Easter Show's Giant Attraction Unveiled

Dancers form part of the show for Darcy's Quest that was previewd Saturday at Circular Quay. Photo: Dallas Kilponen

A giant copper puppet girl has strutted her stuff at Sydney's Circular Quay, previewing her performances at the upcoming Royal Easter Show.

Every night of the show, which starts on Thursday, Darcy, a three-storey high puppet operated by five Spanish puppeteers and a 12-metre crane, will perform with monster trucks, stunt bikes and fireworks.
The performance, Darcy's Quest, tells the story of her dream of a world without animals.

On Saturday the puppet was walked along Circular Quay as a taster for the Easter Show, which runs from Thursday to Wednesday, April 3.


Darcy's latest appearance was at the London Olympics and she has just travelled 16,000km by ship to Sydney from her home in Barcelona.

Easter Show chief operating officer Michael Collins said Darcy's Quest had a message of conservation and environmental care.

"The show is obviously very focused on sustainability in our farming sector, as well as in all our efforts to entertain and delight Sydneysiders every year, especially in this, 190 years since the first show," he said in a statement.

Darcy's Quest is directed by Di Henry, who has been involved in staging Olympic Games ceremonies, including London.

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2 For 1 NSW Seniors Week Discount at Key Sydney Attractions

2 For 1 NSW Seniors Week Discount at Key Sydney Attractions

Celebrate Seniors' Week with 2-for-1 entry for seniors between 17-24 March! 

Sydney and Melbourne Compete Over Musical Theatre Tourism Revenue

 

Musical theatre is big business in Australia. Significant revenue from international shows has created fierce competition between the New South Wales and Victoria state governments to host the premieres.

Musical theatre is big business in Australia, with international shows a significant source of revenue for both Melbourne and Sydney. Not surprisingly fierce competition has developed between the New South Wales and Victoria state governments to host the premieres.

Theatre Producer Rodney Rigby says regional and interstate tourism to shows accounts for up to 40 percent of ticket sales to some shows such as Jersey Boys, which opened in Melbourne and is opening soon in Perth.

Rigby is premiering an Australian production of the broadway show The Addams Family in Sydney this week: “It's a great deal to have it here in Australia and opening here in Sydney. The timing when shows open is so complicated. It's got to do with the availability of theatres, creative teams."

“Sydney is the home, we are number one for first run musicals in Australia,” says Sandra Chipchase, CEO of Destination NSW, the State government bidy set up to attract major events. "Destination NSW has a very unique strategy to the way we package musicals."

Victoria is downplaying the rivalry.

"For us, it's getting the biggest and the best of the available musical productions that are coming to Australia," says Brendan McClements, CEO of Victoria Major Events Company. "To be perfectly frank, we don't spend a lot of time thinking about Sydney, for us it's really how do we work best with the producers in the West End or on Broadway."

And in the musical tales of two cities, there are plenty.

Melbourne recently host the Australian premiere of the West End's War Horse, heading to Sydney this week, and it will stage the global premiere of King Kong in May; while Sydney recently premiered Legally Blonde the musical and has secured the world premiere of Baz Lurhman's Strictly Ballroom, to open in 2014 or 2015.

Next week, the musical Grease will reveal where it will launch in Australia.

Hosting an internationally renowned musical generates around $3 million a month for the State. The two biggest states, almost head to head in revenue, are NSW with $102 million in ticket sales and Victoria at $91 million. That's in a country that brings in $250 million every year in musical theatre.

Rick Elice, writer of The Addams Family Broadway show, in Australia for the premiere, says "Competition always brings out the best work I think, as long as it's a healthy competition between Melbourne and Sydney. The real winner is the vast numbers of people who have the opportunity to come and see the theatre."

Ellen 'Healthy as a Kookaburra' and Teasing Sydney Plans

Ellen DeGeneres has fully recovered from the bout of flu that delayed her much-publicised Australian visit due to start last weekend, and postponed to this weekend.

The 55-year-old talk show host is as "healthy as a kookaburra", in her own words. Does that mean she's breaking out in laughing fits at inconvenient hours of the early morning?

"I'm feeling much better and I'm ready for my trip this week!" Ellen tweeted to more than 17.6 million followers. "The doctors say I'm healthy as a kookaburra."

Ellen whipped up more Aussie excitement with her following tweets.

"I'll be in Australia in three days! And I've got big plans for Sydney on Saturday. Don't miss it," she wrote a few hours ago. What could these secret plans be, hmm? Any guesses, TheFIX readers?

Of course, given that Ellen's trip is sponsored by vitamin company Swisse, she managed to throw a plug in for the brand.

