John Mayer Launches Spring US Tour - April 9-May 6 - New Single "Shadow Days" Out Now. (PRNewsFoto/Columbia Records)

U.S. Military Veterans to Benefit from Tour and Programs Tied to Mayer

NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician John Mayer launches his first U.S. tour in two years on April 9, stopping in 18 cities through May 6.  The tour leads into Mayer’s upcoming fifth album Born and Raised, which will be released soon thereafter.

Mayer produced Born and Raised with Don Was, who worked on albums for acts such as the Rolling Stones, B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt.  Rock legends David Crosby and Graham Nash provide vocals on the title song and musicians joining Mayer on the album and on the road include highly-regarded keyboardist/pianist Chuck Leavell—who has worked with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and The Allman Brothers Band—as well as previous collaborators Sean Hurley on bass and Aaron Sterling on drums.  Rounding out the touring band are David Ryan Harris on guitar and vocals, Doug Pettibone on guitar and Michito Sanchez on percussion.

Mayer recently previewed the album’s first single “Shadow Days” on his tumblr blog (http://jhnmyr.tumblr.com/).  The song will be serviced to radio today.  He debuts his new album with a performance at SXSW on March 17.

Mayer became passionate about supporting U.S. war veterans following a visit to the Marine Corps’ Camp Lejeune in North Carolina four years ago.  He has since spent time with active military and veterans while touring, and partnered with the Northern California Institute of Research and Education (NCIRE) to provide veterans with a healthy reintegration into civilian life which will help heal the battle scars caused by the trauma they experienced.

Concert goers can join Mayer in his support of veterans in two ways.  A block of third-row orchestra seats will be made available for sale at a premium price exclusively through Tickets-For-Charity, with proceeds going to Mayer/NCIRE programs.  At Tickets-For-Charity, fans pay the same or better price found elsewhere for high-demand seats, with 100% of above-face benefit redirected to charity.  For more information, go to www.ticketsforcharity.com/johnmayer.

And at http://celebrity.ebay.com/john-mayer, Mayer fans can bid on four front-row tickets, plus a chance to meet him, with proceeds also going to Mayer/NCIRE programs for veterans.

In 2011, through his partnership with NCIRE, Mayer was able to launch the first of several pilot programs to benefit the young men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.  Programs include a mobile exercise and wellness program; the development of a program of integrative medicine for traumatic stress; a study on veterans’ readjustment to civilian life which aims to develop new therapeutic tools to aid the transition; and a first-of-its-kind screening and intervention program for women suffering from eating disorders triggered by post traumatic stress related to combat.

Mayer’s previous albums–Room for Squares, Heavier Things, Continuum and Battle Studies–have sold more than 11 million copies combined.  He has been honored with seven Grammy Awards and an additional 11 nominations.  He has also been included in Time Magazine’s annual Time 100 list of the most influential contemporary thinkers, leaders, artists and entertainers, and twice been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine’s annual “Guitar” issue.

John Mayer Spring Tour 2012 Schedule:

Monday, April 9: Bloomington, IN; the IU Auditorium
Tuesday, April 10: East Lansing, MI; the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts
Thursday, April 12: Grand Rapids, MI; DeVos Performance Hall
Friday, April 13: West Lafayette, IN (Purdue University); Elliot Hall of Music
Saturday, April 14: Detroit, MI; Fox Theatre
Tuesday, April 17: Orono, ME (University of ME); Collins Center for the Arts
Wednesday, April 18: Providence, RI; PPAC Providence Performing Arts Center
Thursday, April 19: West Point, NY; Eisenhower Hall Theatre
Saturday, April 21: Buffalo, NY; Shea’s Performing Arts Center
Sunday, April 22: Wallingford, CT; The Oakdale Theatre
Tuesday, April 24: Richmond, VA; Landmark Theater
Thursday, April 26: Tuscaloosa, AL; Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
Sunday, April 29: New Orleans, LA; Jazz & Heritage Fest
Monday, April 30: Memphis, TN; The Orpheum Theatre
Wednesday, May 2: Kansas City, MO; Starlight Theatre
Friday, May 4: Albuquerque, NM; Sandia
Saturday, May 5: Las Vegas, NV; The Joint
Sunday, May 6: Phoenix, AZ; Comerica Theatre

SOURCE Columbia Records

IRISH HILLS, Mich., Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Motorcycle enthusiasts should plan to attend the premiere of Thrills in the Irish Hills Bike Festival, to be held July 12-14, in beautiful Southern Michigan’s Irish Hills. This festival combines scenic motorcycle routes, local recreations and thrilling concert events. Legendary entertainers Lynyrd Skynyrd and Paul Rodgers will ignite the Jackson County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 14th.

