Category Archives: Australian Digital Radio Network

Apia Good Times celebrate their 7th Anniversary with 7 Allstars! Vika & Linda Bull | Brian Cadd | Joe Camilleri Kate Ceberano | Russell Morris | Ross Wilson and John Paul Young

The highly acclaimed Apia Good Times Tour returns for its 7th anniversary with a line-up of 7 of our all-time favourite Oz music Allstars taking to stages from Bunbury (16 May) to Canberra (16 June), with stops in Perth, Adelaide, Geelong, Melbourne, Bendigo, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Tweed Heads, Hobart, Launceston, Newcastle, Sydney and Thirroul in between.

Our 7th Apia Good Times Tour will be the biggest yet with performances from Allstars Vika and Linda Bull, Brian Cadd, Joe Camilleri, Kate Ceberano, Russell Morris, Ross Wilson and John Paul Young for this unique, once-in-a-lifetime concert experience.

Tickets to all shows go on sale at 9.00am (local times) on Monday, 18 February.

2019’s Apia Good Times line-up have a huge array of hits to draw from including Ginger Man, A Little Ray of Sunshine, Harley & Rose, Chained to the Wheel, Bedroom Eyes, Pash, Never Let Me Go, The Real Thing, Wings of an Eagle, Eagle Rock, Come Said the Boy, I Hate the Music and Love Is In The Air, to name a few. Each Allstar will perform their hits and favourite songs culminating in an extraordinary finale with all seven sharing the stage.

“Yes it was nostalgic, but it’s fair to say the room was humming for
nearly three hours”
– Newcastle Herald

“It was an absolute pleasure to be around these musicians and
these classic tunes tonight, dare I say better than good times,
tonight was great times!”
– May the Rock be with You

For 30 years, the glorious voices of Vika & Linda Bull have comprised one of the most distinctive, versatile and emotionally charged sounds on the Australian music landscape. Since their multi-platinum conquest of pop radio with The Black Sorrows in the late 1980s, the sisters have forged diverse pathways into soul, gospel, blues, country and the island music of their Tongan ancestry.

By turns tender and powerful, Vika & Linda’s rich solo vocals and instinctive harmonies have spawned eight albums of their own, as well as illuminating studio and concert performances by Paul Kelly, RocKwiz, C.W. Stoneking, Deborah Conway, Kasey Chambers and many more.

Vika & Linda are currently working on their first full length album of original material for 18 years. Watch this space, open your ears and hold onto your heart.

Singer, songwriter, producer – Brian Cadd has done it all. Cadd kicked off his career with two of the most celebrated bands of their day, The Groop and Axiom, with hits Woman You’re Breaking Me and A Little Ray of Sunshine. He followed this with a string of massive hits as a solo artist with songs like Ginger Man, Let Go, Alvin Purple and the soundtrack to the classic Morning of the Earth surf movie, before moving into a ‘behind-the-scenes’ role in the music industry, going on to produce and work alongside music heavyweights from around the globe.

Brian has written songs for the likes of Joe Cocker, Ringo Starr, John Farnham, Little River Band, Bonnie Tyler, Glen Campbell and The Pointer Sisters and his iconic status was acknowledged when he was inducted into the 2007 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame.

2019 has already seen the release of Brian’s brand-new Americana inspired album, Silver City, recorded in Nashville with legendary producer Mark Moffatt. Silver City takes Brian’s musical history and consolidates it into a remarkable journey.

Rolling Stone Living Legend, Joe Camilleri, is a giant of the Australian music landscape. He has given his life to writing, performing and celebrating music. Writer of milestone Australian songs such as So Young, Hit & Run, Shape I’m In, Harley & Rose, Chained To The Wheel and Never Let Me Go and leader of two of Australia’s most successful bands, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows , Joe and his music have become part of Australian music culture. Joe was inducted along with other members of the Falcons into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007.

In 1975 Joe formed Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, a band who swung from R’n’B to reggae, power pop and ska. Over a period of 8 years The Falcons amassed enviable sales and radio airplay and ultimately epitomised the era. Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons toured the country relentlessly and became one of Australia’s finest live outfits. The band also toured the USA. In the early ’80s Camilleri and friends started up a new band, The Black Sorrows. Originally a ‘just for the fun of it’ outfit, The Black Sorrows have released 20 albums over three decades and sold over two million albums world-wide. The Black Sorrows has always been an elastic band and over its life has been home to over 30 of Australia’s finest musical talents, including fellow Allstars, Vika + Linda Bull.

For Camilleri, it’s all about moving forward and to that end, The Black Sorrows are releasing their 21st album (and Joe’s 49th!) in March 2019.

Multi ARIA award winning artist, Kate Ceberano, has been in the business for over 35 years – writing and performing both jazz and pop music – with seven Platinum and seven Gold albums to her name.

