"For more than 30 years, the orchestra has performed free concerts in the parks in July. The shows draw thousands to sit on blankets and enjoy snacks and wine while listening to the classics under the stars.

Only in New York. But not this year.

Because the Philharmonic will not be offering Sousa in Central Park, Prokofiev in Prospect Park or Ravel in Cunningham Park. Vacation scheduling does not permit it, a spokesman declared.

The voice of the Philharmonic said orchestra members need time off in July because they will be performing in three special programs in September, including a Central Park outing with operatic tenor Andrea Bocelli." [NY Daily News]

No Philharmonic in July, but there will be Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift, Carole King, Natasha Bedingfield, LL Cool J, Whoopi Goldberg and others in a big free benefit concert in Central Park tonight (6/9). Approximately 60,000 people are expected to show up today starting at 3:30pm. Stay home and laugh at them via the Livestream.

by BBG

A Tribe Called Quest takes it to the stage.

The Sundance Film Festival is the pre-eminent independent film festival in the US, and 2011 features some interesting competitors in the way of music (and music related) film. First up is a new documentary on a legendary hip hop crew, A Tribe Called Quest. directed by Michael Rapaport (yes, that one). Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest chronicles the internal battles between Q-Tip & Phife Dawg and features appearances from Nas, De La Soul, The Roots, Mos Def, Kanye West, Large Professor, Prince Paul, all four members of ATCQ, and many many others. Trailer for the film is below.

Elgin James has distanced himself from his FSU past, and now he's stepping behind the camera for a new film etitled Little Girls. James serves as Director and Screenwriter for this feature...

"Amidst the stark landscape of the Salton Sea, two 15-year-old girls test the limits of their friendship when one follows the other to Los Angeles. Cast: Juno Temple, Kay Panabaker, Leslie Mann, Kate Bosworth, Kyle Gallner."

I didn't see the words "edge", "core", or "scene" anywhere in that synopsis. And yes, that Leslie Mann and Kate Bosworth.

James Taylor & Carole King will be the subject of Troubadours "A musical journey tracing the lives and careers of ...[these] pillars of the California singer/songwriter scene, which converged in and around LA's Troubadour Club in the late 1960s and early 1970s." This documentary is directed by Morgan Neville, who helmed docs on Stax Records, Iggy Pop, Johnny Cash, and many others.

Last but not least, Sing Your Song examines the man that I best knew for soundtracking my favorite Beetlejuice scene, Harry Belafonte. Besides sunny songs, the film "unearths his significant contribution to and his leadership in the civil rights movement in America and to social justice globally."

Full list of Sundance films is here, and you can check out the (must see) ATCQ trailer below.

Continue reading "A Tribe Called Quest documentary & other Sundance films"

The pop star-heavy schedule for this year's free Toyota-sponsored Today Show concerts that bring screaming fans and tourists to Rockfeller Plaza on Friday mornings at 7am, has been announced. The shows kick off with Sting on May 14th (that one should be fairly subdued), and continue with people that include Maroon 5, Maxwell, Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Justin Bieber (this one will be completely nuts), ....Full lineup, more info and and other Sting shows below...

Continue reading "2010 Today Show Rockefeller Plaza concert lineup, Sting, etc"

Tickets are on sale for the Them Crooked Vultures show happening at Roseland Ballroom in NYC.

Carole King & James Taylor are going on a Troubadour Reunion tour. There are two shows at MSG. Tickets are no on sale.

Tickets are now on general sale for Puscifer's upcoming NYC shows.

Tickets are on sale for the upcoming D.R.I. & Rumpelstiltskin Grinder show at Europa.

"Cinematic Titanic is the new feature-length movie riffing show from the creator and cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000." It happens live at Nokia Theatre on April 17th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on sale for Coachella.

A few more hours left to get Radiohead Haiti benefit tickets (currently up to $400 a ticket).

On 9.23.09, we invite you to New York City's Central Park, East Meadow for Feel Free, an event that celebrates and pays tribute to the National Parks. Feel Free is designed to engage you in celebrating what has been described as one of America's best ideas. Join Ken Burns, Alison Krauss, Carole King and [Eric Benet, Gavin DeGraw, Jose Feliciano and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas] for an evening of song and film. NO TICKETS REQUIRED. JUST ADDED: COUNTING CROWS AND AUGUSTANA

The event is the public premiere of Ken Burns's upcoming film The National Parks: America's Best Idea, and will be broadcast "via satellite to PBS affiliates and other partners assembled in various locations around the country." A video preview of the movie, and the event flyer, below...

Continue reading "Ken Burns' National Parks party in Central Park Wednesday - free show w/ Alison Krauss, Counting Crows & more "