Incubus Australia Tour With Special Guests Antemasque & Le Butcherettes

Iconic rock gods, Incubus are unparalleled in their ability to shift moods and textures at the drop of a dime, proving that they have become a rare thing: a modern rock band that actually grows and improves with each album.

Through their double decade-long rise to the top, Incubus have notched up over 13 million album sales and have amassed an arsenal of sing-a-long hits including Drive, Nice To Know You, Wish You Were Here, Are You In?, Pardon Me, Megalomaniac, A Certain Shade Of Green... come on, you know you're guilty of belting out any one of these tunes on a drunken Karaoke night!.

The musical genius of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala formerly of At The Drive In and The Mars Volta, needs no introduction! During the 90's, as members of At The Drive In, the pair raised the bar on the post hardcore genre with the release of their third (and final) album Relationship of Command to critical acclaim; an album now regarded as one of the most influential rock albums of the 90's.

In 2001 they teamed up again and the Prog-rock experimentation of The Mars Volta was unleashed! The band went on to release 6 studio albums with the single Wax Simulacra earning the band a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Fast forward to 2014 and the creative collaboration appears in its newest incarnation, ANTEMASQUE. With the release of their debut self-titled album mid 2014, ANTEMASQUE again proved themselves as the masters of musical diversity. The band spent the latter half of the year touring the US and Europe, bringing their unmistakable live intensity and a vibe that's virtually unmatchable!

"the performance thrived with punk energy like a bull in a china shop playing 70s prog." - consequenceofsound
"Like true rock stars, ANTEMASQUE left the stage with fans wanting more." - examiner.com

Mexican garage-punk trio Le Butcherettes are like the brilliant offspring of surrealist Luis Bunuel and intrepid rock icon PJ Harvey with the band's songs and wildly cathartic live shows often drawing comparisons to Karen-O, Patti Smith and Bikini Kill.

Renowned for their electrifying and anything goes live performances; they have toured the US with The Flaming Lips, Omar Rodriguez Lopez and Jane's Addiction and performed at countless festivals including Lollapalooza, Coachella, Fun Fun Fun Fest and many more.

"Le Butcherettes are never to be missed and are heretofore not to be ignored. Utterly stunning." - sfweekly

Incubus Events:

28 Feb-01 March Soundwave Brisbane

28 Feb-01 March Soundwave Sydney

27 Feb The Enmore Theatre Sydney

25 Feb  Forum Melbourne Melbourne

21-22 Feb  Soundwave Adelaide 2015 Adelaide

21-22 Feb  Soundwave Melbourne 2015 Melbourne

BESydney Scores $50 Million Nu Skin Mega Incentive

BESydney Scores $50 Million Nu Skin Mega Incentive

Direct selling company, Nu Skin, has confirmed that its 2016 incentive trip will be to Sydney.

The announcement was made at a recent Nu Skin Academy event in Macau.

This is one of the largest incentive wins in BESydney’s 44-year history and one of the largest incentive groups Australia has ever hosted.

Business Events Sydney (BESydney) CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith said, “It’s a milestone in the making. Sydney shines as a strategically-important destination for Asian corporates looking to reward, motivate and inspire their top sales people. The city is a firm favourite for Asian companies, and this win is testament to this.”

The incentive will see Nu Skin’s qualifying sales people travel to Sydney for a five-day program in April 2016. Delegates will travel from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

Nu Skin Greater China Regional President Andrew Fan said, “Sydney has exceeded every expectation. Throughout this journey its stakeholders have united for a cohesive, whole-of-city approach which we have not witnessed before. I am confident that Sydney will deliver an outstanding incentive program. Our sales people will feel motivated and inspired by Sydney as the 2016 host destination and this is sure to drive sales performances.”

The winning bid was the result of collaboration between BESydney, Destination NSW, Tourism Australia, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and Sydney Airport Corporation Limited.

In addition to the 2016 Nu Skin event, BESydney has secured $278 million worth of confirmed business for the future.