Kate first came to prominence in the mid-80’s as a 15-year-old sensation fronting pop funk band, I’m Talking. Five consecutive hit singles and a Platinum debut album, Bear Witness, led to a swag of awards including Best New Talent at the 1984 Countdown Awards, followed up by Best Female Artist in the ’85 and ’86 Countdown Awards. After launching her solo career, Kate took out Best Female Artist at the ’88 and ’89 ARIA awards with her triple Platinum album, Brave , nominated as ARIA Album of the Year.

Ceberano has barely drawn breath since, racking up 25 albums over 35 years to be the most prolific Australian female recording artist of this era. In 2014, Ceberano became the first (and only) Australian woman to be inducted into the Australian Songwriters’ Association (ASA) Hall of Fame and 2016 saw Kate on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, becoming a member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the performing arts and charitable organisations.

Kate Ceberano is a bone fide national treasure, possessing one of the great voices of her generation. Long may she run.

ARIA Award winner, ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, platinum selling artist and former King of Pop, Russell Morris, is an Australian music icon with his own extensive catalogue of Aussie anthems including The Real Thing, Sweet Sweet Love, Hush, Wings of an Eagle and many more. Morris’ most recent releases are his Blues Trilogy albums – Sharkmouth, Van Diemen’s Land and Red Dirt Red Heart – all of which reached Top 10 on the ARIA Album chart and garnered nominations for ARIA Awards for Best Blues & Roots Album (Sharkmouth and Red Dirt Red Heart won the Awards in 2013 and 2016 respectively).

From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock and as a solo artist with no less than 26 ARIA Top 40 hits to his credit as a singer, songwriter and producer, Ross Wilson is one of Australia’s most awarded, respected and well-known artists. From the legendary band Daddy Cool whose number one anthem Eagle Rock and debut album Daddy Who? smashed all previous sales records in Australia, to the 1977 formation of Mondo Rock, delivering 80’s hits Cool World, State of The Heart, Chemistry, No Time and Come Said The Boy and into the 21st century as a solo performer, Wilson has never been out of the limelight. Twice inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, Wilson’s live performances are legendary and we look forward to rocking with him this May and June on the Apia Good Times Tour.

John Paul Young OAM is undoubtedly one of the most popular Australian artists of the 70’s, with a string of hits, and over 4 million record sales, cementing him a place in Australia’s music history.

In the early 70’s when John was a sheet metalworker by day and singer by night, he was approached to record Pasadena, before joining the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar playing the role of Annas until 1974. Then everything went just a little crazy and “JPY” was all over the airwaves with Yesterday’s Hero, The Love Game, I Hate the Music, Keep On Smilin’, I Wanna Do It With You, Where the Action Is, Standing In The Rain and, of course, Love Is In The Air.

With this success, John became a Countdown regular as both guest presenter, co-host and performer and his music became the soundtrack to the countdown generation, launching a career spanning more than 40 years. Along with performing, John has had equal successes in Radio, Television and Theatre, including a Helpmann Award nomination for best supporting artist. In 2009, John was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and in 2012, his 40th year in the industry, John was honoured with an Order of Australia for his services to charity and the music industry.

ELTON JOHN AUSTRALIAN FAREWELL TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED – MUSIC ICON ANNOUNCES FIFTEEN AUSTRALIAN & THREE NEW ZEALAND SHOWS IN 2019 & 2020

ELTON JOHN AUSTRALIAN FAREWELL TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED – MUSIC ICON ANNOUNCES FIFTEEN AUSTRALIAN & THREE NEW ZEALAND SHOWS IN 2019 & 2020

Sir Elton John, recently crowned by Billboard as the most successful performing male solo artist of all time, today reveals details of the epic 15-date Australian and 3-date New Zealand leg of his global Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

Between December 2019 and February 2020, Elton John will traverse Australia and New Zealand, in what will be the legendary music icon’s most extensive tour of the region to date. The tour will kick off with record breaking back-to-back appearances at Perth’s HBF Park (formerly nib Stadium) on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December 2019, a huge 48 years on from his first ever Australian show, which took place at Perth’s Subiaco Oval on 17th October, 1971.

Elton will deliver his famed songbook to spellbound audiences, on his very last tour, playing across a mammoth run that includes Capital City concerts, along with stops at some of Australia’s finest outdoor venues from the Hunter Valley’s Hope Estate to Rutherglen’s All Saints Estate, Rochford Wines in the Yarra Valley, Queensland’s Sirromet Wines, Victoria’s Hanging Rock and Bathurst’s Carrington Park, with additional dates, including North QLD, to be announced later in 2019.

“Elton’s continuing love affair with Australia knows no bounds, proven by this farewell tour, and the breadth and depth of the itinerary, showing his commitment to his many Australian fans”, said promoter Michael Chugg. “On his very last tour, he wanted to return to some of his favourite cities, while also playing for fans in a couple of never-before-visited locations.”

