Kylie Minogue stands up for fans rights against ticket scalpers; New system

Kylie Minogue, Australia's favourite music princess at the moment, will battle ticket scalpers with her fan-friendly anti-tour this month.

The Aussie icon is putting her heart and soul into doing the right thing for true fans - not those who try to profit on her hot tickets or are included to try to sell anything about her on the likes of eBay...long a haven of scalpers and those who attempt to profit at real fans expense.

The real fans who manage to secure tickets to her intimate show will have their actual name printed on a wristband.

Only two tickets can be purchased for the anti-tour show at the Palace Theatre in Melbourne on March 18.

The wristbands must be collected and signed for by the credit card holder who bought the tickets in the first place.

The developments follow cunning scalping online of tickets for sold out shows by Radiohead and boy band One Direction.

US rock gods, KISS, have also been vocal about fake fans in the past, including those who try to pretend they are fans, aim to get signed autographs of KISS merchandise, later to attempt to sell it on eBay.

A crackdown against "fans" who stalk performing artists is also on the way. Kylie is just one of many Australian artists who have been stalked by undesirables in recent years.

Minogue’s anti-tour, which also plays Sydney’s Luna Park on March 20, is on sale come midday via frontiertouring.com/kylie and kylie.com.

Tickets are $129.60 plus fees and are expected to sell out in a flash.

Unlike Minogue’s usual concerts, the anti-tour will feature only b-sides, demo tracks and rarities in a tactic to please her legions of fans.

There will also be minimal production, with just her British band, who are already in Melbourne rehearsing for the two shows.

Minogue told the press she thought up the anti-tour concept after last year’s multi-million dollar Aphrodite Les Folies spectacular.

"I don't know how I can beat having water fountains, which is madness," Minogue said.

"Some people's favourite tour is still Intimate and Live where we had two penny farthings to put it on. The reason I thought of it was, when you're on the big shows you're obliged to play a stack of hits. How do you go bigger? You don't, you go completely the other direction."

The singer also confessed she will need to refresh her memory to perform numbers she’s never sung live before.

"Oh I'm going to need a lyric stand for sure. I imagine the fans will do homework and know all the lyrics better than I do. That fills me with excitement."

The tour is the latest event in the year that marks Minogue’s 25th anniversary of releasing music.

Kylie is just off performing at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, where she played Horden Pavilion to a packed house of about 5000, and just a sprinkle of media who were lucky enough to photograph the rare performance.

Go girl, and thank you to your wonderful team who have assisted us so much lately. Kylie fever forever.

Websites

Minogue official website

http://www.kylie.com/

Mardi Gras

http://www.mardigras.org.au/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Shannon Noll youth music rehabilitation session at Australian Institute of Music

Coca-Cola Australia Foundation funds innovative youth rehabilitation program  

Creative arts used to inspire change in marginalised youth

5 March 2012 - With help via $220,000 funding from the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation (CCAF), Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm (TCF) has expanded their Creative Arts Vocational Education (CAVE) program - a specialist youth rehabilitation and treatment initiative.

The financial support from CCAF to date has rapidly expanded the program, with funding providing new facilities and equipment as well as the employment and training of a full-time CAVE course coordinator. As a result, 156 students completed the program in 2011.

To celebrate the success of the program to date, CCAF advocate, Shannon Noll hosted youth involved in the CAVE program to a private session at the Australian Institute of Music– giving them a behind-the-scenes look into the music industry as well as treated them to a live performance.

Shannon Noll, describes the program and day with the kids as inspirational, commenting on its ability to inspire significant change for youth involved, “As a musician, I know how powerful the arts can be, and that is why I support the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation and Triple Care Farm in their effort to use creative arts as a tool to rehabilitate and inspire youth towards a better future”.

·         TCF is a unique and successful residential program for young people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness or acute behavioural problems. TCF covers 45 hectares of farmland in NSW's Southern Highlands and offers young people aged 16-24 the chance to develop emotionally, socially and vocationally in a safe and secure environment. 

