INXS Switched On World Tour ‘Live’ in Malaysia

The INXS Switched On World Tour ‘Live’ in Kuala Lumpur concert, exclusively presented by Celcom. 18th August. 8.30pm, Stadium Merdeka This marks the band’s first trip to Malaysia with original members Andrew Farriss (keyboards, guitar), Tim Farriss (guitar), Jon Farris (drums), Garry Beers (bass) and Kirk Pengilly (guitars/sax, vocals). INXS were responsible for hits like Suicide Blonde, Need You Tonight, Never Tear Us Apart, Devil Inside and New Sensation lead singer Michael Hutchence. They suffered a cruel blow with the death of Michael in 1997. Last year, the band made a comeback with the reality TV show, Rock Star: INXS, where they conducted an international search for a new lead singer. Canadian JD Fortune beat thousands of other hopefuls and went on to record his first album with INXS, Switch. Shortly after completing the record, INXS and JD Fortune went on tour to promote Switch with their INXS Switched On World Tour that started in their home country. After successfully touring the United States, INXS is heading for Malaysia to remind fans here why the band has lasted almost two decades. INXS will play a two-hour show, showcasing a selection of their old hits and new tracks from Switch, the band’s first full-length studio album since 1997’s Elegantly Wasted. KL Hilton, playing host to the band, is also on the right track in promoting arts and the entertainment scene. The INXS Switched On World Tour ‘Live’ In Kuala Lumpur is also organised by Galaxy Productions. Tickets range from RM62 (free seating) to RM382 (free standing in front of stage), and are available from Galaxy Group. For details, call 03–22822020 or log on to www.galaxy.com.my Seating Plans :: Ticket Outlets :: Axcess

Force of Nature: Yogyakarta Quake Aid 2006

On Saturday, May 27 2006, an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit the province of Yogyakarta on the Java Island of Indonesia. With over 35,000 people injured and over 300,000 homes destroyed, the estimated cost of rebuilding has been put at RM 2 Billion. Early media attention ensured that Malaysians responded well over the first few days of the tragedy. However, good as that initial response was, there still remains much to do. To help the people of Yogyakarta fully recover from this natural disaster and achieve prosperity and independence once again, The Force of Nature Aid Foundation (FON) has developed a compelling event to unite in support of them through the FON – Yogyakarta Quake Aid 2006. The event will feature 3 stages offering some of the best of Malaysian and Indonesian entertainment, a variety of carnival attractions and an exclusive V.I.P. Lounge The Main Ticket stage will feature live popular music artists and bands including Kris Dayanti, Melly Goslow, Ning, Sheila Majid, Dayang Nurfaizah, Pop Shuvit, LO, Disagree, Padi, Anuar Zain and more. A DJ pavilion to excite the youth and dance music enthusiasts featuring the likes of DJ Gabriel, The Works, Stylustiks, DJ Winky, DJ Romi, internationally acclaimed DJ Cheapshot and more. A Comedy Theatre stage adds laughter with stand-up comedy by the big names of the Malaysian comedy scene including Instant Café, Harith Iskandar, Scenario, Afdlin Shauki, Jit Murad and more. A day-long Family Carnival to attract every level of society with fun and games from paintball, foosball to PlayStation 2 booths and giant bouncing castles, even a hot-air balloon! As Malaysians, we love our food so there will be plenty of that! Details: Saturday, 19 August 2006 Bukit Kiara Equestrian Golf and Country Club (Polo field) Carnival, Music and Comedy Festival start from 5.00pm till Late. Note: For corporations wishing to participate in sponsorship for this event, please contact us via email directly at 'smoovepinch at ascension dot com dot my' for us to send you the sponsorship kit.

Puteri Gunung Ledang, The Musical

The spectacular show returns on 6th to 21st August at Istana Budaya. See pictures here For ticket prices, bookings and purchases (while stocks last), click here or here or available at Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur Box Office: 03-40265558 (Because if you missed it last time, you should not make the same mistake of buying tickets last minute and missing out on getting what everyone who went last time wants to go see again.. seriously) Click here to read our past information on PGL The Musical.

