Get it here.
Apple Scores Exclusive With Official Ed Sheeran Documentary
Ed Sheeran’s Songwriter documentary will be available worldwide exclusively on Apple Music on August 28. Fans around the world were treated to a “Perfect” first look of the film directed by Sheeran’s cousin and filmmaker, Murray Cummings, today in the latest Apple Music trailer. Following its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival this year and North American debut at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, the film will have a theatrical release in New York on August 17 and Los Angeles on August 24.
“Songwriter gives viewers a unique glimpse into the songwriting process – Murray’s film brilliantly documents the hard work and DNA that goes into creating a song from start to finish,” said Sheeran.
Songwriter is an intimate, beautifully photographed documentation of the creation of Ed Sheeran’s chart-topping album, “Divide.” In the film, the viewer gains insight into the intense, collaborative process that produced some of Sheeran’s biggest hits. Along the way, Songwriter offers a look back at Sheeran’s childhood, through never before-seen-footage from his family’s archives. Amid a mind-boggling travel schedule that finds him writing on tour buses, at an idyllic Malibu estate, and on one epically luxurious cruise liner, Sheeran works with legendary producer Benny Blanco and musicians such as Amy Wadge, Johnny McDaid, Foy Vance, Ryan Tedder, and Julia Michaels to hone multiple songs at the same time while never missing a beat. Through these lovely, often hilarious interactions, Cummings reveals Sheeran to be a vulnerable, massively talented songwriter, one whose admiration for his collaborators, and theirs for him, is abundantly evident.
“I decided to make something different,” says Cummings, on being able to provide an authentic look into Ed’s life and creative process as only family can. “I wasn’t going to show fame. I didn’t want paparazzi, screaming fans or big stadiums. I didn’t want to have sit down interviews because I didn’t want to tell the audience how something came to be, I just wanted to show them. And I wanted the focus to be the songwriting.”
Songwriter was produced by Kimmie Kim and executive produced by Stuart Camp and Stefan Demetriou.
https://youtu.be/3NqQv4H22XU
Ed Sheeran Has Sold More Concert Tickets Than Anyone…With A Cheaper Price, Too
As robust and expansive as Pollstar’s 2018 mid-year touring data is. especially for international, which saw total grosses up 12% on the Mid-Year Top 100 Worldwide Tours Chart to an all-time high of $2.21 billion, one artist stands out among all others with a record-shattering gross and massive ticket sales yet they kept prices well below the mid-year average and still somehow managed to beat all comers by a country mile: 27-year old Edward Christopher Sheeran, MBE, from West Halifax, England, known far more widely and informally as just Ed.
Indeed, Ed Sheeran’s $213.9 million gross, according to Pollstar Boxoffice reports, is the largest ever recorded on the Mid-Year Worldwide Chart (which began in 2009). It’s a massive 40% increase over last year’s No. 1 ranked Guns N’ Roses trek, which totaled $151.5 million and 20% higher than the chart’s all-time topper, AC/DC who brought in $177.5 million in 2010.
To put it in perspective, Sheeran’s six-month tally is so massive it is nearly double the individual grosses from the rest of the mid-year’s Top 5 in Bruno Mars, The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift and Pink which hover close to the $100 million mark.
For a guy performing with just a guitar and a mic, credit Sheeran and his team—manager Stuart Camp, CAA which handles Sheeran internationally led by music agent Jon Ollier (Paradigm/Marty Diamond has him in North America which kicks off in mid-August), as well as promoters that include Frontier’s Michael Gudinski in Australia, the U.K.’s Kilimanjaro and DHP Family along with AEG Presents in Glasgow. Together they managed to parlay his global recorded music dominance in a tour that owned Pollstar’s 2018 Mid-Year tally like no other.
Music Canada’s Statement On Incoming Minster Of Canadian Heritage, Pablo Rodriguez
Music Canada welcomes incoming Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Hon. Pablo Rodriguez and thanks the Hon. Mélanie Joly for her efforts in this role following her appointment as Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the changes to his federal cabinet earlier today.
