Sting.com . What's New

BBC to screen 'Police in the East' documentary June 3/4...

Mon, 30 May 2011 06:49:55 -0400

'Police in the East', a documentary-style film of the Police's tour of Japan, Hong Kong, India, Egypt and Greece in 1980 is to be screened by the BBC at 10pm on the evening of June 3, (repeated early hours June 4). This is the first broadcast of the documentary since the mid-1980s and although much of the footage was released on the 'Police Around The World' video, there are some significant differences that make this documentary well worth catching.

The show is being screened as part of an evening devoted to long-serving and eclectic Radio 1 broadcaster, Annie Nightingale. In the documentary Anne accompanies the band and interviews its members during the tour. Includes concert footage and behind-the-scenes sequences of the band.

Check out the following article about that Police Tour which appeared in Annie's book Chase The Fade.

Symphonicity World Tour Extends To Include Concert In Kazakhstan This Summer...

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:02 -0400

Live Nation is pleased to announce that Sting will perform in Astana this summer as a part of his celebrated Symphonicity world tour. Following sold-out performances across North America, Europe and Australia, Symphonicity finds Sting performing his greatest hits re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, accompanied by a symphony orchestra and band, conducted by Sarah Hicks. On July 4, 2011, the Symphonicity tour will appear at the Republic Velotrack "Sary-Arka" in Astana, Kazakhstan. This will be the final concert added to the Symphonicity tour this summer.

Fan Club sales for Astana begin at 10AM (local time) on Wednesday, June 1st. As tickets will simultaneously go on sale to the public, a number of tickets have been reserved exclusively for fan club members.

SYMPHONICITY SUMMER TOUR 2011 ITINERARY:

06 Jun - Piata Constitutiei, Bucharest, Romania
07 Jun - Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
08 Jun - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
10 Jun - Stozice Arena, Llubljana, Slovenia
11 Jun - Schwarlz Freizeitzentrum, Graz, Austria
13 Jun - Olimpsiki, Moscow, Russia
16 Jun - Palace Square, St. Petersburg, Russia
18 Jun - Ergo Arena Gdansk/Sopot, Gdansk, Poland
20 Jun - Aalborg Hallen, Aalborg, Denmark
22 Jun - Warsteiner HockeyPark, Mönchengladbach, Germany
23 Jun - Arena in Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
25 Jun - Schloss Salem, Salem, Germany
27 Jun - Vingis Park, Vilnius, Lithuania
29 Jun - Zimny Stadion Ondreja Nepelu, Bratislava, Slovakia
30 Jun - Budapest Arena, Budapest, Hungary
02 Jul - Tatneft Arena, Kazan, Russia
04 Jul - Republic Velotrack "Sary-Arka", Astana, Kazakhstan
07 Jul - Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine
09 Jul - Moon & Stars Festival, Locarno, Switzerland
11 Jul - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
13 Jul - Estadio de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
15 Jul - Plaza de Toros, Granada, Spain
16 Jul - Cap Roig Festival, Cap Roig, Spain
18 Jul - SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
19 Jul - Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
21 Jul - Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, Lyon, France
22 Jul - Poupet Festival, St. Malo Du Bois, France
23 Jul - Nimes Festival, Nimes, France
25 Jul - Monte Carlo Sporting Club Festival, Monte Carlo, Monaco
27 Jul - Complesso Monumentale Castello a Mare, Palermo, Italy
29 Jul - Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
30 Jul - Cavea dell'Auditorium Parco della, Rome, Italy
31 Jul - Piazza Dell Loggia, Brescia, Italy

Itinerary subject to change.

Beginning Wednesday, June 1, tune in to Cherrytree Radio...

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:14:01 -0400

Beginning Wednesday, June 1, tune in to Cherrytree Radio (http://www.cherrytreerecords.com/radio) every Wednesday at 8PM/PST for "The Sting Dynasty," a new weekly radio show featuring music written and/or performed by Sting.

Check out the latest TV listings for Sting...

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:02 -0400

Please use this listing as a guide only for timings and check your LOCAL TV listings to avoid disappointment. These listings do not pretend to be complete, so if you hear of any TV or Radio shows being broadcast in your country that are not mentioned here be sure to let us know. If you have any information about an upcoming show, even if it is in your own language, please email details to us at at daveandwendy @sting.com so we can include it here. Please note that US times given are ET.

May 31
BBC 4 | 9pm (UK) 'Storyville'
Amnesty! When They are All Free - To celebrate its 50th anniversary in May 2011, this probing documentary brings together an extraordinary cast of interviewees, from Sting to former home secretary Jack Straw, to shed light on how, as a 'letter-writing organisation, Amnesty International has changed the world and how the world has changed Amnesty International. It poses the fundamental question: has the human rights movement been able to hold back mankind's capacity for atrocity?

May 31
BBC 4 | 10.10pm (UK) 'Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?: Arena'
A celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Secret Policeman's Ball in aid of Amnesty International. Many of Britain's finest comedians, including John Cleese, Sir Bob Geldof, Alan Bennett, Jennifer Saunders, Stephen Fry, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Ruby Wax, Lenny Henry, Sting, Phil Collins and Rowan Atkinson are reunited in a reflection of the changes in British comedy over the last quarter of a century. The film examines the event, with interviews and recollections of the original stars alongside classic comedy moments.

June 1
BBC 4 | 3.25am (UK) 'Storyville'
Amnesty! When They are All Free - To celebrate its 50th anniversary in May 2011, this probing documentary brings together an extraordinary cast of interviewees, from Sting to former home secretary Jack Straw, to shed light on how, as a 'letter-writing organisation, Amnesty International has changed the world and how the world has changed Amnesty International. It poses the fundamental question: has the human rights movement been able to hold back mankind's capacity for atrocity?

June 1
Cherrytree Radio | 8pm PST (USA) 'The Sting Dynasty'
Beginning Wednesday, June 1, tune in to Cherrytree Radio Cherrytree Radio every Wednesday at 8PM/PST for "The Sting Dynasty," a new weekly radio show featuring music written and/or performed by Sting.