The Little Penang Street Market

The Little Penang Street Market will bring together 60 vendors selling made-in-Malaysia handicrafts, antiques & collectibles, and heritage food. At the same time, 12 celebrities and musicians such as Joanne Kam Poh Poh, Syafinaz Selamat, Norleena Salim, Rozz and the Rozzells are performing for Little Penang in support of Penang’s arts, crafts and creative diversity. The event offers free live music to the public to attract the crowds. The organisers urge the public to ‘Think Global, Buy Local’ and flock to the Sunday market to shop at Little Penang. Every cent spent here will encourage local crafts people to continue and improve what they are doing, as the organisers do not take any of the proceeds. Little Penang will showcase both traditional trades and contemporary crafts. The organisers are pursuing a long-term project to support traditional trades by helping them to ‘contemporize’. This may mean modifying some aspects of the trade, improving the packaging, finding a distributor or using the internet to reach a wider market. Social and charity groups such as Asian Community Service, St. Nicholas, Cheshire Home, Charis Hospice, Penang Prison, Eden Handicapped Centre and Asrama Putri are also taking part to sell their handicrafts. Little Penang also has a project to matchmake designers with charities to help the latter upgrade their handicrafts design and make them more marketable. A major thrust of Little Penang is to showcase designer crafts by Penang-based producers who have developed an international following. For example, glass artist Fuan Wong produces fused glass objects which are promoted by international galleries, including Asia Society in New York. Artist Rebecca Ducket-Wilkinson has evolved a distinctive tropical imagery in her paintings, clothes, crafts and book. Conservation expert Tan Yeow Wooi creates unique miniature Zen landscapes and Chinese-style lamp boxes. Jonathan Yun makes exquisite jewellery inspired by natural and coral forms. Architects and potters Thim and Jane of Claycraft are known for their earthy ceramics and have won awards for their lifestyle products. These designers are among those showing the way for Penang crafts in a global market. In support of the Penang crafts community, these leading designers have also volunteered to be advisors in Penang’s community crafts and traditional trade projects. The Little Penang Street Market will be held on the last Sunday of every month at Upper Penang Road, starting 30 July, when the launch will take place at 11am. The market will be open from 10am to 8pm. The initiative is spearheaded by the Institute for Cultural Enterprise and Lestari Heritage Network, and supported by Tourism Penang, The Garage and the Upper Penang Road Promotional Society. Organised as a community project, Little Penang is endorsed by Tourism Penang and has attracted sponsorship from many local business and individual well-wishers. The organisers are now seeking funding for the future monthly markets and also financial support for the longer-term community crafts and traditional trade projects. Joanne Kam Po Po, diva comedian extraordinaire, holds court in Boom Boom Room Caberet, and acts in Instant Café and KL theatre productions. She is a familiar face in television sitcoms such as Kopi Tiam, Spanar Jaya, and ‘Ah Girl’ and has co-hosted Lonely Planet’s ‘Six Degrees’. Her acid tongue humour and outrageous outfits has made her Malaysia’s leading female stand-up comic. Norleena Salim, singer, actor, comedian and show host, has won awards for Best Comedy Actress in Asian Television Awards for her roles in Under One Roof, and the Odd Squad on Singapore television. She is now based in Australia, where she continues to sing in live concerts and presents three daily programmes on music radio. Syafinaz Selamat, KL celebrity and judge in Malaysian television’s ‘One in A Million’, is vocal master and soloist with the National Choir of Malaysia, and music lecturer at UiTM and the National Arts Academy. After winning the World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles in 1999, she made two albums with EMI, ‘Ingin Bersamamu’ 1999 and ‘Syyh Syafinaz’, 2001. The Rozells is a duo formed by James Rozells and Kathleen Rodrigues, who represent Penang’s Eurasian music heritage. For years, they ran The Rozells Country & Western and Oldies Pub, a favourite watering hole among both Penangites and tourists. Today, they are the foremost promoters of the Penang’s great composers such as Tan Sri-P. Ramlee, Jimmy Boyle and Ahmad Merican, the fathers of modern Malaysian music. Simon and Joni are two very talented young musicians. They are studying in Penang, and represent a growing pool of gifted and determined young performers. Simon will sing and play the acoustic guitar unplugged; Joni will sing. Christopher Estrop is the grandson of Larry Rodrigues and the son of Kathleen Rodrigues, so is very much part of the long musical heritage of Penang. He is a fine guitarist but today he is demonstrating his versatility by playing the keyboard and singing. Tanjung Jammers are a threesome who play for fun. Guitarist Johan is a retired USM Professor, bassist Rohan well-known in Penang circles and James is Scottish but has been in Penang for longer than he can remember. As well as enjoying their music, they also inject it with a little bit of social comment. Mary Carlos was already singing in public some thirty years ago, but took time out to raise her family and become Mrs Malaysia one year not so long ago. She has recently returned to sing on the club and hotel circuit. She will be accompanied by Michael Kay, a graduate from Berkeley, an extremely proficient musician in his own right and now working hard with others to secure the future of music in Penang. The Young Jazz Quartet are the youngest of our musicians today. They range in age from 11 to 14, so they really do represent the younger generation. Despite their age, they are already veteran public performers, having performed for example at the last Penang International Jazz Festival. (Don’t forget to go this year). Antonio and the Mixx is lead by the former lead singer of Sweet September. Rozz sings jazz with the The Jazz Trio at the Bagan in Penang. Devoted to the study of music and theatre, he was trained in the US by renowned vocal coaches and has acted in off-Broadway productions in New York.

