Arctic Monkeys - Touring Australia May 2014

Frontier Touring is thrilled to confirm that Sheffield Arctic Monkeys will be landing in Australia next May to embark on their biggest tour of our shores to date!

Arctic Monkeys first burst onto the music scene in 2006 with their Award-winning debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.  The album became the fastest-selling debut album in British music history. 

In the years since their debut, the band have received two Grammy Award nominations, five Brit Awards, headlined the iconic Glastonbury Festival twice and taken to the world stage in front of billions as part of the London Olympic Games opening ceremony. Originally one of the ‘best new bands to watch’, Arctic Monkeys have well and truly cemented themselves now as one of the most important British bands of their time.

The band were last Down Under in 2011 for Falls and Southbound Festivals as well as a handful of Australian headline shows; in 2014 they will return for their most extensive run of tour dates including two New Zealand shows and five Australian shows in celebration of their fifth studio album AM (out now through Domino Records/EMI).

On the charts, AM was the band’s fifth consecutive UK #1 debut, making them the first artist signed to an independent label to achieve this. Closer to home, the album shot straight to the #1 spot on both the ARIA Album Chart and New Zealand’s Official Album Chart.

As well as success on the charts, AM was also heralded by critics  across the globe as Arctic Monkeys’ best album to date and was nominated for the 2013 Mercury Music Prize just two days after its release.

If the demand for their latest album is anything to go by, these tickets won’t last long. Be quick to see Arctic Monkeys; one of the greatest live bands to emerge in recent years.

TOUR DATES*:

Tue 6 May - Sydney Entertainment Centre
Wed 7 May - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Fri 9 May - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Sat 10 May - Adelaide Entertainment Theatre, SA
Tue 13 May - Perth Arena , WA
*Ticketek is selling for the above venues only.

The The Syd Ent Centre Site for More Info

Indian Tourists Flocking to Australia, Says Report

Melbourne: Indian tourists are flocking to see beauty of Australia taking the total number of overseas travellers from the region to over 134,000 from January to October this year, a report said.

According to latest data of Tourism Australia, a total of 134,000 visitors from India visited Australia during October this year, an increase of 9.5 per cent as compared to the same period previous year.

According to its Tourism Forecast Committee report released earlier this year, visitor arrivals from India were predicted to rise by 7.5 per cent and 7.6 per cent to 1,63,800 in 2012-13 and 176,300 in 2013-14 respectively.

"Markets expected to experience strongest gains in visitor volumes in 2012?13 are China (15.9 per cent), Malaysia (13.9 per cent), Singapore (12.5 per cent) and India (7.5 per cent)," it said.

"This revision represents a difference of 6500 more visitors in aggregate. In the longer term to 2021-22, average annual growth of 7.2 per cent to 306,100 visitors is expected," the report cited while note trends from Indian tourists.

It said that average length of stay rose 20 per cent to 66 nights per trip while total nights in hotels, motels and guest houses and serviced apartments rose 17.2 per cent to 0.5 million compared with same period in 2011-12.

"Visitor expenditure is fore casted to rise 19.8 per cent in 2012-13 to USD 867 million.

In the longer term to 2021-22, average annual growth of 10.9 per cent is forecast to USD 2 billion, representing an upward revision of USD 354 million,"?the?report predicted.

Last year, Tourism Australia had launched India 2020 Strategic Plan which was developed to maximise India`s tourism potential and set a foundation for the future, when long haul leisure travel by Indians becomes more common.

Australia Day Squash Challenge Ipswich, QLD 2014

The Ipswich Squash Open Australia Day Challenge will be held from the 23rd – 26th January 2014.  The challenge will include:

• Open Women’s Competition
• Open Men’s Competition
• Graded mens and womens events for local players

This event will be a great opportunity to see the pro’s play with a number of top seeded Australian and international players entered.

Local players can also join in the competition with the graded events.

Keep checking the website for further details including your chance to hit with the pro’s on Friday, 24th January.

View the official site for more information

Queensland domestic tourism boom led by NSW visitors

By Jeremy Pierce and Anne Hancock

DURING State of Origin they hate our guts, but our neighbours from NSW can't get enough of the Sunshine State, gifting Queensland a multibillion-dollar tourism bonanza.

New tourism figures released yesterday have revealed Aussie travellers poured $14 billion into the Queensland tourism industry for the year ending September - a billion-dollar boost over the year before.

And our friendly "Mexicans" from across the border are leading the charge, with Sydneysiders alone accounting for almost a third of the state's domestic visitors, according to Tourism Research Australia data.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said NSW travellers who had previously flown overseas may have finally decided to explore the state next door.

"We've had a pretty rough trot in recent years, but these numbers are certainly very encouraging," he said.

"And maybe all the NSW people who have been flying over the top of us for the last couple of years are now taking advantage of what they have seen out the plane window."

