Paul Simon News

See STOMP on CNN International's "Quest Means Business" in a story that aired yesterday about "unconventional instruments" in the context of international banking. Click here to check it out!

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces a distinguished list of music headliners to be presented at the 55th annual Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The 10-day celebration of the arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is unlike any other in the nation. The world-class, multi-disciplinary festival is free to attend and is open to the public. Attracting over 400,000 visitors annually, the Festival begins on the first Today in June and takes place at the confluence of Pittsburgh's famed three rivers in Point State Park, throughout picturesque Gateway Center, and in the city's world-renowned Cultural District.

STOMP will be featured today at 4 PM on CNN INTERNATIONAL's business show, "Quest Means Business" in a story about "unconventional instruments" in the context of international banking.

Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat and GRAMMY Award-winning Broadway songwriter Stephen Schwartz are joining the festivities in Broadway at Moorland, the 14th annual summer concert and fireworks display at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, NJ, a partnership between New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and Far Hills Race Meeting Association. Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun, A Catered Affair) will join previously announced Tony-nominated and Emmy Award-winner Liz Callaway, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, five-time MAC-winning cabaret star Scott Coulter, Jessica Hendy (Broadway's Cats and Aida), and Kelli Rabke (Broadway's LES MISERABLES and in the Broadway revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). Due to a scheduling conflict, Brian Stokes Mitchell will no longer perform on the bill.

Bob Mould has confirmed today, June 3 as the U.S. release date for his all-new studio album, Beauty & Ruin (Merge).

Bay Street Theater is pleased to announce its Honoree Presenters for its 23rd Bay Street Annual Summer Gala which will take place in Sag Harbor at the Long Wharf on July 12, 2014 to benefit Bay Street's educational and theatrical programs.

Recreating famous rock & roll records, note for note, is a passion of Clint Bierman and his talented friends. They recently recreated Paul Simon's immortal Graceland before a sold-out house at Middlebury's Town Hall Theater, and they're coming back with a tribute to the world's greatest heavy metal band, Led Zeppelin.

In 1986 as a special award of appreciation for 'We Are The World' was presented to Michael Jackson for his role as one of the key composers and singers of the song which he sang along with a superstar cast of celebrities

MB Financial Park kicks off the summer season with Rockin' in the Park 2014. The weekly concert series is scheduled to begin today, May 29 and will continue through Thursday, August 28, featuring the music of classic cover bands, as well as fireworks, food and beverage tents on the park's great lawn, located at 5501 Park Place, Rosemont.

Visitors to Shipshewana's Blue Gate Theater in June will be treated to a little humor, a bit of country and a whole lot of gospel music.

Universal Music Enterprises, Stage Entertainment USA, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Sylvester Stallone announced today the forthcoming release of the new original Broadway cast recording of ROCKY, on May 27th, 2014 (UMe). ROCKY has an original score by the Tony® Award-winning team Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once On This Island), who are the album's producers; additionally the score incorporates the iconic songs 'Eye Of The Tiger' and 'Gonna Fly Now.' The musical, which opened Thursday, March 13th at the historic Winter Garden Theatre, stars Andy Karl as Rocky, Margo Seibert as Adrian (making her Broadway debut), Terence Archie as Apollo Creed and features a superb ensemble.

BROOKLYN BOWL is bringing a taste of The Big Easy to the Las Vegas Strip this Memorial Day weekend with shows from two New Orleans based bands, Dumpstaphunk and The Soul Rebels. On Sat. May 24 and Sun. May 25 guests will be able to soak up a true Cajun experience with a traditional New Orleans-style crawfish boil including crawfish, shrimp, Andouille sausage, red potatoes, and corn on the cob cooked in Brooklyn Bowl's house blend of spices for only $19. Drink specials will include $6 Hurricanes and $6 Pabst Blue Ribbon beers.

Clive Davis, Dr. Luke, Colbie Caillat, Brian Tyler (film music composer of 'Iron Man 3,' 'Thor: The Dark World,' 'Fast Five') and music and entertainment industry giants committed to fighting cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases will take part in the 10th anniversary of Songs of Hope

Grammy-winner Melissa Manchester - Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ($69 & $66)). Pop-rock songstress with a bevy of honors and awards for her catalog of beautiful pop ballads “Midnight Blue,” “Through The Eyes of Love,” “Whenever I Call You Friend,” “Don't Cry Out Loud” and “You Should Hear How She Talks About You,” among other hits. Melissa will play the piano and sing at her multi-media Spencer gig, which includes guitar and vocal accompaniment. Pre-show ravioli & linguini lobby buffet ($20) at 6 p.m.

Blue Note Jazz Club, one of the world's most iconic jazz and blues venues based in Greenwich Village, is proud to announce its June 2014 schedule. All June performances at Blue Note Jazz Club will be featured as part of the fourth annual, 2014 Blue Note Jazz Festival, scheduled to take place Sunday, June 1 through Monday, June 30 (with over 150 performances at more than 15 venues throughout New York City).

If you are even a semi-regular reader of this column of reviews, you know that about every three or four months, I post a compilation of observations of shows from the previous quarter of the year. This cabaret critiquing mash up happens for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I admittedly see too many cabaret shows for the amount of time I have to promptly review them (and then, of course, the usual writer's procrastination sets in). So I have to prioritize the timeliness of the reviews based on the prestige of the performer, the length of a show run, the strength (or lack thereof) of the performance, etc. The quality of the shows in these compilations—which can range from a half dozen to a dozen reviews in one shot—are usually a mixed bag of outright raves, qualified positives, and constructive pans (I'm not a fan of the word “negative” in the reviewer lexicon). With that in mind here are a collection of cabaret show reviews going back to the start of a very harsh winter.

Clint Holmes brought his critically acclaimed show "This Thing Called Love" to Landmark On Main Street on May 10th. The show imagines the two songwriters, Cole Porter and Paul Simon, meeting at a bar and brings together such classics as Night & Day, The 59th Street Song, Have A Good Time and It's Alright with Me plus many more.

STOMP will perform on Univision's highly rated "Despierta Amerca!" this Monday, May 12 in the 8 AM hour. Univision is carried on Channel 41 on Time Warner. Check local listings for more information.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College has announced its 2014-15 music series. This year's lineup includes 60th Anniversary Season opener Bobby McFerrin, a holiday concert by Sweet Honey in the Rock, South Africa's Lady Smith Black Mambazo, a tribute to Woody Guthrie by the Klezmatics, a cappella superstars Take 6, and Eddie Palmieri performing with his Latin Jazz Septet. These musical events reflect the artistic excellence and cultural diversity to which Brooklyn Center is dedicated. The season also features children's concerts by Black Violin and Nick Jr. favorites Hot Peas 'N Butter.

Tom Wopat, star of stage, screen and TV will perform in support of his latest critically-acclaimed recording I've Got Your Number at the Stage at Rockwells tonight, May 9, 2014.