Beyond the tragedy, the history, the raging guitars and the killer songs, ultimately, Lynyrd Skynyrd is about an indomitable will. With their latest release (God & Guns), Lynyrd Skynyrd remains a cultural icon that appeals to all generations.

Paul Rodgers is passionate about writing and performing music. His credits include multi-platinum awards, Grammy nominations and millions of records sold. He formed and led three bands to worldwide success (Free, Bad Company and The Firm).

Thrills in the Irish Hills Bike Festival pairs a motorcyclist’s passion with our bold commitment to provide exceptional value on products, services, and entertainment. Several communities will host musical talents and welcome excursions along the route throughout the beautiful Irish Hills area. Each community has unique appeal and will offer special promotions. The Jackson County Fairgrounds will host evening events, quality exhibits, legendary entertainers and more. Winners of daily raffles will be announced each evening and awarded prizes that include festival gear and a brand new Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Tickets for the Bike Festival go on sale mid-March. Attendees receive discounts on lodging, concerts, products and services. Details can be found at ThrillsintheIrishHills.com.

About Thrills in the Irish Hills, Inc.
Thrills in the Irish Hills, Inc., is committed to help Southern Michigan again become a popular travel destination and enhance the appeal of its communities. Planned as an annual event, Thrills in the Irish Hills Bike Festival will benefit local communities, charities, schools, police and fire departments through its proceeds. Formed by life-long residents, Thrills in the Irish Hills Bike Festival is the journey that comes alive through passion and destination.

SOURCE Thrills in the Irish Hills

Web Site: http://thrillsintheirishhills.com

If you have ever wanted to have your photograph taken in a sports car that once belonged to a member of the world's most famous rock band, this is your chance.

Houston stand by! Beatle George Harrison’s Aston Martin DB5 will make its US. debut in the Lone Star state this May

Houston, TX (PRWEB) February 25, 2012

Houston stand by. George Harrison’s celebrated 1965 Aston Martin DB5 will make its U.S. debut in the Lone Star State in May. The anonymous Texas collector, who made global news in December when he won the international bidding war for the legendary Beatle’s sports car at a London auction, has confirmed that it will be on display at the inaugural Concours d’Elegance of Texas, helping to raise some serious money for charity. “If you have ever wanted to have your photograph taken in a sports car that once belonged to a member of the world’s most famous rock band, this is your chance,” said Lolly Bezy, Executive Director. “We are delighted to be in a position to offer spectators such a great opportunity and look forward to a sensational event this spring.”

The iconic Aston Martin DB5 was best known for its role in James Bond movies like Goldfinger and Thunderball, and the DB5 may be about to make a comeback in the latest 007 blockbuster with Daniel Craig. Manufactured in 1964, this Aston Martin DB5 was delivered new to George Harrison at his Surrey estate in England on January 1, 1965. Supplied in platinum silver with black Connolly leather, it was packed with all conceivable top of the range options and it remains in largely original condition today. The car later spent a decade in a Japanese museum and another twelve years in Germany, until it was purchased in 2007 by James William “Jimi” Heselden, the late owner of Segway Inc. and a British inventor and defense contractor, credited for saving countless lives in Iraq and Afghanistan with his invention of the Hesco Bastion wire framed container.

Back in December 2011, the buyer caused a media uproar when he “caught some people napping,” and made off with this “British National Treasure.” Characterized by the press as everything from a crazed Beatles fan to an opportunistic preacher who stole money from his congregation to buy an old car, he is in fact a lifelong car guy and philanthropist who is quietly building a small collection of some of the finest sports cars in the world, and using those cars to raise money for non-profit organizations and Christian causes. Spectators at the Concours d’Elegance of Texas will get the opportunity to enjoy the car and also to sit and be photographed in George Harrison’s famous Aston Martin in return for donations to his chosen charity, Faith Comes By Hearing. The organization produces the Military BibleStick, a miniature device that allows soldiers to listen to the Bible in the battlefield without compromising their position. Requests for these devices from every branch of the military are inundating the charity and there are still many thousands of U.S. troops in the field who are yet to be supplied.

