Inside Africa : CNN’s Inside Africa Joins Five-Time Grammy Winner Angelique Kidjo Backstage And Back Home During Her Tour →

In a new episode of Inside Africa, CNN joins five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo who is on tour celebrating her 40th anniversary at the top of the global music industry. She says: “Being on stage for me is just the best thing ever. It’s the best place, and the safest, and the most beautiful place that exists on earth for me.” The Beninese star is out to change perceptions of ‘African music’ one audience at a time: “People still think that classical music has nothing to do with African music. That there is any music on this planet that has nothing to do with Africa. So, why is Africa the cradle of humanity? Where do we come from? And the way that we can dissociate ourself, for me, is a manifestation of fear. Because the narrative that I’ve been told about Africa is so negative, that no one wants to be associated with it. So, if you want to change the narrative, let’s start with music.”

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American Songwriter : The Not-So-Subtle Political Commentary Behind Kris Kristofferson’s 1990 Single “Don’t Let the Bastards (Get You Down)” (by Tina Benitez-Eves) →

They’re killing babies in the name of freedom opens Kris Kristofferson on his 1990 song “Don’t Let the Bastards (Get You Down).” Released months before the U.S. was about to invade Iraq, no specific conflict is referenced in the song by Kristofferson, who served as a captain in the U.S. Army. At the time, Kristofferson’s political views were crystal clear, and he opposed the recent military policies enforced by the then George W. Bush Jr. administration and remained outspoken about his more left-wing stances. [...] Soon after the release of Don’t Let the Bastards (Get You Down),” the title became Kristofferson’s catchphrase. He even said the words to Sinéad O’Connor, after she was booed at a Bob Dylan tribute concert at Madison Square Garden, shortly after her controversial appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1992 where she tore a photograph of then-Pope John Paul II to shed light on the unspoken sexual abuses by priests in the Catholic church.

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Inside Africa : Inside Africa Inside Africa 'Africa's premier diva' celebrates four decades at the top →

CNN joins five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo backstage on her global anniversary tour, and brings Davido, Stonebwoy and Yo-Yo Ma along for the ride.

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The String : John Leventhal, In The Spotlight At Last, Talks ‘Rumble Strip’ (by Craig Havighurst) →

John Leventhal was producer on Rosanne Cash’s string of remarkable albums in the 2000s, including "The List" (especially impactful on me) and the Grammy-winning "The River And The Thread" (2014). And then he made more honest, gorgeous albums for others - "This Is Where I Live by soul artist William Bell" in 2016 and Sarah Jarosz’s "World On The Ground" in 2020 - both major award winners. Amid it all, Leventhal was named Americana Instrumentalist of the Year in 2015. And yet for all of this, John Leventhal made it to age 70 having never released music of his own. That changed in late January with the release of "Rumble Strip", a collection of three songs and thirteen instrumentals, made by John working alone and playing all the instruments, not counting the duo vocals of Rosanne Cash on a couple of timeless cuts.

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Popmatters : THOSE DAYS ARE GONE FOREVER: STEELY DAN’S ‘PRETZEL LOGIC’ AT 50 →

Steely Dan’s 50-year-old third album, Pretzel Logic, conceals its dark satirical vision of modern society beneath immaculate studio production. This 1974’s album marked the transition between their beginnings as a conventional rock band and their later incarnation as a studio collective under the leadership of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Founding guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter performed on Pretzel Logic, while original drummer Jim Hodder got bumped in favor of session men Jim Gordon and Jeff Porcaro. This perfectionism, involving 16 studio musicians, made Becker and Fagen infamous as rock’s geekiest dictatorship.

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Relix : Warren Haynes Plots Now Is The Time Tour, with the Warren Haynes Band and Symphonic Support

Warren Haynes has unveiled the ambitious new Now Is The Time Tour, set to stage three special concerts in the Northeast this June. Alongside The Dreams and Sounds Symphonic Experience, this series will feature the debut of the highly-anticipated new Warren Haynes Band. Each show will be composed of three frames: two pioneering sets of symphonic music, capped off by a final presentation of Haynes’ inimitable blues-rock prowess. Throughout the performances, Haynes will explore the highlights of his sprawling catalog, including unheard arrangements of favorites from Gov’t Mule, the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead, as well as revived compositions from the lauded Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration series.

