Madame Tussauds Sydney Madame unveils Guy Pearce wax figure



Madame Tussauds Sydney this morning unveiled a wax figure of English-born Australian actor, Guy Pearce, for the first time.

Pearce’s wax figure was flamboyantly dressed as his most well-known character, Felicia Jollygoodfellow. 

The latest figure to be revealed by Madame Tussauds Sydney was unveiled in The Outback at WILD LIFE Sydney to imitate scenes from Australian comedy drama, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Madame Tussauds is set to officially open its doors in Sydney’s Darling Harbour in May 2012.

The Pearce wax figure joins a star-studded line up at Madame Tussauds Sydney including Johnny Depp, Nicole Kidman, Lady Gaga, Dannii Minogue, Ray Meagher, Hugh Jackman and Amanda Keller.

Stephan Elliot, Director of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Kristy Enright, Madame Tussauds Sydney spokesperson were also on hand to oversee the latest media event, as Madame Tussauds gets everything ready for the public at large.






Websites

Madame Tussauds Sydney

Hausmann Communications

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

Eva Rinaldi Photography

Splash News

Alex Perry launches new designer eyewear range at Marble Bar, Hilton Hotel Sydney



Earlier this evening Australian fashion designer Alex Perry revealed his new designer eyewear range, the Alex Perry 2012 Collection for Specsavers.

It all took place at the super fashionable, Victorian styled event at Sydney’s famous Marble Bar.

The event featured a glamorous runway show inspired by the romance of 19th century Europe, where  Alex Perry models delved into a darker, sultrier fashion inspiration that turned heads.

Amidst the decadent and seductive backdrop of Sydney’s Marble Bar there was feminine touches of the Victorian era for the lucky few to see, from which Alex has drawn inspiration to create the dramatic and powerful eyewear range.

Guests who stayed the night got to see the new Specsavers limited edition striking red frame revealed.

Models and fashion elite present included Alex Perry, Sarah Murdoch, Charlotte Dawson, and Kerri-Anne Kennerley.

Well done to everyone associated with the success of the launch.










Websites

Specsavers

Marble Bar

Hilton Hotel (Sydney)

Open Haus

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

Eva Rinaldi Photography

Splash News & Pictures

Madonna Unveiled “Girl Gone Wild” album on Monday


Madonna has exposed “Girl Gone Wild” on Monday (February 27)  In the world according to this single, girls just want to have some fun, and "get fired up like a smoking gun"; Madonna, for her part, realizes that she "shouldn't act this way" and that "good girls don't misbehave," but fortunately for her, she is a "bad girl anyway, hey!" While "Give Me All Your Luvin'" featured a call-and-response structure and cameos by Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., "Girl Gone Wild" is no-nonsense electro-pop, with a driving beat and propulsive hook that recalls Madge's 2005 single "Hung Up."

Along with "Luvin'," "Girl Gone Wild" previews Madonna's 12th studio album, which follows 2008's "Hard Candy" and will hit stores on March 26. Along with the Benassi boys, "MDNA" will feature production from Martin Solveig and longtime collaborator William Orbit.

Bartok: Piano Concerto Nos. 1 & 3 (CD review)

Also, Divertimento for String Orchestra. Peter Serkin, piano; Seiji Ozawa, Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Rudolf Barshai, Moscow Chamber Orchestra. HDTT HDCD248.



American pianist Peter Serkin (b. 1947) is into his fifth decade of performing, and while he is among the world's leading pianists, he has never quite achieved the intense following his father, pianist Rudolf Serkin, acquired. I suppose that's one of the drawbacks of performing in the shadow of an illustrious parent, unfair as it is. Anyway, on this remastered disc from HDTT (High Definition Tape Transfers), we hear Peter Serkin in one of his earliest recordings, two 1967 performances of Bartok with Maestro Seiji Ozawa and the Chicago Symphony.



The album begins with the Piano Concerto No. 1, written in 1926 by Hungarian composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945). It is not the most smiling work in the world, full of hard edges and blunt percussives. Although it displays much of the coarse dissonance typical of Bartok's work, it also utilizes a good deal of Baroque-style counterpoint. Along with his Concerto for Orchestra, which came much later, the First Piano Concerto remains one of the composer's most popular pieces.



