State Champ Radio Concerts
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50 Cent is hitting the road this summer for a global tour called The Final Lap that will kick off on July 21 with a show at the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City and keep him on the road through a planned Nov. 12 gig at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England.
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The Live Nation-produced outing is a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s 2003 debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, will feature a set list comprised of 50’s greatest hits and tracks he hasn’t performed live in decades according to a release. He will be joined on all the dates by his longtime friend Busta Rhymes and by Jeremih on the North American dates, with more guests to be announced later.
Fans can sign up for tickets for the North American leg via Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan, with registration open now through Sunday (May 7) at 11:59 p.m. ET.; click here to register. A limited amount of tickets will be available during a general onsale beginning May 12 at 10 a.m. local time here while supplies last. Presale tickets for the European leg will go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. local time on May 10, with the general on sale kicking off on May 12 at 10 a.m. local time here.
The Final Lap North American and European tour dates:
July 21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Maverik Center
July 23 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
July 25 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July 27 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
July 28 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
July 29 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
July 31 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
August 2 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
August 3 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
August 5 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater
August 6 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center
August 8 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
August 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
August 11 – Hartford, CT @ XFINITY Theatre
August 12 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
August 13 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
August 15 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
August 16 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
August 17 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
August 19 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 20 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
August 22 – Tuscaloosa, AL @ Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
August 24 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
August 25 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
August 27 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
August 29 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
August 30 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
August 31 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sept. 2 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sept. 4 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
Sept. 6 – Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Sept. 7 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
Sept. 8 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
Sept. 10 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
Sept. 11 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place
Sept. 13 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre
Sept. 15 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
Sept. 16 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
Sept. 17 – Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sept. 28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
Sept. 29 – Hamburg, Germany @ Barclays Arena
Sept. 30 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
Oct. 4 – Oslo, Norway @ Spektrum*
Oct. 5 – Trondheim, Norway @ Spektrum*
Oct. 7 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Avicii Arena
Oct. 9 – Riga, Latvia @ Arena Riga*
Oct. 11 – Lodz Poland @ Atlas Arena
Oct. 14 – Berlin, Germany @ Mercedes-Benz Arena
Oct. 15 – Oberhausen, Germany @ Rudolf-Weber-Arena
Oct. 20 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion
Oct. 21 – Nice, France @ Palais Nikaia
Oct. 22 – Milan, Italy @ Mediolanum Forum
Oct. 24 – Munich, Germany @ Olympiahalle
Oct. 25 – Mannheim, Germany @ SAP Arena
Oct. 26 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National
Oct. 28 – Prague, Czech Republic @ O2 Arena
Oct. 31 – Strasbourg, France @ Zenith
Nov. 2 – Nantes, France @ Zenith
Nov. 3 – Paris, France @ La Defense Arena
Nov. 6 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena
Nov. 9 – Glasgow, Scotland @ OVO Hydro
Nov. 10 – Manchester, England @ AO Arena
Nov. 11 – London, England @ The O2
Nov. 12 – Birmingham, England @ Resorts World Arena
*Non-Live Nation date
Live Nation announced the return of Concert Week on Thursday morning (May 4), the $25 all-in ticket deal that will cover more than 3,800 shows across North America this year. The week-long annual program will offer limited-time low-dough tickets specials for shows by more than 300 acts, including gigs by Janet Jackson, Fall Out Boy, Don Toliver, Maroon 5, Shania Twain, Snoop Dogg and more.
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Between May 10-16, fans can click here to see the full list of available shows, filtered by the events, venues or artists; on the site fans can also search for the closest city with a participating gig. Tickets will be available beginning with Verizon and Rakuten presales, with the both kicking off on May 9 at 10 a.m. ET through 11:59 p.m. local time.
Among the lengthy list of other acts participating in Concert Week are: 5 Seconds of Summer, The Offspring, Garbage and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, the Outlaw Music Festival, Pantera, Hayley Kiyoko, Ghost, P!nk, Pepe Aguilar, Pentatonix, Avenged Sevenfold, Bebe Rexha, Beck & Phoenix, Hunter Hayes, Incubus, Jason Aldean, Rob Zombie & Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart, Boy George & Culture Club, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa, Santana, Sam Hunt, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Brooks & Dunn, Charlie Puth, Def Leppard & Motley Crue, LL Cool J, Luke Bryan, Weezer, The Smashing Pumpkins, Maneskin, Louis Tomlinson, Miranda Lambert, Wizkid, Wu-Tang Clan and Nas and more.
