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The Production Company presents their 2015 season with West Side Story, starring Anna O’Byrne who is returning from London to play Maria and Gareth Keegan who starred in Show Boat last season, is Tony. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is set on New York’s Upper West Side in the mid 1950’s where racial and social tensions are high. There are only 10 performances 11-19 July at the State Theatre.
Nice Work If You Can Get It is the new Gershwin musical comedy and features many of George Gershwin’s biggest hits.
This 1920’s era musical features some extravagant dance numbers and glittering costumes. It is an unlikely love story between a wealthy playboy and the feisty bootlegger.
Starring Rohan Browne (Singin’ in the Rain) who plays wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter and Esther Hannaford (King Kong, Hairspray) is Billie Bendix, the feisty bootlegger who is on the run from the law. 10 performances only 15-23 August.
Jerry Herman’s Jerry’s Girls will feature twelve of Australia’s leading ladies including Rhonda Burchmore, Nancye Hayes, Silvie Paladino, Kirby Burgess and more.
Herman’s hits in this musical include Hello Dolly, Bosom Buddies and I Am What I Am. 17 performances only from November 21-December 6 at the Playhouse Theatre.
Tickets telephone 1300 182 183 or book online
www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
www.theproductioncompany.com.au
COLIN HAY
Former Men at Work front man Colin Hay has released his solo album Next Year People. The album is full of quizzical, curious, and cynical yet open hearted songs with catchy melodic hooks.
The album was recorded in Topanga, California and produced by Colin Hay. The CD features two bonus tracks ‘Are We There Yet? and Lament for Whisky McManus.
Hay formed Men at Work in 1978 and produced hits like Down Under 1981 and Who Can It Be Now 1981. The band won a Grammy Award in 1983 for Best New Artist. Their debut album Business as Usual went platinum status four times over selling 10 million copies in more than 50 countries.
www.colinhay.com.au
GARTH BROOKS
Country music singer Garth Brooks, who came out of retirement last year, has surpassed Elvis Presley as the solo artist to sell the most albums in the US. But Brooks remains well below the all-time top sellers, the Beatles, who, according to the Record Industry Association of America, have sold 178 million albums. Brook’s career soared in the 1990s as his country songs won a crossover audience. After a break in which he raised a family, Brooks released his first album in 13 years, Man Against the Machine in 2014 notching up more than a million in sales placing Brooks at the top of current artists with 135 million albums against 134.5 for Elvis.
Brooks was born Troyal Garth Brooks in Yukon, Oklahoma in 1962 and his mother, Colleen Carroll was a country singer who appeared on Ozark Mountain Jubilee and recorded for Capitol Records
ALIEN
The first alien movie in 20 years is in the works is in the works.
20th Century Fox released the first film, Alien, in 1979 earning more than $100 million. It was followed by three sequels, the last of which was released in 1997. Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt and Veronica Cartwright starred in the first film.
South African Director, Neil Blomkamp who previously directed District 9 and Elysium will be in charge of the new Alien sequel.
Sir Paul McCartney will induct former Beatle, Ringo Starr, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 18.
The drummer will become the last of the Fab Four to become a member of the Ohio institution as a solo artist.
McCartney, who became the second Beatles star to receive the honour in 1999, will join Steve Wonder, Patti Smith, J.Geils Band singer Peter Wolf and Steve Cropper among the presenters at this year’s star studded event.
Wonder will induct Bill Withers (Lean on Me), Smith will honor her late friend, Lou Reed, and Wolf will pay tribute to the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Dave Grohl, Joe Walsh, Tom Morello, John Legend and Jimmy Vaughan will perform at the April 18th awards.
Meanwhile Paul McCartney has become the oldest person to top the Australian singles chart, thanks to Kayne West.
McCartney’s unlikely collaboration with rapper West and singer Rihanna, Four Five Seconds topped the ARIA singles chart. It is also McCartney’s first Australian chart hit in 38 years. The ex-Beatle last made No.1 in Australia in 1977 with Mull of Kintyre, which spent 11 weeks on top.
McCartney beats the record held by Cher, who was 52 when Believe made No.1 in 1999. McCartney’s first No.1 single here as a solo act was in 1971 with Another Day from the popular ‘Ram’ album.
LEO SAYER
The newly released Leo Sayer album, RESTLESS YEARS, debuted at No. 39 on ARIA charts. The album also came in at No 25 on the National ARIA Physical Chart and No.9 in the NSW ARIA Chart. This is the first time in seven years Leo has returned to the Australian charts and with his first Top 40 album in over 30 years!