‘Support Penang Arts, Crafts & Music… be a part of Little Penang’.

Website: www.lestariheritage.net/littlepenang email: littlepenang at lestariheritage.net

Wangi Jadi Saksi - The untold story of Hang Jebat

click picture for more information

Catch the highly anticipated "Wangi Jadi Saksi - The Untold Story of Hang Jebat" To read more and win tickets to the Opening Night, write your details in the comments section at this link in our "and Action" Section. 27th July-6th August. Auditorium Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Tickets: RM 35/55/75/100. Wangi Jadi Saksi website Axcess Tickets website

The Pussycat Dolls in Malaysia

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POP music’s hottest ‘feline’ group The Pussycat Dolls are coming to town. Sexy sirens Nicole Scherzinger, Carmit Bachar, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton, Kimberly Watt and Ashley Roberts, will perform at Sunway Surf Beach, Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, at 8pm on July 26. It’s gonna be a wet and wild night for fans as the babes will strut their stuff to hit songs like Don’t Cha, Stickwitu, Buttons, Sway and Beep. Show promoter, Absolute Entertainment Sdn Bhd, told The Malay Mail that tickets will be priced at RM200, RM100 and RM70. Pre-sale tickets will be available at six Pussycat booths at Hotlink Germany 06 Grand Finale Carnival in Jalan Bukit Bintang on 9th July. Starting out as a burlesque dance revue, The Pussycat Dolls was founded by choreographer Robin Antin and actress Christina Applegate in 1995. They first appeared in Asia in 2004 to open the MTV Asia Awards in Singapore. Yup.. we thot we thaw a putty tat.. a few putty tats.. ooooh.. For ticket details, call 03-6201-8368 or 03-91739066.

For Maxis Hotlink promotion, click here

Download Official Poster here as published in Malay Mail.

Maju Junction Merdeka Challenge 2006

The Maju Junction Merdeka Challenge is back. Bigger, bolder and more exciting with cash prizes of up to RM10,000. This year’s challenge consists of three stages. The first stage is the walk-a-hunt challenge where contestants will have to walk along a 3km route near Maju Junction to complete tasks. The second stage starts once they reach the finish line, and consists of three physical challenges. The third stage gets a bit gruesome with snakes and mice and maggots, much like fear factor.

Free Invitation to Astro Amplified Concert event

Amplified Concert!!! Catch Amplified Season 2 Concert By Hitz.tv at Studio 9 ASTRO (Studio Ali Bawal, PJ). 14th June 2006 - 20:00pm - LO 15th June 2006 - 20:00pm - Deja Voodoo Spells 16th June 2006 - 20:00pm – Burn (AF1), Marsha, Amy & Amelia (AF3), Dina & Nikki (MI) 17th June 2006 - 20:00pm - OAG 18th June 2006 - 20:00pm - Ruffedge * Strictly for Audience age 13 and above only * Smart & Casual dress code. No slippers at all. *Should be there 1 hour before show start as the gate will close at 8pm sharp. First Come First Serve.... Cheers! For Registration Email To: rsvp at ascension dot com dot my by 6pm daily with your complete details of you and your friends coming with you as below. Full Name: Email Address: Mobile Number: IC Number: Event Date(s) I want to attend: Limited To Only the first 40 persons for each event night. You can attend multiple events. Confirmation will be via SMS on event day. Please note the map of the Studio Location in PJ as below.

click on Map to view bigger version.

