Monthly Archives: October 2018

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

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE ANNOUNCE DEBUT ARENA DATES FOR MARCH 2019 – WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THOMAS RHETT & MORGAN WALLEN

Multi-platinum superstar duo FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE announce a string of highly anticipated all-ages arena shows for March 2019, which will take them to the Cairns Convention Centre on Friday 15 March, Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Monday 18 March, and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday 20 March.

No strangers to huge audiences, FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley have played to sold-out stadiums across North America, and are slated to headline the sold-out CMC Rocks QLD 2019 event, Australia’s biggest country music festival. After a scorching debut Rocks appearance in 2016, the award-winning duo have taken the world by storm. Their genre-defying sound is top-shelf, making for an explosive live experience. “Just in case you’ve forgotten, Florida Georgia Line is one of the hottest country acts alive”, said MusicRow Magazine.

As the first country act ever to be Diamond certified (10 million copies sold) with their 11x Platinum breakout ‘Cruise’, FGL are a crossover phenomenon, collaborating with Bebe Rexha on this year’s global chart-topper ‘Meant To Be’, featuring on Hailee Steinfeld and Alesso’s ‘Let Me Go’, plus collaborations with The Chainsmokers on ‘Last Day Alive’, The Backstreet Boys with ‘God, Your Mama, And Me’, Ziggy Marley, Tim McGraw, Nelly, and countless others.

Over the past 6-years, the global entertainers have received honours from the AMAs, ACM Awards, CMA Awards, Billboard Music Awards and CMT Music Awards, surpassed 31 million tracks and more than 4.3 million albums sold while launching entrepreneurial endeavours including their Old Camp whiskey, FGL HOUSE restaurant, Tree Vibez Music publishing company, Tribe Kelley and meet + greet.

“a potent brew of fist-pumping backwoods attitude and gutsy crossover ambition” – Rolling Stone

“The duo’s energy was only matched by near-nuclear heat given back to them.”
– Taste of Country

In Sydney and Melbourne, FGL will bring fellow Statesider THOMAS RHETT along for the ride. One of the hottest stars on the global country scene, Rhett is a platinum-selling chart-topper who has eight No.1 US country hits to his name, and an eclectic catalogue that blends the southern swagger of country music with pop hooks, R&B grooves, soulful strut and the anything-goes attitude of rock. Rhett has played alongside FGL many times, notably opening their 2015 tour Anything Goes.

US hit-maker MORGAN WALLEN also joins the dynamic line-up for all shows. One of country music’s most exciting up and comers, Wallen previously toured with FGL on their Dig Your Roots Tour and collaborated with the duo on the Platinum-certified smash ‘Up Down’, an irresistible thumper that topped the US Country charts. His anticipated follow-up ‘Whiskey Glasses’ is currently climbing the Country radio charts and he’s logged more than 330 million combined digital streams to date.

With a line-up of country powerhouses, these shows promise to be a hit for music-lovers of all ages. Experience the very best that country music has to offer, when Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett descend on arenas across the East Coast next March!

IAN MOSS ANNOUNCES NEW REGIONAL SOLO ACOUSTIC SHOWS

After sold out shows across Australia, guitar and rock legend Ian Moss has added more dates to his National Solo Intimate and Acoustic Regional Tour in 2019 including wrapping up the tour with a special show in his home town of Alice Springs.

Respected as one of Australia’s most iconic musicians, Ian Moss delivers an unforgettable sound. While primarily recognised as an axeman of tenacity and sweet melodic sensibility, Ian’s distinctive vocal is the essential signature of his soulful, bluesy muse – as it has been since his first tentative foray into music in the early 1970s.

Showcasing songs from his new self-titled album, Mossy will also perform songs from his incredible solo and Cold Chisel catalogue including Tuckers Daughter, Never Before, Telephone Booth, Such A Beautiful Thing, Bow River and many more.

Come and see why Ian Moss is one of the best guitarists and vocalists on the planet.

Friday, 8 February 2019 | Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra NSW
Saturday, 9 February 2019 | Wagga Wagga Civic Centre, Wagga Wagga NSW
Friday, 22 February 2019 | Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, Wangaratta VIC
Saturday, 23 February 2019 | Paramount Theatre, Echuca VIC
Friday, 1 March 2019 | Goldfields Art Centre, Kalgoorlie NSW
Sunday, 3 March 2019 | Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany WA
Wednesday, 6 March 2019 | Queens Park Theatre, Geraldton WA
Friday, 8 March 2019 | Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle WA
Saturday, 9 March 2019 | Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury WA
Friday, 15 March 2019 | Capital Theatre, Bendigo VIC
Saturday, 16 March 2019 | Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura VIC
Wednesday, 20 March 2019 | Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mount Gambier SA
Friday, 22 March 2019 | Northern Festival Centre, Keith Michell Theatre, Port Pirie SA
Saturday, 23 March 2019 | Barossa Arts and Convention Centre, Barossa Valley SA
Wednesday, 27 March 2019 | Redland Performing Arts Centre, Cleveland QLD
Friday, 29 March 2019 | Ipswich Civic Theatre, Ipswich QLD
Saturday, 30 March 2019 | Empire Theatre, Heritage Bank Auditorium, Ipswich QLD
Wednesday, 3 April 2019 | Mackay Entertainment Centre, Mackay QLD
Friday, 5 April 2019 | Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton QLD
Saturday, 6 April 2019 | Brolga Theatre, Maryborough QLD
Friday, 26 April 2019 | Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford NSW
Saturday, 27 April 2019 | Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, Cessnock NSW
Friday, 3 May 2019 | SkyCity Darwin Concert Lawns, Darwin NT**
Saturday, 4 May 2019 | Araluen Centre, Alice Springs NT