Concert Week ticket will be available on a limited-time, while supplies last basis, with tickets including all fees upfront in the $25 cost; any taxes will be added at checkout as applicable in each city, state or venue. Click here to see the full list of participating events.
Starr Hill Presents & Haymaker Productions announce the inaugural Iron Blossom Music Festival, taking place in the heart of Richmond, Va. on Aug. 26 and 27. Iron Blossom will offer two days of topline musical talent in the idyllic and historic Monroe Park, located next to the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Iron Blossom will draw from Richmond’s vibrant and diverse community to bring fans a unique musical experience, with local artists sharing the stage with regional acts and international headliners. Headliners include singer-songwriter Hozier, indie rockers Lord Huron and indie pop singer Noah Kahan. Additional artists rounding out the two days of good vibes and harmonies include: Elle King, Faye Webster, Rayland Baxter, Colony House, The Heavy Heavy, Nikki Lane, Devon Gilfillian, Mipso, Son Little, Celisse and more.
The event is a partnership between Starr Hill Presents, IMGoing Events, Haymaker Productions, and Lovely Day Presents.
Ken MacDonald of IMGoing Events says “the growth of Richmond is on full display here. We look forward to having Iron Blossom be a showcase for the vibrancy and culture of the city and a positive, enduring part of the community.”
“This is the moment the people of Richmond deserve and Iron Blossom is the ‘arrival’ moment for music fans in Richmond,” says Tom Beals of Haymaker Productions. “It’s because of the fans that we’re able to do this at all. The love of live music is part of Richmond’s culture, and we get to share in that by bringing these artists to Monroe Park.”
In addition to these vibrant musical offerings, the Iron Blossom Music Festival will bring attendees the very best of Central Virginia’s food, beverage and maker communities. Fans will enjoy farm to table and various street foods, craft beers and cocktails, and wares from dozens of artisan vendors. A VIP experience is being offered, giving fans up-close stage views, an exclusive lounge with cash bars, vendors and more.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, May 4 at noon ET at IronBlossomFestival.com.
“Who else could pull together a night like this? Two nights!” declared Sheryl Crow onstage at the Hollywood Bowl during the second of the two concerts Sunday (April 30) to celebrate the 90th birthday of Willie Nelson — the peerless songwriter, singer, actor, author and activist.
“Our national treasure!” said Emmylou Harris, one of the dozen musicians exclusive to the bill of Night Two of Nelson’s birthday bash. The weekend’s concerts were billed as Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 and the second evening contained no shortage of storytelling, insights into Willie World and unforgettable collaborations.
After Billy Strings once again opened the evening with “Whiskey River” — the song with which Nelson has started every concert for decades—presenter Ethan Hawke spoke of Nelson’s willingness to fly the “flag of equality.” Proof came as Orville Peck emerged onstage, his fringed face mask firmly in place, to sing a song written by Ned Sublette and released by Nelson in 2006 in the wake of the film Brokeback Mountain. Titled “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other),” the light-hearted ballad has been called the first LGBTQ-themed song by a major country artist.
“Thank you for always bringing people together,” said Norah Jones, who was joined onstage by Allison Russell. It takes exceptional talent and guts to reprise a classic duet originally recorded by Willie Nelson and Ray Charles. But Jones and Russell proved equal to the challenge, singing the epic tale of star-crossed lovers “Seven Spanish Angels,” their voices soaring over the Hollywood hills.
The inspiration for Nelson’s song “Me and Paul” was his longtime late friend and band member Paul English, who died in 2020. Onstage Sunday, Dwight Yoakam described English as Nelson’s drummer, bodyguard and “the Huck Finn to Willie’s Tom Sawyer.” Yoakam said he was “honored that Willie allowed me to do this particular song.” After all, Yoakam said, describing English’s role in Nelson’s life, “Willie wouldn’t have made it to 60” without him.
Waylon Payne introduced himself to the crowd as the son of Sammi Smith, one of the only women of the outlaw country movement and one of Nelson’s longtime friends, and “my daddy Jody Payne,” who played guitar in Nelson’s band for years before his death in 2013. As Margo Price bounced up and down with the band’s rhythm, she and Waylon Payne rollicked through Billy Joe Shaver’s “Fast Train To Georgia,” which Nelson has played live for many years.
Nelson’s son Micah, who performs as Particle Kid, shared the most hilariously detailed version yet of a family tale that emerged from the pandemic. He and his father had been playing dominoes when Willie Nelson came out with a phrase that Micah declared as “the best song you’ve never written.” The father challenged the son to turn it into a lyric. So, Micah recalled, he went into the family’s garage, “got high was shit, and I wrote a Willie Nelson song.” The chorus: “If I die when I’m high, I’ll be halfway to heaven.”