June 3
BBC4 | 10pm (UK) 'The Old Grey Whistle Test'
Police in the East. Documentary-style film of the Police's tour of Japan, Hong Kong, India, Egypt and Greece in 1980. Anne Nightingale accompanies the band and interviews its members during the tour. Includes concert footage and behind-the-scenes sequences of the band.

June 3
ITV3 | 11.30pm (UK) 'Sting Live in Berlin'
Highlights of Sting's Symphonicity world tour in September 2010. Backed by the The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, some of his best known songs are given incredible new arrangements.

June 4
ITV3 Plus 1 | 00.30am (UK) 'Sting Live in Berlin'
Highlights of Sting's Symphonicity world tour in September 2010. Backed by the The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, some of his best known songs are given incredible new arrangements.

June 4
BBC4 | 00:40am + 2.25am (UK) 'The Old Grey Whistle Test'
Police in the East. Documentary-style film of the Police's tour of Japan, Hong Kong, India, Egypt and Greece in 1980. Anne Nightingale accompanies the band and interviews its members during the tour. Includes concert footage and behind-the-scenes sequences of the band.

June 8
Cherrytree Radio | 8pm PST (USA) 'The Sting Dynasty'
Tune in to Cherrytree Radio Cherrytree Radio 8PM/PST for "The Sting Dynasty," a weekly radio show featuring music written and/or performed by Sting.

June 9
MTV Classic | 5.30pm (UK) 'The Very Best 5'
The Police. A collection of the 5 very best videos from the 80's heroes, The Police!

June 10
PRVA TV | 7.10am (Serbia) 'An Evening With Ivan Ivanovic'
Tune in for an exclusive interview with Sting and Serbian TV host, Ivan Ivanovic.

June 11
Dave | 7.10am (UK) 'Top Of The Pops 2'
Another treasure chest of musical gems from the hit-packed Top of the Pops archives. Including rock giants Thin Lizzy and The Police with 'Jailbreak' and 'Roxanne' respectively.

June 15
Sky Arts 1 | 3pm (UK) 'Video Killed the Radio Star the Artists View'
Sting discusses the creative process behind the sensational music videos he was proud to be part of, including Fields of Gold and Every Breath You Take.

June 15
Cherrytree Radio | 8pm PST (USA) 'The Sting Dynasty'
Tune in to Cherrytree Radio Cherrytree Radio 8PM/PST for "The Sting Dynasty," a weekly radio show featuring music written and/or performed by Sting.

June 20
Sky Arts 1 | 11.30pm (UK) 'Best Of The Tube'
Highlights from the iconic music series, featuring The Police, Big Country, Erasure and French and Saunders, plus a stunning performance of 'This Charming Man' by The Smiths.

June 22
Cherrytree Radio | 8pm PST (USA) 'The Sting Dynasty'
Tune in to Cherrytree Radio Cherrytree Radio 8PM/PST for "The Sting Dynasty," a weekly radio show featuring music written and/or performed by Sting.

June 24
Sky Arts 1 | 2.30pm (UK) 'Montreux Years 2006'
Sky Arts presents some of the top highlights from the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival, featuring performances from Sting, The Strokes, Iggy Pop and Deep Purple.

June 25
GOLD | 2am (UK) 'The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer'
Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer rustle up more off-the-wall humour. Here, they perform some magic tricks, and Sting is the special guest in Donald and Davey Stott's talk show.

June 29
Cherrytree Radio | 8pm PST (USA) 'The Sting Dynasty'
Tune in to Cherrytree Radio Cherrytree Radio 8PM/PST for "The Sting Dynasty," a weekly radio show featuring music written and/or performed by Sting.

June 30
Sky Arts 1 | 3.15pm (UK) 'Spectacle'
Elvis Costello welcomes The Police, who discuss their career and who calls the shots in the band, as well as perform hits including Every Breath You Take, Roxanne and Demolition Man.

Was Live Aid the greatest event ever to be held at Wembley?

Thu, 19 May 2011 11:51:40 -0400

Wembley Stadium has hosted some of the world's most legendary events. You can be a part of the stadium's history by voting for the greatest Wembley event of all time. 25 events are featured in the competition, including the 1985 Live Aid concert where Sting performed. The winning event will receive a dedicated installation within the ground ensuring that it has a permanent place in Wembley's rich history. Visit http://greatestevent.wembleystadium.com/ to cast your vote and win the opportunity to celebrate with a Club Wembley Box Experience.

Symphonicity Concert Originally Planned For Minsk Moves To Vilnius...

Thu, 12 May 2011 02:49:57 -0400

Local promoter Allstars.by announced today that the Symphonicity concert previously scheduled for June 27th in Minsk will now take place in Vilnius. The concert will now be held outdoors at the prestigious Vingis Park.

Unfortunately, with the current economic situation in Belarus, the decision to move the concert from Belarus to Lithuania was made to enable Sting fans the best possible access to the concert.

Fans who have purchased tickets to the Minsk performance will be able to use these at the new show on June 27th in Vilnius. Ticket holders who are not able to go to Vilnius, will receive a refund in accordance with the Regulations on conducting of cultural and entertainment events (Presidential Decree No. 542 on October 19, 2010).

Persons wishing to purchase tickets to the new show at Vingis Park may do so at http://www.bilietai.lt, the Lithuanian National ticket operator. Tickets for the rescheduled performance will be available starting Friday, 13 May, 2011 at 10AM (local time). Ticket prices will range from 130Lt to 400Lt.

For additional information, please apply to Minsk, Independence Avenue,44.

Phone numbers: (017) 284 91 07, (044) 797 17 79.

The organizers apologize for any inconvenience and thank fans for understanding this decision.

Symphonicity Tour Extends To Include Additional Concert In Spain This Summer...

Wed, 11 May 2011 04:59:59 -0400

Live Nation is pleased to announce that Sting will perform in Cap Roig this summer as a part of his critically-acclaimed Symphonicity world tour. Following sold-out performances across North America, Europe and Australia, Symphonicity finds Sting performing his greatest hits re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, accompanied by a symphony orchestra and band. On July 16, 2011, the Symphonicity tour will appear at the Cap Roig Festival in Cap Roig, Spain.

