The Secret Sisters ponder 'Mind, Man, Medicine' on March album

Grammy-nominated duo The Secret Sisters, made up of siblings Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle, will release their new album, Mind, Man, Medicine, March 29 via New West Records (pre-order/pre-save here). 

Ahead of the release, the new song, “Same Water,” can be heard/shared HERE. Of the track, the sisters reflect, “Fresh off the stress of a worldwide pandemic and slowly entering into a more normal world, we wrote this song together on a wet afternoon in Nashville, trying to make sense of the ways we all choose to find healing, as a society and as individuals. It felt important to acknowledge the struggle over our own choices in this area, and the need for extending empathy to people who choose differently.”

Produced by The Secret Sisters, John Paul White and Ben Tanner (St. Paul and the Broken Bones), the album was recorded mainly at Muscle Shoals’ historic FAME Studios. Among the 11 tracks is a collaboration with Ray LaMontagne (“All The Ways”). 

Reflecting on the project, the sisters share, “Our fifth chapter is the one where we seek, savor, and settle. The muse found us in the depths of raising children, nurturing relationships, surviving a world-changing virus, bidding farewell, shifting our mindsets and discovering a sense of peace heretofore unseen. Our third decade of life has proven to be one of routine, rest, and realization, and these songs are about the lessons we’ve learned. We’ve learned to be space-holders and defenders of the people we hold close. We’ve learned from deep, steady love in various forms. We’ve learned to let go of people and perceptions and priorities that just didn’t make the cut as we weighed what is right and important and worth keeping. We’ve learned how all the things we’ve always treasured continue to withstand the pressure of time. If you notice an upward trend to the mood and emotions, you’re on target-we have found calm waters, for now.”

In addition to the sisters, Tanner (piano, synthesizers, organs, Wurlitzer) and White (acoustic guitar), the record also features Larry Campbell (electric guitar, fiddle), Zac Cockrell (bass), Jeremy Gibson (drums), Ken Lewis (percussion), Parker McAnnally (bass, dulcimer), Austin Motlow (synthesizer, electric guitar) and KS Rhoads (piano) as well as FAME’s Studio Orchestra on “I Needed You.”

Originally from Muscle Shoals, AL, The Secret Sisters have released four acclaimed full-length albums since debuting in 2010, including 2020’s Grammy-nominated record, Saturn Return, which was produced by 9x Grammy-winner, Brandi Carlile. 

Track Listing:

1. Space

2. Paperweight
3. If the World Was a House
4. All the Ways (feat. Ray LaMontagne)
5. Planted
6. Never Walk Away
7. I Needed You
8. Bear With Me
9. Same Water
10. I Can Never Be Without You Anymore
11. I’ve Got Your Back

Tour Dates:

April 4—Lafayette, LA—Acadiana Center for the Arts
April 5—Austin, TX—The 04 Center
April 6—Dallas, TX—The Kessler Theater
April 7—Houston, TX—The Heights Theater
April 26—Nashville, TN—The Basement East
April 27—Florence, AL—Shoals Theatre
May 17—Newport, KY—The Southgate House Revival
May 18—Chicago, IL—Old Town School of Folk Music
May 19—Minneapolis, MN—The Parkway Theater

www.secretsistersband.com

Aaron Lee Tasjan charts a 'Stellar Evolution' in April

Nashville singer/songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan has slated April 12 for his fifth studio album Stellar Evolution via Blue Élan. It was produced by Tasjan and Gregory Lattimer. 

Tasjan also announced his upcoming 2024 headline tour (see dates below).

The album’s lead single, “Horror Of It All” has lyrics which reflect on the joy, confusions and humiliations of the queer adolescent experience.

On the song, Tasjan stated: “When I think of what scares me the most about ‘being myself,’ is that I’ll get rejected for it. This song examines the concepts of both rejection and self-acceptance through metaphors of childhood playground heartbreak and the dramatic nature of the teenage experience. The story is being told through the eyes of a young queer person. I wanted to use experiences from childhood in the song because I feel like those heartaches are the ones that are truly everlasting. In life, we have to deal with and learn from the heartbreaks of our youth. Those lessons stay with us because the pain of the experience can be processed but the memory of it happening always remains.”

Listen to “Horror Of It All” HERE

Watch the music video HERE

With lyrical wit, Tasjan shares poignant self observations and his personal reflections, in part inspired by the dark times the queer community has experienced in the South. Written in the context of bathroom and drag bans, which were enacted in Tennessee, while right-wing rhetoric around LGBTQI+ people became uglier and uglier. Tasjan knew this album needed to reflect both his personal experience and offer a safe space for the vibrant queer community that has become home to him.

