Music Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Sydney Event Blogger

Coogee’s Foreshore Festival brings Coney Island to Sydney

Posted on March 19, 2016March 21, 2016 by sydneyeventblogger@gmail.com

Coogee Pavilion hosted a beachside festival of food with tasting plates from Merivale’s family of restaurants called The Foreshore Festival on Sunday 19 March 2016.

Attendees experienced the Coney Island beachside vibes as they feasted on food provided by Vinnie’s Pizza, Manly’s Papi Chulo, Surry Hills favourite El Loco, the CBD’s Mr. Wong and Japanese treats from Sushi e.

A foreshore festival wouldn’t be complete without gelato, so the Pavilion is serving its special ‘Fat Tony,’ a creamy vanilla creation with marsala soaked sponge, crumbled amaretti, chocolate and espresso swirls. There was also other flavours such as chocolate and raspberry to take your fancy.

There was live music and activities for the children.

There was even a Veuve Cliquot pop-up bar outside.

Tickets were $45, which includes six tokens to be used on the food and drink.

For more information, go to: http://whatson.merivale.com.au/events/foreshore-festival

The Newport set to open on Good Friday

Posted on March 16, 2016March 16, 2016 by sydneyeventblogger@gmail.com

The Newport officially opens its doors this month, when Merivale launches the first phase of the venue’s landmark redevelopment on Friday 25 March. Looking out over the stunning vista of Pittwater estuary, The Newport will be a vibrant gathering place that embraces the property’s remarkable location and offers a diverse range of spaces to drink, dine and admire the unrivalled views.

Justin Hemmes, Merivale CEO, said: “The Newport is at the heart of so many wonderful memories in the local community, so it is incredibly important for us to honour this as we create the new chapter in its history. With its sprawling grounds, magnificent landscaping and team of over 450 passionate locals, this is one of the biggest ventures we have ever undertaken. We are so excited and proud to finally open the first phase”.

The Newport will be spearheaded by Executive Chef Sebastien Lutaud who has designed an extensive menu that reflects the Northern Beaches’ enviable coastal lifestyle. Guests can journey through a diverse marketplace of food and drink experiences, enjoying sizzling grass-fed beef and chicken burgers with soft potato buns from ‘The Burger Shack’; fresh seafood including classic fish and chips, salt and pepper calamari and crispy basil prawns; seasonal salads and exceptional Australian meats like smoked brisket, barbeque chicken and hot-smoked salmon; fresh juices and smoothies from ‘The Juice Bar’; or freshly-brewed coffee, pastries and donuts at ‘The Kiosk’.

The Newport will also be home to ‘Vinnie’s Pizza’, where Merivale’s own pizza superstar Vincenzo Biondini will be whipping up his lightly-charred, wood-fired creations in the open kitchen. Guests can order pizzas directly from The Newport app and simply collect when ready.

A wide selection of wine, beers and quintessentially Sydney drinks will be on offer. Frozen cocktails such as the Yuzu (made famous at the pop-Asian hangout Ms.G’s), Pina Colada, Miami Vice and Strawberry Slushie will be served alongside margaritas and classics – all drinks made to sip as the sun sets over the peninsula.

The Newport will present an exciting programme of free events and activities. Over the Easter long weekend, children can enjoy face painting, Easter egg hunts, bunny rabbits and a petting zoo, with gold coins being collected for ‘Mums for Mums’, a local charity groupsupport families of Newport, Bilgola Plateau and Avalon Public Schools through times of illness and bereavement. For children and adults young at heart, The Newport will also feature a retro-inspired games area with badminton, ping pong tables, exercise bikes that can charge mobile phones and a giant magnetic scrabble board.

Live music will be at the heart of the entertainment experience. An expansive alfresco deck has been built to showcase amazing local talent, seven days a week. The likes of Rob Somatik, Rad Dan, Gangs of Brothers and Paper Parade will all be performing during the opening weekend.

The Newport will also play host to Sunday Sundown, Merivale’s live music series. Melbourne’s nine-piece soul outfit Saskwatch kick off the programme on Easter Sunday, followed by indie duo Gypsy & The Cat on 3 April, Tasmanian singer songwriter Asta on 10 April and Sydney synth-pop trio Mansionair on 17 April. Entry to Sunday Sundown sessions at The Newport is free.

