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Mariah Carey Announces 2024 Christmas Tour

Today, the queen of Christmas and best-selling female artist of all time with over 200 million records sold Mariah Carey announces her highly-anticipated annual Christmas extravaganza is back and going national! Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time will visit 20 cities across the country, kicking off on November 6 visiting Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and more before wrapping up on December 17 in her hometown of NYC.

Produced by Live Nation, this tour marks Carey’s grandest holiday spectacle to date and is the first of many surprises she has in store to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her legendary album ‘Merry Christmas’ and its record-shattering single “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” The show will feature the global superstar’s timeless holiday classics alongside fan-favorite chart-toppers, promising an unforgettable festive experience.

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with Verizon presale (details below) beginning Tuesday, August 6. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning on Friday, August 9 at 10 AM local time at LiveNation.com.

  • VERIZON PRESALE: Verizon will offer an exclusive presale for Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time Tour in the U.S through Verizon Access, just for being a customer. Verizon Access Presale tickets for select shows will beginning Tuesday, August 6 at 10 AM local time until Thursday, August 8 at 10 PM local time. For more details visit Verizon.com/Access.
  • VIP TICKETS: Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, access to the pre-show VIP Lounge, exclusive VIP merch item & more. VIP package contents vary based on offer selected. For more information, visit com.

MARIAH CAREY’S CHRISTMAS TIME TOUR DATES🎄
Wed Nov 06 | Highland, CA | Yaamava Theater
Fri Nov 08 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Bowl
Wed Nov 13 | Greater Palm Springs, CA | Acrisure Arena
Fri Nov 15 | Phoenix, AZ | Footprint Center
Sun Nov 17 | Austin, TX | Moody Center
Tue Nov 19 | Houston, TX | Toyota Center
Thu Nov 21 | Dallas, TX | American Airlines Center
Sat Nov 23 | Atlanta, GA | State Farm Arena
Mon Nov 25 | Nashville, TN | Bridgestone Arena
Wed Nov 27 | Rosemont, IL | Allstate Arena
Fri Nov 29 | St. Louis, MO | Enterprise Center
Sun Dec 01 | Washington, DC | Capital One Arena
Tue Dec 03 | Philadelphia, PA | Wells Fargo Center
Thu Dec 05 | Boston, MA | TD Garden
Sat Dec 07 | Baltimore, MD | CFG Bank Arena
Mon Dec 09 | Raleigh, NC | PNC Arena
Wed Dec 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | PPG Paints Arena
Fri Dec 13 | Newark, NJ | Prudential Center
Sun Dec 15 | Belmont Park, NY | UBS Arena
Tue Dec 17 | Brooklyn, NY | Barclays Center

Snoop Dogg Launches First Coffee Shop, Smoke Weed Every Day in Amsterdam

S.W.E.D.'s interior features impressive homages to founder Snoop Dogg, such as a banquette with a giant golden Doberman statue and transparent Westside symbol.

Renowned mega-artist and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg proudly announces the official opening of his first coffeeshop, Smoke Weed Every Day (S.W.E.D.), located at Marnixstraat 333, 1016 TC Amsterdam. Following the successful launch of his first S.W.E.D. store in Los Angeles earlier this month, the Amsterdam location represents a significant step in the global expansion of the S.W.E.D. The coffee shop brings Snoop’s signature style and passion for cannabis culture to a city celebrated just as much for its cannabis cafes as it is for its famed canals.

S.W.E.D. is more than just a coffee shop; it is a cultural hub that embodies Snoop Dogg’s vision of a premium cannabis experience. The shop features a unique blend of high-quality products, exclusive strains, artisanal edibles, and top-tier cannabis accessories, all handpicked by Snoop himself. Visitors can expect an atmosphere that celebrates both the rich history and the vibrant future of cannabis culture.

“Amsterdam has always embraced cannabis, and so have I,” said Snoop Dogg. “It’s only right that I bring S.W.E.D. global to this iconic city that understands the joy of great cannabis and a good time.”

Situated in the bustling and picturesque area of Marnixstraat, S.W.E.D. is easily accessible and nestled in a prime location known for its vibrant nightlife and cultural significance. The coffee shop spans two floors, offering a spacious and inviting environment for guests.

The ground floor welcomes visitors with a modern and sleek design, featuring a well-stocked retail area where customers can browse and purchase a variety of cannabis products. Comfortable seating areas are available for those who wish to enjoy their purchases in a relaxed and stylish setting. The decor includes striking graffiti art, including iconic images and phrases associated with Snoop Dogg, giving the space a unique and urban feel.

