gig guide

Yes Prime Minister Presented by Andrew Guild, Simon Bryce and Tim Woods In 1982, Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn penned the first episodes of Yes Minister for the BBC. It was an instant hit. Their characters and situations revealed, to a largely unsuspecting public, the deliciously awkward marriage between civil servants and politicians. Twenty-five years later these brilliant wordsmiths have done it again and this time it's a hit play! It's 2011. A lot has happened since the Rt Hon. Jim Hacker MP last walked the corridors of Whitehall. There's the GFC, rising oil prices, minority governments, illegal immigrants and global warming. If that's not enough to contend with, the 24 hour news cycle, constant bleating of mobile phones, endless emails and a new generation of spin doctors. Starring Philip Quast (Mary Poppins) as the cynical Cabinet Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, alongside familiar Australian TV star Mark Owen-Taylor (All Saints, A Country Practice) playing the embattled Prime Minister Jim Hacker, and John Lloyd-Fillingham (UK's National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company) as the hapless assistant, Bernard Woolley and Caroline Craig (Blue Heelers, Underbelly) as Hacker's policy advisor. SUITABLE: A comedy with Adult themes - not recommended for children under 14 years of age. CONCESSIONS: For seniors, pensioners and carers. The concession discount is only available for Thursday and Saturday matinees plus Wednesday-Thursday evenings. GROUPS OF 10+ SAVE ON 'A RESERVE' SEATS! Groups of 10 can book online. Groups of 10+ must purchase through BASS Group Bookings on 08 8205 2220. 23 May 2012 - 27 May 2012 Venue Her Majesty's Theatre Time 7.30pm (23-26 May), 1.00pm (24 May), 3.00pm (26 & 27 May) Price Preview Premium from $79.00 Preview Adult A Reserve from $59.00 Preview Adult B Reserve from $44.00 Preview Adult C Reserve from $39.00 Adult Premium from $89.00 Adult A Reserve from $69.00 Adult B Reserve from $54.00 Adult C Reserve from $49.00 Concession A Reserve from $64.00 Concession B Reserve from $49.00

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE Presented by: Chugg Entertainment, Lunatic Entertainment, XIII Touring, triple j, Channel [V] and Yen Fanning the flames of a fire started just under two years ago, Florence + The Machine are set to ignite stages across the country when they return to Australia in May 2012 for a national arena tour. Following on from the multi-million selling, multi-award winning, global smash of a debut album 'Lungs', Florence + The Machine first landed on Australian shores in January 2010 on the Laneway Festival bill; playing to stunned audiences over the course of the festival as well as her own headline club shows. Barely six months later, her ascension to stardom took a further leap when she returned to wow audiences on the main stage at Splendour In The Grass and sell out multiple theatre shows from Perth to Brisbane. So overwhelming was the demand that shows sold out in record timing and her stay in Australia was extended to allow additional shows not previously planned. The phenomenal success story of the debut album 'Lungs' - certified double platinum in Australia, peaking at #3 on the ARIA Album Chart with the much loved singles 'You've Got The Love,' 'Kiss With A Fist' & 'Dog Days Are Over' - has paved the way for her much lauded and highly anticipated sophomore release, 'Ceremonials.' Debuting at #1 on the ARIA charts on the week of release, this stunningly accomplished record is showing no sign of slowing down. Florence Welch is an artist teetering on the wind-blown top of her game, and this record is an extraordinary testament to what she refers to as "my incorrigible maximalism." The pounding epiphanic positivism of 'Spectrum'; the galloping massed-ranks majesty of 'All This And Heaven Too' and 'Shake It Out;' the triumphant emotional battle cries of 'No Light No Light' and 'Heartlines.' Spend a little time with Ceremonials and what strikes you first and foremost is the apparent confidence of its execution. "This is the first time I've made a record with a sort of overarching, cohesive sound" says Florence: "It's a proper studio album in that sense: a group of songs that paint a unified picture of where I am in my life right now." Recorded with her full band over five weeks over the European summer in Abbey Road's legendary Studio 3, 'Ceremonials' is another product of her long-running collaboration with producer Paul Epworth. Together they've created an expansive art-pop vision that can be both captivatingly tender while still frequently soaring to places where it can overwhelm the senses like an emotive tidal wave.

