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an hour ago
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Jimmy Rees Announces 9-date In Reel Life Australia & New Zealand Tour For Oct-Dec 2025
Press Release – Frontier Touring Company Australia's much-loved entertainer, Jimmy Rees, announces In Reel Life national tour of Australia plus New Zealand for the very first time this Oct – Dec 2025 9-date theatre tour plays Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Auckland – coming to each city for one night only 4 million+ social media followers Jimmy Rees OAM – Received an Order of Merit in June for services to comedy and his charity work Nominated for Favourite Australian Media Personality at the 2025 AACTA Awards Frontier Member presale commences Friday 27 June, 9am local time before tickets go on sale Monday 30 June, 9am local time Tickets and tour info via: Frontier Touring are delighted to welcome one of Australia's favourite entertainers, Jimmy Rees, back to the stage in 2025 for his 9-date In Reel Life tour! 'I'm psyched to be touring my brand-new live show IN REEL LIFE around Australia and also heading to New Zealand for the very first time!' – Jimmy Rees Performing nationally in Australia and for the very first time in New Zealand, Jimmy will play Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Auckland, coming to each city for one night only. The Frontier Member presale commences Friday 27 June, 9am local time before tickets go on sale Monday 30 June, 9am local time. Tickets and tour info via: Having performed to over 100k audience members across his 'Meanwhile In Australia' (2022), 'Not That Kinda Viral' (2023) and 'Let's Get Regional' (2024) tours, 'In Reel Life' (2025) is set to bring comedy and chaos in true Jimmy Rees style! About Jimmy Rees Beginning his career as Jimmy Giggle on the award-winning ABC Kid's TV series Giggle & Hoot, he spent a decade as the face of the iconic kids TV series, airing seven days a week on the national broadcaster. During this time he toured with Giggle & Hoot, playing to more than 500,000 people live and releasing several albums including an iTunes #1 Christmas album featuring duets with Tina Arena, FiFi Box, Justine Clarke, David Campbell, Deb Mailman and others. After a decade at the ABC TV it was time to hang up his pyjamas and farewell his puppet pal Hoot. He first-step out of children's television came when he joined the cast of Dancing With The Stars as his first primetime foray (raising money and awareness for one of his favourite charities Very Special Kids). An instant fan favourite and dubbed 'Jimmy Sizzle' by the judges, Jimmy Giggle was now in the rear vision mirror. It was during the pandemic however, that Jimmy really solidified his reinvention – his comedy content connecting with millions, his videos attaining up to 40 million views each on Facebook alone. He now has four million social media followers. Jimmy's video views on Facebook clocked up 180 million viewing minutes in 2021 and tens of millions more across his TikTok, Instagram and Youtube Channels and they have just continued to grow and grow ever since. Thanks to his on-point social observations and sharp satire, Jimmy became a bonafide viral sensation, with his Meanwhile In Australia series, the Brighton Ladies, the Guy Who Decides and Byron Baes resonating with people here and around the globe. These now iconic characters have firmly cemented themselves into the social media landscape. In 2022 Jimmy embarked on his first national comedy tour as himself. Originally just five shows, the tour became 35 sold-out shows in largescale venues around the country, making it one of the most successful comedy tours of the year. The show aired on Foxtel as a Binge Original Production premiering the the same day his book the Guy Who Decides was released. The special became the #1 Comedy special of the year on Binge and the book hit the #1 spot in the comedy publishing category and followed on from his best-selling series of children's books. In 2023 Jimmy joined Tom Gleeson, Julia Morris and some of the countries favourite comedians for the inaugural season of the now hit series Task Master on Channel 10, and appeared in the Stan Christmas Movie, A Jones Family Christmas. He then backed up his enormous debut tour with an even bigger tour in late 2023 followed by a run of regional dates in 2024, including sold-out charity shows in Lismore, with 100% of the proceeds going into the Lismore flood recovery funds. In 2024 Jimmy was awarded an Order of Australia medal for his services to comedy and his charity work…. Jimmy Rees OAM! Jimmy is part of the movement reshaping the media landscape, recently launching his own on-line content series Jimmy's Frame of Mind his guests including Chelsea Handler, Tom Gleeson, Julia Morris, Tony Armstrong, Jojo Siwa, Charlie Pickering, Kate Langbroek and many others. A 15-year career in the entertainment industry with his sole mission of making people feel good, has cemented his status as one of our most beloved and versatile stars and his unique trajectory means his audience is truly cross generational – spanning three year olds to 103-year-olds. With his affable charm and quick wit, it is hardly surprising that Jimmy is a mainstay in the Australian entertainment industry…. Don't miss the always humorous, always hilarious and always entertaining Jimmy Rees on his latest Australia and New Zealand tour, visiting (and ripping into) a city near you this October – December!