The basement level is designed to enhance the social experience, with additional seating and a cozy lounge area perfect for gatherings. This floor also includes a special section dedicated to hosting exclusive product launches, making it a dynamic space that reflects Snoop Dogg’s energetic and creative spirit. The walls are adorned with more custom artwork, providing an immersive and visually stimulating environment.

S.W.E.D. will officially open its doors to the public on August 1, 2024. All are invited to visit and experience the unique offerings and ambiance that S.W.E.D. provides.

Smoke Weed Everyday (S.W.E.D.) is not your average cannabis store. With locations in Los Angeles and Amsterdam, each store celebrates the intersection of cannabis and music, reflecting the passion of its founder, Snoop Dogg. A globally recognized artist and entrepreneur, Snoop has been a long-time advocate for the legalization and responsible use of cannabis. With multiple successful ventures in the cannabis industry, Snoop Dogg continues to push the boundaries and create innovative products and experiences for cannabis enthusiasts around the world.

Live Music Entertainment Company MAMMOTH Announces Touring Department

MAMMOTH, an independent live music entertainment company, has unveiled its new touring division. The company has brought on esteemed music and touring industry veterans Rob Owens and Angela Brown to lead the new division. With combined experience of 50 years, Angela Brown and Rob Owens continue to demonstrate why major artists are moving away from traditional touring companies, offering a more beneficial alternative for tour partnerships.

For 18 years, MAMMOTH Touring has collaborated on tours with a long list of major artists including, Cardi B, Rod Wave, Future, Turnpike Troubadours, KANSAS, Mamamoo, Moneybagg Yo, Chapel Hill, Future, Ms. Lauryn Hill & Fugees, In This Moment, Lil Baby, Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker, and more. This year is proving to be momentous for the company, which, along with AG Touring, announced that they are producing acclaimed Hip-Hop artist JT’s City Cinderella Tour as well as Jamaican Dancehall legend, Buju Banton’s US tour.

The leadership of Rob Owens and Angela Brown is driving the success of the new department. Owens was named President of Global Touring in April of 2023 while Brown is the latest addition to the team, joining in September 2023 as President of Global Tour Marketing. Owens says, “I’m proud to be part of a team that has such a strong track record. We are focused on growth, creating long lasting partnerships, and continuing to expand MAMMOTH’s imprint domestically and internationally.” Owens and Brown lend their extensive experience working alongside the rest of the MAMMOTH team and their partners AG Touring and CTS Eventim.

Owens is based in MAMMOTH’S new touring office headquartered in Nashville, TN, adding to the company’s continued growth to a nationwide operation. With a highly accomplished background in the entertainment and booking industry and more than 25 years of experience, Owens knows the ins and outs of the field. Rob’s wide-ranging experience from booking shows and tours for the likes of Glass Animals, Maggie Rogers, Rufus du Sol, Odesza, Maren Morris among others adds another element to the Mammoth team.

Angela Brown, a St. Louis native with nearly three decades of marketing experience, is excited for the future, “Being part of a team charged with launching a new component of an already proven industry leader like Mammoth is a professional milestone,” Brown added, “Mammoth has some exciting live entertainment announcements coming this year and I’m eager to lead the marketing team to success.”

Prior to joining MAMMOTH, Brown has held several positions during her tenure at Live Nation, including Vice President of Marketing-Midwest. Throughout her career, Brown has been a driving force in marketing shows for global superstars and box office behemoths like Beyonce, Billy Joel, Kevin Hart, Luke Bryan, and Janet Jackson.

MAMMOTH will continue to expand its footprint in the United States and globally pursuing unique partnerships with artists and independent promoters and venues.

Warner Music Group Announces Reorganization of Recorded Music Operations

Warner Music Group today unveiled a dynamic new structure for its Recorded Music operations, designed to strengthen services to artists at every stage of their careers, create more direct channels between local expertise and global opportunities, and position the company for long-term growth.

As part of this reorganization, Max Lousada, CEO, Recorded Music, has decided to step down at the end of the fiscal year (September 30), after eight highly successful years in the role, and 20 years at WMG. Lousada will remain as an advisor through January 31.

At the same time, Julie Greenwald has begun a leadership transition, which will see her take on a new role as Chairman, Atlantic Music Group, reporting to Robert Kyncl, WMG CEO. Effective October 1, Elliot Grainge, 10K Projects Founder & CEO, will become CEO of Atlantic Music Group, reporting to Kyncl. Continuing the tradition of independently minded entrepreneurs joining WMG, Grainge became part of the global senior management team last year, after the company acquired a majority stake in his trailblazing label.