Beginning in Pennsylvania, USA in September 2018, Elton John’s three-year Farewell Yellow Brick Road global tour has already been hailed as one of his most “energetic, dazzlingly-original and joyful celebrations”. Elton’s legendary catalogue, including beloved songs ‘Bennie and the Jets’, ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Crocodile Rock’, ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ and more, are showcased in a musical masterpiece that is a “reflective and stunning tribute to a great artist’s career” (NME), also celebrating his 50-plus year collaboration with lyricist Bernie Taupin – one of the great song-writing partnerships of all time.

The milestone itinerary comprises more than 300 shows across five continents, spanning three years, with stops in Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Australia and New Zealand, and marks the last tour of its kind by the celebrated songwriter and iconic showman.

“Playing live to other human beings is the greatest gift any artist could ever have”, said Sir Elton at his Chicago show.

Audiences will experience a rare glimpse into Elton’s life, and the deeply personal meaning behind some of his greatest hits, via mesmerising, never-before-seen images and videos displayed throughout the show from his incredible 50-year career. Complete with brand new stage production, and tour wardrobe designed by Italian fashion house Gucci, Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road global tour is intimate and personal, while also spectacular and daring.

He will be joined by longstanding band members Nigel Olsson on drums (part of Elton’s original three-piece band in 1970), esteemed musical director Davey Johnstone (who first recorded with Elton in 1971 and joined the band a year later) on guitar, virtuoso Ray Cooper on percussion, Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion, and Kim Bullard on keyboards.

Sir Elton John said, “I always love coming back to Australia. Ever since my first visit in 1971 it has held a very special place in my heart.”

Elton’s enduring history with Australia is evident across the years, notably in 2012, when he opened the Perth Arena, and most recently delivering the final performance at the Sydney Entertainment Centre [since demolished], in December 2015.

He bids farewell to the road almost fifty years on from his debut Australian show, having played 196 concerts and performing to more than 1.5 million people across the country in that time. Since his career began in 1969, he has performed a staggering 4000-plus shows in more than 80 countries.

The performer said that after the tour finishes he looks forward to “coming off the road and dedicating more time to raising my children”.

“I’m ecstatic and humbled to continue to play for audiences across the globe. I plan to bring to my final tour the passion and creativity that has entertained my fans for decades… It’s the most produced and fantastic show I’ve ever done. I want to go out with a bang…” – Elton John

Garnering rave reviews at sell-out shows across North America, Elton John’s curtain call will be the last chance to catch this legendary performer touring in Australia.

More than a concert; an unforgettable memory!

PERTH, WA
Saturday 30 November 2019 – HBF Park (formerly nib Stadium)
ticketmaster.com.au

PERTH, WA
Sunday 1 December 2019 – HBF Park (formerly nib Stadium)
ticketmaster.com.au

ADELAIDE, SA
Wednesday 4 December 2019 – Botanic Park Adelaide
ticketmaster.com.au

MELBOURNE, VIC
Tuesday 10 December 2019 – Rod Laver Arena
ticketek.com.au

MELBOURNE, VIC
Wednesday 11 December 2019 – Rod Laver Arena
ticketek.com.au

BRISBANE, QLD
Wednesday 18 December 2019 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
ticketek.com.au

SYDNEY, NSW
Saturday 21 December 2019 – ICC Sydney Theatre
ticketek.com.au

SYDNEY, NSW
Monday 23 December 2019 – ICC Sydney Theatre
ticketek.com.au

SYDNEY, NSW
Tuesday 7 January 2020 – Qudos Bank Arena
ticketek.com.au

HUNTER VALLEY, NSW
Saturday 11 January 2020 – Hope Estate
ticketek.com.au

MOUNT COTTON, QLD
Saturday 18 January 2020 – Sirromet Wines – A Day On The Green
ticketmaster.com.au

BATHURST, NSW
Wednesday 22 January 2020 – Carrington Park
ticketek.com.au

WOODEND, VIC
Saturday 25 January 2020 – Hanging Rock
ticketmaster.com.au

RUTHERGLEN, VIC
Wednesday 29 January 2020 – All Saints Estate – A Day On The Green
ticketmaster.com.au

YARRA VALLEY, VIC
Friday 31 January 2020 – Rochford Wines – A Day On The Green
ticketmaster.com.au

DUNEDIN, NZ
Tuesday 4 February 2020 – Forsyth Barr Stadium
ticketmaster.co.nz

HAWKE’S BAY, NZ
Saturday 8 February 2020 – Mission Estate Winery
missionconcert.co.nz

AUCKLAND, NZ
Sunday 9 February 2020 – Mt Smart Stadium
ticketmaster.co.nz

ABOUT ELTON JOHN
Elton’s career achievements to date are unsurpassed in their breadth and longevity. Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 38 gold records and 31 platinum and multi-platinum albums, over 50 Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. He holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time, “Candle in the Wind 1997,” which sold over 33 million copies. ‘Diamonds’ the Ultimate Greatest Hits album, reached the Top 5 of the UK album charts on its release in November 2017, becoming Elton’s 40th UK Top 40 album in the process, reaching Gold status before the end of the year. This release celebrated 50 years of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history, having logged 67 entries, including nine No.1s and 27 Top 10s.

