Billboard : Recording Academy Renames Best Song for Social Change Award in Honor of Harry Belafonte (by Paul Grein) →

The Recording Academy has renamed its two-year-old Best Song for Social Change Special Merit Award in honor of the late Harry Belafonte, who was a powerful voice for social justice throughout his career. “The greatness of Harry Belafonte’s artistic legacy is matched by his profound impact of furthering social justice for all,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “We are honored to recognize his lasting influence with the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award and to continue celebrating works that have inspired global communities towards social impact.” “The Belafonte estate is deeply honored and thrilled that the Recording Academy’s Best Song for Social Change Award will now be named the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award,” said Belafonte’s daughters Adrienne, Shari and Gina and his third wife, Pamela, in a joint statement. “This recognition not only celebrates Harry Belafonte’s enduring legacy in music and activism, but also inspires future generations to continue using their voices and art for justice and positive change.”

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CNN : How Harry Belafonte's legacy is inspiring a younger generation →

Christiane Amanpour speaks with Aloe Blacc and Carmen Perez-Jordan, who were mentored by the legendary Harry Belafonte and feature in the documentary "Following Harry", which showcases the last 12 years of Belafonte's life.

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East London Advertiser : Jo Harman's concert 23 February 2025 in London. →

Jo Harman was one of a handful of (otherwise household named) artists asked to appear at Amnesty's 'Ambassador of Conscience' Awards in Berlin where she performed for, and with, Joan Baez (and Patti Smith). [...] Live, her soul fuelled show ranges from hard rock to intimate, heart-warming ballads and features both her own emotive songwriting, but also personal takes on well-known standards and songs that mean a lot to her.

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Okay Africa : Listen to Angélique Kidjo's New Single, “Sunlight To My Soul” (by Shalom Esene) →

Beninese-French singer and songwriter Angélique Kidjo, recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the world’s most influential people, and a multi-Grammy winning act, has launched her latest single, “Sunlight To My Soul" today under Parlophone. The song, co-written with acclaimed songwriter American Diane Warren and produced by Nigerian afrobeats sensation Shizzi, blends African rhythms with the uplifting voices of the Soweto Gospel Choir.

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Save it : Carl Carlton and Melanie Wiegmann Little Rainbow →

On July 12th, their single "Little Rainbow" will be available for download and streaming on all major platforms. As the production has yet to be finalized, Melanie and Carl are taking the opportunity to welcome the fans and this summer with a hot brand-new track! "Little Rainbow" presents itself in a radiant summery Caribbean guise, dancing to a "Bob Marley one-drop groove". The optimistic lyrics harbour a spiritual, hopeful desire for love, respect and understanding, on the way out of loneliness in a cold, conceited, empathy-less world.

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Carl Carlton and Melanie Wiegmann Little Rainbow →

Carl Carlton and Melanie Wiegmann inspire with summery hit "Little Rainbow" - A taster of their new album with musical legends! Gozo, Malta - Carl Carlton and Melanie Wiegmann are back with a new song! On 12 July, the single "Little Rainbow" will be released for download & streaming on all available platforms. After the successful release of their album "Glory of Love", which made it into the Top 50 of the official album charts, and the fantastically reviewed and enthusiastically received tour through Germany together with their "THE GREAT BAND" in autumn/winter 2023, the musical duo is now working on a new album.

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The Music : Michael Paynter, Mahalia Barnes, Javon King Lead New 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Australian Run (by Mary Varvaris) →

The famous musical Jesus Christ Superstar, with lyrics and music by Grammy, Tony, Oscar and Emmy Award-winning team Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, is set to return to Australia. The show will be performed at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from 6 November until 29 December and will also be performed in seasons at Perth’s Crown Theatre (from February 2025) and Melbourne’s Princess Theatre (from March 2025). The lead cast remains as impressive as ever for the new Australian edition of Jesus Christ Superstar. [...] In addition to Paynter, the new Aussie edition of Jesus Christ Superstar features powerhouse vocalist Mahalia Barnes, taking on her first stage role as Mary Magdalene.

