Sparks for your eyes and stars for your ears

Wednesday 30 December 2009, 9:26 AM
By The Team | Posted in Events

New Year’s Eve in the City 2009: City Rooftops Fireworks Spectacular

As if the city’s annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display wasn’t spectacular enough already, this year’s display will be accompanied by some of the most power-packed, sparkling stars Melbourne has ever seen.

All kinds of dancing going on
As our city’s rooftops erupt with their amazing displays of colour and light, the accompanying soundtrack will feature big hits from artists including Kylie, the Black Eyed Peas, Pink and Guy Sebastian. So it won’t just be the fireworks dancing across the city this Thursday night!

If you’re watching the show and you’re not at one of the city’s four entertainment sites, tune your radio to 99.7FM for the full audio-visual experience.

The full fireworks soundtrack list includes:

• Can You Feel It: The Jacksons
• Celebration: Kylie
• Like it Like That: Guy Sebastian
• Good Times: Latch Key Kid
• I Gotta Feelin’: Black Eyed Peas
• Everybodys Free: Rozalla
• Get The Party Started: Pink
• Get Down Tonight: KC and the Sunshine Band
• Halo / Walking On Sunshine: Glee cast
• Auld Lang Syne: Red Hot Chili Pipers

And if music’s your thing, make sure you check out the live band and DJ line-ups at each of the city’s entertainment sites.

Pyrotechnicians – so hot right now
The terms ‘giant silver Chrysanthemum’, ‘rooftop Tourbillion’ and ‘multiple barrages of Golden Kamuro’ might not sound too exciting written down here, but these are actually the names of some of our most striking and memorable fireworks.

We’ve got an internationally acclaimed pyrotechnician team in town to create our most spectacular New Year’s Eve display yet. And just quietly, we’re not sure why so many Romeos (or Juliets) like to pretend they are astronauts or architects to impress their ‘intendeds’. Pyrotechnicians are surely much hotter!

The city’s midnight fireworks display will see around 1,400 fireworks shot off a series of building rooftops, plus 3,000 aerial shells fired off a barge in Victoria Harbour at Docklands and 6,000 large aerial shells launched from ground sites.

So yes, it’s going to be big.

Where to see the show
Remember, this year’s fireworks will not be at the Yarra River. Instead the fireworks will burst from the top of city buildings from the central city to Docklands. You’ll see the magic anywhere you can see the city skyline.

So at the strike of midnight plug in your headphones or switch on your radio (even those at home can listen), turn the dial to 99.7FM, pump up the volume and look to Melbourne’s skyline.

Marcia Magic

Wednesday 16 December 2009, 1:20 PM
By The Team | Posted in People

An ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, Marcia Hines has been receiving accolades for her pop diva stylings since the 1970s, when she was voted TV Week’s Queen of Pop for three years running. A popular judge on Australian Idol and born in Melbourne’s sister city, Boston, Marcia Hines has always felt at home in our wonderful city and will join in our New Year’s Eve celebrations at Yarra Park

Do you have any new year’s resolutions for 2010?

No, not really – I don’t usually do them. I try and not make resolutions because I’d be disappointed with myself if I broke it.

NYE is also a time to reflect on the year gone by. What have been the highlights of 2009 for you?

There have been many, but the most important one has been the health of my family and husband.

Tell us about your most memorable Melbourne performance?

Years ago I used to love working at the Dallas Brooks Hall – it was always an “event”.

You’ve travelled to many places throughout the world, what is special about Melbourne?

Melbourne happens to be the sister city of my home town of Boston. I feel very at home in Melbourne

You’ve been a judge on Australian Idol for seven years now, have you been impressed with the talents of singers and musicians coming out of Melbourne?

Melbourne is one of the most artistic cities in Australia, and probably the most musical! The Living End is my favourite Melbourne band.

When you visit Melbourne, where in the city do you love to visit? Do you have any particular favourite restaurants, bars, stores or events?

South Yarra, Queen Victoria Market, Flower Drum Restaurant, Pellegrinis and South Melbourne Markets. And The Melbourne Cup – it’s the best

This year you’ve released a new book called LIFE: Things To Get You By. What advice can you give our readers in order to get by in 2010?

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Enjoy life!

Marcia Hines will perform on New Year’s Eve at the new Family Festival at Yarra Park (surrounding the MCG) alongside hilarious MC, Peter Rowsthorn and Australian rock legend, Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool, Mundo Rock).

New Year’s Eve 2009 at European Bier Cafe

Tuesday 15 December 2009, 5:25 PM
By The Team | Posted in Events

The European Bier Cafe is living up to it’s name with a Euro style disco party. Enjoy canapes and selected cocktails along with their usual offerings (which include 12 varieties of beer on tap) while rocking to Action Sam upstairs or DJ Rowie and guests in the basement lounge.

View the event details or read more about European Bier Cafe.