The Fan Club presale will begin at 10AM (local time) tomorrow, Thursday, May 12. Legacy Fan Club members will be given a one hour advance window at the start of the presale followed by a presale to all members beginning at 11AM (local time). Tickets will go on sale to the public on Saturday, May 14 at 9AM (local time).

SYMPHONICITY SUMMER TOUR 2011 ITINERARY:

06 Jun - Piata Constitutiei, Bucharest, Romania
07 Jun - Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
08 Jun - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
10 Jun - Stozice Arena, Llubljana, Slovenia
11 Jun - Schwarlz Freizeitzentrum, Graz, Austria
13 Jun - Olimpsiki, Moscow, Russia
16 Jun - Palace Square, St. Petersburg, Russia
18 Jun - Ergo Arena Gdansk/Sopot, Gdansk, Poland
20 Jun - Aalborg Hallen, Aalborg, Denmark
22 Jun - Warsteiner HockeyPark, Mönchengladbach, Germany
23 Jun - Arena in Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
25 Jun - Schloss Salem, Salem, Germany
27 Jun - Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus
29 Jun - Zimny Stadion Ondreja Nepelu, Bratislava, Slovakia
30 Jun - Budapest Arena, Budapest, Hungary
02 Jul - Tatneft Arena, Kazan, Russia
07 Jul - Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine
09 Jul - Moon & Stars Festival, Locarno, Switzerland
11 Jul - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
13 Jul - Estadio de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
15 Jul - Plaza de Toros, Granada, Spain
16 Jul - Cap Roig Festival, Cap Roig, Spain
18 Jul - SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
19 Jul - Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
21 Jul - Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, Lyon, France
22 Jul - Poupet Festival, St. Malo Du Bois, France
23 Jul - Nimes Festival, Nimes, France
25 Jul - Monte Carlo Sporting Club Festival, Monte Carlo, Monaco
27 Jul - Complesso Monumentale Castello a Mare, Palermo, Italy
29 Jul - Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
30 Jul - Cavea dell'Auditorium Parco della, Rome, Italy
31 Jul - Piazza Dell Loggia, Brescia, Italy

Itinerary subject to change. Additional cities and venues to be confirmed.

Matthew Morrison debut album set for May 10th release on Mercury Records - to include duets with Sting, Elton John, and Gwyneth Paltrow! 22-city, 6-week U.S. summer tour opens June 18th in Minneapolis...

Thu, 05 May 2011 10:59:59 -0400

Nationals competition is on the horizon, and Gleeks across the country will have their spirits lifted with news of a triple-play of star-crossed duets that have been recorded for Matthew Morrison's self-titled debut album scheduled for May 10th release on Mercury Records.

Matthew's album duet partners include Sting on his soulful classic 'Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot' (from his 1996 album, Mercury Falling). AOL will premiere the audio of the duet on May 6th followed by the premiere of Matthew's incredible AOL Sessions performance on May 10th, including key tracks from the album http://music.aol.com/sessions. Matthew then teams up with Gwyneth Paltrow (who plays his recurring flame Holly Holliday on Glee) for a duet on Judy Garland's Wizard Of Oz standard, 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow.' And Elton John is already raving about his duet: "...It's great, really fantastic. He [Matthew] sings great on it. It's a medley of 'Mona Lisas and Madhatters' going into 'Rocket Man'..."

Morrison recently premiered the album's debut single, 'Summer Rain' on American Idol host Ryan Seacrest's nationally syndicated morning radio show on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, followed by performances of the song live on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and NBC Universal's The Ellen DeGeneres Show. 'Summer Rain' was co-written by Matthew with Claude Kelly and the Norwegian duo known as Espionage (Espen Lind and Amund Bjørklund), who produced the track in New York City. 'Summer Rain' is available on iTunes and all digital partners.

Meanwhile, Gleeks and Glee Club members everywhere are grabbing up tickets for Matthew's 6-week, 22-city summer tour, which will feature songs from his album along with many Glee fan favorites. In conjunction with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, the tour will offer regional Glee Clubs the chance to compete for the 'opening act' performance slot. The VH1 Save The Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in our nation's schools, is a proud partner in the competition. Entries can be submitted at www.matthewmorrison.com/gleeclubcontest.

Matthew Morrison is best known to millions as the eternally optimistic high school teacher - and de facto glee club director - Will Schuester, on the FOX television network's runaway hit comedy series Glee. Morrison is no stranger to musical theatre, vocal performance and dance, which he studied at New York University's renowned Tisch School of the Arts. He has been nominated for Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe awards, and shared the 2009 SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical, for "Glee". Morrison's first big Broadway break came as heartthrob Link Larkin in the hit Hairspray, he later went on to star in The Light in the Piazza, 10 Million Miles and the Tony Award-winning revival of South Pacific at New York's Lincoln Center Theater.

MATTHEW MORRISON On Tour

Jun 18 Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
Jun 19 Fabulous Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO
Jun 21 Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont, IL
Jun 22 Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH
Jun 23 Detroit Opera House, Detroit, MI
Jun 27 Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Jun 28 New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ
Jun 29 Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, Boston, MA

Jul 1 Beacon Theatre, New York, NY
Jul 2 Caesar's - Circus Maximus, Atlantic City, NJ
Jul 6 DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
Jul 7 War Memorial Auditorium, Greensboro, NC
Jul 8 The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, GA
Jul 10 David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Perf. Arts, Tampa, FL
Jul 11 Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, Orlando, FL
Jul 13 Mizner Park Amphitheatre, Boca Raton, FL
Jul 14 Moran Theater, Jacksonville, FL
Jul 16 Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, TX
Jul 17 Bass Concert Hall, Austin, TX
Jul 19 Comerica Theatre, Phoenix, AZ
Jul 20 Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay, San Diego, CA
Jul 23 NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, CA

Sting Fan Show at the Famed Apollo: Fun Flubs and Triumphs...

