NAMM '17 news: Sennheiser booth performances

Sennheiser will continue its tradition of presenting musical talent at its booth stage during NAMM 2017.

Featuring both established musical acts as well as up-and-coming talent, this year’s artists include singer-songwriter Marcus Eaton (whose credits include David Crosby), jazz funk blues rockers Ari and the Alibis, country pop duo Dixie Jade and many others.

Below are the scheduled performances taking place at the booth (Hall A, 6577):

Thursday, Jan. 19
 
12 noon Lucy
1 p.m. Marcus Eaton
2 p.m. Ilisa Juried
3 p.m. Lucy
4 p.m. Jaq Mackenzie

Friday, Jan. 20

12 noon The Talbott Brothers
1 p.m. Camisha Garner
2 p.m. Ari and the Alibis
3 p.m. Daniello De Laurentiis
4 p.m. Dixie Jade

Saturday, Jan. 21

12 noon Nina Storey
1 p.m. King Washington
2 p.m. Debby Holiday
3 p.m. Shandra Dixon
4 p.m. Percy Bady

Sunday, Jan. 22

12 noon Jaq Mackenzie
1 p.m. Ronee Martin
2 p.m. Matt Cartsonis Trio
3 p.m. Marcus Eaton

Concert tour news: U2, Green Day, Biffy Clyro

It's a busy Monday, as news of several major tours arrived in my inbox. Get the lowdown below...

U2 will return to select stadiums this year with U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the band's classic album. Each show will include a performance of The Joshua Tree in its entirety, with support from Mumford & Sons, OneRepublic or The Lumineers in North America and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in Europe.

Released to universal acclaim on March 9, 1987 and featuring hit singles "With Or Without You", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Where The Streets Have No Name", The Joshua Tree was U2's first #1 album in the U.S., topping the charts globally including the U.K. and Ireland, selling in excess of 25 million albums worldwide.

Time Magazine put U2 on its cover in April 1987, proclaiming them "Rock's Hottest Ticket" in a defining year for the band that saw their arena dates roll into stadium shows to accommodate escalating demand.

The 12 months that followed saw the band create now-iconic moments: the traffic-stopping Grammy Award-winning music video on the roof of a Los Angeles liquor store, winning a BRIT Award and two Grammys - including Album of the Year - their first of 22 received to date, distinguishing U2 as the most awarded rock band in Grammy history.

U2's fifth studio album The Joshua Tree was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and featured iconic artwork which cemented the career of photographer and director Anton Corbijn. Recording took place in Dublin at Windmill Lane Studios and Danesmoate, the house which subsequently became bassist Adam Clayton's home.

"It seems like we have come full circle from when The Joshua Tree songs were originally written, with global upheaval, extreme right wing politics and some fundamental human rights at risk. To celebrate the album – as the songs seem so relevant and prescient of these times too - we decided to do these shows, it feels right for now. We're looking forward to it." – The Edge

"Recently I listened back to The Joshua Tree for the first time in nearly 30 years… it's quite an opera. A lot of emotions which feel strangely current, love, loss, broken dreams, seeking oblivion, polarisation… all the greats... I've sung some of these songs a lot… but never all of them. I'm up for it, if our audience is as excited as we are… it's gonna be a great night."- Bono

"We are off to play a few shows with U2! It's the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree - one of the greatest albums ever made, in our opinion, and something well worth a good celebration. It's a record that did so much for us all when we discovered it individually and if ever a record stands the test of time it's that one. So when the lads gave us a call to invite us to play a few gigs opening for them it was our great honour to accept. It's gonna be such a good few nights... " – Mumford & Sons

"I can remember covering the U2 song 'One' in bars back in NYC 10 years ago, with Jer on drums. A lot has changed since then, but still - I NEVER thought we'd get the chance to open for such a legendary band, on such a legendary album - The Joshua Tree. Their songs are so timeless and transcendent, it's impossible to imagine a time when they didn't exist. That type of songwriting has always been the mountaintop for us - songs that can transcend generations." - Wesley Schultz, The Lumineers

"The Joshua Tree is the first album I ever heard from U2 because it came out when I had just started my love affair with music as a young kid... it's the album that made me want to write songs and start a band. Joining them for this tour will be the experience of a lifetime, leaving the bucket list fully checked." - Ryan Tedder, OneRepublic

"It will be both a pleasure and an honour to play my part in what still remains the greatest show on earth." – Noel Gallagher

Following the groundbreaking iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Tour's arena shows in 2015, U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 will see the band return to the stadium stage for the first time since 2009-2011's record-shattering U2 360° Tour, the most successful tour in history seen by over 7.3 million fans worldwide.

U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 will include U2's first ever U.S. festival headline appearance at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival this summer, as well as a hometown show in Dublin's Croke Park on July 22.

