Archive | January, 2025

Diana Ross

Posted on 30 January 2025 by Brian Walsh

Diana Ross has announced a 2025 Symphonic Celebration U.K. arena tour.

The legendary singer returns to the U.K. two years after touring the country for her The Musical Legacy Tour.

The first of the seven arena shows will be held at the BP Pulse Live in Birmingham on June 22.

Ross will perform with the Manchester-based Hallé Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra on various dates.

The Hallé Orchestra will join Ross in Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, while the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will share the stage with her in Glasgow. The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will perform with Ross for the finla show at The O2 in London on July 2.

Tickets go on sale for the general public at 10 am on January 31. Pre-sale starts on January 29.

Symphonic Celebration U.K. Arena Tour Dates:

JUNE
22 – Birmingham, BP Pulse Live
23 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
25 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
26 – Manchester, Co-op Live
28 – Leeds, First Direct Arena
30 – Liverpool, M&S Band Arena

JULY
2 – London, The O2

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Simple Minds

Posted on 30 January 2025 by Brian Walsh

Legendary U.K. rock band Simple Minds have announced a major North American headlining tour, featuring support from Soft Cell and Modern English.

The “Alive & Kicking” tour is set to commence on May 16th with a show at Cascades Amphitheater in Ridgefield, Washington. The tour, produced by Live Nation, will have stops at several famous arenas and amphitheaters such as Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena (May 17), Inglewood, California’s Kia Forum (May 22), Denver, CO’s Ball Arena (May 27), Woodlands, Texas’ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (May 31), Columbia, Maryland’s Merriweather Post Pavilion (June 10), Wantagh, New York’s Northwell at Jones Beach Theater (June 13), Mansfield, Massachusetts’ Xfinity Center (June 15), and Toronto, Ontario’s Budweiser Stage (June 18).

The final concert of the 24-date tour is scheduled to take place on June 22nd at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana.

The tour marks the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the band’s milestone year 1985, in which they topped the world’s charts with their Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash, “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” and RIAA Gold-certified seventh studio album Once Upon A Time.

“Been a while but absence makes the heart grow fonder,” says Jim Kerr. “Simple Minds are ecstatic at the prospect of touring so extensively in the US and Canada this coming Spring.”

“Hindsight is a glorious thing!” continues Kerr. “40 years on and it now feels right for Simple Minds to have ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ included in this classy new nine track edition of Once Upon A Time.”

Simple Minds 2025 Tour Dates:

May 16 – Ridgefield, WA @ Cascades Amphitheater
May 17 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
May 20 – Concord, CA @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord
May 22 – Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
May 23 – Greater Palm Springs, CA @ Acrisure Arena
May 24 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
May 27 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
May 30 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center
May 31 – Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
June 1 – Irving, TX @ The Pavillion at Toyota Music Factory
June 4 – Rogers, AR @ The Walmart AMP
June 5 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
June 7 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
June 10 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 11 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
June 13 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
June 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Mann Center
June 15 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
June 17 – Montreal, QC @ Centre Bell
June18 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
June 20 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
June 21 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
June 22 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center

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David Lee Roth

Posted on 30 January 2025 by Brian Walsh

David Lee Roth, former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach, and Stephen Pearcy and Warren DeMartini performing RATT are set to headline the annual M3 Rock Festival.

The 16th edition of the hard rock festival is scheduled to take place on May 2-4 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

The lineup also includes Winger, Slaughter, former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, Warrant, Great White and Lita Ford.

Tickets for the festival go on sale Friday at 12 p.m. ET. A complete schedule and lineup can be found at m3rockfest.com.

Pearcy had this to say about his special appearance with DeMartini: “Never say never, right? There was no question when the idea was brought up doing something with Warren again. It wasn’t even a thought/ It’s time, let’s do this. ‘Pearcy / DeMartini’ back in the cellar, let’s go! Let’s break the ice, with the utmost respect and do what we do best together, play RATT music. It’ll seem like yesterday instead of years when we’re back onstage regardless. It’s time to RATT n’ roll again, even if it’s a double shot. It’s about the band’s legacy.”

He continued: “I know what we can do as a team, and that’s writing great songs and kickin’ some ass onstage. It’s only appropriate that the first show in years is at M3 2025. It’s a great event. You’re getting ALL the RATT hits and more, let the ‘Invasion’ celebration begin,” referencing the fact that 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of RATT’s second album, Invasion Of Your Privacy.

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Patti Smith

Posted on 30 January 2025 by Brian Walsh

Patti Smith reportedly smacked her head on the stage as she fainted during a performance in São Paulo, Brazil on Wednesday night.