View Source 

Wicked | Crown Theatre Perth

Wicked | Crown Theatre Perth

The most awarded new musical and Broadway’s number one show will thrill Perth at the Crown Theatre from May 2015. 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. WICKED tells the enthralling story of two unlikely friends and how they became the wicked witch of the west and Glinda the Good. Experience it now.

“The Defining Musical of the Decade” - The New York Times

Location: Crown Theatre Perth

Date: From 3 May 2015

Tickets: From $69.90

Plus a one-off service/delivery fee from $8.45 per transaction and a credit/debit card processing fee from 1.95% applying.

Japan vs United Arab Emirates | AFC Asian Cup - Quarter-Finals Sydney

Japan vs United Arab Emirates | AFC Asian Cup - Quarter-Finals Sydney

Reigning Asian Cup champions, Japan, take on the United Arab Emirates in this crucial Quarter Final clash at Stadium Australia.

Having breezed through the group stage with a straight run of wins, the star-studded Samurai Blue squad are a contender to once again take out the comp.

But the UAE can't be written off just yet, with impressive wins in their group stage, particularly over Qatar. 

Will Samurai Blue progress to the Semi Finals, or will the United Arab Emirates cause a surprise upset? Be here to witness world class football at it's best.

About the AFC Asian Cup Quarter Final 

Sydney will be hosting one of the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals at Stadium Australia in Olympic Park. Get your tickets early and see two of the greatest teams battle it out to make a semi-final.

The AFC Asian Cup 2015 is one of the most exciting sporting events to come to Australia. It is the largest football tournament in the Asia Pacific region and will be hotly contested by some of the best teams and players in the world.

Featuring Asia's top 16 qualifying teams, this much anticipated competition promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for football and sport fans alike.

EVENT SCHEDULE

TIME	ACTIVITY
6:30PM	Gates Open
8:30PM	Japan v United Arab Emirates

Venue Address:

Stadium Australia
Sydney Olympic Park
NSW 2127

Find out more at www.afcasiancup.com

25th Art of Sydney Awards Exhibition

25th Art of Sydney Awards Exhibition

The 25th “Art of Sydney” Awards Exhibition is a unique opportunity to view over 300 original artworks. All artworks are offered for sale.

It is an annual celebration showcasing the wonderful diversity of Sydney’s leading local artists and features artworks from 13 Art Societies around Sydney. In addition the “Art of Sydney” exhibition also raises funds for CareFlight.

CASS (Combined Art Societies of Sydney Inc.) is celebrating its Quarter Century! 25 years is an amazing success story especially as CASS is a non-profit group run totally by volunteer lovers of art.

Time: Daily 9.30am to 7pm on Sat 24 & Sun 25 Jan.
From: 9.30am to 10pm on Australia Day, Mon 26 Jan.
From: 9.30am to 6pm on Tues 27 Jan – when Exhibition closes

More Information on the Combined Art Societies of Sydney website

Thriller Live | Sydney Lyric Theatre 2015

THRILLER LIVE, a spectacular theatrical production now in its record breaking 6th year in London’s West end, celebrates the career of the world’s greatest entertainer, Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five.

THRILLER LIVE is over two hours of non-stop hits that pays homage to Michael Jackson’s legendary live performances and the magic of his 45 year musical history.

Featuring all of Jackson’s favourite songs including: I Want You Back, ABC, Can You Feel It, Off The Wall, The Way You Make Me Feel, Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Billie Jean, Dirty Diana, Bad and Thriller!

Australian star of Michael Jackson 'Thriller' show says it's a dream come true

It's not impersonation, it's celebration. That's the heavily underlined message from performer MiG Ayesa and executive producer Torben Brookman about Thriller Live, a touring stage show featuring the songs and stylings of pop great Michael Jackson.

"We don't want to impersonate Michael Jackson. First of all I'm not black so it's a different thing," said Filipino-born, Sydney-raised Ayesa, who is one of five singers taking on Jackson's legacy.

"I'm not pretending to be Michael Jackson, I'm being MiG singing Michael Jackson songs with four other singers and 16 dancers. Having said that we need to hint at his style, try and emulate his flavour without ever mimicking. It's a really careful balance because of course he has those serious fans who will know if you've hit the wrong angle on a particular dance move."

Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes (including a 20 minute interval)

Show Dates: 26 February - 16 March 2015

Perth International Arts Festival 2015

As part of the line-up for the $22.4 million festival, World War I themes feature prominently, with giant puppets set to roam the streets and the stories of Indigenous soldiers presented on stage.

In total, more than 1,000 artists will feature in the festival's 63rd year.

"We're very fortunate this year that almost everyone we wanted to come to the festival has said yes, so actually the scale of it and the intensity of it is increased by the fact that people around the world, artists around the world really want to come and play in Perth," festival director Jonathan Holloway told the ABC.

"It's by far the largest festival Perth has had."

This is the fourth and last year Mr Holloway will sit as director of the festival, before handing over the reins to a yet to be announced successor.

His first festival included the grand spectacle of Place Des Anges, which saw high-wire performers dump nearly two tonnes of feathers on ecstatic crowds above St George's Terrace on a hot summer night in 2012.

He said while Perth audiences have always been "incredible", there was a courage and willingness to engage with performances that had emerged during his four years at the helm.

"We've seen them really engage in unusual and unexpected ways of connecting with arts," he said.

"Whether that be through iPads, or under feathers or on the beach at dawn, whether that be rolling about with death in wheat, or breaking bread with deaf-blind Israeli performers, it's been an audience all along that's really taking creative risk

A Word from the Director:

My four Festivals as Artistic Director in Perth have been about two things – stories and experiences

The stories have spanned millennia and have explored who we are, where we have come from, our current situation and where we might be going.

They are stories about this land, between the desert and the sea, defined by and beholden to both. Stories of our relationships with each other and with the rest of the world. The truth of our digitally complex, environmentally conscious, culturally diverse world and how we reconcile with it.

While the stories are intellectually complex, it is the visceral experiences that have the power to transform and define us.

Curating experiences is less straightforward than telling stories. No two people approach a Festival moment in the same way, and no four people will agree on the meaning – or indeed value – of the experience they just shared.

No two Festival journeys will be the same, and our hope is that your travels through this Festival will include experiences both intimate and epic. Experiences that whet the appetite and stimulate all five senses. Moments that allow us to remember something we all knew as children – that the map is not the territory, that the best discoveries are made by straying from the path or committing to a fantastic voyage.

Stories and experiences in perfect collision can propel us around the world in one Festival. In our constant search for and celebration of the extraordinary, we have looked far and near, seeking out ever new ways to harness the greatest talent from around the world and nurture the best artists from Western Australia.

Perth International Arts Festival is a beautiful and much loved thing, and I have been honoured to spend half a decade getting to know its character and its desires, and to have guided it to new places.

And so we come to another crossroads, and the beginning of our next great adventure …

Bon voyage.

EVENT DATES - 13 Feb–7 March 2015

Find out what is on at the Perth International Arts Festival 2015 at the official site

Explore Sutherland Shire Just 20 Minutes From Sydney CBD

Explore Sutherland Shire Just 20 Minutes From Sydney CBD

Shopping, superb eateries, entertainment and endless possibilities for those who seek adventure has made Sutherland Shire a popular holiday hot spot. Whether you want to spend just a day, weekend or several days, the Sutherland Shire area offers you an exciting time.

The best known coastal resort in the area is Cronulla, a waterfront township with classy hotels and numerous holiday accommodation where you can stay and enjoy the beach, swim, surf, kayak, go fishing as well as enjoy some of the best alfresco dining precinct Sydney has to offer. Just circa 25 kilometres south of Sydney city, even the locals plan it a relaxing day out in the Shire area when they want to getaway from the busy city surroundings.

You will find Cronulla hotels, motels, Bundeena bed and breakfast in Sutherland Shire when you are looking for a place to book for your seaside vacation south of Sydney city.

