboy of the American singer, Jonathan Bate compares her (favourably) to the greats of poetry and prose.
- by Jonathan Bate
Body Type: How the Sydney band created a new Australian classic
Their debut was a post-punk salvo tackling industry chauvinists and sexual power. Their new follow-up is even better.
- by Jules LeFevre