Marc Maron in person…

Legendary US comedian Marc Maron will be visiting Sydney as part of his upcoming Maronation tour. The WTF podcast host and one-time comic hot-shot has spent the better part of the last decade refining his comic act and expanding the definition of a ‘working comic’. Now, with a poplar FX show and high-rating podcast coming up roses, Mr. Maron is finally spreading the love to the land downunder.

The Maronation tour performances will showcase Mr. Maron at his caustic and engaging best. Whether he’s attacking social mores or bringing observational humour to new depths, Mr. Maron’s take on the world is refreshingly honest, heartbreakingly real and often touching.

But in recent times, Mr. Maron’s podcast has become one of the single most consistent fixtures in the shifting digital landscape. If his recent interview with Barack Obama proved anything, it’s that Maron has the world and his audience right where he wants them. After all, could you imagine the leader of the free world taking the time out of his busy schedule to record a podcast in anyone else’s garage?

Organisers have confirmed that Mr. Maron will be appearing in one show only, so tickets for the State Theatre gig will surely sell like hot cakes. If you’re a fan or recent follower, don’t miss out on this great opportunity to see a comic legend live in the flesh.

Some of Maron’s ‘greatest hits’ include:

• “Have you ever had one of those moments when you look up and realize that you’re one of those people you see on the train talking to themselves?”
• “There are also always those burnt, hard kernels at the bottom that don’t pop. You know why they don’t pop? They don’t pop because they have integrity.”
• “Left wing, right wing, I am wingless and tired of trying to fly. Here comes the ground.”
• “Show business is one of the few businesses that the devil will actually agree to own just a portion of your soul because he knows if you have a performer’s ego you were probably working for him all along.”
• “For my next trick I will make everyone understand me.”

When: Thu 15 Oct, 2015
Where: The State Theatre, Sydney CBD

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The Just For Laughs Festival is a premier international comedy event, a rib-tickling celebration of the world’s best stand up comedians and laugh-out-loud acts. The Montreal-based show inspires international tours of its headlining comedians, and this year’s Just For Laughs Sydney looks set to offer locals the chance to see some of the funniest comedians in an intimate local setting.

In the past, Just For Laughs Sydney organisers have snagged their fair share of comedy legends. The amazing roster of performers includes Louis C.K., John Cleese, Martin Short, Demetri Martin, Eddie Izzard, Aziz Ansari, Drew Carey, Noel Fielding, Trevor Noah, Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, Kathy Griffin, Reggie Watts and so many more. So it’s no surprise that this year’s festival is chock full of funny goodness.

The show will be headlined by controversial British comedian and activist Russell Brand, whose ‘Trew World Order’ tour has wowed fans across Europe and the US. The politically charged gig is sure to offer fans a generous helping of Mr. Brand’s navel gazing comedy styling punctuated by plenty of social ‘philosophising’ and a tirade or two for good measure.

Fellow UK comedy icon Al Murray (The Pub Landlord) will also do a hot run of shows at the Opera House. ‘The Guv’, as he’s known, will surely tickle Aussie audiences with his unique laconic British pub humour.

This year’s Gala night will feature a stellar roster of talent including Tommy Tiernan, Stephen K. Amos, Dave Hughes, Wil Anderson, Danny Bhoy and others. These acts, along with Hannah Gadsby, Cal Wilson, Ronny Chieng, Joel Creasey, Anne Edmonds, Tom Ballard, Tommy Little and Damien Power, will appear in solo shows. Consult the festival program for more information about dates and tickets.

What: The 2015 Sydney Just For Laughs Festival.
When: 19-25 Oct, 2015.
Where: Sydney Opera House, Sydney.
For more information visit: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/about/program_just_for_laughs.aspx

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The popular comedians and sketch show producers are returning to Australian and New Zealand for the second time and are bound to please audiences with their distinct and quirky style of comedy.

Eric Wareheim and Tim Heidecker first met at university in the US in 1994 as film students, and have gone on to create cult satirical TV shows and direct music videos and even a movie.

Since first exposing the world to their peculiar world with the animated series Tom Goes to the Mayor, Tim and Eric have gone on to unleash five seasons of the profoundly odd television sketch comedy series’ for Adult Swim, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!.

You might also recognise their kooky comedic genius from the infamous Absolut Vodka advertisements with Zach Galifianakis or their big budget commercials for clients such as Old Spice, Wrigley’s, Red Stripe and a Boost Mobile commercial that premiered during the 2010 Super Bowl XLIV.

The pair are renowned for going that little step too far, lingering just a second too long or their (deliberately) questionable production choices. This year, the creative duo released a book called Tim and Eric’s Zone Theory: 7 Easy Steps to Achieve a Perfect Life. The book claims to provide an “inspirational and game-changing life system that promises to instantly provide wellness, happiness, and total, absolute fulfilment. Somehow we question whether this parodical text manages to do that, but we have no doubt that reading it (and seeing their live show) would result in a few side-splitting laughs.

Audiences in Australia can witness the Tim and Eric formula live on stage with their famously bizarre sketches and their uncanny ability to satirise and offend almost everything (kangaroos and bogans beware!)