Tourism officials from the Gold Coast to the Tropical Far North are celebrating Christmas early, buoyed by their best-ever results.

Nowhere is the picture prettier than on the Gold Coast, which has overcome battered beaches and brawling bikies to remain one of the nation's tourist capitals.

The city welcomed 3.6 million domestic tourists for the year, up 220,000, and Gold Coast Tourism spokesman Ben Pole said that by the end of the month the region should have achieved its best year on record.

"This reaffirms the Gold Coast as Australia's most popular holiday destination and shows that through beach erosion and crime, the attractions of our destination can overcome anything,'' he said.

"The numbers are the best since the GFC and by the time we finish 2013 we expect it to be the best year on record."

Tropical North Queensland has already recorded its best-ever year with 1.7 million visitors, representing a surge of 16 per cent.

Tropical North Queensland CEO Rob Giason said the results proved the region had bounced back from tough times.

"We were on our knees in 2010 but we had the vision to create a strategy for growth," he said.

Queensland Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said the results delivered an unexpected bonus.

"The Premier was so excited with this news he just planted a big kiss on my cheek," she said.

"It's really showing that the hard work of this government is paying off."

The results, which do not take into account the millions of dollars generated by international visitors, leave Queensland on track to meet the State government target of an industry worth $30 billion by 2020.

Top 5 Queensland destinations

1. Brisbane (5 million)

2. Gold Coast (3.6 million)

3. Sunshine Coast (2.6 million)

4. Southern Queensland Country (1.9 million)

5. Tropical North Queensland (1.7 million)

* Domestic visitor numbers for year ending September 2013

Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/queensland-domestic-tourism-boom-led-by-nsw-visitors/story-fnii5v70-1226780962509

FEDERER LEADS ALL-STAR BRISBANE LINE-UP

Four of the Top 20 men – including tennis superstar Roger Federer – will headline Brisbane International 2014 presented by Suncorp.

Seventeen-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will lead a strong men’s field, which features Top 20 players Kei Nishikori, Gilles Simon and Kevin Anderson alongside a raft of rising talent.

Brisbane International 2013 runner-up Grigor Dimitrov returns to the Sunshine State looking to go one better in 2014, but will be forced to overcome a world class field including local hopes Lleyton Hewitt (SA), Marinko Matosevic (Vic) and 18-year-old wildcard Nick Kyrgios (ACT) in his pursuit of the title.

Brisbane International Tournament Director Cameron Pearson said the 2014 field was one of the strongest in the event’s history.

“The calibre of the field assembled for Brisbane International 2014 is one of the greatest on record, and we’re certainly looking forward to welcoming the world’s top players to Queensland Tennis Centre in December,” he said.

“To have Roger Federer and Serena Williams headline the event, and a line-up that features four of the world’s Top 20 men and six of the Top 10 women, is a remarkable result and testament to the high regard the players have for the tournament.

“It’s thanks to the incredible support the event receives from Queensland tennis fans that so many of the world’s leading players have chosen to start their 2014 campaigns here in Brisbane, and consider the tournament their ideal lead-in to the Australian Open.

“Tennis fans can certainly look forward to eight days of world class action from some of the biggest stars of the game in 2014.”

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said she looked forward to seeing the world’s top tennis players step onto Pat Rafter Arena in December for one of Queensland’s most highly anticipated sporting events.

“We look forward to welcoming some of the biggest names in world tennis to Brisbane International 2014, now in its sixth year, and wish all the players the very best,” Ms Stuckey said.

“I have no doubt this exceptional line-up of tennis talent will attract bumper crowds to Brisbane for the event.

“The Queensland Government is proud to support Brisbane International 2014 as part of its goal to double the annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020.”

The official ATP field for Brisbane International 2014 is as follows:

Player – Emirates ATP Ranking
Roger Federer (SUI) – 6
Kei Nishikori (JPN) – 17
Gilles Simon (FRA) – 19
Kevin Anderson (RSA) – 20
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) – 23
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) – 27
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) – 28
Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) – 29
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) – 34
Julien Benneteau (FRA) – 35
Marin Cilic (CRO) – 37
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) – 39
Robin Haase (NED) – 43
Denis Istomin (UZB) – 45
Sam Querrey (USA) – 46
Nicolas Mahut (FRA) – 50
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) – 60
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) – 61
Marinko Matosevic (AUS) – 62
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) – 67
Igor Sijsling (NED) – 69
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) – 186 [WC]
WC – wildcard

Source: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/11/47/Federer-Headlines-In-Brisbane.aspx

Barmy Army: England Cricket Supporters Hit Brisbane, Head Straight to the Pub

The Barmy Army is here to support this lot. No wonder they need a drink. Getty Images Source: Getty Images

THEY'RE loud, they're proud and they threaten to drown out the Gabba crowd.