The 78-year-old rock icon was performing with the experimental music group Soundwalk Collective at the Teatro Cultura Artística when she collapsed.

Shocked onlookers told Brazilian outlet Metrópoles that Smith fell backwards and hit her head on the floor before being escorted off stage in a wheelchair.

Despite the health scare, the Gloria hitmaker returned in the wheelchair and apologised to the audience. She noted that doctors advised her to call off the rest of the show but she wanted to sing one more song. After performing one of her greatest hits, Because The Night, seated in the wheelchair, Smith received a standing ovation and decided to sing a second song as well.

Smith and Soundwalk Collective issued a joint statement on the latter’s Instagram Stories, explaining the reason for her collapse and assuring fans that they will perform at the venue again on Thursday.

“Patti has suffered from an intense migraine the past couple of days and had some dizziness on stage, but she still wanted to be there for all of us and you and perform today. She is now being cared for by the best doctors in the most loving way and will be back on stage tomorrow night,” the statement reads.

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L.A. Fire Benefit Concert

Posted on 23 January 2025 by Brian Walsh

Some of the top names in music and entertainment are coming together for a FireAid benefit concert to raise money for rebuilding communities devastated by wildfires and supporting efforts to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California.

This one-night-only event will start at 6 PM PT on January 30 at both the Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum.

The shows will feature performances by Billie Eilish and Finneas, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll, Joni Mitchell, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, Sting, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks, Tate McRae, and performing together for the first time, Dave Matthews and John Mayer.

Additional artists, special guests, and lineups for each venue will be announced in the coming days. Tickets for both concerts go on-sale beginning at noon PT on January 22 through Ticketmaster.

Fans across the globe will be able to make contributions to the cause, as FireAid will be broadcast and streamed live on Apple Music and the Apple TV app, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix/Tudom, Paramount+, Prime Video and the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM, exclusively on “LIFE with John Mayer,” Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps, and YouTube, and at select AMC Theatre locations in 70 US markets.

iHeartRadio will serve as the national audio partner to FireAid, using its more than 860 radio stations, its digital platforms and the iHeartRadio app.

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Ringo Starr

Posted on 23 January 2025 by Brian Walsh

Multi-Grammy Award winner Ringo Starr has been invited to make his debut on the Grand Ole Opry.

The Academy Award winner and two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was surprised onstage with the invitation by his friend and Opry member Emmylou Harris Tuesday night during the first of his two-night sold-out headlining shows at the famed Ryman Auditorium in support of his new country album, Look Up.

Harris surprised Starr onstage to welcome him to Nashville and asked if he would come back again next month to play the Grand Ole Opry for the first time.

Starr pretended to think about it and, with his trademark wit, teasingly replied, “When is that, July?” Harris answered, “February,” to which he enthusiastically replied, “I’d love to. It’s an honor and a pleasure. Thank you.”

“What an honor that after all the extraordinary music he has made and all the incredible history he’s been a part of, Ringo Starr will be making his Opry debut during this, the Opry’s milestone 100th year,” said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “It’s going to be a night like no other.”
Starr will make his Opry debut on February 21 at the Grand Ole Opry House as part of the Opry’s ongoing 100th Anniversary celebration.

Starr was back at the Ryman Auditorium Wednesday night performing songs from his new album, Look Up.

For a full Opry 100 schedule, tickets, and more info on the Opry’s anniversary year, visit opry.com and follow the Opry on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

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Carol King

Posted on 23 January 2025 by Brian Walsh

Really Rosie, Carole King’s whimsical collaboration with Maurice Sendak, will be reissued on vinyl marking the 50th anniversary of its release.

To be released on February 28 by Legacy Recordings, the Carole King – Really Rosie reissue features 11 original soundtrack recordings composed and performed by King, with story and lyrics by the legendary Sendak. The album was produced by King’s longtime collaborator Lou Adler, the man behind the board on her 1971 smash-hit album Tapestry.

First premiered as a CBS animated special in February 1975, Really Rosie tells the story of an ambitious and imaginative girl from Brooklyn who decides to stage a musical about her life and her quirky neighborhood friends. Set to the vibrant and poignant music of King, paired with Sendak’s delightfully subversive lyrics, the songs explore themes of childhood whimsy, creativity, and self-discovery.

Over the past five decades, Really Rosie has remained a treasured classic, a staple for children’s theater groups, and a gateway to musical discovery for families.

The 50th-anniversary edition of Really Rosie will be reissued worldwide on 1-LP standard-weight black vinyl in a gatefold sleeve through Legacy Recordings and is available for pre-order now at https://caroleking.lnk.to/reallyrosie50PR

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