Expect the weird and wonderful at their Sydney show on Friday 11^th December at the Enmore Theatre. Prices start from $89.90.

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The film festival kicks off nationally with the heartwarming comedy, Here is Harold, which shows the journey of a bitter old man who seeks revenge by trying to kidnap the founder of IKEA. Other handpicked films include RAMS, which received the top prize of Un Certain Regard as well as a 10 minute standing ovation at Cannes; the thought-provoking, coming-of-age film, Young Sophie Bell; and the hilarious holiday drama featuring an award-winning performance from Bodil Jørgensen, All Inclusive.  The Scandinavian Film Festival wraps up with an eye-opening documentary on one of Hollywood’s most beloved imports, Ingrid Bergman: In her Own Words.

Another highlight of the festival is the guest appearance from multi-talented actress, Bianca Kronlöf, who appears in the biting drama, Underdog. Kronlöf will appear for the opening night screenings in Melbourne and Sydney for exclusive Q & A sessions on the 10th and 11th of July respectively. We spoke with the star about the festival.

“The program is fantastic I have to say. As a Scandinavian to come here and see all the films that they got together is amazing. I hope that I will have time to see as much as possible. It’s actually weird as a scandinavian to come to Australia and be like ‘now I can see all the good Scandinavian films, this is amazing!’ It’s like travelling back to my roots through Australia.”

Miss Kronlöf said that the fact that more Scandinavian films are heading abroad is testament to the growth of the Scandinavian film industry. She said their point of difference to mainstream Hollywood films is their focus on the characters and their relationships.

“In Sweden we don’t do these huge action things. Of course we have these boring, mainstream movies that don’t say anything about anyone that are just there for people to watch when you’re hungover, which is a good thing we need those movies as well. And then the smaller, underground ones. But to compare Swedish films to Hollywood mainstream I would say that it’s more relationship based and about the characters.”

The Swedish actress also added: “Everyone should go to the Scandinavian Film Festival because it’s such a good program. So if you go, you can be an expert about Scandinavian films right now, because the program is so exceptionally good.”

Head to the Scandinavian Film Festival website for more information on the films and to buy tickets.

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History of Saint Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick’s Day dates back to the 17th Century, as a religious feast day that commemorates the death of St Patrick in the fifth century. Patrick is renowned for bringing Christianity to Ireland, and being cemented in history as the nation’s patron saint, and marking a date for national devotion. The day remained largely a religious celebration in the 20th Century, not becoming a public holiday in Ireland until 1904. Military parades began in around the 1920s and then Irish bars didn’t start opening until the mid-1960s. It was also at this time that the parades became more festive and flamboyant. In 1996 the celebration became the St Patrick’s Festival – a four day event filled with performances, guinness, parades treasure hunts, U2 tribute bands and all things green.

The true remarkableness of St Patrick’s Day is it’s international reach. No other national celebration is honoured so widely or by so many diasporas around the world – and non-Irish people. Australia Day, Independence Day and other national holidays are popular celebrations in their respective countries and by small communities of nationals in other countries. However, St Patrick’s Day has become an international celebration where huge portions of the population don their brightest green attire, enjoy a guinness or seven, and enjoy some traditional irish dancing and music.

Perhaps it’s because almost all Australians have an Irish great-grandparent or because everybody has at least a few Irish friends, or perhaps its just because the Irish know how to party and Australians love any excuse for a drink and a dance – but St Patrick’s Day is a staple celebration in the Australian calendar and it is celebrated in Irish pubs all across the country.

St Patricks Day in Sydney 2015

So how can we best celebrate this exciting national holiday? There are a plethora of Irish pubs across the city that put on special events and performances in honour of old mate St Pat. Unfortunately the big parade has already taken place on Sunday 15th March with a whole suite of performances, rides and stalls. But on Tuesday 17th March there is still a lot of exciting events taking place for you to get involved with.

P.J. Gallaghers Irish Pub has venues in Moore Park, Leichhardt and Parramatta and will no doubt be putting on a wonderful show this Tuesday. P.J. O’Brien’s on the corner of King and York Streets is another top quality Irish establishment. Other venues include Kelly’s Irish Pub in Newtown, Scruffy Murphys and Maloney’s Hotel in the city and Paddy Maguire’s in Haymarket.

Be sure to don your green and sip a few guinness’ tomorrow to get in the St Patty’s day spirit.

At the media launch for the 2014 Sydney New Year’s Eve, the theme of which is “Inspire”, Thompson said Sydney is “the city I love and there’s a lot to be inspired by.”

Thompson said he could think of nothing more wonderful to be a part of than gathering around the Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve celebrating life. He told reporters, “we are incredibly privileged people living in an incredibly privileged place and we need to celebrate what we have – and believe me, New Year’s Eve we will!”

The Inspiring Jack Thompson

As the designated storyteller of this year’s NYE celebration, the iconic Australian actor read out a poem he had written as his response to how Sydney has inspired him. In it he revealed:

I am Sydney. I am the city of Sydney.
Glistening in the sun, shining on in harbour lights when the day is done.
A city rich with achievements and stories that inspire,
A city who is vital here and now the whole world has come to admire.
And we, the people of Sydney, have Summer in our souls,
It is our dreaming and our lore, our heritage of old.

