Updates

Dr Donna Coleman to present the annual Sadie Hawkins Day concert When:

When: Sunday, 1 March 4pm

Where: Classic Southside, the jazz club situated on Level 1 of the Classic Cinema in Elsternwick

Book tickets for Dr Donna Coleman, annual Sadie Hawkins...

New single from Pauline Maudy and Paddy McHugh: a collaboration for

Check out this new collaborative single by Pauline Maudy and Paddy McHugh - You’re the One. Out on Valentine’s Day through Troubadour Presents, You’re the One is a celebration...

Interview with Kathleen O’Reilly Johnson, author of Johno, coming soon from

Hawkeye Publishing, a trade publisher based in Queensland, is adventurous about the books it selects for publication. You can check out the range here.

Unlike the big five...

Review of Cats by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, presented by Lyric Theatre, QPAC

Photo credits: Daniel Boud

Cats can get bad press because of their unfortunate tendency to prey on indigenous birds and animals. Nevertheless, they are interwoven into human...

Emily Granger and Tristan Coelho: performer and composer perspectives on

Performers and Composers have different perspectives on writing pieces designated for various solo instruments. While the composer maybe thinking of the structure or the...

Big Music: Independent Press Award received, Distinguished Favourite 2026 I

I am chuffed to announce that Big Music received an Independent Press Award as a Distinguished Favourite 2026.

2026 is the Year of the Horse. This year, a revised edition of ...

Upcoming music performances for February through April 2026, not to be

On the music front I’m looking forward to Camerata’s Classic Alchemy (pictured above) on the 20 and 21 February at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Sting’s musical The...

Journey to publication: Michele Raineri shares her path to publication

There’s much debate these days about how best to get a book out in the world. There are those that prefer traditional publishing and others who advocate for self-publishing. I...

Under Silkwood by Greg Bourke: review by Gillian Wills Before Christmas I

Before Christmas I reviewed Greg Bourke’s Under Silkwood for The Pineapple. Yes that’s right, the title is a nod to Dylan Thomas’ Under Milkwood. It escapes categorisation but I...

The Judas Window by Carter Dickson, reviewed by Gillian Wills I’m not a

I’m not a great fan of the crime genre. But I did enjoy The Judas Window by Carter Dickson which is of the ‘locked-room murder’ varieties. In fact the author excelled at this...

A read I couldn’t put down: Flesh by David Szalay Call me perverse if you

Call me perverse if you like but I’m sometimes reluctant to read Booker Prize Winners. I do but, I’m not inclined to rush to do so. This is no reflection on the qualities of the...

An inspiring Christmas read: Mother Mary Come to Me by Arundhati Roy I’m

I’m still reeling from Christmas and entertaining many family members and grandchildren but now I’m in an introverted space perfect for reading and books are very much on my...

Review of Crimson Velvet Heart by Carmel Bird, by Gillian Wills I reviewed

I reviewed Carmel Bird's latest novel which is set in the Sun King's era. Very detailed and well researched with exquisite writing.

Patrick White Literary Award winner Carmel...

Greg Bourke on his novel Under Silkwood, in conversation with Gillian Wills

I interviewed Greg Bourke about his recently released novel Under Silkwood. There's also a film here from his first launch in Silkwood.

Where did the inspiration come for Under...

Gillian Wills on Musica Viva’s 2026 Season I've written a piece about

I've written a piece about Musica Viva's 2026 Season. It's an imaginative offering of concerts which will appeal to a broad range of audience old and young with all kinds of...

Alex Raineri of Fouth Wall Arts: Brisbane Music Festival 2025 Photo: Sophie

Photo: Sophie Rowell and Alex Raineri performing Myths.

Alex Raineri is a musical chameleon — and a remarkable one at that. Flexibility is his superpower. He has the capacity to...

Gillian Wills on finals of the 22nd German-Australian Opera Grant Photo: Dr

Photo: Dr David Kram AM, photo by Heidi Victoria.

I was invited by Dr David Kram AM to attend the finals of the 22nd German-Australian Opera Grant at The Edge, Federation Square,...

Vanessa Tomlinson appointed as Director of The Queensland Conservatorium

I'm so pleased Vanessa Tomlinson has been appointed as the Director of The Queensland Conservatorium. It seemed like the Con has been drifting away from its prime focus on...

Big Music winner of the 2025 Able Golden Book Awards I'm excited to have

I'm excited to have been awarded the Gold Award – Best Fiction Book for Big Music at the 2025 ABLE Golden Book Awards.

Also pleased by a five-star review by Reader Views...

Artistic director Alex Raineri of Brisbane Music Festival speaks on this

I invited the artistic director of Brisbane Music Festival, now in its eighth year, to talk about this year's program.

In my view, the BMF, based at Fourth Wall Arts, which Alex...