The Concours d’Elegance of Texas is set to be one of the biggest vintage motoring and luxury lifestyle events in the state, a world-class gathering of collector cars and vintage motorcycles in a world-class setting. Scheduled to run from May 4th-6th, 2012, the event takes place just north of downtown Houston at the award winning La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa in Montgomery, Texas. Concours proceeds will benefit local and national charities, including the Texas Children’s Hospital and the Collector’s Foundation, an organization that supports young people and invests in the future of the collector car hobby. Admission to the Concours is $25 on Sunday 6th, discounted to $20 if purchased in advance, with children under 12 admitted free of charge. The Concours d’Elegance of Texas will be presented alongside Worldwide Auctioneers’ long standing catalogue event, The Houston Classic Auction, scheduled for Saturday, May 5th at 11am. Full details on the weekend’s events are available online at http://www.concoursoftexas.org. Executive Director Lolly Bezy can be contacted at 1.855.262.9900, or by email at lolly(at)concoursoftexas(dot)org. La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa is a four-star, all-suite facility situated just 50 miles north of downtown Houston. Visit http://www.latorrettalakeresort.com for information on accommodation and resort amenities. Visitors are urged to book their rooms early for the weekend, as the resort is expected to sell out. Contact La Torretta at 1.936.448.4400 and use special rate booking code WORLDAUC2012. Sponsorship opportunities and program advertising can be discussed with Lolly Bezy at 1.855.262.9900. Media inquiries should be directed to Jo Snyder at 1. 512.507.7867.

Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart hit the road with their "Heart & Soul" Tour this summer

Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks will reunite and hit the road with their “Heart & Soul” Tour this summer. The two music icons will make a stop at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH on July 21.

(PRWEB) February 24, 2012

Legendary rockers Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks announced this week plans to reunite this summer and reprise their highly acclaimed, co-headlining “Heart & Soul Tour.” The tour will make a stop at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH on Saturday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. Gates will open at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets for the Cincinnati show, $95.00 and $149.50 Reserved Pavilion, $27.50 GA Lawn (plus applicable fees) go on sale to the public at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 10 at http://www.Ticketmaster.com, http://www.Riverbend.org, and all Ticketmaster locations including select Kroger stores. Charge by phone at 1.800.745.3000.

“I couldn’t be happier to be back on the boards with Stevie this summer,” Rod Stewart said. “We had fantastic fun on the road together last spring and I’m thrilled at the chance to bring it to new cities and fans this summer.”

Stevie Nicks said…”I had a great time last year on the road with Rod, he is really fun to work with. I am very excited to join him again this year.”

Celebrated by both fans and critics alike, Rod and Stevie first joined forces in the spring of 2011 for their acclaimed “Heart & Soul Tour.” The 18-concert arena tour was highlighted by two sold-out shows at both New York’s Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The 3+ hour shows featured individual heart-pumping sets loaded with all of their biggest hits – opening with Stevie’s and closing with Rod’s – with a few rousing duets in the middle. US Weekly called the show “magical,” with a setlist that “sparked non-stop cheers from the sold-out masses,” and the Boston Globe declared “Stewart & Nicks make a classic combination” delivering sold-out audiences a “hits-packed night of crystal visions and reasons to believe.”

In a career spanning five decades, Rod Stewart has amassed an estimated 250 million in album and single sales and an incredible 16 Grammy nominations. In April he will join the elite list of artists who are 2x Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees (as a solo artist and soon as a member of the seminal 60s rock band, the Faces). On March 24, he will return to Las Vegas for an 8-concert-run of “The Hits” – part of his immensely popular first residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Stevie Nicks is a multi-Grammy Award Winner as a solo artist and member of the legendary Fleetwood Mac and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Her new CD “In Your Dreams” debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and has received glowing reviews from numerous outlets, including US Magazine who declared it “the best album of Nicks’ four decade career.”

For a complete list of Riverbend Music Center concerts log on to riverbend.org.

THE FIRST OF BEAR’S “SONIC JOURNALS”: “BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY FEATURING JANIS JOPLIN – LIVE AT THE CAROUSEL BALLROOM 1968″ RECORDED & PRODUCED BY OWSLEY STANLEY (“BEAR”)

“Highlights From The Pearl Sessions,” Limited Edition Double 10″ Vinyl Release, Struck for Record Store Day 2012

Legacy Recordings logo. Division of SONY Music Entertainment. (PRNewsFoto/Legacy Recordings)

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Columbia/Legacy Recordings celebrates Janis Joplin with the release of two essential new titles in the catalog of the American blues-rock-country-soul singer: Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions , a two-disc set premiering newly discovered studio recordings produced by Paul Rothchild (available Tuesday, April 17) and Big Brother and the Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin – Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968 , an electrifying full-length concert recorded and produced for release by the legendary soundman Owsley (“Bear”) Stanley (available Tuesday, March 13).