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The Somerville Times : Blind Boys of Alabama Play Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series →

Arts at the Armory’s Spotlight Series is thrilled to bring Blind Boys of Alabama to their historic Performance Hall stage on March 14. Hailed as “gospel titans” by Rolling Stone, the Blind Boys of Alabama defied the considerable odds stacked against them in the segregated south, from singing for pocket change in the Jim Crow South, to performing for three different American presidents, soundtracking the Civil Rights movement and helping define modern gospel music as we know it.

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Connect Savannah : SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL: Rosanne Cash spins full circle with her album “The Wheel” (by Angie Miller) →

In 1993, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Rosanne Cash released her album “The Wheel.” To mark its 30th anniversary, Cash and her husband and longtime collaborator, a six-time Grammy-winning producer and songwriter, John Leventhal have remastered the album and are making a stop at the Savannah Music Festival. “I had a clause in my contract with Sony when I made ‘The Wheel’ that the master recording would return to me after 30 years and that 30 years came up last year,” Cash stated. “It was a powerful feeling to get it back, you know, to actually own that record again. So, John and I formed a record label, remastered it for modern times and released it with some added bonuses and fun stuff. We’re just out celebrating it.”

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ArtsHub : Music review: Angélique Kidjo, Perth Festival (by Wolfgang von Flugelhorn) →

Beninese-French singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo is a force of nature. Now in her early 60s, her voice is as strong and percussive as ever, her dancing as energetic and playful, her enthusiasm as infectious and her message of empowerment and justice as heartfelt and resounding. In her concert at Perth Concert Hall last Thursday night, she was the embodiment of this year’s Festival theme of Ngaangk (the sun), a female deity in Noongar cosmology who is equally a source of warmth, light, nourishment and protection.

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BNN Breaking : Mahalia Barnes Honors Aretha Franklin: An Empowering Tribute at Joondalup Festival (by Geeta Pillai) →

Mahalia Barnes, a seasoned artist with music in her veins, is set to honor Aretha Franklin in an empowering tribute at the Joondalup Festival. As the daughter of Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia has carved her own path in the music industry, embracing both her heritage and her individuality. Next week, she joins a lineup of talented Aussie vocalists in Perth to celebrate the Queen of Soul's legacy. [...] This tribute to Aretha Franklin represents not just an homage but an affirmation of Barnes's own journey and the influence of powerful female voices in music.

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BNN Breaking : Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers Unite for Bob Dylan Cover at 37th Tibet House Benefit Concert →

The 37th annual Tibet House Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall brought together musical legends like Joan Baez and rising stars like Maggie Rogers for a night of unity and advocacy. Explore the unforgettable performances and messages of solidarity for Tibet's cause. [...] As the concert drew to a close, the stage was shared by artists from the night's lineup for a moving rendition of 'We Shall Overcome,' led by Baez and Rogers. [...] The collaboration between Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers on Bob Dylan's classic was not only a highlight of the evening but also a powerful message of resilience and solidarity.

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Wecb : MGMT and Christine and the Queens collaborate on “Dancing in Babylon” →

MGMT has just presented a new song, “ Dancing in Babylon », a collaboration with Chris from Christine and the Queens. The new song, which should appear on Loss of Life, which will be released on February 23 via Mom + Pop, is, at its core, a tender piano ballad, but with the kind of strange undertones one would expect from MGMT. Andrew VanWyngarden and Chris team up beautifully on vocals, trading lines before reaching sublime harmonies at the end of the bridge. [...] Commenting on his collaboration with MGMT, Chris said: “ I’ve always loved MGMT’s multiverse, their freedom and talent, their crystal clear writing and crazy soundscapes. It’s royal, it’s a source of inspiration. When they contacted me for this power ballad, I was honored and excited to dive into their dream, as I have the same overall approach to my work. I also loved the story of the lyrics, and I worked my lower register here more than usual. I felt invited into their film, and I’m happy to be part of the galaxy. Let’s work towards more love in the galaxy of love. »