As Minister of Canadian Heritage, Rodriguez will be responsible for implementing the government’s plan to strengthen Canada’s cultural and creative industries, and will be tasked with managing the legislative, regulatory, and Cabinet processes to deliver on the government’s priorities.
“On behalf of Music Canada, I would like to congratulate the Hon. Pablo Rodriguez on his appointment as Minister of Canadian Heritage,” says Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada. “In this role, he has the opportunity to improve the livelihood of Canadian creators, by creating the conditions for a functioning marketplace where creators receive fair compensation for the use of their work. We look forward to working with Minister Rodriguez to continue to advance policies that support creators and the companies that invest in them.”
Music Canada also extends congratulations to the Hon. Mélanie Joly on her appointment as the Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, and expresses appreciation for her leadership on key policies affecting Canada’s music sector, including the initiation of a process to reform the Copyright Board of Canada, the launch of the statutory review of the Copyright Act, and the #DigiCanCon consultations.
“During her tenure as Minister of Canadian Heritage, Mélanie Joly advanced key priorities to strengthen Canada’s creative industries and improve the livelihood of Canadian creators,” says Henderson. “Her efforts to improve the regulatory frameworks that affect creators, such as the Copyright Board and the Copyright Act, has begun a process to put creators at the heart of cultural policy. Thank you, Minister Joly, and best wishes in your new role.”
In the music sector, Music Canada has been the lead advocate for practical and forward-looking improvements to Canada’s marketplace, institutions, and legal framework. The most pressing issue for the music sector in Canada, and around the world, is the Value Gap. Defined as “the significant disparity between the value of creative content that is accessed and enjoyed by consumers, and the revenues that are returned to the people and businesses who create it,” the Value Gap threatens the future of Canadian culture by harming creators’ ability to make a living from their work.
1. Remove the $1.25 Million Radio Royalty Exemption
2. Amend the Definition of ‘Sound Recording’ in the Copyright
Act
3. Address the Effects of Safe Harbour Laws and Exceptions in Canada
4. Private Copying: Renew Support for Music Creators
Each of these recommended changes removes an unfair subsidy, harmonizes the laws within our industries, and brings us to international standards. The report was presented to the Industry, Science and Technology committee as part of the Statutory Review of the Copyright Act, as well as the Canadian Heritage Committee in their study of Remuneration Models for Artists and Creative Industries, where it has been cited by members of the committee as well as several other industry groups appearing as witnesses before the committee.
The Monkees’ Michael Nesmith Is Bringing Back His 1970s Country Rock Group, The First National Band For 2018 Tour
The Monkees’ Michael Nesmith has announced that he would be doing a 5 date tour of California with a revamped version of “The First National Band” including a date at the legendary Troubadour, where he performed Pre-Monkees
He’s playing songs from his Monkees days, too, so head on over to his website for all the ticket details.
Friday, September 7 — Houston, TX — The Heights Theatre
Saturday, September 8 — Austin, TX — The Paramount Theater
Sunday, September 9 — Dallas, TX — The Kessler Theater
Thursday, September 13 — Chicago, IL — Old Town School of Folk Music
Friday, September 14 — Royal Oak, MI — Royal Oak Music Theatre
Saturday, September 15 — Kent, OH — The Kent Stage
Monday, September 17 — Alexandria, VA — The Birchmere s
Wednesday, September 19 — Somerville, MA — Somerville Theatre
Thursday, September 20 — New York City, NY — Concert Hall at The NY Society for Ethical Culture
Sunday, September 23 — Ridgefield, CT — The Ridgefield Playhouse
Minus The Bear Announce Farewell Tour And One More EP To Leave Us With
Minus the Bear went on a 10th anniversary tour for Planet of Ice, and now they’ve announced their farewell tour. Formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2001, and comprising current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie and Sharks Keep Moving, this may be the last time you see Jake Snider, Dave Knudson, Cory Murchy, and Alex Rose, but their members will most certain continue in music. They also announced one last EP, Fair Enough, which comes out on October 9 via Suicide Squeeze and you can hear the first track below.