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an hour ago
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The Quest Is On To Find Wellington's Next Comedy Stars
The capital's premier open mic comedy competition, the Wellington Raw Comedy Quest, returns for 2025. A stepping stone for many New Zealand comedians, the Raw Comedy Quest offers the chance to witness the rising stars in stand-up comedy before they hit the big time. The first heat kicks off in Wellington on 3 July at Fringe Bar, MC'd by 2020 Quest finalist and 2025 Billy T nominee Lesa Macleod-Whiting. Subsequent heats will follow every Thursday from 10 July – 7 August at Fringe Bar. The top comedians from each week will go head to head at the semifinals on 13 & 20 August, before the Wellington final takes place on 29 August at Hannah Playhouse, with MC Justine Smith. The Wellington Raw Comedy Quest is held annually by the Humorous Arts Trust, who will be celebrating 15 years of supporting local comedy this August. This year also marks the 15th year Humorous Arts have run Wellington Raw. Over this time, many winners and finalists have gone on to carve out successful careers in comedy. Last year's winner, Liv Ward, went on to become a finalist in the National Raw Comedy Quest, before also taking out Wellington's Best Newcomer at the NZ Comedy Festival this year. 2022 winner Hoani Hotene, who first kicked off his comedy career with Humorous Arts Trust's Raw Meat Monday (Wellington's longest-running open mic comedy night), became the coveted 2025 Billy T Award winner. They aren't the only successes to come out of Pōneke from the Comedy Quest, with other winners including the likes of Janaye Henry, Maria Williams, Gabby Anderson and Orin Ruaine-Prattley. "The Raw Quest is a real highlight of my year, I can't wait to see the next generation of Kiwi comics succeed and bring more great laughs to the capital" , says Humorous Arts Trust co-founder and comedian Jerome Chandrahasen. To enter the Wellington Raw Comedy Quest all you need is 6 minutes of original material, and the guts to give it a go. To enter, just contact contact@ The Wellington winner and runner up are flown to Auckland to compete in the National Raw Comedy Quest final at The Classic later in the year, on Saturday 25th October. Wellington Raw Comedy Quest is sponsored by KiwiTicket Ltd and is supported by the Wellington City Council. WELLINGTON RAW COMEDY QUEST First Heat Thursday 3 July, Fringe Bar MCd by Lesa Macleod-Whiting Heats Thursday 10, 17, 24, 31 July & 7 August, Fringe Bar Semifinals Wednesday 13 & 20 August, Fringe Bar Final Friday 29 August, Hannah Playhouse
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an hour ago
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Country Artist Ben Mastwyk Releases Let Me At The Night, The Title-Track From His New Album
Ben Mastwyk, the Australian cosmic cowboy and interstellar troubadour, is fast approaching launch time for the release of his fourth album, Let Me At The Night, on July 18th. Mastwyk's latest single is the title track, a heartfelt country power ballad that captures the restless spirit of someone yearning to break free from isolation and return to the vibrant nightlife they once knew. Ultimately, it's about the human need for connection, expression, and the freedom to pursue the experiences that make us feel most alive. As Mastwyk explains, at its core, the soulful ' Let Me At The Night ' uses night as a metaphor for dreams, freedom, and the life the narrator desperately wants to return to. " The 'night' represents more than just evening hours—it embodies the energy, connection, and joy found in Melbourne's country music scene and in the broader expression of honky-tonk culture. The narrator's plea to be "let at the night" becomes a cry for permission to chase their dreams and break through the barriers holding them back. What emerges is both a love letter and a battle cry!" In the song, we follow the protagonist, trapped in isolation, vividly recalling the glory days of barroom dancing and late-night revelry. The verses, draped in acoustic guitar and pedal steel, paint intimate portraits of a tight-knit community—the dancers who came alive when the band played George Jones, the smokers gathering in the cold night air, the familiar faces in every local haunt. These memories stand in stark contrast to the present-day reality of sitting alone with just a guitar and a sleeping dog for company. Let Me At The Night is a bit of a fantasy record for Ben Mastwyk. He really discovered the DNA of his band The Millions over the last few records, and this time, they all wanted to push the boundaries. Mastwyk was lucky enough to receive funding through a Creative Victoria Creative Works grant, which allowed him to really lean in and record the album he wanted to make, without cutting corners. Working with producer Michael Hubbard at The Shrimp Shack studio in Melbourne, Mastwyk initially set out to make a '90s country-inspired record—and in a way, he did. But instead of sticking strictly to that particular sonic palette, he found himself leaning back into the genre-bending, experimental approach he first explored with his original band in the actual '90s. " It's still a country record in my eyes: narrative-based songs that explore the themes I've been circling in my writing for years," he says. " But we've really dialled up the experimentalism—pushed our sonic palette further than we ever have before!" The songs are more anthemic—designed to kick the party off right from the get-go and sustain that energy till the end (and beyond). Mastwyk recently got the chance to test this new material live at the Tamworth Country Music Festival across three huge nights. And it worked. Big party energy. A crowd ready to rumble! " Each time I've made a record, I've had a space and an audience in mind. My first album Mornin' Evenin' was written for small rooms, intimate spaces, and quiet Sunday mornings. The next couple were made for Melbourne barrooms—the venues I was in love with at the time. This album, though, was written with festivals and bigger crowds in mind." With a thematic arc that runs across the album, it picks up where the last few records left off, in the barroom, then blasts off further and further into space. " I've always visualised this album as a spaceship—with the whole point being to see if I can get it to lift off and hit warp speed." From hot-wired boogie to rhinestone pop, honky-tonk electronic disco to country space-ballads, Shania to Yoakam, George Jones to Orville Peck – the new album serves as a kaleidoscopic ode to the possibilities of country music. Filtered through both heartache and the dance floor, it's a truly mind-expanding and irresistible collection of songs, from an artist firing on all creative cylinders.