More storytelling came from Rodney Crowell, this time with a local twist. In the mid 1970s, Nelson was playing the Palomino Club on Lankershim Boulevard in Los Angeles when a somewhat spaced-out Crowell heard Nelson introduce Crowell’s song “‘Till I Gain Control Again” — and invite him to come up on stage. “I floated across the room,” Crowell recalled, before performing the song Sunday.
Beck, who stunned the crowd Saturday night with his version of “Hands on the Wheel,” from Red Headed Stranger, sang “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” on Sunday. But he also unwound his own wacky tale of connecting with Nelson. The video for his song “Jack-Ass” from his 1997 album Odelay was set in a coal mine — MTV had a lot to answer for, Beck said — with a script that called for a wizard to roll by in a coal cart. “So we called Willie Nelson and he said, ‘Sign me up.’ I don’t need to tell anyone here that Willie Nelson is the coolest.”
Wesley Shultz of the Lumineers shared a childhood memory of his father playing Nelson’s holiday song of a street vendor calling out to Christmas shoppers “hoping you won’t pass him by” as he offers “pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue” to “wrap your presents to your darling from you.” As he and bandmate Jeremiah Fraites sang “Pretty Paper,” Schultz said he always associated Nelson’s voice “with the happiest moments of the year.”
“Twenty-one years ago, this is the first song I sang with Willie Nelson,” said Norah Jones, turning to the tall, white-haired 86-year singer beside her onstage. “Thank you for writing it.” With that, she and Kris Kristofferson duetted on “Help Me Make In Through The Night.”
Sheryl Crow recalled that when she was on the bill of Nelson’s 70th birthday concert at New York’s Beacon Theatre, Kristofferson gave her advice about performing with Nelson, given his inimitable vocal phrasing. “Don’t try to sing with him,” Kristofferson had said. “Just sing louder than him.” Crow performed her own gorgeous version of “Crazy.”
“Man, I’m nervous,” Dave Matthews told the crowd as he took the stage for a solo acoustic performance, preceded by his own tale from Willie World. The two had met in 1994 when Matthews played Farm Aid, Nelson’s annual benefit for family farmers. “After we played, we all got on the bus and proceeded to get high. When I thought we were finished, we were just getting started.” Matthews says his mother has a photo on her mantle of him and Nelson, taken that day. “She was so proud of me,” he said. Matthews performed “Funny How Time Slips Away” in a version dramatically different from Noah Jones’ rendition just 24 hours earlier, just one example of how Nelson’s songs have proven so adaptable and enduring
The night’s remarkable collaborations continued. Emmylou Harris, who had sung earlier with longtime collaborator Rodney Crowell, returned to the stage with Daniel Lanois on guitar to sing a haunting version of Lanois’ song “The Maker.” Nelson had recorded the song for his 1998 album Teatro, which Lanois produced. Jayme Johson teamed up with Warren Haynes on guitar and Booker T. Jones on piano and sang lead on “Georgia on My Mind,” beautifully accented by a harmonica solo from Nelson’s longtime sideman Mickey Raphael.
But the most inspired ensemble of the night came next. In 1985, Columbia Records released The Highwayman — an album credited to Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson — which spent 66 weeks on the Top Country Albums chart, reaching No. 1. The album’s title track, a masterful four-verse musical story from songwriter Jimmy Webb, spent 20 weeks on Hot Country Songs, also reaching No. 1. The foursome, who adopted the moniker of the Highwaymen, are still considered country music’s first supergroup. And on Sunday, “The Highwayman” was performed by the offspring of the original group — Lukas and Micah Nelson, Scooter Jennings and Rosanne Cash.
“I see Trigger on the stage,” said presenter Woody Harrelson, after Nelson’s battered yet sturdy acoustic guitar was placed in its stand. Nelson’s show-closing set — which included the crowd sing-along of “Happy Birthday” he had inadvertently cut off on Saturday — seemed to be particularly personal and reflective in his selection of songs and collaborators.
For “Stardust,” the title track of Nelson’s 1978 collection of standards, Booker T. Jones (who produced that massively successful disc) soloed on organ. Then Sheryl Crow reemerged to duet on “Far Away Places,” which she and Nelson had sung together for his 2013 duets collection All The Girls. And Nelson’s longtime producer and co-writer Buddy Cannon — they’re working on their 18th album together — accompanied his friend on the bittersweet “Something You Get Through” from the 2018 album Last Man Standing.