“The record became a sort of rallying cry for being who you are in a time when people literally wanna try to make it illegal to do that,” says Tasjan, “ I felt like it was really important to let people know that they’re not alone, that we’re all in this fight together and that we see each other, and that we’re gonna do what this community always does, which is come together and have each other’s backs.”

“Alien Space Queen” celebrates living outside the gender binary and Tasjan’s bi-sexuality and queer identity. Rocker "The Drugs Did Me” is an autobiographical account of Tasjan’s journey to sobriety. Tasjan gets funky on his ode to Talking Heads and Scary Monsters era Bowie, “Pants,” a call for authentic and righteous self-expression. He protests on “I Love America Better Than You,” and loves so much he lets it go on the powerful ballad “Dylan Shades.” 

Singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, band leader, activist, and Grammy nominee, Aaron Lee Tasjan's four solo albums landed award nominations including, Emerging Artist Of The Year by the Americana Music Association. 2021’s Tasjan Tasjan Tasjan caught the attention of Elton John. He’s toured the world as the guitarist in the New York Dolls and later on his own, an acclaimed singer-songwriter opening for Sheryl Crow, Greta Van Fleet, Cheap Trick and Marcus King, alongside with festival appearances at Stagecoach, Bonnaroo, and Newport Folk Festival.

He co-founded and co-wrote all of the material for the band Semi Precious Weapons. In 2021 he was nominated for a Grammy for his writing on Yola’s “Diamond Studded Shoes” and most recently, Tasjan produced Mya Byrne's album Rhinestone Tomboy (Kill Rock Stars Nashville) which helped to establish her as one of the first openly trans artists in Americana Music. His activism has seen him curate benefit shows such as The Aaron Lee Tasjam which raised money for The Ben Eyestone Fund/Music Health Alliance which funds primary care and diagnostic testing for uninsured Musicians and curate All Newport's Eve, the Newport Folk Festival kick off concert event, which Tasjan used to support female and LGBTQI+ artists.

As he set out to work on Stellar Evolution, Tasjan knew better than ever what was important to him to express and the message he wanted to share - this was an album about personal evolution and societal revolution.

“I realized that part of being an artist means building a community,” says Tasjan, “What do you want that community to look like? Who do you want to be a part of that community? As an artist, it’s your job to curate that, and to be a reflection of the change you wanna see in the world. I gradually got braver to share more and more of myself through each record, and the music just kinda had to follow suit.”

TRACK LIST:

01 Alien Space Queen
02 The Drugs Did Me
03 Dylan Shades
04 Horror Of It All
05 Pants
06 Ocean Drive
07 Nightmare
08 I Love America Better Than You
09 Roll Your Windows Down
10 Bird
11 Cry Till You’re Laughing
12 Young

TOUR DATES:

April 18, 2024 - Duck Room - St. Louis, MO
April 19, 2024 - SPACE - Chicago, IL
April 20, 2024 - Acorn - Three Oaks, MI
April 21, 2024 - Monarch Tavern - Toronto
April 23, 2024 - Middle East Up - Boston, MA
April 25, 2024 - Baby’s All Right - Brooklyn, NY
April 26, 2024 - Johnny Brenda’s - Philadelphia, PA
April 27, 2024 - DC9 - Washington, D.C.
April 28, 2024 - Cat’s Cradle Back - Raleigh, NC
April 30, 2024 - Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
May 2, 2024 - The Blue Room - Nashville, TN
May 12, 2024 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA
May 14, 2024 - Moroccan Lounge - Los Angeles, CA
May 15, 2024 - Cafe Du Nord - San Francisco, CA
May 17, 2024 - Polaris - Portland, OR
May 18, 2024 - Sunset Tavern - Seattle, WA
May 21, 2024 - Globe Hall - Denver, CO

Bright Light Bright Light returns to 'Enjoy Youth' in May

On May 17th, Bright Light Bright Light (the performance alias of Welsh pop singer Rod Thomas), will invite listeners to ‘Enjoy Youth’ – his forthcoming new album.

Whether it’s struggling in the dystopian times we’re trudging through, coming to terms with your own self-worth, or just needing something to look forward to, ‘Enjoy Youth’ delivers a mission statement to embrace joy however you can and appreciate every minute while you still have it.