Tickets for the U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 are on sale Monday, Jan. 16 in Ireland, the UK and Europe and Tuesday, Jan. 17 in the U.S. and Canada. An exclusive priority presale for U2 Subscribers is at U2.com from Jan. 11 (9am) through Jan. 13 (5pm) local times. Tickets will be general admission on the floor and reserved seating in the stands.

There will be a 4 ticket limit for subscriber purchases and a 6 ticket limit commencing with public sales. In North America, all floor tickets will be paperless unless otherwise noted. 

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR   DATES:			SUPPORT:
May 12	Vancouver, BC	BC Place	Mumford & Sons
May 14	Seattle, WA	CenturyLink Field	Mumford & Sons
May 17	Santa Clara, CA	Levi's Stadium	Mumford & Sons
May 20	Los Angeles, CA	Rose Bowl	The Lumineers
May 24	Houston, TX	NRG Stadium	The Lumineers
May 26	Dallas, TX	AT&T Stadium	The Lumineers
June 3	Chicago, IL	Soldier Field	The Lumineers
June 7	Pittsburgh, PA	Heinz Field	The Lumineers
June 8-11	Manchester, TN	Bonnaroo Festival	Multi-Artist
June 11	Miami, FL	Hard Rock Stadium	OneRepublic
June 14	Tampa, FL	Raymond James Stadium	OneRepublic
June 18	Philadelphia, PA	Lincoln Financial Field	The Lumineers
June 20	Washington DC	FedExField	The Lumineers
June 23	Toronto, ON	Rogers Centre	The Lumineers
June 25	Boston, MA	Gillette Stadium	The Lumineers
June 28	East Rutherford, NJ	MetLife Stadium	The Lumineers
July 1	Cleveland, OH	FirstEnergy Stadium	OneRepublic
EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:			SUPPORT:
July 8	London, UK	Twickenham	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 12	Berlin, DE	Olympic Stadium	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 15	Rome, IT	Olympic Stadium	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 18	Barcelona, ES	Olympic Stadium	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 22	Dublin, IE	Croke Park	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 25	Paris, FR	Stade de France	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 29	Amsterdam, NE	Amsterdam Arena	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
August 1	Brussels, BE	Stade Roi Baudouin	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Green Day has announced the Revolution Radio summer tour, kicking off in August and hitting amphitheaters, stadiums, and arenas across the country. UK based band Catfish and the Bottlemen will support all dates.

The band will also perform for the first time at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. Dates and on-sale information for those shows will be revealed in the coming weeks. See below for a complete list of confirmed dates.

Presale tickets will be available to Idiot Nation members on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 10:00 AM local venue time. For more information on the presale, please visit www.gdidiotnation.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, Jan. 13.
 
VIP packages will be available for all dates. Visit www.greenday.com for ticket info. Green Day's latest album, Revolution Radio, was released on Oct. 7 by Reprise Records and debuted at No. 1 around the world. The album features the band's 10th No. 1 song "Bang Bang" and the Top 10 "Still Breathing".

New Dates:

8/1 Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre^
8/2 Portland, OR - Moda Center^
8/5 Oakland, CA - Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum^
8/7 Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre^
8/9 Englewood, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre^
8/11 Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center^
8/12 Omaha, NE - CenturyLink Center^
8/14 Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre^
8/16 Noblesville, IN - Klipsch Music Center^
8/18 Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage^
8/20 Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center^
8/21 Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center^
8/26 Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center^
8/28 Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center^
8/29 Hartford, CT - The XFINITY Theatre^
8/31 Camden, NJ - BB&T Pavilion^
9/1 Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek^
9/3 West Palm Beach, FL - Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre^
9/5 Tampa, FL - MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre^
9/6 Orange Beach, AL - The Wharf Amphitheater^
9/8 San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center^
9/9 Austin, TX - Austin360 Amphitheater^
9/11 Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater^
9/13 Chula Vista, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre^
^with Catfish and the Bottlemen

Previously Announced Dates:

3/1 Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Arena*
3/2 El Paso, TX - El Paso County Coliseum*
3/4 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center*
3/5 Houston, TX - Toyota Center*
3/7 Tulsa, OK - BOK Center*
3/8 North Little Rock, AR - Verizon Arena*
3/10 Duluth, GA - Infinite Energy Center*
3/12 Norfolk, VA - Constant Convocation Center*
3/13 Washington, DC - Verizon Center*
3/15 Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center*
3/17 Worcester, MA - DCU Center*
3/19 London, ON - Budweiser Gardens*
3/20 Hamilton, ON - FirstOntario Centre*
3/22 Montreal, QC - Bell Centre*
3/23 Quebec, QC - Vidéotron Centre*
3/25 Pittsburgh, PA - Petersen Events Center*
3/27 Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena*
3/28 Champaign, IL - State Farm Center*
3/30 Green Bay, WI - Resch Center*
4/1 Saint Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center*
4/3 Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena*
4/5 Broomfield, CO - 1stBank Center*
4/7 Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena*
4/8 San Diego, CA - Valley View Casino Center*
*with Against Me

Scottish rock trio Biffy Clyro announced a North American tour in support of their current album Ellipsis. Tickets go on sale at 10 am local time this Friday, Jan. 13 at BIFFYCLYRO.COM/SHOWS

Over the summer, Biffy Clyro performed headline sets at the Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK. Click here to view footage of "Rearrange," the set opener and their most recent single, here to view "Wolves Of Winter," and here to view "Howl".