The Pearl Sessions is an historic expansion of Joplin’s final studio album, providing fascinating new insight into Janis’ creative process through a range of rare and previously unreleased material.

Newly available bonus material on The Pearl Sessions includes the original master mono mixes of the album’s singles (“Cry Baby,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Half Moon,” “Get It While You Can,” “Move Over,” “A Woman Left Lonely”) and a full-length second disc showcasing Joplin live in the studio performing never-before-heard takes of Pearl classics. From behind-the-scenes banter to full finished takes, The Pearl Sessions shows the complexity of Joplin’s genius, the tough and vulnerable aspects of her personality, her lightning sense of humor, and her razor-sharp attention to the details of her craft. Offering fresh perspectives on the more familiar “official” versions of the songs, alternate takes of “Get It While You Can,” the Janis Joplin-composed “Move Over,” and others open up unexpected new dimensions in the material and in the sublime nuances of Joplin’s delivery.

The Pearl Sessions offers an unprecedented opportunity to be in the room with Janis, her producer, Paul Rothchild, and the members of the Full Tilt Boogie Band (guitarist John Till, pianist Richard Bell, bassist Brad Campbell, drummer Clark Pierson, organist Ken Pearson) as they create one of the enduring masterpieces of rock ‘n’ roll.

Originally released on January 11, 1971 (three months after her passing on October 4, 1970), Pearl debuted Joplin’s final finished studio recordings. The only album Joplin ever recorded with the Full Tilt Boogie Band, the touring ensemble that had backed her on the Festival Express (a mythic 1970 concert tour by railroad across Canada with the Grateful Dead, the Band and others), Pearl included canonical studio recordings of songs that had been introduced to audiences on tour. A live version of “Tell Me Mama” (a song not included on the original Pearl ), recorded during the legendary Toronto Festival Express date, is included as a bonus track on The Pearl Sessions . Also included as a bonus is Janis’ scorching live version of “Half Moon,” recorded for her appearance on “The Dick Cavett Show” on August 3, 1970.

Peaking at #1 on the Billboard 200, a position it held for nine weeks, Pearl included some of Janis’s most familiar and best-loved performances including her cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee” and her off-the-cuff a cappella “Mercedes Benz.” A never released alternate take and the original “Me and Bobby McGee” demo are both included on The Pearl Sessions .

When putting together material for a 40th anniversary edition of Pearl , researchers discovered a treasure-trove of previously uncatalogued audio tapes from the album’s sessions, produced by Paul Rothchild. An industry legend, perhaps best-known for producing the first five Doors albums, Rothchild further solidified his position in music history with his work on Pearl .

The Pearl Sessions brings together the original mono versions of the album’s 45s and the original LP tracks alongside a revelatory cavalcade of newly-discovered alternate versions, outtakes and vocal takes that put you in the studio with Janis Joplin.

A limited edition double 10″ high fidelity vinyl gatefold release, Highlights from The Pearl Sessions will be available exclusively for Record Store Day (April 21, 2012). A companion to the newly curated two CD edition of Joplin’s farewell masterpiece, Pearl, this vinyl release presents previously unreleased and seldom heard takes and early versions of classic songs, culled from the recently discovered tapes used to create The Pearl Sessions .

A limited edition 12″ vinyl edition of Pearl will also be available on Tuesday, April 17. A breakout from the Classic LP Collection box, the album is pressed at RTI on 180-gram audiophile vinyl.

Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions

DISC ONE:

The Pearl Album – produced by Paul Rothchild

Move Over

Cry Baby

A Woman Left Lonely

Half Moon

Buried Alive In The Blues

My Baby

Me and Bobby McGee

Mercedes Benz

Trust Me

Get It While You Can

Bonus Tracks – the Mono Single Masters – produced by Paul Rothchild

Me and Bobby McGee

Half Moon

Cry Baby

Get It While You Can

Move Over

A Woman Left Lonely

DISC TWO:

The Pearl Sessions & more…

Overheard in the Studio…

Get It While You Can (take 3) – previously unissued

Overheard in the Studio…

Get It While You Can (take 5) – previously unissued

Overheard in the Studio…

Move Over (take 6) – previously unissued

Move Over (take 13) – previously unissued

Move Over (take 17) – previously unissued

Me and Bobby McGee (demo version)

Me and Bobby McGee (take 5 – alternate) – previously unissued

Cry Baby (alternate version)

A Woman Left Lonely (alternate vocal)

Overheard in the Studio…

My Baby (alternate take) – previously unissued

Overheard in the Studio…

Get It While You Can (take 3) – previously unissued

My Baby (alternate take)

Pearl (instrumental) – Full Tilt Boogie Band

Bonus Tracks

Tell Mama (Live) – June 28, 1970 – Toronto

Half Moon (Live) – August 3, 1970 – from “The Dick Cavett Show”

Janis Joplin – Highlights from The Pearl Sessions

10″ vinyl

SIDE ONE

Get It While You Can (take 3)

Move Over (take 6)

Me And Bobby McGee (demo version) *

SIDE TWO

Cry Baby (alternate version) *

A Woman Left Lonely (alternate vocal)

My Baby (alternate take)

SIDE THREE

Move Over (take 13)

Me And Bobby McGee (take 5 – alternate)

Get It While You Can (take 5)

SIDE FOUR

My Baby (alternate take) *

Get It While You Can (take 3)

Pearl (instrumental) *

All tracks previously unissued except *

Original Recordings Produced by Paul Rothchild

The release of The Pearl Sessions marks a renewed focus on Janis Joplin and the continuing influence of her music. Columbia/Legacy Recording will release Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968 , a previously unavailable live concert recording of Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin,recorded June 23, 1968 by legendary soundman Owsley Stanley, a/k/a “Bear,” who supervised the mastering of this release before his fatal car accident in his adopted homeland of Australia on March 12, 2011.

Dedicated to Bear, the album will be released on March 13, 2012, marking the one-year anniversary of his passing.

A special collector’s edition of Live at the Carousel Ballroom will be available in a special two 12″ vinyl LP gatefold collector’s edition on Tuesday, March 27.

“This evening was special,” remembers Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart who was in the Carousel Ballroom that night in June ’68. “The Bear loved Janis. Her ability to sing multiple tones simultaneously and then morph them into heart wrenching chords was singular. Her primal cry, filled with tenderness and hurt, was delivered at 140 decibels as the band pushed here into the slipstream. There could be no one more qualified to bring Big Brother and the Holding Company to life than Owsley. Together they captured the magic. The Bear sure had it right this night.”

BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY FEATURING JANIS JOPLIN – LIVE AT THE CAROUSEL BALLROOM 1968

Tracklisting:

1. Combination Of The Two

2. I Need A Man To Love

3. Flower In The Sun

4. Light Is Faster Than Sound

5. Summertime

6. Catch Me Daddy

7. It’s A Deal

8. Call On Me

9. I’m Mad (Mad Man Blues)

10. Piece Of My Heart

11. Coo Coo

12. Ball & Chain

13. Down On Me

Bonus Track:

14. Call On Me (Saturday Show—June 22, 1968)

SOURCE Legacy Recordings

Web Site: http://www.legacyrecordings.com

Multiple Grammy Award winner, Mr. Robert Cray.

GETTYSBURG, Pa., Feb. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Five-time Grammy Award winner Robert Cray launches the June 8-17 Gettysburg Festival with the blues, a purely American music style completely fitting for a festival focused on American arts, culture and cuisine.  More than 75 additional events explore a full range of American art forms:  Broadway-style improv theater, farm-to-table culinary events designed by a former White House chef, traditional as well as contemporary brass, America’s largest gathering of historical artists, up-and-coming Americana folk trio Red Molly, and a choral concert exploring the roots of America’s Negro spirituals, along with much more.

Cray, credited with carrying America’s blues tradition into the 21st century, was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011 and has based a successful career spanning 35 years upon his soulful voice, creative guitar work and songs bridging the gaps between blues, rock, soul, gospel and jazz.

The blues-tinged theme continues as blues singer Shemekia Copeland teams up with the festival’s most popular culinary event, “Blues, Beer & BBQ.”  The Boston Globe writes, “She roars with a sizzling hot intensity.”

“This 5th anniversary festival builds on a strong foundation of musical excellence at Gettysburg Festival, but also explores a wider range of musical styles than ever before, including not only blues, but brass, rock, Americana/folk and choral music,” said Festival Executive Director Beth Kirby.