To be released on Thomas' own label YSKWN! (in partnership with Megaforce Records), it contains new song “You Want My…”. Unfolding as a jilted lover’s dancefloor anthem, the track pays loving homage to two of Bright Light Bright Light’s influences – Pet Shop Boys and George Michael. Sonically the production, created by co-writer Ian Masterson, dives into the lush world of Pet Shop Boys’ 80s/90s dance classics, and the title is a tongue-in-cheek reference to George’s iconic “I Want Your Sex.”

“I wanted the song to be empowering and defiant,” said Rod Thomas about the new track. “So I made it a sort of anthem for someone finally drawing the line under a one-sided relationship, refusing to give in to a selfish lover anymore.”

On February 5th, Bright Light Bright Light will perform at NYC’s legendary Joe’s Pub, and later this month on January 26th he will release a remix EP for “You Want My…” including a remix by UK artist Tsatsamis.

The title of his new album comes from a charming real-life bit of advice Rod Thomas received in his late teens while visiting a friend in Paris who was working as an au pair. One night as they were sneaking out to go to the clubs, the grandmother of the house caught them, laughed, and gave them the simple yet powerful advice to “enjoy youth!” While not literally referencing an age bracket, the album title is more a reminder to embrace the love, light and excitement of life while you can and keep that youthful spirit forever inside you.

“You Want My…” joins fellow prerelease sister tracks “Boys”, “Sweet Release”, “Down To One” and “I Don’t Know What I’m Going To Do” which have punctuated the last two years like shining, glittery gemstone bites of effervescent synth-pop. Elsewhere on the album, Bright Light Bright Light partners up with GRAMMY-nominated Mykal Kilgore, dance music legend Ultra Naté, Sam Harper (the voice on Riton and Nightcrawlers’ international smash “Friday”), Berri (known for her huge 90s hit “Sunshine After The Rain”) and Beth Hirsch (who features on Air’s classic album ‘Moon Safari’).

“The album is written to help myself and the listener feel joy when joy isn't always the dominant feeling,” said Thomas. “I feel like since COVID, it's been harder to let myself be as buoyant and optimistic as I previously was, so these songs are reminders to myself to keep embracing fun, silliness, playfulness, camp, drama – to let emotions take hold of you and run with them, and to remember the joy of connection with the people you love.”

Bright Light Bright Light is an artist, producer, composer and DJ, currently based in NYC. He is known for notably being the first - and to date, only - unsigned artist to perform on Graham Norton’s BBC One TV show, for opening for Cher on her world tour, for regular tea dance events around NYC, and for a slew of colorful and infectious pop collaborations, production credits, and/or touring slots alongside Elton John, Jake Shears, Andy Bell, Ellie Goulding, Sam Sparro, Jujubee, Initial Talk, and more.

An interview with Herb Alpert; Orange, Calif. concert with Lani Hall on Jan. 28

Herb Alpert is a true renaissance man. The Grammy-winning jazz/pop trumpeter and philanthropist - whose music career spans more than 60 years - still records, tours, paints, and sculpts on a regular basis. He oversees L.A. jazz club Vibrato with his daughter too. 

“I wake up in the morning thinking about music,” says Alpert, 88. “I’m a right brain guy. I can entertain myself and that’s just what I love to do.”

Early in 2020, the trumpeter and vocalist wife Lani Hall (best known for her work with Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 and singing the Bond theme to “Never Say Never Again”) performed at Chapman University's Musco Center in Orange, Calif. Alpert participated in a panel discussion during the school's A Leap of Art residency. Students from Chapman and elsewhere attended.

“I always enjoy doing that. I try to pass on stuff I’ve learned over 150 years,” Alpert jokes. While talking to music students, he often advises them to “be passionate” about what they’re doing. “If you want to be a musician, you can’t do it for any other reason than it’s something you’re born to do and you’re pursuing your gift.”

Enriching such talent has been a primary goal for The Herb Alpert Foundation, which Alpert and Hall started in 1988. It funds arts programs that keep creativity alive, presents monetary prizes to artists of all ages in various disciplines and more.

Inspiration for the foundation came from when Alpert was eight years old and attending grammar school in L.A. “I was really fortunate. There was a music appreciation class. I picked up a trumpet and it changed my life,” he recalls. “I felt if I ever had the opportunity, I’d try to help others.”

The Alpert Foundation has made multi-million-dollar donations to support L.A. Music Center, music programs/facilities at CalArts, UCLA and L.A. City College, Harlem School of the Arts and more.