·         TCF’s experience shows that creative arts programs are an innovative and effective way of rehabilitating youth; as such, CAVE operates as an integrated aspect of their holistic residential rehabilitation and treatment program.

·         CAVE uses the creative arts - including music, visual art, drama and film production – as alternative forms of self expression and education for youth in the program. Further, it provides opportunities for students to increase confidence, employability as well as develop other skills they need to make a successful, and sustainable, reintegration into the community.

Nichole Sullivan, supervising psychologist of CAVE and spokesperson for TCF commented, “Involvement in the CAVE program has seen an increase in positive outcomes for our students across the board.

“Students who intensively participated in the CAVE program tend to have an increased length of stay at TCF, which means they are engaged longer and are therefore more likely to benefit from the other activities and treatments we offer.

“Hence, results for young people involved in the CAVE program indicate reductions in substance use and dependence and increased quality of life.”

“We have also found that these students had better outcomes after leaving TCF, with a higher proportion involved in work or study, including three former students who are now directly employed in a music-related vocation.

Jim Bird, Chairman of CCAF, says “The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation is proud and delighted to support Triple Care Farm and the CAVE program. It is an admirable program, that we believe truly makes a difference to young people in their journey toward rehabilitation”.

                                                                   http://vimeo.com/channels/130132#37996189

American Reunion Cast Eat Pie At Harry's Cafe de Wheels, Sydney, Australia

Tara Reid

Jason Biggs

Earlier this morning in Sin City Sydney - outside the famous Harry's Cafe de Wheels to be precise, the cast of 'American Reunion' (better known as 'American Pie') congregated to help promote the Australian release of the latest instalment of their movie.

Fans and media gathered and most agreed that it was a breath of fresh air to have a movie premiere outside in such nice and hip surroundings, rather than at a cinema, which is the norm.

It was a marketing masterstroke to team up the 'American Pie' film franchise with Harry's Cafe de Wheels (which is Australia's most famous and respected meat pie brand... since 1945). Harry's pies are 100% pure beef. Harry's director Michael Hannah was on hand also to inform, educate and entertain the well behaved media pack, and kindly posed for a few photos while we waited for the Hollywood movie stars.

Some of the Pie cast has been "down under" before. Pie actress Tara Reid has experienced Australia before and got to know Australian advertising industry legend John Singleton quite well a few years ago thanks to Singo's Magic Millions racing carnival on Australia's Gold Coast, but we didn't see Mr Singleton today so we suspect "Singo" is currently in a relationship.

'Pie' stars including Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott and Tara Reid arrived in black limos before checking out Harry's and posing for photographs, with a couple of the lad's even taking in a few bites of pie with compliments like "f*ing beautiful" coming thick and fast.

'American Reunion' has been described by a number of media agencies and film critics as the "raunchiest" since the the original 1990s flick.

Public thank you to the great folks at Universal Pictures who were so helpful today, as well as to Michael and the team at Harry's who gave us two cool t-shirts.

We look forward to our next bite of pie, be it Australian or Americans - whatever comes first.

Jason Biggs, Tara Reid

The American Pie Reunion Cast

Tara Reid, Eugene Levy

Jason Biggs

Jason Biggs

Tara Reid

Mena Suvari

Mena Suvari

Chris Klein, Mena Suvari

Harry's Cafe de Wheels

Michael Hannah

Chris Klein

Chris Klein, Mena Suvari, Seann William Scott, Jason Biggs

Websites

American Reunion official website

http://www.americanreunionmovie.com/

Universal Pictures

http://www.universalpictures.com/

NBC Universal

http://www.nbcuni.com/

Harry's Cafe de Wheels

http://www.harryscafedewheels.com.au/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Kylie Minogue Mardi Gras Harbour Party

Kylie Minogue Mardi Gras Harbour Party, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Mardi Gras Sydney 2012; Kylie Minogue On Parade and After Party 2pm show

The weather in Sin City Sydney was wet, but spirits were sky high.

