MyTickets Blog

Your guide to the 2010 Sydney Festival

contact.nospam@nospam.tickets.com.au (SaraCarkagis) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:21:00 +0500

Summer in Sydney wouldn’t be the same without the Sydney Festival. How could we party away balmy evenings, dance the blues away, sing to our hearts content and picnic under the stars with the rest of the city without the Sydney Festival?

We couldn’t. We wouldn’t. We’d be strapped to a fan moaning about the heat.

Thank god for the Sydney Festival, we’d simply melt if their line up didn’t get cooler and cooler each year. It’s practically the only thing between us and global warming!

Here’s our definitive guide to the 2010 Sydney Festival – and whilst we think every single event will be amazing – we’ve compiled our unmissable must haves for your viewing pleasure.

The 2010 Sydney Festival tickets are now on sale. In two months time, we’ll be partying like there’s no tomorrow.

Here’s our Top 5 2010 Sydney Festival events:

AL GREEN. The Reverend Al Green. Soul Master Al Green. “Let’s Stay Together” Al Green. “I’m still in love with you” Al Green. The one and only AL GREEN brings his joyous musical tour de force to the State Theatre and will be performing for free in the Domain for the festival First Night.

JOHN CALE, the founding member of Andy Warhol’s The Velvet Underground is headed to the Enmore Theatre this summer, and so are we! John Cale and his band will perform works from his astounding catalogue of music from The Velvet Underground and Paris 1919 to the present. SWOON!

GRIZZLY BEAR – These Brooklyn based boys know how to woo the indie set. We’re more than enamoured – we’re obsessed! We advice you beg, borrow or steal to get to their shows once all the tickets have sold out.

SHARON SHANNON – Get your jigging gigging gear on for Sharon Shannon, she’s Ireland’s virtuosic accordion player and will be accompanied by a champion fiddle player, a legendary banjo player and an acoustic guitar.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS - The producers of La Clique unveil a brand new show – Smoke & Mirrors. Part vaudeville, part fantasy and starring iOTA, all performed in the luscious and utterly gorgeous Famous Spiegeltent. We’re sure it’ll be a fitting way to celebrate the 90^th birthday of the Famous Speigeltent too.

But of course, that’s not all. Do you really think we could stop at 5? Just 5 events from the entire festival line up?! Impossible. So here’s the best of the FREE stuff, because everyone loves something for nothing!

SYDNEY FESTIVAL FIRST NIGHT – Prepare to take over the streets of the CBD, bring your dancing shoes, water bottle and manners because you get to party on down with Al Green and musical maestros from all over the world, for FREE!

LATE NIGHT IN THE GARDEN – If crowds aren’t your scene then relaxing with a cool beverage or two and some finely spun tunes is sure to soothe the frazzled, shy or just plain elite.

OPERA IN THE DOMAIN – It’s a cultural institution and if you only have room for one cultural meal a year then you better make it Leonard Bernstein’s extravagent comedy, Candide. A delicious opportunity to indulge in an evening of musical luxury with a cast of some of Australia’s best-loved singers.

A.R RAHMAN – Prepare for a night like no other when Indian superstar A.R. Rahman takes to the stage for a free outdoor spectacular at Parramatta Park. With an entourage of more than 40 musicians and Bollywood dancers on stage, this promises to be a fantastic night filled with colour, dancing and the irrepressible rhythms and melodies of contemporary India. Jai Ho!

To see what else is on at the 2010 Sydney Festival and where to purchase tickets click here!

New Year's Eve Event Guide 2009 - 2010

contact.nospam@nospam.tickets.com.au (SaraCarkagis) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:47:00 +0500

If you're looking for something to do this New Years Eve or want to know what's on in Sydney, Melbourne , Brisbane or any other city in Australia, you've come to the right place!

The MyTickets New Years Eve Guide is the easiest way to see what parties, concerts and other types of events are on in your city on 31st December 2009 and to make sure you end the year in style!

We also point you in the right direction to buy tickets to New Years Eve events, so even if you already know what you want to do we can still help you out.

Tickets to the hottest parties do sell out fast so we advise to get in quick and plan your NYE today.

See what's on Australia wide this New Years Eve.

With island camping, beachside parties, fireworks and live music events NEW YEARS EVE in SYDNEY 2009 - 2010 will be huge!

There's live music, iconic festivals and massive club parties in MELBOURNE this NYE.