For the second time this year, Brisbane has gone barmy with the arrival of thousands of English cricket tragics ahead of tomorrow's first Ashes Test of the summer.

It follows the midyear rugby tour of the British and Irish Lions which injected millions of dollars in to the state's economy.

The Barmy Army have made Brisbane's Pig N Whistle their unofficial capital over the past two days as they warm up for another summer of chanting, sledging and drinking under the hot Aussie sun.

They were met there by former Aussie paceman Jeff Thomson, who knows a thing or two about terrorising English batsmen.

Barmy Army co-founder Paul Burnham said Queensland-raised Aussie paceman Mitchell Johnson was already in their crosshairs for some good-natured sledging in a bid to shake his confidence.

"Mitchell Johnson copped a lot of stick last time," he said.

"We think he is pretty fragile so we will target him with some of the chants we used last time and a few new ones as well.

"We'll probably give Michael Clarke a bit of a go as well, but mostly it will be about getting behind our team and being as loud and supportive as we can."

During the Lions tour, Aussie rugby fans were often drowned out by the cheers of the Brits, but Fanatics tour manager David McClatchey said Australian sports fans were slowly catching up.

"The singing and chanting is great for atmosphere, but it's always been a British or European thing that a lot of Aussie sports fans haven't really bought in to until pretty recently," he said.

A bunch of Barmy Army invaders met Jeff Thomson at the Pig and Whistle in the Brisbane CBD. Thousands of English cricket fabns have descended on brisbane for the first Ashes Test. Source: News Corp Australia

"But we're seeing in the A-League (soccer) there's plenty of singing now so the tide is turning."

Cricket Australia expects up to 50,000 British tourists during the series, with almost 10,000 packages booked through official tour channels.

Thousands more will travel independently.

Almost all of Brisbane's 10,000 hotel rooms are booked solid for the next six days, giving the city's tourism industry its biggest week in years.

Donna Rodios from leading travel agency wotif.com said bookings were up 22 per cent on Brisbane's last Ashes Test three years ago.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said the Ashes clash would deliver huge benefit to the city.

"It's a multi-day event for a start and it stretches in to the weekend which is great when you want to fill hotels in the city," he said.

"And there is such keen interest in this contest throughout the cricket-playing world and when you think of Britain and India, they are two of our biggest markets."

Ashes 2013-14: Brisbane Ground Guide, History and Statistics

"The Harmison ball". Three words that still strike fear into any England supporter

Its official name is the Brisbane Cricket Ground, but the famous stadium on Vulture Street in the suburb of Woolloongabba is universally known as the Gabba. 

Handed Test status in 1931, the modern Gabba is not quite the "bear pit" of old, and is now capable of holding 42,000 fans in the vast stands encircling the arena in a manner not dissimilar to Melbourne's MCG.

Despite its redevelopment, the "Gabbatoir" remains an intimidating venue, where the Barmy Army trumpeter was ejected in 2006, and four years later even fans carrying bags with multiple zips  fell foul of the entry regulations.

England's poor record in the Queensland heat - only two wins in their last 17 Test visits, in 1978 and 1986 - has cemented Brisbane's place as the traditional first Test venue for each Ashes series.

Ashes Tests: 19 (Australia won 10, England won four, with five draws)

First Ashes Test: 10-16 February 1933 - a timeless Test, the fourth of the notorious "Bodyline" series. England's hero Eddie Paynter was suffering with tonsillitis when he rose from his hospital bed to make 83 in the first innings, before hitting a six to win the match and regain the Ashes in the second innings.

Highest Ashes total: 645 all out by Australia in November 1946, in the first Ashes Test after World War II. Don Bradman made 187, adding 276 with Lindsay Hassett (128).

Lowest Ashes total: 58 all out by Australia in December 1936. Needing 381 to win, they were skittled in 12.3 overs by England captain Gubby Allen (5-36) and Bill Voce (4-16).

Highest individual Ashes score: 235 not out by England's Alastair Cook on their last visit in November 2010. His match-saving innings lasted 625 minutes and 428 balls.

Most Ashes runs: 464 by ex-Australia skipper Ricky Ponting, who made two centuries and two fifties on four visits between 1998 and 2010, averaging 92.80.

Best Ashes bowling (innings): 8-71 by legendary Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne in November 1994, when he spun them to a 184-run victory and returned match figures of 11-110.

Most Ashes wickets: 22 by Aussie seamer Glenn McGrath, who collected six-wicket hauls in 1998 and 2006.

Ashes runs scored: 10,500, for the loss of 271 wickets at an average of 38.75 runs per wicket.

Ashes boundaries: 1,073 (1,041 fours, 32 sixes)

Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane

Date: 21-25 November

   

Start time: 00:00 GMT

Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio 4 Long Wave and via the BBC iPlayer Radio app, BBC Sport website & BBC Sport app; updates on BBC Radio 5 live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website, app & mobile devices