So, how does Serkin handle it? Well, he's an extremely discerning, precise, and somewhat reserved player, so his interpretation is characteristically more reflective than it is edgy or exciting. The problem is, I'm not sure that's exactly what the music needs.



All three movements of the First Concerto seem more leisurely than one usually encounters in Bartok performances, making them perhaps a shade more scholarly than not. In the Andante, especially, Serkin imbues the music with an eerier quality than do most other pianists, taking it at a much slower pace; but that's about the only place his approach works well. One thing he does provide in abundance, though, is contrast, because after the ultraslow Andante, he launches into a pretty heady Allegro. Still, what I missed most was a compelling forward pulse, a building of tension and its consequent release. It is these qualities one finds in Bartok readings from pianists like Stephen Kovacevich (Philips), Zolton Kocsis (Philips), Krystian Zimerman (DG), and Vladimir Ashkenazy (Decca).



Serkin fares better with the Concerto No. 3, written in 1945, maybe because it is lighter than the First. Bartok wrote the Third at the very end of his life, not even finishing the last few bars, and it might have been his way of showing the world that he had softened considerably from his younger, more defiant days. Here, Serkin, with his studied approach, seems more at home with the composer's newfound melodic normalcy, even if there still appears to be a degree of slackness in the rendition.  Be this as it may, when you factor in the excellence of the HDTT remastered sound, Serkin's Third might be a reasonable consideration for anyone who enjoys Bartok.



Bartok's Divertimento for String Orchestra comes from 1939, and on the present disc we have it performed by Rudolf Barshai and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. Barshai helps it along with dash and élan in the outer movements and splendid atmosphere in the Adagio. You won't find a better reading than this one, and when you again count in the superb audio quality, you get a top-of-the-line choice in this repertoire.



RCA recorded the Piano Concertos in 1967, and HDTT transferred them to compact disc from an RCA 4-track tape. The sound is a tad forward overall, but it suits the music, and it provides an exceptionally well detailed experience, with plenty of air around individual instruments. The transient response is quick and taut, the piano firmly grounded within the orchestral setting, its attack strongly delineated. While the clarity and exactitude of the sound tend to diminish somewhat the apparent size of the orchestra, a fairly realistic stage depth helps the illusion of one's being in front of a live ensemble. Loud outbursts, cymbals, and triangles emerge impressively, as do all of the percussive instruments for that matter, including the piano.



Decca recorded the Divertimento in 1962, and HDTT transferred it from a London 4-track tape. It may not have quite as much orchestral depth as the RCA production, but it displays a better left-to-right stereo spread, with better fill. It also sounds a shade bright to my ears. Be that as it may, like the RCA recording it exhibits a vivid, vibrant sound, a wide dynamic range, and a potent transient impact.



For information on HDTT discs and downloads, you can check out their Web site at http://www.highdeftapetransfers.com/storefront.php.



JJP

WARNER BROS. PICTURES Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling and Academy Award- nominated writer/director Scott Hicks will visit Melbourne and Sydney



WARNER BROS. PICTURES Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling and Academy Award
THE LUCKY ONE
®-nominated writer/director Scott Hicks have all confirmed to visit Melbourne and Sydney in April in support of their new romantic drama Melbourne will host the World Premiere of the film which will be followed by a Sydney Premiere shortly after. Based on Nicholas Sparks’ bestseller
U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive—a photograph he found of a woman he doesn’t even know. Learning her name is Beth (Schilling) and where she lives, he shows up at her door, and ends up taking a job at her family-run local kennel. Despite her initial mistrust and the complications in her life, a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm.
Hicks directs from a screenplay by Will Fetters ("Remember Me"), adapted from the Nicholas Sparks novel
The Lucky One, Zac Efron ("17 Again," "Charlie St. Cloud") stars alongside Taylor Schilling (upcoming "Argo") and Blythe Danner ("Meet the Parents" franchise) in this romantic drama directed by Academy Award®-nominated writer/director Scott Hicks ("Shine," "No Reservations"). The Lucky One. The producers are Denise Di Novi, who previously produced film adaptations of the Nicholas Sparks novels "A Walk To Remember," "Nights In Rodanthe" and "Message in a Bottle," and Kevin McCormick ("Arthur"). Ravi Mehta, Alison Greenspan and Bruce Berman serve as executive producers, and Kerry Heysen is co-producer. Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Di Novi Pictures production, a Scott Hicks film, "The Lucky One." The film will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.