Effective October 1, the new, flatter structure will elevate creative regional leadership, supported by global services, delivering maximum impact for artists on the world stage. WMG’s Recorded Music regional and divisional leaders will report directly to Kyncl. In the new structure, WMG will neither have the roles of CEO, Recorded Music nor President, International, Recorded Music.

  • Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) – will be overseen by seasoned exec Simon Robson. The UK & Ireland group will now be part of European operations.
  • Latin America (LATAM) – including WM Latina, will continue to be run by Alejandro Duque, who has made a big impact on the region since joining WMG in 2021.
  • Asia Pacific (APAC) – a leader will be appointed to the newly created position overseeing the entire APAC region.
  • US – will be organized in two label groups. Atlantic Music Group, to be run by Elliot Grainge as CEO, already includes Atlantic Records and 300 Elektra Entertainment  – and will now also encompass recently acquired 10K Projects, while continuing to benefit from the creative expertise of A&R legend Craig Kallman. Warner Records, which has enjoyed a resurgence under Tom Corson & Aaron Bay-Schuck – will now include oversight of Warner Music Nashville, along with Nonesuch and Reprise.

At the same time, Warner Music Group is strengthening its central global operations in order to create new opportunities for artists and drive additional revenue across distribution (via ADA), Global Catalog, Marketing, and WMX (including merchandising and Direct To Fan). As a result, effective October 1, the respective heads of those divisions will report to Kyncl.

Robert Kyncl said: “On behalf of everyone at WMG, I’d like to thank Max for his extraordinary achievements over the last twenty years. Max is a true artists’ champion, who created a culture that puts artistry first, growing our global reach and building a roster of incredible talent and an outstanding team. I’m grateful that he’ll be helping to ensure a smooth transition.”

He added: “I’m very happy to promote Elliot to his new position, and delighted that Julie will be taking on her new role, both of them working with Craig, as we take this iconic label to even greater heights. Elliot has been a stellar addition to WMG’s leadership team, with a distinctive approach to artist development. We have an amazing bench of creative leaders, and I’m looking forward to working more closely with them, as we collaborate on the company’s next phase of creative excellence, commercial transformation, and growing revenues. At a time when global culture moves at the speed of light, we’re doubling down on great artists and diverse music scenes, empowering our talent and team to have maximum impact.”

Max Lousada said: “Over the past two decades, we created something special together at Warner: a music company built for artists, where original voices are championed, where their creativity is honored and protected, and where superstar careers are ignited. I’m proud to have grown a world-class team who share that vision and whose enterprise and energy have brought in new labels, rebuilt iconic brands, expanded our global network, and pioneered new fan experiences. The music business has always been about evolution, and the time has come for me to build something new. I’ll be helping the team through this transition, and I have no doubt they’ll continue to develop artists who move the world.”

Julie Greenwald said: “My whole career is about developing baby bands into career artists and empowering our amazing people to change culture in unexpected ways. It’s been twenty years since I walked through the door at Atlantic and began the work of rearchitecting this iconic label. I couldn’t have done it without the deep passion and dedication of my incredible team, and our unbelievable artists, who make music that inspires and moves people everywhere. Finally, I want to welcome Elliot; I’m looking forward to working with him as we continue to place our artists and their music at the heart of this company.”

Elliot Grainge said: “It will be a huge honor to join such a legendary label group, partner with its iconic artists, and build on the extraordinary achievements of Julie and Craig – they’re leading a second golden age at Atlantic Records. I’m excited to work with the talented team at Atlantic Music Group to take the artists and the brand into fresh territory, and continue to nurture 10K’s artists and its unique spirit. Together, we’ll pioneer powerful opportunities for the creative community and raise up a new generation of superstars. In the meantime, I’d like to thank Max for his faith in me and Robert for trusting me with this great responsibility.”

