UFC Melbourne to be a Regular Event, Debut at Etihad Still up in the Air

In November, the UFC are bringing their first pay-per-view blockbuster to Australia since 2011, but there's no certainty that it will be inside Melbourne's 55,000 seat Etihad Stadium.

"We haven't made the final decision as to whether or not our event on November the 15th will be at Etihad Stadium, or at a venue like Rod Laver Arena, because we don't really know who's going to be on the card." Tom Wright, the UFC's Director of Operations for Australia told MMA Kanvas. 

"We haven't made the final decision as to whether or not our event on November the 15th will be at Etihad Stadium, or at a venue like Rod Laver Arena"

The big wigs at the Nevada-based promotion are well aware that they only get one chance to make a first impression, so Wright is still confident that they can bring a landmark event to "the sporting capital of the world." 




"I'd love to see a couple of championship fights and go to Etihad," Wright revealed 

"I rely on the best matchmakers in the business - Joe Silva and Sean Shelby, and obviously they make those calls though." 

MMA Kanvas has since contacted Etihad Stadium, who confirmed that there are currently no eventsscheduled on November 15th, the day UFC plans to make the Melbourne premiere. 

That's not to say that the UFC don't have a placeholder on the venue, but officially - nothing is "booked". 

"The great thing about Melbourne is there are some fabulous venues here. Rod Laver Arena is a fabulous venue, Hisense Arena is nice too. There are many, many different opportunities for us." Wright added.




Wright, the former commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL), has been making regular trips to Australia for a number of years. 

During those visits, he has serves as the de facto figurehead of the promotion in Australia, and landed the unenviable task of trying to sway the opinion of stubborn politicians as to the "cage ban" and its application to MMA in Victoria.

When Labor Sports Minister John Eren made the official announcement of the cage ban being overturned this morning he was admittedly "thrilled". 

"We have been working on this for a long time," he added "And we've always felt that when you provide facts and statistics and argue from a basis of objectivity that it was a question of when, not if, this day would come." 

Wright, along with many others, have fought long and hard to unlock Melbourne as an option for UFC events. Now they expect Victoria to become a regular stopping point on the company's growing schedule of events. 

"There are certain cities around the world that can handle a regular (event), and we think Melbourne is one. Not too dissimilar to Sydney. We've been coming since 2010 and we've been to Sydney four times and I feel that Melbourne is a world-class city and it's the kind of city we'd love to have as a regular fixture." 

While this is a fantastic day for Wright and his team at the UFC, the war still isn't over yet. Western Australia is still in the dark, and is now the only state that disallows mixed martial arts bouts inside a cage. 

For Wright, it means he has to put on the figurative boxing gloves back on and return to battle, but he's optimistic that Victoria changing their tune will speed up the process of overturning the final cage ban in Australia. 

"With Victoria seeing the light, if I can use that term, and becoming more enlightened about fighters safety and fighter equality, we'll use those points to argue that W.A should follow suit." 

"I think on my next trip down here I will make it over to W.A. We will continue to put forward out arguments of ensuring there's a safe environment for our athletes to compete in, and a fair environment." 

The UFC will first head to Adelaide on May 10, with Wright shooting down rumours that the promotion will also host an event in Sydney in 2015. 

"I haven't heard of that rumour, so I can confirm it isn't true." 



See more at: http://melbournecbdhotels.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/ufc-melbourne-to-be-regular-event-debut.html#sthash.UckkfKRr.dpuf

Japan Festival Returns to Perth

The annual Japan Festival of Perth returns this weekend!

The Japan Festival of Perth is a free event which celebrates the long history of friendship between Australian and Japanese people.

This year, the Festival will be held on Saturday 7 March from 12:30pm-8:00pm in Forest Place, Perth.

Click here to view the program!

There will also be heaps of Japanese food, craft and goods stalls for you to visit including Japanese souvenirs, anime and cosplay goods and a chance to try origami and even a shateki darts game!

