Backstreet Boys in Sydney with Special Guests

It’s time to clear your schedule for May – Backstreet’s back and they’re bringing Kevin!

One of the most successful groups of all time - BACKSTREET BOYS - are bringing their ‘In A World Like This Tour’ to Australia this autumn.

After reuniting with original member Kevin Richardson in 2013, all five original members recorded a new album, In A World Like This, filmed a revealing documentary ‘Show ‘Em What You're Made Of’, while embarking on a sold out tour across Europe and North America to rapt crowds celebrating 20 years making music… and now it’s Australia’s turn!

“This last year and a half of touring with my bandmates again couldn't have been any better, but I'm so excited to finally get back to Australia and play for our Aussie fans. It wouldn't feel complete without spending time in one of our favorite places!" - Kevin Richardson

Tickets will go on sale at midday on Monday February 23.

Telstra Thanks is bringing an exciting 48-hour pre-sale just for Telstra customers from 10am Wednesday February 18 until 10am Friday February 20. For more information and to register, visit: telstra.com/music

My Live Nation members can also be among the first to secure tickets during the pre-sale beginning next Friday, February 20 at 3pm. For complete tour and ticketing details, visit: www.livenation.com.au

VIP Packages, including Meet & Greets, are also available at:www.backstreetboys.com

Last spotted on our shores in 2012 as a four-piece, this time all of the boys are back live onstage, doing what they do best, entertaining the fans with smash hit after smash hit including ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’, ‘Incomplete’, ‘I Want It That Way’ and ‘Larger Than Life’.

Backstreet’s documentary, ‘Show ‘Em What You're Made Of’, is appearing as a limited release in cinemas across the world, debuting in the US last month and slated for an Australian release from March 28. Watch the trailer here.

Selling more than 130 million albums worldwide, Backstreet Boys have been dominating the music scene for two decades. True entertainers, masters of some of the greatest pop songs ever recorded, their concerts are not to be missed!

EVENT TIME: SATURDAY 9 MAY 2015, 8:00PM

Presented by: Live Nation

Tickets On Sale: Mon 23 Feb 2015

Allphones Arena Sydney

Related Links:

www.backstreetboys.com
www.livenation.com.au

Katie Noonan in Concert - Ipswich Qld

Four time ARIA Award winner Katie Noonan is back in 2015 with a brand new band and a new album.

As Katie’s first band project since 2010′s acclaimed Emperor’s Box (with The Captains), the new album shows a richer and fuller sound than Katie’s more recent intimate and acoustic sojourns.

Premiering material from the new album as well as some of her favourite songs, this show marks the beginning of Katie’s exciting new musical chapter.

Katie Noonan announces new band, single and EP

‘Peace Is My Drug’

Support Act Sahara Beck

Katie Noonan returns to the spotlight in 2015 with the launch of a heartfelt new single and EP, ‘Peace Is My Drug’. This release will be accompanied by tour dates across SA, VIC, NSW and QLD from March 12 to March 28 and will be available exclusively via audience fundraising site PledgeMusic, or as a limited edition CD on the tour itself.

Following on from a number of years of unique and highly-acclaimed projects – Songs That Made Me, Love Song Circus, Songbook and Songs of the Southern Skies with Karin Schaupp – this celebrated singer songwriter is ready to share her new original material. The EP will feature two new tracks – ‘Peace Is My Drug’ and ‘Cloud of Home’ – with additional remixes to tantalise the senses. ‘Peace Is My Drug’ is based around the Michael Leunig poem ‘Peace’, with Leunig creating a second verse to the poem exclusively for this song.

Katie is thrilled to work with a band again, returning to her first love and harking back to the days of George after several solo, duo, ensemble and cross platform collaborations in recent years. This new band line-up includes two members of The Captains – Stu Hunter and Declan Kelly, as well as outstanding Melbourne guitarist Ben Edgar (Angus & Julia Stone). The tour will see the band premiering new material from the ‘Peace Is My Drug’ EP and forthcoming album, as well as songs from The Katie Noonan and The Captains project and one or two Noonan favourites.

As a proudly independent artist, Katie is launching a PledgeMusic campaign, an undertaking that will enable her to finish and release an album of new material. Katie discussed the campaign today, saying, ‘I have been hesitant to do so for many years, as I figure it’s enough to ask people to come to my gigs and buy my albums. But having produced six independent albums in close to five years, I am in a position now where I would love to invite my wonderful audience and supporters to be part of the journey for my next album.

My next album feels like a return to me. This is the first truly Katie album with all new material in a long time. All in all, I’m really proud of these songs and so excited to be able to share them.’