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:30:16 -0400

Before Sting would take his "Symphonicities" tour to Eastern Europe this summer, he needed a tune-up. So he chose the world famous Apollo Theater for last night's show - with an audience comprising fan club members, family and friends. Every seat was taken, and then some as the fans - some of whom traveled great distances - kept running up near the stage and staying there. They were almost all women, and they had their dancing shoes on.

The show - with nearly 40 musicians crammed onto the stage including virtuoso guitarist Dominic Miller and knock out vocalist Jo Lawry- pretty much reproduced the same set Sting did last summer at the Metropolitan Opera and on his CD, "Live in Berlin." Thanks to producer Rob Mathes, the sound was deep and clear, with standouts including "Why Do I Cry for You?," ""When You Dance," "The End of the Game," and "I Hung My Head." There were a couple of flubs, proving the meticulous Sting is human-he flubbed a big vocal note twice - sort of a double lutz-before getting it right. The audience loved it. He also "went up" on his famous ballad, "Fragile."

"Thanks for noticing," he told me at the after party around the corner at the Red Rooster. A surprise highlight of the night: an acoustic solo version of "Message in the Bottle," with the audience singing along. Also, his son, Joe Sumner, of the group Fiction Plane, got a wild ovation for his solo on "Two Sisters."

And where was Mrs. Sting, Trudie Styler, who never misses a show? Why she was at Harvard University, on a human rights panel moderated by Rose Styron called 'T Squares: from Tiananmen to Tahrir," with director Michael Apted, plus Larry Cox and Josh Rubenstein of Amnesty International.

© Showbiz411 by Roger Friedman

Symphonicity Tour Extends To Include Free Concert In Russia This Summer...

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:40:59 -0400

Live Nation is pleased to announce that Sting will perform in St. Petersburg this summer as a part of his critically-acclaimed Symphonicity world tour. Following sold-out performances across North America, Europe and Australia, Symphonicity finds Sting performing his greatest hits re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, accompanied by a symphony orchestra and band, conducted by Sarah Hicks. On June 16, 2011, the Symphonicity tour will appear at the opening of the XV St. Petersburg International Economic Forum at the Palace Square in St. Petersburg, Russia.

This concert is a non-ticketed event and is free to the public.

SYMPHONICITY SUMMER TOUR 2011 ITINERARY:

06 Jun - Piata Constitutiei, Bucharest, Romania
07 Jun - Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
08 Jun - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
10 Jun - Stozice Arena, Llubljana, Slovenia
11 Jun - Schwarlz Freizeitzentrum, Graz, Austria
13 Jun - Olimpsiki, Moscow, Russia
16 Jun - Palace Square, St. Petersburg, Russia
18 Jun - Ergo Arena Gdansk/Sopot, Gdansk, Poland
20 Jun - Aalborg Hallen, Aalborg, Denmark
22 Jun - Warsteiner HockeyPark, Mönchengladbach, Germany
23 Jun - Arena in Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
25 Jun - Schloss Salem, Salem, Germany
27 Jun - Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus
29 Jun - Zimny Stadion Ondreja Nepelu, Bratislava, Slovakia
30 Jun - Budapest Arena, Budapest, Hungary
02 Jul - Tatneft Arena, Kazan, Russia
07 Jul - Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine
09 Jul - Moon & Stars Festival, Locarno, Switzerland
11 Jul - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
13 Jul - Estadio de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
15 Jul - Plaza de Toros, Granada, Spain
18 Jul - SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
19 Jul - Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
21 Jul - Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, Lyon, France
22 Jul - Poupet Festival, St. Malo Du Bois, France
23 Jul - Nimes Festival, Nimes, France
25 Jul - Monte Carlo Sporting Club Festival, Monte Carlo, Monaco
27 Jul - Complesso Monumentale Castello a Mare, Palermo, Italy
29 Jul - Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
30 Jul - Cavea dell'Auditorium Parco della, Rome, Italy
31 Jul - Piazza Dell Loggia, Brescia, Italy

Itinerary subject to change. Additional cities and venues to be confirmed.

Sting featured in the 2011 TIME 100...

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:29:18 -0400

Sting is featured in the 2011 Time 100 - a look at some of the most influential people in the world. They are artists and activists, reformers and researchers, heads of state and captains of industry. Their ideas spark dialogue and dissent and sometimes even revolution. Welcome to this year's TIME 100.

Esperanza Spalding, the jazz bassist who won the Best New Artist award at the 2011 Grammys writes the following about Sting:

"When I was 11, my older brother was really into Sting. I used to steal all of his CDs out of their cases, sneak them to my room and listen to them. I remember hearing "Seven Days" for the first time -- the song is in 5/4 time -- and thinking, Who is this pop star who writes in such a hip time signature? I didn't yet know that Sting, 59, played jazz or worked with jazz greats like Kenny Kirkland.

"Sting's songwriting is what I'm most inspired by when I think about my own endeavors. He's found the perfect balance of being able to write very avant-garde songs that are accessible to people who wouldn't otherwise consider themselves jazz fans. My music doesn't sound like Sting's, and it never will. But I hope to have his bravery when it comes to writing songs that mainstream audiences can access."

Read more.

Symphonicity World Tour Extends To Include Additional Concert In Spain This Summer...

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 05:54:59 -0400

Live Nation is pleased to announce that Sting will perform in Spain this summer as a part of his celebrated Symphonicity world tour. Following sold-out performances across North America, Europe and Australia, Symphonicity finds Sting performing his greatest hits re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, accompanied by a symphony orchestra and band. On July 13, 2011, the Symphonicity tour will appear at the Estadio de Gran Canaria in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

The Fan Club presale will begin at 10AM (local time) on Wednesday, April 20. Legacy Fan Club members will be given a one hour advance window at the start of the presale followed by a presale to all members beginning at 11AM (local time). Tickets will go on sale to the public on Saturday, April 23 at 10AM (local time).

