What to do at Sydney Festival 2015

Our pick from the 179 arts, music and culture events being held as part of Sydney Festival’s mammoth 2015 program.

Festival Village, Hyde Park

From 8 to 26 January, Festival Village returns to Hyde Park and will be open day and night, offering family-friendly activities, cabaret, circus acts and musical performances in addition to dozens of dining options and pop-up bars. The Famous Spiegeltent is joined by new addition The Aurora Spiegeltent, and Dublin-based street artist Maser's giant work Higher Ground is a two-storey art installation that will be his biggest ‘playground’ to date.

Sydney Buddha, Carriageworks

For the third consecutive summer, Carriageworks is presenting a free-to-the-public, large-scale installation by an international artist. Following on from 2013’s Song Dong: Waste Not and Christian Boltanski’s Chance in 2014, this year the public space will house the largest installation ever created for Australia by Chinese artist Zhang Huan. Sydney Buddha will be comprised of two facing buddhas: the first made from aluminium, which acts as a mould to form the second buddha, which is made from ash collected from Buddhist temples in Shanghai and will gradually disintegrate over the course of the exhibition.

Ross McHenry Future Ensemble, Hyde Park North

Composer, producer and bass player Ross McHenry has gotten together with six of the world’s most daring musical innovators to push jazz in new directions. Taking electronic music and hip hop as influences, and future jazz and LA beat as a model, the Future Ensemble builds on the jazz band setup by adding live samples, loops and beats in a largely improvised performance that will take place at 7pm on 9 January.

Bill Culbert exhibition, National Art School Gallery

In his largest solo exhibition in Australia to date, New Zealand artist Bill Culbert presents Strait, a line of milk bottles pierced by a horizontal fluorescent tube and Pacific Flotsam, a swarm of fluorescent lights and plastic containers (pictured), alongside other recent sculptures and photographic works. The exhibition – which exudes Culbert’s signature vision of making the every day radiant and extraordinary – follows the success of his installations at the 55th Venice Biennale of Art.

Symphony in the Domain

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will be joined by ARIA-award-winning performer, composer and didgeridoo player William Barton to perform Peter Sculthorpe's Beethoven Variations as well as songs from his own composition Birdsong at Dusk. The performance honours the working relationship of Barton and Sculthorpe: the latter taught Barton western notation for classical music and Barton in turn helped Sculthorpe integrate Aboriginal music into his compositions. Both were deeply influenced by their love of Australia, and the performance on 18 January will celebrate their sacred appreciation for its landscape.

Parramatta Opening Party, Centenary Square

On Friday 9 January, Sydney Festival’s opening party will be headlined by Paul Kelly, who presents his new collaborative project The Merri Soul Sessions featuring Dan Sultan, Clairy Browne, Kira Puru and Vika and Linda Bull. The all-ages event will see a Fire Garden by artist Mike Roberts come to life after dusk, food and beverage options, and a rooftop stage proferring its own musical lineup.

Source: http://www.vogue.com.au/vogue+living/arts/galleries/what+to+do+at+sydney+festival+2015,34263?pos=5

AFC Asian Cup - Sydney 2015

The 16 best teams in Asia will meet in Sydney and Newcastle in January 2015 to compete for the AFC Asian Cup, the most sought-after trophy in Asian football. Be part of the biggest football tournament to take place in Australia as the region's dynamos battle it out.

Sydney is host to seven games including the Socceroos all-important clash with Oman. These games will be held on 10, 13, 15, 19, 23 & 26 January 2015. Stadium Australia will also host a quarter final, the semi-final on Australia Day and the final on 31 January.

This is your chance to see world-class football right here in Australia. With ticket prices from $5 for kids and $40 for families, it's an affordable option for all football fans and a real highlight of the school holidays over summer.

Tickets are on sale now: http://www.afcasiancup.com/

Roxette Australian Tour 2015

Special Guest: Boom Crash Opera

Live Nation is excited to announce that legendary Swedish pop-rockers Roxette are returning to Australia for a national tour in summer 2015.