But perhaps the most striking choice Nelson made as the evening drew to a close were duets with two up-and-coming artists — as if seeking to end this celebration of his long life by passing the torch.
Little over a year ago, Lily Merola sang for a few dozen fans at the Beer Garden stage of the Luck Reunion festival on Nelson’s ranch outside Austin. Sunday, at the Hollywood Bowl, she sang a beautiful duet with Nelson on “Will You Remember Mine,” which the two had recorded for All the Girls. Then Billy Strings returned for the spirited “California Sober,” which Nelson has recorded with the young singer for his upcoming debut album.
Of course, Sunday’s show concluded with “One the Road Again,” “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” “I’ll Fly Away” and, yes, “Happy Birthday.” But first Nelson had one more old friend to welcome — Keith Richards.
“Thank you, ladies and gentleman,” said Richards, trotting out a well-worn quip. “It’s good to be here; it’s good to be anywhere!” As Willie Nelson was joined by his sons, Lukas and Micah, Richards remarked “I’m surrounded by Nelsons! You guys should get a column.” (One member of the audience noted that only British fans in the crowd got that joke).
Richards and Nelson sang the 1973 Waylon Jennings hit “”We Had It All” (which the Rolling Stones released as a Some Girls album bonus track in 2011). But it was the next song from these two music survivors — Billy Joe Shaver’s “Live Forever” — that brought perspective to the weekend’s celebration. Two aging but vital voices, from Texas and England, came together to sing:
“I’m gonna live forever/ I’m gonna cross that river / I’m gonna catch tomorrow, now … Nobody here will ever find me / But I will always be around/ Just like the songs I leave behind me/ I’m gonna live forever, now.”
The final day of Pharrell’s Something in the Water 2023 festival in Virginia Beach was canceled on Sunday (April 30) due to severe weather. “We are disappointed to share that under the advisement of the city of Virginia Beach and the local authorities we have to cancel day three of SOMETHING IN THE WATER due to significant impacts to the festival site caused by severe weather,” read a statement from festival organizers around 6 p.m. about the forecasted storms approaching the area, as well as a tornado warning and damage from earlier weather.
“We did not make this decision easily but everyone’s safety is our top priority. We will be refunding 33% of the base price from admission passes,” they added, with refunds slated to be automatically processed beginning Monday (April 1).
The cancelation resulted in the scotching of scheduled sets by Grace Jones, the Clipse, Wu-Tang Clan, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Lil Uzi Vert, 100 Gecs, Aminé, Flo Milli and Lil Durk.
“No one wants to make this call, but we cannot predict nor negotiate with the weather tonight. It is our responsibility to ensure public safety above all else,” City Manager Patrick Duhaney said, according to the Virginian-Pilot. “The City thanks the Something in the Water team, our public safety teams and City staff for their hard work this weekend under fluctuating weather conditions, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding of this difficult decision.”
Founder Pharrell Williams posted a heartfelt note to fellow Virginians and attendees, writing, “We are the best. These past few days @sitw have been the best. Even during this Tornado Watch and Lightning Storm right now as I type, we are the best. Thank you for giving the folks that travel here that energy and that LOVE that only we can give. Thank you to our partners, the vendors, production, policemen, firemen, the city council, the mayor and all who volunteered. The spirit here was felt everywhere!”
Williams promised that 2024’s SITW dates will be shifted in an attempt to avoid inclement spring weather, as well as teasing “more acts, more merch, more food… just more!” next year. WAVY reported that the first two days of this year’s event were also impacted by weather, with some acts slated for Friday bumped to Saturday and Sunday and Saturday’s start time pushed back after weather caused issues on site the night before.
Friday’s lineup featured performances by Babyface Ray, Arcade Fire, Maren Morris, Skrillex Kehlani, Mumford & Sons and Kid Cudi, while day 2 saw sets from the Kid Laroi, Wet Leg, the Jonas Brothers, Lil Yachty, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Wayne and Pharrell’s Phriends, which included guests A$AP Rocky, De La Soul, M.I.A., Diddy, Chris Brown Latto and more.
The first day of 2019’s inaugural edition of SITW in Williams’ hometown was canceled due to weather, throwing a wrench into planned sets from Dave Matthews Band, Migos, Pharrell & Friends, Diplo and more. The 2022 edition was moved to Washington, D.C. after Williams got involved in a dispute with city officials over what he called a “toxic” environment following the fatal police shooting of his cousin, Donovon Lynch.
See the announcements below.