He has also written the music for stage and screen successes Billy Elliot: The Musical, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, and The Lion King, which was named the highest-grossing stage show or film release in the world. Elton announced the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour at New York’s Gotham Hall in January 2018. Encompassing 5 continents, and over 300 dates, this 3-year-long tour started in September and marks his retirement from touring after more than 50 years on the road. To date, Elton has delivered more than 4,000 performances in more than 80 countries since launching his first tour in 1970. April 2018 saw the release of ‘Revamp’, an album of the world’s biggest musical stars covering some of Elton’s best loved Songs.

Among the many awards and honours bestowed upon him are five GRAMMYs along with a GRAMMY Legend award, a Tony and an Oscar, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 13 Ivor Novello Awards and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for “services to music and charitable services.”

In 1992, Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which today is one of the leading non-profit HIV/AIDS organizations and has raised over $400 million to date in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. In January 2018, he received the Crystal Award for this long- standing fight against HIV/AIDS at the World Economic Forum in Davos. At the 2018 International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, Sir Elton John and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, announced the launch of the MenStar Coalition; an over $1.2 billion global partnership, that seeks to engage men in new and innovative ways to break the cycle of HIV transmission and ultimately end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

LEE KERNAGHAN GEARS UP FOR A MASSIVE CONCERT AT TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL

Lee KernaghanAustralia’s own ‘Boy From The Bush’ Lee Kernaghan is gearing up for a massive Tamworth Country Music Festival show in 2019 and audiences are in for a treat. Returning to Tamworth Regional Entertainment Conference Centre (TRECC) with a massive new show featuring all the hits and fan favourites. This is going to be a huge country music party!

Always passionate about performing at Tamworth Country Music Festival, Lee is well known for putting on a amazing show that always features some surprise guest artists and new talent. In 2019, he also takes on the official ‘ambassador’ title for the festival – a worthy title considering it was at Tamworth where he took home the Star Maker title back in the 1980s.

Lee Kernaghan reinvigorated Australian Country Music in the 1990’s, synthesising traditional country themes with his own brand of rural rock and images of an evolving regional culture. Songs like The Outback Club, Boys From The Bush, Hat Town, She’s My Ute and Australian Boy are now modern day anthems for a generation of Australians living and working on the land.

Lee continues to tour Australia and has recently completed a massive two-year tour with his Boys From The Bush 25th Anniversary Tour. In 2017 he sold out 29 of the 32 theatre shows he performed, and the tour was extended into 2018 and once again, most of these shows sold out.

Lee has sold over two million albums in Australia and is a four-time ARIA award winning artist. He has achieved a staggering 38 #1 chart hit songs over his career and has been awarded 38 Golden Guitars. He has been named Hit Maker of the Decade, twice, in 2001 and 2011. This accolade is in recognition of Lee having more chart hits in Australia than any other country music artist in the world.

Lee’s return to TRECC on Thursday 24th January 2019 will be one of the hottest tickets of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, so call your friends and book your tickets early to join the party with Lee at Tamworth 2019. Lee and his special guests will get audiences on their feet for a good time!

Lee Kernaghan’s Tamworth Country Music Festival concert event is proudly presented by Toyota Australia.

Thursday 24th January 2019 | 8.15pm
TRECC, TAMORTH NSW
www.entertainmentvenues.com.au | (02) 6766 2028

THE WOLFE BROTHERS GET READY FOR THEIR BIGGEST EVER TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH A HUGE COUNTRY HEART WITH SPECIAL GUESTS ANDREW SWIFT & JODY DIREEN (NZ)

The Wolfe BrothersThe 2019 Tamworth Country Music Festival is going to be one of the biggest yet for Australia’s favourite country rock band The Wolfe Brothers. Taking their Country Heart to the festival for one special night only on Thursday 23rd January at 8.30pm at The Albert Hotel, it brings full circle what was a massive 2018 for the Tasmanian rockers. The band released their album Country Heart in 2018, followed it up with a finalist nomination in the 2018 ARIA Awards for Best Country Album and are now heading to Tamworth with no less than five Golden Guitar nominations under their belt.

To help celebrate the release of their fouth long-player, Country Heart, The Wolfe Brothers have invited four-time Golden Guitar nominee Andrew Swift and New Zealand’s acclaimed female artist Jody Direen to join them in what will be one massive party! The band have already been out on the road throughout 2018 celebrating their studio release and have been packing houses at every show.

For Tom Wolfe, this special version of The Wolfe Brothers’ Country Heart tour, is really about bringing all country music fans together. It is essentially, about getting to the country heart – and showing that heart to audiences. The show is jam-packed with energy, fun, fantastic songs, great stories, and of course, a lot of country music. “We love to showcase country music in its many formats,” says Tom. “There is something in this concert for everyone.”