Dress up and boogie or dress down and relax - there's something to suit all styles this NEW YEARS in BRISBANE.

Just announced – AC/DC, Suzi Quatro, NKOTB, Parky and more!

contact.nospam@nospam.tickets.com.au (SaraCarkagis) — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:58:00 +0500

What a mixed bag we have here! There is something to please everyone with this long list of just announced acts with plenty of new stuff, blasts from the past and some bands you never thought you’d get the chance to see live again!

AC/DC tickets went on sale this week set a new box office record: 500,000 tickets sold in first day sales! The remainder are selling out super fast! Get in quick for the tickets.

Rock’s leather queen Suzi Quatro announces tour in September.

Always dreamt of appearing on Parkinson? Well this is your chance to meet the man who has met everyone! Only at selected venues this October.

Cheeky pop princess du jour Katy Perry announces tour dates for August.

New Kids on the Block are back for some mega huge concerts at an arena near you. And since it’s been 15 years since they broke up, this reunion is bound to be super special!

Everyone’s favourite psychologist, Dr. Phil, leaps out of the tv and into Acer Arena, Rod Laver Arena and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre!

UK Indie darlings Doves sold out in record time 4 years ago when they last toured Australia. The venues are intimate choices once again so get in quick for this performance!

and last but not least,

Seal announces a tour for November!

Top 5 things to do on sunny days

contact.nospam@nospam.tickets.com.au (SaraCarkagis) — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:48:00 +0500

Have fun in the sun with our Top 5 solar powered fun event ideas!

1. Visit your cities botanic gardens and parks. Pack a picnic, call your friends, bring a footy, kite or bocce set and you have got yourself a picnic in paradise! Or take a book and a blanket and relax in the peace and quiet.

2. Be a tourist in your own city! Take your camera and have a staycation in your own city, exploring all the tourist attractions. Why let all the tourists have the fun?!

3. Take a trip to the zoo. It’s not just fun for kids! Zoo’s get pretty busy during school holidays so outside of those dates is a great time to visit all your favourite furry, feathered or finned friends.

4. Head to the markets – nothing beats browsing for bargains or catching up with friends than at a bustling market with tasty food, good coffee and loads of good produce!

5. Hop on a boat and go island hopping. There are loads of great islands near every major city in Australia, located the perfect distance, timeframe and price for a quick ‘overseas’ holiday or daytrip!

Top 5 Rainy Day Ideas

contact.nospam@nospam.tickets.com.au (SaraCarkagis) — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:38:00 +0500

Top 5 things to do in rainy weather:

Rainy weather sure does put a damper on your picnic plans in the park. But don’t think you need to mope around the house all day – there are still loads of things to do out and about when it’s rainy weather. If Europe can still have fun in the rain then surely we can too, right?!

1. Fancy a movie? Check out our movies page for films showing at all your favourite cinemas, with session times and ticket prices!

2. Visit the aquarium! It doesn’t matter that it’s raining cause the fish are already wet! And since you'll be inside you'll stay nice and dry.

3. Check out what’s on at an art gallery or museum. The perfect time to contemplate the bigger questions in life, learn new things or simply get lost in the visuals.

4. See a gig. Loads of people get turned off by the rain which makes a rainy evening the best time to get up and close to your favourite musicians! It also means a shorter bar queue...

5. Undercover markets. Most people head to their local Westfield to do the shopping on a rainy day – why not try an under cover market instead? Who knows what treasures you will find!

Guide to Melbourne International Jazz Festival

contact.nospam@nospam.tickets.com.au (JadeLloyd) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:07:00 +0500

By the time you read this the annual Melbourne International Jazz Festival will be in full swing, the city overrun with free flowing sax solos and jumping guitars at venues all over town. From late night debauchery to one off reunions, the festival has a little bit of something for everyone. Check out our picks for the best of the sweet treats…

The Laughing Clowns
For those in the know, Ed Kuepper along with Nick Cave is revered amongst Aussie musicians. What the Laughing Clowns lack in album sales, they make up for in influence and cult status. Therefore it stands to reason their first show in Melbourne since 1985 will be golden.

The Music of Billie Holiday
Kate Ceberano and Carl Riseley front the very awesome Choir of Hard Knocks as they belt out classic Billie Holiday numbers and finish it off with a few forgotten gems from the old school jazz singer.

