THERE’S been countless books about the daring exploits of Australian troops in World War II, but what about the unsung heroes back home? Perth author Gary Mentiplay shines a light on the resilient Aussies who coped with years of shortages and rationing in his latest book Australia in the 1940s – Life on the Home…

THE Rorys will mark the 25th anniversary of cult guitarist Rory Gallagher’s death with a special gig in Perth next Saturday. Gallagher sold 30 million albums, was ranked as one of the best ever guitarists by Rolling Stone magazine, and came close to joining The Rolling Stones in the 1970s – but you’ve probably never…

DJANGO REINHARDT is best known as the founding father of gypsy jazz on the acoustic guitar, but a Perth band is shining a light on his lesser-known electric recordings. The Electric Django Quintet focus on Reinhardt’s later years in the 1940s and 1950s, when he was inspired by be-bop and replaced his conventional string quartet…

THE Voice played a small role in the success of Carla Geneve’s latest single Don’t Wanna Be Your Lover. The video was shot in the garage of our heritage-listed offices in the West End of Fremantle. The opening bars of the catchy song are ingrained in my subconscious, as they were replayed for hours until…

ESKIMO JOE’S collaboration with the WA symphony orchestra was the catalyst for their first new music in seven years, says lead singer Kav Temperley.  Last year the Perth band performed two sold-out shows with WASO to celebrate their 21st birthday.  “These amazing arrangers were turning our songs into beautiful orchestral pieces,” Temperley says.  “It re-inspired…

SIAHNE Rogers sifts through the detritus of her grandfather’s doomed burger empire, Fast Eddy’s, in the exhibition Hatched. Fast Eddy’s was Perth’s first 24 hour fast food restaurant and opened to much fanfare in 1979 on the corner of Hay and Milligan Streets. It soon became home to a diverse and colourful cast of characters…

BEHIND every summer lurks a broken heart. That is the bitter-sweet theme of Frans Bisschops new exhibition, Blue Skies and Broken Hearts. “My main goal was to create new imagery of summer, especially a Perth summer. Images that were simple and fun on the surface, but a little uneasy and anxious underneath,” he says. With more…

A GRITTY drama about  immigrant abuse in Paris, Les Misérables, is one of the highlights of this year’s Alliance Française French Film Festival. Set in the volatile Paris district of Montfermeil in the aftermath of the 2018 World Cup, the tense drama is based on real-life police brutality that was filmed by director Ladj Ly.…

THE coronavirus lockdown might see a small WA-made film get a far wider audience than anticipated. The locally produced feature-length comedy/horror/sci-fi film An Ideal Host was going to screen at this year’s Revelation Film Festival, which usually starts in July. The physical festival’s been delayed until September/October, but the replacement online film festival “Couched” could…

The Strays (above), Fiona Heath (right) and John McNair (bottom) will be back in action at the The Perth Folk and Roots Club. THANK goodness live music is back as the return of Big Brother could have pushed us over the cultural cliff face. If folk is your bag them make sure you check out…