Scoop
an hour ago
- Entertainment
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Jimmy Rees Announces 9-date In Reel Life Australia & New Zealand Tour For Oct-Dec 2025
Australia's much-loved entertainer, Jimmy Rees, announces In Reel Life national tour of Australia plus New Zealand for the very first time this Oct – Dec 2025 9-date theatre tour plays Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Auckland - coming to each city for one night only 4 million+ social media followers Jimmy Rees OAM - Received an Order of Merit in June for services to comedy and his charity work Nominated for Favourite Australian Media Personality at the 2025 AACTA Awards Frontier Member presale commences Friday 27 June, 9am local time before tickets go on sale Monday 30 June, 9am local time Tickets and tour info via: Frontier Touring are delighted to welcome one of Australia's favourite entertainers, Jimmy Rees, back to the stage in 2025 for his 9-date In Reel Life tour! 'I'm psyched to be touring my brand-new live show IN REEL LIFE around Australia and also heading to New Zealand for the very first time!' - Jimmy Rees Performing nationally in Australia and for the very first time in New Zealand, Jimmy will play Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Auckland, coming to each city for one night only. The Frontier Member presale commences Friday 27 June, 9am local time before tickets go on sale Monday 30 June, 9am local time. Tickets and tour info via: Having performed to over 100k audience members across his 'Meanwhile In Australia' (2022), 'Not That Kinda Viral' (2023) and 'Let's Get Regional' (2024) tours, 'In Reel Life' (2025) is set to bring comedy and chaos in true Jimmy Rees style! About Jimmy Rees Beginning his career as Jimmy Giggle on the award-winning ABC Kid's TV series Giggle & Hoot, he spent a decade as the face of the iconic kids TV series, airing seven days a week on the national broadcaster. During this time he toured with Giggle & Hoot, playing to more than 500,000 people live and releasing several albums including an iTunes #1 Christmas album featuring duets with Tina Arena, FiFi Box, Justine Clarke, David Campbell, Deb Mailman and others. After a decade at the ABC TV it was time to hang up his pyjamas and farewell his puppet pal Hoot. He first-step out of children's television came when he joined the cast of Dancing With The Stars as his first primetime foray (raising money and awareness for one of his favourite charities Very Special Kids). An instant fan favourite and dubbed 'Jimmy Sizzle' by the judges, Jimmy Giggle was now in the rear vision mirror. It was during the pandemic however, that Jimmy really solidified his reinvention - his comedy content connecting with millions, his videos attaining up to 40 million views each on Facebook alone. He now has four million social media followers. Jimmy's video views on Facebook clocked up 180 million viewing minutes in 2021 and tens of millions more across his TikTok, Instagram and Youtube Channels and they have just continued to grow and grow ever since. Thanks to his on-point social observations and sharp satire, Jimmy became a bonafide viral sensation, with his Meanwhile In Australia series, the Brighton Ladies, the Guy Who Decides and Byron Baes resonating with people here and around the globe. These now iconic characters have firmly cemented themselves into the social media landscape. In 2022 Jimmy embarked on his first national comedy tour as himself. Originally just five shows, the tour became 35 sold-out shows in largescale venues around the country, making it one of the most successful comedy tours of the year. The show aired on Foxtel as a Binge Original Production premiering the the same day his book the Guy Who Decides was released. The special became the #1 Comedy special of the year on Binge and the book hit the #1 spot in the comedy publishing category and followed on from his best-selling series of children's books. In 2023 Jimmy joined Tom Gleeson, Julia Morris and some of the countries favourite comedians for the inaugural season of the now hit series Task Master on Channel 10, and appeared in the Stan Christmas Movie, A Jones Family Christmas. He then backed up his enormous debut tour with an even bigger tour in late 2023 followed by a run of regional dates in 2024, including sold-out charity shows in Lismore, with 100% of the proceeds going into the Lismore flood recovery funds. In 2024 Jimmy was awarded an Order of Australia medal for his services to comedy and his charity work.... Jimmy Rees OAM! Jimmy is part of the movement reshaping the media landscape, recently launching his own on-line content series Jimmy's Frame of Mind his guests including Chelsea Handler, Tom Gleeson, Julia Morris, Tony Armstrong, Jojo Siwa, Charlie Pickering, Kate Langbroek and many others. A 15-year career in the entertainment industry with his sole mission of making people feel good, has cemented his status as one of our most beloved and versatile stars and his unique trajectory means his audience is truly cross generational - spanning three year olds to 103-year-olds. With his affable charm and quick wit, it is hardly surprising that Jimmy is a mainstay in the Australian entertainment industry.... Don't miss the always humorous, always hilarious and always entertaining Jimmy Rees on his latest Australia and New Zealand tour, visiting (and ripping into) a city near you this October – December!