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Variety : Bono Leads U2’s Audience in Chanting Alexei Navalny’s Name During Impassioned Anti-Putin, Pro-Ukraine Speech (by Chris Willman) →

U2 has been performing Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” in concert at the band’s Sphere residency recently, and before Saturday night’s show, the introduction to that song extended far longer than usual, as Bono paid tribute to the dream of Alexei Navalny, the Russian dissident who died in prison days earlier. The singer spoke up for the freedom of the Ukrainian people and against Russian leader Vladimir Putin — who many believe is directly responsible for the political prisoner’s still-unexplained death — before leading the crowd in a chant of Navalny’s name.

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Devdiscourse : Patti Smith and the Ukraine war intertwine in Ferrara's Berlinale doc →

In "Turn in the Wound," long-time filmmaker Abel Ferrara intertwines clips of U.S. singer-poet Patti Smith's performances in Paris with the testimonies of ordinary Ukrainians about Russia's invasion and grainy videos taken mid-battle by unnamed fighters [...] Patti Smith's unmistakable voice reads out work by French avant-garde artist Antonin Artaud as on screen, the viewer follows a Ukrainian soldier through a point-of-view camera, appearing almost video game-like as he moves along a smoky field at dawn.

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Austin American Statesman : The Eagles 'take it to the limit' at the Moody Center for farewell tour

The Eagles performs Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at the Moody Center in Austin on 'the long goodbye tour'

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Alabama Life : Grammys 2024: Jason Isbell and Blind Boys of Alabama among this year’s winners →

The Blind Boys of Alabama took home a Grammy Award on Sunday in the category of Best Roots Gospel Album, for their 2023 release “Echoes of the South.” The album was recorded at The NuttHouse in Sheffield and released in September 2023 by Single Lock Records, a label based in the Shoals.

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The Cut : Using the Grammys Red Carpet to Make a (Political) Statement →

Esperanza Spalding, a double nominee, opted for the most overt show of solidarity on the red carpet by wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf. The scarf has become the most universal symbol of support for the Palestinian struggle, with its patterns representing important facets of Palestinian life. Noted in NPR, the black stripes are for the historical trade routes that ran through Palestine, the fishnet represents the Palestinians’ tie to the Mediterranean Sea, and the short, curved lines resemble the leaves of an olive tree, an important crop and symbol for Palestinians.

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The Berkshire Edge : Joan Baez to appear live at The Triplex Cinema →

The Triplex Cinema announces that world-renowned singer, songwriter, musician, and activist Joan Baez will attend a special screening of the acclaimed documentary “I Am a Noise,” followed by a conversation about the film and Baez’s life. Directed by Miri Navasky, Karen O’Connor, and Maeve O’Boyle, “I Am a Noise” is an intimate and candid portrait of the legendary folk singer and activist that follows Baez’s long career. Released by Magnolia Pictures, the film was named one of the ten best films of 2023 by The Washington Post, which hailed it as a “spellbinding portrait or a revolutionary talent.” The filmmakers accessed Baez’s archives and included newly discovered home movies, diaries, artwork, therapy tapes, and audio recordings in the film.

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Hot New Hip Hop : Esperanza Spalding Net Worth 2024: What Is The Singer-Songwriter Worth? →

Esperanza Spalding, through her unmatched blend of jazz, classical, and soul, has crafted a unique niche in the music world. This culminated in a career that defies genre boundaries and also enriches the cultural tapestry of our time. [...] From her early days as a self-taught musician in Portland, Oregon, to her ascendancy as a Grammy Award-winning artist, Spalding's journey is a compelling narrative of artistic evolution and dedication.

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