When: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 @ 7.30pm
Tickets: https://au.patronbase.com/_Ipswich

• Adult $48.00
• Adult Early Bird $42.00
• Concession/Student $42.00
• Concession/Student Early Bird $36.00
• Group10+ $38.00
• Group 10+ Early Bird $32.00

FREE Program included plus ‘Meet and Greet’ the musicians after the show.

EARLY BIRD TICKETS PURCHASED ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2015!

• Performance Duration 2 Hours
• 20 Minute Interval
• No Photography/Flash Photography or video allowed

Source: http://www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au/katie-noonan-and-band-in-concert/

Matilda The Musical | Lyric Theatre

“ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, A SHOW COMES OUT BLAZING AND RESTORES YOUR FAITH IN BROADWAY. MATILDA THE MUSICAL IS THAT SHOW.” - New York Post

Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.
 
Winner of 50 major international awards, including 12 for Best Musical, Matilda continues to delight audiences of all ages both in London and on Broadway before arriving at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from July 2015.

‘EASILY THE STANDOUT MUSICAL OF THE DECADE’ - Sunday Times, (UK)

Get Tickets for Matilda at Ticketek

Find Great Value Sydney Hotel and Apartment Accommodation with Metro Hotels

Les Misérables | Show at Capitol Theatre Sydney

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil & Schönberg's legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, will open at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in March 2015.

The new production features glorious modernised staging, orchestrations and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. It has been praised by critics, fans and new audiences, breaking box office records internationally and inspiring filmmakers to make the outstandingly successful movie which went on to win 3 Oscar’s®, 3 Golden Globes® and 4 BAFTAs.

Playing the iconic role of Jean Valjean is established actor and musical theatre star Simon Gleeson. NIDA-trained Hayden Tee will play Valjean’s lifelong antagonist Javert while starring as Fantine is Patrice Tipoki. Playing Madame Thénardier is Lara Mulcahy and joining her in the role of Monsieur Thénardier is Australian theatre and cabaret favourite, Trevor Ashley.

Recent WAAPA graduates Kerrie Anne Greenland and Emily Langridge play Eponineand Cosette respectively. Chris Durling takes on the role of the passionate student leader of the revolution, Enjolras and Euan Doidge plays Marius the love struck revolutionary.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century revolutionary France, LES MISÉRABLES is a much loved blockbuster musical which has been seen by over 65 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly one of the most popular musicals of all time. 

Having won more than 100 major awards around the world it has been hailed as the most stirring, moving musical ever. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, it is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream”, “On My Own”, “Stars”, “Bring Him Home”, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, “One Day More”, “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”, “Master of the House” and many more.

This new production of LES MISÉRABLES made a triumphant return to Broadway earlier this year.

“Refreshing, rethought and every bit as epic.” Chicago Tribune
“A sizzling Les Mis for the 21st century ...” The Huffington Post

Running Time: Approximately 2 hours & 55 minutes including 20 minute interval

See the Capitol Theatre Website for Full Information about the Show Les Miserables

Metro Hotel Sydney Central is located directly opposite Capitol Theatre, so is an obvious accommodation choice when you next require a hotel when catching a show at Capitol Theatre

Palace Hotel Sydney is a nearby Venue for pre and post show meals and refreshments

Harlem Globetrotters - The 2015 Australian Tour

Baseball and Gridiron Could Come to Sydney with Proposed $123m Funding Boost

A NATIONAL Football League (NFL) game could soon be headed to Sydney with NSW Premier Mike Baird to inflate the state’s major events budget to a record $643 million should the Coalition be re-elected in March.

A Major League Baseball game featuring the Yankees or Red Sox, a National Basketball Association (NBA) game, the President’s Cup golf tournament and stealing Formula One from Melbourne are among other big ticket items on the Baird government major events wish list.

Mr Baird, who will today announce details of a $123 million funding boost to the events budget at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing event at Manly Beach, will also use the extra funding to bid for world premier concert tours of major artists such as Madonna while extending already successful events such as Vivid Sydney.

The premier said the funding boost would help NSW to secure the state’s reputation as the “undisputed home” of major events in Australia.

“We have the track record that shows when we put on a show, we do it well,” Mr Baird said.

“Since 2011, we have successfully hosted the Major League Baseball Opening Series, friendly matches with football giants Manchester United and Juventus, the British and Irish Lions Rugby Tour, the Sydney International Art Series: Pop to Popism, the first Pop Art exhibition to be showcased in Australia since 1985, and the hugely successful Vivid Sydney.

“More major events will attract more tourists to NSW who will provide a boost to the State economy when they stay at local hotels, eat out at local restaurants and take cabs home.”

The announcement follows a last-minute pitch by the government to organisers of the America’s Cup for races to be held on the Harbour.

The government is evaluating whether to make a multimillion-dollar bid for the qualifier races in February 2017.

Premier Mike Baird wants to increase the state’s events budget.