Among the many artists that have flourished during Lousada’s leadership are superstars such as Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, Coldplay, David Guetta, Megan Thee Stallion, Myke Towers, and Diljit Dosanjh. Throughout his tenure, WMG’s recorded music operation strengthened its global footprint, expanding into major markets such as India and the Middle East, and carrying out high-profile acquisitions such as 10K Projects, 300 Entertainment, and Spinnin’ Records. Prior to becoming CEO of Recorded Music in 2017, Lousada served as Chairman & CEO of Warner Music UK, where he oversaw the integration of Parlophone Records. Lousada previously headed up Atlantic Records UK for nine years, during which time he built an award-winning team and a strong roster of artists including Paolo Nutini, James Blunt, Rudimental, Plan B, Marina and the Diamonds, and Damien Rice. In 2002, he joined Mushroom Records as Head of A&R, signing ambient dance act Zero 7 and overseeing releases from acts such as Muse, Ash, Garbage, and DJ Paul Oakenfold. In 2000, he became the European Managing Director for the New York-based hip-hop label Rawkus Records, working with artists such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Pharoahe Monch. Lousada began his music industry career straight out of college, founding his own distribution company, In A Silent Way. In 2018, Lousada was introduced by Dua Lipa when he accepted Music Week‘s prestigious Strat Award, which recognizes industry icons and innovators.

Since joining Atlantic 20 years ago, Greenwald has been integral to the success of top artists such as Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, Kelly Clarkson, Coldplay, Jack Harlow, Lil Uzi Vert, Lizzo, Charli XCX, Kehlani, Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, Panic! at the Disco, Charlie Puth, Ed Sheeran, Tiësto, Rob Thomas, Twenty One Pilots, and Wiz Khalifa, among many others, as well as award-winning projects such as Barbie the Album and the Original Broadway Cast Recordings of Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen. Under her leadership, Atlantic Music Group has grown to encompass music brands such as 300, ATCO, Big Beat, DTA, Elektra, Fueled By Ramen, Low Country Sound, Public Consumption, and Roadrunner. In 2021, she played a pivotal role in the acquisition of 300 Entertainment, bringing artists such as Gunna, Young Thug, and Megan Thee Stallion. In 2020, she helped to architect a new phase of WMG’s partnership with Artist Partner Group, originally formed in 2012. In 2018, Greenwald oversaw the re-launch of Elektra as a stand-alone label in the US. Prior to Atlantic, she was president of The Island Def Jam Music Group. She began her career at Rush Management and then Def Jam working with Jay Z, Method Man, DMX, and many others. Greenwald has been chosen five times as Billboard‘s Women in Music Executive of the Year — more than any other person.

Grainge joined WMG last year, after the company acquired a majority stake in his trailblazing label, 10K Projects. 10K Projects has discovered and developed new superstars and fast-rising names, including alt-pop sensation Artemas, rap stars Ice Spice, Trippie Redd, and 6ix9ine, No.1 Christian artist Forrest Frank, pop duo Surfaces, as well as exciting talent like Aitch, YTB Fatt, and COIN. Grainge was also behind the signing of XXXTENTACION in 2016. In just seven years, 10K Projects’ team of expert digital marketers has been behind countless commercial and cultural hits, including over 30 platinum-certified singles. In 2022, Grainge struck a deal to bring Homemade Projects into the fold, which encompasses a record label, influencer management, and merchandise operation.

Carter Center Announces “Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song” Sept. 17 at Atlanta’s Iconic Fox Theatre

The Carter Center is excited to announce “Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song,” a musical event celebrating the centennial birthday of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The landmark concert, taking place Sept. 17, 2024, at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre, will feature world-renowned artists performing live tributes and special guests celebrating President Carter’s legacy of service to humanity. Tickets are $100 — in honor of Carter’s 100th birthday — and are available to the public at FoxTheatre.org/JimmyCarter100 starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 5.

“Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song” will feature renowned voices from pop, rock, gospel, country, jazz, hip-hop, and classical music. Acts set to perform include Chuck Leavell, D-Nice, Drive-By Truckers, Eric Church, GROUPLOVE, Maren Morris, The War And Treaty, and The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus. Emmy award-winner Rickey Minor will be the musical director for the show, which will feature appearances by celebrity guests including Dale Murphy, Killer Mike, and Sean Penn. Additional artists and presenters will be announced soon.

“Whether it was on his record player, on the campaign trail, or on the White House lawn, music has been – and continues to be – a source of joy, comfort, and inspiration for my grandfather,” said Jason Carter, President Carter’s grandson and chair of the Carter Center Board of Trustees. “I can think of no better way to celebrate him and his 100th birthday than a night of music.”

Delta Air Lines is the presenting sponsor for this event, which will benefit the Center’s peace and health work around the world.

The concept of a concert to honor Georgia’s favorite son was born from his love of music, which has played a significant role in his life and career. During Jimmy Carter’s successful 1976 presidential campaign, famous acts such as the Allman Brothers rallied to his message of change, honesty, and character.

