A Full Concert From One Of The Best Shows I’ve Ever Seen – U2’s Zoo TV

Sep 17, 2015

U2’s Zoo TV Tour was staged in support of their 1991 album Achtung Baby, visiting arenas and stadiums from 1992 to 1993. The emergence of their the new musical direction that the group took with Achtung Baby, the tour was intended to deviate from their past and confound expectations of the band. It worked. The Zoo TV Tour was an elaborately staged multimedia event, satirising television and media oversaturation by attempting to instill “sensory overload” in its audience. The tour was an embarrassment of classic songs and moments, and removed their reputation for being overly serious, by being more lighthearted and self-deprecating image on tour. When Bono said at the end of their Joshua Tree they were going to dream it all up again, nobody could have ever expected this. Here’s a full concert from Stockholm, with the quartet on fire.

https://youtu.be/n7CKubjYKM4

Registration Now Open For CAPACOA’s Culture of inClusion Conference

Sep 16, 2015

The 28th annual Canadian Arts Presenting Association’s (CAPACOA) conference “The Culture of inClusion” will take place in Ottawa, ON November 25th – 28th, 2015 at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel and various Ottawa venues. Conference early bird registration will begin in early September.

A three-day gathering of Canada’s national and international presenting and touring sector, the conference is an opportunity to reconnect with your colleagues and make new connections from coast to coast to coast. With more than 200 presenters, agents, managers, artists and other performing arts professionals in attendance, participants can expect new networking opportunities, informative sessions and peer meetings as well as world-class theatre, music and dance showcases. All this in a friendly and intimate setting designed to foster business relationships with performing arts colleagues from across Canada.

Early bird registration will open in early September. Programming will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more info!

Bob Odenkirk and David Cross Are Together Again In A New Netflix Teaser

Sep 16, 2015

After being dishonorably discharged from the Navy Seals, ex-HBO’s Mr. Show duo Bob Odenkirk and David Cross are back serving our country the way they do best — making sketch comedy. W/ Bob & David will consist of four 30-minute episodes and will feature appearances by Paul F. Tompkins, Jill Talley, Jay Johnston, John Ennis, Brian Posehn and more. It premieres Friday, Nov. 13 on Netflix.

https://youtu.be/rNizRJ2jKdg

New Mockingjay-Part 2 Trailer! Advanced Screening Announcement, Too!

Sep 16, 2015

The blockbuster Hunger Games franchise has taken audiences by storm around the world, grossing more than $2.2 billion at the global box office. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 now brings the franchise to its powerful final chapter in which Katniss Everdeen [Jennifer Lawrence] realizes the stakes are no longer just for survival – they are for the future.

With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss confronts President Snow [Donald Sutherland] in the final showdown. Teamed with a group of her closest friends – including Gale [Liam Hemsworth], Finnick [Sam Claflin], and Peeta [Josh Hutcherson] – Katniss goes off on a mission with the unit from District 13 as they risk their lives to liberate the citizens of Panem, and stage an assassination attempt on President Snow who has become increasingly obsessed with destroying her. The mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced in The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Peter Craig and Danny Strong and features an acclaimed cast including Academy Award-winner Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Academy Award-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone with Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland reprising their original roles from The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The impressive lineup is joined by The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 co-stars Academy Award-winner Julianne Moore, Mahershala Ali, Natalie Dormer, Wes Chatham, Elden Henson and Evan Ross.

Following the release of the trailer, Fandango announced today that tickets for the final installment of the franchise will go on sale at 12 PM EST/ 9 AM PST, seven weeks before the film’s official release. Those who grab their tickets within the first 24 hours will receive a digital copy of Mockingjay-Part 1.

2015 CONTACT Winter Music Festival Artist Line Up: Above & Beyond, Hardwell, Steve Angello And More

Sep 16, 2015

Blueprint and Live Nation Canada are proud to announce the return of Western Canada’s largest indoor electronic music event: CONTACT Winter Music Festival. Now in its fourth year, the two-day event takes place on December 26th and December 27th across two stages at BC Place Stadium.

With nearly 28,000+ dance music lovers of all ages expected to attend over the duration of both days, this years’ line-up features some of the world’s most coveted and diverse dance music DJ’s and producers for fans across the Pacific Northwest.

Headliners include legendary U.K.’s uplifting and melodic production group, Above & Beyond, and the consecutive #1 DJ two years standing on DJ Mag’s coveted Top 100 list; Dutch progressive-house artist, Hardwell. The festival will also feature performances from former Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello, Grammy-nominated hitmaker DJ Snake, future house sensation Oliver Heldens amongst many more acts. Full line-up and ticket details are listed below.

Blueprint founder Alvaro Prol, who acts as the creative visionary and talent buyer for CONTACT believes that this years’ edition of the December festival caters to the growing expectations and eclectic interests of festival goers.

“We are so passionate about producing this event every year due to the fact that CONTACT has grown into an international festival – one that recognizes both Canada and Vancouver. BC Place is really one of the most exciting properties to produce an event at.” Prol adds when talking about the fourth year working on the CONTACT brand, “one of the wildest things to witness was the neighbouring community being a part of the experience and seeing the CONTACT visuals on the exterior of the venue. Technology has always gone hand in hand with our community and BC Place has amazing capabilities to interact with those both inside and out. We’re planning to really blow everyone away this year.”

Proud of how quickly the annual event has grown, Live Nation Canada’s Senior Vice President of Talent, Erik Hoffman credits the success of CONTACT to the continuous commitment to make each year bigger and better than the last.

“Last year’s sold out event featured a major leap forward in show production. We’ve challenged ourselves again this year to bring an event to the people that is fresh, exciting, and completely different from other festival experiences,” comments Hoffman. “CONTACT symbolizes the future of where our industry is headed. Technology, progressive programming, and a unique concert environment. We have some of the most talented and creative folks in our business working with us. We can’t wait to share it all with you.”