After the 2011-2012 World Tour that took them around the globe twice over, playing to more than 1.5 million people in 46 countries including our very own shores, Roxette - Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle - are ready to do it all again, with the Aussie leg of their world tour kicking off in February.

"We are beyond thrilled to head back to Australia, a stunning country with beautiful fans who have remained some of our most loyal supporters over the last 25 years," says Per Gessle. "Marie, the band and I are ready and raring to go with a brand new show full of our best hits and a few surprises".

One of Sweden's finest exports, Roxette have a string of much loved hits under their belt including Listen To Your Heart, The Look, How Do You Do, Spending My Time, Joyride, Dangerous, Sleeping In My Car, Dressed For Success, It Must Have Been Love, Almost Unreal and many many more.

Arguably one of the world's most successful power-pop duos, Roxette this year celebrate the 25th anniversary of their juggernaut hit single The Look reaching #1 on the Billboard US Chart in 1989. This track kicked off one of music's longest-running pop careers with the duo selling more than 75 million albums worldwide to date. The band topped the Australian singles charts three-times with smash hits It Must Have Been Love, Joyride and The Look, with five of their albums reaching the Top 10 on the Australian album charts.

The band's come-back began in 2011 with the release of hit single She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio) lifted from the album "Charm School". This, along with their sellout 2011-2012 World Tour, cemented the fact that Roxette were back bigger than ever, much to the joy of fans worldwide.

Roxette's 2012 tour was a triumphant success, with the first arena shows selling out instantly, extra dates added and rave reviews from fans and media alike. "Unless you'd seen it for yourself, you can't imagine the mass frenzy the return of Roxette caused," said the Herald Sun. "Roxette's is a back catalogue to die for," said Life Music Media, while Tone Deaf raved "Every hit gets a big rock ending, every ballad sees several hundred lighters aloft and we love every moment of this trip back to the 90s."

And so the Roxette joyride continues with their World Tour hitting Australian shores in 2015. Listen to your heart and come join it!

Tour Dates:

• Tue 10 Feb - Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD
• Sat 14 Feb  - Perth Arena, WA
• Tue 17 Feb - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, SA
• Fri 20 Feb  - Rod Laver Arena, VIC
• Fri 27 Feb  - Qantas Credit Union Arena, NSW

Tickets: http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=ROXETTE14#VYSovOdlT4ylleJx.99

Sydney Chinese New Year Festival

Celebrate the Lunar New Year at City of Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival. This vibrant arts Festival has a program bursting with cultural events, markets, tours, exhibitions and entertainment, most of them free. Join in the celebrations for the Year of the Sheep by including your event in the 2015 Chinese New Year Festival.

The Festival showpiece is the spectacular Twilight Parade which will lights Sydney streets, with the very popular Dragon Boat Races commencing the following Saturday and Sunday.

With over 80 events to choose from, visit the Sydney Chinese New Year web site to plan your Festival.

For more information - Visit Sydneychinesenewyear.com

Also - Chinese New Year Festival Launch

As the warmth of a Sydney summer evening comes alive with a feast of flavours from a vast array of cooking stalls, firecrackers are guaranteed to scare off any lingering misfortunes from the previous year. Soak up the atmosphere and then tuck into a bowl or two of delicious New Year dumplings with family and friends, before you settle in for a night of celebrations.

There will be lion dancing, as well as special launch night performances on the market stage, including a sneak preview of the Twilight Parade, plenty of pop and more traditional music and dance.

For more information - Visit Sydneychinesenewyear.com

Its Year of the Goat!

1907 13 Feb 1907 - 01 Feb 1908 (Fire)
1919 01 Feb 1919 - 19 Feb 1920 (Earth)
1931 17 Feb 1931 - 05 Feb 1932 (Metal)
1943 05 Feb 1943 - 24 Jan 1944 (Water)
1955 24 Jan 1955 - 11 Feb 1956 (Wood)
1967 09 Feb 1967 - 29 Jan 1968 (Fire)
1979 28 Jan 1979 - 15 Feb 1980 (Earth)
1991 15 Feb 1991 - 03 Feb 1992 (Metal)
2003 01 Feb 2003 - 21 Jan 2004 (Water)
2015 19 Feb 2015 - 07 Feb 2016 (Wood)

Sydney Festival - Complimentary Yoga with LULULEMON ATHLETICA

LULULEMON ATHLETICA

Summer days are meant to be spent outdoors and this includes your workouts. Throughout Sydney Festival on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 7:15am and Wednesday nights at 6pm, lululemon will bring Sydney Festival-goers a complimentary 1 hour yoga class in Hyde Park. Soak up the sun while you move, breathe, strengthen and stretch - perhaps even get upside down!