It is understood an NFL game would top the list of events sought by the government should former NRL star Jarryd Hayne win a spot on a team.

The priority of other event bids is to be kept secret so as not to corrupt the tender process.

The government calculates the increased events budget would increase visitor expenditure by $481 million.

Of the extra $123 million in funding, $73.25 million will be dedicated towards the goal of making Sydney the number one destination for major events in Australia with $22 million set aside for Western Sydney.

Another $40.6 million will go towards growing regional tourism while $9.5 million would be focused on targeting overseas visitors from priority international markets.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Troy Grant said the lower Australian dollar and oil prices would help create economic conditions to boost jobs and growth in the sector.

He said the increased funding would help in moves to encourage tourists to stay longer and visit regional NSW.

“One in five visitors to Sydney also visit regional NSW,” he said.

“Our aim is to encourage more tourists to extend their stay and visit regional NSW and today’s announcement helps achieve this.”

Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival Celebrates the Year of the Sheep

Karaoke on top of the Harbour Bridge, tales of legends in the Chinese Garden of Friendship and endless amounts of delicious food, Sydney is bringing in the Year of the Sheep in style.

Officially commencing among the Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors at Dawes Point on Friday and running through new year on February 19 and until March 1, Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore said the 2015 Chinese New Year Festival celebrating the Year of the Sheep will being our streets to life.

"Its developed into the most significant celebration for Chinese New Year outside Asia," she said. "There will be 80 events including art exhibitions, cooking demonstrations, tea ceremonies, temple tours, sporting functions, all sorts of amazing events."

This year, the festival will celebrate the Year of the Sheep. Photo: Dallas Kilponen

According to University of Sydney emeritus professor of Chinese literature Jeffrey Riegel, the yang, or sheep, is known for its docile character, so people expect life will be more manageable.

"The sheep is also in early Chinese mythology thought to be a creature that knows instinctively the difference between good and bad, virtue and evil. So people expect that in the Year of the Sheep, justice will dominate," he said.

Venues throughout Sydney, including The Sydney Morning Herald Food & Wine Festival's Lunar Markets at Pyrmont Bay Park, will be lined with red lanterns, decorations and displays in celebration of the chun jie, or spring festival as it's known in China. Chun jie marks the start of the new lunar year, something Professor Riegel says is the biggest and most lavish festival in Chinese culture.

"It is also a chance to celebrate the old year and welcome the new, an annual renewal," he said. "They clear their debts, celebrate their togetherness, and by being together pave the way for even more prosperity."

Cecily Huang, a Chinese postgraduate student at UTS, is somewhat homesick but excited to celebrate her first Chinese New Year in Sydney.

"[Chinese] are probably more interested in celebrating here than in China, because all Chinese they get used to it," she said. "But here, they think they are far away from their home."

A first for 2015, long tables will be set up along Pitt, Sussex and Campbell streets for diners to valentine under the stars on February 14.

"We've got about 60 performers during the night moving from street to street and really encouraging that sense of outdoor dining, street food, the hustle and bustle and chaos, what we all know and love to be Asia," the festival's creative director Gill Minervini said.

However, a petition has been drafted in support of a name change of the event, citing the disrespectful nature of using the Chinese New Year name while also celebrating the cultures of Thailand, Korea and Vietnam as a lunar new year event.

"If I greet some Chinese man with 'Hey happy Vietnamese New Year - it's not right. It's just like greeting a Vietnamese man with Happy Chinese New Year," Anthony Ngo, a Vietnamese man who started the petition, told SBS.

Cr Moore defended the festival name.

"This festival is something that's continued on over the last 19 years, started as the Chinese New Year Festival, and now it continues as the Chinese New Year Festival."

In Parramatta, Centenary Square will be transformed into 'Lunar Square', hosting a family friendly twilight festival with traditional and contemporary performances and food on February 20.

"Council is proud to showcase Parramatta's rich cultural diversity and this festival is a great way for people to celebrate and share in the traditions and culture of our Asian communities," a Parramatta council spokeswoman said.

Gong xi fa cai. Welcome to the Year of the Sheep.

Festival Highlights:

Festival launch, Dawes Point: February 13, 7.30pm

Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors, Dawes Point: February 13-22

Sydney Morning Herald Food & Wine Festival Lunar Markets, Pyrmont Bay Park: February 12-22

Karaoke Climb, Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb: February 16-28

Lunar Streets, Chinatown, Thaitown, Koreatown: February 14, 5pm-11pm

Lunar Feats, Various restaurants: February 13-Mar 1

Chinese New Year Twilight Parade, Town Hall: February 22, 8pm-11.55pm

Dragon Boat Races, Cockle Bay: February 28-March 1

More information: http://www.sydneychinesenewyear.com/

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