"I've got my Swisse energy tablets for the plane. This time I won't get the flu when I flew," she wrote. Let's hope no rumours emerge claiming she faked her illness to promote Swisse. Ellen would never do that!

Ellen has plans to meet her fans in Sydney and Melbourne. More details on her visit will be announced soon.

We're so excited! Hope the flight goes well for her and wife Portia de Rossi.

Robert Plant Live at the Sydney Entertainment Centre

Following the announcement of his appearances on Byron Bay’s Bluesfest and the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival in Fremantle, Chugg Entertainment are today thrilled to confirm that rock legend Robert Plant will also be performing, along with his band the Sensational Space Shifters, at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Thursday 28 March.

After life with Led Zeppelin, Plant began putting his wide-ranging musical fascination to good use on solo albums with Jimmy Page and in recordings with bands like The Honeydrippers, Priory of Brion and Strange Sensation.

Plant continued to expand his horizons with the 2007′s collaboration with Alison Krauss on Raising Sand and in 2010, he released an album with the Band of Joy co-produced by his band mate Buddy Miller (electric guitar, baritone, 6-string bass, mando guitar) and with fellow musicians Darrell Scott (acoustic guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin, banjo, accordion, pedal steel and lap steel guitar), Byron House (bass), Marco Giovino (drums and percussion) which also received 2 Grammy® Award nominations.

The Sensational Space Shifters are his latest project, a loose band "inspired by the roots music of Mississippi, Appalachia, Gambia, Bristol and the foothills of Wolverhampton and drawing on influences collected in a lifetime of meander and journeying." Along-side Robert are his semi-regular guitarist Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara from Gambia, Justin's Ritti - playing partner in their duo Juju.

Exciting audiences around the world, Plant presents songs from his early days in Led Zeppelin to his more recent adventures in the heart land of the US, in dizzy collisions of rhythm and power. His current companions have created a performance that digs deep into the roots of the blues, turning ancient, dark music that inspired so much of British and American rock on its heard. He mixes crazy trans-rhythms and psychedelic to create a powerful and unique adventure.

BAND LINE UP

Robert Plant - vocals, harmonica
Juldeh Camara- ritti (one-stringed African Violin), kologo (African Banjo), talking drum, vocals.
Justin Adams - guitar, bendir, vocals
John Baggott - keyboards
Liam "Skin" Tyson - guitar, vocals
Dave Smith - drums and percussion
Billy Fuller - bass guitar, vocals


WHEN: Thursday 28th March 2013
TIME: Starts at 7:30 PM

See the Sydney Entertainment Centre for additional info

Jason Mraz Live in Sydney

Love Is A Four Letter Word, released last year, featured the heartfelt single I Won’t Give Up, following its quiet debut on Mraz’s site, quickly proved itself to be an undeniable pop smash of the new year. One week from its release in the US, the song debuted in the #1 slot on Billboard’s Digital Songs chart, with sales surpassing 225,000. Not stopping there, it also garnered over 2.5 million YouTube hits in the first week with numbers now surpassing more than 20 million.

One of the modern era’s most gifted pop troubadours, Jason Mraz’s extraordinary musical journey has taken him from coffee houses to stadiums all over the world, with two GRAMMY® Awards and six nominations already to his credit. His 2008 album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things was an indelible global blockbuster, earning gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications in 21 countries around the world. The lead single, I’m Yours, holds the record for being the longest-running song in the history of the Billboard “Hot 100” chart. In Australia, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things is certified double platinum, and the hit single I’m Yours is certified three times platinum.

Mraz spent much of 2011 road-testing the songs from his latest album, touring alongside his longtime friend, percussionist Noel “Toca” Rivera. The worldwide trek – which included performances in North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia – saw Mraz celebrating music’s lasting power to inspire change and help others through global citizenship. Among the journey’s many highlights were multiple sold out shows at such iconic venues as Australia’s Sydney Opera House, New York City’s Carnegie Hall, and Spreckels Theatre in Mraz’s adopted hometown of San Diego.

Joining Mraz at these special shows will be US sensation, Zac Brown Band. With nine hit singles and two platinum-selling records under their belt, the news of their return to Australia comes just days after receiving a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Country Album for their latest release Uncaged.

Tuesday 26 March 2013
Starts at 7:30 PM

Lloyd Webber's Superstar to be Resurrected

ANDREW Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's smash-hit musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, is returning to Australia for another arena tour in May, starring a comedian, a Spice Girl and a reality TV talent show winner in the lead roles.