We have itemized below some of the things you can get up to during your holidays in Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy beautiful Cronulla beach - swim, surf, kayaking, wind surfing, diving and wine and dine at the alfresco restaurants and cafes at the waterfront. The township also offer you plenty of great shopping opportunities to those who love some retail therapy while on holiday.

You could catch a ferry across Port Hacking to Bundeena.

You can visit the Lucas Heights Nuclear facility. Make sure you make an appointment before you visit.

Head to the Royal National Park in southern end of Port Hacking where you will discover the surf beaches, amazing walking tracks and cycle tracks. While you are here hire a boat or a canoe and explore the waterways. 

This heritage listed national park offers you picnic areas to enjoy a leisurely day out with family and friends.

Visit the art galleries, theatres and museums in the Shire. Art galleries in Bundeena and Maianbar are generally open to the public on the first Sunday of each month. You will love following the art trail in these to townships.

Head to Kurnell known to be Captain Cook’s landing site in 1770.

If you head to Sutherland Shire during the migration season, you will be able watch migrating whales from the cliff tops of Botany Bay National Park.

When you are planning to visit Sutherland Shire and if planning to stay a few days, there are Cronulla hotels, motels and Bundeena bed and breakfast accommodation in Sutherland Shire available for you to book.

Since it is so close to Sydney city you will also be able to book a city accommodation and continue your Sutherland Shire explorations (select state New South Wales and region Sydney when you are searching).

Australia Day 2015 | Darling Harbour Sydney

Darling Harbour is home (and host) to the nation’s biggest harbourside party every year on 26 January.

The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority is proud to once again bring Darling Harbour to life for you on Australia Day, as part of our commitment to supporting the NSW visitor economy.

There are so many ways to be Australian; celebrate them all at Darling Harbour with our program of family fun, festivities and fireworks!

We’re all about free entertainment! The kids will love the colourful Circus Playground at Palm Grove, where they can learn to juggle, hula hoop and stilt-walk.

Enjoy live world music as artists from the Culture Beats program return to the stage, showcasing sounds from traditional Cretan music to West African rhythms.

Watch out for musical lifeguards and kangaroos on stilts around the bay, and look out for a Bollywood flash mob, lawn-bowling swing-dancers and contemporary Indigenous performers busting out their best moves at Pier 26.

Witness a heart-warming twilight concert from The Voice’s Darren Percival, enjoy the official NSW Australia Day ceremony, catch international superstar DJ Havana Brown performing live at Darling Quarter, then be wowed by spectacular fireworks and music shows lighting up Cockle Bay and NEW location, Tumbalong Park.

With all this and more on offer and so many bars and restaurants to choose from, Darling Harbour is the only place to celebrate our nation’s day with your family and friends.

Event Accessibility:

An accessible viewing area is available at Palm Grove located at the southern end of Cockle Bay, opposite IMAX.

View accessibility map

Month of Love at Darling Harbour

If you believe in love, share it, swoon it, smooch it and shout it from the rooftops for the Month of Luuuurve.

An affair destined to make your heart go pop; we’re feelin’ the love all the way up to Valentine’s Day and on to Mardi Gras with outdoor movies, romantic picnics, date night deals, fireworks and row boats on the bay.

Eat your heart out with dinner for two deals, loved up cocktails and dreamy desserts. Play around with cheeky photo booths, message of love lanterns, pop-up drag shows, heart-stealing deals and a super-charged competition. Love oh so passionately and take the time to express your love with romantic row boats on the bay, serenades and even personalised fireworks.

Every day during the Month of Love is Valentine’s Day at Darling Harbour and as  Mardi Gras brings the Darling Festival to the Bay, there is every reason to love and be loved in between.  We’ll take you and your favourite people to wherever your heart desires.

When: 7 February to 7 March Daily
Where: Darling Harbour - Sydney





Source: http://www.darlingharbour.com/whats-on/month-of-love.aspx

Want accommodation with beautiful views of Darling Harbour? 

