$1 Billion Makeover: Sydney Entertainment Centre To Be Knocked Down

The Sydney Entertainment Centre will be demolished and the Convention and Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour closed for up to three years as the precinct undergoes a $1 billion makeover.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell today announced the development of an integrated exhibition and entertainment precinct in the city's CBD.

The fully integrated convention centre will increase the size of the existing precinct by two-thirds to 20 hectares and will include the largest exhibition space in Australia at 40,000 square metres.

"The project will mean a complete facelift for Darling Harbour - as well as the world-class facilities," Mr O'Farrell said today.

Up to 3500 jobs are expected to be created during the construction.

The 30-year-old Sydney Entertainment Centre is to be demolished while the exhibition and convention facilities will be closed from late 2013 to late 2016.

The project is aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the major events industry in the state, particularly in terms of the Asia-Pacific.

"They will bring NSW an economic benefit of more than $1 billion over five years," Mr O'Farrell said.

"NSW has already lost $150 million in economic benefit over the four years to 2010-11 because the current facilities have not been able to accommodate 169 conventions and 12 exhibitions," Mr O'Farrell said.

The new facilities will include the biggest meeting room space in Australia at 6000sq m and the biggest Australian convention hall capacity.

There will be a red-carpet premium entertainment facility with a capacity of at least 8000 people, suitable for international entertainment events and 'mega' conferences.

"The NSW government is creating a vibrant world-class convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct at Darling Harbour that will keep Sydney centre stage as Australia's global city," Mr O'Farrell said.

Infrastructure NSW (INSW) will lead the delivery of the new facilities as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) tailored for the project.

During the three-year construction period, Sydney's major events industry will remain open for business, Mr O'Farrell said.

Sydney Olympic Park, Moore Park, the Australian Technology Park at Eveleigh and various Sydney hotels will play an expanded role in hosting events during the construction period.

$1 Billion Makeover: Sydney Entertainment Centre To Be Knocked Down

It's Business Time: Flight Of The Conchords Announce Aussie Tour Dates

 

Song in their heart, laugh in their belly: Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. Picture: Channel Ten

AFTER sell-out tours in New Zealand, Kiwi comedy duo Flight of the Conchords will cross the Tasman for their first-ever run of Australian headline shows.

Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, who claim to be "New Zealand’s best export after sheep’s wool", will perform six shows in July.

"We are finally returning to Australia. Mostly to apologise,'' Clement said.

Flight of the Conchords have come a long way since winning Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival more than a decade ago.

After getting their start in stand up comedy, they created a radio series for BBC Radio 2 before making the acclaimed HBO comedy series Flight of the Conchords.

The series earned them a massive 10 Emmy nominations and a WGA nomination for Best Comedy Series.

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday 17 April via www.frontiertouring.com/fotc

Tour dates for Flight of the Conchords' Australian tour:

- Sydney Opera House - Thursday, July 5
- Brisbane Entertainment Centre - Saturday, July 7
- Newcastle Entertainment Centre - Tuesday, July 10
- WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong - Wednesday, July 11
- The Plenary, Melbourne - Saturday, July 14
- Challenge Stadium, Perth - Wednesday, July 18

View Source

Black Flag and Rollins Band's Henry Rollins On His Stand-Up Australian Tour From April 18 to May 2012

The one-time frontman of Black Flag and Rollins Band instead travels the world's lesser-trodden paths risking life and limb in search of a good yarn.

Rollin's third-world experiences make up his spoken word stand-up tours, the latest of which, The Long March, arrives in Australia later this month.

Ranting Rollins tell you how it is

Tales from a Rollins stone

The 20-date trek will see the American author, musician and actor recounting tales from places few dare to venture, from earthquake-ravaged Haiti to war-torn Sudan and the secretive North Korea.
Rollins has a track record for sniffing out an alternative travel story and nothing is ever fabricated from the safety of a hotel room.

"I've walked alone through slums and along rail road tracks and down rivers and into villages and souks all around the world,'' Rollins says.

"I'll often get in a taxi and tell the driver to take me five dollars one way and then walk the streets finding my way back.

``Whatever happens will happen and I just try and keep hold of all 10 digits and my camera and by sundown I'm all good.''

Rollins was almost killed twice, in a stabbing and a shooting, but both incidents happened in the US and were linked to gangs ("the rest of the world's been really friendly to me'').

His approach overseas balances his genuine interest in people with a polite demeanour and somehow, considering an imposing presence, blending into the background.

"I'm not a dare devil or a tough guy,'' Rollins says.

"I don't walk into these places and tell everyone what's going to happen.

"In Haiti you see a lot of desperate scenes but I took over a lot of soap and soccer balls and played with a lot of orphans.
"If you show genuine curiosity you find that people invite you into their homes and are incredibly generous.''

Rollins has spent periods in war zones, including Afghanistan and Iraq, and seen his fair share of dead bodies and gory remains.

While the experiences have desensitised him - even anti-westernised him - Rollins sees more similarities in people around the world than differences.

"We're all driven by the same things like food and water and lust and greed and survival,'' he says.
"But the men are always checking out the women and wanting something on the side and parents are always loving their children and preferring peace over war.

"Quite often the people with the least are the most generous and those with most are the most stingy.''

Henry Rollins tours nationally from April 18 to May 12 - Newcastle Panthers, April 24, $50.45, moshtix.com.au;

Seymour Centre, Sydney, April 25-27, $50.20, Ticketek; IPAC, Wollongong, May 8, $48.50

Prince Confirmed For Three-Stop Concert Tour of Australia in May

The east coast of Australia can get ready for some more rain in May - of the purple kind.