THE LUCKY ONE
http://www.theluckyonemovie.com.au

Amy Meredith announces Jessie J support & national headline dates!




AMY MEREDITH announces Jessie J support & national headline dates!
New single ‘Pick Up Your Tricks’ out now!

Amy Meredith can today reveal that they’ve scored one of the most coveted international support slots of the year, opening for UK pop sensation Jessie J on her upcoming national Australian tour from March 1 in Brisbane! In addition the band has announced their own ‘Tricks Tour’ Melbourne & Sydney headline shows from March 23, with special guests, up-and-coming pop-rockers New Empire.

Having released the first single, hook-heavy synth-inspired ‘Pick Up Your Tricks’ from the anticipated sophomore album due out later this year, Amy Meredith are raring to showcase their brand new material to fans across the country. Matt Hales (Aqualung) and Rich Costey (Foster The People) lent their skills to the production and mixing of the lead single, with the band primed to return to LA in the coming months to complete work on the new album.

“The last twenty-four months have been crazy. So much fun and non-stop work”, said the band’s charismatic front-man Christian Lo Russo. “After spending the past nine months writing and travelling, I'm looking forward to getting back out there and playing to our fans again. And hitting the stage with Jessie J, wow! It’s going to be amazing!”

With multiple ARIA Award nominations under their belt for the debut record ‘Restless’ in 2010, a Platinum accredited single ‘Lying’, and an array of scorching new tracks ready to unleash, Amy Meredith are without doubt one of the most exciting pop outfits on the local music landscape. Don’t miss your chance to catch this dynamic five-piece in action when they’re in a city near you this March and April!

-      The new single PICK UP YOUR TRICKS is out NOW  -
-      
www.amymeredith.com
www.facebook.com/amymeredithmusic

 

AMY MEREDITH 2012 TOUR DATES
WITH JESSIE J
Tickets on-sale NOW from Ticketmaster
www.ticketmaster.com.au

STEEL BARS" GUITAR GODDESS ORIANTHI JOINS MICHAEL BOLTON'S BAND PERTH ADELAIDE SYDNEY MELBOURNE HOBART




Michael Bolton turns up the volts on his Symphony Orchestras tour in April, with the announcement that Orianthi, the blistering, international guitarist originally from Adelaide, will join his band as Special Guest on all Australian dates.

The Grammy legend's latest album of duets, Gems, features the young axe wielding Goddess on the track, Steel Bars, (a mega-hit co-written with Bob Dylan) and he is delighted that Orianthi has accepted his invitation.

Michael says "One of the cool things about working with Orianthi, is you realise that this is the next generation of artistry."
Orianthi was thrust into the global spotlight as Michael Jackson's guitarist in the 2009 documentary This Is It, has also shared the stage with Carlos Santana and Steve Vai and performed with Carrie Underwood at the Grammy Awards.

Michael Bolton, the Soul Provider of signature power ballads, classic hits and beautiful arias is touring throughout April, performing with our orchestras in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, then Hobart with his band. Tour details below.

MICHAEL BOLTON'S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TOUR
Tues 17 April Riverside Theatre PCEC Perth Ticketek.com.au 132 849
& West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Thurs 19 April Adelaide Festival Theatre Bass.net.au 131 246
& Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Sat 21 April & Sydney Opera House SOH Box Office 02 9250 7777 &
Sun 22 April Sydney Opera House 7pm Matinee Ticketmaster.com.au 136 100
& Sydney Symphony
Fri 27 April Regent Theatre Melbourne Ticketmaster 1300 111 011
& Orchestra Victoria
Sat 28 April Wrest Point Entertainment Centre Tixtas.com.au 1300 795 257

SHE CAN DJ PRESENTS MINX - MIX COMILATION RELEASED MARCH 2 AND NATIONAL CLUB TOUR



SHE CAN DJ PRESENTS MINX -
MIX COMPILATION RELEASED MARCH 2
AND NATIONAL CLUB TOUR

September 14, 2011 is not a date Minx (aka Rachel Phillips) will forget anytime soon.  At a spectacular awards night at Sydney’s exclusive Ivy nightclub, the Sydney-born house DJ was crowned the winner of EMI’s inaugural She Can DJ competition.