Upon reflecting on this section of Thompson’s evocative poem I considered what is was about the city of Sydney that truly inspired me. I moment of inspiration arose a few days ago when I was aboard a boat on the Sydney Harbour, cruising underneath the iconic Harbour Bridge, sailing past the incredible Opera House and admiring the stunning sights and wildlife of the Sydney Harbour National Park.

In a moment of appreciation, my friend uttered to me: “it’s moments like this that make me wonder why you would live anywhere else.” That is when I realised the true inspiration of Sydney for me – it’s unique history, iconic structures, magnificent sites, endless opportunity for adventure and exploration, and its ability to answer the call of ‘Summer in our souls’. Far from being simply a season, Summer in Sydney – as Thompson so eloquently expressed – is our dreaming, our lore and our heritage. Summer is embodied by the feeling of floating on the stunning waterscape of Sydney Harbour and feeling connected to its rich past, its magnificent present and its exciting future.

New Year’s Eve represents a time of hope and excitement at what lies ahead in the New Year; a time for gathering with loved ones to appreciate all that we have; and most of all a time for celebration. For this reason, I can think of no other place to celebrate New Year’s Eve than upon Sydney Harbour.

A Sydney Harbour cruise is the ideal way to appreciate Sydney’s beauty and celebrate this exciting event in style. A harbour cruise enables you to feel connected to the city and the Summer in a manner that those behind screens or even on the land would be unable to achieve.

The MV EPICURE I New Year’s Eve cruise is a perfect example of a sumptuous harbour cruise that coalesces history, celebration and opportunity. Sitting atop a luxurious vessel with unsurpassed views of the fireworks and enjoying gourmet food and beverages embraces what Jack Thompson referred to as ‘incredibly privileged people living in an incredibly privileged place’. New Year’s Eve is one of the most unique celebrations of the year and Sydney is one of the best places in the world to celebrate it.

So make the most of this incredible city and ensure you are inspired this New Year’s Eve by booking yourself on a resplendent harbour cruise this 31st December.

After four glorious years, The Sydney Fringe Comedy Festival still delivers the goods. Bringing together the best in emerging, young and alternative comedy, the festival has become something of a local highlight. With over a hundred unique comedians performing in over three hundred shows, there’s no excuse to miss out this time! This year’s program brings together a diverse range of comedians including (but not limited to): Aaron Chen, Alex Weisel, Amos Gill, Carlo Ritchie, Eddie Sharpe, Gareth O’Comedy and Nikki Britton.

Organised in cahoots with the good folks over at The Sydney Fringe festival, Sydney Fringe Comedy is unique in what it offers festival goers. Both established and emerging comedians will often test-run material at these gigs, allowing patron the chance to see stand-up comedy the way it was meant to be seen: live, raw and unfiltered. As Sydney is in full Fringe swing, it’s also a good time to get out and get loose!

And the best part is, it’s all going down at Marrickville’s super-cool Factory Theatre. For the events, the theatre will be converted into a relaxed and social hang-out zone. Guests are encouraged to catch up for a beer before the show and perhaps even grab a bite to eat right there. And after the gig, Marrickville’s many fine restaurants are only a hop, skip and a jump away.

So shake off the winter blues and laugh your way into spring at this year’s Sydney Fringe Comedy Festival! For more information on events, sessions, ticketing and anything else, visit the festival website at http://fringecomedy.com.au/.

SLAM is an Australian festival that takes place on South Cronulla Beach as well as Noosa, Scarborough, St. Kilda and Surfers Paradise. SLAM Festival is committed to nurturing the sport of beach volleyball, from the absolutes rookies just looking to ‘have a go’ to the competitive professionals wanting to pit their skills up against some of the nation’s best. The day also includes an after party where live music and Coronas will run abound.

The 2014 SLAM Festival is split into competitive teams and social teams and involves a round robin competition that determines play off rounds in three division from highest to lowest. Each of these division – Cup, Plate and Bowl – have prize money and sponsor prizes. The top prize is $800 cash, 6 cases of Corona plus more. As well as prizes for first and second place in each of the three divisions across both competitions there is also a $200 cash prize for the winners of the best dressed competition at each beach.

The competitions have a specific set of competition rules and protocols enforced by an official which can be found on the SLAM festival website. They generally follow your basic beach volleyball rules such as switching sides at the half-way point of the game, not being able to touch or go under the net, ensuring the ball is cleanly hit or pops off the hand, no open hand digs on the first contact, one toss per serve attempt, an unlimited number of substitutions per game, assigned positions at the start of the rally, clockwise player rotations upon winning a side-out and continuous play if the ball hits the inflatable line and bounces back into court.

Registrations costs $50 per player, which includes a minimum of three games. Teammates must be 16 years or older to play and teams are able to have 6-8 players in the social comp and 4 players for SLAM competitive. Registration on the day begins at 9am and competition starts at 10am. Simply register via the SLAM Festival website to enter you and your mates for the competition now.

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