Darts Invitational Challenge 2015

Simon "The Wizard" Whitlock was pipped in the grand final 2014

Get your tickets now for the exciting Darts Invitational Challenge where fans and dart enthusiasts come together for this huge annual event!

When: 9 - 10th Jan 2015
Where: Etihad Stadium - Docklands, VICTORIA
Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/Darts-Invitational-Challenge-tickets/artist/1889078

Recap of the 2014 event:

Fans enjoy costume drama of a night at the darts

THOUSANDS of fans - many in fancy dress - transformed Etihad Stadium on Saturday night for the finale of an international darts tournament.

Fred Flintstone, Where's Wally and fans dressed as Australian cricketers sat on white plastic chairs on turf usually reserved for AFL and soccer stars.

But unfortunately the fans were not treated to a local triumph after Dutch master Michael "Mighty Mike" van Gerwen pipped Australian top seed Simon "The Wizard" Whitlock in the grand final showdown of the Invitational Darts Challenge.

Fans dressed as cricketers at the darts tournament at Etihad Stadium 2014

Orange and purple smoke briefly filled the stadium as a rowdy contingent set off flares during the showdown.

Fans cheered, sang and even raised their chairs aloft as the world's best darts players performed on a makeshift stage in the centre of the oval.

Announcer John McDonald - the world's leading darts MC - dubbed the spectacle "magnificent".

"(The crowd) really understand it," he said.

"You could be anywhere in Great Britain now and it would be exactly the same."

Mr McDonald said there had never been a bigger exhibition of darts anywhere in the world.

Etihad chief executive Paul Sergeant estimated the crowd would reach 8000 across the two-day event.

He said the stadium attracted a capacity crowd of 1000 when it held a smaller darts tournament in one of its function rooms in August - a success which gave him confidence to host a bigger event.

"(Darts) is huge in Europe, and it's getting a significant following in Australia," he said.

"People in Australia don't usually get to see top class darts players."

Joining "The Wizard" and "Mighty Mike" at the tournament were English-born world No. 5 Andy "The Hammer" Hamilton and Australian 2012 World Cup finalist Paul "The Asset" Nicholson.

Fans were delighted to see the world's best players in action up close.

"We only get to see this on TV, on the other side of the world," one said. "It's amazing."

"It's a great atmosphere," Angela Parker agreed.

"It's definitely bigger than I thought - I didn't expect this many people."

About 4500 attended Saturday night's event, bringing the total crowd over two days to 8000.

Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/fans-enjoy-costume-drama-of-a-night-at-the-darts/story-fni0fit3-1226799811021?nk=0b37bee270a89676325370d660377fa0

Perth festival 2015: from intimate to epic – and high on puppetry

The Giants by French theatre masters Royal de Luxe is set to be a highlight of the Perth international arts festival. Photograph: Pascal Victor

Perth will host Royal de Luxe’s giant marionnettes, the Australian premiere of Anthony Minghella’s last production Madama Butterfly and a phone in from Hilary Mantel.

From 30ft marionettes roaming the city’s streets to a teeny tiny love story played out on a miniature paper set, the Perth international arts festival is mixing up large and small in 2015.

In what will be his final program of a four-year tenure as artistic director, Jonathan Holloway says he hopes the festival will offer “experiences both intimate and epic”.

The Giants, by French street theatre masters Royal De Luxe, will tell the story of a girl in an Albany lighthouse who buoys the spirits of troops departing for Gallipoli. First seen in Liverpool, the marionettes almost didn’t make it into the Perth program but for a last-minute letter from Holloway to festival partners and a front page campaign by the West Australian newspaper that raised the final $5.4m from sponsors needed to fund the spectacle.

But it won’t be the only puppetry on show come February. The late Anthony Minghella’s final opera production, Madama Butterfly, gets its belated Australian premiere at His Majesty’s theatre, featuring the award-winning stagecraft of Blind Summit.

Anthony Minghella’s Madama Butterfly will receive its Australian premiere in Perth.Photograph: Robert Piwko

The Paper Architect, a tale of a model-maker whose designs come to life, will show in secret locations in Perth and Albany. And Handspring, the puppetry company behind the UK National Theatre’s international hit, War Horse, brings its South African story, Ubu and the Truth Commission, to the Heath Ledger theatre.

