Doc Edge Festival 2017: A Glimpse of China
With China’s implementation of the Open Door Policy, as announced by Deng Xiaoping in December of 1978, marking its modernisation and increasing influ...
13 Reasons Why – Our problem with suicide
13 Reasons Why - Our problem with suicide.
Written by Ashton Brown
“Sir have you seen 13 Reasons Why?”
“No, I haven’t even heard of it. Is it g...
Six Drunk Friends Review: Ashton Brown – Anxious To Meet You
I like reviewing things but I like drinking alcohol more - and so do my friends - so we've decided to combine the two and start reviewing things while...
NZ International Comedy Festival In Review: Success With Women: A Comedy Seminar – Harry, Inosi and Ross
It was a blisteringly cold Tuesday night when I made my way to the basement to watch comedy up-and-comers Harry Thompson-Cook, Ross Mills and Inosi Ca...
In Review: The Best Films Of 2016
Last year is well and truly in the rear-view mirror, but as we head in to Awards Season, we decided that it would be a good time to take a look back a...
Your Favourite Albums of 2016
The People Have Spoken.
A week ago Music Editor Yasmin Brown offered up her Top Albums of 2016 but I wanted to see how your favourite albums compared...
Cuba Is Actually A Terrible Place To Go – A Response
I am planning a trip to Cuba with some friends in 2018 and I stumbled across a post that’s been making the rounds on social media. It’s entitled "Cuba...
ANNOUNCEMENT: Bruce Springsteen to play two New Zealand shows!
For most of us, February is probably the one month of the year that we all wish that it was socially acceptable to wander around in our underwear. Thi...
TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT: GUNS N ROSES ARE RETURNING TO NZ!!
You first heard the first rumours here at The Speakeasy back in May and now we are delighted to announce that it is officially happening! Guns N Roses...
NZIFF: An Interview With Luke Thornborough
This year marks director Luke Thornborough's first foray into the New Zealand International Film Festival. Hot off the heels of Cannes where he presen...
The Speakeasy’s Incredibly Strange NZIFF Picks
The New Zealand International Film Festival prides itself on the breadth and depth of content it curates each year. This means they also present some ...
The NZ International Film Festival, Mapped
Film is massively influential in how we perceive other cultures and environments, and can be a great way of enhancing our awareness of the global comm...
The Five Emotional Stages of a Harry Potter Marathon
On 9th July 2016, The Speakeasy team watched all eight Harry Potter films consecutively on Yasmin and Marika's suggestion. Many of the team didn't mak...
Six Films To Check Out At The 2016 NZ International Film Festival
The NZ International Film Festival season is upon us - beginning tonight - and we are yet again faced with a programme filled to the brim with fantast...
New Music: New Order – Singles
New Order have been around since 1980 - thirteen years longer than I have even existed - giving them more than enough time to become one of the bigges...
New Music: Blink-182 – California
After an eight year hiatus, Blink 182 made their big comeback in 2011 with Neighbourhoods. To say it was ‘massively underwhelming’ would be slightly u...
Talking Comedy: BRIDGET DAVIES
“The best thing about comedy is that it’s the things that make you weird and feel insecure that are funny.”
Bridget Davies was one of the few high sc...
New Music: Taking Back Sunday – Tidal Wave
Taking Back Sunday have been touring almost continuously over the last five years since the original lineup got back together, but the last time we he...
TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT: Melanie Martinez’ First Ever NZ Headline Show
On August 12th Melanie Martinez will be stepping into Auckland's Powerstation wearing her childhood inspired outfits with her ever changing Cruella de...
Interview: Brendon Thomas and the Vibes – 11th June 2016
Brendon Thomas and the Vibes are an enigma of a band. This is something I realised as soon as we approached the Old Folk's Association in Central Auck...
Start with a drink: Rockefeller
"Epic water fail!” the waiter said. If only the water was the only fail encountered that evening. It was, however, entertaining. Not the kind of enter...