Dragon Chinese Year - parade in Sydney

First Night of Sydney Festival

First Night - You can ukulele!

The humble ukulele, the diminutive instrument is making worldwide comeback.

Ali Mills - the dauther of famous Aboriginal performers David and Kathy, and Ukeladies with ukuleles led the crowd with a stirring and irreverent version of "Waltzing Matilda sung in Krol, a pigeon English language from the Northern Territory.

Ukulele clubs from around Sydney has been mustering they forces for massive invasion  with they ukuleles and Havaian print shirts to Hyde Park during first Night of Sydney Festival yesterday.

Sydney Festival - First Night

Ponad milion uczestników spodziewanych jest w rozpoczętym wczoraj dorocznym Sydney Festival, który potrwa do 30 stycznia wypełniony atrakcjami kulturalnymi światowej rangi, takimi jak występ hipnotycznego Johna Malkowicha w przedstawieniu muzycznym The Giacomo Varioations czy pokaz najbardziej sensualnego baletu naszej planety – Entity w choreografii Wayne McGregor’a. Tymczasem ulice i parki centrum Sydney wczorajszego popołudnia i wieczoru należały do tysięcy wędrujących mieszkańców i gości metropolii głodnych festiwalowych atrakcji.

Pierwszy dzień festiwalu zwany First Night zmienia całkowicie charakter miasta – centrum staje się karnawałowo-festiwalową areną. Na kilku scenach w Hyde Park, Martin Place, Chifley Square , St Mary’s Cathedral Square i na The Domain  odbywaly sie występy artystyczne, których – jak mi się wydaje - głównym przesłaniem była nostalgia za minionymi czasami. Prawdopodobnie ukłon w stronę starszego pokolenia. Tańce uliczne z ubiegłego wieku, hawajskie melodie przy akompaniamencie miniaturowych giterek „ukulele”. Stare filmy o Sydney z lat 20-tych i 30-tych z podkładem pianina, bałkańsko-cygańskie rytmy szkockiej Orkestra del Sol  i dużo muzyki country, której gwiazdą była kończaca wieczór w parku na The Domain weteranka gatunku z Alabamy, Emmylou Harris.

Nostalgiczną atmosferę rozładowywały występy kilku innych wykonawców m.in. na Martin Place -  Hanggai – mongolskiego zespołu z Chin łączącego progresywnego rocka z tradycyjną muzyką Mongołów. Z tego co widziałem , była to najlepsza i najciekawsza prezentacja muzyczna pierwszego dnia Sydney Festival.

Liverpool Bicentenary celebration

Liverpool, NSW’s fastest growing city,  celebrate Bicentenary. A significant day has been chosen for celebrations a milestone in Sydney's western suburb. Liverpool Bicentenary Festival took place at Woodward Park on Sunday, 7th November.

Same day, 200 years ago,  Governor Lachlan Macquarie founded Liverpool nation's fourth oldest town behind the Sydney City,Parramatta and Hobart. But unllike these cities, Liverpool was the first free planned settlement in Australia.

Art & About Sydney *2

Dressed up  and flamboyantly decorated some of Sydney's iconic statues are putting on their finery for Art & About Festival.

Prince Albert The Good

Captain Cook

Queen Victoria

Art & About Sydney

Art & About Sydney is Australa's foremost outdoor public art festival, bringing contemporary art to city streets, laneways and public spaces. It is vibrant celebration of our city's creative spirit.

This year, the event is focusing on Sydney itself, with much of the work explorin and questioning what it means to live in this exiting and eclectic city.

One of interesting events of this festival is photographic exibition in Hyde Park. The park provides stunning backdrop for large-scale images reflecting Sydney's unique character and diversity. The exibition shows us the many sides of the city through the eyes of 22 most exciting photographers.

Dean Sewell, Sydney Dust Storm

James Hill, The Five Ways Theatre

Tom Williams, The Osman Family - Southerly Storm Approaching Brighton Beach

Paris Spellson, Bondi Beach Local

RSFF: Camilla Franks

Models showcase designs for the Camilla Franks' Avatar-themed Camilla Babylom catwalk show as part of Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival in Sydney Town Hall.

RSFF: Nacho & Tiaan

Cool choreographer Nacho Pop and his girlfried, pop singer Tiaan Williams arrive for RSFF unique Camilla's collection show tonight in Town Hall.

Nicky Hilton on the runway RSFF

Nicky Hilton, the American heiress, fashion model and socialite, sister of Paris Hilton, and great granddaughter of Conrad Hilton (founder of Hilton Hotels), walked the runway for acclaimed Australian designer Charlie Brown in Sydney tonight.

Nicky paraded in front of a packed crowd of VIPs and fashionistas on the opening day of the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival. She wore three outfits including a nude sequined dress with sash, a stretch jersey leopard print dress with matching turban, and a turquoise party dress to close the show.


Front row guests included the current face of Charlie Brown and former Miss Universe Australia, Laura Dundovic, who was still nursing a broken ankle injury. Other celebrity guests included Natalie Gruzlewski, Kylie Gillies, and the winner of last year’s Australia’s Next Top Model series, Tahnee Atkinson.






Nicky Hilton on the runway


Nicky Hilton and other models with designer Charlie Brown

RSFF: The Gala Opening *4

Model Rebecca Twigley arrives at the "Marie Claire Presents The Gala Opening" catwalk show at Sydney Town Hall. She opened the show in a lime green tunic and trousers from Wayne Cooper's inaugural 1996 Brave collection, and closed it in a one-shoulder silver-grey 2010 chiffon gown by Toni Maticevski.

RSFF: The Gala Opening *3

Designers featured in the Gala Opening show include: Wayne Cooper, Leona Edmiston, Toni Maticevski, Aurelio Costarella, Jayson Brunsdon, kate Sylvester, Karen Walker, Akira, Easton Pearson, Collette Dinnigan, Sass&Bride, Lisa Ho, Zimmermann, Kirrily Johnston and Alex Pery.