John Shand Posts

January 31, 2026 / Concert Reviews

Hayes Theatre, January 22 7/10 Now here’s a puzzle. The Hayes’ Theatre artistic directors, Richard Carroll and Victoria Falconer, wanted a show celebrating Barbra Streisand, and asked Brittanie Shipway to direct it as well as perform in a cast of four. The creative team Shipway assembled has resulted in a…

January 28, 2026 / Album Reviews

Stand Up! (Analogoue Tone Factory) 8/10 When I first played this, I did a double-take; checked no one had slyly replaced my amp and speakers. No. So then I just bathed in the analogue sound: analogue at every stage of the album’s creation, including meticulous mastering to high-quality vinyl. Released…

January 24, 2026 / Theatre Reviews

Sydney Town Hall, January 16 1.5/10 You enter to find people skating around an oval on the Town Hall’s floor. Different, you think. Last year, it was the wild west; this year a roller-skating rink. You sit and watch these helmeted women going around and around, forwards, and then, clearly…