SYMPHONICITY SUMMER TOUR 2011 ITINERARY:

06 Jun - Piata Constitutiei, Bucharest, Romania
07 Jun - Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
08 Jun - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
10 Jun - Stozice Arena, Llubljana, Slovenia
11 Jun - Schwarlz Freizeitzentrum, Graz, Austria
13 Jun - Olimpsiki, Moscow, Russia
18 Jun - Ergo Arena Gdansk/Sopot, Gdansk, Poland
20 Jun - Aalborg Hallen, Aalborg, Denmark
22 Jun - Warsteiner HockeyPark, Mönchengladbach, Germany
23 Jun - Arena in Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
25 Jun - Schloss Salem, Salem, Germany
27 Jun - Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus
29 Jun - Zimny Stadion Ondreja Nepelu, Bratislava, Slovakia
30 Jun - Budapest Arena, Budapest, Hungary
02 Jul - Tatneft Arena, Kazan, Russia
07 Jul - Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine
09 Jul - Moon & Stars Festival, Locarno, Switzerland
11 Jul - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
13 Jul - Estadio de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
15 Jul - Plaza de Toros, Granada, Spain
18 Jul - SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
19 Jul - Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
21 Jul - Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, Lyon, France
22 Jul - Poupet Festival, St. Malo Du Bois, France
23 Jul - Nimes Festival, Nimes, France
25 Jul - Monte Carlo Sporting Club Festival, Monte Carlo, Monaco
27 Jul - Complesso Monumentale Castello a Mare, Palermo, Italy
29 Jul - Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
30 Jul - Cavea dell'Auditorium Parco della, Rome, Italy
31 Jul - Piazza Dell Loggia, Brescia, Italy

Itinerary subject to change. Additional cities and venues to be confirmed.

Symphonicity World Tour - New Performance Confirmed In Spain...

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 05:27:59 -0400

Live Nation is pleased to announce that Sting will perform in Granada at the Plaza de Toros on July 15, 2011, along his critically-acclaimed Symphonicity world tour. Following sold-out performances across North America, Europe and Australia, Symphonicity finds Sting performing his greatest hits re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, accompanied by a symphony orchestra and band.

The Fan Club presale will begin at 10AM (local time) on Tuesday, April 26. Legacy Fan Club members will be given a one hour advance window at the start of the presale followed by a presale to all members beginning at 11AM (local time). Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, April 29 at 10AM (local time).

SYMPHONICITY SUMMER TOUR 2011 ITINERARY:

06 Jun - Piata Constitutiei, Bucharest, Romania
07 Jun - Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
08 Jun - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
10 Jun - Stozice Arena, Llubljana, Slovenia
11 Jun - Schwarlz Freizeitzentrum, Graz, Austria
13 Jun - Olimpsiki, Moscow, Russia
18 Jun - Ergo Arena Gdansk/Sopot, Gdansk, Poland
20 Jun - Aalborg Hallen, Aalborg, Denmark
22 Jun - Warsteiner HockeyPark, Mönchengladbach, Germany
23 Jun - Arena in Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
25 Jun - Schloss Salem, Salem, Germany
27 Jun - Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus
29 Jun - Zimny Stadion Ondreja Nepelu, Bratislava, Slovakia
30 Jun - Budapest Arena, Budapest, Hungary
02 Jul - Tatneft Arena, Kazan, Russia
07 Jul - Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine
09 Jul - Moon & Stars Festival, Locarno, Switzerland
11 Jul - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
15 Jul - Plaza de Toros, Granada, Spain
18 Jul - SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
19 Jul - Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
21 Jul - Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, Lyon, France
22 Jul - Poupet Festival, St. Malo Du Bois, France
23 Jul - Nimes Festival, Nimes, France
25 Jul - Monte Carlo Sporting Club Festival, Monte Carlo, Monaco
27 Jul - Complesso Monumentale Castello a Mare, Palermo, Italy
29 Jul - Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
30 Jul - Cavea dell'Auditorium Parco della, Rome, Italy
31 Jul - Piazza Dell Loggia, Brescia, Italy

Itinerary subject to change. Additional cities and venues to be confirmed.

Symphonicity World Tour Extends To Include Additional Concert In Russia This Summer...

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 01:01:01 -0400

Live Nation is pleased to announce that Sting will perform in Kazan this summer as a part of his celebrated Symphonicity world tour. Following sold-out performances across North America, Europe and Australia, Symphonicity finds Sting performing his greatest hits re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, accompanied by a symphony orchestra and band, conducted by Sarah Hicks. On July 2, 2011, the Symphonicity tour will appear at the Tatneft Arena in Kazan, Russia.

Fan Club sales for Kazan begin at 10AM (local time) TODAY, Monday, April 18th. As tickets will simultaneously go on sale to the public, a number of tickets have been reserved exclusively for fan club members.

SYMPHONICITY SUMMER TOUR 2011 ITINERARY:

06 Jun - Piata Constitutiei, Bucharest, Romania
07 Jun - Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
08 Jun - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
10 Jun - Stozice Arena, Llubljana, Slovenia
11 Jun - Schwarlz Freizeitzentrum, Graz, Austria
13 Jun - Olimpsiki, Moscow, Russia
18 Jun - Ergo Arena Gdansk/Sopot, Gdansk, Poland
20 Jun - Aalborg Hallen, Aalborg, Denmark
22 Jun - Warsteiner HockeyPark, Mönchengladbach, Germany
23 Jun - Arena in Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
25 Jun - Schloss Salem, Salem, Germany
27 Jun - Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus
29 Jun - Zimny Stadion Ondreja Nepelu, Bratislava, Slovakia
30 Jun - Budapest Arena, Budapest, Hungary
02 Jul - Tatneft Arena, Kazan, Russia
07 Jul - Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine
09 Jul - Moon & Stars Festival, Locarno, Switzerland
11 Jul - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
18 Jul - SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
19 Jul - Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
21 Jul - Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, Lyon, France
22 Jul - Poupet Festival, St. Malo Du Bois, France
23 Jul - Nimes Festival, Nimes, France
25 Jul - Monte Carlo Sporting Club Festival, Monte Carlo, Monaco
27 Jul - Complesso Monumentale Castello a Mare, Palermo, Italy
29 Jul - Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
30 Jul - Cavea dell'Auditorium Parco della, Rome, Italy
31 Jul - Piazza Dell Loggia, Brescia, Italy

Itinerary subject to change. Additional cities and venues to be confirmed.