Drawing on influences from Montauk, The Hamptons and the Mediterranean, the reimagining of The Newport has been led by a team including Kelvin Ho and Emilie Delalande of Akin Creative, stylist Amanda Talbot and Justin and Bettina Hemmes. Due to the sheer scale of the property, Merivale has planned a gradual and thoughtful approach to its redevelopment, with stages two and three set to be revealed later in 2016.

THE NEWPORT

OPENS 12noon, FRIDAY 25 MARCH

2 Kalinya St, Newport, 2106

www.merivale.com.au/thenewport

#merivale #thenewport @merivale

Marie’s Crisis Broadway Sing-along comes straight from New York to Sydney’s Parlour Lane Roasters for the Spectrum Now Festival

Posted on March 1, 2016March 17, 2016 by sydneyeventblogger@gmail.com

Sydney CBD does not have a piano bar, nor does it have a sing-along bar. You would not think there would be a demand for such a thing but, on Tuesday 1 March 2016, I found out how popular it could be at the launch of the Marie Crisis Spectrum Now Festival Bar at QT’s Parlour Lane Roasters.

Marie Crisis Cafe is a world-famous piano dive bar located in West Village, New York. It attracts a crowd of mostly local gays and musical theatre enthusiasts, who go to this dimly lit below-ground bar to stand around a piano and sing Broadway musical hits. The bar serves no food, the alcohol is just house wine and two types of beers, and the trip to the bathroom is an ordeal. However, no one seems to mind. Put a dollar in the fishbowl and the pianist will play just about anything and the waiters will sing-along as well.

This piece of New York has been transplanted to Sydney for the Spectrum Now Festival. Sydneysiders can sing-along at the Marie’s Crisis Festival Bar from 1-10 March at Parlour Lane Roasters, QT Sydney from 5pm until late each evening.

Further, on 7 March 2016, there will be a huge outdoor Broadway sing-along, called the Marie’s Crisis Broadway Sing-along, in the Domain. Partnering with Hayes Theatre Co., audiences are invited to sing alongside some of Australia’s best musical theatre talent and the four singers from the Marie Crisis Cafe.

The four singers are Adam Michael Tilford, Jennifer Pace, Kenney M. Green, and Marc Castelli. They have all had extensive singing and acting careers in musicals.

All four singers were here for the pop up last year and have travelled back again this year. Last year they told the manager of the bar that they had such a good time, they would like to return. He told them to rest assured, they would be back. He usually goes home at 9pm. but while the four singers were here he was going home at 2pm. It was that simple. Business was really good. They were paid to perform till 10pm but they continued till 12 midnight and the bar was always full.

In New York the four singers work for mostly tips and they work very hard.

Well, it looks like they will be back again next year, and the year after that, and for many more years to come.

Chill out at the Seymour Centre this summer with Courtyard Sessions

Posted on February 5, 2016February 15, 2016 by sydneyeventblogger@gmail.com

The Seymour Centre in partnership with the City of Sydney is pleased to announce the program for the fifth instalment of its wildly popular Courtyard Sessions, a unique season of free outdoor music events taking place every Friday from 5^th February to 18^th March.

Nestled under the trees of the Seymour Centre’s courtyard in Chippendale, Courtyard Sessions is the perfect place to chill out on a summer evening with a series of eclectic showcases from a stellar line up of emerging bands, alongside a pop-up bar and gourmet barbeque.

Setting the tone on opening night with an acoustic solo set will be the incredible lyrical vocals of Louis London’s Ed Saloman. Highlights of the program will also include the smouldering soulful styles of ILUKA, and the alt-country folk sounds of Fanny Lumsden.

COURTYARD SESSIONS programmer, Larry Heath said “The Seymour Centre Courtyard Sessions has become an institution in Chippendale over the past few years. It is the perfect place to kick back and catch up with friends on a summer evening while discovering some new music. We are really excited about the artists that we will be working with this year and are thrilled to release the full line up”.