Dearest Virginia,We are the best.These past few days @sitw #sitwfest have been the best.Even during this Tornado Watch and Lightning Storm right now as I type, we are the best.Thank you for giving the folks that travel here that energy and that LOVE that only we can give.… pic.twitter.com/pTGwbUY562— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) April 30, 2023
We are disappointed to share that under the advisement of the city of Virginia Beach and the local authorities we have to cancel day three of SOMETHING IN THE WATER due to significant impacts to the festival site caused by severe weather… (1/3) pic.twitter.com/cj4kQgiufl— SOMETHING IN THE WATER (@sitw) April 30, 2023
…passes. Refunds will be automatically processed beginning tomorrow, and take approximately 14 days. (3/3)— SOMETHING IN THE WATER (@sitw) April 30, 2023
As Willie Nelson played “On the Road Again” toward the close of the first of two star-packed birthday concerts at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday (April 29), that song’s joyous declaration was more poignant than ever. “The life I love is making music with my friends,” he sang.
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More than 45 of those friends gathered over the two nights for what presenter Ethan Hawke called “a celebration of love — love of music, love of storytelling, and love of Willie Nelson… an American icon.”
Saturday’s spectacular show offered performances by: Beck with Daniel Lanois, Edie Brickell with Charlie Sexton, Leon Bridges with Gary Clark, Jr., Rosanne Cash with Kris Kristofferson, The Chicks, Charley Crockett, Snoop Dogg, Warren Haynes, Jack Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Norah Jones, Tom Jones, Miranda Lambert, Lyle Lovett, The Lumineers, Ziggy Marley, Lukas Nelson, Particle Kid (Micah Nelson), Margo Price with Nathaniel Rateliff, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, George Strait, Stephen Stills with Neil Young, Billy Strings and Bobby Weir. Presenters introducing the artists Saturday included Hawke, Jennifer Garner, Helen Mirren and Owen Wilson.
On tap exclusively for Sunday: The Avett Brothers, Buddy Cannon, Randy Crowell, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Booker T. Jones, Dave Matthews, Lily Meola, Wayne Payne, Orville Peck and Allison Russell, along with additional presenters Chelsea Handler, Woody Harrelson and Gabriel Iglesas.
All came to celebrate the long, rich, triumphant life of Nelson, one of the most acclaimed songwriters and singers of his age, and an accomplished actor, author and activist.
Nelson’s friends came to mine a motherlode of remarkable songs. According to BMI, Nelson has registered nearly 450 works since becoming a member of the performing rights organization in the 1950s. Still a vital, creative force, he won the 2023 Grammy Award in February for best country album for A Beautiful Time and last month released a collection of the songs of Harlan Howard, I Don’t Know A Thing About Love. It is his 150th album, according to Texas Monthly.
Led by musical director Don Was on bass, the night’s stellar band included Nelson’s longtime sideman Mickey Raphael on harmonica, keyboardist Benmont Tench, guitarists Audley Freed and Tom Bukovac, Gabe Witcher on violin, Greg Leisz on pedal steel guitar, and backup singers Alfreda McCrary, Ann McCrary and Regina McCrary. If one member of this band deserves a shout-out it is Raphael, whose harp was a constant, sweet sonic thread throughout the night.
Produced by Blackbird Presents, Live Nation and Hewitt Silva, the event’s executive producers are Nelson’s longtime manager Mark Rothbaum, Blackbird’s Keith Wortman, promoter Bill Silva, film director and producer Brian Smith and Nelson’s longtime representatives, Creative Artists Agency.
Rothman says plans for this event began a year ago and the decision to spread the celebration over two nights not only recognized the depth of talent involved but also Nelson’s long-celebrated double birthday in April.
“I was born before midnight on the 29th,” Nelson told listeners of his SiriusXM radio show in 2018, “but it didn’t get registered in the county courthouse [in his hometown of Abbott, Texas] until the next day. So it went out officially as the 30th. So I just do both days.”
On Saturday, Strings kicked off the birthday party with “Whiskey River,” which was written in 1972 by Johnny Bush but has been Nelson’s signature show-opener for years. Crockett followed with “The Party’s Over,” which Nelson recorded in 1967, and later became a staple for Monday Night Football host Don Meredith whenever a football match headed for a blowout. Nelson’s son Micah, who performs as Particle Kid, was joined by Lanois on pedal steel, for a dreamy and spooky version of “The Ghost” from a 1967 album produced by Chet Atkins. The song was a reminder of how rich Nelson’s repertoire was even in the Nashville years he was considered a failure as a recording artist.
