June 2006

Billionaire Richard Branson rappelled from a helicopter at Toronto’s waterfront today to announce a rock festival for Canada’s most populous city this fall. The flamboyant British businessman, who is chairman of Virgin Group, said he’s bringing the Virgin Festival to Toronto’s Island Park on Sept. 9-10.

“Our roots are music,” Branson, dressed in a subdued black promotional T-shirt and blue jeans, told a news conference. “Fortunately, we spent a number of years in Britain practicing on the Brits before we came here.”

The Toronto event, which Branson hopes will attract 50,000 fans, will feature more than 40 acts, including Massive Attack, Flaming Lips and Gnarls Barkley, the Raconteurs, Phoenix, Wolfmother, the Dears, Alexisonfire, Sam Roberts Band and Zero 7.

The festival is the latest foray into the Canadian market for Branson, who launched his Virgin Mobile Canada last year. He said Virgin Mobile has some 250,000 subscribers now and he expects that to grow to 400,000 by the end of the year as the company opens sales kiosks across Canada.

A U.S. edition of the festival will be held Sept. 23 at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, home of the Preakness Stakes. The Red Hot Chili Peppers will anchor the lineup, which will be announced in full on July 10.

Source billboard.com.

Bob Dylan will set off on his third annual tour of U.S. minor league baseball stadiums beginning Aug. 12 in Comstock Park, Mich. Tickets begin going on sale July 8 for some shows; one child under 12 will be admitted free of charge with each adult ticket holder.

Dylan will be supported on the road by guitarists Jimmie Vaughan and Junior Brown, as well as Elana Janes and the Continental Two. As previously reported, the tour will coincide with Aug. 29 release of a new Dylan studio album, “Modern Times.”

In related news, a baseball-themed episode from Dylan’s weekly XM Satellite Radio show “Theme Time Radio Hour” has been added to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library archive. On the show, Dylan sang an a cappella rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and played several iconic radio snippets from vintage baseball broadcasts.

Here are Bob Dylan’s tour dates:

Aug. 12: Comstock Park, Mich. (Fifth Third Ballpark)
Aug. 13: Columbus, Ohio (Cooper Stadium)
Aug. 15: Lexington, Ky. (Applebee’s Park)
Aug. 17: Augusta, Ga. (Lake Olmstead Stadium)
Aug. 18: Winston-Salem, N.C. (Ernie Shore Field)
Aug. 19: Frederick, Md. (Harry Grove Stadium)
Aug. 20: Washington, Pa. (Falconi Field)
Aug. 23: Reading, Pa. (First Energy Stadium)
Aug. 24: Pawtucket, R.I. (McCoy Stadium)
Aug. 26: Pittsfield, Mass. (Wahconah Park)
Aug. 27: Manchester, N.H. (Merchantsauto.com Stadium)
Aug. 29: New Britain, Conn. (New Britain Stadium)
Aug. 30: Rochester, N.Y. (Frontier Field)
Sept. 1: Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Dutchess Stadium)
Sept. 2: Cooperstown, N.Y. (Doubleday Field)
Sept. 3: University Park, Pa. (Medlar Field at Lubrano Park)
Sept. 5: Fort Wayne, Ind. (Memorial Stadium)

Source billboard.com.

The Clientele have just announced new US Tour dates as they continue working on new material.

dates listed:

08.02.2006 Philadelphia PA First Unitarian Church
08.03.2006 Arlington VA IOTA Club & Cafe
08.04.2006 Chapel Hill NC Local 506
08.05.2006 Mt. Pleasant SC Village Tavern
08.06.2006 Atlanta GA The Earl
08.08.2006 Nashville TN The Basement
08.10.2006 Baton Rouge LA Red Star Bar
08.11.2006 Houston TX Walters on Washington
08.12.2006 Denton TX Hailey’s
08.13.2006 Austin TX The Parish
08.16.2006 Tucson AZ Club Congress
08.17.2006 Phoenix AZ Rhythm Room
08.18.2006 San Diego CA The Casbah
08.19.2006 Los Angeles CA The Knitting Factory
08.21.2006 Visalia CA Howie and Son’s
08.22.2006 San Francisco CA Cafe Du Nord
08.24.2006 Portland OR Doug Fir
08.26.2006 Seattle WA Chop Suey
08.29.2006 Minneapolis MN 400 Bar
08.30.2006 Chicago IL The Abbey
08.31.2006 Detroit MI Magic Stick
09.01.2006 Cleveland OH Grog Shop
09.02.2006 Buffalo NY Mohawk Place
09.05.2006 New York NY Knitting Factory

The second leg of the Guster/Ray Lamontagne tour has been announced and will include dates that will wind through the southwest and west. Guster will be touring in support of Ganging Up on the Sun, which debuted #25 on the Billboard Album Sales charts. Lamontagne has been recently been getting radio play for his cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.”

=-=-=- MASSIVE COMPLETE LIST OF TOUR DATES -=-=-=

7/7/06 – Minneapolis, MN
The Basilica Block Party
Tickets may be purchased after any Basilica Mass, at any metro area Borders Books, or by calling (612) 317-3511.
More ticketing info: http://www.basilicablockparty.org/getTickets/index.asp

7/8/06 – Milwaukee, WI
Summerfest – Miller Lite Oasis Stage
Tickets $15, Guster headlines
http://www.summerfest.com/summerfestinfo/admission_tickets.htm for info on how to get tickets

7/11/06 – Baltimore, MD
The Pier Six Pavilion
Tickets $37.50 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/12/06 – Brooklyn, NY
Prospect Park
Tickets $40.50 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/13/06 – Philadelphia, PA
Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing
Tickets $35.50 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/14/06 – Wallingford, CT
Chevrolet Theatre
Tickets $38.50 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/17/06 – Myrtle Beach, SC
House of Blues
Tickets $32 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/18/06 – Cary, NC
Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
Tickets $33 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/20/06 – Knoxville, TN
Tennessee Theatre
Tickets $42 – http://www.tickets.com

7/21/06 – Atlanta, GA
Chastain Park Amphitheater
Tickets $20-56 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/22/06 – Nashville, TN
Ryman Auditorium
Tickets $33/$43 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/23/06 – Birmingham, AL
Alabama Theatre
Tickets $35.50/$43 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/25/06 – Interlochen, MI
Interlochen Center for the Arts – Kresge Auditorium
Tickets $39.50 – http://tickets.interlochen.org

7/26/06 – Detroit, MI
Meadow Brook
Tickets $20/$32 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/28/06 – Chicago, IL
Charter One Pavilion
Tickets $38 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/29/06 – Indianapolis, IN
The Lawn at White River
Tickets $29 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

7/30/06 – Dayton, OH
Fraze Pavilion
Tickets $24.50/30.50 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

8/1/06 – Vienna, VA
Wolf Trap
Tickets $36/25 – http://www.tickets.com

8/2/06 – Charlottesville, VA
Charlottesville Pavilion
Tickets $30 – http://www.gustertickets.musictoday.com

8/4/06 – Cleveland, OH
Tower City Amphitheater
Tickets $29 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

8/5/06 – Columbus, OH
PromoWest Pavilion
Tickets $27.50 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

8/6/06 – Pittsburgh, PA
Chevrolet Amphitheatre
Tickets $29 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

8/8/006 – Toledo, OH
The Zoo Amphitheatre
Tickets $25.50/$30.50 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

8/9/06 – Rochester, NY
High Falls
Tickets $28 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

8/11/06 & 8/12/06 – Boston, MA
Bank of America Pavilion
Tickets $38 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

8/16/06 – Essex Junction, VT
Champlain Valley Fairgrounds
Tickets $32.50 – http://www.flynntix.org

8/17/06 – Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Tickets $15/$35 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

8/18/06 – Holmdel, NJ
PNC Bank Arts Center
Tickets $20 & $35 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

8/19/06 – Portland, ME
Cumberland County Civic Center
Tickets $30 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

9/14/06 – Grand Prairie, TX
Nokia Theatre
Tickets $25.50-30.50
Pre-sale begins 6/29 @ 3PM at http://www.gustertickets.musictoday.com!

9/15/06 – Austin, TX
Austin City Limits Festival, Zilker Park
Tickets at http://www.aclfestival.com/tickets.aspx

9/16/06 – Houston, TX
Verizon Wireless Theater
Tickets $35 – http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/781894/

9/17/06 – New Orleans, LA
House of Blues
Tickets $31.50
Pre-sale begins 6/29 @ 3PM at http://www.gustertickets.musictoday.com!

9/19/06 – Tulsa, OK
Cain’s Ballroom
Tickets $29.50
Pre-sale begins 6/29 @ 3PM at http://www.gustertickets.musictoday.com!

9/20/06 – Columbia, MO
The Blue Note – Outdoor show
Show takes place outside on 9th St. in front of Blue Note
FREE SHOW!!!!

9/22/06 – Kansas City, MO
City Market (5th Street and Walnut)
Tickets $25
Pre-sale begins 6/29 @ 3PM at http://www.gustertickets.musictoday.com!

9/23/06 – Denver, CO
City Lights Pavilion
Tickets $25-35
Pre-sale begins 6/29 @ 3PM at http://www.gustertickets.musictoday.com!

9/27/06 – San Diego, CA
SDSU Open Air Theatre
Stay tuned for ticket info!

9/28/06 – Los Angeles, CA
The Wiltern LG
Tickets $33
Pre-sale begins 6/29 @ 3PM at http://www.gustertickets.musictoday.com!

9/29/06 – Los Angeles, CA
The Wiltern LG
Stay tuned for ticket info!

9/30/06 – Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Community Theatre
Stay tuned for ticket info!

10/4/06 – Portland, OR
Crystal Ballroom
Tickets $33
Pre-sale begins 6/29 @ 3PM at http://www.gustertickets.musictoday.com!

10/5/06 – Seattle, WA
Paramount Theatre
Tickets $35.50
Pre-sale begins 6/29 @ 3PM at http://www.gustertickets.musictoday.com!

1/15 – 1/19/2007 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Ships and Dips Cruise w/BNL
SOLD OUT!
Visit http://www.sixthman.us/bnl/cabins-grid.htm to be put on waiting list
====

The Mars Volta returns with a fresh dose of epic rock’n’roll on its third studio album, “Amputechture.” The eight-track set is due Aug. 22 via Universal and opens with the seven-minute “Vicarious Atonement,” the closest the group has ever come to a ballad.

The album then moves back to familiar expansive musical territory on the nearly 17-minute “Tetragrammaton,” and also features two other tracks that clock in past the 11-minute mark, “Meccamputechture” and “Day of the Baphomets.” The disc itself runs more than 76 minutes in length.

In addition to contributions from Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante, “Amputechture” also features Paul Hinojos’ first studio work with the Mars Volta since joining as a touring musician in 2005. Hinojos previously played with Mars Volta principals Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez in At The Drive-In.

“Amputechture” is the follow-up to 2005’s “Frances the Mute,” which debuted at a career-best No. 4 on The Billboard 200 and has sold nearly 465,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The Mars Volta will support the Red Hot Chili Peppers on its upcoming North American tour, which opens Aug. 11 in Portland, Ore.

Here is the track list for “Amputechture”:

“Vicarious Atonement”
“Tetragrammaton”
“Vermicide”
“Meccamputechture”
“Asilos Magdalena”
“Viscera Eyes”
“Day of the Baphomets”
“El Ciervo Vulnerado”

Source billboard.com.

Akron, Ohio-based rock duo the Black Keys will kick off a fall tour Sept. 6 in Seattle. A European run is sandwiched between two North American legs, which will find the group headlining its biggest venues in such cities as New York (the 2,100-capacity Nokia Theatre) and Philadelphia (the similarly sized Electric Factory).

Having just completed a six-date swing opening for Radiohead, the Black Keys will be touring in support of their fourth studio album, “Magic Potion,” due Sept. 12 as the first in a new deal with Nonesuch.

Whereas 2004’s “Rubber Factory” was named after the converted facility in downtown Akron where it was recorded, the new album was put to tape in drummer Patrick Carney’s home studio. There are plenty of showcases for the duo’s punchy riff-driven interplay, including “Your Touch,” “Give Your Heart Away” and “Modern Times.” But the group also delves into the slower side of the blues on “You’re the One” and the simmering “The Flame,” where frontman Dan Auerbach pleads, “This time I can’t go back / When a heart gets broken as many times / It’s easy to lose track.”

Here are the Black Keys’ tour dates:

Sept. 6: Seattle (Showbox)
Sept. 7: Portland, Ore. (Roseland Theatre)

Sept. 9: San Francisco (Fillmore)
Sept. 13: Los Angeles (Troubadour)
Sept. 14: Hollywood, Calif. (Avalon)
Sept. 15: San Diego (House of Blues)
Sept. 16: Tempe, Ariz. (Marquee Theatre)
Sept. 23: Berlin (Wuhlheide)
Sept. 25: Dublin (Ireland Music Centre)
Sept. 26: Glasgow (ABC)
Sept. 27: Newcastle, England (Northumbria University)
Sept. 28: Leeds, England (Cockpit)
Sept. 30: Birmingham, England (Academy)
Oct. 1: Bristol, England (Bristol University)
Oct. 2: Manchester, England (Manchester University)
Oct. 4: London (Forum)
Oct. 5: Paris (Trabendo)
Oct. 6: Amsterdam (Melkweg)
Oct. 7: Utrecht, Holland (Doornrsje)
Oct. 9: Brussels (AB Box)
Oct. 10: Cologne, Germany (Prime Club)
Oct. 11: Hamburg (Knust)
Nov. 2: Boston (Avalon Ballroom)
Nov. 3: New York (Nokia Theatre)
Nov. 4: Philadelphia (Electric Factory)
Nov. 5-6: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)

Source billboard.com.