Yummy Japanese food that will be available at the Festival include: udon, yaki-soba and ramen noodles, takoyaki (octopus balls), kaki-gori (shaved ice with sugar syrup), okonomi-yaki (Japanese pancake) and of course, sushi!

There are significant Japanese nationals working and studying in Western Australia and also some are living on a permanent basis raising their Australian families.

The numbers are growing, reflecting the long history of friendship between the two nations.

The Japan Festival Association in Perth Inc. (“JFAP”) was established in 2013 as a non-profit organisation with an aim to raise the overall Japanese profile in WA.

As part of its activities JFAP reached out to these communities to look for ways to become more closely involved with and to contribute to this beautiful multi-cultural society.

The idea of Japanese “MATSURI” (meaning “festival” in Japanese) was launched as an opportunity to realise this dream under the name of the Japan Festival Event.

Click here for more information on the Festival! View the video below from last year's Festival!

The matsuri is a free event with lots of fun for kids and families as well as adults, offering a great opportunity for the Perth community to experience one of the most important cultures of Japan.

Nomanslanding Darling Harbour - Centenary Of Anzac Sydney

Together we journey across the water, to face ourselves and our past.

Join us for Nomanslanding; a free interactive and reflective experience to commemorate the Centenary of ANZAC.

At the centre of this world-first event is a breathtaking installation that will be floating on Cockle Bay. Traverse the pontoon bridges and be taken on a poetic journey of a soldier’s experience during wartime: confrontation and conflict, fighting and falling, time slows and life speeds past – no man’s land.

Created by five international artists and initiated by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Nomanslanding will make its debut at Darling Harbour this April, and later in the year travel to the Merchant City Festival in Glasgow and the Ruhrtrienniale in Germany.

Nomanslanding Installation
Cockle Bay
11am – 7pm
Thu 2 Apr – Sun 3 May
FREE

Nomanslanding Public Program 
Various Locations
Thu 2 Apr – Sun 3 May

Nomanslanding is just one of many unique events proudly presented by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority each year, which attract millions of visitors and provide an important contribution to the NSW economy.

Nomanslanding is a free interactive and reflective experience that will commemorate the Centenary of ANZAC, 1 April to 31 May, 2015.

At the centre of this world-first event is a breathtaking installation that will be floating on Cockle Bay.

HOW THE IDEA WAS DEVELOPED…

In January of 2014 three curators came together; SHFA creative producer Michael Cohen, Katja Aßmann and Lorenzo Mele. They invited European and Australian artists to Bundanon, to collaborate in a laboratory environment with experts from urban planning, social geography, maritime archaeology and marine engineering fields. It was here that the idea for Nomanslanding was born.

Created by five international artists (Robyn Backen, Andre Dekker, Graham Eatough, Nigel Helyer and Jennifer Turpin) and initiated by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Nomanslanding will make its debut at Darling Harbour this April, and later in the year travel to the Merchant City Festival in Glasgow and the Ruhrtrienniale in Germany.


HISTORY AND HERITAGE

Discover Darling Harbour’s history from pre-European settlement and a time of great industry to the big personality you meet today. More info


PYRMONT BRIDGE

The amazing story of Darling Harbour’s Pyrmont Bridge. More info

Madonna to tour Australia for the first time in 23 years

It has been almost a quarter of a century since her last performance on Australian soil - now, at the age of 56, Madonna is set to return as part of her Rebel Heart tour.

Billboard has confirmed that the Living for Love star will visit Asia and Australia in early 2016. She is touring to promote her 13th studio album, which will be released this week through Interscope Records.

The last time Madonna played to Australian audiences was in 1993, when her Girlie Show: Live Down Under tour rocked crowds at the Sydney Cricket Ground in what became an HBO special broadcast on television.

Madonna will kick off her tour in North America, with 25-30 shows, starting in Miami in August. She will then head home to Britain and Europe for a further 25-30 shows beginning in November through to late December.

Dates have not be established for the Australian leg of the tour, however a statement on Madonna's website says they will be announced soon.