Now, Minx reveals her first EMI release on Friday March 2, ‘She Can DJ Presents Minx’ – a massive 78 minute big-room house music mix compilation, featuring many of the biggest dance music names from around the globe, several of who Minx has already played alongside.  From Swedish House Mafia to Avicci via Calvin Harris and deadmau5 through to Madeon....Minx leaves no gaps on the dancefloor; showcasing why she’s Australia’s No.1 female house music DJ!

Minx has also been working on two of her own original works and collaborations, ‘Chances’ (Instrumental Version) by Minx and Nordean & Minx Ft. Erik Hecht, ‘You & I’; both of which are included on ‘She Can DJ Presents Minx’ album.

Minx couldn’t be more ecstatic about the release, “To be releasing a compilation that contains some of the best dance music on the planet from many of my favourite artists and to have this mix also include my own original works, is a dream come true”.

To celebrate the release of ‘She Can DJ Presents Minx’, Minx will hit the club circuit for a national tour kicking off on Saturday February 25 at The Weekend, Melbourne playing back to back shows through til mid May.  If you’re yet to experience Minx on the decks, now is the time!  Current list of shows below, with more to be announced soon….

As a jet-setting DJ of seven years, Onelove’s first female resident DJ and a Quiksilver For Women ambassador, Minx’s hands were already pretty full, but as She Can DJ’s leading lady, life’s hit a whole new level as one of Australia’s most in-demand DJs.

Before the win had even sunk in, she was en route to the dance music Mecca of Ibiza to play the sets of her life at landmark clubs like Pacha, Nassau Beach Club and Café Mambo during the island’s infamous closing week.

Arriving home in 2011, she hit the ground running, playing some of the hottest nights of the social calendar, including EMI’s ARIA Awards after-party, Cleo Magazine’s Swimsuit Party, MTV’s Summer Party and WHO Weekly’s Sexiest People Party, before performing at the Sydney and Adelaide Stereosonic shows.

Minx had played Stereosonic four times before, but never like this. In Sydney, she opened the main arena in ANZ Stadium (officially Australia’s largest dance party), but it was in her previous hometown of Adelaide that delivered the biggest highlight. With several International DJs running late, she was asked to play before Swedish superstar Avicii to a packed main stage. “I don't think I stopped smiling for the rest of the weekend” she gushes.

Come 2012 and there’s no sign of taking her foot off the accelerator. If anything, she’s hitting full throttle.  One thing’s obvious, this red-hot star is ready to shine in a whole new light.

Catch her while you can on these dates:


Saturday
25th February
The Weekend, Melbourne
Melbourne
VIC
Saturday
3rd March
Ivy
Sydney
NSW
Sunday
11th March
Breath of Life Festival
Launceston
TAS
Friday
16th March
Altitude Nightclub
Port Macqurie
NSW
Saturday
17th March
Villa Nightclub
Perth
WA
Friday
23rd March
Mean Fiddler w Tenzin
Rouse Hill
NSW
Saturday
24th March
Academy
Canberra
ACT
Friday
30th March
La La Land
Byron
NSW
Saturday
31st March
Family
Brisbane
QLD
Friday
6th April
Setts
Mildura
VIC
Saturday
7th April
Daveys
Frankston
VIC
Sunday
8th April
Home House
Geelong
VIC
Friday
13th April
King Street Hotel
Newcastle
NSW
Saturday
14th April
Electric Circus
Adelaide
SA
Friday
20th April
Suite
Sunbury
VIC
Saturday
21st April
Mynt
Werribee
VIC
Tuesday
24th April
Manhatten
Ringwood
VIC
Friday
27th April
Tombas Nightclub
Toowoomba
QLD
Saturday
28th April
Gilligans
Cairns
QLD
Saturday
5th May
Heritage Hotel
Rockhampton
QLD
Saturday
12th May
Hotel New York
Launceston
TAS




For ticket information, head to www.facebook.com/shecandj



SHE CAN DJ PRESENTS MINX | COMPILATION ALBUM
TO BE RELEASED MARCH 2

*For further information, please contact your local Virgin Music representative, or check out: