April 2005

Jack Black has signed on to star in a new film co-written with longtime collaborator Mike White and Jared Hess, the latter of whom wrote and directed the 2004 hit comedy “Napoleon Dynamite.” The as-yet-untitled movie will be co-produced by Black and White’s Black & White Productions in tandem with Nickelodeon Movies, with distribution by Paramount Pictures.

Inspired by a true story, the film will star Black as a Mexican priest who lives a double life as a masked wrestler to raise funds for an orphanage in financial need. “I can’t think of two people I’d rather party with than Mike White and Jared Hess,” Black says. “I can’t wait to get down to Mexico.”

Black and White previously have teamed behind the scenes and on-camera for “School of Rock” and “Orange County.” Black recently wrapped work on the Peter Jackson-directed remake of “King Kong,” and is expected to shortly begin shooting the highly anticipated film “Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny.”

In related news, Black & White will co-produce a film with Warner Bros. Pictures based on the upcoming memoir “Yes Man,” penned by British author Danny Wallace.

Source billboard.com.

Jam Cruise 4 has revealed its artist line-up. Joining Jam Cruise favorites, this year the floating music festival welcomes Gomez, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Digable Planets, and Antibalas Aftrobeat Orchestra to the roster. With Bela Fleck and the Flecktones officially on hiatus for 2005, Jam Cruise 4 offers the band’s only confirmed appearance this year! These first-timers will join 20 other acts, including veterans Galactic, Umphrey’s McGee, Keller Williams, Galactic, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. Also on the boat for year four: The String Cheese Incident side-projects (Remarkable Elba Kramer featuring Kyle Hollingsworth, Zilla featuring
Michael Travis, Honkytonk Homeslice featuring Billy Nershi and Elastic Mystic featuring Michael Kang with DJ Lorin), Steve Kimock Band, Liza Oxnard, Fantastic 4 (featuring Eric Krasno, Robert Walter,
Cheme Gastelum, andAdam Deitch), and more artists still TBA.

Now in its third year, Jam Cruise has become a leader in the evolution of music festivals and cruise travel. For Jam Cruise 4 the Italian cruise line’s MSC Lirica will leave port from Ft. Lauderdale on January 7, 2006, floating for six days and six nights with stops in Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands) and Cozumel (Mexico).

While Philadelphia’s groundbreaking Disco Biscuits continue to consider their course when original drummer Sam Altman leaves the band to pursue his medical degree, the fate of their ever-popular Camp Bisco festival is not in question. After two summer seasons of hiatus, today the Disco Biscuits announce Camp Bisco IV: The Trance-Formation, to happen August 26 and 27 at Skyetop Festival Grounds in Van Etten, NY.

Camp Bisco IV will offer up two sets each night of the Disco Biscuits’ jaw-dropping electronic rock compositions. The bittersweet celebration – these shows will be Sammy’s last Camp Bisco performances ever – is sure to go down in festival history as two epic nights of music.

Joining the Disco Biscuits for Camp Bisco IV will be an eclectic line-up of today’s most talented young musicians including Umphrey’s McGee, The New Deal, Conspirator, Ithaca’s own John Brown’s Body, The Benevento Russo Duo, Brothers Past, Big in Japan, plus DJ’s Christian Bruna, Omen and D.R.O. (Final Phaze NYC), DJ Mauricio a.k.a. Fractalien (Portland), and Orchard Lounge (Chicago). Other acts TBA.

This year’s Camp Bisco boasts a family friendly environment, with a family camping area and child play-park, plus plenty of daytime activities for adults, too. Color War anyone?

See discobiscuits.com for more info

Rock act O.A.R. will begin a summer headlining tour July 9 at Milwaukee’s Summerfest, with Southland and Hawaii-based rock outfit Pepper in tow. Along the way, O.A.R. will also open July shows for Dave Matthews Band in Antioch, Tenn., Cincinnati and a two-night stand in East Troy, Wis.

Also on tap is the fourth annual Feeling Better Than Everfine festival, which will be held in Chicago after previously being based in Cleveland. The all-day event will feature a full complement of additional bands to be announced.

O.A.R. has a handful of shows remaining on its current North American run, including an appearance tonight (April 19) in Dallas. The group will also drop in on the Bonnaroo Festival on June 11 in Manchester, Tenn.

O.A.R.’s latest release, the 2004 live set