Also premiering at the State Theatre Centre will be The Rabbits, the long-awaited adaptation of John Marsden and Shaun Tan’s Australian picture book of the same name, adapted and directed by John Sheedy with a libretto by Lally Katz.

Meanwhile, Cut the Sky, by the Western Australian Marrugeku company, will weave the poetry of dream catcher Edwin Lee Mulligan and the music of Ngaiire and Nick Cave into a story about Indigenous land rights and our wider custodianship of nature.

Dance highlights include New York’s Mark Morris Dance Group whose Mozart Dances sets modern American choreography to the master composer’s music; Zip Zap Zoom from the West Australian Ballet at the Quarry amphitheatre; and Rising, showcasing emerging British talent Aakash Odedra, choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Russell Maliphant and his mentor Akram Khan, most recently at Brisbane festival.

Perth has also announced a killer musical program headlined by London Grammar and featuring multi Aria-award nominated Chet Faker among an international lineup that includes Sinead O‘Connor, First Aid Kit, Mogwai, Neneh Cherry and Charlie Musselwhite.

The key draw at the Perth writers’ festival, Hilary Mantel, will appear by video link from London alongside Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert.

• Perth festival 2015 runs from 13 February to 7 March – see the full program here: https://2015.perthfestival.com.au/

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/nov/10/perth-international-arts-festival-2015-program

Ricky Martin - Live in Sydney

THE GRAMMY WINNING GLOBAL SUPERSTAR AND CURRENT COACH ON THE VOICE WILL MAKE HIS HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED RETURN TO ALLPHONES ARENA IN APRIL 2015.

Nine Live and Sony Music Entertainment are proud to announce that GRAMMY winning music superstar Ricky Martin will return to Allphones Arena next year for his One World Tour.

Ricky Martin delighted sold-out audiences with his first Australian tour in more than 10 years last October, and fans will sure to be delighted with the One World Tour.

“I am so excited to bring my new One World Tour back to Australia next year and see all of my loving & loyal Aussie fans once more,” says Martin. “I am looking forward to playing some new material that I have been working on this year, some of my classics and perhaps a few surprises!”

Ticket Prices:

Platinum $169.90
Gold $119.90
Silver $99.90

Event Venue:  All phones Arena

ALLPHONES ARENA is situated in Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney’s newest suburb (created within Homebush Bay). It is located in the geographic and demographic heart of Sydney, approximately 17km west of Sydney’s CBD.

It is on Olympic Boulevard and is well sign posted when you reach Sydney Olympic Park.

Buy Tickets - http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=RICKYMAR15&v=SSD

Queensland’s best Irish dancers to present Dance an Irish Dream at Ipswich Civic Centre

Watkins Academy of Irish Dance dancers Jacinta Reberger and Finn Conway are ready to perform at the Ipswich Civic Centre. Picture credit: Peter Cronin

By Rebecca Danslow

Dancers from Queensland’s top Irish dance school will take audience members on a magical journey this month when they present Dance an Irish Dream at the Ipswich Civic Centre.

Almost 60 performers from Watkins Academy of Irish Dance will take part in the end of year performance on November 30 which will offer an afternoon of dynamic music, song and dance.

Principal teacher Sheryl Watkins said the performance tells the tale of a group of young Irish Dancers who are on a journey to become the best in the world.

“The dancers showcase their journey from those first dance steps through to the tough audition process and finally to being part of the world’s best Irish Show,” Ms Watkins said.

Ms Watkins said performers aged from four years to early thirties had rehearsed for many months to perfect award-winning choreographies.

“Our dancers know if they are willing to work for it, they can achieve anything,” she said.

“Dance an Irish Dream is a fitting tribute to the dedication of these committed and passionate dancers.”

Ms Watkins said Irish dance is an innovative and different technique that continues to intrigue.

“It’s such a passionate, athletic yet graceful art form,” she said.

“Our discipline is constantly evolving as new tricks in footwork, jumps and rhythms are introduced, keeping Irish dance fresh.”

Dance an Irish Dream will be held at 2.45pm on November 30.

