festival Archives - Hotel Urban

Vivid Sydney 2019

Social Media TeamMay 20, 2019

Vivid Sydney is an incredible festival of lights, music and ideas, bringing together artists, music makers and creative minds to share their ideas with you.

Attendees can marvel at bigger than life, outdoor light installations across Vivid Light; watch live music performances and collaborations at Vivid Music & Vivid LIVE, and engage in creative discussion and debate at Vivid Ideas.

Whether you visit beautiful Sydney Harbour, get lost in the colourful lights of the Botanic gardens or enjoy live performances at the Sydney Opera House, there is something for everyone at Vivid Sydney.

Vivid Sydney 2018

Social Media TeamApril 30, 2018

On 25 May Vivid Sydney 2018 switches on, with the Lighting of the Sails of the Sydney Opera House marking the Festival’s 10th anniversary and the start of spectacular light art, cutting-edge music and innovative ideas programs.

Get ready to be mesmerized by breathtaking light projections. For the 10th Anniversary celebrated artist Jonathan Zawada creates an artwork that transforms the Sydney Opera House into dynamic digital sculptures inspired by the Australian environment.

Other highlights include the powerful laser beacon illuminating the harbour from on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the welcome return of Customs House as a venue and the many light sculptures that stretch for more than 2km around the harbour foreshore.

Expect live bands as well, including some of the best Australian and international acts, at iconic venues and intimate bars and clubs around the city. In 2018 Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House features Solange, Ice Cube, Mazzy Star, Dreams: Daniel Johns & Luke Steele and Cat Power. Carriageworks will feature Grammy Award-winner St. Vincent, Curve Ball & Clipped.

Vivid Ideas is where you can explore fresh thinking across tech, design and culture with leading industry practitioners and luminaries. Join masterminds such as film director James Cameron, who dives deep into his scientific and artistic enterprise, and examine the consequences of AI when Jane McGonigal meets Kriti Sharma.

Step into the amazing world of Vivid Sydney at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, along with the city’s Kings Cross, Chatswood and Taronga Zoo.

When: 25 May ~ 16 June 2018
Where: Various locations in Sydney
More info: here

Sunday Sessions on the Green

Social Media TeamApril 16, 2018

The sun is shining and the weather is great – there’s no better way to enjoy Queensland’s famous climate than with a relaxing Sunday Session at Brisbane’s most spectacular riverfront destination, River Quay Green.

Finish your weekend on the right note with live music performances, lawn games and funky chill-out seating on the lush River Quay Green every Sunday afternoon. This weekly event showcases the soft and smooth tunes of some of Brisbane’s best musicians, all set against the backdrop of the sparkling city skyline.

River Quay Green is licensed between the hours of 10am and 8pm daily (excluding Australia Day, New Year’s Eve and Riverfire when no alcohol is permitted). Please note that to consume alcohol at South Bank, you must be 18+ and you must have food to accompany your drinks.

More info: here

Sydney Comedy Festival

Social Media TeamApril 12, 2018

The Sydney Comedy Festival is Sydney’s biggest annual comedy event. Every April and May, hundreds of the world’s funniest comedians take to stages across Sydney to entertain an audience of more than 122,500 people, followed by a 50+ stop Showcase Tour across Australia that performs to over 25,000 annually.

The Festival kicks off in grand style with lavish gala events: the Sydney Comedy Festival Gala at the Sydney Opera House, Enmore Theatre, The Concourse Chatswood and Riverside Theatres in Parramatta.

The Festival program, curated by Festival Director Jorge Menidis, features performances from the finest Australian acts, the biggest international stars and the most promising emerging talent offering up everything from stand up to sketch, satire, impro, musical, absurdist, theatre, magic and kids comedy.

Today, the Festival is one of Sydney’s fastest growing cultural events and every year aims to offer a bigger, better or more diverse program to satisfy Sydney’s rampant appetite for comedy.

When: 26 April ~ 20 May 2018
Where: Various locations in Sydney
More info: here[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Brisbane Writer’s Festival

Social Media TeamAugust 19, 2016

Brisbane Writer’s Festival is Brisbane’s annual literary event for anyone who loves literature, writing and reading. Now in it’s 54th year, the festival will explore ideas, identity and imagination through conversation and debate, powered by the year’s best writing.

Held in the redeveloped State Queensland of Library and the adjacent Cultural Precinct, the festival’s program is jam packed with presentations, masterclasses, debates, workshops and panel discussions from some of the best writers and thought-leaders from around the world. Opening the festival, will be journalist and author of We Need to Talk About Kevin, Lionel Shriver and other highlights include Maxine Beneba Clarke, Meg Rosoff, Suki Kim, A.C. Grayling, Meg and Tom Keneally, Neil Strauss and Alexei Sayle.

When: September 7 – 11

Where: State Queensland of Library

Visit the Brisbane Writer’s Festival website here.

BIGSOUND back in Brisbane

Social Media TeamAugust 19, 2016

Each year BIGSOUND brings an elective, mix of musicians, music lovers, and the who’s who of the Australian music industry together for three days of discussion around the future of homegrown and international music in Brisbane’s home of awesome music – Fortitude Valley.

Industry challenges are discussed, new relationships built and an ever-growing list of keynote speakers inspire, educate, innovate and lead workshops, and then it all wraps up in a fabulous festival over 15 inner-city and fringe venues, that the public can also attend where established and new talent perform for the masses.

BIGSOUND is now in its 15^th year, and boasts the biggest line-up yet, with over 150 artists including Tash Sultana, Flowertruck, DZ Deathrays, and Good Boy in fun venues like the Empire Hotel (our personal fave), Heya Bar and the Flying Cock, which also plays host to the Mushroom Official Bigsound Party, ‘Free for All’ on Tuesday 6 September.

We hear festival passes are selling out quickly! So jump in fast!

If you are looking for somewhere to stay during BIGSOUND, Urban Brisbane is perfectly located close to the Valley, Brisbane CBD and Brisbane Central Station, and is on sale until 30 September 2016 – with accommodation from $119* per night! Find out more here.

Where: Various venues in the Valley

When: 7-9 September 2016

Cost: Festival passes start from $45 + booking fee

More info: Check out the BIGSOUND website