“Back when Jimmy Carter was running for president, the Allman Brothers played concerts for his campaign because we believed in his vision for hope and change for America. We could never have imagined what a positive impact he would have on the entire world,” said Chuck Leavell, former keyboardist for the Allman Brothers and the Rolling Stones. “It’s an honor to play at his 100th birthday and celebrate a man whose legacy will surely continue to inspire future generations.”

“Delta is honored to celebrate the 100th birthday of former President Jimmy Carter and to support The Carter Center in its work to wage peace, fight disease, and build hope as part of our commitment to keep climbing toward a more just and equitable world,” said Tad Hutcheson, managing director – community engagement. “Giving back to the communities where we live, work, and serve has been core to Delta and our culture for nearly 100 years, and we are proud to work with respected partners like The Carter Center to help care for the planet and people within it.”

Concert Details:

“Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song,” hosted by The Carter Center and presented by Delta Air Lines, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Tickets are available to the public starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 5. Tickets are $100 (excluding taxes and fees) — in honor of Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday — and are available at FoxTheatre.org/JimmyCarter100. Proceeds from the event will support The Carter Center, continuing Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s work to promote peace and improve health around the world. The event will be executive produced by the award-winning team at ROK Productions and Diversified Production Services (DPS), with Elizabeth Kelly and Carly Vaknin serving as executive producers.

A further celebration of President Carter’s birthday is the crowd-building of a new digital mosaic from images, videos, and messages sent in by the public. Add yours at CarterCenter.org/JimmyCarter100.

Otis Redding Foundation Announces 3rd Annual “King of Soul Music Festival” on September 6 and 7, 2024 in Macon

The Otis Redding Foundation, (ORF), is proud to announce the 2024 “King of Soul Music Festival” on September 6 and 7, 2024 in Macon, Georgia. Eight-piece soul band St. Paul & The Broken Bones will perform during the gala event “An Evening of Respect” at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 6 at the Macon City Auditorium. The “Big ‘O’ Homecoming Show & Dance” follows on Saturday, September 7th at the Capitol Theatre.

Sponsorships and VIP tickets for the “King of Soul Music Festival” are available at https://otisreddingfoundation.org. Balcony tickets for “An Evening of Respect” with St. Paul & the Broken Bones are $55.00 and go on sale Friday, August 2 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.

“We are honored to return to Macon and perform for the Otis Redding Foundation. Any time we have a chance to show our love for the legacy of Otis Redding’s music, we will try our best to be there,” stated Paul Janeway, vocalist and co-founder of St. Paul & The Broken Bones. “The Redding family has been so kind to us, and we are overjoyed for the opportunity to play at this event.”

“Paul came to ‘An Evening of Respect’ in 2016 and expressed so much love and respect for my husband’s music. He stole the show with his fervent performance and passion,” stated Zelma Redding.

“My Mom wanted to have Paul back, so she personally reached out and invited the band to headline the 2024 celebration,” said Karla Redding-Andrews, VP and Executive Director of ORF.

Founded in Birmingham, AL in 2011, St. Paul & The Broken Bones has garnered widespread acclaim for their dynamic sound and electrifying live performances. The eight-piece ensemble includes Paul Janeway (vocals), Jesse Phillips (bass), Brown Lollar (guitar), Kevin Leon (drums) Al Gamble (keyboards), Allen Branstetter (trumpet), Chad Fisher (trombone) and Amaris Ansari (saxophone) burst on the scene with their 2014 debut album, Half the City. Since then, they have captivated audiences at major festivals including Lollapalooza, Coachella, and Glastonbury and have shared stages with iconic artist including Elton John and The Rolling Stones.

The band’s discography includes a mix of old-school, sleek summertime funk and classic disco, showcased in albums like “Young Sick Camellia” (2018). Their latest LP “Angels in Science Fiction, continued this trend, building on the shadowy psychedelia and experimental R&B of their 2022 release, “The Alien Coast.” St. Paul & the Broken Bones often cover Otis Redding songs in concert and in 2013 hosted a secreta house show at High Underground in Birmingham, when they played the iconic Otis Blue in its entirety.

Macon Music Revue will open the evening. Two of the members of the preservation band, guitarist Dustin McCook and bassist Evan Bentzel, are alumni of the Otis Music Camp, having participated since their middle school years and continuing through high school.

“Dusty and Evan came up through the Otis Music Camp and their talent and professionalism today demonstrate exactly why the Otis Redding Center for the Arts will be such an invaluable destination for music education,” added Redding-Andrews.

