George Harrison News

Following the release of the UK Number One album, 'From Out of Nowhere', Jeff Lynne's ELO have just announced an autumn 2020 European tour. The highly anticipated 'From Out of Nowhere' tour will include two nights at London's O2 Arena on 5th and 6th October.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are pleased to present the schedule for the month of February! At Birdland Jazz Club, catch the iconic Lionel Hampton Big Band Featuring Jason Marsalis, current GRAMMY nominee Catherine Russell, the Birdland debut of AGUAS Trio with Omar Sosa, Yilian Cañizares and Gustavo Ovalles, and iconic vocalist Jane Monheit. Internationally recognized trumpeter Rachel Therrien, the Seth Weaver Big Band, and The Voice contestant Melinda Rose Rodriguez will also be performing upstairs. 

On March 6th, Mandy Moore will release her seventh studio album, Silver Landings, via Verve Forecast. Her first new album in 10 years, 'Silver Landings' is a reference to a lyric on the album's titular last song: 'Reaching for golden ribbons up in the air/But I'm looking for silver landings.' The title track was the last song Moore wrote for the album and became emblematic of THE JOURNEY she's been through in the past decade, what it took to get to the point of re-embracing this part of her life, and the expectations therein.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are kicking off the new year with a star-studded January schedule! At Birdland Jazz Club, catch the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, under the direction of Scotty Barhart and special guest vocalist Carmen Bradford; Karrin Allyson as she pays tribute to Mose Allison; and the Hot Sardines, among others!

Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire are excited to announce the 2020 winter and spring season at The Colonial Theatre and The Garage. Tickets are now available for purchase by contacting the Colonial Ticket Office (111 South Street, Pittsfield) at 413-997-4444 or online at www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.

The Yiddishkayt Initiative (YI) (Avi Hoffman, Producing Artistic Director) and Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Artistic Director) have announced the full lineup of events for the inaugural YI Love New York YiddishFest. This selection of performances, screenings, and discussions centered around Jewish culture and Yiddish entertainment will play several New York City venues from December 21-29. Reservations are required for all events and can be made at www.yiddishfest.org.

On loan from Brooklyn rock band The Slim Kings, singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael Sackler-Berner's new video does not rock. It doesn't folk-rock either, as fans of his solo work might expect - it swings. In MSB's dreams, it's Bennett, Sinatra, or Martin, but there's a punk side to the track because he's not a crooner by trade. It is tailor-made for people who think Bublé is cheese, but dig young gents singing and writing tunes for Big Band. Pop and jazz fans alike will latch onto this “Autumn in New York” release by the Big Apple native.

EagleMania a?" The World's Greatest Eagles Tribute Band, which has been thrilling audiences nationwide with their stunning five-part harmony and uncanny ability to emulate the unmistakable sound of The Eagles, makes a return tour stop at SOPAC on Friday, December 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets, priced at $28-$38, are on sale now at SOPACnow.org/eaglemania.

In conjunction with the Peggy Lee Estate, Capitol/UMe will release Is That All There Is? 50th anniversary digital-only edition on November 15. The remastered edition features three previously unreleased tracks: a remixed version and alternate take of the title track, and an alternate version of “Me and My Shadow.”  A full track list is below.

LEE ROCKER of The Stray Cats fame today (October 30) has released a new self-written-and produced single and video, 'Dog House Shuffle,' via his label Upright Records (distributed through Orchard). The single and video premiered yesterday via Billboard.

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts presents Beatles '69, featuring The Moondogs performing both albums The Beatles recorded in 1969, Let It Be & Abbey Road, in their entirety, on Friday, November 1 at 8pm.

In July, we introduced LA music duo NOMAD & LOLA when they released their remake of the Nancy Sinatra classic 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)'.

Beatles crossing ahead! Beatlemania sweeps Philadelphia as The Philly POPS presents POPS Rocks Abbey Road, November 8, 9, and 10, 2019 at the Kimmel Center. This performance features acclaimed tribute band Classical Mystery Tour and the full 65-piece Philly POPS orchestra.

The Hollywood Film Awards announced today that some of this year's brightest talent from behind the camera will be honored at the 23rd Annual “Hollywood Film Awards.” Writer/Director/Producer Bong Joon Ho will receive the “Hollywood Filmmaker Award” for the Palme d'Or winner “Parasite,” which opened to record-breaking box office and is being hailed by critics as one of the best movies of the year. Emma Tillinger Koskoff, longtime producing partner of Martin Scorsese, will be receiving the “Hollywood Producer Award” for “The Irishman.”  Critics have been calling the film a masterpiece since opening the New York Film Festival.  It is one of several films Koskoff has produced this year. James Mangold will receive the “Hollywood Director Award” for “Ford v Ferrari,” which already has audiences buzzing with excitement and Anthony McCarten, whose words have paved the way for many award-winning acting turns, will receive the “Hollywood Screenwriter Award” for “The Two Popes.” Actor and comedian Rob Riggle will host the ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, November 3, 2019 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

For Ronnie Spector this holiday season, Winter's Eve will a?oebe her baby.a?? The Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (LS BID) announced today that the iconic Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes will headline the main stage at Dante Park (Broadway and 63rd Street) and help light up the Upper West Side at the 20th Annual Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square. New York's largest holiday festival kicks off with the Upper West Side's only tree lighting ceremony on Monday, December 2, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.

The 2019 - 2020 season of the Carlsen Center Presents Series continues with Jake Shimabukuro, Ukulele, on Sunday, October 27, 7 p.m. in Yardley Hall. High res photos with IDs can be found here.  Video can be found here.

Eisemann Center Presents LEE ROCKER of The Stray Cats at the Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive in Richardson, Texas on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 7:30 pm in the Hill Performance Hall. LEE ROCKER made his mark singing, playing, standing on, spinning and rocking his giant upright bass as a founding member (along with Brian Setzer and Slim Jim Phantom), of the Grammy nominated music group The Stray Cats, who sold over 10 million albums, garnered 23 gold and platinum certified records, and were music video pioneers of the MTV. The Stray Cat's worldwide mega hits a?oeStray Cat Struta??, a?oeSexy and Seventeena?? and a?oeRock this Towna?? have become a part of the fabric of rock and roll. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has included a?oeRock this Towna?? as one of the 500 most important songs in rock.

Fifty years after The Beatles recorded Abbey Road, The London Metropolitan Orchestra visits one of the most iconic recording studios in history to record a Beatles-inspired orchestral version of a?oeI'll Be There for You,a?? the theme song to the global hit comedy Friends, in celebration of the series' 25th anniversary. a?oeI'll Be There for You (Friends 25th Anniversary a?" Orchestral Version)a?? is available to stream/download now on iTunes and other platforms.

Tickets are now on sale for a?oe1964a?? The Tribute on Friday, September 20th at 8:00 p.m. This tribute to the early Beatles captures the electricity and excitement that generated the worldwide popularity of the young pop band. With an eye to authenticity and detail, a?oe1964a?? The Tribute is acclaimed as one of the greatest Beatles tributes by no less than Rolling Stone. Ticket prices range from $35-$48 and may be purchased by going online at SOPACnow.org/1964.

Last week's column was tangentially about the crimes of screenwriter/director Richard Curtis. He was a corollary to the central problem, a footnote in a sea of bad representation. This week, I'm going in. I'm not mincing words. Richard Curtis, your time has come.