Iceland's Secret Solstice festival, set in 96 hours of continuous daylight June 21-24, is excited to once again present the world's most expensive festival ticket retailing at $1 million USD with all new uber luxurious perks. From private jet travel to extravagant Icelandic dinners and luxury sightseeing to private parties with headline artists, this is without a doubt the most exclusive festival pass ever offered on the planet.
Innervisions is a brand new festival of Soul, Jazz, Blues, Funk, Reggae, Hip Hop, Latin and World music featuring some of the finest global performers in their field. The festival will be held in some of London's premier arts and music venues for 12 hot summer nights from Tuesday 3rd through to Saturday 14th July 2018. Destined to be a regular event on the festival calendar by one of the UK's top specialist promoters, Innervisions is the perfect reason to leave your tent in the loft and stay in the city!
The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is pleased to announce the 40th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival will be hosted from August 24–September 2 in Millennium Park, the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.) and at venues throughout the city. Among many featured headline guests, on September 1 Chicago native Ramsey Lewis will perform his last live performance in Chicago before his retirement. For the complete lineup of performers in Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center, visit chicagojazzfestival.us.
B.B. Kings Blues Club & Grill, a musical venue in the heart of the theatre district, has just announced that it will close its 42nd Street location at the end of this month. An official statement reads:
After 18 years of hosting some of music and entertainment's most revered names, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill has announced its final run of shows in its current Times Square location (237 W 42nd St). Due to escalating rent, the historic venue and supper club is forced to close its doors with a final performance on April 29, 2018. B.B. King Blues Club is in the process of selecting a new location in Manhattan to relocate the venue.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced Questlove: Creative Quest, a one-night-only discussion and book signing event on April 28. Questlove-musician, bandleader, designer, producer, culinary entrepreneur, professor, founding Kennedy Center Hip Hop Culture Council member, and all-around cultural omnivore-will discuss his new book (released on April 24) and share his thoughts on the topics of creativity, inspiration, and originality with special guest Sanford Biggers, visual and interdisciplinary artist and moderator Ben Greenman (co-author, Mo' Meta Blues).
With less than three months until Iceland's Secret Solstice celebrates its fifth anniversary, the midnight sun music festival has revealed its phase three lineup for June 21-24, 2018 in the capital city of Reykjavik. Leading the announcement additions, Secret Solstice calls upon funk legend George Clinton and his Parliament Funkadelic collective, seminal Icelandic music group GusGus (DJ set), Diynamic DJ/production duo Kollektiv Turmstrasse, Italian techno maestro Marco Faraone, Dirtybird's J.Phlip and more. Bolstering its contingent of Icelandic artists, the festival welcomes Gísli Pálmi, Joey Christ, Sturla Atlas, Una Stef, Young Karin and more to the bill. Boasting otherworldly landscapes and previously announced acts Slayer, Stormzy, Gucci Mane, Bonnie Tyler, Clean Bandit, Steve Aoki, Charlotte de Witte, 6lack, GoldLink, Skream, Secret Solstice is the must-attend, bucket-list festival of the summer.
The News Sentinel reports that the Clyde Theater has completed its five million dollar renovation, and is ready to begin its new life as a concert hall and special events venue!
Meshell Ndegeocello has shared her new album Ventriloquism today via NPR First Listen. Ventriloquism will be coming out March 16 via Believe. Pre-order the album here. Ventriloquism features versions of songs by Prince, Janet Jackson, Tina Turner and more.
Red Bull Music Festival New York returns this May with another diverse program of original events, world premieres, and talks with icons and innovators. Returning for a sixth year, the widely praised annual festival has become a New York City institution featuring performances by today's most forward-looking musicians; tributes to legendary artists, scenes, and sounds; and conversations with impactful, innovative musicians. The shows will unfold throughout the boroughs at some of NYC's most unique settings from iconic institutions to uncharted spaces completely re-configured for the occasion.
Anna Karney has been making great music for many years, performing across the US and collaborating with many talented and notable artists. She has put out several singles and EPs as a solo artist and together with her band, and will release the fifth full-length KARNEY album of original songs titled NO MERCY in stores and online March 9, 2018. Keeping her mind on social justice and positive messages, Anna Karney's lyrical content offers a sardonic and sometimes straightforward approach to many of the issues facing people today, with a message of hope resonating throughout every song she writes.