“Willie is a spirit guide,” said Brickell as she took the stage with Sexton for beautiful harmonies on “Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming),” which Nelson recorded on his landmark 1975 album Red Headed Stranger. That spirit side of Nelson — call it zen — was evident in his writing early on, in songs like “Hello Walls,” a No. 1 Hot Country Songs hit for Faron Young. “I’ve always thought of it as the perfect song,” said Lovett as he sang that classic.
“Willie’s musical world is vaa-hst,” said presenter and famed British actress Helen Mirren. Echoing Brickell’s comment, Mirren said, “He simply follows the spirit, whenever the spirit leads.”
Nelson’s generous spirit in 1985 led him to create Farm Aid, the organization which has advocated on behalf of America’s family farmers with its annual benefit concert for nearly four decades. Price, now a member of the Farm Aid board, was joined by Farm Aid mainstay Rateliff, to duet on “I Can Get Off On You,” which Nelson co-wrote and recorded with Waylon Jennings in 1978.
Beck’s rendition of “Hands on the Wheel,” from Red Headed Stranger, was a measured, intense, fist-clenched performance. Jones played the piano romp “Down Yonder” in memory of Nelson’s younger sister and piano player Bobbie, who died in March 2022. She then sang “Funny How The Time Slips,” with the kind of off-the-beat vocals which Nelson has perfected. Former Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes played that band’s “Midnight Rider,” which Nelson contributed to the soundtrack of the 1979 film The Electric Horseman.
Nelson in 1985 teamed up with three lifelong friends, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, and the four were later collectively billed as The Highwaymen. Introduced by Hawkes as “the first daughter of The Highwaymen,” Rosanne Cash came onstage with Kristofferson to sing his classic “Lovin’ Her Was Easier.” Cash caressed the neck of the 86-year-old Kristofferson, who embraced her in return, in one of the night’s most moving moments.
Lukas Nelson channeled his father’s love of the great jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt with his solo on “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.” Bridges sang “Nightlife,” accompanied by Clark, who then honored another great Texan by scorching through Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Flooding Down in Texas.” Jack Johnson credited two of Nelson’s favorite pastimes, smoking marijuana and playing poker, singing his lyric “Willie got me stoned and took all my money.”
Tom Jones, acknowledging Nelson’s milestone birthday, quipped, “I’m only 83 myself so I have a lot to look forward to,” then dug deep into the singer’s catalog for “Opportunity to Cry” from the early ’60s.
In a night filled with non-stop memorable moments, Jamey Johnson’s song choice stood out as he sang Billy Joe Shaver’s “Live Forever,” which Nelson recorded with Lucinda Williams last year for a Shaver tribute album. Johnson sang: “Nobody here will ever find me/ but I will always be around/ just like the songs I leave behind me / I’m going to live forever now.”
The Chicks turned “Bloody Mary Morning” into a double-tempo, fiddle-fired rave up. The Lumineers sang Leon Russell’s “A Song for You” — which Russell and Ray Charles sang with Nelson at his 70th birthday concert in New York in April 2003. Rateliff returned to the stage for Steve Goodman’s exuberant “City of New Orleans,” which Nelson covered back in 1984.
Bedecked in red-fringed sleeves on dark blue sparkling dress, Lambert elicited cheers as she declared she had come to honor Willie Nelson “the cowboy,” then raised the temperature of the chilly Los Angeles night with her version of “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.”
The back-to-back stars continued as Stapleton chose two songs from Nelson’s 1982 album Always on My Mind, the title track and “Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning,” which Stapleton later covered on his own 2017 album From a Room: Volume 1.
For the second time in a week, following their April 22 concert at the Greek Theater to benefit Autism Speaks, Neil Young reunited with Stephen Stills and aptly offered “Long May You Run,” recorded by the Stills-Young Band in 1976, as their gift to Nelson. Stills took lead vocals on the Buffalo Springfield classic “For What It’s Worth.”
The placement of three stools at center stage — for Nelson and his sons — signaled the arrival of the guest of honor. Young and Nelson revived their 1985 collaboration “Are There Any More Real Cowboys.” Then, as if to answer that question, George Strait took the stage and the two country superstars parried on Strait’s 2019 song “Sing One With Willie.”
Norah Jones earlier in the evening had called Nelson “genre-less,” crediting his ability to create community and connections across the scope of American music. That was wonderfully clear as Snoop Dogg and Nelson sat alongside each other to sing “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.”