Heading to Tamworth Country Music Festival is always a highlight for the band. They’ve been making the annual pilgrimage for years now. Tom says they wouldn’t miss it for the world. “The festival is full of great music, mates and great times,” he says. “It is a highlight every year, we wouldn’t miss it.”

Aside from their show at Tamworth this year, The Wolfe Brothers will also be attending the Golden Guitars, with five nominations under their belt – Single Of The Year, Contemporary Country Album Of The Year, Country Music Capital News Group Or Duo Of The Year, APRA AMCOS Song Of The Year and CMC Video Of The Year. Post-festival, the band will be continuing to tour their chart-topping release around Australia throughout 2019.

The Wolfe Brothers Tamworth Country Music Festival show is a must-see concert – in fact it is more than a concert – it is a music party experience! So, don’t miss this one night only country music party. Come and celebrate with The Wolfe Brothers, and their mates, and celebrate their new show featuring tracks from Country Heart, plus all the hits from what is fast becoming one of Australia’s favourite country rock catalogues.

Book now for The Wolfe Brothers Live in Concert at Tamworth Country Music Festival with special guests Andrew Swift and Jody Direen. The Wolfe Brothers fourth studio album, Country Heart, is out now via ABC Music.

Wednesday 23rd January 2019 | 8.30pm
The Albert Hotel, TAMWORTH NSW
www.oztix.com.au | (02) 6766 6363

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE ADD SECOND CAIRNS SHOW TO DEBUT AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR

Recently Grammy-nominated duo FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE today respond to overwhelming demand, announcing they will play a second show in Cairns, on their first ever Australian headline tour. The group will kick off their anticipated all-ages arena run at the Cairns Convention Centre with a newly announced show on Thursday 14 March, followed by a sold-out appearance on Friday 15 March. 



The band will also take in Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Monday 18 March, and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday 20 March, along with a headline slot at the sold-out CMC Rocks QLD 2019 event, Australia’s premiere country music festival.

Over the past six years, Florida Georgia Line have taken the world by storm, exploding into the mainstream with collaborations with Bebe Rexha on global chart-topper ‘Meant To Be’, featuring on Hailee Steinfeld and Alesso’s ‘Let Me Go’, plus The Chainsmokers on ‘Last Day Alive’, The Backstreet Boys with ‘God, Your Mama, And Me’, Ziggy Marley, Tim McGraw, Nelly, and countless others.

Their genre-defying sound is top-shelf, making for an explosive live experience. True global entertainers, the multi-platinum duo have surpassed 31 million tracks and more than 4.3 million albums sold, played to jam-packed rooms across North America, and appeared live on US television programs The Late Late Show with James Cordern, The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and more!

With a forthcoming album, Can’t Say I Ain’t Country, just announced for release on 15 February 2019, Florida Georgia Line will have some brand new hits to unleash on Australian audiences in March!

In Cairns, US hit-maker Morgan Wallen will join FGL for the ride, while country star Thomas Rhett will round out the lineup in Sydney and Melbourne. With a solid bill of country powerhouses, these shows promise to be a hit for music-lovers of all ages.

ABC TV STAR SAMMY J TAKES HIS MAJOR PARTY ON THE ROAD

Sammy JAustralia, are you ready to party? Because Sammy J is bringing all his characters, favourite songs and new sketches to the stage next year in one massive variety show.

The comedian, author and self-proclaimed nerd has been entertaining crowds around the globe for years, but TV audiences will know him best from his award-nominated weekly satirical spot on the ABC. His hit sketches have included The Government Coach, National Yoga, and the breakout satire of the 2016 federal election, Playground Politics.

But ultimately, Sammy is most at home on stage. He’s a veteran of 15-years touring from Edinburgh to Montreal, both solo and in his award-winning comedy duo ‘Sammy J & Randy’. Together they won the biggest live comedy award in Australia, The Barry, at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and later turned that show into the award-winning sitcom, Sammy J & Randy in Rickets Lane, which played internationally on Netflix.

This time round, he’s left Randy at home, and is excited to bring his comedy to a brand-new audience from his burgeoning TV following. For Sammy J, he modestly hopes audiences come to the show ready for the best night of their lives. “It will be the sort of night that is going to make every other night until their death a disappointment in comparison,” he promises. “There’ll be stand-up, songs, sketches and characters from my weekly ABC TV spots. You won’t need to know anything about politics to enjoy it. But if you happen to know the whole constitution by heart, there’ll be plenty for you as well.”

This is Sammy’s first solo tour since 2017’s award-winning Hero Complex, an autobiographical story about a gardener, a schoolboy and a mutual love of the comic book character, The Phantom. That show broke the shackles of the ‘musical comedian’ moniker and Major Party will further show his comedy chops. “I feel like I’ve been chasing different audiences my entire career, and this show is the chance to bring them all together,” he says. “So, whether you’re five-years-old, 15, or 65, this is one party I hope you don’t miss. Actually, maybe not the five-year-olds, get a babysitter for those ones …”

While the youngsters in the audiences may need to stay at home, it was actually Sammy J’s own children that helped bring to life his Playground Politics show in the first place. “ABC asked me to do daily updates during the last election, and wanted to know if I had any ideas,” he says. “I said ‘sure’…. I was lying. So, I asked for 24-hours. During that 24-hours, like most days, I watched Play School with my kids. Then I had the idea of blatantly plagiarizing it, and the rest is short satirical format history.”