The Gettysburg Festival presents a rich musical history of America through the show Then Sings My Soul:  Songs and Spirituals from the American Experience, featuring award-winning mezzo-soprano Cheryse McLeod Lewis.  Spirituals, rooted in the Civil War era, are combined with inspirational Broadway favorites and historical narration which commemorates Juneteenth.

Perennial festival favorite, the free All-American Brass Picnic includes a day-long lineup of performers including the critically-acclaimed “dream team” of brass–Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass.

The Festival’s 2012 theater highlight is the interactive Broadway’s Next H!T Musical, hailed by The New York Times as “hilarious” thanks to a veteran cast of improv actors who bring audience ideas to life.  Culinary event “Chocolate on Broadway” follows with a late-night, chocolate-infused menu.

Culinary events, sprinkled throughout the festival, feature a potpourri of personalities:  former White House Chef Walter Scheib, Biker Billy (Bill Hufnagle), and Farmer Lee Jones, nationally known in the sustainable agricultural movement.

For more information on Gettysburg Festival events including tickets:  www.gettysburgfestival.org, 717-334-0853.

SOURCE Gettysburg Festival

Web Site: http://www.gettysburgfestival.org

House of Blues. (PRNewsFoto/House of Blues)

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Legendary Carlos Santana will begin a two-year run of unique performances – “An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live – Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow” — in the specially re-configured House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas beginning in May 2012.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 3 at 10 a.m. for a special series of shows by one of the greatest guitarists in rock history who will perform in an interactive intimate venue that will allow fans to rock with him throughout each evening.

“I am deeply honored that our new home in Las Vegas is The House of Blues at Mandalay Bay,” Carlos Santana said. “I have long admired their love of “the Blues” and that it is a world-class entertainment venue. We hope to honor and celebrate the diversity and brotherhood of world culture that the House of Blues promotes.”

House of Blues Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Hotel has been uniquely reconfigured for the special Santana show. Fans within a few feet of Carlos can select from several intimate locations within the venue, from a limited number of exclusive VIP packages including meet and greets, limited edition photos, specialty dining/beverage packages and stage-side specialty dining.

The two-year residency kicks off on May 2 with a series of shows taking place throughout the months of May & June. The residency will then resume in September and play through 2013.

House of Blues Entertainment CEO Ron Bension said, “This will be a rare chance for music lovers to get this close to an amazing performer like Carlos Santana.  Fans will be able to share a dance, a special moment, or sing out loud during this all night show.”

For a list of confirmed dates, tickets, VIP packages or more info go to House of Blues.com/Santana, Ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000.  For additional information go to www.santana.com

Santana Fan club presale starts February 27, 10 a.m., CITI presale starts Feb. 28, 10 a.m., MLife and HOB.com presale start Feb. 29. 10 a.m.

Dates for “An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live –
Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow 2012″ show dates are:

• May 2, 4, 5 & 6
• May 9, 11, 12 & 13
• May 23, 25, 26  & 27
• May 30, June 1, 2 & 3
• Sept. 12, 13 & 15
• Sept. 19, 21, 22 & 23
• Oct. 31, Nov. 2, 3 & 4
• Nov. 7, 9, 10 & 11

A portion of the sale of all tickets will be made to The Milagro Foundation. Milagro (“Miracle”) is a charitable foundation that supports underrepresented and vulnerable children and youth in the areas of arts, education and health. The Milagro Foundation was started in 1998 by Carlos Santana and his family to benefit children around the world.

Another contribution will be made to The International House of Blues Foundation (www.ihobf.org) which is dedicated to supporting youth music and arts programs, creating performance and exhibition opportunities for young and emerging artists and providing educational programs and resources that draw upon the arts to teach youth about history, culture and social change.

About Santana

For forty years and as many albums later, Santana has sold more than 90 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won ten Grammy® Awards, including a record-tying nine for a single project for 1999′s Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for “Smooth”). In 1998, the group was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, whose web page on their induction notes, “Guitarist Carlos Santana is one of rock’s true virtuosos and guiding lights.” Among many other honors, Carlos Santana has also been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” His last CD, Guitar Heaven … The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time (Arista), was released in late September 2010. Celebrating that chart debut, Santana joined the ranks of the Rolling Stones as the only musical act in chart history to score at least one Top 10 album in every decade beginning with the 1960s.  Guitar Heaven … is Santana’s 29th Billboard Top 200 charting release, 12th Top 10 album debut and third Top ten debuts in the past 5 years.