During “An Evening of Respect,” awards will be presented to:

The Georgia Music Foundation will receive the Otis & Zelma Redding Award of Respect in recognition of its 30 years supporting music education, preservation and outreach.

Gia Maione Prima Foundation will receive The Otis Redding III Award of Philanthropy in recognition of its dedication to music education and encouraging an appreciation for American jazz, American popular music and jazz performance.

Songwriter Vinson “Alaz” Muhammad will receive The Otis Redding Foundation Dream Award for the dedication, ambition and drive he demonstrates in pursuit of artistic excellence.

All proceeds from the Festival support ORF’s programs at the Otis Redding Center for the Arts scheduled to be completed in October. The Center will further the Foundation’s mission to give students, ages 5-18, an opportunity to explore their interest in music and the arts including musical literacy, music instrumentation, mathematical components of music, etc.

The Otis Redding Foundation is dedicated to education through music, empowering young people to pursue their dreams.  Through programs like Camp Dream and the Otis Music Camp and the soon to-be-opened Otis Redding Center for the Arts, the Foundation continues to inspire and develop the next generation of artists.

The King of Soul Music Festival celebrates the life and legacy of Otis Redding, bringing together a diverse lineup of artists to honor his contributions to music and culture. The festival aims to create space where music lovers can come together to celebrate the past, present and future of music.

“The Art of Jerry Garcia” Exhibition and Birthday Celebration Concert Set At Sausalito Center For The Arts

California Mission Watercolor by Jerry Garcia

August 1, the birthday of Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, is an auspicious date for music enthusiasts worldwide.

This year, to commemorate the iconic guitarist-singer-songwriter and counterculture legend’s 82nd birthday, the Sausalito Center for the Arts will host a special art exhibit titled “The Art of Jerry Garcia,” with an opening concert by the Keystone Revisited Band, led by bassist Tony Saunders, son of the late, great keyboardist and frequent Garcia collaborator, Merl Saunders.

The Jerry Garcia Foundation has donated a collection of 30 museum quality giclées to the Sausalito Center for the Arts for the month-long exhibit. All art sale proceeds will benefit the gallery.  The opening reception concert begins at 5:30 pm PST.

The Foundation invites virtual travelers worldwide to participate and explore the exhibit online in the Neverworld Grid metaverse.

The Neverworld Grid is a beautiful virtual world established by digital artist Govega Sachertorte. Govega. and her gifted team of artists have replicated images of the gallery and the nearby San Francisco Bay Area. Artist Nexus Storm has included a digital version of the Golden Gate Bridge.

For this special metaverse component, the Sausalito Center for the Arts will feature a computer monitor in the gallery, showing avatars attending the virtual concert.

All are welcome to participate in the virtual component. Entry to the virtual event is free of charge. It is suggested that you login and create your avatar in advance of the concert. Login and registration information is here: https://neverworldgrid.com/index.php/support/quickstart-guide

The concert can also be viewed on the BayAreaLivestreams’ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/Gk5PPwiRvQo

An artist from childhood, Garcia was painting in oils by the age of 17. Given his natural sense of visual aesthetics, he later came to think of himself as “an artist who played music.” He attended the San Francisco Art Institute as a teenager and continued to paint throughout his prodigious music career, working in oils, acrylics, watercolors. and pen and ink. His art continues to tour in exhibits in the U.S. and Europe.

This exhibition includes behind-the-scenes rock ‘n’ roll photography from Carol Scott, a British photographer who worked in America from 1975 to 1985. A graduate from the University of London who later studied photography at Laney College in Oakland, Scott photographed Bay Area performances by Frank Zappa, John Lee Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Rod Stewart, Willie Nelson and Jerry Garcia. Her photograph of Mick Jagger is part of the Permanent Collection in London’s National Portrait Gallery. She has been keeping her collection of hidden, unseen photographs for over 40 years and will exhibit the work for the first time at the Sausalito Center for the Arts.

Additionally, patrons attending the month-long exhibit at the Sausalito Center for the Arts can view a private never-before-seen collection of Grateful Dead memorabilia, including autographed album covers and posters as well as artwork by legendary psychedelic artists such as Stanley Mouse, Alton Kelley and Rick Griffin.

The gala opening night event commemorating Jerry’s birthday on August 1 will include refreshments to compliment the cosmic jams and vibrant art.