Designed to create an experience like no other, CONTACT is honoured to call BC Place home once again. As one of the largest multipurpose venues of its kind in North America, the technologically advanced stadium matches CONTACT’s futuristic identity. Attendees become electrified by the 1,100 digital screens amongst a 36-foot façade, lit by thousands of individually-addressable, energy-efficient LED lights.

The December 26th and December 27th event will be open to all ages, and will feature enhanced amenity areas for VIP attendees who are 19+. Two-Day Festival Passes will be available for pre-sale to AMEX cardholders on Monday, September 21 at 11:00AM, with the general public on sale on Wednesday, September 23 at 11:00AM. Single day passes will be on sale at a later date to be announced.

Further information on CONTACT can be found at www.contact-festival.com. To be first in the know on news, announcements and updates, engage Contact Festival via social media by keeping tabs on the #CONTACT2015 hashtag.

Bored In Class? Make A Dancing Doodle And Go Viral

Sep 16, 2015

Brian de Vera is heading to the top of the class, or at least have a job somewhere in a viral video company as soon as he graduates. This video is at 840,000 views and counting…

James Corden Carpools With…Stevie Wonder

Sep 16, 2015

James Corden and music icon Stevie Wonder carpool through Los Angeles singing some of his classic songs and Stevie suggests he and James start a group called the Wondercats. Stevie Wonder’s 20 city tour “Songs In The Key Of Life Performance” will start Sept 30th in Montreal and end Nov 24th at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

BC Indie-Pop Band Van Damsel Partner with The David Suzuki Foundation to Promote Environmental Awareness and Sustainability

Sep 16, 2015

Canadian Indie-pop outfit, Van Damsel have just announced that they will be partnering with The David Suzuki Foundation over the course of their Canadian fall tour to help promote environmental awareness and sustainability, specifically focusing on positive change at the individual level. The BC-based four-piece have launched a “Consider Your Impact” campaign to challenge their fans to really consider their personal impact on the planet and what small, reusable changes in their lives they can do to limit their impact.

“The welfare of our planet is of paramount concern,” comments drummer Matthew Barron. “As musicians with the potential to influence audiences and our fans, we feel it is our duty to promote environmental awareness and sustainability. Given that we only have one planet with a finite amount of resources, we really wanted the opportunity to do something special to help our world and feel that the David Suzuki Foundation is an ideal partner for us.”

Along with helping to educate and promote positive change at their shows, from now until October 18th, Van Damsel will donate 100% of the proceeds from their limited edition custom tote bags and 10% of all merchandise sales, which includes a special limited edition reusable water bottle, to the David Suzuki Foundation. For more information on the David Suzuki Foundation visit here.

Joining Van Damsel on their Canadian tour this fall is Vancouver outfit The Tourist Company. Before hitting the road with the experimental pop-rock group, Van Damsel will open for Tokyo Police Club in Vancouver on September 18 at The Imperial. Tickets for all shows are now on-sale. See below for complete details.

Named after the title track from Dillinger Escape Plan’s seminal album Miss Machine, Van Damsel is Matthew “Renny” Rennehan (bass), Rich Bregoliss (lead guitar, synths), Sebastien Ste Marie (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, synths), and Matthew Barron (drums, percussion). The band burst onto the Canadian indie-pop scene with the release of their 2013 critically acclaimed EP “The Sunshine, Girl”, which garnered the band a Top 20 spot at the prestigious PEAK Performance Project and landed them $10,000 for winning The Shore’s ‘Best of BC’ prize.

Van Damsel, who once again landed a spot at the PEAK Performance Project and are currently in the Top 12, just wrapped up a week-long sojourn at the PEAK Performance Bootcamp. The band is set to release their long-awaited, highly anticipated self-titled debut album in early 2016. More details about the record will be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, check out the video for the lead single off their forthcoming record “Best of Everything” below.

*Upcoming Canadian Tour Dates
09.18.15 – Vancouver, BC @ The Imperial +
09.25.15 – Calgary, AB @ Broken City *
09.27.15 – Moose Jaw, SK @ Common Cafe *
09.29.15 – Winnipeg, MB @ Garrick Hotel *
09.30.15 – Thunder Bay, ON @ The Foundry *
10.01.15 – Sudbury, ON @ The Townhouse *
10.02.15 – Toronto, ON @ The Cave (Lee’s Palace)*
10.04.15 – Windsor, ON @ Phog Lounge *
10.07.15 – Kitchener, ON @ The Boathouse *
10.08.15 – Kingston, ON @ Clark Hall *
10.10.15 – Sault Ste Marie, ON @ Loplops *
10.15.15 – Vancouver, BC @ Fortune Sound Club
10.16.15 – Kelowna, BC @ Habitat *
10.17.15 – Revelstoke, BC @ The Last Drop *
+ w/ Tokyo Police Club
* w/ The Tourist Company

Crash Vegas singer Michelle McAdorey Announces ‘Into Her Future’ Solo Album

Sep 16, 2015

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Andy Warhol Really Did Like Campbell’s Soup

Sep 16, 2015

Andy Warhol gained fame and notoriety as the godfather of Pop Art. His electric-colored screen prints of Coca Colas, Marilyn Monroes, and electric chairs are iconic pieces, despite their iconoclastic origins. But there’s more to Warhol than Day-Glo portraiture: he was an author, commentator, filmmaker, sculptor, and socialite. Host Alec Baldwin talks to Eric Shiner, director of The Andy Warhol Museum, about the hyper-inventive multimedia star, and learns about the surprisingly deep emotional basis for Warhol’s obsession with Campbell’s Soup.