Coldplay in Singapore

The inaugural MTV Centrestage Singapore, a celebration of live music, is set to rock the nation on 10th of July at the Singapore Indoor Stadium with music icons Coldplay. Staged by Live Nation and MTV Centrestage, COLDPLAY TWISTED LOGIC TOUR 2006 will be presented by Nokia Nseries and supported by Singapore Tourism Board. Coldplay, one of the most awarded bands in the world with 4 Grammies, 4 Brits, 9 MTV Awards and countless others under their belt, will be performing at this one-night only concert, the only Southeast Asia stop in their 2006 tour. The vanguard of new wave British rock, Coldplay stands as one of the five biggest bands in the world. Coldplay are Guy Berryman (bass), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Will Champion (drums), and Chris Martin (vocals, guitar, keyboards). Formed in London in 1998, the band signed to Parlophone the following year. Coldplay’s first two albums, Parachutes (2000) and A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002), have sold over 16 million copies worldwide. X&Y, their most recent album released last year, was recorded in the UK and was produced by Danton Supple (Morrissey, Elbow), Ken Nelson (Badly Drawn Boy, Kings of Convenience) and the band. “Since the initial announcement of the four-year MTV Networks Asia-STB strategic alliance in February this year, there has been much media and public anticipation of the series of 17 events slated for Singapore between 2006 and 2009. Hence, we are very pleased to welcome the annual MTV Centrestage to its permanent home here in Singapore. MTV’s top-rate events will enhance Singapore’s position as a vibrant lifestyle destination that offers world-class entertainment and an exciting schedule of international events, thereby boosting our efforts to become the Entertainment Capital of Asia,” said Mr Oliver Chong, Director, Cluster Development (Events & Entertainment), Singapore Tourism Board. Nokia lends its support to MTV Centrestage as the Presenting Sponsor in Singapore, having previously collaborated with MTV and STB for MTV Fashionably Loud in March this year. “Nokia delights in bringing people together through music - it is a natural extension to our vision of Connecting People," said Chris Carr, General Manager of Nokia Singapore. "Nokia has blazed a trail for music on mobiles - from personalized ringing tones to integrated FM radios and MP3 support. We are particularly excited about the newly launched full-featured, music-optimized Nokia N91 mobile jukebox, which features 4GB of music storage." Tickets for this showcase are on sale at all SISTIC outlets from 19 May 2006. Ticket prices are at SGD$168, SGD$148, SGD$118 and SGD$68. For more information on ticket sales, please visit www.sistic.com.sg As part of the lead up to the July 10th concert, MTV channels throughout Asia will offer their viewers unique opportunities to experience MTV Centrestage including: • One viewer each from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand will also have a chance to catch Coldplay live in Singapore at MTV Centrestage. An online contest where viewers prove that they are the biggest Coldplay fan will be run on www.mtvasia.com from 26 May to 30 June 2006. A trip to MTV Centrestage Singapore including VIP seats at the concert and a new Nokia N91 mobile jukebox phone awaits the winner from each country. • MTV will air three exclusive Coldplay programming specials across its channels in Asia prior to the showcase in Singapore. All Eyes on Coldplay – a half hour special where leading artists ask the band about their albums and tours; MTV Live – Coldplay – an intimate concert taped at a church in East London which premiered exclusively across MTV channels worldwide the night before the launch of X&Y last year; and a 30-minute music special showcasing Coldplay’s hits. Coldplay has been a part of many recent MTV events including the 2005 Europe Music Awards in Lisbon and the 2005 Video Music Awards in Miami. For more information on Coldplay, please visit www.coldplay.com

Conlay Club Magic Awards 2006