“We support 97 different organizations,” states Alpert. “I find it gratifying. I wanted to do a ‘tag – you’re it.’ If I can do it, you can do it too. Come to the party…Arts are the heart and soul of our country.”

Alpert began his music career by co-writing and producing for Sam Cooke and Jan & Dean. When a brief attempt as a solo singer didn’t take off, Alpert launched A&M Records in 1962 with Jerry Moss and formed The Tijuana Brass. The instrumental band’s initial top 10 pop hit “The Lonely Bull” was followed by 19 more on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. The Rock Hall inductee considers their 1965 record Whipped Cream & Other Delights a career high point (deep cut “Ladyfingers” went viral on TikTok last year).

At one point, The Tijuana Brass outsold The Beatles with four albums charting simultaneously (Taylor Swift recently tied the record). Alpert’s rare vocal turn on Bacharach/David tune “This Guy’s in Love with You” also topped the pop tally in 1968.

A&M became the world’s largest independent record company with an enviable roster. Alpert married Hall in 1973. Six years later, he went to No. 1 again with the multi-format instrumental “Rise.” The song later became a popular sampling choice for rappers. The Alpert and Janet Jackson collaboration “Diamonds” was a major pop/R&B hit in 1987. Alpert continued to put out albums into the Nineties but focused more on painting and sculpting. He didn’t release anything new in the 2000s but has made up for lost time since 2011 with a prolific streak.

On 49th studio album Wish Upon a Star, Alpert tackles tunes popularized by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Carpenters, Cat Stevens, and Disney’s “Pinocchio” with panache. The trumpeter says he tends to pick songs that haunt him. “I try to make music that makes me feel good and rings honest to me.”

Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28, Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 415 North Glassell St., Orange, 714-997-6812, muscocenter.org.

A version of my interview originally appeared at orangereview.com.

Yellowcard reinvents older songs on album 'A Hopeful Sign' next month

“For each of these songs, I just sent over a lead vocal and a piano and Hammock reinvented these songs in way that only they could do,” explains YELLOWCARD vocalist/guitarist Ryan Key about A Hopeful Sign, the new collaboration with the Nashville-based post-rock duo. 

Set for release on February 9, 2024 via Equal Vision, the new album revisits some of the alt-rock band’s most memorable tracks and reimagines them in a neo-classical and ambient space, deconstructing the songs and rebuilding them as a whole new aural experience. The first single from the album, “Ocean Avenue,” takes the band’s signature hit and metamorphosizing the song from a pop-punk anthem to a contemplative and delicate piano-led ballad.

“Yellowcard is in a new place where we are collaborating with other artists more than ever before,” says Key about this new musical partnership. “I have found Hammock in my top three most played artists every year for nearly a decade now. Hammock are one of the defining and most pioneering artists in the post rock and ambient space. We have taken so much inspiration from their work over the years so first becoming friends, and then unexpectedly getting to work together on new music were dreams come true.”

Reflecting on the tracklist on A Hopeful Sign, he adds, “I still can’t quite believe it’s real, that we were able to create an entire album with a band that has had such a massive influence on us. Whether it is one of our well-known songs or a deeper cut, these versions bring with them completely new interpretations and meanings for listeners who have lived with them for so many years. During the six years that Yellowcard was apart, I was constantly searching for ways to continue my career as a musician and producer. I had the idea to basically do Yellowcard covers featuring friends and artists I’ve had the pleasure of knowing throughout my career. The first artist to reply and complete a collaboration was Hammock with their reworked version of ‘Empty Street’.”

The nine-track album pulls tracks from 2003’s Ocean Avenue (title track, “Only One”), 2006’s Lights And Sounds (“Waiting Game”), 2007’s Paper Walls (“You And Me And One Spotlight”), 2012’s Southern Air (title track, “Telescope”), 2014’s Lift A Sail (“Transmission Home”) and 2016’s Yellowcard (“Empty Street”, “A Place We Set Afire”). “It is such an honor to have worked on ‘A Hopeful Sign’ with such talented humans, and this record will be something we cherish forever,” says Ryan.

Fresh off of this week's performance and interview on Good Morning America on ABC-TV nationwide, Yellowcard are experiencing an overwhelming rejuvenation for the band after their aforementioned six-year hiatus. With their critically-hailed new EP Childhood Eyes (2023) in hand, the band played some of the biggest venues of their career last Summer. In addition, the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album Ocean Avenue afforded the band added momentum, propelling them to back into the media spotlight, including coverage in Rolling Stone, People, FORBES, Alternative Press, Consequence of Sound, Brooklyn Vegan, among others.