They also posted this note on their homepage:
Friends,
After almost two decades of writing and touring the world together, we have decided to close this chapter of our lives as Minus the Bear.
What started as a silly inside joke inside the dingy confines of Seattle’s original Cha Cha Lounge back in 2001 quickly snowballed into years of adventures, creativity, and friendship. We could have never predicted the wild journey about to begin. We’ve accomplished so much over the past 17 years, and we are grateful for the experience.
Undoubtedly we owe all of these adventures to you, our fans. Without all of you, the memories of traveling the world, exploring different cultures, and witnessing the delight of your beautiful faces singing along wouldn’t have been possible. Your support weathered us through storms that easily could have scuttled the band. Throughout the years, it’s you who kept us going. We cannot thank you enough.
This Autumn we head out on our final tour in support of our upcoming 4-song EP “Fair Enough” courtesy of Suicide Squeeze Records.
These final shows are a celebration for the community of fans who gave us so much through years of dedication. We’ll be digging deep in the MTB catalogue and we are honored for the opportunity to play our hearts out for you one last time.
Love,
Alex, Cory, Dave & Jake
Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters Announce More North American Dates
Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters has announced several more tour dates to support 2017’s Carry Fire album. Go see him.
Tickets for all Plant standalone shows are on sale at Plant’s official site beginning today.
Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters Tour Dates
September 9 – St. Louis, MO @ LouFest
September 10 – Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
September 13 – Santa Fe, NM @ Santa Fe Opera
September 15 – Telluride, CO @ Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
September 16 – Del Mar, CA @ KAABOO
September 19 – Tucson, AZ @ Centennial Hall
September 21 – Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater
September 23 – Louisville, KY @ Bourbon & Beyond Festival
September 25 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at The Toyota Music Factory
September 27 – Lubbock, TX @ Lubbock Municipal Auditorium
September 29 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Live at Moody Theater
THE CRYSTAL METHOD Announce ‘The Trip Home Tour’ 2018 In Support Of Upcoming Album “The Trip Home”
For more than two decades, THE CRYSTAL METHOD has remained at the forefront of the worldwide electronic music industry as pioneers of the big beat genre, innovators of the ’90s electronica movement and current-day global ambassadors of the American electronic sound. Originally formed as a duo, alongside founding member Ken Jordan (who retired from the music business at the end of 2016), THE CRYSTAL METHOD today lives and breathes as a solo act with co-founder and originator Scott Kirkland at the helm. And with the artistic reboot comes the next chapter in THE CRYSTAL METHOD with the release of a stunning new album THE TRIP HOME out September 28 (Tiny E Records). To kick off the record, Scott will give a special live performance in Las Vegas on release day for a true ‘trip home experience.’ To support the album, Kirkland will embark on ‘THE TRIP HOME TOUR.’ Tickets go on sale Friday, July 20.
With The Trip Home in tow, Kirkland has re-envisioned THE CRYSTAL METHOD as a live act.. He’s kept a busy touring schedule since 2017, which saw him clock in over 60 shows across the U.S. and Canada, including opening shows for TOOL, and a performance at the League of Legends Live concert in Beijing, China. In 2018, he’s already headlined his own solo tours across North America and performed at the 20th anniversary of Ultra Music Festival, as well as appearing in both Europe and Russia. For the remainder of the year he’ll embark on ‘The Trip Home Tour’ which will take him to many cities across North America. The current routing follows below.
As the sixth full-length THE CRYSTAL METHOD album and Kirkland’s first as a newfound solo act, The Trip Home–featuring first single “Holy Arp”–serves as the creative rebirth of the band. Pre-save for the single which will be available on July 27 here: smartURL.it/holyarpsave
“The Trip Home refers to my long journey: all the places where I’ve been able to go, and the experiences that come with that”,” says Kirkland. “It’s the journey back to all the things that got me here-the touring, the music, the fans that keep me here. But there’s always home. At the end of it, I go home to my family, I go home my studio, and then I go back out. It’s a circle. I have tried to capture all this in an album.”