Released by Warner Bros. Records/14th Floor Recordings in July, Ellipsis went to #1 in the UK album chart and was also #1 in Switzerland, Germany and Ireland. It remained in the U.K. Top 40 for 11 weeks before claiming the top spot on the album chart, making it Biffy Clyro's second No. 1 album after 2013's Opposites.

Tour Dates:

3/24 Las Vegas, NV Vinyl @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
3/25 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
3/26 Los Angeles, CA Belasco Theater
3/28 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
3/30 Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre
3/31 Vancouver, BC Vogue Theatre
4/01 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
4/04 St. Paul, MN Turf Club
4/05 Chicago, IL House of Blues
4/07 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
4/08 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
4/09 Montreal, QC Café Campus
4/11 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
4/13 New York, NY Irving Plaza
4/14 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
4/15 Washington, DC 9:30 Club

NAMM '17 news: Martin Guitar's Dwight Yoakam, John Prine signature editions

Martin Guitar announces the debut of the new Dwight Yoakam DD28 Signature Edition and D-28 John Prine Signature Edition to be unveiled at Winter NAMM 2017 in Anaheim, CA January 19–22, 2017.

The leading acoustic guitar manufacturer teamed up with two legendary award-winning American country singer-songwriter icons to collaborate on two models that are guaranteed to generate excitement amongst guitar enthusiasts worldwide.

Dwight Yoakam DD28 Signature Edition - The Dwight Yoakam DD28 is inspired from a 1972 D-28, the guitar Yoakam has played his whole career. He has always loved the sound of his guitar and his custom signature model could not be anything less. Honky tonks and casinos are the theme for this model. Crafted from Sitka spruce top and East Indian rosewood back and sides, this model honors the classic booming sound of the Dreadnought. An ebony fingerboard is the backdrop for the inlaid mother-of-pearl and recon stone playing cards. The other truly unique feature of this instrument is the bull’s horn shaped pickguard. This guitar is sure to be a treasured instrument for years to come.(MSRP: $5999)

D-28 John Prine - This beautiful model is limited to only 70 instruments. John Prine played a 1960’s D-28 his whole life, and he wanted his signature model to replicate his coveted Martin guitar. The D-28 John Prine is crafted with an Engelmann spruce top and gorgeous Madagascar rosewood back and sides. The Madagascar rosewood headplate is inlaid with pearl angel wings, a nod to Prine’s masterpiece and most commonly covered song “Angel from Montgomery”. The top bears an antique toner finish for a warm, aged appearance. This model also features antique white binding, bone nut and saddle, an ebony bridge, and an ebony fingerboard inlaid with abalone pearl snowflakes and a very unique case made of a cream tweed exterior and bright red interior. (MSRP: $5999)

Further details on the new Martin Guitar models that will be featured at 2017 Winter NAMM, see www.martinguitar.com/new

NAMM '17 news: Grand Plaza stage performances

The 2017 NAMM Show is just around the corner, and with it, top musical acts are scheduled to rock The NAMM Nissan Grand Plaza stage.

This year will bring a variety of artists from across the sonic spectrum, with each evening offering performances from rock legends, a pro-athlete and accomplished jazz musician, and an R&B hitmaker, all in the spirit of musical diversity that can be found at The NAMM Show.

Kicking off the show on Thursday night, January 19 is rock duo RSO: Richie Sambora and Orianthi. Each a respected guitarist in their own right, Sambora and Orianthi will bring their deft fret work and monster screams to the show, marking the duo’s first NAMM performance together. Grammy® award-winner Sambora, also known for his passion for philanthropy, will offer up his world-renowned Songwriters Hall of Fame talent, addictive hooks and poetic lyrics. Platinum-selling guitarist Orianthi has enjoyed a career as a touring artist for the likes of Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper and many others, and was named by Elle magazine as one of the top “12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists.” The pair have spent the past year touring the globe and will perform at The NAMM Show directly following a tour of the U.K., Asia and Orianthi’s native Australia.