Try Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour and get a free upgrade: http://www.sydney-metro-apartments-darling-harbour.bookings.metrohotels.com.au/free-upgrade-hot-deal-accommodation

Sydney Festival | Top Five Music Events 2015

Music fans will be spoilt for choice at this year’s Sydney festival with free concerts in the Domain, international headliners and the very best Australian talent. Here are our top five unmissable performances

Far from Folsom

Legendary Australian rock star Tex Perkins channels the spirit of Johnny Cash, recreating his legendary 1968 Folsom Prison concerts within the historic walls of the 19th century Parramatta gaol. Perkins will be accompanied by his band the Tennessee Four and Rachael Tidd taking on June Carter vocals in the appropriately evocative setting.

Far from Folsom takes place at Parramatta gaol on 16, 17 and 18 January.

Beat the Drum

This is bound to be the coolest 40th birthday party you’ve ever been to. Triple Jlaunched as 2JJ in 1975 and has gone on to make an outstanding contribution to Australia’s music culture. The Hottest 100 has enlivened Australia Day, Triple J Unearthed has provided a platform for our emerging artists, and One Night Stand has taken the music to regional communities across the country. Join the party as Triple Jbrings together the very best local bands to celebrate the milestone.

Party with Triple J at Beat the Drum on 16 January in the Domain.

The Artist live in concert

Director Michel Hazanavicius’ masterpiece The Artist, starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, is brought to life with the orchestral score performed on stage by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Winner of (only) five Academy Awards including best picture, best director and best original film score, the silent era-style film will be amplified with the live orchestral soundtrack composed by Ludovic Bource and conducted by Ernst van Tiel.

Experience the Artist live in concert on 23 and 24 January in the Concert Hall of Sydney Opera House.

Seu Jorge

Straight from Rio, the much-anticipated Brazilian star Seu Jorge is set to fire up the Domain with his free Summer Sounds concert (as well as the more intimate show atThe Star) on his first Australian tour. Seu Jorge brings the beats of South American reggae, samba and electronic vibes with him, playing covers of our most danceable pop songs (like his Portuguese version of David Bowie in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic) along with original tunes.

See Seu Jorge for free on 10 January in the Domain.

Latvian Radio Choir

Another first for Sydney, the Grammy award-winning Latvian Radio Choir will perform two special a cappella performances of a diverse range of material including a Bach chorale and pieces by composers Henry Purcell, Arvo Pärt, and Pēteris Vasks. Conducted by Sigvards Kļava, the 24-piece chamber choir are known for pushing the boundaries of the human voice and the broad range of traditional forms of singing.

The Latvian Radio Choir performs at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place, on 23 and 24 January.

For more information on all Sydney festival events, visit www.sydneyfestival.org.au.Sydney festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

The Domain - Sydney Festival 2015

When: Friday 16 January 2015 to Saturday 24 January 2015

It wouldn't be summer in Sydney without The Domain concert series. Bring a hamper, a blanket and your friends and settle in for a free concert under the stars. Presented by Sydney Festival 2015.

Summer Sounds In The Domain (with Seu Jorge)

With sublime musicianship and infectious energy, Brazil's hottest artists take over for the best party of summer.

Beat The Drum (celebrating 40 years of triple j)

In 1975, the radio station 2JJ launched in Sydney. To celebrate this milestone, triple j has invited a bunch of musical friends to play The Domain.

Symphony In The Domain

Contrasted with pieces by Beethoven and poetry and prose readings by Anita Heiss, this is an evening of classical music and the sounds of contemporary

Indigenous Australia.

Opera In The Domain

Hear Australia's brightest stars, under the stars, sing opera's most famous arias with the magnificent backing of a full orchestra.

Website: www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2015/

Source: http://www.sydney.com/events/the-domain-sydney-festival-2015

Billy Connolly High Horse Tour Australia 2015

Legendary Comedian, Billy Connolly finally brings his "High Horse Tour" to Australia!

Hailed as the UK's most influential comedian of all time, Billy has toured worldwide continuously for the last 50 years, performing to an audience of over 10,000,000.

Billy is currently enjoying the best reception of his career on his current Scottish tour.