Bring your mat, your friends and join us for an all levels yoga experience.

From morning till midnight, it's about feeling alive, show us how you live #thesweatlife on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter @lululemonausnz

Duration: 60mins
When: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday mornings at 7:15am, Wednesday nights at 6pm
Address: Hyde Park North - Entry near Archibald Fountain
Website: www.lululemon.com.au

Class schedule:

Thursday 8 January (7:15am)
Instructors: Danielle Walker & Liz Holman (Fused to Move)

Friday 9 January (7:15am)
Instructor: Alanna Chan (Yoga Pavillion)

Tuesday 13 January (7:15am)
Instructor: Lara Zilibowitz (BodyMindLife)

Wednesday 14 January (6:00pm - night session)
Instructor: Persia Rutchinski (In Yoga)

Thursday 15 January (7:15am)
Instructor: Thy Nguyen (Hom Yoga)

Friday 16 January (7:15am)
Instructor: Noelle Connolly (BodyMindLife)

Tuesday 20 January (7:15am)
Instructor: Daniel Myers (Power Living)

Wednesday 21 January (6:00pm - night session)
Instructor: Nicole Walsh (In Yoga)

Thursday 22 January (7:15am)
Instructor: Mel McLaughlin (This Is Yoga)

Friday 23 January (7:15am)
Instructor: Adam Whiting (Power Living)

Source: http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2015/lululemon-yoga

Tennis | Apia International Sydney 2015

Tennis | Apia International Sydney 2015 

South Wales Open, now known as the Apia International Sydney, is one of the oldest tournaments in the world, dating back to 1885.

The Sydney Cricket ground was the first venue for the New South Wales Open, followed by a location at Double Bay and then White City, which hosted the championships for an amazing 76 years up to and including 1999.

In 2000, the tournament moved to its fourth home, the state-of-the-art Sydney Olympic Park Tennis centre where it is played to this day.

Caroline Wozniacki 2.0

Playing at the WTA Finals in Singapore against Serena Williams in the semifinals, Caroline Wozniacki ripped a forehand down the line and then smacked a crosscourt forehand winner off the short reply.

“She is being so aggressive,” an approving Tracy Austin observed in her commentary, as Wozniacki surged even further ahead in the first set.

“Before she relied just on her defence, her consistency and placement, now she’s hitting with conviction and really pushing her opponents around.

“Honestly, I think she’s playing better (now) than when she was No.1 in the world.”

High praise indeed. And there was merit to the comments – it was hard to remember a time when the Dane had ever played with such attacking flair.

And even though she eventually lost in a third set tiebreak to Williams – the player who went on to win the tournament and cement the year-end No.1 ranking – the week in Singapore had capped a stunning return to form in 2014 for the popular 24-year-old.

“Five months ago didn’t look like I was going to be here, even though I always believed it,” she said of qualifying for the elite eight-player season-ending championship.

“The way I’ve been playing the last five months really brings me some great momentum into next year. Gives me some confidence.”

Her new year will start at the Apia International Sydney, where, at world No.8, she is one of six top 10 players competing. And she has certainly come a long way since her last visit to Harbour City.

Almost a year ago to the day after celebrating New Years Eve in Sydney, Wozniacki announced her engagement to golfing star Rory McIlory; four months later, the relationship ended. Shortly afterward Wozniacki fell in the opening round of the French Open, her ranking in danger of falling outside the top 20.

Showing admirable courage and resolve, Wozniacki began to rediscover her form on grass at Eastbourne, where she beat Sam Stosur and Sloane Stephens en route to the semifinals. This results was quickly followed by a fourth-round run at Wimbledon.

