Details: Category: JA SlideShow; Published on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 06:54; Written by Super User; Hits: 9379

Flowers, fantastic floats, gigantic balloon figures, sticky silly string and nearly naked dancers all are a part of carnival in Nice. And so is sunshine, something often missing in carnival celebrations in northern Europe.

We lived in Germany for years and often attended Fasching celebrations, from the Black Forest to Mainz to Düsseldorf. The weather usually was bleak and cold, making standing outside for hours watching parades a drag.

Last year in Nice was a treat. We basked in warm, sunny rays (common in southern France throughout the year) as we watched daytime parades. There was not even a chill in the air during the nighttime Parade of Lights. The weather was glorious, and we enjoyed this seductive Riviera city as much as its carnival.

Nice’s carnival is the largest in France, with roots going back to 1294, when the Comte de Provence Charles d’Anjou told of "joyful carnival days" spent in the city. Modern carnival did not get under way until 1873, when a festival committee was formed to bring new life to the festivities with floats and viewing stands.

Nice’s festivities go on for two weeks, this year from Feb. 12 to 28. A king (a gigantic parade figure) reigns over the festivities, which have a different theme every year. Last year was the "King of Masquerade," this year it’s "King of the Blue Planet." The king is accompanied by a queen, but he is the dominant carnival character.

Parades are the highlights. Some 20 elaborate floats interspersed with bands illustrate the annual theme in the parades on several afternoons during carnival. The nighttime event is spectacular, with streams of colored light focusing on gigantic creations in the dark. Huge balloon figures tower over the masses, swinging and swaying in beams of light as they slowly drift by to cheers and shouts of happy revelers. It’s like a drug-induced fantasy.

The Battle of Flowers parade, an afternoon event, is indeed that. Floats decorated with millions of colorful blossoms make their way along the Promenade des Anglais, the Champs-Élysées of Nice, running beside the sea. In between the flower extravaganzas, dancers from around the world (mainly sexy females and many wearing very little) strut, jump and tap their way down the boulevard.

Photographers have a field day — until the fight for the flowers gets under way. Those riding in the flower floats toss bouquets into the crowd. You’d think it was gold as spectators push, shove and jump over barriers to catch the bounty. Too bad if you and your camera are in the way.

Along the parade route and on Nice’s streets, vendors peddle masks, crazy hats, confetti and spray cans of silly string. They obviously do a big business with the latter. You can’t escape Nice carnival without getting plastered with this gummy mess. Fortunately, it’s easy to remove.

The Place Massena, the heart of the city, is carnival central. It is where the huge king and queen figures reside when they’re not in the parades and where blasting pop music inspires revelers to dance all day long. For those who can’t find a place on the street to watch the parades, all the action can be viewed on the mammoth TV screen in the square.

Carnival comes to an end when the king is taken out to sea and burned, accompanied by an elaborate fireworks display. But let it be known, the king will return next year and festivities will start all over again.

The Celebration of Flowers in Debrecen

Details: Category: JA SlideShow; Published on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 06:52; Written by Super User; Hits: 5580

A myriad of flowers, a wonderful festive atmosphere, and star performers to boot: all this is offered on the bill of fare at the Flower Festival in Debrecen, which has recently come to mean not just a single day of fun but a week-long fiesta in the spirit of music, dance, and flowers... One of the most popular events in Hungary, this festival of flowers keeps attracting large crowds from year to year, rewarding them with a truly memorable experience. The show must go on this summer, too, yet with a bunch of freshly added new attractions. Traditionally, the floats in the parade display the most imaginative scenes possible, made exclusively of various floral components. In fact, there may be as many as 3 million flowers used for the individual arrangements, most often including asters, carnations, dahlias, gerberas, pine or spruce twigs, and compositions of dry flowers. Between the individual floats in the procession, there is a fine selection of celebrated art ensembles from home and abroad, interspersed with dance troupes, orchestras, bands, and baton twirling majorette squads, delighting the audience with spectacular performances. During the more than 100-year history of the festival, several millions of visitors, who decided to spend the time commemorating St. Stephen and the celebrations of new bread (baked out of flour ground of recently harvested wheat) in Debrecen, have had a chance to see as many as 600 floral arrangements on floats and several tens of thousands of parading participants...

