Bob Geldof News

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best film musicals since the sound era began; see if your favorites made the list!

The Visionary Arts Foundation has announced the shortlist for the annual Visionary Honours awards on Wednesday 18th March 2020 at the Ham Yard Hotel, Soho, hosted by leading British comic and disability rights advocate Sally Phillips and featuring a special guest performance by rising star singer-songwriter Marika Hackman.

Cellist Michael Fitzpatrick and director Dimitri de Clercq are Tom Needham's special guests this Thursday at 6 pm on WUSB.

Dimitri de Clercq is the award-winning director of YOU GO TO MY HEAD. First Run Features' psychological thriller will open in New York City at the Quad Cinema on Valentine's Day (February 14, 2020) and in Los Angeles at Laemmle's Glendale on February 21.

Musical legends Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox / Dave Stewart p/k/a Eurythmics, Ernie Isley / Marvin Isley / O'Kelly Isley / Ronald Isley / Rudolph Isley / Chris Jasper p/k/a The Isley Brothers, Steve Miller, Chad Hugo / Pharrell Williams p/k/a The Neptunes, Rick Nowels and William “Mickey” Stevenson will become the latest inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization's 51st Annual Induction and Awards Dinner. These legendary songwriters wrote mega-hits such as, 'Vision of Love,”  “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” “Shout,” “The Joker,” “Hollaback Girl,” “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” and “Dancing In The Street.” The star-studded induction event is slated for Thursday, June 11th at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Additional special award honorees will be announced soon.

The Boomtown Rats unveil the first new song from their forthcoming album Citizens Of Boomtown, today on BMG. Entitled 'Trash Glam Baby' the single is written by Bob Geldof, and produced by Rats bassist Pete Briquette. Performers on the song are original Rats - Bob Geldof on vocals, Pete Briquette on bass, Simon Crowe on drums and Garry Roberts on guitar - with the addition of Alan Dunn on piano and Darren Beale on guitar.

Acclaimed French-Canadian director, Francois Girard, joins Tom Needham on WUSB's THE SOUNDS OF FILM this Thursday at 6 pm in order to discuss his new film, THE SONG OF NAMES, based on the novel by Norman Lebrecht.

William Ludwig & Dean Austin present SONGS of RESISTANCE.

Chuck Smith, the director of BARBARA RUBIN & THE EXPLODING NY UNDERGROUND is Tom Needham's special guest this Thursday at 6 pm on WUSB's THE SOUNDS OF FILM.

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts presents Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Wall: The Concert on Saturday, May 4 at 8pm. Ticket prices range between $29-$69, plus applicable fees. Purchase online, by phone or at the box office. For more information, visit PatchogueTheatre.org, call the Patchogue Theatre Box Office at 631-207-1313, or stop by 71 East Main Street, Patchogue, NY.

Behind the Scenes is thrilled to announce that the work of famed Rock'n'Roll photographer and author Neal Preston is coming to the USITT show, March 21-23 in Louisville, KY courtesy of The Lightpower Collection. Neal's iconic pictures will be displayed in the BTS booth #1253 and his books Exhilarated & Exhausted and In the Eye of the Hurricane will be available for sale. Posters, including his famous images of Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant, will also be available for just $10 each. Sales of books, posters and prints will benefit the Behind the Scenes charity. Behind the Scenes would like to thank The Lightpower Collection, Shepard, TMB, and USITT for making this exhibition possible.

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers, announces the top ASCAP holiday songs of 2018. According to an ASCAP analysis of streaming and terrestrial radio data, the hit classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” written by ASCAP songwriter Walter Afanasieff and pop star Mariah Carey, holds the #1 song position for the second year in a row.

Trevor Noah — comedian, political commentator, actor, and host of The Daily Show — has been announced as the host of the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, the free-ticketed event taking place on 2 December at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, honouring the legacy of Nelson Mandela in his centenary year and presenting the biggest campaign on the Global Goals to end extreme poverty ever.

Jared Dylan has returned from Ireland where he has been working with Irish musicians and producers, writing new music, touring, and garnering critical acclaim and radio airplay. To celebrate his return and his brand new single, Jared will be performing to a hometown crowd at The Cutting Room before heading back to Ireland once again.

International advocacy organization Global Citizen today announced that Beyoncé & JAY-Z, Cassper Nyovest, D'banj, Ed Sheeran, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Pharrell Williams & Chris Martin, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher, and Wizkid will headline the first Global Citizen Festival to be held in Africa, a free-ticketed event on Sunday, 2 December 2018 at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.

Grammy and Brit Award winning musician Midge Ure will return to North America on a co-headline tour with old friend, and fellow Brit, Paul Young. The second leg of  the 'Soundtrack of your Life' Tour will hit the west coast starting in August, down through Texas ending up in the southeast mid September.

Killer Queen were the first tribute to emerge to Queen way back in 1993, read our interview!

Grammy and Brit Award winning musician Midge Ure returns to North America on a co-headline tour with old friend, and fellow Brit, Paul Young. The first leg of the 'Soundtrack of your Life' Tour starts this week and will run through the end of the month in Cincinnati, OH with more to be announced, including a west coast run in August. 

'Piano Cinema is how I describe my genre of music. It's equally a balance of improvisations and well thought-out compositions. Some pieces were composed and constantly reworked.  While others, like 'The Magic Hour', were completely improvised. My goal is to share this vision with the world.'  

Grammy and Brit Award winning musician Midge Ure will release his new album Orchestrated in North America on June 8th. This remarkable new album features stunningly reimagined orchestrated versions of Ultravox hits and Midge Ure classics including 'Vienna', 'Dancing with Tears In My Eyes', and 'If I Was'. Musician, singer-songwriter, producer and activist, Midge Ure has worn many musical hats over the years; however, working on a fully orchestrated album has been a new venture for Midge. Said Midge: 'The record took eighteen months to make, but a lifetime of work to achieve.' The set will be released by BMG on CD and clear vinyl.