“Happy Birthday to me!” shouted a delighted Nelson as the show came to a close with “On The Road Again” and his traditional finale of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” and “I’ll Fly Away,” joined by the evening’s entire ensemble. Hawke stepped forth to give what must have been scripted show-closing remarks. But Nelson has never followed anyone’s script and instead closed the night with the self-deprecating humor of Mac Davis’ “It’s Hard to be Humble.”
Flanking the Hollywood Bowl stage was the logo designed for this event. It showed Nelson, in silhouette, guitar over his back, upon his horse and riding into the sunset. It’s hard to imagine that sunset will come any time soon.
Additional reporting by Melinda Newman
It was night two for Maná in Chicago at the United Center on Saturday (April 29), but it was the 12th show overall for the Mexican rock band who’s been on the road with their México Lindo Y Querido Tour in the United States since March.
“Tonight, we have to beat the excitement we’ve felt in other cities throughout our tour,” Fher Olvera, the band’s frontman, informed the crowd — which roared in response, obviously up for the challenge. “We’ve missed you all so much,” he continued. “It’s been more than three years since we were last here. Latinos have gained so much territory in Chicago. We feel like at home here, like if we were in Mexico.”
Rocking black nails, skintight black jeans and a blue jacket, Olvera was the ultimate rockero. And so were his bandmates — Alex González, Sergio Vallín and Juan Calleros — whose typical uniform includes dark jeans, T-shirts and/or black vests. “Age is just an attitude,” Olvera, 63, stated. “You see Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones who’s almost 80 and he’s still rocking out. I don’t know if I’ll get to that point.” After watching him work the stage, even after a suffering a knee injury earlier this year, Olvera is clearly in his prime. With his signature raspy vocals, he serenaded a crowd that hadn’t seen the band live since they last performed in this city in 2019 with their Rayando el Soul Tour.
As ever, Maná’s concerts are the type where you know you’re going to get hit with the classics, which means you’ll be on your feet and singing at the top of your lungs over the course of two hours, the duration of the group’s set. This concert was no exception. The show featured a stacked setlist including hits from albums released over the span of three decades, such as ¿Dónde Jugarán Los Niños?, Cuando Los Ángeles Lloran, Sueños Líquidos and Revolución de Amor.
The songs that were part of the setlist included “Cómo Te Deseo,” “De Pies a Cabeza,” “Labios Compartidos,” “Vivir Sin Aire,” “Eres Mi Religión,” “Mariposa Traicionera,” “En El Muelle de San Blas,” “Me Vale” and “Clavado En Un Bar.”
They closed with the ’90s anthem “Rayando el Sol.” “Thank you for the love, Chicago. Thank you for the affection,” Olvera said, expressing gratitude for a city that has welcomed the band with open arms for more than 30 years. To return the love, they’ve announced a third show at the city’s United Center for later this year on Oct. 1.
A testament to their timeless rock-en-Español anthems and performance prowess, Maná kicked off their trek in March, just months after an unprecedented sold-out residency at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles last year. “The main thing is our shows are a big party and a celebration of life,” González previously told Billboard Español. “We are excited to continue that celebration and share it with more people across the United States.” Olvera added, “We don’t take this for granted. It’s amazing to feel the love from all our Latin fans across the world. It’s an honor to represent our heritage.”
As one of the most important Latin pop-rock bands, Maná’s career spans over three decades. Throughout the years, the band has scored 10 No. 1s on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and eight No. 1s on Top Latin Albums.
Maná’s México Lindo Y Querido Tour continues with stops in cities such as Atlanta, Las Vegas, Greensboro and two back-to-back shows in Los Angeles, among other cities. Here’s more info on upcoming dates and tickets.
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You can add another notch to Kendrick Lamar’s already impressive belt. His most recent tour outing is now the highest grossing Rap tour ever.
As spotted on Hype Beast the Compton, California native has set another record within our genre. According to newly released report from the Touring Data website, The Big Steppers Tour is now the most highest earning concert series ever headlined by a rapper. This 73 show run sold 929,056 tickets and generated a whopping 110.9 million dollars. In addition the average price for a ticket throughout all the concert venues was just a bit over $100 dollars. Considering some of his peers are selling shows at $1,000 a seat; K-Dot might have just proved that keeping the price point affordable is the right way to go.
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These numbers now top Drake’s Aubrey & The Three Migos, Drake and Future’s Summer Sixteen and Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Throne. This outing was in support of Kendrick Lamar’s fifth solo album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers which was largely hailed as a brilliant effort and marked his last recording under his Top Dawg Entertainment record label contract.
Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, A Star-Studded Concert Celebrating Willie’s 90th Birthday just got a little longer and a little more star-studded with the addition of a big-name presenters who will help Willie Nelson celebrate his milestone this weekend at the Hollywood Bowl.
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Woody Harrelson, Chelsea Handler, Ethan Hawke, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Owen Wilson and Gabriel Iglesias will be presenters at the two-night Los Angeles extravaganza, which boasts more than 45 acts on hand to celebrate the national treasure that is Nelson.
The presenters join a diverse artist lineup for Saturday and Sunday that includes George Strait, Snoop Dogg, Miranda Lambert, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews, Tom Jones, The Chicks, Chris Stapleton and more who will salute the “On the Road Again” singer, who is also slated to perform.
Also on the bill are Allison Russell, Beck, Billy Strings, Bobby Weir, Booker T. Jones, Buddy Cannon, Charley Crockett, Daniel Lanois, Dwight Yoakam, Edie Brickell, Emmylou Harris, Gary Clark Jr., Jack Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Kris Kristofferson, Leon Bridges, Lily Meola, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff, Neil Young, Orville Peck, Particle Kid, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Shooter Jennings, Stephen Stills, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, Tyler Childers, Warren Haynes, Waylon Payne and Ziggy Marley. Kacey Musgraves, who had originally been scheduled to perform, can no longer appear.
Each evening is expected to last at least four hours with the two nights’ experiences varying from each other.
At 90, Nelson continues to be a musical force. He was nominated for four Grammys earlier this year and a multi-part documentary on Nelson, titled Willie Nelson & Family, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. On March 3, he released his latest album, I Don’t Know a Thing About Love, which highlighted songs written by Harlan Howard, on Sony’s Legacy Recordings.
Produced by Blackbird Presents, Live Nation and Hewitt Silva, the Hollywood Bowl event’s executive producers are Mark Rothbaum, Keith Wortman, Bill Silva, Brian Smith and Creative Artists Agency.
A May 28 concert by Roger Waters that was slated to take place in Frankfurt, Germany that was canceled after city council members called the former Pink Floyd singer/bassist “one of the world’s most well-known antisemites” is not slated to go on as scheduled.
German public broadcast outlet Deutsche Welle reported on Monday that an administrative court in Frankfurt ruled that neither the city nor the state of Hesse had the right to cancel the show at the Frankfurt Festhalle. As owners of the concert’s promoter, Messe Frankfurt, the court said the state and city were obligated to “make it possible for Waters to stage the concert” as contractually agreed, despite their concerns over Rogers’ previous public statements about Israel.
“The court on Monday said that although Waters’ show obviously borrows symbolism linked to National Socialism, it could not see that he was glorifying or qualifying Nazi deeds or identifying with Nazi racial ideology,” Welle reported. “Nor was there any indication that he would be using any type of Nazi propaganda during the concert.” It is against the law in Germany to display Nazi symbols or memorabilia.
The court said that to deny Waters access to the site — on the spot of what was a Jewish detention camp during WWII, where 3,000 Jewish men were held on Kristallnacht (“Night of the Broken Glass”) in Nov. 1938 before being sent to their deaths — would infringe on his free speech rights.
At press time a spokesperson for Waters had not returned a request for additional comment.
“The background to the cancellation is the persistent anti-Israel behavior of the former Pink Floyd frontman, who is considered one of the most widely spread antisemites in the world,” the city council said at the time of the cancelation in a statement. “He repeatedly called for a cultural boycott of Israel and drew comparisons to the apartheid regime in South Africa and put pressure on artists to cancel events in Israel.” Waters has denied that he is an antisemite.
The JTA reported that the city of Frankfurt made reference to the historic significance of the concert hall — which it partly owns — and said it was cancelling the show over Waters’ support of the controversial BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions). BDS is a Palestinian-led movement that calls for a boycott of Israel to force the nation’s government to change its policies toward Palestinians.
The JFA additionally noted at the time that Waters concerts have featured a flying pig balloon featuring a Star of David (as well as a number of other corporate logos and symbols) and that he’s compared the actions of the Israeli government to that of South Africa under apartheid and Nazi Germany as well as questioning Israel’s right to exist.
The court conceded that it might be in “especially poor taste” to allow Waters, 79, to perform on the sacred site, but concluded that such a show would “not be injurious to the human dignity of those people.”
In Sept., Waters canceled planned shows in Krakow, Poland amid similar outrage over his stance on Russia’s unprovoked, yearlong war in Ukraine, which he has said was the fault of Ukraine and NATO.