For additional information please visit:  https://www.sausalitocenterforthearts.org/

Free Pre-Registration for Music China 2024 Is Officially Open

The highly anticipated Music China 2024 will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) from October 10 to 13, 2024. This exhibition is expected to span 14 pavilions, will reach 150,000 square meters of exhibition scale, attracting more than 2,000 well-known enterprises from more than 20 countries and regions around the world will gather to show their latest achievements.

At the same time, in order to focus on the diverse needs of audiences of different ages, Music China 2024 will launch Music Xtension, Silver Music Life Exhibition area and “Little Musicians” and other live activities.

In order to allow the majority of visitors and buyers to visit and purchase more efficiently, the exhibition has specially launched the VIP Club program, which provides members with a series of valuable services and privileges.

At the same time, pre-registration for Music China 2024 has also been fully launched, and will be free for all oversea professional buyers. You can log on the official website to register for more exhibition information and exclusive benefits. In addition, the Chinese immigration authorities have announced a 144-hour visa-free transit policy. If you want to know more about this policy, please check the following website, https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c156086/content.html.

Initiated in 2002, after 20 years of development, Music China has now been acknowledged as one of the world’s most influential musical instrument exhibitions. Exhibiting companies and products on display cover the whole picture of the industry, spanning from product design and manufacturing to music teaching and training.

New Board Game “Shaolin” Celebrates Wu-Tang Clan as Hip-Hop Turns 51

Shaolin Display: In Shaolin, players take on the roles of students training in the 35 chambers of the Shaolin Temple, with the ultimate goal of creating the 36th chamber - a nod to the 1978 martial arts film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.

Hip-hop turns 51 in August and now fans can play a new board game to celebrate an influential hip-hop group, according to Chill B Games co-founder Tiffany Campolongo.

Shaolin: A Wu-Tang-Inspired Board Game fuses Wu-Tang Clan trivia with a battle mechanic that immerses players deep into 30+ years of the group’s history while educating them on its cultural impact.

“The Wu-Tang Clan has often been described as the Rolling Stones or Beatles of hip-hop. While there are board games themed around these classic rock groups, no board games explored the legacy of a hip-hop group until now,” said Campolongo, the designer of Shaolin.

Shaolin is the first board game to focus exclusively on a hip-hop group or artist, filling a void in the board game market.

It was the vision of Campolongo and her husband, Mike, who brought the game to life and published it through their company, Chill B Games. Their mission is to create board games that pay homage to classic hip-hop icons.

In Shaolin, players take on the roles of students training in the 35 chambers of the Shaolin Temple, with the ultimate goal of creating the 36th chamber – a nod to the 1978 martial arts film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.

The film was one of the key inspirations for the Wu-Tang Clan, with its influence being immortalized in the title of their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).

By answering Wu-Tang trivia questions, players earn “cream,” which are coins that can be exchanged for fighting styles, such as Tiger Style and Shadowboxing.

The fighting styles can also be won by opponents through duels as players battle their way through the Temple to demonstrate their worthiness to create the 36th chamber.

The game includes high-quality materials such as metal “cream” coins and fully painted player pieces inspired by the Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) album cover and poses from classic martial arts films sampled throughout their music.

The game’s artwork features Chinese calligraphy by Shifu Shi Yan Ming, founder of the USA Shaolin Temple and close friend of RZA, one of the founders of the Wu-Tang Clan.

The game includes easy, medium, and hard trivia modes which can be mixed and matched to make questions accessible to all players. In addition, the battle mechanic and thematic action cards help to balance gameplay so that the game’s outcome is not necessarily decided on the trivia alone.

Recently, Campolongo gave a presentation on utilizing board games as a medium for telling hip-hop stories at the 8th Annual Can’t Stop Hip-Hop Conference held at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

“Board games are a unique way to tell stories because they can bring people together for an engaging and educational experience,” said Campolongo.

Stories have been told and re-told through various mediums throughout history to preserve the legacy of people, places, and events.

“By bringing this game to market, we hope to establish board games as a medium for telling the stories of hip-hop artists, helping to preserve the legacy of hip-hop as it journeys through its next 50 years,” said Campolongo.

Shaolin can be purchased directly from Chill B Games’ official website, or from various other retailers including Get On Down. It’s also available at RZA’s online shop 36 Chambers.

Professional Drummer Mark Schulman Shifts into a New Career – and Better Hearing, Thanks to Widex SmartRIC Hearing Aids

Mark Schulman has toured as a professional drummer with some of the biggest artists on the planet. “Consequently, I’ve been surrounded by loud music and high ambient noise nearly all my life,” he says.