In 1992, when the musical toured Australia's arenas for the first time (the show made its Australian premiere at Sydney's Capitol Theatre 20 years before, in 1972), John Farnham, then one of the country's biggest pop stars, starred as Christ, sporting a glorious blonde mane. Flanked by Kate Ceberano as a sultry Mary Magdalene and Noiseworks frontman, Jon Stevens, playing the treacherous Judas with a mullet to rival Jesus', the show became one of Australia's most popular ever, selling almost 1 million tickets over 16 weeks and grossing more than $40 million. The original cast recording soundtrack went platinum four times.

Twenty years later, after a record-breaking opening run in arenas across Britain and Ireland last September, a contemporarised version of the musical is returning to Australia and will debut in Perth on May 31. The three leads from the British production are reprising their roles here, with Perth-born comedian, singer and actor Tim Minchin playing Judas, former Spice Girl Mel C as Mary Magdalene and newcomer Ben Forster as Jesus, who won the role after appearing in Lloyd Webber's British TV talent show, Superstar.

Stevens returns to the cast for the Australian production, this time playing Pontius Pilate, while Andrew O'Keefe, host of TV game show Deal Or No Deal and nephew of '50s rock star Johnny O'Keefe, makes his major debut as King Herod.

The musical will travel to Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in May and June. Three dates at Rod Laver Arena have been announced.

The story traces the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with his arrival with his disciples in Jerusalem and culminating in his crucifixion. In the updated version, the musical is set in the midst of a global financial crisis, inspired by the London riots and Occupy movements. The set is accordingly modernised, as are the costumes - Forster, as Jesus, evokes a brooding Johnny Depp, while Mel C's Mary Magdalene has dreadlocks and piercings. Reviews for the British leg have been largely positive, with both The Telegraph and The Times giving the show four stars. The Guardian was less impressed, describing Forster as having "only two facial expressions: (pained, or faintly smouldering, like a bit of damp kindling)".

Jon English.

More than 100 people will come to Australia from Britain for the show, which tour promoter Michael Gudinski hopes is the first in a series of collaborations with Lloyd Webber.

Santana and Steve Miller Band Live in Sydney

This co-headline show will play Sydney Entertainment Centre on Wednesday 27th March. 

SANTANA
One of the greatest musicians and legendary guitarists of our generation, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Carlos Santana is set to ignite our stages once more. His style defies definition, immediately recognizable yet unlike any other, Santana's fusion of Latin rock, blues, soul and jazz comes in full swing on stage in a way that transcends time and the limits of genre typecasting. Delivered with a level of passion and soul equal to the legendary sonic charge of his guitar, the sound of Carlos Santana is one of the world's best known musical signatures.

For more than four decades, Carlos Santana has sold more than 90 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won 10 Grammy® Awards, including a record-tying nine for a single project for 1999's Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Smooth"). The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame proclaim, "Guitarist Carlos Santana is one of rock's true virtuosos and guiding lights." Among many other honors, Carlos Santana has also been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."

STEVE MILLER BAND 
Few musicians can boast the introduction that Miller had to music - his father who worked as a pathologist was friends with stars like Charles Mingus and Les Paul, whom he brought home as guests; Paul taught the young Miller some guitar chords and let him sit on recording sessions. With a career encompassing distinct stages from one of the top San Francisco blues-rockers during the late 60s and early 70s and then going on to become one of the top selling pop/rock acts of the mid to late 70s and early 80s.

The Steve Miller Band has sold more than 30 million records in a career spanning more than 40 years. His trademark blues-rock sound has made him one of the cornerstone legends of his genre. Award-winning albums like The Joker, Brave New World, Abracadabra and Fly Like An Eagle; and songs like: Gangster Of Love, Rock ‘n Me, Fly Like an Eagle, Jet Airliner, Jungle Love, The Joker, Abracadabra, Livin’ In The USA, Take the Money and Run, and Swingtown have cemented Steve Miller as one of rock music’s all-time greats. His touring schedule to packed out arenas continues without let up.


Wed 27 March 2013 - Starts at 7 PM

There is no local support act.

Steve Miller Band hits the stage at 7pm. Don't be late!

Steve Miller Band 7:00pm

Santana 9:00pm

Live From Studio A – A Celebration of Australian Music

The theme for the 2013 Premier’s Seniors Week Gala Concerts is ‘Live From Studio A – A Celebration of Australian Music’. The concerts will feature some of Australia’s finest performers.

The Premier’s Gala Concerts are produced to acknowledge and thank NSW seniors. Presented by the NSW Government, tickets are free, and limited to four per person. All attendees must be residents of NSW, aged 60 or older. 