Symphonicity World Tour Extends To Include Concert In The Ukraine This Summer...

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 02:29:59 -0400

Live Nation is pleased to announce that Sting will perform in Kiev at the Palace of Sports on July 7, 2011, on his critically-acclaimed Symphonicity world tour. Following sold-out performances across North America, Europe and Australia, Symphonicity finds Sting performing his greatest hits re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, accompanied by a symphony orchestra and band, conducted by Sarah Hicks.

Fan Club sales for Kiev begin at 10AM (local time) TODAY, Friday, April 15th. As tickets will simultaneously go on sale to the public, a number of tickets have been reserved exclusively for fan club members.

SYMPHONICITY SUMMER TOUR 2011 ITINERARY:

06 Jun - Piata Constitutiei, Bucharest, Romania
07 Jun - Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
08 Jun - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
10 Jun - Stozice Arena, Llubljana, Slovenia
11 Jun - Schwarlz Freizeitzentrum, Graz, Austria
13 Jun - Olimpsiki, Moscow, Russia
18 Jun - Ergo Arena Gdansk/Sopot, Gdansk, Poland
20 Jun - Aalborg Hallen, Aalborg, Denmark
22 Jun - Warsteiner HockeyPark, Mönchengladbach, Germany
23 Jun - Arena in Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
25 Jun - Schloss Salem, Salem, Germany
27 Jun - Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus
29 Jun - Zimny Stadion Ondreja Nepelu, Bratislava, Slovakia
30 Jun - Budapest Arena, Budapest, Hungary
07 Jul - Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine
09 Jul - Moon & Stars Festival, Locarno, Switzerland
11 Jul - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
18 Jul - SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
19 Jul - Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
21 Jul - Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, Lyon, France
22 Jul - Poupet Festival, St. Malo Du Bois, France
23 Jul - Nimes Festival, Nimes, France
25 Jul - Monte Carlo Sporting Club Festival, Monte Carlo, Monaco
27 Jul - Complesso Monumentale Castello a Mare, Palermo, Italy
29 Jul - Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
30 Jul - Cavea dell'Auditorium Parco della, Rome, Italy
31 Jul - Piazza Dell Loggia, Brescia, Italy

Itinerary subject to change. Additional cities and venues to be confirmed.

Additional Tickets Now Available for Sting's Exclusive Concert at the Apollo Theater in New York City on Thursday, April 28...

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:44:43 -0400

Due to overwhelming demand, a limited number of tickets to Sting's concert at the Apollo Theater, exclusively for fan club members, have just been released and are now available for purchase.

Following sold-out performances throughout North America, Europe and Australia, the critically-acclaimed Symphonicity tour was recently extended to include additional performances across Europe this summer (see below itinerary). In keeping with tradition, Sting will perform a special concert at the Apollo Theater in New York City on Thursday, April 28 at 8PM. Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of this intimate evening with Sting as he prepares for the summer Symphonicity tour.

Tickets are $75.00 each (plus applicable service charges). As quantities are limited, each member will have the opportunity to purchase up to 4 tickets on a first come, first served basis.

In order to purchase tickets , Sting.com fan club members must retrieve their unique access code at Tickets.Sting.com. This code must then be entered at point of purchase on the Ticketmaster website.

To become a fan club member, please visit Sting.com. In addition to the opportunity to purchase tickets to this exclusive, members-only event, fan club members also enjoy access to advance ticket purchases, exclusive behind-the-scenes video footage and photos, members-only contests, and interaction with thousands of fans from around the world within the Sting.com community.

The Symphonicity tour finds Sting performing his greatest hits, re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, accompanied by a band and several esteemed local orchestras. These performances will also feature a conductor new to the Symphonicity tour, Sarah Hicks, cited in the New York Times as part of a "new wave of female conductors."

To accompany the Symphonicity world tour, Deutsched Grammophon/Cherrytree records released a live CD/DVD package, Live in Berlin, featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Steven Mercurio, in November 2010. A companion studio album, Symphonicities, was also released in July 2010 to critical acclaim.

The world tour is promoted by Live Nation and produced by RZO Entertainment, Inc. in association with Universal Music Classical Management & Productions.

SYMPHONICITY SUMMER TOUR 2011 ITINERARY:

06 Jun - Piata Constitutiei, Bucharest, Romania
07 Jun - Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
08 Jun - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
10 Jun - Stozice Arena, Llubljana, Slovenia
11 Jun - Schwarlz Freizeitzentrum, Graz, Austria
13 Jun - Olimpsiki, Moscow, Russia
18 Jun - Ergo Arena Gdansk/Sopot, Gdansk, Poland
20 Jun - Aalborg Hallen, Aalborg, Denmark
22 Jun - Warsteiner HockeyPark, Mönchengladbach, Germany
23 Jun - Arena in Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
25 Jun - Schloss Salem, Salem, Germany
27 Jun - Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus
29 Jun - Zimny Stadion Ondreja Nepelu, Bratislava, Slovakia
30 Jun - Budapest Arena, Budapest, Hungary
09 Jul - Moon & Stars Festival, Locarno, Switzerland
11 Jul - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
18 Jul - SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
19 Jul - Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
21 Jul - Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, Lyon, France
22 Jul - Poupet Festival, St. Malo Du Bois, France
23 Jul - Nimes Festival, Nimes, France
25 Jul - Monte Carlo Sporting Club Festival, Monte Carlo, Monaco
27 Jul - Complesso Monumentale Castello a Mare, Palermo, Italy
29 Jul - Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
30 Jul - Cavea dell'Auditorium Parco della, Rome, Italy
31 Jul - Piazza Dell Loggia, Brescia, Italy

Itinerary subject to change. Additional cities and venues to be confirmed.

Symphonicity World Tour Extends To Include Additional Concert In Italy This Summer...

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 05:59:59 -0400

Live Nation is pleased to announce that Sting will perform in Brescia this summer as a part of his celebrated Symphonicity world tour. Following sold-out performances across North America, Europe and Australia, Symphonicity finds Sting performing his greatest hits re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, accompanied by a symphony orchestra and band, conducted by Sarah Hicks. On July 31, 2011, the Symphonicity tour will appear at the Piazza Dell Loggia in Brescia, Italy.