"Madonna continues to be one of the most successful touring artists in history - her shows are legendary and we are thrilled to have her going back on tour," Arthur Fogel, the president of Global Touring and chairman of Global Music, said.

As to her touring Australia, Fogel told Billboard that it was "kind of bizarre when you think about it, that a superstar like that hasn't been to a pretty regular touring area for [almost] 25 years."

Madonna has garnered a reputation as one of the most successful live performers. Her 2008/2009 Sticky & Sweet tour is the highest grossing tour of all time for a solo artist.

She was recently in the news after she tumbled down a staircase during a live performance at the Brit Awards in London following a wardrobe malfunction.

Source: www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/madonna-to-tour-australia-for-the-first-time-in-23-years-20150302-13t5s5.html

Madonna touring Sydney, Australia in 2016

Counting Crows Add Brisbane Show To 2015 Australian Tour

American rockers Counting Crows have blessed their Aussie fans, with a Brisbane show now part of the group’s 2015 Australian headline tour, which is taking place around their Bluesfest 2015 appearances. The one-off Brisbane concert is slated to take place on Sunday, 12th April.

Having just wrapped up a US tour, Counting Crows are ready to return down under with their renowned live shows. The tour will see performances of hits from the band’s 20-plus years in the business, including Mr. Jones, Accidentally In Love, Big Yellow Taxi and Colourblind.

Counting Crows last performed headline shows in Australia in 2013, around their last Bluesfest appearance. This time around, the group will also be showing off material from their latest full-length release, Somewhere Under Wonderland. The album, which was released in September last year, marked the band’s first new material since 2007.

Counting Crows’ 2015 Australian Tour

Fan Club pre-sale available from midday Thursday, 19th February until 9am Friday, 20th February.
My Live Nation & Ticket agent pre-sales available from midday Friday, 20th February until 5pm Sunday, 22nd February.

Tickets for all other shows are available now:

Saturday, 4th April 2015
Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Tickets: Live Nation

Sunday, 5th April 2015
Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
Tickets: Live Nation

Tuesday, 7th April 2015
Concert Hall, Perth
Tickets: Live Nation

Thursday, 9th April 2015
State Theatre, Sydney
Tickets: Live Nation

Sunday, 12th April 2015 – NEW SHOW
The Tivoli, Brisbane
Tickets: Live Nation

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Sound of Music Sing-a-long a Crowd Pleaser

Moviegoers get dressed up and into the swing of things for the Sound Of Music singalong at the State Theatre. Photo: Wolter Peeters

It is a favourite moment among fans of The Sound of Music: Maria finally marries the dishy Captain von Trapp, after stealing his affection from the beautiful but conniving baroness.

And at Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music events in Sydney, it is fast becoming an audience favourite too, with one member bringing audience participation to a whole new level.

As Maria makes her way down the long church aisle on screen, Theresa Kompara, decked in her own elaborate tulle and lace wedding dress, slowly walks the aisle of the State Theatre, where hundreds are watching the classic film on the big screen.

Fans of the singalongs look forward to Kompara's performance each year, which usually involves one or two volunteers to hold her train.

"I'm Maria, I come every year," says Kompara, in character at Friday night's screening. "I've come to look for the captain, I think he's upstairs."

Kompara, of Darlinghurst, has been to the singalongs for so many years she no longer watches most of the film. Now she comes for the dress-up competition then heads to a nearby cafe before returning to the theatre for her big moment.

Next month marks 50 years since The Sound of Music hit the screens and Sing-A-Long-A events have helped to bring the classic film to a whole new generation.

It began 17 year ago in London and since then almost 2 million tickets have been sold to 3500 performances globally. Organisers estimate more than 50,000 people have dressed up as nuns.

Nuns far outnumber any other character among those who are dressed up for the Friday night screening. There are girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes and brown paper packages tied up with string among more bizarre offerings, such as the group who have come wearing multicoloured clown wigs and fluro vests with nuclear signs and blueberries attached.

"We're blueberries with hepatitis A," they explain. "You know, because the children lie about eating blueberries in the movie."

Dressed as Maria, host Katrina Retallick judges a dress-up competition and takes the audience through a vocal warm-up. She also explains the contents of a white "fun pack" which each audience member has been given.

"It's full of lots of little goodies like the curtain swatch which we wave and shout "Behind you, behind you" so that Maria will see the curtains and find inspiration for the children's clothes," she says later. "And there's edelweiss, of course, and a party popper for when the captain and Maria kiss."

Retallick says it is no surprise that people come back each year to sing along to the songs, dress up and interact with the movie.

"There are so many elements to this film I think it has everything in it; grand romance, war, cute children and a gorgeous setting in the Austrian Alps. But I think it's Julie Andrews that has held the film over these 50 years, it's her amazing performance."

The crowd thinks so too. Each time Maria appears on screen they cheer.

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Ten best things to see, do and taste at Sydney Chinese New Year 2015

From food markets to lantern warriors, the Year of the Sheep is bringing quite a bounty.

Get ready for sensory overload — Chinese New Year is here. Time to fill the streets with fireworks and dancing lions while you alternate between inhaling incredible Asian cuisine and watching feats of strength at the Darling Harbour dragon boat races.

For the Year of the Sheep (a sign of creativity and wisdom), the festival will be connecting you with the best of the Chinese creative world, including large-scale performance art pieces with the Yangjiang art collective and fire-breathing puppet troupes, as well giving you the chance to put yourself in the mix, whether walking through an army of glowing terracotta warriors or doing Tai Chi in the sunshine.

With so much to do and see, here are a few highlights from Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival you shouldn’t miss.

Dragon Boat Races - 28 Feb & 1 March

Where? 201 Sussex Street, Sydney

Fast and furious, wet and wild. No, it’s not an ad for a summer roller-coaster ride; it’s the frantic dash in a 12m-long painted boat known as the Dragon Boat Races. Dating back 2000 years, the race was traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese Calendar to encourage rains for prosperity — the dragon, the symbol of water, was the object of worship for the ancient Chinese. Today, it’s a heart-thumping sport boasting crews of roughly 20 rowers. Grab a waterside seat and watch some of Sydney’s best dragon boat teams battle it out in this highly competitive, thrilling sport.

Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival - 18 to 23 Feb

Where? Corner of Greek and Bay Streets

This annual festival will once again showcase a selection of critically acclaimed Chinese movies — including multiple Australian premieres. A black comedy about a reformed gangster who decides to open a kindergarten, Uncle Victory won the Grand Jury Prize at last year’s Shanghai Film Festival. Other standouts include Tsang Tsui Shan’s multigenerational documentary Flowing Stories and the critically acclaimed drama Blue Sky Bones (shot by award-winning Australian cinematographer Christopher Doyle). Best of all, because the festival is designed to promote Chinese cinema, all the screenings are absolutely free.

Zhang Huan Sydney Buddha - 8 Jan to 15 March

Where? 245 Wilson Street

Zhang Huan’s Sydney Buddha joins the Chinese New Year celebrations at Carriageworks, if only for a limited life. For this highly-anticipated work, two 5 metre-tall Buddha sculptures made of 20 tonnes of incense ash and its aluminium case, face each other. The incense ash is collected from Chinese temples and set to disintegrate slowly within Carriageworks, acting in the same way a Tibetan Buddhist mandala works and making a stunning, complex, time-consuming artwork to be briefly enjoyed and subsequently destroyed, reminding us of the brevity of life.

Lunar Feasts - 13 Feb to 1 March

Where? Din Tai Fung, Chinese Noodle House, Ma G's, Fu Manchu

Flock to the city’s best Asian eateries to experience some of the seriously tasty set menus they will be serving up as part of the annual Chinese New Year Festival. From as little as $20 per person, you can eat your weight in wontons at favourite spots like Din Tai Fung and Chinese Noodle House. The more money you fork out (or should that be chopstick out?), the more decadence you can expect, with the likes of Ms G’s and Fu Manchu offering multicourse delights of sambal octopus, kimchi and an included sweet treat for about $50. Most restaurants have both lunch and dinner options and some menus include an alcoholic beverage as part of the deal.