The full 2016 Courtyard Sessions program is as follows:

Friday, February 5th – Ed Saloman of Louis London

Friday, February 12th – ILUKA

Friday, February 19th – Jordan Millar

Friday, February 26th – Microwave Jenny

Friday, March 4th – Fanny Lumsden

Friday, March 11th – William Crighton

Friday, March 18th – HOWQUA

COURTYARD SESSIONS

Where: Seymour Centre courtyard – Cnr of City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale

When: 5^th February to 18^th March 2016

Hours: Every Friday from 6pm – 9pm

Cost: Free entry

Information: http://www.seymourcentre.com/events/event/courtyard-sessions-2016/

or (02) 9351 7940

Spectrum Now Festival launches its 16 day program at Opera Australia

Posted on February 4, 2016February 15, 2016 by sydneyeventblogger@gmail.com

The Sydney Morning Herald Spectrum Now Festival held its launch party at Opera Australia on Thursday 4 February 2016 .

The Sydney Morning Herald Spectrum Now Festival presented by ANZ, one of Sydney’s most diverse cultural events, today announced its 16-day program, with ticket sales now open to more than one hundred unexpected experiences across Sydney. From a playful large-scale wall painting at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and a massive music line-up at The Domain to opera and high tea at a boutique hotel, the Festival is set to spotlight the city’s creative heart and soul through four festival categories of art, music, stage and talks.

Spectrum Now Festival @ The Domain, the festival’s central hub, invites Sydneysiders to spend 11 memorable summer evenings drinking and eating with free entertainment including burlesque dancers, fire breathers, feathered showgirls and free live music alongside a ticketed Big Top venue. Visit sideshow alley for the chance to get inked by award-winning tattoo artist Leslie Rice at an LDF Pop-Up Tattoo Parlour, or get a haircut by Sydney’s favourite retro barber Tony Vacher whilst listening to ragtime bands on the back of a 1960s Dodge truck.

From March 3 to 13, an immense line-up of ticketed music events will fill The Big Top @ The Domain, curated by Paul Piticco and Jessica Ducrou, the promoters of the iconic Splendour in the Grass and Falls Music & Arts Festival. The Big Top, a bespoke undercover construction created for the first time in 2016, will host a selection of all-time favourite artists, from local to international talent. The full line-up of artists performing in the Big Top @ The Domain include: Hot Dub Time Machine; Missy Higgins; The Jesus and Mary Chain (UK); Birds of Tokyo; Calexico (USA); Augie March; RocKwiz Live; Godspeed You! Black Emperor; Seekae; U.S Girls (USA); Alvvays (CAN) and Jonathan Boulet.

Del Kathryn Barton, a Spectrum Now Festival creative ambassadors, widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading figurative painters of her generation, created an exclusive artwork for the 2016 Spectrum Now Festival program cover, titled Cosmic Crime. Commenting on her inspiration for the cover, Del Barton says: “The figurative narratives in my work began in my childhood from a desire to tangibly manifest fantasy beings. For the program cover, I think I was trying to conjure encounters with my fairy and unicorn friends.”

Travelling across the world from Burning Man and Coachella, artist Robert Bose will transform the Sydney skyline with the Australian debut of his Balloon Chain, an eye-catching installation being created in The Domain, featuring a floating helium sculpture made from dozens of latex balloons. Creating a landmark on the horizon throughout the Festival, the sculpture will morph into a striking celebration of Mardi Gras on 5 March when it becomes The Rainbow Chain. The Domain will provide a place for families and parade goers to be entertained on their way to celebrate the parade.

2016 Festival Director Caroline Kemp says: “In 2016 we’re shaking things up with a complete redesign of our beating heart, Spectrum Now Festival @ The Domain. Inspired by European town squares where all corners of the village come together to party and celebrate, my wish is for families,

Western Sydney artist Tom Polo will be at the Art Gallery of New South Wales for Painting Live: Tom Polo, creating a dynamic and playful large-scale wall painting, taking over the Gallery’s entrance court during the Spectrum Now Festival. This spectacular project unfolds entirely onsite, each day, over two weeks. Visitors to the Gallery can watch Polo’s unique creative process, engage with the artist, and see the work transform from beginning to end.

Polo comments: “Taking its cues from daily walks throughout the Art Gallery of New South Wales building, the content for my wall painting will be conceived entirely on site, changing and developing daily during Spectrum Now. It’s on these walks around the galleries that I’m aiming to collect something additional each time: a historical reference, a detail of gallery architecture, a specific colour or shape, the expression of figure in a portrait, a snippet of banal conversation between visitors, an overheard opinion about a work in the galleries, a greeting with a member of staff, an encounter with a curious visitor.”