Fan Club sales for Brescia begin at NOON (local time) tomorrow, Thursday, April 14th. As tickets will simultaneously go on sale to the public, a number of tickets have been reserved exclusively for fan club members.

SYMPHONICITY SUMMER TOUR 2011 ITINERARY:

06 Jun - Piata Constitutiei, Bucharest, Romania
07 Jun - Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
08 Jun - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
10 Jun - Stozice Arena, Llubljana, Slovenia
11 Jun - Schwarlz Freizeitzentrum, Graz, Austria
13 Jun - Olimpsiki, Moscow, Russia
18 Jun - Ergo Arena Gdansk/Sopot, Gdansk, Poland
20 Jun - Aalborg Hallen, Aalborg, Denmark
22 Jun - Warsteiner HockeyPark, Mönchengladbach, Germany
23 Jun - Arena in Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
25 Jun - Schloss Salem, Salem, Germany
27 Jun - Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus
29 Jun - Zimny Stadion Ondreja Nepelu, Bratislava, Slovakia
30 Jun - Budapest Arena, Budapest, Hungary
09 Jul - Moon & Stars Festival, Locarno, Switzerland
11 Jul - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
18 Jul - SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
19 Jul - Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
21 Jul - Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, Lyon, France
22 Jul - Poupet Festival, St. Malo Du Bois, France
23 Jul - Nimes Festival, Nimes, France
25 Jul - Monte Carlo Sporting Club Festival, Monte Carlo, Monaco
27 Jul - Complesso Monumentale Castello a Mare, Palermo, Italy
29 Jul - Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
30 Jul - Cavea dell'Auditorium Parco della, Rome, Italy
31 Jul - Piazza Dell Loggia, Brescia, Italy

Itinerary subject to change. Additional cities and venues to be confirmed.

James Taylor's Singular Voice, Steeped in 120 Years of Music - reports The New York Times...

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:24:07 -0400

James Taylor may be the foremost contemporary composer of what you might call American lullabies. "Carolina in My Mind," "Sweet Baby James," "Shower the People," "My Traveling Star," and "You Can Close Your Eyes," all of which he performed at a Carnegie Hall gala concert on Tuesday evening celebrating the hall's 120th year, share the same elusive magic. Along with "Home on the Range" "Red River Valley" and Stephen Foster ballads, they seem somehow to have always existed.

Especially when Mr. Taylor sings them in a voice that is both astringent and soothing, he conjures the image of a lonely cowboy murmuring to himself by a campfire somewhere in the Appalachians. The sadness and comfort these songs evoke are two sides of the same coin. Like no-one else's, Mr. Taylor's music distills a primal American yearning that can never be completely satisfied: the dream of home sweet home.

Because there is a ceremonial quality in everything Mr. Taylor does, the gala felt a little like an upbeat church service at which Mr. Taylor presided over his flock like a modest Protestant minister. It was the first of four thematic shows, all featuring Mr. Taylor, called "Perspectives."

A "Roots" evening on April 20 will concentrate on music he heard while growing up. "Guitar Conversations" on May 6 will team him with some of his favorite guitarists. And "Quintessential James Taylor," on May 9, will be an anthology of Mr. Taylor's best songs.

Tuesday's gala, a retrospective of Carnegie Hall's history, encompassed Broadway, jazz, folk music, and comedy. Featured guests included Bette Midler, Barbara Cook, Steve Martin, Dianne Reeves, Sting, and two choruses.

A somewhat shaky "There's No Business Like Show Business," a song very much off Mr. Taylor's beaten track, led off a show (directed by Scott Ellis), during which photographs of stars who have appeared in the hall were flashed onto a screen at the back of the stage. A flexible band playing musical arrangements by Charles Floyd negotiated the stylistic leaps from vaudeville to folk to rock with impressive agility.

Ms. Midler channeled Sophie Tucker in a medley that included "Some of These Days," "After You've Gone," and "My Yiddishe Momme." Demonstrating her stylistic audacity, she leapt from an understated "Pirate Jenny" to a raucous "Sweet Blindness." Mr. Martin, whom Mr. Taylor introduced as "a banjo-playing fool," led a bluegrass ensemble through "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and leavened the evening with sly witticisms.

Although Ms. Reeves performed only one number, the Billie Holiday lament, "Don't Explain," it was a killer. Paced very slowly with minimal accompaniment, she sang as though she were dragging the weight of the world behind her.

But the evening's most compelling performance was Ms. Cook's "Here's to Life." To hear this indestructible woman, who is now 83, muse, "I had my share, I drank my fill/ And even though I'm satisfied, I'm hungry still" in a voice that has lowered without shedding any of its luster was to receive lines of personal scripture torn from the soul.

The notion of a James Taylor-Barbara Cook duet may have sounded promising in theory. But as they regaled each other with choruses of "Not While I'm Around," from "Sweeney Todd," like son and mother, their voices didn't match.

The show's only outright failure was its attempt to cover comedy by having Kevin Pollak impersonate Lenny Bruce in an excerpt from a live recording Bruce made at Carnegie Hall. The impression was deft, but the material hasn't held up.

The appearance of Sting late in the show singing "Penny Lane" gave the evening a sudden lift. From then on it was smooth sailing. And when the Tanglewood Festival Chorus arrived to join Mr. Taylor and Sting on "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)," euphoria reined. Who knew, until Mr. Taylor put his stamp on it in 1975, that this Marvin Gaye standard could be transmuted so seamlessly into an upbeat folk-pop chorale?

After Bill Clinton appeared to make a pitch for the Weill Music Institute's education programs, a second group, the Young People's Chorus of New York trooped down the aisles to sing "Shower the People," and the collective joy intensified.

Reflecting on Carnegie Hall's history, Mr. Taylor named Judy Garland's 1961 concert there as the hall's show business high point and he sang a tender "Over the Rainbow."

"It's what I think of as the anthem of Carnegie Hall," he declared.

© The New York Times by Stephen Holden

The Cherrytree House Sessions, Volume 1 - Available in the US April 12th...