The Premier’s Gala Concerts are a feature event of 2013 NSW Seniors Week (17-24 March) www.nswseniorsweek.com.au

Mon 18 March 2013 - Starts at 10:30 AM
Mon 18 March 2013 - Starts at 2:30 PM
Tue 19 March 2013 - Starts at 11 AM

View the Sydney Entertainment Sydney Official Site

Madame Tussauds to Create One Direction Wax Figures for World Tour

IT'S THE next best thing to seeing them in real life - the One Direction boys have been immortalised as wax figures at Madame Tussauds. 

The world famous wax museum has announced that they are gearing up to debut the One Direction figures next month.

The waxy creations will first appear in London before taking a tour around the globe, set to hit Sydney in October.

"We're just kind of a bit overwhelmed. We've been to Madame Tussauds and seen the kind of people who are in there. It's crazy to think that we will up there with them", an excited Harry Styles said.

"I think it's going to be quite weird to see yourself as a wax figure. But it's an amazing honour to be there. If you look at some of the names that are in there, we are very proud," Louis Tomlinson added.

"We have been overwhelmed by requests for us to feature One Direction," Global Head of Marketing, Liz Wells says.


"The boys have been top of the most wanted personalities list in London, New York and Sydney for the last 12 months, so we are delighted we can now satisfy public demand by bringing their figures to each of these cities in a special 'world tour', which will eventually take in more locations.

"Louis, Liam, Harry, Zayn and Niall have been involved throughout the sculpting process... taking hundreds of precise measurements and discussing the style their figures will be portrayed in", Wells adds.

From start to finish the creation process will take four months and each figure will cost Madame Tussauds $220,000 to make.

Aussie fans will be stoked to hear that, once the sculptures reach Sydney on October 24 they will be here for a three month stay until January 28, 2014.

The Addams Family - Now Playing at Capitol Theatre

The Addams Family – The Broadway Musical, features an original story. It’s every parent’s nightmare. Your little girl has suddenly become a young woman, and what’s worse, has fallen deliriously in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family.

Yes, Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has a “normal” boyfriend, and for parents Gomez and Morticia, it’s a shocking development that turns the Addams house upside down when they are forced to host a dinner for the young man and his parents.

The production features all the favourite characters – Uncle Fester, Grandma, Pugsley, Lurch, and the Beineke Family of Mal, Alice and Lucas. Starring John Waters, Chloё Dallimore and Russell Dykstra, this lovable production is sure to have you in stitches!


Duration of the performance is 2 hrs and 35 mis (including a 20 min interval)


The Addams Family is appropriate for children ages 7 and up

Playing at the Capitol Theatre from 10 March

See Capitol Theatre to Purchase Tickets

Get Close Accommodation at Metro Hotel Sydney Central

Sydney Royal Easter Show - Only 2 Weeks to Go! 21 March 2013

What's On

As the largest agricultural show in the southern hemisphere, the Sydney Royal Easter Show offers a variety of activities to suit any age, taste or budget. With everything from the cute and cuddly to the sublime and the surreal, a fun day is ensured for all. 

Showgoers can witness world-class competitions, blockbuster entertainment and the creative tapestries of the District Exhibits. Get up-close and personal with animals both big and small and peruse the unique shopping opportunities of the commercial exhibits. Be sure to sample Australia’s best produce as well as taste-test the new innovative carnival treats on offer.

Kids' Entertainment

For the young ones, there’s a range of new character shows to entertain and delight. There’s a star-studded line up of kids’ entertainment performances and new ‘meet and greet’ sessions with everyone’s favourite characters. Children can dance and laugh with all their favourite characters from Moshi Monsters™, Madagascar 3, The Lorax™, Banana’s in Pyjamas, and meet and greet Shaun the Sheep™, dirtgirlworld ™, Alvin the Chipmunk™ and Puss in Boots®. Plus there’s hours of family fun to be had with circus workshops and in the Kids’ Carnival.

Pony Rides

Meet 'n' Greet Shaun the Sheep

Meet 'n' Greet Puss in Boots

Meet 'n' Greet Alvin the Chipmunk

Meet 'n' Greet Dirtgirlworld

Bananas in Pyjamas

Moshi Monsters Music

Madagascar 3 Circus

The Lorax

Ashton Entertainment Circus Workshops

Entertainment

The 2013 Sydney Royal Easter Show is jam-packed full of exciting non-stop entertainment, providing a great value day out for everyone.