Two highlights of the 2015 inaugural Festival talks program, Pillow Talk and Cultural Crush, return in 2016. Presented over four heated nights at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the audience is invited to experience a healthy mix of stimulating and provocative conversations.

Pillow Talk delves into the intimate and personal lives of Australia’s leading creative couples, and on March 6 and 16 at the Art Gallery of NSW will feature: David and Kristin Williamson; David and Lisa Campbell; Rob Carlton and Adrienne Ferreira; Richard Tognetti and Satu Vänskä; Max Cullen and Margarita Georiadis; along with Dan Wyllie and Shannon Murphy.

Cultural Crush invites pre-eminent journalists to cross-examine their dream subject in front of a live audience, kicking off on March 9 with award-winning investigative journalist Kate McClymont putting renowned Australian film director Bruce Beresford under the spotlight, while journalist, columnist and screenwriter Benjamin Law will interview award-winning journalist, author and anchor of the ABC’s 7:30pm program, Leigh Sales. Continuing on March 14 Sydney Morning Herald columnist and ABC Drive show host Richard Glover asks the big questions of Australian actress, playwright and screenwriter, Kate Mulvany, while Annabel Crabb, ABC’s chief online political writer, weekly Fairfax opinion columnist and author of the bestselling book The Wife, nuts it out with Australian writer Frank Moorhouse.

For the second year running, Spectrum Now Festival is presented by ANZ. ANZ has a long history of supporting arts in New South Wales, helping to bring to life a diverse range of programs that promote diversity and encourage creative expression. Catriona Noble, ANZ Managing Director Retail Distribution Australia comments: “Spectrum Now Festival encourages audiences to discover the breadth of talent on offer in Sydney and to engage with new experiences through music, art, theatre and thought-provoking conversations.

To complement this diverse program, we are excited to present the ANZ Blue Stage Series that will feature a lineup of events for undiscovered musicians to share their talent. Sydney-siders can enjoy pop-up performances from these artists at Martin Place, Pitt Street Mall and The Domain throughout the festival period.”

Other program highlights exclusive to Spectrum Now Festival:

– As part of the Talks program, Todd McKenny, Georgie Parker and Emma Palmer will reveal hilarious stories about their teenage years with Confessions of a Teenage Diary at Ensemble Theatre, followed by a Q&A on March 6 & March 8.

– Taking over on 7 March for a huge outdoor Broadway sing-a-long is the free Pop-Up Marie’s Crisis Broadway Sing-along, travelling all the way from its West Village roots in New York City. Partnering with Hayes Theatre Co., audiences are invited to star alongside some of Australia’s best musical theatre talent and sing their hearts out right in The Domain, while the Marie’s Crisis Festival Bar will be set up evenings from 1-10 March at Parlour Lane Roasters, QT Sydney.

– Tattersall’s Club, Hyde Park will play host to a night of conversations with barrister, writer, Archibald study and bon vivant Charles Waterstreet, with Charles Waterstreet Coversations on March 11.

– The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) presents a thought provoking panel conversation, titled ‘The Creative Future is Now!’ on March 4, in Woolloomooloo, focussed the booming creative industry and what this means for individual practitioners.

– Returning from a sold out event in 2015, Ken Done opens the doors to his studio in the Rocks on March 9, inviting guests to enjoy a cocktail and hear stories of his vibrant career.

– Sydney-based Mexican artist El Peque presents El Peque: Arte Urbano, at 107 Projects in Redfern, exploring the nexus of social and magic urban realism with a new body of work using paper, board and canvas.

– Returning after huge success in 2015, Harmony Park in Surry Hills will host Carousel, a curated event on March 12, showcasing the work of Sydney’s innovative creatives from food, fashion, art and music.

– Mindfullness & Music: The Vegas Nerve Experience, invites the audience to groove and de-stress, at the Coogee Diggers Club to live band The Vegas Nerve on March 6 and March 7.

– Pitt Street Uniting Church presents Dead Men Talking, a “war of words” staring Henry Lawson (Max Cullen) and Banjo Patterson (Warren Fahey).