On Friday evening, January 20, former center fielder for the New York Yankees, music education advocate and accomplished jazz musician Bernie Williams and his All-Star Band will take the stage to perform in The NAMM Foundation’s Celebration for Music Education.

Williams, who enjoyed a 16-year career in Major League Baseball, is a classically-trained guitarist, Latin Grammy®-nominated (2009’s Moving Forward) musician, and designated Turnaround Arts artist a program from the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities. Williams and band will welcome fellow music and arts supporter, Turnaround Arts artist, singer, songwriter, and “Life is Beautiful” hitmaker, Keb’ Mo’, along with additional surprise performers throughout the evening. The NAMM Foundation’s Celebration for Music Education is designated to celebrate the many donors and supporters of the Foundation’s efforts and to encourage attendees to join in the organization’s efforts.

On Saturday, January 21, The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus celebrates its 20th Anniversary with The John Lennon Imagine Party featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes. As the “Original Bad Girl of Rock & Roll,” Spector is best known for a long string of classic “girl group” rock anthems such as “Baby I Love You,” “Walking in The Rain,” and the international number one smash, “Be My Baby.” 

The rock icon has charted material in six consecutive decades, and along the way collaborated with everyone from Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen, to Eddie Money, Joey Ramone and The Beatles. Ronnie and John Lennon first met in London during the Ronettes’ first U.K. tour in January of 1964, and in 1966, the group was personally chosen by The Beatles to open their final tour. From their first meeting forward, Lennon and Ronnie shared a close friendship with Lennon playing and singing on Ronnie's first solo recordings in 1971. The night will celebrate the Lennon Bus’ 20th Anniversary, the connection we share through music, and inspire those in attendance to continue to build a more musical world.

Each act will start at 6:00 p.m. and be preceded by a variety of performers throughout the day. The previously announced schedule is available here: https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2017/events/schedule#concerts

Coachella 2017 lineup, on sale announced

Festival passes for both weekends go on sale Wednesday, January 4th at 11AM PST.

General Admission (GA) Pass – $399*
Allows entrance to the venue and day parking lots for all three days. GA pass holders may visit the camping areas. 

General Admission (GA) + Shuttle Pass – $474*

Allows entrance to the venue and day parking lots for all three days. GA pass holders may visit the camping areas. Any Line, Anytime Shuttle pass is included.

For more details and options, go to www.coachella.com 

The Doors Day in LA

Fifty years to the day of the release of their debut album, Jan. 4 will be proclaimed "Day Of The Doors" in the city of Los Angeles. The proclamation will be made Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin during a public event at the intersection of Pacific and Windward Avenues, the location of the iconic "Venice" sign. Founding Doors members John Densmore and Robby Krieger will be on hand at the event as will family members of the late Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison.

The Doors (Densmore, Krieger, Manzarek, and Morrison) are quite possibly the most legendary Los Angeles band of all time. Formed in Venice, The Doors went on to become the definitive sound and voice of the 1960s and influence countless generations to come with classic songs such as "Light My Fire," "Break On Through (To The Other Side)," and, of course, "L.A. Woman." Their story has been the subject of countless books and films, including the infamous 1991 film by Oliver Stone and the acclaimed 2010 documentary When You're Strange, narrated by Johnny Depp. The Doors are celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2017, as their eponymous debut album was released on January 4, 1967 and is still considered to be one of the all-time-great rock and roll debuts.

"Very apropos that The Doors are jumpstarting our 50th in Venice where we started," said Densmore. "Our songs sprang up out of the Pacific like beautiful, edible silver fish... and apparently the world took a big bite."

"Venice is a place where many have chased their pleasures or dug their treasures. It is a place that birthed The Doors and taught us all to cherish the funky, weird, and world-renowned vibe that Jim, Ray, Robby, and John helped make famous," said City Councilmember Bonin. "I am very happy to be amongst the feast of friends celebrating The Doors' 50th anniversary, and I thank the band, their management, and the Venice Chamber of Commerce for making this celebration possible."

2016 in Review: Best Concerts

Over the course of the year, I managed to see 53 concerts (including multi-act festivals and conferences such as NAMM). These top 10 performances made the most impact...

photo: Kevin Sullivan/OC Register

1. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Los Angeles Sports Arena
2. Elvis Costello, Fox Performing Arts Center, Riverside, Calif. 
3. St. Lucia, Observatory, Santa Ana, Calif.
4. Stevie Nicks, The Forum, Inglewood, Calif.
5. Culture Club, Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, Calif. 
6. The 1975, Coachella Festival #2, Empire Polo Field, Indio, Calif. 
7. Kip Moore, Greek Theater, Los Angeles
8. Josh Ritter, The Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, Calif. 
9. Rodney Crowell, Stagecoach Festival, Empire Polo Field, Indio, Calif. 
10. Trash Can Sinatras, The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.