Slash, Train to kick off NRL Grand Final

Slash will pump up the crowds at the NRL Grand Final on October 5

Former Guns N' Roses guitar god Slash and American pop-rock group Train - both of whom headline Australian music festivals in the next few months - have been picked to pump up the crowd before the NRL Grand Final on October 5.

Both acts also have new albums out in the next month. 

Slash will release World on Fire with his band Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators next month, while Train's seventh album, Bulletproof Picasso, is due out next week.

Train have a strong chart history here, scoring a No. 1 single in 2009 with Hey Soul Sister and a No. 5 with Drops of Jupiter in 2001. The band also has three top 10 albums.

What songs will they play? Slash (who is actually English and a fan of Stoke City football club) accompanying at least one Train song is a good bet (Hey Soul Sister is the obvious choice), while the top-hatted axeman is certain to turn out at least one classic Guns N' Roses number.

While the choice of entertainment won't entirely satisfy fans pining for the return of AC/DC or even Cold Chisel, Slash and Train seem a better fit for a big, expectant footy final crowd than Sir Tom Jones. 

The 74-year-old Welsh crooner will kick off procedings before the AFL Grand Final on September 27.

Slash is a headliner at the Soundwave festival next February and March while Train have already confirmed for Bluesfest next April 3.

Say ‘Oi’ to the Brazilian ‘Ritmo’ Sydney Festival!

Say ‘Oi’ to the Brazilian ‘Ritmo’ Sydney Festival!

The Culture Beats festival season at Darling Harbour continues with the Brazilian ‘Ritmo’ Festival on September 21! Portuguese for ‘rhythm’, ‘Ritmo’ is a perfect description of the event, which celebrates the soul and passion of Brazil’s unique fusion of cultures.



The Brazilian Community Council of Australia (BraCCA) is delighted to welcome an expected crowd of 20,000, including fans and newcomers alike, to Tumbalong Park for this hugely popular event, where the young, the old (and the young at heart).

With an interest in Brazilian culture can indulge in a full day of entertainment featuring live music, dance, cultural performances, art and craft stalls and traditional Brazilian cuisine, and learn a thing or two about Brazil’s vibrant culture while they’re at it!

Sing the Melody



Performers in this year’s star-studded line up include The Voice favourite Emily Rex, whose rendition of ‘Pure Imagination’ on the prime time TV show won her a place in the heart of the Australian public. 

A proud member of the Brazilian community, Rex will explore both modern and traditional Brazilian sounds throughout her set, hinting that she may even treat crowds to some smooth and sassy bossa nova! 

Also treading the stage is The Voice season two hero Ben Goldstein, who will bring cool acoustic summer vibes to springtime Sydney.

Tap the Beat



Demonstrations of the Brazilian martial art Capoeira, which combines music, acrobatics and dance, will be led by Edielson da Silva Miranda, aka Mestre Roxinho, who has been undertaking the discipline since 1979.

Roxinho is considered one of the world’s best Masters of Capoeira Angola, and founded Project Bantu, a program that uses Capoeira Angola as a tool to engage marginalised youth and thus forge out positive social outcomes in Brazil, Australia and the Asia Pacific.







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An Evening of Mexican Flavours and Aztec Treasures | Viva La Independencia

An Evening of Mexican flavours and Aztec Treasures | Viva La Independencia

Be one of the first people to view Aztecs, our upcoming blockbuster exhibition, on a particularly important evening – Mexican Independence Day. Your ticket to this limited capacity event includes:

·         An authentic Mexican cocktail on arrival

·         A unique after-hours viewing of our new Aztecs exhibition with a like-minded people

·         Plenty of entertainment including a fiesta photo stand complete with sombreros and ponchos as well as a conversation corner where you can learn some fun and easy phrases

·        Themed canapés and drinks

The exhibition features more than 200 priceless artefacts and dramatic multimedia that tell the story of the spectacular and ultimately tragic rise and fall of the Aztec empire. 

