Christmas in New South Wales
Polish up your Singstar voice for the biggest carol sing-along in Australia at Domain in Sydney on Saturday 22, (although the event will be marred by former Pop Idol winners).
On Christmas Day Sunburnt Christmas is the biggest beach party NSW has to offer. It kicks off at 12 noon at the Bondi Pavilion with a plethora of talent including American export Frankie Knuckles. Tix are $48 from Ticketek.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
For Sydney’s New Year celebrations the world-renowned Harbour fireworks will take your breath away. There’s a lot of great vantage points around the harbour (north usually has less crowds than south) but not all are conducive to drinking.
The Royal Botanic Garden gates – enter only opposite the State Library – shut at 3am. To find the spot that suits you and to plan your night go to www.sydneynewyearseve.com/.
If your ideal New Year’s Eve consists of dancing to great house music then Cargo Bar (Darling Harbour) is a good option. Headlined by Kissy Sell Out (UK) and Moguai (Germany), tix start at $79 and include three complimentary drinks.
Vomit up your innards with unlimited rides whilst listening to the beats of Sneaky Sound System, Cut Copy, Sister Bliss and Germans M.A.N.D.Y. at the harbour icon, Luna Park for NYE – you’ll be right under the fireworks. Tix start at $105 from www.harbourparty.com.
Prefer your music indie? Don’t miss the Purple Sneakers NYE House Party with locals Dappled Cities, Faker, Young & Restless and more indie DJs than you can poke a skinny jean at, including Kato, Vivienne Kingswood, Splitter and the man PHDJ. There’ll be kegs, cheerleaders, cult films and to quote Snoop, “people in the living room gettin’ it on – we ain’t leavin till six in the morn”. Visit the house party for details, tix are a paltry $45.
Cruise 69 are running three-hour harbour cruise parties with unlimited drinks from $70. The view will be extraordinary.
If dressing up is more your thing, think about growing some over-sized sideburns and soaking up the ace views from the Glenmore Rooftop Hotel’s Hawaii Five-0’s bash. Tix $100, Ph: (02) 9247 4794. If you’re more of a glitterball type of guy or gal, what about Jackson’s On George’sGlam New Year’s Eve Party? Tix are $55 from moshtix or at the venue.
Escape the city grind over New Year’s for the Peats Ridge Festival (Glenworth Valley, an hour’sdrive north of Sydney) from 29 December to 1 January. They have 350 bands on 15 stages and loads of arty stuff. Tix from $90. Visit Peats Ridge Festival or log on to our competitions page and follow the links to
win tickets.
Christmas in Victoria
If Kris Kringle brings you something sour in the day, compensate with Christmas Kandy at the Billboard Nightclub (170 Russell St) on 25 December. Get trashed to the latest beats by Ben Jackson, Tydi and my fave Panty Snort. Tix start at $20+bf from ticketek.
Big Right Hook hits the Espy Hotel (St Kilda’s Esplanade) on Boxing Day with hip-hop act TZU, The Bamboos, Macromantics, ex-Avalanches DJ Dexter and more. Tix $15 at the door from 6pm. What a knock out.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Make sure you get to Federation Square early for the city’s firework spectacular. Pablo Discobar and True Live (the brilliant string-hip-hop outfit) will entertain this free event. Details at www.federationsquare.com.au.
A killer NYE is in store as Felix Da Housecat, Spankrock, Chromeo and Muscles get you electro-funked up at the Abandoned Cinema Complex (206 Bourke St, CBD). Tix from $87+bf through fuzzy.
On New Year’s Day keep the party rolling with the Hot BBQ featuring De La Soul, Plump DJs (UK) and Stanton Warriors (UK), French mc Uffie & Feadz, Cut Copy, Gotye and more. It’s all on at Birrarung Marr on the banks of the Yarra, tix $98. For info visit Future Entertainment.