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2 hours ago
- Entertainment
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Sisters In Country & Marian Burns Unveil NZ Concerts & Exclusive "Harmony Road" Australian Tour
Get ready for an afternoon of unparalleled country music as the acclaimed duo Sisters in Country, featuring New Zealand music legends Jodi Vaughan and Aly Cook, take the stage. They will be joined by special guest and fiddle player extraordinaire, Marian Burns, for two not-to-be-missed events this winter, celebrating their vibrant live show and the success of their recently recorded album, Downunder Girls. Whangamata Performance: Tauranga Performance: Sisters in Country brings together two formidable talents: Jodi Vaughan, a household name who graced TV screens across New Zealand in the 80s on 'That's Country,' and Aly Cook, an award-winning songwriter and artist. Individually and collectively, their music has consistently topped Australian airplay charts and the Official Aotearoa Music Charts in New Zealand, earning them a devoted fanbase and solidifying their status as chart-topping artists. This dynamic collaboration promises an enchanting afternoon filled with your favourite country tunes, alongside their own incredible original songs. The performance will be further elevated by the addition of Marian Burns, whose exceptional fiddle playing is sure to captivate the audience. Expect an unforgettable blend of rich female harmonies and some truly hot fiddle playing that will get your toes tapping. "We are incredibly excited to bring our show to Whangamata in July and Tauranga in August and share the stage with our dear friend Marian Burns," says Jodi Vaughan. Aly Cook adds, 'It's going to be a fantastic afternoon of music, stories, and genuine country spirit. We can't wait to connect with everyone.' The Sisters in Country duo, comprised of Cook, 61, and Vaughan, 75, are proud to be mature women performing live and continue their pursuit of mastery of their craft. In an industry often perceived as youth-driven, they not only defy expectations but wholeheartedly celebrate their seasoned artistry and enduring passion. Their success is a testament to the fact that talent and authenticity only deepen with age, and they are truly masters of their craft. They even have a playful rule for selecting guest female performers to join them: "The rule," jokes Vaughan, "is you must be over 50 to be invited as a guest." Cook adds, "And we don't mean kilos!" This is exactly the kind of wit you get during the show. They will also be having the wonder and respected vocalist Rosemarie Hack as Sisters in Country guest at 2 Managahu/orHowhenua locations in July Levin Performance with Guest Rosemarie Hack: When: Saturday, August 16th, at 7:30 PM Where: Levin RSA Tickets: Sisters in Country at The Levin RSA - Levin - Eventfinda Palmerston North Performance with Guest Rosemarie Hack : When: Sunday, August 17th, at 2:30 PM Where: Tauranga Citizens Club Tickets: Sisters in Country - Palmerston North - Eventfinda Their recently recorded album, Downunder Girls, which they proudly wrote and produced themselves, gained them a #1 on the NZ Official Album Charts, proving their continued relevance and immense appeal. In exciting news for fans, Sisters in Country are also working with Kay Gregan of The Travel Brokers Hello World. They are currently calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for their bespoke "Harmony Road" tour, offering a unique opportunity for fans to travel with Jodi, Aly, and Marian to Australia in January 2026. This special holiday tour will coincide with the Tamworth Country Music Festival and include other fantastic destinations such as a Sydney Harbour Cruise, a Hunter Valley Wine Experience, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, and the Gold Coast.
