James Brown News

The North to Shore Music Festival will Celebrate 50 Years of Hip Hop with a history-making moment when hip-hop legends Eric B & Rakim, hit the stage Tuesday, June 13th at 8:00 pm EST at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. This, in collaboration with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the North to Shore Music Festival. This is the first time for a hip hop act will perform on this iconic stage.

 An artist who felt a strong connection to B.B. King—and whose guitar skills King greatly admired—will be the headliner for the grand reopening of Indianola’s historic Club Ebony on June 1-3, 2023. Susan Tedeschi and her husband, Derek Trucks, also performed in 2021 at the opening of the B.B. King Museum and Interpretive Center’s Expansion and Memorial Courtyard to pay homage to one of their music mentors.

On Thursday, April 27th at 6:30pm, The Segal Theatre will present an evening celebrating the work of Linda Chapman and James C. Nicola at the legendary New York Theatre Workshop.

Mr Wilson is a Reggae / Funk act, formed in 2018 and based in Limassol. They fuse elements from different genres of music, as each musician comes from a different background, ranging from Rock, Latin, Jazz, Fusion and Folk music, to create a unique music experience. 

The World Premiere of ALI will be presented in Ali's hometown of Louisville, at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, in Fall 2024. Learn more about the show here!

Courtney Hadwin has released her new single 'That Girl Don't Live Here'.

On the cusp of Earth Day and the release of her forthcoming album Love at Last, Billboard chart-topping pianist, cultural catalyst, and media personality Lara Downes co-hosts and performs in Love At Last: A Celebration Of The Earth And Its Inhabitants, a special event at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC and WQXR on Thursday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m. 

On Monday, March 27, The Apollo’s Board Chair Charles E. Phillips announced that the 99-seat theater in The Apollo’s new Victoria Theater—which marks the first major expansion in the organization’s history—will be named after its current President & CEO Jonelle Procope.

With their latest studio album, 1982, tantalizingly in reach, A Certain Ratio have shared a final taste of what to expect with the glistening old-school funk of “Holy Smoke”. The new single finds ACR pay tribute to the genre’s forefathers, from James Brown to Chaka Khan to Prince. 

Queen Kidjo will hold court during season 15 of the award-winning documentary series AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange.

Roundabout Theatre Company has just announced the Broadway and Off-Broadway line-up for the 2023-2024 season. Check out all the details on who, what, when, and where!

Puccini is one of Michelle Bradley’s favorite composers, and she’s in San Diego to sing his Tosca for the San Diego Opera company. We were originally scheduled to talk in person, but a rehearsal change meant Zoom was going to work better for an hour discussion. “I'm happy to be back, and I know that everyone's happy to have me back because I've been treated warmly as always. They check up on me making sure I'm okay, and Southern California feels like a working vacation. After rehearsal I can have a nice walk any time of day. The ocean’s close, the mountains, beautiful views. I've made some great friends, and it’s a wonderful relationship to have. They seem to think I’m a star.”

Since 1934, aspiring performers have come to The Apollo to “Be Good or Be Gone!” On Saturday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., The Apollo (253 W. 125th Street) will hold live auditions for its signature program, Amateur Night at The Apollo, the quintessential talent competition and one of the longest-running events in the world.

The alluring, electric track comes after Micky's latest 'New York Minute,' a gleeful ode to New York City. Micky has found success on the road over the last couple of years, supporting acts like The Struts, The Regrettes, Cherry Pools, and playing festivals such as Firefly Music Festival, Pleasantville Music Festival, the KISS Cruise and more. 

An all-star cast featuring Peter Carroll, Vanessa Downing, John Gaden, Philip Quast and Brigid Zengeni will bring to life the long-overdue mainstage debut of Patricia Cornelius' Do Not Go Gentle directed by STC's Paige Rattray (Death of a Salesman, Triple X) at Roslyn Packer Theatre this May.

What did our critic think of DREAMGIRLS at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe?

A developmental reading of Slippin’ Through the Cracks, the new musical about the legendary bluesman, Bobby Rush, will be presented to an invitation-only industry audience in New York City in March. See who is starring!

The New York premiere of Rock & Roll Man, a new musical celebrating the life of the legendary Alan Freed, starring Constantine Maroulis as Freed, will open this June at New World Stages, Stage 3. See how to purchase tickets!

Back in 2015, I caught a solo performance play Mutant Olive, created and performed by Mitch Hara. I decided to speak with him about his revamped play, Mutant Olive 2.0, soon to begin performance at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood, to ask about the new show, it’s title, and what’s been going on during the 8 years since Mutant Olive in its original form premiered.

I remember the day when I first saw the cover for “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan. I would soon consume that book in a matter of days. When I heard that THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL was being produced in Houston, I knew I had to go, and the show proved to be everything that little me always dreamed of.