Amritha Raviprasad reports on a new cafe offering vinyl listening access to customers Inside Sabi Sounds (photo: Amritha Raviprasad) Sabi Sounds - Melbourne’s first listening cafe and record lounge - is reshaping cafe culture with unique vinyl and community events at its Hawthorn location, attracting music enthusiasts, fitness lovers and Swinburne university students alike. Opened in December 2025, the cafe has already cemented itself as a Glenferrie Road hotspot. Customers c

James Sykes reports on a new music model that could save Melbourne musicians. An iconic Melbourne venue is backing emerging musicians through guaranteed payments and multi-show residencies. As similar live music venues face closure, Fitzroy’s Punters Club is offering an alternative for gig-goers and musicians alike with unique free gigs. According to Punters’ audio production manager, Kaelan Edwards, “Punters’ unique offering of artist guarantees and residencies has launche

Abbie Gargett reports on the major cybersecurity breach that shut down education platform Canvas in universities around the world On May 5, Canvas shut down its services due to a major cybersecurity breach, impacting thousands of students across Swinburne University, the University of Melbourne, RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) and over 9,000 other institutions worldwide. According to public statements from the universities, the hackers accessed the names and em

Daniel Allen reports on the new upcoming sequel to the 1995 classic heist movie Heat and whether it’s a good time to revisit the original. Following its release over 30 years ago, the high-stakes heist drama Heat, directed by legendary filmmaker Michael Mann, is getting a much-anticipated sequel, not surprisingly titled Heat 2. Based on Mann’s own script - adapted from his 2022 best-selling novel, Heat 2 – the new film will function as both prequel and sequel to Heat as it

Tamsyn Riddle reports on the struggles facing Geelong commuters as their access to reliable public transport deteriorates.

Young artists are abandoning social media in favour of real ideas in real life at a popular spoken word event in Melbourne’s inner north. Story by Tia Triantafillou Five years after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, bars and clubs across the city are still struggling to attract crowds but one bar continues to draw big crowds hosting Spoken Word weekly poetry nights. Writer and performer Hamish Brown believes the event hosted by Bar Oussou is important for many reasons. “I be

AI is stealing clients from Melbourne photographers and they're fighting back. Zeke Ashby reports.

MIFF Awards Ceremony, The Rydges Hotel. Photo: Alex De Paulis Alex De Paulis attended the closing night awards ceremony at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 29 and reports. Champagne flowed and filmmakers networked at the city's theatre district hotel The Rydges for the announcing of the MIFF (Melbourne International Film Festival) filmmaking winners. Deliberating on the Bright Horizons Award and the Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award is an esteem

Daniel Allen reviews the Melbourne Film Festival documentary Replica, which explores the new 'dating' world of AI companionship. Replica (courtesy: MIFF) Director Chouwa Liang's debut film, Replica, focuses on the rise of intimate connections between humans and chatbots in this quirky documentary expanding on Liang's previous short documentary, My AI Lover. Given the rapid rise in public debate over the ethical and moral use of AI in our daily lives, it was only a matter

Swinburne University recently launched what one expert describes as “the most visually mind-blowing thing on the planet.” Heidi Calopa reports. The new SVU (Swinburne Virtual Universe) experience launched on May 2, 2026, offers school-aged students an immersive educational experience as well as promoting participation in space-related studies at Swinburne. The SVU space boasts a 100m² curved LED wall with an immersive audio system, displaying real 3D scientific data and ima

When were you last at the circus? Genevieve Spiteri reviews the Circus Oz show for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. When was the last time you went to the circus? Do you remember the incredible acrobatics and hilarious antics of the performers? Now is the perfect time to experience it again with Circus Oz’s Here, There and Everywhere these school holidays at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. An absolutely seamless performance from start to finish,

Estonian clowns Piip and Tuut have landed in Melbourne to brighten your school holidays for Melbourne Comedy Festival, Genevieve Spiteri reviews. Welcome to Piip and Tuut at Concert! Two impatient janitors who can’t seem to sit still are here to entertain and delight your young ones this school holidays as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival . I had the absolute privilege of attending the "World-Famous known only in Estonia" clown duo Piip and Tuut ’s Mel