From his debut 1973 smash hit The Show Must Go On to his 2006 UK No 1 remix of Thunder in My Heart, Leo Sayer has carved an incredible career including selling 80 million albums and a recipient of a Grammy award. RESTLESS YEARS is his first studio album in six years with 13 brand new songs ranging in a variety of genres from Pop to Country to Rock. His live performances are legendary and Leo kicks off his first Australian tour in four years commencing from February 4.
RESTLESS YEARS is released on the Fanfare Record label (Distributed by EMI). The album was recorded at Little Red Jet Studios in Melbourne with Aria Award winning producer Mitch Cairns of Russell Morris Sharkmouth fame and mixed by the legendary John Hudson of London’s Mayfield studios who like Leo, now calls Australia home. The first single How Did We Get So Old is a fun light hearted song reminiscent in flavor of the likes of Monty Python’s Always Look on the Brighter Side of Life.
All songs on the new album were written by Sayer along with Albert Hammond (who co-wrote When I Need You) on four songs and Frank Farrell on one. Playing on the album are Johnny Salerno (drums), Mitch Cairns (bass), Bill Risby (keyboards), Danny Spencer (guitars), Mark Kennedy (percussion), Ross Irwin (trumpet and flugelhorn), Paul Williams (saxophones) and Keiran Conrau (trombone) with Natasha Stuart, Vika Bull and Linda Bull on backing vocals.
www.leosayer.com
Ready for one of the greatest bands in rock’n’roll history with one of the most spectacular shows Australia will see this year?
Ready for a stage production called ‘The Spider’, moved by 38 computer controlled winches, featuring 220 automated lights, weighing in at 43,000 kgs, incorporating 900 pieces of pyrotechnics and powered by 400,000 watts of sound?
Add in showmanship that continues to thrill audiences around the world, some of the best damn rock anthems in music history and there’s only one band we can be talking about....... KISS!
Get your face paint ready Australia because Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer are on their way Down Under in October as part of their 40th Anniversary world tour. Kicking off at the Perth Arena on Saturday October 3, then to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, for the first time ever Newcastle and with New Zealand.
KISS remains one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll. As one of America's top gold-record champions, KISS has released 44 albums and sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. Decades of record-breaking tours around the globe have included high-profile appearances at Super Bowl XXXIII, the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the Rockin' the Corps concert dedicated to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
KISS is celebrating two major milestones, their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April of 2014, as well as the band’s 40th Anniversary. KISS 40, a new album celebrating 40 years of Rock ‘N Roll is available now.
Kiss will appear at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday October 8.
Tickets 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
FLEETWOOD MAC
The rumours are true - the legendary Fleetwood Mac will bring their on with the Show World Tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2015.
The On with the Show Tour will mark Fleetwood Mac’s first series of concert dates in Australia and New Zealand since 2009’s sold-out Unleashed Tour. Touring as a five-piece for the first time since 1998, Fleetwood Mac will play a selection of arena and winery shows this October - November.
The national winery event A Day on the Green is thrilled to announce Fleetwood Mac as the first concert of the 2015/16 summer season, with the legendary band performing at Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong on Saturday November 7.
All five original band members are back together, with Christine McVie rejoining band mates Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks after a 16-year absence.
The On With The Show Tour will see Fleetwood Mac on stage for close to two and a half hours, showcasing hits and classic songs from their career that spans more than four decades and global album sales in excess of than 100 million, including songs such as: “The Chain”, “Dreams”, “Second Hand News”, “Rhiannon”, “Sara”, “Gold Dust Woman”, “Tusk”, “Looking Out for Love”, “Don’t Stop”, “Go Your Own Way”…and the list goes on and on
Tickets for all shows go on sale April 1st and Day on the Green fans get access their tickets www.adayonthegreen.com.au
For full Australian tour dates, visit www.fleetwoodmac.com and www.livenation.com.au
TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. Next Year People – Colin Hay
2. A Product of a Broken Dream – Company Caine (Aztec)
3. The Official Songbook – Harry Vanda & George Young (Sony)
4. Silent Writer – Ray Sorenson (
5. Restless Years – Leo Sayer (Fanfare)
6. The Endless River – Pink Floyd (Sony)
7. The Ultimate Collection – Kevin Johnson (Fanfare)
8. Freedom Ride – Troy Cassar-Daley (Liberation)
9. Avonmore – Bryan Ferry (Universal)
1o. Kiss 40 - Kiss
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