It set the stage for a stunning North American summer hardcourt season. Arriving in Montreal fresh off the WTA title in Istanbul, she reached the quarterfinals before winning through to the semifinals in Cincinnati, falling at both events in three torrid sets to Williams. She was even better in Flushing Meadows, beating reigning Roland Garros champion Maria Sharapova on the way to her first Grand Slam final in five years.

Beginning with Eastbourne to start the second half of the season and ending with her aforementioned performance in Singapore, Wozniacki’s compiled a magnificent win-loss record of 34-10, including six victories over top 10 opponents.

“I think I can be really proud of how I’ve handled everything this year, how I’ve fought back,” she said.

“I think I’ve proved to myself that I’m a really strong person and that I can keep improving my game. I’m just really happy that I’ve learned so much from this year. It’s been a very, very meaningful year for me and very learningful. Can you say that? (laughter)

“I’m serving well, I’m running well, I’m staying aggressive when I have to, and I make the right decisions at the right moment. And I enjoy playing.”

The former world No.1 will attempt to continue her rich vein of form when she begins her 2015 season at the Apia International, an event at which she will make her seventh appearance and where her best results were quarterfinal finishes in 2009 and 2012.

If her hardcourt form, newfound aggression and on-court confidence are to persist, Wozniacki will be tough to beat.

“I’m really pumped. I’m really excited for (2015),” she said.

“I think the way I’ve been playing lately, I think that’s proof to myself that I can keep improving and playing better and beat anyone who is on the other side of the net.”

Want to see world No.8 Caroline Wozniacki in action at Apia International Sydney 2015? Get your tickets through Ticketek now!

Del Potro confirms Sydney return

Juan Martin del Potro has confirmed that he will begin his 2015 season at Apia International Sydney.

The Argentine, the defending Apia International champion, has not played since February 2014 due to a wrist injury.

He was expected to make his return at the Brisbane International, yet delayed his comeback.

“Hello everyone!!! I wanted to tell you that we decided to travel to play Sydney and the Australian Open,” he tweeted on Wednesday evening (Australian time).

See story

WHERE: Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre

Rod Laver Drive,
Sydney Olympic Park
(off Australia Avenue)

View Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre on Google Maps

WHEN: 11 – 17 Jan 2015

http://www.apiainternational.com.au/event-guide

Asian Cup 2015: From Keisuke Honda, Nasser Al-Shamrani and Shinji Kagawa, 10 stars to watch

With the Asian Cup just days away, we’ve heard plenty about Socceroos stars Tim Cahill, Robbie Kruse and Mile Jedinak in Melbourne, but what of their rivals?

The region’s best players have touched down in Australia, ready to aide their nations’ push for Asian supremacy when the tournament kicks off on January 9, 2015.

Here are 10 stars set to shine at the Asian Cup.

Keisuke Honda — Japan

Honda isn’t just Japan’s main man, he’s probably the best player in Asia. At 28, the midfielder is at the peak of his powers and has flourished since moving to Italian giants Serie A. The playmaker’s pedigree is impressive, having played in two World Cups and as a key part of Japan’s 2011-Asian Cup winning team, named the player of the tournament four years ago.

His speed, close control, vision, finishing (he has 28 goals in 65 national team appearances) and passing ability makes him a nightmare for defences, while the blonde-haired wizard is also a dead-ball wizard. An excitement machine, expect Honda to purr for the tournament favourites.

Japan’s classy midfield double act of Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa. Source: Getty Images

Shinji Kagawa — Japan

Such is the class of the Japan squad, we felt it pertinent to include two members of the Samurai Blue, Shinji Kagawa just edging out Bundesliga rival and Japan’s all-time leading goalscorer Shinji Okazaki of FSV Mainz 05. Kawaga’s club form at present reflects that of struggling Borussia Dortmund, but the Asian Cup gives the 25-year-old the perfect stage to display his immense talents. 