The Trip Home from THE CRYSTAL METHOD is scheduled for release on Tiny E Records, September 28, 2018.
THE CRYSTAL METHOD’s ‘The Trip Home Tour’ dates are:
DATE CITY VENUE
Sat 7/14 New Orleans, LA Sugar Mill
Sat 7/21 Big Bear, CA The Cave
Fri 7/27 Sacramento, CA Concerts In The Park
Sat 7/28 Agassiz, BC Electric Love Music Festival
Sat 8/11 Ferndale, MI Grasshopper
Fri 9/7 Jacksonville, FL Myth Nightclub
Sat 9/8 Pensacola, FL Vinyl
Fri 9/14 El Paso, TX Lowbrow
Sat 9/15 Houston, TX Warehouse
Fri 9/21 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
Sat 9/22 Rochester, NY Anthology
Fri 9/28 Las Vegas, NV Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Pool
Fri 10/5 Eugene, OR HIFI
Sat 10/6 Portland, OR 45 East
Fri 10/12 Kansas City, MO Truman
Sat 10/13 Denver, CO Beta
Sat 10/20 Hermosa Beach, CA Saint Rocke
Fri 10/26 Austin, TX Empire
Sat 10/27 Virginia Beach, VA Shakas Live
Wed 10/31 Brooklyn, NY Good Room
Fri 11/2 Indianapolis, IN The Vogue
Sat 11/3 Washington, DC U Street Music Hall
Fri 11/9 Santa Barbara, CA EOS Lounge
Sat 11/10 San Diego, CA Music Box
Sat 11/17 San Francisco, CA Public Works
Fri 11/30 Dallas, TX Trees
Sat 12/1 San Antonio, TX Paper Tiger
Fri 12/7 Cincinnati, OH Bogarts
Sat 12/8 Nashville, TN Exit/In
Fri 12/14 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Hall
Sat 12/15 Louisville, KY Mercury Ballroom
Wanda Jackson Announces New Music With Joan Jett Producing
Known for her energetic stage shows and pioneering presence as a female artist, the one-and-only Wanda Jackson – popularly known as the Queen of Rockabilly and the First Lady of Rock & Roll – has returned to Nashville to work on new music. Fellow female Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame member, Joan Jett, is producing the project. The as-yet-unnamed project is currently anticipated for a 2019 release. After decades of recording covers, Jackson hit the writing room for this project, co-writing with many hit Nashville songwriters including Angaleena Presley of the Pistol Annies. “Ex’s and Oh’s” singer Elle King also contributed a song to the project.
Jackson is excited to go into the studio at the end of this month in Nashville to record vocals for the project with four-time Grammy Award winner Vance Powell. Powell also assisted on Jackson’s 2011 collaboration project with Jack White; The Party Ain’t Over, which peaked at #17 on Top Rock Albums, and #58 on the Billboard Hot 200. The album also earned rave reviews from critics, as well as landing Jackson guest spots on such programs as Conan and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Wanda Jackson has landed more than 30 singles on the Country and Pop Music Charts between 1954 and 1974. With over 40 albums to her credit, Wanda has proven to be an enduring and genre-defying legend of American music, who is still creating and establishing her legacy as an artist. In 2009 Wanda Jackson celebrated her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The announcement of Jackson’s new music comes nearly a year after the release of her autobiography Every Night Is Saturday Night: A Country Girl’s Journey to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Wanda tells the story of being discovered by Country Music Hall of Famer Hank Thompson, why she refused to return to the Grand Ole Opry for more than fifty years, the challenges she and her integrated band, The Party Timers, faced when touring in a less racially tolerant era, her relationship with Elvis, and how she ultimately found the love of her life.