After months of rumours, and following a final none-too-subtle clue from Chugg Entertainment on Twitter last night that "Hmmmm. Just checked the weather report. It's predicting purple rain for tomorrow..." it has finally been confirmed that Prince will be touring Australia for the first time since 2003 in May.

Dubbed the Welcome 2 Australia tour, the multi-platinum selling artist will be performing his arena shows in the round, with a 360-degree stage, in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Prince performs at the Hop Farm Festival at The Hop Farm on July 3, 2011 in Paddock Wood, England. 

The singer who had hits with Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, 1999, Kiss and Little Red Corvette has only visited Australia twice before, he last visited in 2003.

The enigmatic artist who has seven Grammy awards, in addition to a Golden Globe and an Oscar, is well known for experimenting with sound, styles, concert formats and even his name. For those still unsure, the formerly named Artist Formerly Known As Prince is Prince once more.

The concerts are aiming to be accessible to all fans, with no public pre sale and promoter Garry Van Egmond saying in a statement “we have tickets starting from only $99 so that everyone can see this legendary superstar performer, Prince.”

The statement also demurely claims "this tour of Australia is destined to be one of the greatest concert events in years." There is some grounds for this however as Prince's multiple concerts at Madison Square Garden sold out in 30 minutes, and his 21 night stand at the 20,000-seat O2 Arena in London set new box office records.

Prince: Welcome 2 Australia Tour
May 11 - Allphones Arena, Sydney
May 14 - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
May 18 - Entertainment Centre, Brisbane

Tickets to the Prince shows go on sale on Monday, April 16 at 9am from Ticketek.

View Source

The Pogues Live in Sydney Tonight Wednesday 11, 2012

The Pogues, or Pogue Mahone (kiss my arse in Gaelic) as they were then known, came kicking and screaming into the world in 1982 and have been an indelible high watermark on the fickle tide of popular music for the last 30 years. The Pogues command an army of die-hard fans the world over, captivated by the power and conviction of one of the last true punk rock bands.

After the seminal album Red Roses for Me, followed by Rum Sodomy & the Lash, critical accolades began to appear for charismatic front man MacGowan. If I Should Fall from Grace with God and Peace and Love, brought the band commercial success, but cracks appeared, resulting in MacGowan being cast adrift after the recording of Hell's Ditch.

The Pogues reconvened in 2001 with their front man refreshed, yet as wild as ever, and this April will bring their own brand of fiery, literate, celtic rock to Australia.

TOUR DATE*:

Wednesday 11 April 2012 - Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
*Ticketek is selling for the above venue only.

Sydney Comedy Festival Gala hosted by Danny Bhoy (UK)

This superb gala event kicks off three weeks of the most diverse range of comedy performances you will find on the planet. Ranging from the biggest of big names to some hotly tipped up and comers, Sydney Comedy Festival 2012 is bigger, bolder and better than ever before! From its beginning in 2005, Sydney Comedy Festival has grown to be Sydney’s largest annual comedy event, with performances, appearances and tours rolling throughout Sydney and regional NSW. We’re proud to attract the greatest global names in comedy, and prouder still to present the rich crop of Australian talent year on year.

With a soon to be announced line up of the best international and Australian comedians, the Sydney Comedy Festival Gala is undoubtedly the most glittering comedy spectacular you will see all year.
So join us on Anzac Day Eve, Tuesday 24 April for an unforgettable evening of all-star comedy talent!

Tickets onsale now, so be quick!

When:  

On Tuesday 24 April from 08.00 to 10.30

Where:

Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point Circular Quay 2000 Venue details

Cost:

Various prices

Website:

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/sydney_comedy_festival_gala.aspx

More Info:

Sydney Comedy Festival  9250 7777

How to get to this event:

Circular Quay is a five to seven minute walk from the Sydney Opera House. You can catch buses, trains and ferries to Circular Quay. There is also a complimentary shuttle bus designed for elderly and less mobile customers
Sydney Comedy Festival Gala hosted by Danny Bhoy (UK)

Sesame Street Presents ELMO'S WORLD TOUR - Ipswich Civic Theatre

Come along with Elmo and the Sesame Street gang as they circle the globe in this all-singing, all-dancing stage show touring Australia in 2012.

 

Abby Cadabby, Big Bird, Grover, Zoe, Cookie Monster and Elmo use the letters of the alphabet to navigate a voyage through imagination that sees the gang visiting China, Zambia, France, India and Australia!

 
Elmo and his friends have fun learning how people sing and dance and say hello in different places, but things don't go to plan when Cookie Monster eats a letter of the alphabet. Can Abby Cadabby find the right spell to help? Along the way, audiences will also delight in hearing a sensational tale from The Count and will help some back-packing rubber-duckies find a place to stay with Bert and Ernie.

Featuring a bunch of classic Sesame Street songs alongside catchy new tunes, SESAME STREET PRESENTS ELMO'S WORLD TOUR will delight Sesame Street fans of ALL ages.

SHOW DETAILS Dates:  Saturday 21 April 2012 Time:  10.00am & 12.00pm Tickets:  All tickets $29.90 Child 2 & Under Free (must sit on a lap) More Info:  Elmo & Cookie Monster colouring in (PDF, 175 kb) Send To A Friend: Think someone else will enjoy this show? Then send this to a friend

HOW TO BOOK Phone: 3810 6100 (Credit Card Only) Monday - Friday 8.00am - 4.30pm In Person: Visit the Ipswich Civic Centre Ticket Office located at: 143 Brisbane Street, Ipswich (Entry from Ipswich City Mall). Monday - Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm If you order online, you can now select your seat or let us chose the best available for your group.

Sesame Street Presents ELMO'S WORLD TOUR - Ipswich Civic Theatre