He’s yet to find the back of the net under Japan coach Javier Aguirre, but having been moved back to his ideal central role after a fruitless spell on the left, you’d expect that to change when Japan’s defence kicks off against minnows Palestine on January 12 in Newcastle.

Nasser Al-Shamrani — Saudi Arabia

An attempted headbutt and spit at Matthew Spiranovic in the Asian Champions League final in November followed by last week’s altercation with a fan in Geelong have ensured Al-Shamrani will be the Asian Cup’s pantomime villain. His fiery nature means he’s never far from the action, but the Saudi Arabia striker is quite the player, his 10 ACL goals for Al Hilal helping him win the AFC’s player of the year award. It will be interesting to see and hear the welcome fans give him in Brisbane for the Saudis’ opener against China.

Son Heung-min — Korea Republic

A teammate of Robbie Kruse at Bayer Leverkusen, South Korean winger Son Heung-min is a genuine star and has flourished since moving from Hamburger SV. His five goals and two assists in 16 Bundesliga games this season have attracted interest from England, with Manchester United and Tottenham among his admirers. At just 22, Heung-min has a long career ahead of him, and if the South Koreans are going to upset Australia in Group A and go deep into the tournament, the winger will have to be at his best.

Ashkan Dejagah — Iran

Dejagah during the World Cup. Source: Getty Images

Iran attacker Dejagh played for Germany at youth level, was part of Wolfsburg’s 2008-09 Bundesliga-winning team and played in the Premier League with Fulham. In 2011 he pledged his allegiance to Iran, scoring twice on debut against Qatar in a World Cup qualifier. 

Now plying his trade for Al-Arabi in the Qatar Stars League (who paid Fulham a reported $12m to sign him), the lightning-fast attacker has the talent to wreak havoc on Group C rivals Japan, Iraq and Palestine if they give him too much space and time on the ball.

Khalfan Ibrahim — Qatar

Dubbed the ‘Maradona of Qatar’, and for good reason, Khalfan Ibrahim has a penchant for the spectacular. The Al Sadd winger was named Asian Player of the Year in 2006, aged just 18, and while his career ascent has somewhat levelled, the 26-year-old is still a deadly proposition. Ibrahim scored goals for fun (15 in 21 games) in the 2008-09 Qatar Stars League and won the Asian Champions League in 2011.

Reza Ghoochannejhad — Iran

Ghoochannejhad, nicknamed Gucci, scored Iran’s sole goal at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and will lead the line for his country at the Asian Cup. The Charlton striker boasts a great strike rate for country (11 goals in 19 matches). Ghoochannejhad was a talented violinist as a child and will be hoping to strike a chord at the Asian Cup.

Omar Abdulrahman — United Arab Emirates

Another of Asia’s genuine superstars, the only doubt over Abdulrahman is his fitness, because if he is on song during the Asian Cup, look out. The 23-year-old Al Ain attacker trialled with Manchester City in 2012, with only work permit issues scuppering his move to England. There are question marks over his condition, having not played since the semi-finals of the Gulf Cup in November, but the big-haired attacker is a big game player and the UAE will be looking to him to help get them through a wide open Group C against Iran, Qatar and Bahrain.

Ali Al Habsi — Oman

Oman goalkeeper and skipper Al Habsi only arrived in Australia on Sunday, meaning he won’t have much time with the team before their Asian Cup kicks off against Korea Republic in Canberra, the city the Red Warriors have based themselves in. There’s plenty of experience in Oman’s squad, and Al Habsi is no different, having played 92 times of the national team, been to three Asian Cups and representing Wigan in the Premier League. The Socceroos attackers will have to be on their game when they face Al Habsi on January 13 at Stadium Australia, the 33-year-old has showed before he’s tough to get past.

Server Djeparov (Uzbekistan)

A two-time Asian player of the year (2008 and 2011) Uzbekistan forward Djeparov has been skipper of the side since 2011 and scored twice at the White Wolves’ semi-final finish at the last Asian Cup. Now at Korean side Seongnam FC, Djeparov’s country will look to their skipper to provide the goals in another wide open group featuring the Uzbeks, Saudi Arabia, Korea DPR and China.

View Source Article for Video Clips of these Star Players