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Americana UK : Review – Black Deer Festival 2024: Guaranteed musical brilliance (by Andrew Frolish) →

In June, Black Deer Festival returned for its fifth edition although it feels as though it has been around forever. It has quickly become synonymous with the very best of Americana, finding an enticing balance between all forms of American roots music. Most music lovers will find something to enjoy from big-name headliners, whose link to Americana is tenuous, to traditional country and alt-folk. [...] Rosanne Cash was accompanied by her husband and collaborator John Leventhal and together they launched into a stirring ‘Modern Blue’, which energised the crowd. Next up, by way of introduction to ‘The Sunken Lands’, Cash talked about her grandmother Carrie who picked cotton in the Mississippi Delta area while raising seven children. This is magical songwriting, full of narrative detail and absorbing melodic currents.

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New Jersey Stage : The Newton Theatre presents Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal →

The Newton Theatre presents Rosanne Cash with her husband, guitarist John Leventhal, on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 7:00pm. One of the country’s pre-eminent singer-songwriters, Rosanne Cash has released 15 albums of extraordinary songs that have earned four Grammy Awards and 12 additional nominations. [...] Cash received the 2021 Edward MacDowell Medal, awarded since 1960 to an artist who has made an outstanding contribution to American culture. She is the first woman composer to receive this prestigious honor. Earlier this year, she was elected as an Honorary American member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. ‘I consider artists to be in the service industry; the premier service industry for the heart and soul. I am curious to a pathological degree and the Sword of Time hangs over me, and those two thing — curiosity and the hourglass— make me feel more urgent than ever to connect, to find community, and to create. It doesn’t matter what the world thinks, it only matters that what is unsaid and what is unseen is given form and has a voice.’

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The Guardian : Patti Smith review – utterly transformed by the power of music (by Alexis Petridis) →

At Brighton Dome, 25st June, four songs into her set, Patti Smith starts to cry: “First tears of the tour!” she sighs, wiping her eyes. [...] At 77, however, Smith remains a genuinely compelling performer. Music seems to have a transformative effect on her. Between songs she’s far goofier than her reputation as the epitome of New York punk cool suggests, but once her band kick into the Velvet Underground-ish chug of Nine or a surging version of Pissing in a River, she appears to be genuinely transported. She dances with an enviable insouciance, and as her eulogy for Kurt Cobain, About a Boy, collapses into abstraction, she appears to be close to speaking in tongues.

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Est Ensemble : ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO EN CONCERT GRATUIT AU THÉÂTRE DU CHÂTELET AVEC DES ENFANTS DU TERRITOIRE →

As part of the Cité des Marmots/Minots project, involving 1,500 children from priority education networks, 200 pupils from Est Ensemble, Paris and Marseille will perform on June 23 at the Théâtre du Châtelet (2 Rue Edouard Colonne, Paris), with international star Angélique Kidjo and the Orchestre National d'Île-de-France. [...] Very committed to defending children's rights, Angélique Kidjo has also been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for over 20 years.

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AP News : R.E.M. reunite at Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony also honoring Timbaland and Steely Dan (by Maria Sherman) →

A comet must have landed at the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony. [...] The annual event celebrated a talented group of songwriters that included R.E.M., Steely Dan and Timbaland [...] Irving Azoff led the celebration of Steely Dan, telling a story about the legendary band submitting a blank glossy image as their promo artwork. “To say they had a great sense of humor would be an understatement,” he said. Co-founded by Donald Fagen and the late Walter Becker, Steely Dan are known for their classic rock songs including “Do It Again” and “Hey Nineteen.” “I’d like to thank my partner Walter Becker, wherever he may be,” Fagen said in his acceptance speech. Phish frontman Trey Anastasio covered Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne” and “Reelin’ in the Years.” Their “real genius” is their songs, Anastasio said.

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Wtop : Five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo joins NSO for ‘African Symphony’ at Kennedy Center (by Jason Fraley) →

This Wednesday, Angélique Kidjo performs live with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. “It has been a program we have been talking about for a while now,” Kidjo told WTOP. “The thing that was important for me was to come and pay tribute to the music that has inspired my music from the 60s (Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti and Youssou N’Dour) all the way down to today with the music of Burna Boy, Rema and all the young kids that grew up listening to my music. Music has informed me about the diversity of our shared humanity.”