The new two-hour nightly entertainment spectacular Darcy's Quest features thrilling international acts, never before seen in Australia. Many Show favourites are also back, including the Racing and Diving Pigs and Psycho Sideshow. For the young ones, there’s a range of new character shows and ‘meet and greet’ sessions to entertain and delight.

For more information on all the entertainment at the 2013 Show, use the links on the left.

Find out more at the Offical Website: http://www.eastershow.com.au/index.aspx

Bon Jovi Book in For Australian Tour

BON Jovi have joined the growing band of superstar touring groups booking visits to Australia next summer.

After Mick Fleetwood confirmed Fleetwood Mac would head back to Australia on their world tour in late 2013, Jon Bon Jovi announced his band would be here in December.

As the group kicked off their What About Now tour in a blizzard-ravaged North America last week, the rock frontman said a summer run here was giving them "something to look forward to".

"We are coming (but) not until the end of the year in December," he said.

SHOWS IN:

SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, BRISBANE & ADELAIDE

The Jacksons - Live at the Sydney Entertainment Centre

With the stunning worldwide success of the Jacksons’ Unity 2012 Tour, the most legendary family in music history is bringing their once-in-a-lifetime reunion show to Australia. A worldwide sensation since the 1970s, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito Jackson are thrilled to be returning to Australia after nearly 30 years to perform all their multitude of hits and to pay special tribute to their late brother Michael.

Beloved by millions of fans across the globe for their soulful, sunny sound, contagious stage presence and unforgettable roster of hits, the Jacksons first achieved international superstardom with their brother Michael, becoming the first group ever to have their first four singles hit #1 on the Billboard Charts. Throughout their four-decade long career, the group revolutionized music and pop culture, getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. The Unity Tour 2012 will be yet another milestone for the Jacksons, bringing the most famous family in music back together for a historic series of shows.

UAE Presents Co Founder Ritchie Perera stated, “We are very proud to be associated with such a legendary band. The mere fact that the Australian public will get to see this once in a lifetime event excites us beyond belief – The Jacksons are the soul of some of the greatest music ever made – Australia get ready!!”

“This is a dream coming true,” said Jackie Jackson of the tour. “I can't believe this is finally happening. There’s nothing like having all the brothers on stage at the same time. This will be exciting for our fans around the world– and I know at each concert, MJ's spirit will be in the house with us.”

Honoring Michael’s memory and bringing the fans all the timeless hits they know and love is also paramount for Jermaine Jackson. “I am so happy and excited to perform again onstage with my brothers,” he said. “I can't wait to sing all the songs that were so much a part of all of our lives. We are ready and committed to keep the family’s legacy alive and perform once again with the highest level of excellence, creativity, and most of all, integrity

Saturday 16 March 2013, Starts at 8:15 PM

Get Tickets

If you are attending this concert at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Why not go to the Palace Hotel Sydney nearby pre or post show and take advantage of our offer – Show staff your concert ticket before or after the show to get $4 Tooheys New Schooner or House Wine

Neil Young and Crazy Horse Live At the Sydney Entertainment Centre

The Frontier Touring Company confirm the return of Neil Young and Crazy Horse for a series of arena shows.

Sydney Entertainment Centre will see the return of Neil Young and Crazy Horse on Sunday 10 March.

The tour will be Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s first headline tour since 2003’s critically acclaimed Greendale shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Crazy Horse, comprised of Billy Talbot (bass), Ralph Molina (drums) and Frank “Poncho” Sampedro (guitar), was recently described by Neil Young in his autobiography as “a vehicle to cosmic areas that I am unable to traverse with others."

The March 2013 shows promise to showcase both new material from their recently released album ‘Psychedelic Pill’ and the classic hits that helped make Neil Young a household name. Without a doubt the critical acclaim surrounding the tour dates so far illustrates just how Neil Young continues to pull massive crowds five decades into his impressive career.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote of Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s October Hollywood Bowl concert; “The made-for-each other singer and band seamlessly meld old and new amid a relentless, outstanding torrent of beautiful noise” while the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted “this tour serves as a reminder of how [Neil] became the Godfather of Grunge, and going on 67, he will still out-grunge anyone who gets in his path.”

The LA Times’ glowing review painted vivid pictures, including that of Neil Young “hunched over his Gibson electric guitar – known affectionately as “Old Black” – strangling notes out of its neck while standing in front of a Fender amp as big as the Ritz.”

Don’t miss out on seeing Neil Young and Crazy Horse live in concert.

Find Nearby Accommodation at Aspire Hotel Sydney or Metro Hotel Sydney Central

Enjoy pre and post show drinks at Palace Hotel Sydney