Christmas in Queensland
So you want get into the spirit of Xmas, but your wallet doesn’t? On 23 December South Bank Parklands is the place to be. From 6pm there’ll be light displays, carols, buskers, BBQs and open cinemas to ensure you have a truly Aussie Christmas.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Celebrate in style at Magnetic Island’s famous Full Moon party this New Year’s Eve. Tix start at $25 for the one and only Benny Benassi. Get into the Mustang Bar (633 Anne St, Fortitude Valley) on NYE for a Scrubs party – dress up as a naughty nurse or debonair doctor and get in free!
And on New Year’s Day BBQ Breaks brings the one and only Vanilla Ice, plus Blackalicious, Tom Neville, M.A.N.D.Y and more to the Riverside Complex. Tix from $49 www.tenpoundcrew.com.
If you fancy seeing in the New Year cowboy/girl style, have a think about the Rocky (as in Rockhampton) New Year Festival. For $100 you get all the food and drink you can stomach, bands and the freedom to shriek “yee-haa” a whole lot.
Christmas in Western Australia
The Sunshine Brothers have played with Lily Allen and the Beastie Boys. Catch ‘em for a cheeky pre-Chrimbo dance at Railway Hotel (44 Tydeman Rd, North Freo) on Sunday 23 December. Tix $10 at door.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Gloucester Park on NYE comes alive to the sounds of Howling Bells, End of Fashion and Dallas Crane. While you’re there, have a punt on the horses and don’t miss the fireworks. Gates open at 4pm, tix $35 from Ticketmaster.
Christmas in Tasmania
On Sunday 23 December one of the funkiest reggae acts in Australia, Bomba, hits the Republic Bar and Café (299 Elizabeth St, North Hobart). Doors open at 8pm, tickets are $15 (at door).
If your pockets have run dry after Christmas but you’re still thirsty on Boxing Day then head to Curly’s Bar (112 Murray Street, Hobart) for a night of house, with Happy Hour from 10-11.30pm.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Let Sugartrain push you full steam ahead into the New Year. The express train will have only one stop: The Republic Bar and Café. Make you new year’s resolution to the sounds of funk and soul for just $10.
Head south to the Apple Isle for 12 days of summer fun at the annual Hobart Summer Festival from Thursday 27 December to 6 January. Watch the premier Australian sporting event – The Sydney to Hobart Yacht race sail into town, indulge in great wine or catch a live performance for free. There’s plenty of pyrotechnical action all around Hobart’s harbour.
Christmas in the Northern Territory
Even though Christmas Day is over, the shenanigans don’t have to be. Catch Popeye and all the smoothest pop and rock tunes for free at Shenanigans in Darwin (69 Mitchell St) on Wednesday December 26. Doors open 10pm.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Welcome in the new year at Darwin’s Wharf Precinct. There’ll be live entertainment, alfresco dining and a fireworks spectacular, all free of charge.
Catch some sweet jazz, pop and rock tunes at the Sweethearts Lounge Bar (Gilruth Av, The Gardens). Doors open at 9.30pm and will go till late so you can dance well into the next year.
But if you’re not into sweets, rock into the new year with Australian legends
28 Days at the Victoria Hotel (27 Smith Street Mall). Get in early though, free entry before 9pm only.
Chistmas in South Australia
Ark Tavern Bar (150 Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton) serves up some ‘warped’ pop and rock sounds on Christmas night. The Warp Brothers kick off the night at 8pm and best of all its free.
If you’re not too blurry-eyed from Christmas, do the whole thing again at Electric Circus (17-19 Crippen Pl) on Boxing Day to the latest House sounds from USA export Chuck Love.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style in Adelaide at P.J. O’Brien’s Irish Pub
(14 East Terrace). The theme is Hollywood, so go dressed up as your favourite personality and win. On New Year’s Day the brilliant De La Soul (and a whole mess of support acts) bounce into the Shores Function Complex. What better way to start the new year? Tix $45 from Moshtix.
Christmas in Canberra
Broke, Shimon (UK), Audio Porn and Rideckulous rock Christmas Eve at Company Club (Franklin St, Canberra).
Tix $5-15 for plenty of electro and breaks.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
The Lock In at Transit Bar brings 07 to a close for the ACT’s hip-hop fans with 2Dogs, D’Opus & Roshambo, Downtown Brown, Pornstylus and Smish. Tix $105 from inthemix.