Expectations were high and this years Mardi Gras delivered.

The massive crowd was really well behaved and all of the police officers we encountered were very friendly and helpful.

Mardi Gras was broadcast worldwide via the internet (powered by Optus) for the virgin time, and about 300,000 spectators crowded along Oxford St and took in the almost 3-hour long show.

There was a wonderful spread of floats and all manner of glitter and sexy creations, with feathers boas, lots of colour, sequin and skin being all the rage.

It's understood that in excess of 9100 friendly folks marched to Taylor Square. Some of our favs included Marilyn look-a-likes, cheerleaders, butterflies and polished up police.

Dykes on Bikes and Love Muscle were both also very popular crowd pleasers.

We counted about 20 of the 120 floats promoting marriage equality, pushing this year's theme of "Infinite Love"

Many politicians got behind the cause, with Federal MPs Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek, and State MPs Carmel Tebbutt, Penny Sharpe and Linda Burney all marching in Rainbow Labor’s marriage equality float. State MP Bruce Notley-Smith, who also spoke at the media media conference was on the GLBTI Liberals float.

Many people feel that the amazing Kylie Minogue-themed float was the best. It was designed for Kylie to spec.

Kylie made her first appearance at the Sydney Mardi Gras since 1998.

Minogue, 43, said the event holds great memories for her having attended twice before.

"It’s such a great way to celebrate the relationship between the gay community and myself and everything we have been through together," she said.

"The city feels alive, it's something that is great for Sydney, great for Australia and I am so honoured to be a part of it.".

It was mainly Kylie that also drew a massive crowd to the party at Hordern Pavillion - Royal Hall of Industries - Moore Park.

News Updates...

Kylie Minogue news...

Yes, Kylie is returned to Mardi Gras Sydney tonight. Earlier in the day she put out to the universe: "Please dear, dear Sydney, just keep the rain away while we party, Kylie told Fairfax Media "A lot of effort is still going into the performance on Saturday night and, personally, I'm excited to see the parade and feel the spirit of the city, the spirit of the people and to be part of that is a beautiful thing." Her upcoming appearance at the Mardigrasland Party in the Entertainment Quarter is sold out. Its been 14 years since she graced Mardi Gras and said her 2012 return "just felt right". "It's hard to believe I've been in music for 25 years, and in showbiz even longer," she said. After Mardi Gras, she will present her music in a more stripped-back setting as part of the ongoing K25 celebrations.

Kylie! Australia's pop queen performed at the Mardi Gras party. It as a 20-minute medley of songs stretching from her first album to her most recent, Aphrodite. Minogue's song arrangements are completely tailor-made for the show which took place at the Royal Hall of Industries. Kylie's show began at 2pm, suggesting she's still quite the night owl and party animal. 16 amazing talented dancers supported the pop princess as she wowed the crowd.

Political and People Power outcomes on the way?...

Last year, Barry O'Farrell announced that he would allow a conscious vote for NSW Liberal members on the issue of gay marriage.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard allowed the same for her Labor Party members in 2011, resulting in the party voting in favour of the move.

Greens senator Sarah Hansen-Young, who confessed she was "not a virgin" of the Mardi Gras, said the parade was an opportunity to celebrate how far the Marriage Equality Campaign had come in parliament.

"We have several bills in parliament," she said.

"Tony Abbott now has to step out of the way and let his party catch up with the people."

The parade is an annual event by the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which aims to raise the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex communities.

Ms Hansen-Young advised the Mardi Gras was an important event not just for those involved but for the nation.

"It (the parade) has grown to the point where it's not just the Sydney community but the whole Australian community saying yes, let's celebrate diversity," she said.

Well done to everyone involved in the preparation of Sydney Mardi Gras.

Websites

Mardi Gras
www.mardigras.org.au

Mardi Gras TV
www.mardigrastv.org.au

Kylie Minogue official website
www.kylie.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia
www.musicnewsaustralia.com