Originally hailing from small-town Oklahoma, Wanda Jackson came onto the music scene at the young age of 17 with her 1954 single, “You Can’t Have My Love.” Her unique growl electrified her audiences and fans, quickly earning her the title “Queen of Rockabilly.” “Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad” and “Let’s Have A Party” were two of her earliest hits. She made her chart debut with crossover hits such as “Right Or Wrong” and “In The Middle Of A Heartache,” which were Top 30 hits on both the Billboard Country charts, as well as the Hot 100. Her 1963 Grammy-nominated album, Two Sides Of Wanda, helped to further introduce her to Country fans with hits like “The Box It Came In” and “Tears Will Be The Chaser For Your Wine.” In recent years, appreciation of Jackson and her music have grown to include multiple generations. She is a member of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was named as one of CMT’s 40 Greatest Women In Country Music during a 2002 special, and also presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance from the Americana Music Honors and Awards in 2010. In 2011, Wanda released The Party Ain’t Over, a collaboration with Jack White, earning rave reviews from critics. In 2012, Wanda released her last album, Unfinished Business, with Americana musician Justin Townes Earle producing. In 2017, Wanda released her autobiography, Every Night Is Saturday Night: A Country Girl’s Journey to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Wanda Jackson 2018 Concert Dates:
JAN 12 Santa Ana, Calif. / The Observatory
JAN 21 Tulsa, Okla. / Cain’s Ballroom
JAN 26 Greenville, Texas / Texan Theater
FEB 17 Oklahoma City, Okla. / Tower Theatre
MAR 02 Weirsdale, Fla. / Orange Blossom Opry
MAR 17 Arlington, Texas / Arlington Music Hall
APR 05 Las Vegas, Nev. / Backstage Bar & Billiards
APR 07 Pioneertown, Calif. / Pappy & Harriet’s
APR 08 Los Angeles, Calif. / Roots Roadhouse
APR 26 Little Rock, Ark. / Ron Robinson Theater
APR 12 Oklahoma City, Okla. / Rodeo Opry
APR 20 Houston, Texas / Great Texas BBQ Fest
JUL 07 Tustin, Calif. / Marty’s on Newport
JUL 08 Tustin, Calif. / Marty’s on Newport
JUL 21 Cleveland, Ohio / Rock Hall of Fame
JUL 22 Detroit, Mich. / El Club
SEP 29 Montreal, Quebec / Theatre Fairmount
SEP 30 Ville de Quebec, Quebec / L’Anti Bar & Spectacles
OCT 05 Bon Aqua, Tenn. / Johnny Cash Farm
About Wanda Jackson:
THE GUESS WHO Are Back With Brand New Album, The Future Is What It Used To Be
The Guess Who is responsible for countless rock classics, which still retain a major presence on rock radio – “American Woman,” “No Time,” “These Eyes,” etc. The band is set to return on September 14th with their latest album, ‘The Future IS What It Used To Be’, released via Cleopatra Records (available in CD, Vinyl, and Digital formats).
The band is Garry Peterson (Drums, Vocals), D# (Lead Vocals, Guitar, Piano), Will E. (Guitar, Harp, Vocals), Leonard Shaw (Keyboards, Flute, Sax, Vocals), and Rudy Sarzo (Bass, Vocals). The album’s first single, ‘Playin’ on the Radio’, will be released on July 17th. It can be heard on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming services. Also featured on the album are several special guests including, Tommy Shaw (Styx) on vocals, Brent Fitz (Slash, Gene Simmons) percussion, Jim Kale (Guess Who founding member) and Michael Devin (Whitesnake) on bass guitar.
“The song is a celebration of the radio and what it meant to us all.”, explains D#. “Whenever a new great song hit the airwaves, the DJ would say a few words then off to the races! You’d tune in just to hear it over and over again. The character in the song could be any one of us as we move ahead in life. Great music has the innate power to transport you back to so many great memories in an instant. Music is healing. I see it AND feel it every single night in our audience.”
A music video for the track has been filmed (directed by Nigel Dick and shot in Las Vegas), and the song can be pre-ordered on iTunes. The video can be viewed here:
“I love what I do, and I love trains and I love rock n’ roll,” explains Nigel about the video. “So, I was honored to be asked to shoot The Guess Who. And when they told me they were available for a day in Vegas and by chance I stumbled on this wonderful rail-yard full of old engines just up the road from the strip – I was in heaven – and up to my axles in dust! It was a perfect day.”