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Sky News : 'Big Five-0': Cold Chisel announces massive return to rock and roll in golden anniversary national tour (by Oscar Godsell) →

"Australian rock legends Cold Chisel have sent shockwaves through the Australian rock world with the announcement of a monumental reunion tour to commemorate their 50th anniversary.The ARIA Hall of Fame band has scheduled a nationwide golden anniversary tour through every Australian state in October and November this year. [...] “I can’t wait to celebrate with my mates and with all the fans who have been such a big part of our story. We’re going to smash it,” said Jimmy Barnes, the 68-year-old frontman."

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Relix : Songwriters Hall of Fame Details 2024 Induction Ceremony and Gala: Trey Anastasio, R.E.M. and More →

The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced its 2024 induction ceremony and award gala details. The 53rd annual gathering will be held on Thursday, June 13, at the Marriot Marquis Hotel in New York City. [...] This year’s event will celebrate the exceptional contributions of Hillary Lindsey, Timothy Mosley (Timbaland), Dean Pitchford, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker (Steely Dan), and the iconic members of R.E.M., Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe. These luminaries, with their remarkable body of work, have left an indelible mark on the music industry.

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Louder War : Patti Smith : The John Robb interview

Patti Smith headlines the upcoming Higher Ground Festival in London soon – details in ad at top of this page! To celebrate here is her in depth interview with John Robb in 2010 where she details her creative life in New York and with Robert Mapplethorpe in an emotional account that has tears, laughs, poetry.

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Forbes : How Lupe Fiasco Flexed His Lyrical Prowess In ‘Cake’ (by Ime Ekpo) →

On Friday (June 7), Lupe Fiasco dropped "Cake," the second single from his new album, Samurai. This track exemplifies top-tier hip-hop lyricism, with the Grammy award winner demonstrating his verbal mastery. Produced by Soundtrakk, the song hosts Fiasco celebrating his achievements and highlighting his exceptional skills while dismissing those who have attempted to undermine him. Through his use of diverse literary concepts, rapping techniques, and impactful cultural and historical references, including Optimus, Kabbalist, and Vonnegut, Fiasco crafts a performance that continues to affirm his standing as one of hip-hop's greatest lyricists.

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Irish Independent : ‘Riverdance is a powerful expression of Irishness’ – dancers line Samuel Beckett Bridge for cancer charity ahead of summer run (by Tessa Ndjonkou) →

More than 20 members of Riverdance put on a show on the Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin yesterday morning ahead of 12-hour danceathon to raise money for a cancer charity. Each year, Riverdance announces the charity with which it will be partnering throughout the season and this year it has chosen Childhood Cancer Ireland. Nearing 11am yesterday, a unique show of gossamer blues and greens greeted passersby to mark the announcement. Patricia McColgan, sister of Riverdance director John McColgan, whose son was diagnosed with cancer as a child, said: “It’s just wonderful. Riverdance is such a powerful, hopeful expression of Irishness. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our kids to be involved with this. Some of them have been through some very tough times and it’s a fantastic celebration for them to be centre stage.”

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Ghana Web : Angélique Kidjo celebrates as 'Manodzi' wins 'Record of the Year' at the TGMAs →

Renowned music legend Angélique Kidjo celebrated her recent win at this year’s Telecel Ghana Music Awards. Her collaboration with Stonebwoy on the track “Manodzi” featured on his 5th Dimension album, was honoured with the “Record of the Year” award at the prestigious event".

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WRTI 90.1 : On the cusp of a major album drop, esperanza spalding rests in motion (by Nate Chinen) →

When esperanza spalding glides through our area in the coming days, she’ll be moving in a deliberate spirit of grace. “The whole point of this tour was like a resting place,” the Grammy-winning bassist, singer, bandleader and songwriter, who stylizes her name in all-lowercase, explained this week in a conversation with WRTI. “Because I've been doing so many big, complicated projects that I really just needed a resting place,” spalding explains. “So it'll be familiar things. Songs that don't feel like a strain. And it's very intimate. It's not like: Ta-Da! It's kind of close, things that are known and feel like comfort places from all the records, except for Emily's D+Evolution.”

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