Already confirmed to headline Groovin The Moo in May, Chugg Entertainment announces today that City and Colour will be following up a hugely successful tour last year with a string of headline theatre shows across the country. The three time platinum certified project lead by Dallas Green (previous frontman of post-hardcore outfit Alexisonfire) has become a household name within the indie music community for their distinctive fusion of folk, blues, rock, and twangs of country. What began as a hobby for a hardcore singer has evolved into one of the most praised acoustic/indie/folk acts to enter the scene in the last decade. In addition to their appearance on the national run of Groovin The Moo dates in Bendigo, Townsville, Maitland, Canberra and Bunbury, City and Colour will appear in headline theatre shows at the Auckland Town Hall on Sunday 29th April for one show in New Zealand, then over to Australia to the Palais Theatre in Melbourne on Wednesday 2nd May, The Tivoli in Brisbane on Tuesday 8th May, Sydneys Enmore Theatre on Monday 14th May, the Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide on Friday 18th May, concluding at the Fremantle Art Centre on Sunday 20th May. Fresh off of the release of his third full length album, Little Hell, Dallas Green has continued to take City and Colour in bold new directions while keeping his signature brand of indie folk intact. Gaining a strong cult following, all three full-length albums have now attained platinum certification, with Fragile Bird, the first single off Little Hell sparking a critical frenzy upon its release with Greens shift into grittier sonic territory and a swift jump to #1 on the Canadian rock/alternative charts. The track also held the #1 position on countless Top 50 Songs of 2011 lists. With the release of Little Hell, Green departs from his mainly acoustically driven beginnings to include warm guitars, resonant organ and drum accompaniments in order to provide a fuller sound to the album. Tracks such as Sorrowing Man and Weightless showcase a more intense sound that still masterfully incorporates Grees distinctly smooth and soulful voice. Although this is a significant change from older works, City & Colour still puts forth an album full of what Spin describes as strangely uplifting expressions of compassion through the melancholy and introspective lyrics that Green has made all his own. The Canadian native had been releasing songs for City and Colour over the internet for fans to download while he was touring with Alexisonfire. He then took those songs and rewrote a collection of them for his first full length album, Sometimes, which was released in 2005. Soon after Sometimes received a Juno Award (Canadas Grammys equivalent) for Alternative Album of the Year, Green was back in the studio to record a second album, Bring Me Your Love. When praising reviews for the album began to pour in, Green wasted no time hitting the road to support the album, and consequently rounded out 2011 with major appearances on the festival circuit from Glastonbury, Sasquatch and Hop Farm to Coachella and Lollapalooza as well as an extensive European and US tour of fifty plus sold out shows, including an impromptu duet with Pink at the Orpheum Theatre in LA. After City and Colours last tour in Australia in April 2011, it was certain that the groundswell of anticipation was there from coast to coast. With no new material in the market, it was clear that there were dedicated fans following the underground career of City and Colour; Sydneys Metro theatre sold out the day it went on sale and was moved to the Enmore Theatre. Not only did this show sell out, but so did the second Enmore show. Melbourne and Brisbane followed suit, selling out in a day, and Perth and Adelaide followed not long after. It was on the date of the first Sydney show that the first single of the forthcoming new album, Fragile Bird, debuted worldwide, with the album dropping at #2 on the Australian charts and swagging the respected spot of Triple Js feature album. With the successes of this latest offering and the broader recognition received, this tour promises to be the best yet for City and Colour, with brand new material that adds new found intensity and resonance to an already energetic live show. This along with the powerful acoustic performances that Dallas Green has become known for are sure to make this the tour of the season. Do not miss out.