And the band is pleased with the results. “My very first music video…who knew?!” says Garry. “Having the privilege of working with the legendary Nigel Dick, took me back to growing up in an era where music videos told a creative visual story that I always looked forward to seeing by my favorite artists,” adds Will. “This track was no exception, adding a colorful, action packed sequence to a great story.”
Garry Peterson: “I never dreamed that I would get a chance to record an album, after 40 years, in the same way, and with the same recording gear that we used in the 60s and 70s. This was truly a blessing for me and a humbling, cathartic experience for my musical soul. Thank you to all my bandmates, and everyone who helped make it a reality. I hope our fans enjoy it as much as I do.”
D#: “This all started when I wrote ‘Playing on the Radio’. Lyrically and musically, these songs are the soundtrack to my journey with The Guess Who over the last 10 years. This record was a joy and an honor to create. As version 3.0 of this iconic band, we had our work cut out for us. The challenge in this type of situation is always to be true to the heartroots of the original blueprint, as well as being able to journey onwards into an inspired future, incorporating the new energies that we bring to the experience, as you do in any family, generation after generation. I hope you enjoy the ride as much as we did.”
Will E: “I am honored to be a part of this chapter of The Guess Who. We specifically wrote and arranged the music to reflect what people have always loved about the band; great songs with big vocal driven choruses. We accomplished our own sound while maintaining the classic nature that makes The Guess Who an iconic band.”
Rudy Sarzo: “The Guess Who is part of the soundtrack of my life. It’s truly an honor to have performed on the new record. And I’m already looking forward to the next one.”
Leonard Shaw: “It has been quite the trip since I joined the Guess Who 25 years ago, but I am stoked about our new recording of original songs! These songs are fun to play live, and people are digging them!”
And soon, fans will be able to hear the latest work from this legendary band, upon the arrival of the rocking and inspired ‘The Future IS What It Used To Be.’
‘The Future IS What It Used To Be’ track listing:
1. When We Were Young
2. Runnin’ Blind
3. Talks All The Time
4. Baby Come Around
5. Haunted
6. In America
7. Playin’ On The Radio
8. Give It A Try
9. Good Girl
10. Long Day
Tour Dates:
Fri, Jul 20, 2018 Big Top Chautauqua Bayfield, WI
Sat, Jul 21, 2018 Door Community Auditorium Fish Creek, WI
Sun, Jul 22, 2018 Waukesha County Fair Waukesha, WI
Fri, Jul 27, 2018 Centennial Park Sarnia, ON
Sat, Jul 28, 2018 Medicine Hat Ex & Stampede Medicine Hat, AB
Fri, Aug 24, 2018 Foellinger Theatre Ft. Wayne, IN
Sat, Aug 25, 2018 Lincoln Amphitheatre Lincoln City, IN
Fri, Aug 31, 2018 Oregon State Fair Salem, OR
Sat, Sep 1, 2018 Fort Randall Casino Lake Andes, SD
Sat, Sep 15, 2018 Twin River Casino Lincoln, RI
Sun, Sep 16, 2018 Music Hall of Williamsburg New York, NY
Sat, Sep 29, 2018 Helwig Winery Plymouth, CA
Sun, Sep 30, 2018 Yoshi’s Oakland, CA
Fri, Oct 5, 2018 The Golden Nugget Las Vegas, NV
Sat, Oct 20, 2018 Robinson Grand Perf. Arts Center Clarksburg, WV
Sun, Nov 11, 2018 Magic City Casino Amphitheater Miami, FL
Fri Nov 23, 2018 Boomtown Casino Hotel Reno, NV
Fri, Nov 30, 2018 One World Theatre Austin, TX
Sat, Dec 1, 2018 Arlington Music Hall Arlington, TX
Tue, Dec 11, 2018 Savannah Center The Villages, FL
Sat, Mar 9, 2019 Palace Theatre Wataerbury, CT