Global sports entertainment leaderTopgolf today unveiled The Cowan as its new name for the two-story, 600-person live music and private events venue adjacent to Topgolf Nashville. With an open floor space and a private VIP area, the venue showcases established touring acts, as well as up-and-coming Nashville artists.
La Misa Negra is a 7-piece band from Oakland, California, known for their unique blend of heavyweight cumbia and high-energy, Afro-Latin music. On stage, they deliver an electrifying performance that explodes with infectious dance grooves and punk rock energy, powered by horn and accordion-driven riffs, a fierce rhythm section, and a vintage-inspired sound. Since their live debut in the fall of 2011, La Misa Negra has toured the country, sharing stages and festival bills with the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Thievery Corporation, SZA, Mon Laferte, Julieta Venegas, Ana Tijoux, Bomba Estereo, George Clinton, Antibalas, Budos Band, and Ozomatli. On the strength of their wild and one-of-a-kind shows, they have gained a reputation as one of the most exciting live bands to emerge from the Bay Area in recent years, garnering a diverse fan base that transcends musical, cultural, and generational divides.
MojaMoja celebrated its 10th Anniversary of music discovery on February 10th at the Avalon Hollywood. The brunch benefit concert was attended by more than 250 cultural and musical tastemakers who came together to celebrate the stellar achievements of Hip Hop icons will.i.am, The Beat Junkies, a legendary West Cost DJ crew, and Prince's band The Revolution. The concert featured performances from breakout artists Jungle Fire with their highly explosive psychedelic afro/latin funk sound; The Steoples, a genre-fusion alternative R&B duo; Wajatta, the collaborative between comedian-musician Reggie Watts and electronic musician, DJ and producer John Tejada; along with the drumming prodigy Elise Trouw, a gifted modern indie pop multi-instrumentalist who has a viral-mashup of 'Everlong' by Foo Fighters and 'What You Won't Do for Love' by Bobby Caldwell with more than 7 million views on Facebook. All artists donated their performances to benefit the MojaMoja Innovation Fund and House of Blues Music Forward Foundation.
LOCKN' has officially confirmed its initial lineup and schedule for 2018. While many festivals have altered programming to suit their bottom line, LOCKN' proved itself true to its core fanbase with a week of well-received, crowd-pleasing artist reveals. Headlined by Dead & Company in a rare festival appearance, performing four sets over two nights, the four-day camping event will also feature: Widespread Panic, Tedeschi Trucks Band performing two separate days), Sheryl Crow, Joe Russo's Almost Dead performing on two separate days, George Clinton & P-Funk, Umphrey's McGee (performing two separate days), Lettuce, Toots & The Maytals, Pigeons Playing Pingpong, Blues Traveler, Moon Taxi, Lukas Nelson & The Promise Of The Real, Turkuaz, The Suffers and more. The full schedule is below. LOCKN' is set to take place in Arrington, VA, August 23 - 26, at Infinity Downs, LOCKN's 387-acre property located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Pink Martini, a McCallum favorite returns for eight great shows Friday, February 9, through Thursday, February 15. In 1994 in his hometown of Portland, Thomas Lauderdale was working in politics, with the intention of eventually running for office. Like other eager politicians-in-training, he went to every political fundraiser under the sun, but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming, lackluster, loud and un-neighborly. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world, crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop, and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the "little orchestra" Pink Martini in 1994 to provide beautiful and inclusive musical for political fundraisers for progressive causes such as civil rights, the environment and affordable housing.
DETROIT RISING: A COSMIC JAZZ FUNK ADVENTURE--an unprecedented project created by universally respected musicians, including current and original members of the archetypal funk band Parliament-Funkadelic, along with a selection of world class talent from across the country--is going to bring a new style of funk to audiences this spring.
Grammy night will be on fire from coast to coast as West Coast party goers, players and pranksters will have their own affair to blast into the future in full musical gear!
Meshell Ndegeocello has announced her new album of cover songs Ventriloquism today. The album, out March 16, features versions of songs by TLC, Janet Jackson, Tina Turner and more. In anticipation, she has released the album track Tender Love (Force MDs).