Certified double platinum in the US by the RIAA, gold in Canada, and silver in the UK, Ocean Avenue solidified Yellowcard’s indelible mark on the music world. The undying esteem that the album owns has not diminished in the twenty years since its release. Yellowcard's stratospheric success from their studio albums coupled with their powerful live performances cemented the band’s legacy in the history of alternative music.

A Hopeful Sign will be released February 9, 2024 via Equal Vision. Yellowcard is Ryan Key (vocals, guitar), Sean Mackin (violin), Ryan Mendez (guitar), and Josh Portman (bass).

Tracklisting:

Empty Street
Southern Air
Ocean Avenue
Telescope
You and Me and One Spotlight
Waiting Game
Only One
A Place We Set Afire
Transmission Home 

Tour Dates:

With Third Eye Blind and A R I Z O N A-

June 8 - Airway Heights, WA at BECU Live at Northern Quest
June 9 - Nampa, ID at Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
June 13 - Seattle, WA at WAMU Theater
June 14 - Bend, OR at Hayden Homes Amphitheater
June 15 - Mountain View, CA at Shoreline Amphitheatre
June 20 - Los Angeles, CA at Greek Theatre
June 21 - Chula Vista, CA at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 22 - Las Vegas, NV at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
June 25 - West Valley City, UT at USANA Amphitheatre
June 26 - Morrison, CO at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
June 28 - Chicago, IL at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
June 29 - St. Louis, MO at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre - St. Louis
June 30 - Franklin, TN at FirstBank Amphitheater
July 2 - Cincinnati, OH at Riverbend Music Center
July 3 - Buffalo, NY at Darien Lake Amphitheater
July 5 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH at Blossom Music Center
July 6 - Noblesville, IN at Ruoff Music Center
July 7 - Clarkston, MI at Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 9 - Burgettstown, PA at The Pavilion at Star Lake
July 11 - Gilford, NH at BankNH Pavilion
July 12 - Camden, NJ at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
July 13 - Mansfield, MA at Xfinity Center
July 14 - Holmdel, NJ at PNC Bank Arts Center
July 16 - Saratoga Springs, NY at Broadview Stage at SPAC
July 18 - Wantagh, NY at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
July 19 - Columbia, MD at Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 20 - Virginia Beach, VA at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
July 21 - Raleigh, NC at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
July 23 - Charlotte, NC at PNC Music Pavilion
July 25 - Tampa, FL at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 26 - Jacksonville, FL at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
July 27 - Alpharetta, GA at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
July 28 - Birmingham, AL at Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
July 31 - Rogers, AR at Walmart AMP
August 1 - Dallas, TX at Dos Equis Pavilion
August 2 - Austin, TX at Germania Insurance Amphitheater
August 3 - Houston, TX at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Ticket information and more at Yellowcardband.com

The Black Keys' new album 'Ohio Players' due in April

The Black Keys have a new single, “Beautiful People (Stay High),” available now on all streaming platforms. The song arrives alongside the announcement of the multiple-Grammy Award-winning, Akron, OH natives’ twelfth studio album Ohio Players, out April 5 via Nonesuch/Warner Records.

An international tour will be announced later.

Written by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney with Dan “The Automator” Nakamura and Beck, the song is one of several songs on the album that feature collaborations between the band and various additional friends and colleagues, including Noel Gallagher, Greg Kurstin, and others.

Speaking on the collaborative nature of the album, Carney says in a press release, “We had this epiphany: ‘We can call our friends to help us make music.’ It’s funny because we both write songs with other people – Dan all the time [as a solo artist and producer], me when I'm producing a record. That’s what we do.”

Auerbach adds, “No matter who we work with, it never feels like we're sacrificing who we are. It only feels like it adds some special flavor. We just expanded that palette with people we wanted to work with. We were there to support them and their ideas, to do whatever we could to see that moment flourish. But when it came time to finish the album, it was just Pat and me.”

“We'd never worked harder to make a record,” he continues. “It's never taken us this long to make an album. We took our time and did it right.”

“What we wanted to accomplish with this record was make something that was fun,” Carney says. “And something that most bands 20 years into their career don’t make, which is an approachable, fun record that is also cool.”