About Mandalay Bay

Mandalay Bay, a AAA Four Diamond award-winning destination resort, is set on 120 lush acres with 4,752 rooms and suites and THEhotel, a stand-alone all-suite hotel which offers 1,117 luxurious one-bedroom suites.  Mandalay Bay Beach, an 11-acre tropical pool paradise, features real sand, a wave pool and the only climate-controlled, poolside gaming in the city.  Other property highlights include world-class entertainment at the 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center, award-winning dining by celebrity chefs and restaurateurs, exhilarating nightlife, Shark Reef Aquarium and the 1.7-million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center.  Mandalay Bay’s offerings also include BATHHOUSE Spa, House of Blues Concert Hall and restaurant, and The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, a collection of unique boutiques and restaurants.  Mandalay Bay is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International™ (NYSE: MGM).  For more information and reservations, visit www.mandalaybay.com or call toll free at (877) 632-7800 or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

About House Of Blues Entertainment:

With 38 owned/operated and affiliated clubs and theaters, The House of Blues Entertainment (a division of Live Nation) portfolio is wide-ranging including the legendary Fillmore brand and the intimate House of Blues clubs throughout the United States. House of Blues Entertainment is the country’s pre-eminent live music venue collection featuring state-of-the-art sound and lighting technology in one-of-a-kind custom designed environments aimed to bring fans and artists together in unparalleled musical environments.

SOURCE House of Blues

Web Site: http://www.HouseofBlues.com

Live365 Radio App on Android Market

It seems that in today’s wild wired world of smartphones and tablets, there’s an app for almost everything, and connecting to your favorite internet radio station is no exception. TBird’s Radio Network would like to share with you our absolute favorite apps for doing just that.

While I’m sure some of you may already know about these apps, others may not. They have been around for awhile but we really havn’t visited the topic or blogged about it all that much. Today, we solve that and list our two favorites.

First, there’s the Live365 app for Android. There was a time when you had to be a Live365 VIP to utilize their smartphone app, this is no longer true.  Keep in mind you’ll still get the occasional ad upon connecting, but you’ll be enjoying your favorite station in no time.

To avoid the ads completely, simply become a Live365 VIP by clicking here.  Becoming a Live365 VIP   not only helps eliminate ads, it helps us hold down our broadcasting costs, which is always a good thing!

You can read the complete description and see screenshots on the Android Market by clicking here.

Click this link to watch the video:  Live365 Free Internet Radio App for Android

TuneIn Radio Logo

Last but not least, is the TuneIn Radio app, also available on the Android Market. While TuneIn Radio also sports a pro version of the app for only $0.99, the focus today is on the free version.

The newest version of TuneIn (5.3) includes Car Mode, which lets you listen to your favorite music, sports and news simply by speaking a command into your Android phone or tablet.

You can read the complete description and see screenshots on the Android Market by clicking here.

Click this link to watch the video:  Introducing TuneIn Car Mode for Android

Both apps are complete gems and completely free. Download them today and plug in your headphones. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Once installed, you can tune us in by simply opening up the app, clicking on the search function, and typing in the first five letters of our name, tbird. Once you’ve located us and began listening, make our station a preset for easy push button access the next time around. Enjoy!

Train Announces San Francisco 2012 Tour - New Album, CALIFORNIA 37, Out April 17. (PRNewsFoto/Columbia Records)

Intimate Shows in Band’s Hometown

New Release CALIFORNIA 37 Coming April 17

“Drive By” Video Premieres on VH1; Top 10 At Radio

Lead Singer Pat Monahan Sings National Anthem for 54th Annual Daytona 500 on February 26

NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Grammy Award-winning band Train is gearing up for the group’s San Francisco 2012 Tour, a special hometown run of club shows, in expectation of the upcoming album CALIFORNIA 37, out April 17 on Columbia Records. The band kicks off six intimate performances in San Francisco starting April 10 at Cafe Du Nord and finishing up April 15 at the Fillmore.  A portion of the ticket sales proceeds will go to the San Francisco charity Family House, which provides temporary housing to families of seriously ill children. Train referenced their commitment to the Bay area and their fans where they began their illustrious career in 2009′s multiplatinum album, SAVE ME, SAN FRANCISCO.  Full list of dates below. The band is also revealing the CALIFORNIA 37 cover art on trainline.com today (and attached here).