Chinese New Year Parade 2015 - 22 Feb

Where? George Street, Sydney

In honour of the Year of the Sheep, this year’s Twilight Parade is going to be particularly woolly and adorable. The parade will be filled with spectacular lanterns, floats and dragons and, as always, will begin with the ancient eye dotting ceremony to awaken the spirit of the lion and end with a display of fireworks in Darling Harbour. This year the parade will feature some particularly home-grown treats, including a giant merino, shearers and knitting grannies, while projections will light up the city’s building with the story of Chinese shepherds in Australia and images celebrating the sheep’s characteristics of creativity and kindness.

Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors - 13 Feb to 22 Feb

Where? Hickson Road, Sydney

Wander through an army of lanterns against the backdrop of the harbour and Opera House as 90 illuminated Terracotta Warriors take over Hickson Road Reserve, the site of Vivid 2014’s giant bunnies. Designed to inspire the same awe as was sparked by the 1974 discovery of the Terracotta Warriors in the tomb of China’s first emperor, these beautiful multicoloured lanterns stand at more than 2 metres tall and are a miracle of fabric and wire, created for the 2008 Beijing Olympic games and here on their first appearance outside of China and the UK.

Lunar Markets - 12 to 22 Feb

Where? Pirrama Road

For 11 nights the Pyrmont Bay Park will transform itself into a pop-up food festival of Asian cuisine, with over 20 food stalls ranging from Night Noodle Market regulars like Fat Noodle and Hoy Pinoy to the new Japanese rock ‘n’ roll themed Daniel San out of Manly. We highly recommend a taste of Bar Pho’s newly trademarked ‘phumplings’, a miraculous cross breed of Vietnamese pho and dumplings that you might not have caught at the Sydney Festival Village due to them selling out every single night.

Tai Chi Classes - Saturdays in Feb

Where? Chinese Garden of Friendship: 1 Exhibition Place

In a festival full of buzzing crowds and street vendors, the Chinese Garden of Friendship is offering a more calming experience as it hosts $6 Saturday morning Tai Chi classes. Conducted by Fiona Maiyin Thockloth from the Inner Peace & Wellbeing Centre, the lessons take an hour out of your weekend and promote mental clarity in the beautiful garden surrounds. It’s a popular class, so make sure you get there 15 minutes early to sign up.

Lunar Streets - 14 Feb

Where? Dixon Street, Chinatown

For the first time, Chinatown, Thaitown and Koreatown are joining forces for Lunar Streets. Graze like a sheep (it’s their year) down Sussex, Campbell and Pitt Streets from dusk till late on Saturday, February 14. There’ll be long alfresco tables set up for the occasion, so you can commune with friends new and old while chowing down on your dim sum/noodles/curry/sashimi/some glorious mix of the four. Performances by roving entertainers and a mix of Asian pop hits courtesy of PopAsia top off the night, a new high on Sydney’s Chinese New Year calendar.

Twilight Garden Party - 14 Feb

Where? Chinese Garden of Friendship: 1 Exhibition Place

For one very special night the renowned Yangjiang art collective will be taking over the Chinese Garden of Friendship. With DJs throughout the evening and food and drinks by the Grasshopper Eating House, the Yangjiang group will be putting you at the centre of their art with calligraphy, face-painting and intimate performance pieces. In their trademark After Dinner Calligraphy, they will use food scraps from the event to create a large-scale work, and the night will finish with the artists feeding guests an array of tea designed to spark a shift in your physical and spiritual perceptions.


Source: http://concreteplayground.com/sydney/best_of/the-ten-best-things-to-see-do-and-taste-at-sydney-chinese-new-year-2015/