When he is not delving deep into the minefield of political drama, Sammy J has been scoring himself ARIA Awards – he has three – and in 2018 released his debut novel, The Long Class Goodnight. As part of his weekly ABC TV shows, he snuck into Malcolm Turnbull’s final press conference, just to eat a chocolate bar, and it’s this attitude to fun, irreverence and smart silliness he will bring to Sammy J’s Major Party.

It’s a show that promises to have it all, harking back to the old school variety shows we love. Sammy J will have you singing along to Playground Politics , getting inspired by Government Coach, and flexing your core beliefs with some National Yoga (audience participation warning). It’s a jam-packed night of song, stand-up and shenanigans, brought to you by the first person in history to have licked every Australian State and Federal Parliamentary building.

Thursday 6th June 2019 | 7.30pm
City Hall, NEWCASTLE NSW
www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/newcastle-venues/newcastle-city-hall

Friday 7th June 2019 | 7.30pm
Concourse Theatre, WILLOUGHBY NSW
www.theconcourse.com.au/whats-on/

Saturday 8th June 2019 | 7.30pm
The Factory Theatre, MARRICKVILLE NSW
www.factorytheatre.com.au

Saturday 15th June 2019 | 7.30pm
Canberra Theatre Centre, CANBERRA ACT
www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Saturday 29th June 2019 | 7.30pm
The Athenaeum, MELBOURNE VIC
www.athenaeumtheatre.com.au

Friday 12th July 2019 | 7.30pm
Royalty Theatre, ADELAIDE SA
www.royaltytheatre.com.au

Saturday 13th July 2019 | 7.30pm
Regal Theatre, PERTH WA
www.regaltheatre.com.au

Saturday 20th July 2019 | 7.30pm
Brisbane Powerhouse, BRISBANE QLD
www.brisbanepowerhouse.org

KEITH URBAN ‘A Benefit Show for Rural Aid Drought Relief’ Tamworth Town Hall, Tuesday January 22

Prior to the launch of his “Graffiti U World Tour Australia,” four-time GRAMMY Award winner and 2018 GRAMMY nominee, Keith Urban will give a special performance, ‘A Benefit Show for Rural Aid Drought Relief,’ to take place as part of the 2019 Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth at Tamworth Town Hall on Tuesday 22ndJanuary. All ticket sales will go directly to Rural Aid,who provide a holistic support program to rural Australia, including those in NSW and most of Queensland who were hit hardest by the drought.

Tickets for the standalone benefit show are on sale at 10am AEDT today:
Phone: 02 6766 2028
Online: www.tamworthtownhall.com.au
In person: Capital Theatre Tamworth or The Big Golden Guitar
Limit 4 tickets per person.

An established charity, Rural Aid was formed to provide assistance for the relief of poverty, illness, distress or disadvantage of individuals and families conducting primary production businesses that have been adversely affected by natural disasters. With record dry conditions, financial hardship brought on by the drought means money is needed for essential items.

Keith Urban said, “A no frills, no production, free form set list and all to help people who could really use it. It’s gonna be a blast playing the old Tamworth Town Hall!”

‘Way Too Long’ is the recently released new single from Urban’s chart-topping, Gold-certified album ‘GRAFFITI U’, which just this past week received a GRAMMY nomination for the song “Parallel Line.” He’s consistently topped the charts in Australia and the US over the last decade, amassing more than 22 million in album sales worldwide, with combined sales of 1.4 million albums in Australia.

A five-time ARIA Award winner, Urban also has a total of 14 ARIA Platinum selling singles and albums and recently hosted the 2018 ARIA Awards.

Following ‘A Benefit Show for Rural Aid Drought Relief’ at Tamworth Town Hall, Urban’s “Graffiti U World Tour Australia” will begin with a sold out show at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on January 23, followed by shows in Sydney (Qudos Bank Arena on January 25 and 26), Canberra (GIO Stadium on January 27), Brisbane (Entertainment Centre on January 31, February 2 and 3) and Melbourne (Rod Laver Arena on February 5 and 6).

GLENN SHORROCK RETURNS WITH THE HITS LIVE IN STUDIO

With a career spanning more than 50 years, Glenn Shorrock is one of the elder statesmen of Australian contemporary show business and has the unusual distinction of having been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on two occasions, both as a member of LRB and as a solo artist.

The founding frontman of The Twilights, Axiom and ’70s hitmakers Little River Band (later known as LRB), Shorrock carved out astonishing success around the globe, particularly in the USA, where LRB shifted the bulk of its 25 million-plus career album sales.

