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Category: Reviews

Duelling Pianos @ Drifter’s Wharf, Darkinjung Country/Gosford

Posted on 17/11/202517/11/2025 by Lauren Katulka

My husband and I discovered what piano bars could be when we were cruising with P&O several years ago. These weren’t the loungey piano bars you see in hotel lobbies; they were rowdy venues where the entertainers played party anthems that had crowds on their feet. Honestly, we’ve been chasing that high ever since. I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve visited piano bars on cruise ships and on land and walked out disappointed. So our expectations were fairly low when we decided to catch the Duelling Pianos show at Drifters Wharf. The tickets were cheap, so we reasoned we could leave early if we wanted. However, this was the piano bar experience we’ve been looking for.

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“Unfurling” – Malaika Mfalme

Posted on 13/11/202517/11/2025 by Lauren Katulka

When I first discovered Malaika Mfalme’s music, they were creating songs processing their grief. Their debut album Yasmin was a tribute to their late partner and an exploration of the emotions that loss triggered. It was a challenging listen, but a beautiful one. Now several years have passed and Malaika has released Unfurling, a collection…

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“The Lovers” @ Theatre Royal, Eora/Sydney

Posted on 10/11/202507/10/2026 by Lauren Katulka

After a strong season in Meeanjin/Brisbane, it’s safe to say that The Lovers has struggled to find its feet in Eora/Sydney. I snapped up tickets for a mere $48 during a sale. Despite the bargain prices, it’s still wrapping up early. I try to go into any production with an open mind, but I was nervous I may be disappointed. I needn’t have worried. This modern reimagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is an absolute joy.

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Rob Thomas @ Enmore Theatre, Eora/Sydney – 4 and 5 November 2025

Posted on 06/11/202507/11/2025 by Lauren Katulka

Longtime readers will know that while I’m passionate about all kinds of music and performers, no artist thrills me like Rob Thomas. Whether he’s solo or fronting Matchbox Twenty, he moves me like no one else. His songs have soundtracked my life from my angsty mid-teens to my relatively calmer married years, and I’m so grateful for them. I see at least two shows each tour because anything more than one feels like a bonus and I can keep those post-tour blues at bay. Right now I’m performing that delicate balancing act of extending the buzz as long as I can while rejoining the “Real World.”

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“Bad Dreams” – Fool Nelson

Posted on 05/11/202505/11/2025 by Lauren Katulka

On a Hump Day that’s feeling more challenging than most, Fool Nelson’s Bad Dreams EP is delivering the sonic shot in the arm I need. If you’re struggling this morning or you just want to enjoy some stellar indie-rock music, take a listen.

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“Rollin’ Stone” – Roosta and Tim Roose

Posted on 31/10/202531/10/2025 by Lauren Katulka

There’s a certain magic that happens when blood relatives make music together. We often hear it when siblings collaborate, but partnerships between parents and their offspring are much rarer and potentially more interesting. With natural chemistry and a shared love of music, Roosta and his son Tim Roose deliver their exciting new EP Rollin’ Stone.

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“The Significance of Time” – Tanya Ransom

Posted on 23/10/202523/10/2025 by Lauren Katulka

From the moment I heard Tanya Ransom’s vocals open her new album The Significance of Time, I knew I was in good hands. This is her third full-length studio album and one that’s likely to fly under the radar. You won’t find it on the major streaming services, and its songs are unlikely to gain airplay on mainstream radio. But it’s so good that it’s worth the investment.

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“Paper Cuts” – Lyn Bowtell

Posted on 21/10/202523/10/2025 by Lauren Katulka

If the buzz surrounding the Australian premiere of The Golden Bachelor has taught it’s anything, it’s that Aussies want to hear from people who’ve lived a life. The Taylor Swifts and Sabrina Carpenters of the world might dominate the charts, but there’s perhaps a more important place for releases from seasoned talents like Lyn Bowtell. At almost 50, Lyn is sharing some of her most personal stories with the release of Paper Cuts.

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“Stonewater” – New Delica

Posted on 09/10/202510/10/2025 by Lauren Katulka

Naarm/Melbourne funk-rock act New Delica are stretching their artistry with the release of their third album, Stonewater. It’s an exciting 12-song collection that will have you coming back for more.

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“Evacuate” – Lines of Conviction

Posted on 08/10/202508/10/2025 by Lauren Katulka

Undalup/Busselton rockers Lines of Conviction have given some of their live favourites the studio treatment with the release of their EP, Evacuate. If you’re new to this West Coast band, these five tracks are the perfect introduction.

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Lauren Katulka cannot remember a time when music was not a part of her life. Raised on an eclectic diet of Van Morrison, The Eagles, Cold Chisel, and Barbra Streisand, she remembers saving all her pocket money for weeks so she could buy cassettes featuring her favourite singers. At the tender age of 11 she saw her first live concert when Jimmy Barnes took his Soul Deep tour to Newcastle’s Civic Theatre. There was no looking back.

Today Lauren is a happily married freelance writer living on the New South Wales Central Coast. When she's not obsessing about the latest band, or some old favourite, she loves to roller-skate, experiment with new recipes, play pub trivia, and watch indie films.

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