In 2015, the Spectrum Now Festival attracted 100,000 people across over 200 exhibitions, gigs and events, under the direction of actor Richard Roxburgh.

Nothin But Jam wins at Discovered at Marble Bar finale

Posted on March 25, 2015 by sydneyeventblogger@gmail.com

DISCOVERED at Marble Bar finale showcase was held on Wednesday 25 March 2014 were the top five live music acts, as voted by the public. battled it out to win a two month residency at the Marble Bar in front of our team of expert judges.

The top five acts were: – Night Light Band – Nothin But Jam – Rory Cross – AJ Dyce “The Piano Man” – Death Do Us Part. The judges included celebrity singer/songwriter and winner of the X-Factor 2011 Reece Mastin, the highly coveted editor of Rolling Stone Australia – Rod Yates and The Music’s very own digital editor and contributor to Australia’s leading online music news source (The Daily SPA) – Sally Hurley. The Multi award-winning Australian television broadcaster and presenter, Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis was MC for the night.

In addition to the expert panel of judges, the top five bands performed in front of a selection of VIP industry, media and of course the public. The overall winner, Nothin But Jam, was selected by the public’s vote in conjunction with that of our team of expert judges. They won a two month residency playing every Wednesday night at Marble Bar from April 2014 valued at $10,000. The finale was streamed live through the Marble Bar Facebook page so everyone could get in on the action.

Congratulations Nothin But Jam on your stunning win.

Nova’s Red Room Future Music Festival Edition rocked with two of the hottest Future Music Festival acts.

Posted on February 25, 2015 by sydneyeventblogger@gmail.com

Nova’s Red Room Future Music Festival Edition presented by Smirnoff kicked off with two of the hottest Future Music festival acts at the Bondi Beach venue, The Bucket List, on Wednesday 25 February 2015.

These two performances were a small teaser for what will occur at the Future Music Festival in Sydney on Saturday 28 February 2015.

The first act was Australia’s own Timmy Trumpet, a Sydney musician, who started his music career by playing jazz music with his trumpet. The second act was international artist Example, whose real name Elliot Gleave.

Example returns to stage for first time since the birth of his two-month-old son Evander to his model wife, Erin McNaught. He will then perform in the Philippines on March 13 for his Live Life Living tour, just days after the Australian festival concludes. Then, he will travel to China to play several shows there, before heading to Europe in June. It appears that the current string of shows may be his last for some time as he focuses on his new family.

Timmy Trumpet warmed up the crowd by playing his beats and jumping on the decks (literally) playing his trusty brass trumpet. Example performed some of his more underground tunes as well as a host of his epic classics.

Smirnoff Vodka cocktails were flowing while canapés were circulated to guests who comprised mostly of Nova competition winners and Sydney’s reality stars such as Big Brother’s Ryan Ginns and Jake Richardson.

These two acts will join a line up of musical talent that will make their way around the country for the festival, which started in Sydney on Saturday 28 February 2015

Others in the Future Music line up include US rapper Drake in his first Australian tour, DJ’s Avicii and Afrojack and electronic dance group The Prodigy. The festival will make its way to Perth on Sunday 1 March 2015, before moving on to Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide.

MTV Summer of Music Party rocks Sydney’s Town Hall

Posted on February 19, 2015 by sydneyeventblogger@gmail.com

MTV Australia rocked Sydney’s Town Hall on Thursday 19 February 2015 with over 1,500 partygoers who all jammed in for the annual MTV Summer of Music event.

While the fans queued up around the block for hours to gain entry, the celebrities joined the red carpet queue, waiting in line to be photographed by the press before admission. However, once inside they were all treated to an amazing night of music and mayhem, hosted by MTV VJs Krit and Kate Peck, who hyped up the crowd and pumped up the volume inside a transformed Town Hall, complete with beautiful summer clouds hanging from the ceiling.

The red carpet celebrities included model Imogen Anthony. MTV Style ambassador Mimi Elashiry, Justice Crew, 2Day FM’s Dan & Maz, Big Brother’s Skye Wheatley, Jake Richardson and Lisa Clark, singing duo Divine Knights, the Bachelor’s Sarah Amey, TV and radio presenter James Kerley, performer Nacho Pop, the Voice Australia singers Sasha Simone and Kya, Short Stack and Triple J’s Alex Dyson and Matt Okine. Even Channel [V] host Danny Clayton and girlfriend Zoe Cross couldn’t resist making an appearance at MTV’s epic summer bash.

