A stage musical about Michael Jackson has pushed its Broadway debut until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Preview performances of “MJ” are now set to begin in March 2021 at the Neil Simon Theatre. The musical — previously called “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” — was to start performances in New York City on July 6. The musical is inspired by Jackson’s life and music. Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage is writing the book, using Jackson’s vast catalog of songs. Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon will direct and choreograph and Ephraim Sykes will star as Jackson. Jackson sold millions of records and was a 13-time Grammy winner. In 1983 he became an international icon with the release of “Thriller,” the best-selling album with such hits as “Beat It” and “Billie Jean.”...
In perhaps the most mammoth virtual music festival lineup to emerge from the pandemic, SiriusXM today announced the first-ever Virtual DisDance Festival. The landmark livestreaming event, which begins on Friday, May 22nd at 4PM ET (1PM PST) and ends on Sunday, May 24th, will be hosted by The Chainsmokers, who have been on a musical hiatus in 2020. Listeners who wants to dance from the comfort of their kitchens will be able to join the party via SiriusXM’s BPM channel as well as the SiriusXM app. Flaunting a dream lineup of sorts for EDM fans, the staggering bill features a slew of the dance music industry’s elite DJs, including Afrojack, Alesso, Armin van Buuren, Deadmau5, Kaskade, Kygo, Love Regenerator (Calvin Harris), Major Lazer, Marshmello, Martin Garri...
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has released a new report that foresees a collapse of 92% of independent UK festivals if the government does not step in to help. As of now, the nation’s festival sector will be facing potential refunds of up to £800 million ($977 million) this summer due to the fact that around 90% of all festivals in the region will not take place in 2020 because of COVID-19. The outcome of the pandemic has been devastating across the board for businesses, but the live event industry is seeing an even bigger hit in that it is the last on the totem pole for re-opening and funding. The AIF reports that their members have already taken a massive loss with average sunk costs of £375,000 ($458,000) that are not recoupable...
Yesterday’s preview of ZHU‘s new livestreaming party, Club ZHUM, certainly fit its billing as an “afterhours virtual rave.” With fuzzy, retro visuals broadcasting the producer from “inside” an old school television screen through Zoom, the performance was low-tech but high-energy, bringing us back to the dark, sweaty days of warehouse clubbing. Grungy and exclusive, the set was announced in classic ZHU style through a cryptic Monday night Instagram Story and an email sent to fans just before it began. Only 500 made it from the waiting room into the stream on a first come first serve basis, where they were treated to unreleased tracks and suspenseful deep house grooves. There was also an exclusive link to a “Club ZHUM” T-shirt on sa...
As the sands of the live concert industry continue to seep through our fingertips with each passing day due to the impact of COVID-19, we find ourselves reminiscing on the pre-pandemic days of yesteryear. Those times were rosier—we just didn’t know it yet. That’s why we’re turning back the clock to Zedd‘s larger-than-life Orbit Tour of 2019, which featured a breathtaking custom stage that dropped jaws on its barnstorming journey around the concert circuit. On April 16th, 2019, Zedd touched down in Avila Beach, California for a typically riveting performance. The set consisted of a slew of his biggest vocal-driven hits, including “Stay,” “Starving,” and “I Want You to Know,” in addition to a number of his biggest remixes, like...
Even in the middle of a pandemic, it just seems like the rich and connected can get away with anything. Later this month, Netflix will explore how one such infamously corrupt multimillionaire, Jeffrey Epstein, got away with decades of sexual abuse in the new docuseries Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich. Premiering May 27th, the four-part Filthy Rich traces how Epstein “managed to lie and manipulate his way to the top of the financial world” while running an expansive international sex trafficking ring. Topics touched upon in the series include Epstein’s private island (nicknamed “Pedophile Island”), his unbelievable 2008 please deal with the US government, and the “spiderweb” that made up his inner circle of connections — including Donald Trump. Perhaps most importantly, however, the docuseries...
This week on Consequence of Sound’s Instagram, we’re going global. From the smooth R&B of James Vickery to Cage the Elephant’s raucous guitar work, check out live sets to fit your every quarantine mood. British R&B singer James Vickery joins us from across the pond on Wednesday, May 13th, at 2:00 p.m. EDT to celebrate the release of his new LIVE from London EP. On Thursday the 14th, Homeschool is back with a new guitar lesson from Cage the Elephant’s Nick Bockrath. Tune in at 2:00 p.m. EDT. Next, indie rockers Rogue Wave log on for a special live set on Friday, May 15th, at 6:00 p.m. EDT. Editors’ Picks Rounding out the week is genre-bending newcomer KennyHoopla. Spend Sunday, May 17th, with the breakout artist as he discusses his debut EP, how will i rest i...
Kurt Cobain’s guitar from Nirvana’s legendary MTV Unplugged episode will be auctioned off on June 19th by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California. It’s a 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar and it’s reportedly valued at $1,000,000. The Martin D-18E comes with its original hard-shell case decorated by Cobain, including a flyer from Poison Idea’s 1990 album Feel the Darkness, three baggage claim ticket stubs, and an Alaska Airlines sticker. The case also contains Cobain’s half-used pack of Martin guitar strings, three guitar picks, and a suede “stash” bag with tiny utensils. The guitar is the latest Cobain item from MTV Unplugged to be auctioned off following his sweater, and its current ownership is not without controversy. Over the past several years, Frances Bean Cobain and ...
Who said good things can’t come from celebrities joining together in song? During the Mr. Show Zoomtacular Annual Business Call Event for Charity, a bunch of comedians and actors covered “Weird Al” Yankovic’s breakthrough hit “Eat It,” which, duh, spoofed Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” Participants included Mr. Show’s David Cross and Bob Odenkirk (and his Better Call Saul co-stars Rhea Seehorn, Michael McKean, and Michael Mando), Bryan Cranston, Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt, Fred Armisen, Heid Gardner, Jack Black, Paul Scheer, and former Sen. Al Franken among many, many more. Of course, Yankovic was thrilled with what he saw from the clip, which was titled “We’re All in This Together.” He appeared in it as well. “Truly there’s no problem that can’t be overcome when you get a bunch of ...
Source: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Though it feels like Harlem hasn’t had proper representation in the Hip-Hop game since Dip Set split and Cam’ron, Juelz Santana and Jim Jones went their separate ways, heads like Vado and Dave East have done their part to put The World on their shoulders and continue the legacy of the place once known as Black Mecca. Today the two Harlemnites get together to keep the streets of Harlem buzzing with their new visuals to “Politics” which finds the two ducking the ops while making money moves in the shadows of a chop shop. Tekashi still telling?! EarthGang meanwhile go the cartoon route and for their Malik assisted clip to “Fields” go on a out of this world voyage and float through different dimensions and worlds. Check out the rest of today’s drops including wo...
For those in bands, performing has become quite tricky during quarantine due to members’ social distancing in their respective locations. However, when you’re Tame Impala, that problem doesn’t apply to you. While on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Kevin Parker, the man behind Tame Impala, flexed his creativity during a televised performance of “Is It True,” from his latest album The Slow Rush. More often than not, livestreams lose out on the “wow” factor due to lack of resources. Parker, known for delivering some of the most epic shows out there, was able to overcome these restrictions, throwing down an eye-catching performance by filming himself playing three separate parts from the track and combining them into a three-way split-screen ...