Moving forward, 2019 sees the release of the living legend’s latest and somewhat “reminiscent” solo album, Glenn Shorrock Sings Little River Band, produced and recorded live in the studio by producer and artist, Steve Balbi, at Rancom St Studio and The Engine Room and mixed by Tony Wall.

Out through indie label, Social Family Records, the album is set for release on Friday, 8 March and available for pre-order now. It features ten of Shorrock’s favourite LRB hits, including first single and instant grat track, The Night Owls, penned by long-time friend, Graeham Goble.

The outstanding musicians who joined Shorrock to record the album live in studio included Pete Drummond (drums), Jak Housden (guitar 1), James Van Cooper (guitar 2), Dario Bortolin (bass), Robbie Woolf (keys), Glenn Cunningham (bv’s), Hugh Wilson (bv’s), Phil Stack (upright bass on Reminiscing), Mitchell Rogers (lap steel), and Ross Middleton (sax). The album was engineered by Ted Howard and mastered by Paul Gomersall.

ANDREW SWIFT AND GRETTA ZILLER ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN CARAVAN PARK COUNTRY MUSIC SHOWCASE TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST, BRAD COX

Alt-country/Americana artists Gretta Ziller and Andrew Swift have announced the dates and parks included in the next Great Australian Caravan Park Country Music Showcase Tour, proudly sponsored by Jayco – 21 shows in 21 days through Victoria and New South Wales, before once again hitting the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

This year, the Social Family Records label mates will take 2018 Toyota Star Maker winner, Brad Cox, along on the journey with them, which commences in Anglesea, Victoria, on Thursday, 27 December and winds its way from park to park with the final show of the tour set for Reflections Holiday Park in Tuncurry, NSW on Wednesday, 16 January.

Watch The Great Australian Caravan Park Country Music Showcase Tour short documentary here and get a feel for it:

2018 has been a massive year for both Ziller and Swift, with non-stop touring and performing throughout the year. March saw the release of Swift’s much anticipated album, Call Out For the Cavalry, which landed at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums chart and #3 on the ARIA Country Albums chart, spawning one of this year’s most successful country radio singles, Runaway Train. A 2018 Golden Guitar finalist for Alt Country Album of the Year, Ziller has continued to receive accolades for her September 2017 album, Queen of Boomtown, including a nomination for country album of the year in this year’s The Age Music Victoria Awards.

If caravan and camping is your thing, check out the schedule below and book your spot now at one (or many) of the following parks this summer and be entertained for free by three of the best performers Australia has to offer, while you sit back and relax. Note: The shows are for park guests only. Some parks are already fully booked, so do not delay in booking your place at your fave park, if you’re keen to be part of it.

The Great Australian Caravan Park Country Music Showcase
Tour Dates

December 2018
Thu 27th Anglesea Family Caravan Park, Anglesea VIC
Fri 28th Ocean Grove Holiday Park, Ocean Grove VIC
Sat 29th Kangerong Holiday Park, Dromana VIC
Sun 30th Inverloch Foreshore Camping Reserve, Inverloch VIC
Mon 31st Marlo Ocean Views, Marlo VIC

January 2019
Tue 1st Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park, Mallacoota VIC
Wed 2nd Eden Beachfront Holiday Park, Eden NSW
Thu 3rd NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park, Jindabyne NSW
Fri 4th Jingellic Showgrounds, Jingellic NSW
Sat 5th Tumut River Brewing Company, Tumut NSW **
Sun 6th Porepunkah Bridge Holiday Park, Porepunkah VIC
Mon 7th Omeo Caravan Park, Omeo VIC
Tue 8th Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park, Mallacoota VIC
Wed 9th Tathra Beachside, Tathra NSW
Thu 10th Reflections Holiday Park, Bermagui NSW
Fri 11th Murramarang Nature Tourist Resort, Murramarang NSW
Sat 12th Holiday Haven Lake Conjola, Lake Conjola NSW
Sun 13th Toowoon Bay Holiday Park, Toowoon Bay NSW
Mon 14th Reflections Holiday Park, Hawks Nest NSW
Tue 15th Reflections Holiday Park, Seal Rocks NSW
Wed 16th Reflections Holiday Park, Tuncurry NSW

** Brad Cox not appearing

SYDNEY IRISH FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT 10 + 11 NOVEMBER – SYDNEY SHOWGROUND

With a little over three weeks to go until the 2018 Sydney Irish Festival opens the gates, organisers have today announced performance times and more around the ground action, as well as confirmation that the Wild Geese Trophy, the first fully sanctioned, full format hurling match played outside Ireland will be broadcast live around the world on FOX SPORTS.

The Wild Geese Trophy between 2018 National Hurling League victors Kilkenny and 2017 All Ireland champions and archrivals, Galway, will take place on the final day of the 2018 Sydney Irish Festival over 10 and 11 November 2018 at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park.

