Willie Nelson News

Willie Nelson, American country singer-songwriter, actor and activist, makes his debut appearance at Walt Disney Concert Hall with a one-night-only Willie Nelson & Family concert on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 8 p.m. Lukas Nelson, Willie Nelson's son, opens the show.

An all-star line-up of performers from across the arts community ushered in a new era of culture as they graced the stage for the opening of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas on March 10. Led by award-winning actor, Neil Patrick Harris, the evening featured performances by the who's who of music and Broadway's brightest stars. Check out complete event coverage below!

A new concert experience awaits Detroit's country music fans at the 30th annual 99.5 WYCD Downtown Hoedown, presented by Ram Truck Brand, Arby's and Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. 99.5 WYCD officially announced this year's lineup, led by four-time, 2011 ACM winner, Miranda Lambert, this morning on The All New Dr. Don Morning Show and simultaneously on www.wycd.com. The weekend-long event will move to a new location for the first time in 30 years, the secure, expansive grounds surrounding Comerica Park, and will be held on June 8-10, 2012.

An extraordinary line-up of performers from across the arts community ushered in a new era of culture as they graced the stage for the opening of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas on March 10. Led by award-winning actor, Neil Patrick Harris, the evening featured performances by the who's who of music and Broadway's brightest stars. See photos of the event below!

An extraordinary line-up of performers from across the arts community ushered in a new era of culture as they graced the stage for the opening of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas on March 10. Led by award-winning actor, Neil Patrick Harris, the evening featured performances by the who's who of music and Broadway's brightest stars. Check out photos and videos from the event below!

The Smith Center's Opening Celebration will take place tonight at 7:00pm. ctor Neil Patrick Harris will host the celebration which will feature performances by Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson; country artists Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris and Martina McBride; singer songwriter Carol King; trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; violinist Joshua Bell; gospel great Mavis Staples; Train lead singer Pat Monahan; and American Ballet Theater dancers Marcello Gomes and Luciana Paris.

Village Theatre's complete 2012-2013 Season schedule includes the following.

The 'TV Land Awards 2012,' honoring classic television, film and music icons, will return to New York City and be hosted by Kelly Ripa (nationally syndicated talk show 'LIVE! With Kelly'), it was announced today by Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land.

The Smith Center's Opening Celebration will take place Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 7:00pm. Actor Neil Patrick Harris will host the celebration which will feature performances by Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson; country artists Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris and Martina McBride; singer songwriter Carol King; trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; violinist Joshua Bell; gospel great Mavis Staples; Train lead singer Pat Monahan; and American Ballet Theater dancers Marcello Gomes and Luciana Paris.

Today we are changing it up a bit by aiming our focus on a Grammy-winning pop/folk sensation who has created quite an impressive catalog of songs in his decade in the spotlight - some of his best work in live shows in lieu of studio albums, making him an ideal fit for this particularly performance-based column - the geek in the pink himself, Mr. Jason Mraz. This week marks the release of his new EP, titled LIVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD, which acts as the appetizer to his much-awaited follow-up to the incredibly successful WE SING, WE DANCE, WE STEAL THINGS - which featured his biggest hit to date, "I'm Yours"; along with the Grammy-winning Best Pop Duet, "Lucky", which was also featured on Season Two of GLEE - LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD. Four letters or more, Mraz proves time and time again he is a master storyteller with an unmistakable, singular style all his own - the handful of new songs featured on this spectacular live album attesting to that with grand, soulful regard. Even allowing for some audience banter and amusing back-and-forths, the LIVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD EP is the ideal way to bring us all up to date with one of the most compelling solo acts that you can consistently find out on the road trying out charismatic and dramatic new material, the new compositions featured here in a special solo YouTube concert acting as a perfect counterpoint in a career packed with a vast array of musical styles, aural sounds and sonic textures that only Mr. A-Z would dare compose and expose to the world. If the rest of the album follows the lyrical strength and musical dexterity of this EP release, we are in for quite a ride come April 17. Plus, we also have a look at his moving and memorable new single, "I Won't Give Up"!

The Dunwells & Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the American performing right organization that represents more than 500,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 7.5 million works, announce that the band has been chosen as the BMI "Pick of the Month."

Gradually emerging as a work for the theater from casual beginnings in Houston in 1988, expanded for productions in Atlanta and Nashville (starring Mandy Barnett) in the mid-1990s, then to off-Broadway, to Chicago and beyond, "Always…Patsy Cline" was created to frame the immortal songs and voice of Patsy Cline in a theatrical context.

On March 6th, 1992 the Fox Theatre opened its doors in Boulder, Colorado with a performance by the Meters. In a statement, the Theatre said: 'The Fox Theatre family is honored The Funky Meters will return to lead the celebration on March 1st to kick off the legendary venue's 20th anniversary month. Anniversaries are an opportunity to bring family together, therefore The Fox is excited for Leftover Salmon to perform on March 6th & 7th. The Boulder based 'Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass' band paved the way for the national jamgrass scene.

After selling out Aurora's 1,888-seat Paramount Theatre in record time, country music legend Willie Nelson has just added a second show at the Paramount, Wednesday, April 11 at 8 pm.

Mc Coy Rigby Entertainment & Fox Operator Bill Malone of FX Arts have announced the third in its brand new 'Broadway Series' of shows, with the songs of one of the most iconic figures in the history of music, RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH, with musical direction by Jeff Lisenby, choreography by Jane Lanier and directed by and starring from the original New York production, Jason Edwards.

Mc Coy Rigby Entertainment & Fox Operator Bill Malone of FX Arts have announced the third in its brand new 'Broadway Series' of shows, with the songs of one of the most iconic figures in the history of music, RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH, with musical direction by Jeff Lisenby, choreography by Jane Lanier and directed by and starring from the original New York production, Jason Edwards.

A multi-talented cast and onstage band bring to life the famous songs of 'The Man In Black' when Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH makes its Thousand Oaks premiere at the Civic Arts Plaza.

Seven times Gail Bliss and her show about Patsy Cline's story, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, has sold out the Alhambra. Starting February 8, as a command performance, the show will return for the eighth time -- and the final time for Gail Bliss. Chosen from over 600 hopefuls in 1994 to originate the role of Patsy in the initial touring production of "A Closer Walk," singer-songwriter Gail Bliss has made a name for herself all over North America for her work in this role. "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline" is estate approved - one of only two select productions to be sanctioned by the Patsy Cline Estate managed by Charlie Dick, Patsy Cline's husband. Dick said of Patsy, "she's the best I've ever seen."

Sony Music Entertainment will release TONY BENNETT DUETS II: The Great Performances on DVD on March 6th which is a stunning companion to the singer's celebrated DUETS II CD (on RPM/Columbia Records), which has been nominated for three Grammy Awards.

The Lyric Theater has announced their upcoming musical performances, kicking off with Keb' Mo' on Thursday, February 2nd ~ 6pm & 8:30pm.