The first single from CALIFORNIA 37, “Drive By,” continues to climb the radio charts and has already entered the Top 10 at both the AAA and HOT AC formats. It is also charting at Top 40 and moving up quickly.  “Drive By” has sold over 200,000 singles since its release in January. The “Drive By” video premiered on VH1 on February 18 and has gone into rotation there and with support from VEVO. Internationally “Drive By” has been embraced in the UK, Canada, Japan, France, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Switzerland and other countries.

Train is heading to the premiere NASCAR event, the Daytona 500, on February 26 when lead singer Pat Monahan will perform the national anthem before thousands of fans live and millions watching on television. The Daytona 500 will air at 1:00pm EST on Fox.

The multiplatinum band TRAIN made its mark on music history with their GRAMMY-Award-winning song “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” and chart-topping singles “Meet Virginia” and “Calling All Angels.” Train earned their third GRAMMY in 2011 for the worldwide smash “Hey Soul Sister” from SAVE ME, SAN FRANCISCO. “Hey Soul Sister” was the biggest selling single of 2010 and hit #1 at radio in the US and in 15 countries abroad. SAVE ME, SAN FRANCISCO has sold over one million albums worldwide and over ten million tracks.  In addition to taking the sales and radio worlds by storm, Train has been all over television. They have performed on the NFC Championship Game, American Music Awards, the Grammy Nomination Concert, Crossroads, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno , Monday Night Football, A&E Private Sessions, America’s Got Talent, The View, Dancing With The Stars, and Live With Regis and Kelly, Ellen DeGeneres Show , The Bachelor, Rachael Ray and more.

TRAIN PRESENTS THE SAN FRANCISCO TOUR

APR 10 – Cafe Du Nord
APR 11 – Great American Music Hall
APR 12 – Bimbo’s
APR 13-  Slim’s
APR 14 – Independent
APR 15 – Fillmore

www.trainline.com

SOURCE Columbia Records

Web Site: http://trainline.com

Natalie Merchant Performs at a Very Special Benefit Concert Against Hydrofracking. (PRNewsFoto/The Finger Lakes CleanWaters Initiative, Inc.)

Natalie Merchant Lends Her Voice In Song To Defend New York’s Waters In Support Of A Ban On Shale Gas Hydrofracking In New York State And Beyond.

Heinz Award Recipient, Biologist, Author Sandra Steingraber Speaks Out In Defense Of New York’s Children.

The Horse Flies Rock On For Clean Water.

The Southern Tier Rises Against Hydrofracking.

ITHACA, N.Y., Feb. 21, 2012 The following release is being issued by The Finger Lakes CleanWaters Initiative:

Natalie Merchant, Sandra Steingraber, The Horse Flies
Saturday March 10
Forum Theatre, Binghamton NY 236 Washington Street 13901
Showtime 7:00 p.m. doors open 6:00 p.m.
Tickets start at $32.00
http://www.nataliemerchant.com
http://www.steingraber.com
http://www.thehorseflies.com
Facebook Concert
Facebook Finger Lakes CleanWaters Initiative

“Hydrofracking poses the greatest threat to clean drinking water in New York and Pennsylvania right now. Our opposition to this threat is imperative. I hope people can come to the concert to show their concern.”—Natalie Merchant

“Fracking is wrong. Sooner or later, steel and concrete disintegrates. Sooner or later, gas wells open portals of contamination between drinking water aquifers and the toxic materials held in the bedrock below. Doing fracking “right” simply means building time bombs with longer fuses. There are no places in New York and no children in New York that we are willing to sacrifice.” –Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., Biologist

“Hydrofracking for shale gas is a failed technology with respect to Nature. You cannot frack safely.” –Chris Tate, BME

Background: Shale gas hydrofracking is perhaps the most deleterious technology ever invented to poison our land, air, and water. The Finger Lakes CleanWaters Initiative is dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of the precious and still largely clean waters of New York State. Our focus is event-based education, and we harness the considerable power of live music presentation to illuminate and educate the public at large about the importance of clean water and a healthy environment.

The concert benefits this summer’s Big Splash Concert Series, future awareness and educational events, and the fight against shale gas hydrofracking.

Tickets:   www.ticketmaster.com 800.745.3000, Forum Theatre Box Office 607.778.6626

We request that everyone sign the Coalition letter to Governor Cuomo to withdraw the revised draft SGEIS.

Web Site: http://www.FingerLakesCleanWaters.org