Described as “the Riverdance of sport” and a “warrior game with ancient links to Irish history”, hurling has been played for more than 3,000 years and is one of Ireland’s native Gaelic games. Widely considered to be the fastest game on grass, the game consists of two teams of 15 trying to drive a ball down the field with a stick in order to score against each other. Without a doubt, it is one of the fastest, and most high scoring sports played today and is a colourful mix of skill, stamina and bravery.

The design of the Wild Geese Trophy was inspired by the Catalpa Wild Geese Memorial, situated on the beach at Rockingham, Western Australia, from where six Irish Fenian political prisoners were rescued by the American whaler: The Catalpa, in 1876, and followed their leader John Boyle O’Reilly, to Massachusetts. See here for more background and a hi res picture of the trophy.

Micheál Donoghue, Galway senior hurling team manager, said: “This is a great opportunity to get a really high quality game at what would normally be a quiet time of year. Matches against Kilkenny are invaluable because you know that a Brian Cody coached team will be giving it everything and we will approach it exactly the same way in Sydney. We are looking forward to what promises to be a great occasion.”

The 2018 Sydney Irish Festival is a celebration of all things Irish showcasing traditional Irish dance and music with hurling clinics, market stalls, comedy, face painting, marching bands, buskers, amusement rides, player autograph sessions, and plenty of family friendly activities right across the weekend.

On top of the huge variety of around the ground attractions, the Sydney Irish Festival will include musical performances from some of the Emerald Isle’s musical treasures including Damien Dempsey, Mary Black, Lúnasa and Saint Sister, as well as local Irish outfits Hooper & O’Toole, The Irish Rogues and Irish Hooley on Saturday, 10 November.

Set to enthrall our littlest páistí over at the Davis Amphitheatre Family Stage, Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol Show featuring rescue pups, Chase and Marshall and those mischievous yellow twins, B1 and B2 – the Bananas in Pyjamas, will each be performing three shows on Saturday, 10 November.

Playing and performance times are below, and a venue map can be downloaded from here.

Day two on Sunday, 11 November commences with a myriad of family friendly activities and more live music, as well as a curtain raiser match between NSW and Victoria commencing at 1.30pm, before the pre-game welcome parade of the teams into the stadium commences at 3.00pm with the teams taking the field for the Wild Geese Trophy tip-off at 3.30pm.

Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and Paul Sergeant Events (PSE) are thrilled to announce that the full Wild Geese Trophy match on Sunday, 11 November will be shown in Australia on FOX SPORTS More (Foxtel Channel 507*) commencing at 3.30pm AEDT and throughout Asia on FOX Sports Asia and RTE into Ireland (check local guides for details).

FOX SPORTS is committed to bringing a wide variety of sports from around the globe to the homes of Australian sports fans and their support of niche and emerging sports is second to none. Their commitment to the Wild Geese Trophy compliments an already strong suite of emerging sports in November including hockey, gymnastics and lawn bowls. FOX SPORTS is available on Foxtel.

Ahead of the Sydney Irish Festival, the official Business Function will be held at Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf at midday on Friday, 9 November. Tickets include a three course lunch, beverage package and first class entertainment including RTE Sport’s own Marty Morrissey as MC, a preview of the 2018 Wild Geese Trophy with both team Managers, Brian Cody (Kilkenny) and Micheál Donoghue (Galway), as well as Irish sporting legends Sonia O’Sullivan and Tadhg Kennelly. For tickets and more details, email SIFhospitality@psevents.com.au.

Introductions to hurling, the weekend’s events, artist bio information and hi res photos, can be downloaded from here

Sydney Irish Festival
Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney Olympic Park
Saturday 10 November -and- Sunday 11 November 2018

PLAYING AND PERFORMANCE TIMES

SATURDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2018

CONCERT STAGE
6:30pm – Saint Sister
7:30pm – Lúnasa
8.40pm – Mary Black
10.00pm – Damien Dempsey

DAVIS AMPHITHEATRE – FAMILY STAGE
MC: Gerald Faulkner
11:30am – Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol
12:30pm – Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol
1:30pm – Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol
2:15pm – Bananas in Pyjamas
2:45pm – Cox Academy of Irish Dance
3:15pm – Bananas in Pyjamas
3:45pm – Carey South West Academy of Irish Dance
4:15pm – Bananas in Pyjamas
4:45pm – Fiona-Gaye Moore Academy
6:00pm – Stage Closes

HORDERN SPRUNG – IRISH MUSIC STAGE
11:15am – The Hooleys
12:00pm – Hooper & O’Toole
12:45pm – The Hooleys
1:30pm – Hooper & O’Toole
2:15pm – The Hooleys
3:00pm – Hooper & O’Toole
3:45pm – The Irish Rogues
4:15pm – The Irish Rogues
5:00pm – Gerry Faulkner
5:15pm – The Irish Rogues
6:00pm – Stage Closes

SUNDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2018

DAVIS AMPHITHEATRE – PRE & POST GAME ENTERTAINMENT
12:00pm – Patrick Brady & Dancers
3:00pm – Stage Closes for Hurling Match
5:15pm (post-match) – Blackwater Band

** All times are approximate and subject to change