flower festival, debrecen

Carnival Week Programmes

16. August
"The ancient city takes a step" (world premiere) A dancepoem from the history of Debrecen joint performance of the Debrecen Folk-dance Ensemble and the Hajdu Dance Ensemble
Location: Kossuth square, in front of the Great Reformed Church

17. August
The programme of the Cuban State Folk-dance Ensemble A dance show with traditional cuban music and rhythms.
Location: Kossuth square

18. August
R-GO Concert
One of the most successful Hungarian band of the eighties was founded in 1982, when Robert Szikora left the Hungaria band on its peak of success. They held a 20 year anniversary concert in 2003, and released their "Csikidam" album in 2004 which one was followed by the cd version of their "Amulet" album. The "Retro" album was released in 2006. The band`s latest album was "Letezem". Robert Szikora received the Viva Comet Award for the Hungarian Pop Music in 2007.
Location: Kossuth square

19. August
Ali Campbell (UB 40) concert
The UB40 was founded in Birmingham in 1978. They sold 70 million copies of their albums in the last 30 years. Their hits Red,red wine, I got you babe and Can`t help fallin in love brought them huge success. After 30 years their frontman Ali Campbell left the band and started solo career.

Location: Kossuth square
20. August
41. Debrecen Flower Carnival

21. August
Bobby McFerrin concert
The well-known musician won 10 Grammy Awards and has been in Hungary couple of times. His four-octave voice helped him to sold over 20 million copies of his albums. His famous song "Don`t worry be happy" led the American Billboard chart as the first a capella (vocal only) song. He worked together with Chick Corea, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbie Hancock. He wrote an a capella opera "Bobble". After an eight years break he releases a new album in 2010. He will also presents his VOCAbuLarieS album in Debrecen.
Location: Kolcsey Centre, Main Hall
Price: 6900 HUF, 7900 HUF
Let the show go on - on a nostalgic note

The Beatnix

Details: Category: JA SlideShow; Published on Tuesday, 14 December 2010 08:09; Written by Super User; Hits: 5363

Sunday 19 September 2010

Originally assembled in 1980, The Beatnix concept is one of the longest running Beatles Tribute Shows in the world. Using authentic period musical instruments as used by The Beatles, The Beatnix perform complete with era costumes and will take you on a nostalgic journey through the musical memories of the four most famous and musical men history has ever seen.

So “Come Together” for this performance for what will be the closest performance to The Beatles that you ever will see!

Garden City

Details: Category: JA SlideShow; Published on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 06:50; Written by Super User; Hits: 5406

Toowoomba during its Carnival of Flowers © Tourism Queensland

Toowoomba in country Queensland lies some 130 kilometres by road from the Queensland capital, Brisbane.

It is Australia's second largest non-coastal city after the national capital, Canberra.

Toowoomba is the principal town of the farming region known as the Darling Downs west of the Great Dividing Range. Toowoomba is nicknamed The Garden City.

Carnival of Flowers

As a farming and garden community, Toowoomba celebrates its Carnival of Flowers in September, a festival that now takes place over 10 days bookended by two weekends.

The 2010 Carnival of Flowers runs from September 17 to 26 with its Grand Central Floral Parade staged on September 18 and the Flower, Food and Wine Festival in Queens Park from September 17 to 19.

Celebrations, competitions and community events take place throughout the carnival.

Driving to Toowoomba

Toowoomba is due west of Brisbane and the major route to Toowoomba is through Ipswich Rd and Ipswich Motorway and into Warrego Highway for some 92 kilometres.

Average travel time should be around two hours.

Hoodoo Gurus

Details: Category: JA SlideShow; Published on Tuesday, 14 December 2010 08:09; Written by Super User; Hits: 4687

It has been five long years since Australia has heard new tunes from the Hoodoo Gurus, yet the enduring quartet has hardly been idle since their official reformation in 2003.

From touring the Big Day Out national circuit, to appearances at Splendour In The Grass, South By Southwest, Glastonbury and a host of theatres, arenas and stages, the Gurus have been reminding audiences nationwide exactly why their fans and industry peers have them so highly revered.

Having been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, band members Dave Faulkner, Brad Shepherd, Rick Grossman and Mark Kingsmill truly are Australian music icons who will not disappoint with their Saturday night performance.

Performing songs from their ninth studio album “Purity Of Essence” and of course many of their popular hits, the Hoodoo Gurus is a must see performance.