The crowd partied to amazing music from home grown Aussie artists LOLO BX, JAWZ, Olympic Ayres, Tkay Maidza and headliners Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP, who played some of their hottest jams.

With yet another amazing summer party in the books, MTV fans can now begin looking forward to the year ahead, with the promise of even more MTV madness to come.

Percy’s Bistro launches at the North Sydney Hotel as apart of the North Sydney Leisure and Lifestyle Festival

Posted on February 5, 2015May 31, 2015 by sydneyeventblogger@gmail.com

To celebrate the first North Sydney Leisure and Lifestyle Festival, a celebrity cricket match was held at North Sydney Oval on Thursday 5 February 2015, followed by a VIP cocktail function was held at the newly renovated North Sydney Hotel’s bistro, Percy’s.

North Sydney Council Mayor Jilly Gibson hosted this VIP cocktail function, opening the new bistro to the public for post-match drinks. Celebrities in attendance included cricketer brothers Brett Lee and Shane Lee, singer, songwriter (and 2003 Australian Idol winner) Guy Sebastian, guy Sebastian’s wife Jules Sebastian, singer (and 2003 Australian Idol runner up) Shannon Noll, singer Danny Fai Fai, Australian cricket legend Dean James, Australian cricketers Nathan Hauritz, Aiden Blizzard, Cameron Merchant, New Zealand cricketer Daryl Tuffey, West Indies cricketer Darren Bravo, Olympic gold medalist swimmer Natalie Cook and 15 year old Spartan Scholarship winner Jack James.

The North Sydney Leisure and Lifestyle Festival is a star-studded three day spectacular that took place on 5, 6 & 7 February 2015. It is an initiative of Spartan Sports which promotes healthy and active lifestyles for all ages.

Proceeds from the North Sydney Leisure and Lifestyle Festival will go to The Sebastian Foundation, with the festival also including a concert staring Guy Sebastian, Lee Kernaghan, Shannon Noll, Samantha Jade, and Timomatic, a food and wine festival, the first ever ‘Rebel Run’ throughout St. Leonards Park (led by Joint Olympian and World Champion Jess Fox), a group fitness class conducted by Cam Byrnes from hit TV show ‘Bringing Sexy Back’ and Penny Walsh from ‘Biggest Loser’ and a kids’ obstacle course race.

Percy’s is located at 292 Miller Street North Sydney (across the road from North Sydney Oval). It is open from 10am to 12am Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10pm Sunday. For further information go to: http://www.northsydneyhotel.com.au/northsydneyhotel-bistro/

UE Megaboom by Ultimate Ears launches in Sydney

Posted on January 21, 2015 by sydneyeventblogger@gmail.com

The next-generation portable wireless speaker, UE Megaboom, launched in Sydney at Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool on Wednsesday 24 January 2015.

UE Megaboom is an enhanced version of its predcessor, the UE Boom. It has freakishly amazing 360 degree sound with deep, heart pounding bass, it is completely waterproof (rather than being water resistent) with IPX7 certification, it has a 30 minute bluetooth range, it has a 30 hour battery life and there is a free UE Megaboom app for IOS and Android that provides additional cool features such as musical alarm, fully customised sound and remote control on and off.

The young and trendsetting celebrities that attended the launch included Olympic Swimmer Liesel Jones, selfie king Kurt Coleman, X-Factor contestant Adrien Nookadu, Saturday Disney’s Teigan Nash and Candice Dixon, Channel 7’s Bring Sexy Back Cameron Byrnes, fashion designer Troy Pes, Big Borther Contestant Jake Richardson, Popstars contestant Arnott Olsen and Home and Away star Phillipa Northeast.

The General Manager of Ultimate Ears, Rory Dooley, flew in from San Francisco for the event and made a special presentation including the submerging of a UE Megaboom in a fishbowl while it was playing music. This was followed by members of the Australian synchronised swimming team preforming in the pool downstairs holding UE Megabooms and two bubble dancers performing inside floating clear balls.

The UE Megaboom will be available in Australian stores (such as JB Hi-fi, Harvey Norman and Dick Smith Electronics) from the middle of February 2015 and will retail at about $350.