"it's clear that Billy Connolly hasn’t lost his mojo." - Telegraph UK, 30/9/14

OFFICIAL TOUR VIP PACKAGES
Ensure you make your night of laughs special by purchasing one of the great packages on offer for Billy Connolly's High Horse Tour

VIP Packages offer premium seating and a selection of other benefits including pre-show functions, exclusive merchandise and access to exclusive facilities where available.

Functions and packages are managed and hosted by the Australian Event Packaging Group (AEPG) team. If you have any specific questions about the packages please contact us at billypackages@aepg.com.au

Tour Dates:

Fri 6, Sat 7, Mon 9, Tue 10 & Thu 12 Feb - Sydney Opera House, NSW

Thu 19 Feb - Royal Theatre Canberra, ACT

Sat 21 Feb - Allphones Arena, NSW

Sun 22 Feb - Newcastle Entertainment Centre, NSW

Mon 2 Mar - Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, QLD

Sat 7 Mar - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, SA

Tue 10 & 11 Mar - Perth Arena, WA

Tickets: http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=BILLYCON15

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

Australian Open 2015 countdown: Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams and other big names fall to shock defeats and injuries

Lleyton Hewitt was thrashed by compatriot Sam Groth

by EMILY BENAMMAR - The Daily Telegraph

The Australian Open is still 11 days away yet the top seeds are dropping like flies. Early defeats and injury setbacks have blown the opening grand slam of the season wide open.

What’s going on at the top?

OK, let’s start with the ever-growing list of early round casualties in the lead-up tournaments ... get comfy.

World No 3 Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open preparations are in tatters after he was ousted in the first round of the Qatar Open overnight by Michael Berrer ... ‘Who?’ I hear you ask ... he’s a German player ranked 127th in the world and is due to retire at the end of this season, so we reckon this 1-6 6-3 6-4 win might just be the highlight of his year.

What did Rafa have to say about it?

Nadal lost his opener in Qatar

Williams was beaten by Bouchard

-

“These things happen after a long time without being on the road, being on rhythm, being in competition,” he said afterwards.

“I was playing with more nerves because after a long time away I wanted to win. My motivation and my hunger to keep doing things well is still the same.”
Also suffering a shock defeat was 18-time grand slam champion and current world No 1 Serena Williams who struggled to hold serve throughout her Hopman Cup clash with Eugenie Bouchard.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m so tired,” Williams said after the match. “It’s weird. I can’t get my body to move. I feel like I’ve got no energy.

“It’s a little frustrating because I know I can play two thousand times better.”

Williams can take comfort in the knowledge that she is not the only top flight womens player struggling in the early stages of the season with Victoria Azarenka, Sam Stosur, Sabine Lisicki, Jelena Jankovic, Dominika Cibulkova and Garbine Muguruza all out of their respective events after two days.

The situation worsens if you look at the goings-on in Auckland where Svetlana Kuznetsova, Sara Errani and Mona Barthel have all suffered early defeats.

On the home front, there are doubts over the fitness of Aussie Matt Ebden who succumbed to a calf injury during his 3-6 7-5 6-0 loss to Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz at the Hopman Cup.

Over to the injuries now and it looks like the Australian Open will go ahead withoutcrowd favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and US Open champion Marin Cilic.

The Frenchman is struggling with the same arm injury that forced him out of the Hopman Cup while Cilic continues to suffer from problems with his shoulder.

Other notable absentees in the men’s draw include Tommy Haas, Nicolas Almagro and there are doubts over the fitness of Juan-Martin del Potro.

In the women’s draw Czech Petra Cetkovska (hip) and Great Britain’s Laura Robson (wrist) are confirmed to be out.

Jo Wilfred Tsonga is unlikely to feature in the Australian Open

Changing of the guard?

In case you missed the late action in Brisbane last night Australia’s Sam Groth overcame veteran Lleyton Hewitt, signalling a potential shift in hierarchy when it comes to homegrown talent.

As defending champion Hewitt would have been hoping for more than a first-round bow but it was not to be.

He suffered a 6-3, 6-1 mugging at the Pat Rafter Arena in his first ever encounter with Groth.