Flap!
What better way to dance those cares away then to a few ditties about falling off cliffs and falling love. Fed Square is overrun by the jazz gypsies throughout the festival. It’s free. It’s fun.

Marc Hannaford
For those who enjoy late night whisky, a dark club and psychedelic free forming pianist jazz compositions, Marc Hannaford will rock your world.

More jazz greatness can be found right here.

JUST ANNOUNCED - Jane's Addiction, Bliss N Eso, Karnivool, Trivium, Canberra International Music Festival

contact.nospam@nospam.tickets.com.au (JadeLloyd) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:24:00 +0500

It has been a HUGE week with the release of the Splendour in the Grass line-up. Surprisingly the sideshows are already rolling in with the announcement of Jane’s Addiction. Sporting the original line up including Dave Navarro for the first time since 1991, this is gonna be big.

If hip hop is more your flavour, Aussie duo Bliss N Eso along with Pez (he of the summer festival song) are once more hitting road all through june.

For those of us more refined and sophisticated, the Canberra International Music Festival once again returns filled with classical music, poetry and and unmissable floating balloon concert. Definitely one to check out.

Lets not forget the harder side of life, heavy rock bands Karnivool and Trivium are returning with their shows to deafen us all again.

Friday top 5 before 5 - Rookie travelling blunders

contact.nospam@nospam.tickets.com.au (JadeLloyd) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:56:00 +0500

You can spot the first time traveller a mile off, hunched beneath a 25kg backpack filled with the most inappropriate and unnecessary gadgets imaginable, map scrunched in hand, sweating under 45 layers of polar fleece asking for directions to the train station using local lingo in what could only be politely described as a ‘global’ accent.

These are the universal mistakes every rookie makes on that first overprepared and usually underfunded trip. You quickly learn lugging around 5kg hiking boots only come in handy if you are ACTUALLY going hiking.

Everyone has done it, most learn from it, some don’t. As we say bon voyage to a favourite myticketer, we look back fondly on the most absurd and common rookie travel blunders. So go on, what's yours?

Sydney Writer's Festival - The Guide

contact.nospam@nospam.tickets.com.au (JadeLloyd) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:24:00 +0500

Writers’ festivals are not just for authors, so if you haven’t published a best seller yet or your memoirs, don’t fret. Maybe you don’t write at all, maybe you like to read, or even better, listen. That’s okay too. In fact, if you are reading this guide right now, we can guarantee there is an event on at the Sydney Writers’ Festival that you would enjoy, from the high brow to the low brow. We passed our monocle over all of them and have picked out only the finest for our loyal MyTickets followers.

Christian Lander
Hummus, moleskin notebooks, travelling, bumper stickers, bicycles, divorce, knowing what’s best for poor people….the list of ‘What White People Like’ goes on….to 124 entries to be exact. What started as a blog by an overly cycnical, disillusioned white college graduate searching for authenticity in life has emerged into a publishing and pop culture phenomenon and a perfect example of how being a smart arse can ultimately pay off. Listen as Christian Lander the blogger extraordinaire shares his secrets to landing a book deal (# 92 on list) over a glass or two of fine wine (# 24) during a dinner party (#90 ).

Emmanuel Jal
From sarcasm to sincerity, prepare to be genuinely touched by Emmanuel’s tale of being a child soldier in Sudan. Having escaped the atrocities, Jal, now a hip hop artist, speaks about the innocent victims of war and his memoir War Child.

The Imperial Panda
Erotic fan fiction, that oft dismissed niche of publishing, is emerging from the world wide web asserting its authority. For one special night only, amateur writers unite and savour the joy as some of Australia’s finest authors and media darlings voice their delicious fantasies about everyone from Beyonce to Inspector Gadget.

Maisy Mouse Party
For good, clean, kids only fun, the Maisy Mouse party has it all - games, readings and even a special appearance by the mouse with the mostest herself. Best of all it won’t even touch the hip pocket with the whole shebang 100% free.

First Tuesday Book Club
A book club, with an audience, televised, boring… right? Wrong. Not with Jennifer Byrne hosting and Triple J host Marieke Hardy on board. Be part of the magic of TV and join the studio audience.

Sarah Blasko
For everyone who has ever listened to a song and thought ‘they could easily do better’, Blasko one of the countries favourite songwriters, talks about writers block and the art of penning a hit single.

See the rest of the Sydney Writers’ Festivals events here.