Step into their world and marvel at the extravagant possessions of the Aztec emperors while exploring their sacrificial rituals and uncovering the mysteries of the Aztec afterlife.

The evening is warm and balmy. The intoxicating scent of orange blossoms fills the air, mingling with hints of tequila and gunpowder. The place is Dolores, Mexico, and the year is 1810...

A group of Mexican nationals are conspiring to overthrow the crown. Music plays, dancers sway, revellers drink and the night takes on the knowing grin of anticipation...

Priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla is freeing his men from prison, ready to incite a revolution which will mark the first independence Mexicans’ have known in 300 years...

Hidalgo recites his Grito de Delores ‘Viva Mexico’, ‘Viva la Independencia!’...
Soon they will all be free from Spanish rule to become Mexica, once again... 

Photos on this page are for illustrative purposes only

Event Type: Special event

Date: 16 September 2014 to 16 September 2014

Time: 06.30 PM to 09.00 PM

Location: Australian Museum, entry via College St

Admission: $95 ($80 Members)

Find out More Information http://australianmuseum.net.au/event/Viva-la-Indepencida-Evening

UFC Announces Sydney Olympic Park Event November 08, 2014

UFC Announces Sydney Olympic Park Event November 08, 2014

ALLPHONES Arena at Sydney Olympic Park will be the venue when the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Sydney with a fight card on Saturday, November 8.

Two years after the promotion last visited the harbour city, with the UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann card, the Octagon will return for Australia’s fifth event in four years.

The previous five events had seen a combined 66,000 fans in attendance and $10 million in gross gate earnings.

UFC president Dana White spilt the beans on the Sydney show prematurely last week and hinted that adopted Australian fighter Hector Lombard could be included.

Lombard, who is ranked sixth in the welterweight division, fought in Australia’s last UFC card on the Gold Coast in December 2012.

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo black belt, Lombard moved to Sydney after competing for the Cuban judo team at the 2000 Olympics.

Possible Aussie inclusions are No.8 ranked heavyweight Mark Hunt, Menai’s Robert Whittaker, Dubbo’s Kyle Noke and Concord’s Anthony Perosh.

The promotion has held two events at Allphones Arena, with tickets selling out in under an hour for both.

The UFC will hold a press conference next Thursday at 11am, which will include fighters and UFC Managing Director for Australia, Canada and New Zealand, Tom Wright.

UFC in the Gold Coast in 2012, Aussie George Sotiropoulos and Ross Pearson did battle.

Australia’s Robert Whittaker is tipped to feature on the card.

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Prepare to Be Spellbound by Wicked | Capitol Theatre Sydney

Sydneysiders and visitors to Sydney wanting to see the biggest theatre hit of the decade Wicked, The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz, opening in Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on September 25, can now book great value accommodation Hot Deals at Metro Hotel Sydney Central.

Located directly opposite the Capitol Theatre, Metro Hotel Central Sydney is the ideal accommodation choice to see this highly acclaimed production. Awe-inspiring and spectacular, Wicked is the untold story of the witches of OZ.

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the land of OZ. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood.

The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular and the story tells how these unlikely friends grow.

Metro Hotel Sydney Central is the perfect accommodation choice for visitors to Sydney, situated right in the heart of Sydney in Pitt Street, five minutes’ walk from Central Station (for visitors arriving from the country), with an eclectic mix of restaurants nearby including Chinatown and Thaitown.

With popular local attractions such as Paddy’s Markets, Queen Victoria Building and Darling Harbour close by, the use of a car would not be necessary. Light rail passes are available from the Hotel Reception and numerous bus routes provide an excellent service to explore other parts of Sydney like Manly, Bondi Beach, Luna Park and North Sydney.

This Wicked Family Hot Deal is available to be booked between September and November are $225.00 for two adults and two children in a deluxe double/double room including daily hot breakfast buffet and chocolates on arrival.

A perfect early Christmas gift, packages during December start from $205 and has the same inclusions. The package does not include theatre tickets but these can be purchased on-line or directly from the Capitol Theatre.