This ongoing exposure to loud audio would eventually lead Mark on another path: hearing loss. By the time he hit his mid-40s, Mark was battling more than ringing in his ears; he was struggling to hear bits and pieces of conversations. This led him both to a career change to a motivational speaker – and to Pacific Hearing Audiology to fit him with Widex SmartRIC hearing aids.

“Widex has become an integral part of my acclaimed national motivational speaking tours,” he says. “I speak a lot about the power of change during my presentations, and this notion really stems from my personal experience of finally accepting and embracing hearing aids as a vital part of my life.”

Having picked up his first set of drumsticks at the age of five, performing professionally by 12, and performing on worldwide tours with Pink, Foreigner, Billy Idol, Cher and other musical megastars, Mark never dreamed hearing aids would be in his future.

From the beginning of his musical career and at every performance, Mark always wore protective hearing devices. “My mother was very conscientious about it when I was a boy and it simply became standard practice,” he says. Despite taking all the right precautions, rock-and-roll eventually took its toll. “I developed mild tinnitus in my teens and just 10 minutes at the drums would make it go nuts,” Mark says.

After 32 years of touring, it was time to evolve his career. The switch from drummer to motivational speaker may have given his ears a rest, but it also made his hearing issues even more noticeable. Communicating with people on a more personal level was now the crux of his career—and this was becoming increasingly harder to do. “I was missing key parts of the conversation which was impacting my ability to connect with my audience,” he says. “My family was also bearing the burden of having to repeat sentences and crank the volume of the television.”

Hearing loss was now affecting both Mark’s professional and personal life. There was also his family history of dementia to consider. After learning that data suggests that hearing loss is one of the main causes of dementia, he made a long-overdue decision to have a hearing test.

The results were shocking yet unsurprising. “I am essentially deaf in the mid-range frequency,” Mark says. “This is the same frequency range of a snare drum, so no mystery there.” His first set of hearing aids boosted the mid-range but almost too much for Mark’s musically trained ear. “I noticed a phase differentiation and slight alteration of pitch that made everything sound like a chorus. It was uncomfortable and made me feel anxious,” he explains. And so, Mark took a different route.

“In my keynote presentations I speak about the power of attitude. We can’t control so much of what happens to us, but we have the power to change the outcome based on our ability to adopt the right attitude.”

Mark practiced what he preached and gave hearing aids another chance—this time with Widex. He was relieved to discover a totally different hearing experience, both in the testing procedure and the quality of the hearing aids his hearing care professional at Pacific Hearing recommended. “The staff at Pacific Hearing treated me with concierge service the moment I arrived for my appointment,” Mark reflects. “The staff was friendly and my audiologist was incredible in her coaching, support, and ability to measure my precise hearing and implement my unique profile into the Widex hearing aids.”

“Situated in West Los Angeles, Pacific Hearing caters to a range of high-profile clientele – including musicians like Mark,” said Dr. Gregory Frazer and Dr. Sheila Shalom of Pacific Hearing. “Musicians in particular have unique hearing profiles, given their often decades-long exposure to loud noises and music. However, hearing loss impacts musicians more than just professionally, but also personally – their ability to socialize in loud environments; their ability to connect with family and friends; and, more broadly, their ability to participate most fully in their lives. Widex hearing aids are remarkable in addressing hearing loss and delivering our patients like Mark a high-fidelity, natural listening experience that they require to thrive both professionally and personally.”

This level of service and professionalism resulted in a far better hearing experience than Mark had dealt with in the past.

“The audible distortion that had once fueled my anxiety is gone for good,” he enthuses. “No matter where I am or what I’m doing, the Widex hearing aids adapt to the surroundings, creating a very natural sound. I hear every nuance of every conversation with every person I meet during speaking engagements. It’s a critical component of my success and helping others achieve their goals.”

Mark also relishes the convenience and comfort of listening to music and taking phone calls via the Widex SmartRIC hearing aids, especially when he’s at the gym. “I no longer need to bring headphones with me! These aren’t your grandparent’s hearing aids!”

Indeed, it takes a special hearing aid to match Mark’s cadence. On the move and evolving his performances to include a unique blend of entertainment (yes, drums are involved) and motivation, Mark has discovered a perfect on- and off-stage accompaniment in the Widex SmartRIC hearing aids.

He certainly never envisioned something as “small” as a hearing aid would become such a big part of his life. But Widex helped enlighten him—from the quality of care he received from the Pacific Hearing team to the performance of the Widex SmartRIC hearing aids, Mark is a living testament to the life-changing impact of better hearing.

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That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

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