Tickets on sale from November 11 from the Ipswich Civic Centre Ticket Office, Ipswich City Council Customer Service Centre or online at ipswichciviccentre.com.au

Source: http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/south/queenslands-best-irish-dancers-to-present-dance-an-irish-dream-at-ipswich-civic-centre/story-fni9r1nj-1227115897470?nk=0b37bee270a89676325370d660377fa0

KFC Big Bash 2014-2015 Twenty20 Cricket

Ticketing information:

General public tickets for all BBL|04 home-and-away matches will go on sale at 9am (local time) on Tuesday 28 October 2014.

Memberships for clubs will be on sale in October, so fans can secure the best seats in the house and other benefits for the entire season.

Games information:

Round 1 to 4 -

Round 5 to 8 -

For more details, visit T20 official website: http://www.bigbash.com.au/match-centre/fixture


Feature Team:
The Melbourne Renegades represent modern Melbourne – vibrant, diverse and progressive. They have a healthy streak of anti-establishment and will play out of a non-traditional cricket venue, Etihad Stadium. The Renegades will deliver entertaining, bold cricket in this world-class facility, where the rafters will shake with the noise and passion of the fans. T20 was made for the Renegades.


Need accommodation close to T20 games? 
Metro Hotels have hotels and serviced apartments in most major cities throughout Australia:


Sydney Hotels & Apartments (NSW):

• Metro Hotel Sydney Central
• Metro Hotel on Pitt
• Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour
• Aspire Hotel Sydney

Melbourne Apartments (VIC):

• Metro Apartments on Bank Place

Brisbane Hotels (QLD):

• Metro Hotel Tower Mill

Western Australia:

• Metro Hotel Perth

Taylor Swift Wax Figure Arrives in Madame Tussauds Sydney

‘SWIFTIES’ DESCEND AS TAYLOR SWIFT’S WAX FIGURE ARRIVES JUST IN TIME FOR ALBUM LAUNCH

Taylor Swift fans, now commonly known across the world as ‘Swifties,’ today gathered for the chance to welcome the wax figure of their favorite songstress, Taylor Swift, which has arrived in Sydney just in time for the singer’s hotly anticipated new album launch.

The American singer-songwriter’s wax figure was spotted in Hyde Park surrounded by 25 of her dedicated fans. The army of Swifties couldn’t resist getting up close and personal with their favourite star, before flocking to stores to grab a copy of her new album, 1989.

Taylor Swift will be a permanent attraction at Madame Tussauds Sydney, joining fellow performers including Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry.

To find out more about Madame Tussauds Sydney and the great Australian and international figures it is already home to, visit: www.madametussauds.com/sydney

Where: Madame Tussauds Sydney, Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour (right next door to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo)

Opening hours: 9:30am – 8pm daily (last entry 7pm - Please note; opening times may vary due to private events).

Sydney Festival is Getting Ready for Summer

Sydney is gearing up for its annual summer event which has taken place every January since 1977, and 2015’s offering is set to be a corker.

The Sydney Festival promises to transform the city into a haven of the arts with a spectacular offering of dance, theatre, film, visual arts and music.

In January, those attending can expect 179 events, of which 85 are free, while the others are ticketed. There will be a total of 495 performances to choose from across the 25 venues that are both indoor and outdoor.

Making The Sydney Festival even more exciting is that of the 974 artists performing, there will be 18 world premieres, 11 Australian premieres as well as 22 Australian exclusives that are not to be missed.

One of the world’s most famous circus performer, James Thierree, will be headlining with his fourth visit to the festival, with his show Tabac Rouge. It has been described as ‘an opium hallucination on a breathtaking scale’ in which Thierree plays a ruler who is held captive in a hall of mirrors.

The Griffin Theatre Company and State Theatre Company of South Australia will be offering the world premiere of Kate Mulvany’s adaptation of the much loved children’s book, Masquerade. Suitable for those aged nine and above, it tells the tale of Jack Hare who is in a race against time in which he must deliver a message of love from the moon to the sun.

Music lovers can expect an absoulte treat at the 2015 Sydney Festival as Brazil’s Seu Jorge will be offering his signature mix of transformative pop as well as the swinging songs that bring Rio’s colourful way of life to Australia.

On January 23rd and 24th, there will be a special screening of The Artist Live in Concert, which will see the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and composer-pianist Ludovic Bource bring the award winning film to life.

Metro Hotels are a Sydney Festival Accommodation Partner, and are offering great value Sydney Festival Accommodation Hot Deals