Book this Wicked package at Metro Hotel Sydney Central: http://www.metro-hotel-central-sydney.bookings.metrohotels.com.au/index.site.packages.package.7142.html

AFC Asian Cup Coming To Australia 2015

The AFC Asian Cup, Asia’s biggest football tournament, is coming to Australia in January 2015.

Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane will host 32 world class football matches over 23 days, culminating with a Final played in Sydney on 31 January 2015.

It will never have been easier for families to go to the football than when the biggest tournament in Asia rolls into town in 2015.

The AFC Asian Cup organising committee has announced “family friendly” ticket packages for the tournament next summer, with kids tickets starting at $5 and families (four) from $40.

The tournament, which kicks off on January 9, will take place in five host cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle. Supporters even have the option of buying “venue packs” - tickets for all the matches at each stadium.

Tickets go on sale on May 7 for the football family, starting with the venue packs, before going on sale to the general public on  June 3.

Tickets for the tournament will go on sale in two phases, the first on May 7 and the second on June 3.

The most expensive Category One tickets are $149 for the final in Sydney on January 31 and $149 for the opening match between the Socceroos and Kuwait in Melbourne on January 9. Those prices also include the opening and closing ceremonies.

“This will be a festival of football never seen before in Australia, featuring our own Socceroos battling the best 16 teams in Asia, including Asia’s three other World Cup finalists in Japan, South Korea and Iran.

“We have deliberately kept prices affordable for families and those in multicultural communities who will be keen to attend multiple matches.”

VENUE PACK TICKETS:  This is the ultimate ticket for the passionate football fan wanting the best seat in the house. The Venue Pack is your chance to secure a place at every AFC Asian Cup fixture in your city, with savings of up to 20%. Witness seven matches live in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Canberra and four games in Newcastle with your very own seat at each game: http://tickets.afcasiancup.com/venue-pricing/

INDIVIDUAL MATCH TICKETS:  Group Match tickets start from just $15.29 (Adult) and $5.10 (Children). Or secure a ticket to a Socceroos match from only $49.96 (Adult) and $24.98 (Children): http://tickets.afcasiancup.com/individual-prices/

Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/asian-cup/afc-asian-cup-ticket-packages-announced-for-2015-tournament-in-australia/story-e6frf4fu-1226872359128?nk=0b37bee270a89676325370d660377fa0


Need accommodation close to the Asian Cup tournaments? 
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

Welcome to the Bingham Cup Sydney

With thousands of visitors and a host of events, Bingham Cup Sydney will be a tournament to remember.

The wait is over – the world cup of gay rugby is finally here. The 2014 Bingham Cup will be held in Sydney on August 24-31.

Over 1,000 players from 30 gay rugby teams from around the world, plus many more staff, supporters, friends and family, will descend on Sydney for the biennial tournament, which also features a week-long program of social events.

“We’re very excited to be hosting the Bingham Cup in Sydney – it’s the first time it’s been held in the Southern Hemisphere,” said Bingham Cup Week Events Manager Jon Bastin.

“We want to put on the best Bingham Cup ever – one that appealed not only to those taking part in the rugby tournament, but also the locals.

“To achieve this we’ve partnered with some of Sydney’s best known community groups to put on a diverse program of events – Queer Screen,  Harbour City Bears, the Lifesavers with Pride, Sydney Rangers FC and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras have all given us tremendous support – plus the Australian Rugby Union, Woollahra Colleagues RUFC and Eastern Suburbs RUFC have been great partners, ensuring that we put on a great tournament.”

Indeed, Bastin has program a dynamic and diverse line-up of events, ranging from drinks at popular Sydney venues to friendly matches at iconic location.

“Get out there and join in the fun,” Bastin says. “If you’re not into the footy then you can still be part of the atmosphere at one of the other events. With over 20 events and 30 gay rugby teams in town, you’ll be sure to have lot of fun.”

Bingham Cup Week is on August 24-31.