While making Ohio Players, a title inspired by the legendary Dayton, OH funk band of the same name, The Black Keys were also DJing dance parties in cities around the world that they called “record hangs,” spinning 45s from their own eclectic and growing collections. Mojo reports, “The spirit of those parties infused the album’s DNA. ‘That’s been the fun of it,’ [says] Auerbach. ‘Letting go a little bit.’”

The Black Keys first introduced 'Beautiful People (Stay High)' to audiences via a string of mysterious teasers across social media platforms at the start of year. The band will make their debut live performance of the song at iHeartRadio’s ALTer Ego concert at the Hondo Center in Anaheim, CA on January 13; the show begins at 7pm PT and is available to stream via VEEPS ticket.

Earlier this week, SXSW announced the inclusion of the world-premiere for the new documentary This is a Film About The Black Keys at their 2024 festival. The documentary traces Auerbach and Carney's remarkable journey from two neighborhood kids jamming in a basement in Ohio to rock ‘n roll superstardom.

The NAMM Show '24 News: Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage performances announced

Yamaha, the world's largest manufacturer of musical instruments, has announced its lineup of performances on the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage and the Yamaha booth at The NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center this month.

Performances will begin Thursday, Jan. 25, with Night of Worship featuring a capella vocal group Take 6. On Friday, Jan. 26, Yamaha will present An Evening with Lindsey Stirling. On Saturday, Jan. 27, the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage will feature Jon McLaughlin (pictured) and Friends, as the American singer/keyboardist brings his blend of pop, rock, and soul sounds to the stage.

Throughout the four-day show, attendees can stop by the Yamaha booth and check out performances from Troy Laureta, Justin Klunk, Jay Leonard J, Jason Gianni, Felix Pollard, and a few more special guests. Award-winning producer and director Chris Gero and the Yamaha Artist Relations Group produce the concert series and in-booth performances.

"Our Concerts on the Grand are always a highlight, and this year, we're honored to be hosting even more remarkable musicianship with three back-to-back nights of amazing live music." says Chris Gero, vice president and chief artist relations executive at Yamaha Artist Relations Group.

"I am super excited for my band and I to perform with Yamaha at this year's NAMM! I have been a Yamaha Artist for years, and I get pumped whenever I work with them on a live show. This year, I'm bringing some talented players and artist friends, and it's going to be a party," says Jon McLaughlin.

The Night of Worship on Jan. 25 will mark Take 6's 30th Anniversary as a Yamaha artist. The group has 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards and a Soul Train Award. It has crossed most musical genres, from straight-ahead Jazz to Pop to adult R&B, doo-wop to blues.

"An Evening with" concert on the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage on Friday, Jan. 26, will feature Lindsey Stirling: An electronic violinist, dancer, and artist, she has earned four Billboard chart-topping albums and two Billboard Music Awards. She has amassed nearly 3.5 billion views on YouTube, 3.4 million followers on TikTok, and over 500k user-generated creations across TikTok and Instagram reels.

The Yamaha Grand Plaza stage performance lineup for Saturday, Jan. 27, will include Jon McLaughlin & Friends: He is an American pop-rock singer-songwriter known for his ability to craft heartfelt music that resonates with audiences worldwide. Discovered at an early age, he quickly established himself as a talented pianist, gaining widespread recognition with his debut album "Indiana," featuring his soulful voice, exceptional piano skills, and emotive melodies. McLaughlin continues to enchant fans with his signature blend of pop, rock, and soul influences, fusing catchy hooks and meaningful storytelling.

"We are thrilled to be celebrating our January return to NAMM! Our Concerts on the Grand are always a highlight, and this year, we're honored to be hosting even more remarkable musicianship with three back-to-back nights of amazing live music. There's truly no better way to kick off 2024," says Chris Gero, vice president and chief artist relations executive at Yamaha Artist Relations Group.

The music on the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage will be mixed and curated by the company's award-winning commercial audio gear, including the Rivage digital console line. Every note will be articulately amplified through NEXO speaker systems. NEXO is a Yamaha company.

To experience everything Yamaha offers at NAMM, visit booth #300DE in the Anaheim Convention Center from January 25 - 28, 2024. For more information, please visit usa.yamaha.com/namm or namm.org.

About Yamaha

Yamaha Corporation of America is the largest subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation, the world-leading music and sound company based in Hamamatsu, Japan. The Yamaha team is committed to helping everyone progress, express and connect through music and sound. We offer innovative, finely crafted, award-winning products for your entire musical journey including pianos, brass instruments, woodwinds, strings, electronic keyboards, guitars, drums, professional and home audio equipment.