Aussie men in form

While much focus has been put on what’s going on with Sam Stosur and whether Bernard Tomic is a reformed man, a host of other Australians have been impressing on the circuit.

While Tomic has joined Groth in the second round in Brisbane, so too have Thanasi Kokkinakis, John Millman and James Duckworth.

Sharapova an early favourite

OK, given the performance of her closest rivals so far this year this might appear an obvious statement, but Sharapova is in fighting form coming into the Australian Open and would appear to be worth a punt to claim her second title in Melbourne.

The world No.2 well and truly dispatched Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova 6-0 6-1 at the Brisbane International yesterday.

It seems a few months off have done the Russian no end of good.

“I really just kind of got away from it all. I didn’t check anything. It was nice not to have to check any scores or who you’re playing against,” she said after her win in Queensland.

“But when you do come to a tournament, of course you’re very well aware of what’s going on, especially in the tournament.”

Federer meets the locals

Taking advantage of everything that Queensland has to offer, 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer nipped down to Tangalooma Island to meet some of the locals.

The Swiss gets his Brisbane International campaign under way against Australian John Millman on Thursday.

Brisbane order of play:

Pat Rafter Arena

11:00 am A. Kudryavtseva (RUS) vs. K. Pliskova (CZE)

Not Before 12:30 pm

S. Johnson (USA) vs. K. Nishikori (JPN)

G. Dimitrov (BUL) vs. J. Chardy (FRA)

Not Before 7:00 pm

T. Kokkinakis (AUS) vs. B. Tomic (AUS)

Not Before 8:00 pm J. Gajdosova (AUS) vs. A. Ivanovic (SRB)

Show Court 1 11:00 am

M. Klizan (SVK) vs. A. Dolgopolov (UKR)

Not Before 1:00 pm

M. Lucic-Baroni (CRO) vs. C. Suárez Navarro (ESP)

K. Kanepi (EST) vs. M. Brengle (USA)

Not Before 3:30 pm

C. Guccione (AUS) L. Hewitt (AUS) vs. A. Dolgopolov (UKR) K. Nishikori (JPN)

M. Hingis (SUI) S. Lisicki (GER) vs. A. Kudryavtseva (RUS) A. Panova (RUS)

Show Court 2

M. Krajicek (NED) K. Pliskova (CZE) vs. H. Chan (TPE) K. Peschke (CZE)

Not Before 3:00 pm

E. Butorac (USA) S. Groth (AUS) vs. S. Johnson (USA) S. Querrey (USA)

S. Hsieh (TPE) S. Mirza (IND) vs. A. Rodionova (AUS) A. Rodionova (AUS)

Hopman Cup order of play:

10am Great Britain (Andy Murray & Heather Watson) v Poland (Agnieszka Radwanska & Jerzy Janowicz)

5.30pm Australia (Casey Dellacqua & Marinko Matosevic) v France (Alize Cornet & Benoit Paire)

Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/more-sports/australian-open-2015-countdown-rafa-nadal-serena-williams-and-other-big-names-fall-to-shock-defeats-and-injuries/story-fnp3ipqj-1227176910980?nk=69f91df460e5eb4e61aff695336fb3fe

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/

Prom 15 – Time Warriors | Civic Theatre Ipswich

Ipswich City Orchestra dares to take you from ancient Rome to the world of sci-fi movies.

Be transported for a couple of hours to “galaxies far far away” with music from Starwars, E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial and even 2001 – A Space Odyssey.

Breathtaking music will sit beside the majestic marches you know so well. 

Come and be surprised at the very clever program designed to appeal to all ages!

You can come dressed as your favourite Starwars or sci-fi character, or come as you are and enjoy a unique Prom.

Some works will have images and video footage to add to the presentation.

Witness the BIGGEST Orchestra ever mounted in Ipswich under the baton of Chief Resident Conductor, Patrick Burns.

Find Nearby Accommodation at Metro Hotel Ipswich International

Metro Hotel Ipswich International Show Package http://www.metro-hotel-ipswich-international.bookings.metrohotels.com.au/show-package-accommodation-hot-deal

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