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:03:05 -0400

Today, Cherrytree Records released The Cherrytree House Sessions, Vol. 1, featuring acoustic performances from Cherrytree artists including Sting, Robyn, Keane, Feist and more. Visit www.cherrytreerecords.com to watch a clip of Sting talking about his contribution, "The Snow It Melts The Soonest," to the album, which is now available for purchase via iTunes here: http://bit.ly/eRusZN..

When I was 15 and living in East Lansing, Michigan, I convinced my folks to let my band rehearse in our living room (my sister's string quartet had already commandeered the basement).

I remember asking the kids in the band to leave their instruments at my house in between rehearsals. I realized only later that this would prevent them from practicing their individual parts in between rehearsals and seriously affect our ability to sound good at gigs. Woops.

Still, it sparked a dream for me: To one day have a space where instruments would be permanently set up and anybody could play them at any time. Oh, and wouldn't it be killer if everything was pre-wired to record what came out?

I held onto that notion until I finally got the chance to implement it. Just after starting Cherrytree Records in 2005 with the release of Feist's "Let It Die" album, I took all of the instruments I'd bought over the years and set them up in my office. With the kind encouragement of Interscope Geffen A&M's Chairman Jimmy Iovine (who patiently tolerated the sound checks from his office down the hall) and the expert help of my good friend and skilled engineer, Tony Ugval, I began recording performances from the talented artists that would visit Cherrytree.

Staff members Andrea, Scott, Kelvin & Brad helped capture the sessions on video and soon we began posting footage of these magical performances at www.TheCherrytreeHouse.com. Requests poured in from enthusiastic "Rec'ers" (members of our www.CherrytreeRecords.com community) to make the audio available so we introduced a series of 3 EP's entitled "The Cherrytree Sessions." These were 3-song sets from Robyn, Lady Gaga & Keane (all still available).

To our delight, the more musicians performed at The Cherrytree House, the more creative DNA they left there. It seemed to seep into the instruments and walls and inspire more artists to come play. It was a teenage dream-come-true.

Before long, we found ourselves with an extraordinary collection of recordings: intimate at times, unexpected at others. Then, one day, while chatting with Interscope's head of sales, Gary Kelly, he suggested we issue these exclusive performances in the form of an album - "The Cherrytree House Sessions, Volume 1."

As consistently magical as Robyn's performances are, I still don't know if a better acoustic version of her song "Be Mine!" exists than The Cherrytree House recording included here. It still threatens to bring a tear to my eye every time I listen to it.

The heartfelt collaboration between Far East Movement and Frankmusik is one of the most emotional renditions of FM's hit "Rocketeer" and Keane's poignant "Somewhere Only We Know" performance here is nothing short of breathtaking.

The delicate timbre of Feist's near-impossible voice enchants on this intimate version of "Intuition" while Mt. Desolation succeeds in using just about every instrument at The Cherrytree House for this riveting take on their "State of Our Affairs."

I remember the maestro, Sting, gracing us with a lute lesson at The Cherrytree House before diving in to this arresting version of "The Snow It Melts the Soonest" (Me: "How many strings does it have?" Sting: "Too many.").

Ellie Goulding and Natalia Kills both filled The Cherrytree House with their beautiful and haunting voices on "The Writer" and "Mirrors" (on which I had the honor of accompanying Natalia on the piano).

Kelis and Mohombi both turned their powerful dance songs into driving acoustic pieces with their hypnotic performances of "Brave" and "Bumpy Ride" respectively.

With "The Cherrytree House Sessions, Volume 1," we're proud to share what we've had the privilege to experience first hand: the generous talent and inspired performances of these amazing artists. Special thanks go to them and the kids in my band who agreed to leave their instruments at my house in between rehearsals.

- Martin Kierszenbaum, Cherrytree Records, Santa Monica, California, April 2011

Track listing:
1. Robyn - Be Mine!
2. Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
3. Feist - Intuition
4. Far East Movement & Frankmusik - Rocketeer
5. Sting - The Snow It Melts the Soonest
6. Ellie Goulding - The Writer
7. Natalia Kills - Mirrors
8. Mohombi - Bumpy Ride
9. Kelis - Brave
10. Mt. Desolation - State of Our Affairs

Available in the US from April 12th. International release date TBC.

President Bill Clinton, Trudie Styler and Sting to be honoured by Riverkeeper as 'Big Fish' at Annual Fishermen's Ball...

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:20:40 -0400

Hundreds of clean water supporters will gather on the Hudson River for Riverkeeper's Annual Fishermen's Ball to honor the environmental advocacy of President Bill Clinton and Trudie Styler & Sting. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is among the notables scheduled to present, and guests will be treated to a special musical performance by Rufus Wainwright. Funds raised will benefit Riverkeeper, New York's clean water advocate. The event takes place on Wednesday, April 13 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers - Hudson River and 23rd Street.

Confirmed supporters from film, television, comedy, entertainment, fashion & politics include:

- President Bill Clinton, Recipient of Riverkeeper's "Big Fish" Award
- Joan and George Hornig, Event Co-Chairs
- Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Chief Prosecuting Attorney, Riverkeeper
- Sonia and Paul Tudor Jones, Event Co-Chairs
- Patty Smyth McEnroe and John McEnroe, Event Co-Chairs
- Anne Hearst McInerney and Jay McInerney, Event Co-Chairs
- Trudie Styler & Sting, Recipients of Riverkeeper's "Big Fish" Award
- Rufus Wainwright, Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter
- Jann Wenner, Editor & Publisher, Rolling Stone magazine and Event Co-Chair

ABOUT RIVERKEEPER:
For more than four decades, Riverkeeper has been the leader among environmental organizations in protecting the precious water resources that serve the citizens of the Hudson Valley and New York City. We have successfully prosecuted hundreds of environmental lawbreakers, prevented pollution of sensitive drinking water reservoirs upon which millions of people rely, and become the proud model for nearly 200 Waterkeeper programs across the world that now patrol and protect rivers, bays, lakes and streams on six continents. Please visit www.riverkeeper.org for more information.